DECAD I.
I. For Coughs, especially such as proceed from thin Rheums.
B TAke of choice Olibanum, finely powder'd, from one Scruple to half a Dram, and mix carefully with it an equal weight of Sugar-candy, (white or brown,) or, in want of that, of fine Sugar; and let the Patient take it at Bedtime in the Pap of an Apple, or some other proper Additament, for [Page 2] several nights together: If it be found needful, it may be taken at any other time, when the Stomach is empty.
II. To give Ease in the Pains of the Stone, even that of the Bladder.
A TAke the transparent Sparr that grows upon the Veins of Lead-ore, and having reduc'd it to fine Powder, give from half a Dram to a whole Dram of it at a time, in a moderate Draught of some convenient Vehicle. N. B. Though there be (at least in most of our English Mines) two Teguments, as it were, of the Veins of Lead, that grow close together; [Page 3] yet that which the Diggers name Cawk, which is white and opacous, is not the Medicine I mean, but the Transparent, or at least Semi-Diaphanous; which easily breaks into smooth Fragments, and in the Fire cleaves into several pieces, that are wont to be smooth and prettily shap'd.
III. For Sharpness of Ʋrine.
B TAke of the dry Stuff that divides the Lobes of the Kernels of Walnuts, beat them to Powder, and of this give about half a Dram at a time, in a draught of White-wine, or Posset-drink made with it, or in any other convenient Liquor.
IV. To Appease the Violent Pains of the Tooth-ach.
B MAke up a Scruple of Pil. lulae Mastichinae, and half a Grain of Laudanum, into two or three Pills for the Patient to take at Bed-time.
V. For Agues.
A TAke Salt of Card. Benedict. and Salt of Wormwood and 15 Grains, Tartar Vitriolate half a Scruple; mix them, and give them [Page 5] in a few Spoonfuls of Rhenishwine, or of some other convenient Vehicle, either before the Fit, or at some other time when the Stomach is empty.
VI. For the Yellow-Jaundice.
B TAke an Ounce of Castle-Soap (the Elder the better,) slice it thin, put it into a Pint of Smallbeer cold, set it on the Fire, let it boil gently half away, after boiling some time, scum it once; then strain it through a small Sive, warm it, and drink it all in a morning fasting; take a small Lump of Sugar after it, and fast two or three hours: The Party may walk about his Business, and eat his acstomed [Page 6] Meals: If at any time he drinks Wine, let it be White wine. N. B. If he be far gone in the Distemper; two or three day after, he may take it once or twice more, and no oftner. Refrain all other Medicines: It will keep a Week or longer.
VII. For the Jaundice.
B TAke two or three Ounces of Semen Cannabis (Hempseed) and boil them till the Seeds (some of them) begin to burst, and a little longer, in a sufficient quantity of New Milk, to make one good Draught; which the Patient is to take warm, renewing it if need be, for some days together.
VIII. For the Dysentery.
B TAke Pigs-Dung, dry it, and burn it to grey (not white) Ashes; of these give about half a Dram for a Dose, drinking after them about three Spoonfuls of Wine-Vinegar.
IX. For the Kings Evil.
B TAke Cuttle-bone uncalcin'd, and having scrap'd off the out-side or colour'd part, dry the white part; and of this, finely [Page 8] powder'd, give half a Dram for a Dose in Aqua Malvae.
X. A Safe and Easie Medicine in Fits of the Stone.
B TAke Sack, or, in want of that, Claret-wine, and by shaking or otherwise, mix with it, as well as you can, an equal quantity of Oyl of Wallnuts; and of this Mixture give from 4 or 6 to 8 or 10 Ounces at a time as a Glyster.
DECAD II.
I. For Convulsions, especially in Children.
B TAke Earth-worms, wash them well in White-wine to cleanse them, but so as that they may not die in the Wine: Then, upon hollow Tiles or between them, dry the Worms with a moderate Heat, and no further than that they may be conveniently reduc'd to Powder; to one Ounce of which add [Page 10] a pretty number of Grains of Ambergrise, both to perfume the Powder, (whose scent of it self is rank) and to make the Medicine more Efficatious. The Dose is from one Dram to a Dram and half in any convenient Vehicle.
