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It voideth forth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and cholericke humors, also grosse and melancholike, if it be hel∣ped with something tending to that end. [ A]
It is a singular purging medicine in many diseases, fit for all ages and kindes. [ B]
It purgeth without violence or hurt, especially if it be tempered with Anise seed or other like [ C] sweet smelling things added, or with gentle purgers or lenitiue medicines. It may be giuen in pouder, but commonly the infusion thereof is vsed.
The quantitie of the pouder is a dram weight, and in the infusion, foure, fiue, or more. It may be [ D] mixed in any liquor.
It is in the decoction or in the infusion tempered with cold things in burning agues and other [ E] hot diseases: in cold and long infirmities it is boyled with hot opening simples and such like; or else it is steeped in wine, in which manner, as familiar to mans nature, it draweth forth gently by the stoole, almost without any kinde of paine, crude and raw humors.
Most of the Arabians commend the cods, but our Physitions the leaues rather; for vnlesse the [ F] cods be full ripe they ingender winde, and cause gripings in the belly. For they are oftentimes ga∣thered before they be ripe, and otherwise easily fall away being shaken downe by the wind, by rea∣son of their weake and slender stalks.
Some also thinke that Sene is hurtfull to the stomacke, and weakneth the same, for which cause [ G] they say that Ginger or some sweet kinde of spice is to be added, whereby the stomacke may be strengthned. Likewise Mesue noteth that it is slow in operation, and therefore Salgem is to be mixed with it. Moreouer, Sene purgeth not so speedily as stronger medicines do.
Notwithstanding it may be helped not only by Salgem, but also by other purging things mixed [ H] therewith, that is to say with simple medicines, as Rubarb, Agaricke, and others; and with com∣pounds, as that which is called Catholicon, or the Electuarie Diaphoenicon, or that which is made of the iuyce of Roses, or some other, according as the condition or qualitie of the disease and of the sicke man requireth.
The leaues of Sene are a familiar purger to all people, but they are windie, and do binde the bo∣die [ I] afterwards, very much disquieting the stomack with rumbling and belching: for the auoiding of which inconuenience there must be added Cinnamon, Ginger, Annise seed, and Fennell seed, Raisins of the Sun, and such like that do breake winde, which will the better help his purging qua∣litie.
Sene doth better purge when it is infused or steeped, than when it is boyled: for doubtlesse the [ K] more it is boiled the lesse it purgeth, and the more windie it becommeth.
Take Borage, Buglosse, Balme, Fumitorie, of each three drams, Sene of Alexandria very wel pre∣pared [ L] and pouned, two ounces, strow the pouder vpon the herbes and distill them: the water that commeth thereof reserue to your vse to purge those that liue delicately, being ministred in white wine, with sugar, in condited confections, and such dainty waies, wherein delicate and fine people do greatly delight: you may also (as was said before) adde hereunto according to the maladie, di∣uers purgers, as Agaricke, Mirobalans, &c.
The pouder of Sene after it is well prepared two ounces, of the pouder of the root of Mechoa∣can [ M] foure drams, pouder of Ginger, Anise seeds, of each a little, a spoonfull of Anise seeds, but a very little Ginger, and a modicum or small quantitie of Salgemmae: this hath beene proued a ve∣rie fit and familiar medicine for all ages and sexes. The patient may take one spoonful or two ther∣of fasting, either in pottage, some supping in drink, or white wine. This is right profitable to draw both flegme and melancholy from the brest and other parts.
The leaues of Sene and Cammomil are put in baths to wash the head. [ N]
Sene opens the inward parts of the body which are stopped, and is profitable against all griefes [ O] of the principall members of the body.
Take Sene prepared according to art one ounce, Ginger half a quarter of an ounce, twelue cloues, [ P] Fenell seed two drams, or in stead thereof Cinnamon and Tartar, of each halfe a dram, pouder all these; which done, take thereof in white wine one dram before supper, which doth maruellously purge the head.
Handle Sene in maner aboue specified, then take halfe an ounce thereof, which don, adde there∣to [ Q] sixty Raisins of the Sunne with the stones pickt out, one spoonfull of Anise seeds braied, boile these in a quart of ale till one halfe be wasted, and while it is boiling put in your Sene: let it stand so till the morning, then straine it, and put in a little Ginger: then take the one halfe of this potion and put thereunto two spoonfulls of syrrup of Roses: drinke this together, I meane the one halfe of the medicine at one time, and if the patient canot abide the next day to receiue the other halfe, then let it be deferred vntil the third day after.
Sene and Fumitorie (as Rasis affirmeth) do purge adust humors, and are excellent good against [ R] scabs, itch, and the ill affection of the body.
If Sene be infused in whey, and then boyled a little, it becommeth good physicke against me∣lancholy, [ S] clenseth the braine and purgeth it, as also the heart, liuer, milt, and lungs, causeth a man to looke yong, ingendreth mirth, and taketh away sorrow: it cleareth the sight, strengthneth hea∣ring, and is very good against old feuers and diseases arising of melancholy. † 1.1
There were formerly two figures in this chapter, which differed onely in that the first, which was the Sexa 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, narrower, and sharper 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 than the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which was the second.