the patient. The patient must every day bee carried into a fresh chamber, and the beds and the linnen cloaths must be changed: there must alwaies be a cleare and bright fire in the patients chamber, and especially in the night, whereby the aire may be made more pure, cleane, and voyd of nightly vapours, and of the filthy and pesti∣lent breath proceeding from the patient, or his excrements. In the meane time, lest (if it be in hot weather) the patient should be weakened or made more faint by rea∣son that the heat of the fire doth disperse and wast his spirits, the Floor or ground of the chamber must bee sprinkled or watered with vinegar and water, or strowed with the branches of vines made moist in cold water, with the leaves and flowers of Wa∣ter-lillyes, or Poplar, or such like. In the fervent heat of summer hee must abstaine from Fumigations that doe smell too strongly, because that by assaulting the head, they encrease the paine.
If the patient could goe to that cost, it were good to hang all the chamber where he lyeth, and also the Bed, with thicke or course linnen cloaths moistened in vinegar and water of Roses. Those linnen cloaths ought not to be very white, but somewhat browne, because much and great whitenesse doth disperse the sight, and by wasting the spirits, doth encrease the paine of the head: for which cause also the Chamber ought not to bee very lightsome.
Contrariwise, on the night season there ought to bee fiers and perfumes made, which by their moderate light, may moderately call forth the spirits.
Sweet fiers may be made of little pieces of the wood of Juniper, Broom, Ash, Ta∣marisk, of the rinde of Oranges, Lemmons, Cloves, Benzoin, gum Arabick, Orris roots, Mirrhe, grossely beaten together, and layd on the burning coals put into a cha∣fing dish. Truely the breath or smoake of the wood or berries of Juniper, is thought to drive serpents a great way from the place where it is burnt. The vertue of the Ash-tree against venome is so great, as Pliny testifieth, that a serpent will not come under the shadow thereof, no not in the morning nor evening, when the shaddow of any thing is most great and long, but she will runne from it. I my selfe have proved that if a circle or compasse bee made with the boughes of an Ash-tree, and a fier made in the midst thereof, and a serpent put within the compasse of the boughs, that the ser∣pent will rather runne into the fire than through the Ash boughes.
There is also another meanes to correct the Aire. You may sprinkle vinegar of the decoction of Rue, Sage, Rosemary, Bay berries, Juniper berries, Cyperus nuts, & such like, on stones or bricks made red hot, and put in a pot or pan, that all the whole chamber where the patient lyeth may be perfumed with the vapour thereof.
Also fumigations may bee made of some matter that is more grosse and clammy, that by the force of the fire the fume may continue the longer, as of Ladanum, Myrrhe, Masticke, Rosine, Turpentine, Storax, Olibanum, Benzoin, Bay berries, Ju∣niper berries, Cloves, Sage, Rosemary, and Marjoram, stamped together, and such like.
Those that are rich and wealthy may have Candles and Fumes made of waxe, or Tallow mixed with some sweet things.
A sponge macerated in Vinegar of Roses, and Water of the same, and a little of the decoction of Cloves, and of Camphire added thereto, ought alwaies to be rea∣dy at the patients hand, that by often smelling unto it, the animall spirits may be re∣created and strengthened.
The water following is very effectuall for this matter. Take of Orris, foure oun∣ces; of Zedoarie, Spikenard, of each sixe drammes; of Storax, Benzoin, Cinamon, Nutmegs, Cloves, of each one ounce and a halfe; of old Treacle, halfe an ounce: bruise them into a grosse pouder, and macerate them for the space of twelve houres in foure pound of white and strong wine, then distill them in a Limbeck of glasse on hot ashes, and in the distilled liquor wet a sponge, and then let it be tyed in a linnen cloath, or closed in a boxe, and so often put unto the nostrills. Or take of the vi∣negar and water of roses, of each foure ounces; of Camphire, sixe graines; of Trea∣cle, half a dram: let them be dissolved together, and put into a viall of glasse, which the patient may often put unto his nose.
This Nodula following is more meet for this matter. Take of Rose leaves, two