II. For the Pyles.
B TAke the Powder of Earthworms prepared as in the former Receipt, (but leaving out the Ambergrise,) and incorporate it exactly with as much Hensgrease, as will serve to make it up into an Oyntment. Apply this to the Part affected, whose Pains it usually much and safely mitigates.
III. To make Lime-water Ʋseful in divers Distempers.
C TAke one Pound of good Quick-lime, and slake it in a Gallon of warm Water, and let it stand 'till all that will subside be settled at the bottom, and (Separation being made,) the Water swim clear at the top: (At which time it will often happen, that a kind of thin and brittle Substance, almost like Ice, will cover the Surface of the Liquor:) As soon as the Water is thus sufficiently impregnated, delay not to pour it off warily, and keep it very well stopp'd for Use.
IV. A Lime-water for Obstructions an Consumptions.
B TAke a Gallon of Lime-water made as above, and infuse in it cold Sassaffras, Liquorice, and Anyseeds, of each four Ounces, adding thereto half a Pound of choice Currans, or the like Quantity of slic'd Raisins of the Sun: The Dose of this compound Lime-water is four or five Ounces, to be taken twice a day.
V. An Amulet against Agues, especially Tertian.
B TAke a handfull of Groundsel, shred and cut it small, put it into a square Paper Bag of about four Inches every way, pricking that side that is to be next the Skin, full of large holes; and cover it with some Sarcenet or fine Linnen, that nothing may fall out. Let the Patient wear this upon the Pit of his Stomach, renewing it two hours before every Fit.
VI. For Women in Labour to bring away the Child.
B TAke about one Dram of choice Myrrh, and having reduc'd it to fine Pouder, let the Patient take it in a Draught of Rhenish-wine or Sack; or, if you would have the Liquor less active White-wine, Posset-drink, or some other temperate Vehicle.
VI. For Strengthning the Bowels.
B TAke Cloves or Chives (not Bulbs) of Garlick, and let the Patient from time to time [Page 15] swallow one or two, without chewing.
VIII. An Amulet against the Cramp.
A TAke the Root of Mechoacan, and having reduc'd it to Powder, fill with this Pouder a little square Bag or Sacket of Sarcenet, or some such slight Stuff; which Bag is to be about three Inches Square, and to be hung by a String about the Patient's Neck, so as that it may reach to the Pit of the Stomach, and immediately touch the Skin.
IX. For Stanching of Blood especially in Wounds.
A TAke those round Mushrooms that Bonatists call Crepitus Lupi, (in English Puff-balls,) when they are full ripe (which is in Autumn); and breaking them warily, save carefully the Pouder that will fly up, and the rest that remains in their Cavities: And strew this Pouder all over the Part affected, binding it on, or proceeding further, if need be, according to Art.
X. For the Tumours and Pains of the Hemorrhoides, not too much inflamed.
B LET the Patient dip his Finger in Balsam of Sulphur, made with Oyl of Turpentine, and with his Finger so besmeared anoint the Tumours, whether external or internal, once or twice a day.
DECAD III.
I. For the Dysentery and other sharp Fluxes.
A TAke the Stalks and Leaves of the Herb call'd, in Latin, Coniza Media (in English, Flea-bane,) dry it gently, till it be reducible to Pouder; of this Pouder give about one Dram at a time, twice or thrice a day, in any convenient Vehicle or else incorporate it in Conserve of Red Roses.
II. To sweeten the Blood, and Cure divers Distempers caused by its Acidity.
B TAke Coral, the clearest and reddest you can get; reduce it (by exactly grinding it on a Porphory, or Marble Stone,) to an impalpable Pouder. Of this Magistery made without Acids, give the Patient once or twice a day (as need shall require,) a large dose, viz. ordinarily about one dram at a time, or from two Scruples to five. N. B. Let him long continue the Use of it.
