A treatise, vvherein is declared the sufficiencie of English medicines, for cure of all diseases, cured with medicines. Whereunto is added a collection of medicines growing (for the most part) within our English climat, approoued and experimented against the iaundise, dropsie, stone, falling-sicknesse, pestilence

A Catalogue of simple English Medicines, easie to be prepared, against the Dropsie.

ABsinthium, Wormwood:* 1.1 an excellent me∣dicine against the Dropsie, which wee call aquaintercus, and is to bee prepared after this manner: take the leaues of wormwood newe, let it be sea wormwood, or com∣mon, the quantitie of a pounde, sugar three pounds: be••t it in a stone morter, and the sugar being well powdered, mixe them, and worke all well together in the morter, vntill it be all one bodie, then reserue it to your vse, halfe an ounce thereof being taken three houres before supper. Mathiolus. Wormwood cureth the dropsie. Mesue.

Sea wormwood is a singular remedie in the weak∣nesse of the liuer, so that by the onely vse thereof it doth sometimes cure the Dropsie. Iacobus Sil∣uius. If one ounce of the iuice of wormwood with sugar be drunk for ten daies together it doth deliuer a man from the dropsie. Gualt. Riffius.

Allium, Garlike the vse thereof is profitable a∣gainst the dropsie, when it proceedeth of a colde cause, because it doth drawe drie, and consumeth the moisture betweene the skinne, Vitalis de Furno.

The vse of garlik, if it bee familiar to men of poore estate that haue the dropsie, it cureth them. Wierus. Garlike with the lesser centaurie boyled in wine and giuen to drinke, is good against the drop∣sie. Quint. Apollinarius.

* 1.2Alumen, Alum liquid giuen the quantitie of a beane, being dissolued in water and strained, giue thereof to drinke against the dropsie. Aetius.

Anagallis, Pimpernel, boyled in wine helpeth them that haue the dropsie. Adam. Lonicerus.

The iuice of yellow pimpernil taken by it selfe or in wine,* 1.3 is giuen for the dropsie. Anton. Donatus ab Alto mari.

Apium. Smallage: The rootes of smallage boy∣led in wine with the rootes of persly,* 1.4 and the liquor strained, it is giuen to drinke to them that be hydro∣pical, because it procureth vrin.

* 1.5Aquilega, Columbine, the roote boyled in wine and drunke, doth profit them that haue the Drop∣sie.

* 1.6Artemesia, Motherwort. A certaine man gaue the distilled water to drinke, to them which haue the dropsie, and the quantitie is two ounces for a time for fortie daies together.

* 1.7Asarum: Asarabacca, is good against the drop∣sie. Dioscorides. So is the wine of Asarum. Idem. Asarum put in M••st or newe wine, or boyled with the same, cureth the dropsie. Pet. Bayrus. Asarum purgeth the dropsie Ascites by vrin. Anton Fumanel∣lus.

The decoction of Asarum drunke, doth only profit, especially if there be a little Cinamon ioyned therewith. Leonh. Iacchinus.

Asclepias, Vincitoxicū of som,* 1.8 but called truly swal∣low worte: the decoction of this plant by it selfe cureth the dropsie: or else take halfe a pound of the roots thereof, and let it be marerated in white wine for a night, then boyle them to the thirds, and giue of the strayning thereof in the morning fa∣sting, and there will follow sweats by the soles of the feete, whereby the dropsie will auoide, as experience declareth. Mathiolus, Adam. Lonicerus, Alexan∣der Petronius.

Asphodil, Daffodil,* 1.9 the roote thereof drunke in wine helpeth the dropsie. Mathiolus.

B

Betonica, Betony,* 1.10 the leaues and flowers there∣of boyled in aqua mulsa, and giuen hot to drinke for some daies together, doth helpe those that haue the dropsie, wonderfully. Adam. Lonicerus.

Brassica marina, or Soldamella,* 1.11 the decoction thereof with Rhubarbe being drunke, it auoideth the water of those that haue the dropsie, so doth the pouder thereof with Rhubarbe and cubebs often giuen. Mathiolus.

Bryonia Syluestris, Wilde Bryony:* 1.12 the roots there∣of are verie profitable in the dropsie giuen mixed with sea water and wine: and when they drinke it, let them drinke two measures at a time. Dioscori∣des.

The roote of Bryony is some times cut in small peces, and infused in wine▪ whereof the patient doth receiue a draught in the morning, to which is some times added a little cinamon and maces, that it may do the lesse harme. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Wierus.

C

* 1.13Centaurium, Centaurie, the lesse: the decoction therof is vsed against the dropsie, some giue halfe a drachme thereof in pouder, adding thereto anise seedes, and caraway seeds, of either of them halfe a drachme with wine. Arnoldus de Villa noua. The roote o•• the greater centaurie, is giuen for the drop∣sie mace••ated in wine, as also drunke in powder. Mathiolus.

