The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latine and compared with the French. by Th: Johnson

CHAP. XXV. Of purging medicines in a pestilent disease.

IFyou call to minde the proper indications, purging shall seeme ne∣cessary in this kinde of disease, and that must bee prescribed as the pre∣sent * 1.1 case and necessity requireth; rightly considering that the disease is sudden, and doth require medicines that may with all speede drive out of the body the hurtfull humour wherein the noy some quality doth lurke and is hidden; which medicines are diverse by reason of the diversity of the kinde of the humour, and the condition or temperature of the patient. For this pur∣pose sixe graines of Scammonie beaten into powder, or else tenne graines are com∣monly ministred to the patient with one dram of Treacle. Also pils may be made in * 1.2 this forme: Take of Treacle and Mithridate, of each one dram; of Sulphur vivum finely powdred halfe a dram; of Diagridium foure graines: make thereof Pils. Or, Take three drams of Aloes; of Myrrhe and Saffron, of each one dram; of white Hel∣lebore and Asarabacca, of each foure scruples: make thereof a masse with old Trea∣cle, and let the patient take foure scruples thereof for a dose, three houres before meate. Ruffus his pils may be profitably given to those that are weake. The ancient Physicians have greatly commended Agarick for this disease, because it doth draw the noysome humours out of all the members: and the vertues thereof are like unto those of Treacle; for it is thought to strengthen the heart, and to draw out the ma∣lignity by purging. To those that are strong the weight of two drams may be given, and to those that are more weake, halfe a dram. It is better to give the infusion in a decoction, than in substance; for being elected and prepared truly into Trochises, it may be called a most divine kinde of medicine.

Antimonium is highly praysed by the experience of many; but because I know the

use thereof is condemned by the councell and decree of the School of Physicians at Paris, I will here cease to speake of it.

Those medicines that cause sweats are thought to excell all others, when the Pe∣stilence commeth of the venemous Ayre: among whom the efficacy of that which followeth hath beene proved, to the great good of many in that Pestilence which was lately throughout all Germany, as Matthias Rodler Chancellor to Duke George the Count Palatine signified unto me by letters.

They doe take a bundle of Mugwort, and of the ashes thereof after it is burnt, they * 1.3 make a lye with foure pints of water; then they doe set it over the fire, and boyle it in a vessell of earth well leaded, untill the liquor be consumed, the earthy dregges falling unto the bottome like unto salt, whereof they make Trochisces of the weight of a crowne of gold: then they dissolve one or two of those Trochisces, according to the strength of the patient, in good Muskadine, and give it the patient to drinke, and let him walke after that hee hath drunke it for the space of halfe an houre; then lay him in his bed, and there sweat him two or three houres, and then he will vomit, and his belly will bee loosed as if hee had taken Antimony; and so they were all for the most part cured, especially all those that tooke that remedy betimes, and before the disease went unto their heart, as I my selfe have proved in some that were sicke at Paris, with most happy successe: Truely Mugwort is highly commended by the * 1.4 ancient Physicians, being taken and applyed inwardly or outwardly against the bi∣tings of venemous creatures, so that it is not to be doubted but that it hath great ver∣tue against the Pestilence.

I have heard it most certainly reported by Gilbertus Heroaldus Physician of Mom∣pilier, that eight ounces of the pickle of Anchoves, drunke at one draught, is a most * 1.5 certaine and approved remedie against the Pestilence, as he and many other have of∣ten found by experience. For the plague is no other thing but a very great putrefa∣ction; for the correction and amendment whereof, there is nothing more apt or fit than this pickle or substance of the Anchoves, being melted by the sun and force of the salt that is strawed thereon. There be some which infuse one dramme of Wale∣wort seede in white wine, and affirme that it drunken will performe the like effect as Antimony. Others dissolve a little weight of the seed of Rue being bruised in Mus∣kadine, with the quantity of a Beane of Treacle, and so drinke it. Others beate or bruise an handfull of the leaves or tops of Broome in halfe a pint of white wine, and so give it to the patient to drinke, to cause him to vomit, loose his belly, and make him to sweat. Truly those that are wounded or bitte with venemous beasts, if they bind broome above the wound, it will prohibit or hinder the venome from disper∣sing it selfe, or going any further: therefore a drink made thereof will prohibit the venome from going any nearer the heart. Some take of the roote of Elecampaine, Gentian, Tormentill, Kermes berries and broom; of the powder of Ivory and Harts-horne, of each halfe a dram: they doe bruise and beate all these, and infuse them for the space of foure and twenty houres in white wine and Aqua vitae on the warm em∣bers, and then straine it, and give the patient three or foure ounces thereof to drinke; this provokes sweat, and infringeth the power of the poyson: and the potion follow∣ing hath the same vertue.

Take good Mustard half an ounce, of Treacle or Mithridate the weight of a Bean, dissolve them in white wine, and a little Aqua vitae, and let the patient drinke it, and * 1.6 sweat thereon with walking. You may also roast a great Onion made hollow, and filled with halfe a dram of Treacle and Vinegar under the embers; and then straine it, and mixe the juice that is pressed out of it with the water of Sorrell, Carduus Bene∣dictus, or any other cordiall thing, and with strong wine, and give the patient to drinke thereof to provoke sweat, and to repell the malignity. Or else take as much Garlick as the quantity of a big Nut; of Rue and Celandine, of each twenty leaves, bruise them all in white wine and a little Aqua vitae; then straine it, and give the patient thereof to drink. There be some that doe drink the juice that is pressed out of Celandine and Mallowes, with three ounces of Vinegar, and halfe an ounce of the oyle of Wall-nuts, and then by much walking doe unburthen their stomack and belly upwards and downewards, and so are helped. When the venemous ayre hath

already crept into and infected the humors, one dram of the dryed leaves of the Bay tree macerated for the space of two dayes in Vinegar and drunke, is thought to bee a most soveraigne medicine to provoke sweat, loosenesse of the belly, and vomiting.

Mathiolus in his Treatise de Morbo Gallico writeth, that the powder of Mercury * 1.7 ministred unto the patient with the juice of Carduus Benedictus, or with the electua∣ry de Gommis, will drive away the Pestilence before it be confirmed in the body, by provoking vomit, looseness of the belly & sweat: one dram of Calchanthum or white Copperose dissolved in Rose-water, performeth the like effect in the same disease. Some do give the patient a little quantity of the oyle of Scorpions with white wine to expel the poyson by vomit, & therewithall they anoint the region of the heart, the breast and the wrests of the hands. I think these very meet to be used often in bodies that are strong and wel exercised, because weaker medicines do evacuate little or no∣thing at all, but onely move the humours, whereby commeth a Feaver. When a suf∣ficient quantity of the malignity is evacuated, then you must minister things that may strengthen the belly and stomack, and withhold the agitation or working of the humours: and such is the confection of Alkermes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What purges fit in thel lague.
• * 1.2

  Pils.
• * 1.3

  An effectuall sudorifick and also purging medicine.
• * 1.4

  The vertues of Mugwort.
• * 1.5

  Vide Rondelet. Lib. 7. de p••s. c. 3.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Potion.
• * 1.7

  The effects of mercury & cop∣perose against the Plague.