III. To clear the Eyes, even from Filmes.
A TAke Paracelsus's Zibethum Occidentale (viz. human dung) of a good Colour and Consistence, dry it slowly till it be pulverable: Then reduce it into an inpalpable Pouder; which is to be blown once, twice, or thrice a day, as occasion shall require, into the Patients Eyes.
IV. For Convulsions in Children.
A GIve the Patient from 2, 3, or 4, to 5, 6, or 7 Grains, according to the Child's Age, of the true Volatile Salt of Amber, in [Page 21] any proper Vehicle. N. B. 'Tis not near so Efficatious in full grown Persons.
V. To bring away the After-birth.
B GIve about 30 Drops, or any Number between 25 and 35, of good Essential (as Chimists call it,) Oyl of Juniper, in a good Draught of any convenient Vehicle.
VI. To Strengthen the Stomach, and help the want of Appetite.
B MAke the Roots of Gentian (sound and not superannuated,) pulverable, with no more waste of their moisture than is necessary. [Page 22] Reduce these to Pouder; of which let the Patient take from 12 or 15 Grains to double that quantity (or more if need be,) twice or thrice a day. N. B. It may be taken on an empty Stomach, or, if that cannot conveniently be done, at Meal-times. To correct the Bitterness, one may add to it pouder'd Sugar, or make it up with some fit Conserve, or mix it with a Syrup. It is very good, not only for want of Appetite, but for Obstructions. And I ( R B.) have usefully given it in Vertiginous Affections of the Brain, and to lessen, if not quite take away, the Fits of Agues, and even Quartans. But in this last Case the Dose must be considerably augmented. One may also, if one pleases, instead of the Pouder, give the Extract drawn with fair Water, and for those that like that form, made [Page 23] up into Pills with a sufficient quantity of Pouder'd Tumerick, or the like proper Additament; to which I have sometimes added some Grains of Salt of Wormwood with good Success in Fluxes that proceeded from Crudities and Indigestion. Where the Winter-Season or the Patients cold Constitution invite, or the Medicine is to be long kept, I chuse rather to make the Extract with Wine moderately strong, than with Water.
VII. For Ʋlcers in the Brest, and elsewhere.
A TAke Millepedes, (in English by some called Woodlice, by others Sows,) and having wash'd them clean with a little Whitewine, and dry'd them with a Linnen [Page 24] Cloth, beat them very well in a Glass or Marble Mortar (for they ought not to be touch'd with any thing of Metal) and give the first time as much Juice, as you can by strong Expression obtain from five or six of them. This Juice may be given in small Ale or White-wine, in which the next time you may give as much as can be squeez'd out of eight or nine Millepedes; and so you may continue, increasing the number that you employ of them by two or three at a time, till it amount to twenty five or thirty; and if need be, to forty or more, for one taking. And note, that if upon the Pounding of these Insects, you find the Mass they afford too dry, as it now and then happens; you may dilute it with a little White-wine or Ale, to be well agitated with it, that being penetrated, and so [Page 25] softned, with the Liquor, the Mass may the better part with its Juice.
VIII. For taking off the Fits of Agues.
B TAke good common Brimstone (not Flores Sulphuris,) and having reduced them, by passing them through a very fine Sieve, to the subtillest Pouder you can; give of this Pouder one Dram and half or two Drams, either made up into a Bolus with a little good Honey, or else in any appropriated Vehicle; let it be given at the usual times, and reiterated once or twice if need be, especially if the Fits should return.
IX. For Fluxes, especially accompanied with Gripings.
A TAke of Crude Lapis Caliminaris finely pouder'd two Scruples, of white Chalk on [...] Scruple, mix them exactly, and give them in a Spoonful or two of New Milk twice, or, if the case be urgent, thrice a day.