* 1.14Cep••••., the Onion: the iuice of the onion, with the iuice of senel, is giuen with great profit, in the beginning of the dropsie. Anton. M••zaldus.

The Iuice of onyons distilled with tr••acle adding thereunto a little saffron, it cureth the dropsie if there be giuen euerie morning daily, the quantitie of two drachmes for a time. Nich. Richi••.

Cuscuta, Dodder, a handfull thereof boyled in wine,* 1.15 is good against the dropsi••. Adamus Loni∣cerus.

D

* 1.16Daueus, the Carret: the seede is good against the dropsie because it pu••geth the wa••rish humor by v∣rin

if one ounce thereof bee boyled in halfe a pint of Rhenish wine, to the consumption of the third part for three doses, and this is an experi∣ment.

E

Ebulus, Walworte, it driueth forth by the belly, water, of those that haue the dropsie,* 1.17 and somtimes it worketh by vomit: the iuice thereof is drawne forth either from the roote or from the middle rine being brused, pouring thereon aqua hordei, or the decoction of reasons, with a little cinamon, or nutmeg, with sugar, the dose is one ounce. Fernelius.

Eringium, Eringus,* 1.18 the decoction of the rootes helpeth the dropsie. Mathiolus.

Eupatorium: the decoction,* 1.19 or iuice of the com∣mon liuerwort is profitably giuen for the dropsie. Mathiolus.

F

Fa••ae, Beanes: of the burnt stalkes of beanes, there is made Alixiuium, or lye,* 1.20 either with white wine or Rhenish wine, the vse whereof is against the dropsie, and there is giuen inward the quantity of three ounces for a time. Ioannes Hu••rinus.

Ferrum, Iron:* 1.21 The water of yron is giuen for the dropsie, especially if there be hardnes of the liuer and spleene, or daylie obstructions or when the dropsie followeth the laundise, and it must bee

prepared after this manner: extinguish yron in wa∣ter, so long as it shall leaue behinde it a certaine taste of the yron and a sharpnes thereof; as for example, take common water twelue pints, then quench yron glowing hotte in it, and let it be quenched so long till there remaine but foure pints of this water, mix with wine or other fit water to drinke. Alexander Petronius.

Filix, Ferne, the decoction of the roote, or the iuice thereof is an excellent remedie against the dropsie.* 1.22 Iulius Caesar Arantius. But beware of the vse thereof in women, because as Dioscorides witnes∣seth it induceth bariennesse and sterilitie.

G

* 1.23Genista, Broome, doth verie much euacuate wa∣ter, in them that haue the dropsie, which is done by Alixiuium made in this manner: take one part of Broome ashes, wine three parts, and adde thereun∣to Nutmeg and Cinamon, both for taste and also for the stomach, giue three ounces for a time. Io∣an. Huerinus

H

Helenium, enula campane, the rootes being brused and the iuice expressed,* 1.24 and mixed with hony and so taken for eleuen daies the Moone decreasing: the quantitie to be taken, is the quantitie of a Chesnut, morning. Wal••herus Riffius.

Hypericon, Saint Iohns worte, one drachme of the

seeds in wine, is profitably giuen for the dropsie. An∣ton. Donatus ab Alto mari. Saint Iohns worte with garlicke boyled in wine, and the wine drunk, it pur∣geth water by vrin exceedingly; this is an experi∣ment.

I

Iuniperus, Iuniper:* 1.25 Three handfuls of Iuniper berries, boyled in pure wine to the halfe, let it bee strained, and giue thereof sixe ounces hotte, and it prouoketh sweat, and this must bee continued for some daies together. Martinus Rulandus.

Alixiutum framed of the ashes of Iuniper, and wine, and so drawne through an Ipocrasse bagge, and and so often infused, and so drawne. Ioan. Wierus. A lye made of Iuniper ashes, and white wine, the quantitie of foure or fiue ounces, doth exceedingly purge by vrin, so that many hydropicall bodies, haue beene cured by this onely remedie. Mathiolus.

L

Laurus, the Baye: wee vse bay berries with hony, in the forme of a Cataplasme, to the swollen testicles.* 1.26

Lumbrici terrestres, Earth-wormes:* 1.27 it is giuen with profit, boyled in broath, or some other con∣uenient liquor, against the dropsie, Anasarca. Gas∣parus Hoffmannus.

M

Maiorana, Marioram,* 1.28 boyled in wine and drunk in the beginning of the dropsie, cureth it. Nichol. Spindlerus.

Marrubium, Horehounde, the decoction thereof with wine, is marueilous against the Dropsie. Ma∣thiolus.

