The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome

CHAP. XII.

¶ For dislocations or members out of ioint. Against the Iaundise, Felons, hollow sores called Fistula's. Tumors, Burnes, and Scaldings. Against other diseases. For to comfort the si∣newes, and stanch bloud.

THe root of Polypodium brought into a liniment, is a proper remedy for any dislocation. The seed of Fleawort: the leaues of Plantaine punned with some few cornes of salt put therto: the seed of Mullen boiled in wine, stamped and reduced into a cataplasme: Hem∣locke, incorporat with hogs grease. All these applied accordingly, do assuage paine and bring down any swelling, occasioned by dislocation. The leaues of Ephemerum brought into a lini∣ment, [unspec E] * 1.1 are good for any bunches or tumors caused by those accidents, if they be taken betimes whiles they may be discussed and resolued.

As touching the Iaundise, I cannot but wonder at it, especially appearing as it doth in the eies; namely, how the gall should get vnder those fine membranes and tunicles, lying so close couched as they do. Hippocrates hath taught vs a rule, That if the jaundise shew in a feuer * 1.2 after the seuenth day from the beginning thereof, it is a deadly signe. Howbeit, I my self haue known some to haue escaped and liued stil, notwithstanding that desperat signe. But this is not alwaies a symptome incident to an ague, but happeneth otherwhiles without a feuer: and then a drinke made of the greater Centaurie, as I haue before shewed, doth with stand & stay the course ther∣of. [unspec F] Also Betony riddeth away the iaundise, if the patient do drink three oboli therof in one cy∣ath of old wine. The leaues of Veruaine likewise haue the like effect, if the same quantity be drunke foure daies together in one hemine of wine hot. But the speediest cure of this disease, is by Cinque-foile or fiue leaued grasse, if three cyaths of the juice be taken with salt and hony in drink. The root of Sowbread is a soueraigne medicine for this infirmity, if the Patient drinke

the weight of three drams: but this care ought to be had, that the room be hot, and so close that [unspec G] no winde may come in, for feare of catching cold: and then it will driue out the jaundise by sweat, lustily. The leaues of Fole-foot taken in water: the seed of Mercuries, both the male & fe∣male, if a cup of drink be spiced therewith, or if it be sodden with Wormewood or cich pease: the * berries of hyssop drunk with water: the herb Liuerwort, so that the patient ab stain from * 1.3 all worts or potherbes, so long as he taketh it: Capillus veneris giuen in wine: and the Fullers herb in wine honied, be all of them good medicines for the jaundise.

As for the sores called Fellons or Cats-hairs, they will breed euery where in any part of the body, and put folk to great anguish and trouble who haue them, yea, and otherwhiles indanger their life, especially if they meet with lean and worn bodies. But what remedy? Take the leaues of the herb Pycnocomos, let them be stamped and incorporate with fried Barley meale, and so [unspec H] applied, in case the said fellons are not drawne to a pointed or sharpe head. The leaues also of * Ephedros brought into a liniment and laid too, do discusse & dissolue them, if they be taken * 1.4 in the beginning.

Moreouer, you shall not see a part of the body but it is subiect to the Fistulaes, which creepe inwardly and hollow as they go: but especially, when by the vnskilfull direction of Physitians, or the lewd hand of chyrurgions there be an incision vntowardly made in the body. The help is to make tents of Centaurie the lesse, with honey boiled, and put them into the concauity. Also to vse an injection of Plantain juice. To apply Cinquefoile with salt and hony. Ladanum also with Castoreum: to lay vnto the sore, Vmbilicus veneris, with deere Marow, especially of Stag or Hind, hot. The string or pith of a Mullen root fashioned slender to the form of a tent put in∣to [unspec I] the vlcer, or the root of Aristolochia in that manner vsed, or the juice of Tithymall conueied into it, serue all to cure the Fistula.