X. For the Pains of the Piles.
B TAke of Myrrh, Olibanum, and common Frankincense, of each a like quantity; having pouder'd them, mix them very well, and let the Patient receive the Fume of this Mixture, cast upon a Chaffen-dish with Embers, in a Close-stool, for about a quarter of an hour, (less or more, as he needs it, and is able to bear it.)
DECAD IV.
I. For an outward Contusion.
C APply to the Part affected, skim'd or purify'd Honey, spread upon Cap-Paper, to be kept on with some convenient Plaister, or the like Bandage, and shifted once or twice a day.
II. Another for the same.
B BEat Aloes Succotrina (or else Hepatica,) to fine Pouder; then pour on it as much Rose-water as you guess may dissolve a great part of it. This done, stir them well for a while, and when the Mixture is setled, pour off the Liquor, and in it dip Linnen Rags, which being applyed to the Part affected, will soon stick to it, and seldom need be remov'd till the Patient be reliev'd; and then to get them off, the Rags must be well wetted with warm Water, which will soften and loosen the adhering Aloes.
III. For a slighter Excoriation.
B MElt Mutton-Suet taken from about the Kidneys, and freed from its superfluous Fibres or Strings, and to about two Ounces of this add little by little about 16 or 18 Drops (sometimes 8 or 10 may serve) of Oyl (not Aethereal Spirit) of Turpentine; spread this Mixture on a Linnen Cloth, and by binding or otherwise, keep it upon the Part affected.
IV. For an Excoriation, when the true Cutis is affected.
B TAke Prunella (in English Self-heal,) and having pounded it very well in a Marble [Page 31] or Glass Mortar, (not one of Metal,) apply it to the Part affected, renewing it but seldom, and not without need.
V. To take off the Pain and Inflammation of Ʋlcers in the Legs and elsewhere.
B IN a Quart of Water boil about so much White-bread, as in ordinary years may be found in a Half-penny-loaf; then add to it two Ounces of good Sheeps Suet cut very small; and when that is boil'd a little, add to it one Ounce of finely pouder'd Rosin, and a little well searc'd Brimstone: Of these make a Cataplasm, which is to be kept constantly on the Part affected, and shifted once or twice a day, as need shall require.
VI. For a Cough, especially accompany'd with a Tickling Rheum.
B TAke equal Parts of finely pouder'd Olibanum and Venice Treacle, incorporate them exactly, and of this Mass form Pills of what bigness you please. Of these let the Patient take about half a Dram at Bed-time, or, if need be, one Scruple, (or more,) twice a day.
VII. To prevent the Tooth-ach, and keep the Teeth sound.
B LET the Patient frequently rub his Teeth moderately with the Ashes that remain in Tobacco [Page 33] Pipes, after the rest of the Body hath been consum'd in Smoak; sometimes after washing (if need be,) his Mouth with fair Water not too cold.
VIII. For a Rupture, especially in a Child or young Person.
A TAke of that Geranium or Cranes-bill that is commonly called Columbinum, reduce the Root and Leaves to fine Pouder, and of this let the Patient take about half a Spoonful Night and Morning for three or four Weeks together, washing it down each time with some Spoonfuls of Red Wine.
IX. For the Heart-burning, as they call it.
B TAke from 15 or 20, to 30 or 40, Grains of Crabs-eyes (known commonly in the Shops by the Name of Lapides Cancrorum,) reduc'd to very fine Pouder, and either take it alone, or in any convenient Conserve or Syrup. 'Tis for the most part best to take this Medicine when the Stomach is empty.
X. For a Strain.
B TAke the strongest Vinegar you can get, and boil in it a convenient quantity of Wheat-Bran, [Page 35] till you have brought it to the Consistence of a Poultess. Apply this as early as may be to the Part affected, and renew it when it begins to grow dry.
DECAD V.
I. For a Recent Strain.
B TAKE Worm-wood and pound it very well in a Mortar of Stone or Glass; then put to it as much of the Whites of Eggs, beaten to Water, as may serve to make it up into such a Consistence, as may be applied like a Poultess to the Part affected.
