A treatise of the plague containing the nature, signes, and accidents of the same, with the certaine and absolute cure of the feuers, botches and carbuncles that raigne in these times: and aboue all things most singular experiments and preseruatiues in the same, gathered by the obseruation of diuers worthy trauailers, and selected out of the writing of the best learned phisitians in this age. By Thomas Lodge, Doctor in Phisicke.

Potions against the Plague.

AND to accomplish this chapter, it remaineth to set downe certaine necessary potions to minister to the sicke that may resist the venime, which during the time of their sickenesse, ought very oftentimes to be ministred vnto them, vntill such time as nature ouercommeth the force of the infection, being assisted by the vertue of natu∣rall heate, and by cordiall Antidotes, that is to say, by me∣dicines, that are altogether contrarie to the venime of the plague: (which the Arabians in their tongue are accusto∣med to call Bezoatici, and the Latines Antidotes.) Euerie morning and euening therefore, and if néed be, at midday or midnight (if the accidents be violent) you may cause the patient to drinke these potions folowing. If he be poore, take Iuniper-berries, and Bole Armenus, of each a drachme, powlder them wel and mixe them with scabious, buglosse, or sorrel water, and one ounce of sirop of limons, cause him to take it euening and morning, euery day, or else take the powlder of the Electuary of Guido, giue him a drachme after the same manner: you may also vse

with good effect the poulder of betony, dried to the quantity of a drachme or 4. scruples, taking it in summer time with rose water, and in winter in good white wine, and it work∣eth wonderful effects, if the patient kéepe himselfe well co∣uered, and sweate therevpon, for it causeth the venime to euaporate by sweat. Treacle and Mythridate also are so∣ueraine medcines to this effect, being taken to the quanti∣tie of a drachme with rose water in summer, or succorie or sorrel water, and in winter with good white or claret wine. For the rich, let this powlder be dispensed.

Take the rootes of tormentil, the roote of Diptamus Creticus, if it be possible, the roots of Angelica Zedoari and Gentian of each a drachme, of the seedes of citrons and sor∣rel two drachmes, of true Bole Armenus prepared twoo drachmes, of Terra sigillata thrée drachmes, of pearles two drachmes, of red corall foure scruples, of the rinde of the citron or Oringe dryed a drachme, beate all these to a fine powlder, of which you may giue the patient in the waters aboue named, the weight of a drachme, or a drachme and a halfe. If you will make an opiate thereof, you may confect the powlder with conserue of roses, or bu∣glosse, or sirrop of limons, and make an opiate, of which you may giue the patient halfe an ounce at a time. This poulder is of most excellent vertue and great effect, if it be wel dispenced, which amongst all other medicines is most appropriate, as by the vertue of the ingredients, the ex∣pert and learned Phisitian may easily coniecture. These are the remedies which in potions are most assured and are both experimented and alowed (laying aside the super∣stitious and vaine opinions, of the vnicornes horne, of which the common sort make so great reckoning.) For in truth it is a méere folly to beléeue that the pieces of horne, which diuers men beare about them, is the horne of that beast which the Gréekes called Monoceros, and the latins Vnicornu, (as the simple sorte, vnicornes horne) for it is a beast so rare to be séene, and in places so strange, that

scarsely Alexander the great could recouer one to his great charge and expence, (as Plinie, Aelian and Philostratus te∣stifie) neither may it be taken aliue, for that it liueth in places desart and solitary in the extreamest parts of India and the East. But leauing these things apart, I say that we ought to trust to perfect tried & experienced medicines, such as are those, which heretofore I haue faithfully set downe for the common good, and the loue I beare vnto my neighbours. In prosecution of which matter, I say by the authoritie of Galen Lib. 9. de simpl. fac. cap. 14. V.T. that Bole Armenus is by him singularly commended amongst all other simples for the plague: For in that great plague which in his time was in Greece, all those that drunke Bole Armenus were sodainely healed, as the said Galen te∣stifieth, who aduiseth vs to take it with good white wine, somewhat qualified and mixed with water, the quantitie ought to be some two drachmes: And here you are to note that in those who are already taken with the plague, it be∣hooueth to giue them a greater dose of your Antidotes, then those whom you intend to preserue. For in the venime of the plague is already inclosed in their bodies, it is necessa∣ry that the medicine should be more forcible to ouercome and subdue the same, then before that it seazeth the body. And therefore if to the healthy you will ordaine a drachme to preserue him, you ought to giue eare to those that are sicke. And this may serue for an aduertisement to the com∣mon sorte, how they should gouerne their sicke in time of visitation.