Al inflammations, biles, & impostumes, are healed by a liniment made of Argemony leaues So be all hard and schirrous tumors, occasioned by the gathering of humors, with Veruaine or Cinquefoile sodden in vineger: with the leaues and roots of Mullen: with hyssope applied in wine: with the root of Acorus, so that there be a fomentation withall made of the decoction of the said herb: and finally with Housleek. In like manner, these herbs before rehearsed do heale bruises, hard tumors, or bunches and hollow sores. The leaues of * Illecebra draw forth any ar∣row heads and whatsoeuer sticketh within the body: so do the leaues of Folefoot: the Carot al∣so, * 1.5 and the leaues of * Lions paw, stamped and incorporat with fried Barly meale in water. The [unspec K] leaues of Pycnocomos punned, or the seed beaten to pouder, & with Barly meale parched, and * 1.6 so reduced into a cataplasm, are good to be applied to biles and impostumes broken & running matter. In like manner the Ragworts are to be vsed.

As touching the accidents that happe•…•… in the bones, the root of Satyrion if it be laid outward ly vpon them, are thought to work a most effectual & speedy cure. Al cankerous & eating sores, likewise impostumes growing to suppuration, are healed with the sea weeds, if they be applied before they be dried & withered. Also the root of marsh Mallow, doth dissipate and scatter all gatherings of humors to an impostume, before it be come to an head and to suppurat.

Plantain and the Clot Bur are singular for burns or scalds, healing them vp so clean without a skar, that a man shall not perceiue the place: the maner is to take the leaues, seeth them in wa∣ter, [unspec L] stamp them into a liniment, and so to apply them. Likewise the roots of Sowbread, together with Housleek: the herb it selfe Hypericon, which I called before * 1.7 Corion, haue the like effect.

For the infirmities incident to sinews and joints, Plantain is a soueraigne herb, if it be stam∣ped with salt: so is Argemonia punned and incorporat with hony. The juice of Harstrang is sin∣gular to annoint those that be sprained, such also as be stretched with an vniversall cramp as if they were all of a peece. For to mollifie the hardnesse of sinews that be shrunk vp, there is not a better thing than the juice of Aegilops: and to assuage their pain, a liniment made with ground∣swell * 1.8 and vineger, is excellent. For those that be sprained and troubled with that crampe which draweth their necke backward, it is good to rub and annoint them well with Epithymum; with the seed of S. Iohns woort, which also is called Coris, and to drinke the same. As for the hearbe [unspec M] Phrynion, they say it hath vertue to conglutinat and vnite sinews again, if they were cut in sun∣der, if it be laied too presently, either stamped or chewed in the mouth. For such likewise as be spasmatick, plucked backward with the cramp, or troubled with trembling and shaking of the lims, it is good to giue them the root of the marsh Mallow to drink in mead: and in that maner

taken, it healeth those that be stiffe and stark for cold. Finally, the red seed of the herbe Paeony [unspec A] stancheth any flux of bloud, the root thereof hath the like operation. As for Cyclaminos, that is to say Sowbread, it staies any bleeding, whether it be at the mouth raught vp from out of the body, or at the nosthrils, whether it run by the fundament, or gush from the matrice of women. Likewise Lysimachia stancheth bloud either in drink, liniment, or Errhin put vp into the nose. The like effect hath Plantain seed. Cinquefoile also both taken inwardly and applied outward ly. Moreouer, if the nose bleed, take the seed of Hemlocke, beat it into pouder, mixe it with wa∣ter, and so put it vp handsomly into the nosthrils. Also Sengreene and the root of Astragulus. To conclude, wild Hirse called in Greek * 1.9 Ischaemon and Achillaea, do stay any issue of bloud.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Some take it for the May Lillie or •…•…l∣ly convally.
• * 1.2

  Nay rather before the 7 day for then it i•…•… Symptoma∣ticall, and sig∣nifieth irregu∣lar humours: whereas vpon th•…•… 7, 9, 11, and such Decreto∣rie da•…•…es, it is criticall, and gi•…•…th hope of recouery. As Hippocrates himse•…•…fe tea∣cheth. Aphoris. 62 and 64, li. 4.
• * 1.3

  Bacc•…•…, rather cymae, i. the tops, as before.
• * 1.4

  Hippuris, Hors∣taile.
• * 1.5

  A kind of Housleeke.
• * 1.6

  Our Ladies Mantle.
• * 1.7

  Or Coris.
• * 1.8

  Darnell, as some thinke.
• * 1.9

  i Sanch∣bloud, a kind of Yarrow.