II. A Strengthning Plaister after a Strain, or when there is any Weakness in the Joynt.
B MEEL down together, and incorporate very well, two parts of Diapalma, and one part of Emplastrum ad Herniam; spread this Mixture, (but not very thick,) upon Leather, and lay it to the Joynt to be strengthened.
III. For Loosnesses.
C BOil a convenient quantity of Cork in Spring-water, till the Liquor taste strong thereof: Of this Decoction let the Patient [Page 38] drink a moderate Draught from time to time, till he finds himself sufficiently reliev'd by it.
IV. For Obstructions, and divers Diseases proceeding thence.
B LET the Patient drink, every Morning fasting, a moderate Draught of his own Ʋrine newly made, (and if it can conveniently be,) whil'st 'tis yet warm forbearing Food for an hour or two after it.
V. For Difficulty of Hearing, from a cold Cause.
B OUT of a Bulb or Root of Garlick, chuse a Chive of a convenient Bigness; then having pass'd a fine piece of Thread or Silk through one end of it, that thereby it may be pull'd out at pleasure, crush it a little between your Fingers, and having anointed it all over with Oyl of Bitter (or in want of that, Sweet) Almonds, put it into the Cavity of the Patients Ear at Bed-time, and draw it out the next Morning, stopping the Ear afterwards with Black Wool; but if need require, this Operation is to be reiterated with fresh Garlick for some days successively.
VI. For Ruptures in the Belly, especially in Children.
A HAving well cleans'd the Roots of Sigillum Salam [...] nis, scrape one Ounce of them into a Quart of Broth, and let the Patient take a Mess, or a Porringer full of it for his Break-fast; or else give half a Dram or two Scruples of the Pouder of it at a time, in any convenient Vehicle.
VII. To give checks to Fits of the Gout, and in some measure to prevent them.
B TAke three Ounces of Sarsaparilla slic'd and cut thin; to these add an equal weight of [Page 41] Raisins of the Sun, rubb'd very clean, but not broken: Put both these Ingredients into three Quarts of Spring-water, and let the Vessel stand in a moderate heat, that the Liquor may simper for many hours, yet without bursting most part of the Raisins; keep this Decoction well stopp'd, and let the Patient use it for his only Drink, till he need it no longer.
VIII. A Water for Ʋlcers and Sores.
B TAke a Solution of Venetian Sublimate, and having made with very good Quick-lime as strong a Lime-water as you can, (so that, if it be possible, it may bear an Egg,) drop this upon the dissolv'd Sublimate, till it will precipitate [Page 42] no more reddish stuff at all; (which will not so soon be done as one that hath not try'd will imagine): As soon as you perceive that the Liquors act no longer visibly upon one another, pour the Mixture into a Filter of Cap-Paper, which retaining the Orange-colour'd Precipitate, will transmit an indifferently clear Liquor: Which is to be in a Glass Viol kept stop'd for its proper Use; namely, that the Part affected may be therewith wash'd from time to time, and, if need be, kept covered with double Linnen Cloths wetted in the same Liquor.
IX. A Plaister to Discuss Tumours, or Ripen them if it cannot Discuss them.
B TAke of Yellow Wax, Franincense, and Rosin, of each four Ounces, or a sufficient quantity, melt them together gently, and being strain'd, make up the Mass into a Roll for Use.
X. For the Black Jaundice it self.
A TAke a Spoonfull of Honey boil it gently, and scum it, till it come to a good Consistence; then add of Wheat-flower and Saffron (reduced to a Pouder,) as much of each as you may take up upon the Point of a Knife; and having mix'd all well, put it over the Coals again, until it lose its smell: Afterwards you may put it into a little Stone or Earthen Pot, and keep it for Use; which is, that the Patient take the quantity of a Pea, and anoint the Navil, and fill the Cavity thereof with it; repeating the Application [Page 45] for some days together, when the Stomach is empty, and abstaining from Meat and Drink about two hours after the Medicine is us'd.