P

Paracentesis: is the last remedie in the dropsie, and is not to be vsed without vrgent necessitie; but the belly being once well, and orderly opened, it wor∣keth great effect,* 1.29 for the water is thereby euacuated, which cannot otherwise bee carried from that regi∣on, neither is that Apertion so daungerous, if it bee rightly done. For we often see, some that are woun∣ded in the belly to recouer, so that the small guttes be not wounded; besides, it is profitable to them to whom an eruption hapneth by chance through the nauell, for thereby the water is auoided, and they are cured. But neuerthelesse, this kinde of cure is not to bee assaied in those whose facultie of the liuer is dead, and that cannot ingender good blood: or in those that haue a Schirthus of the liuer or splene confirmed, or in those that haue this disease bred from an vlcer of the lungs: for experience doth teach vs, that all those doe die with this remedie, neither must this remedie be tried, in verie olde or weake men. But indeede all the time of the cure, we must studie to strengthen the liuer and bowels, as much as may bee. Ioh. Wierus.

This cure which we call paracentesis, is not fit for any kindes of the dropsies, but that which wee call Ascites. Paulus. Hippocrates doth commend paracen∣tesis in the dropsie. Galenus.

And all other Physitians▪ when they haue tryed o∣ther remedies without profit, so that the sicke bee

young and strong and other things thereto agree∣••••••. Nevertheless, the water must not be auoyded all together, but by little and little for some dayes together, by degrees, according to the Aphorism of Hippoc. In which he counselleth to auoyd all speedie euacuation. And how the incision must be made, Paulus, and Aetius, and many others do teach vs.

Q

Quercus, the Oake: the tender leaues or rather buds of the Oake are infused by some in wine,* 1.30 & of this wine we must giue for some dayes together to those that haue the Dropsie. This is an experiment. A bath made of the leaues of the Oake in the fall of the leafe, or in Autumn, doth cure the dropsie.

A water distilled of the buddes or tender leaues of the Oake and drunk, doth help the dropsie. Ioh. Hu∣ernius.

R

Raphanus, the Radish:* 1.31 The vse of the Radish is commended in the dropsie, because it hath power to purge by vrine.

Ricinus, or Palma Christi,* 1.32 purgeth the water in the dropsie by vomit and stoole. There is giuen fiue graines, or at the most eight, in the decoction of Fenell and Raisins, adding a little Suger and Cina∣mon. Also the graines whole in Suger melted, and ••rapt in Hony, and so swallowed, gently purgeth water with little or no offence of the stomack. Fer∣nelius.

Rosae pallidae, whiteroses, or damask,* 1.33 the iuice therof

doth euacuate yellow water in the dropsie. Ferneli∣us. But because they prouoke the menstrues, we must take heed how we giue it to women with childe. Io. Hernius.

* 1.34Ruta, Rue: the decoction thereof taken for ma∣ny daies together, is reported to cure the dropsie Timpanites. Anton. Fumanellus.

S

Sambucus, the Elder: the iuice of the roote of the elder,* 1.35 being drunke in wine the weight of two ounces, driueth out water. Paulus. The roote of the elder boyled in wine, and giuen in meate, hel∣peth those that haue the dropsie.

The common sort are wont to prepare this fol∣lowing decoction against the dropsie: They take two handfulls of the inward rinde of the elder tree with a pint and a halfe of Rhenish wine, and they suffer it to boyle to a pinte, then they aromatise the straining with a drachme of cinamon, and giue it to drinke.

T

Tormentilla: a water distilled of the herbe and rootes of Tormentil,* 1.36 it cureth the dropsie, if it bee continued and drunke for nine daies together. Ges∣nerus. For it doth mightily procure vrin.

V

Valeriana, Valerian.* 1.37 A certain man boyleth the roots in wine against the dropsie, and doth giue the decoction to drinke: this is an experiment.

Vitriolum, Vitriol: Some there are that do giue certaine drops of the oyle of Vitriol,* 1.38 to those that haue the dropsie, and is giuen in a draught or cyath of wine, and is a great secret. Ioan. Wierus.

Vrtica, the Nettle, the seede thereof clensed and mixed with hony is giuen against the dropsie,* 1.39 Asci∣••s.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Wormwood.
• * 1.2

  Alumbe.
• * 1.3

  Pimpernil.
• * 1.4

  Smallage.
• * 1.5

  Columbine.
• * 1.6

  Mother∣wort.
• * 1.7

  Asarabac∣ca.
• * 1.8

  Swallow-wort.
• * 1.9

  Daffodil.
• * 1.10

  Betony.
• * 1.11

  Soldanel.
• * 1.12

  Bryony.
• * 1.13

  Centaurie.
• * 1.14

  Onions.
• * 1.15

  Dodder.
• * 1.16

  Carret.
• * 1.17

  Walworte.
• * 1.18

  Eringus.
• * 1.19

  Liuerwor••.
• * 1.20

  Beanes.
• * 1.21

  Iron.
• * 1.22

  Ferne.
• * 1.23

  Broome.
• * 1.24

  Elicampane
• * 1.25

  Iuniper••
• * 1.26

  Baye.
• * 1.27

  E••rth-wormes.
• * 1.28

  Marioram.
• * 1.29

  Opening of the belly.
• * 1.30

  Oake.
• * 1.31

  Radish.
• * 1.32

  Palma Christi.
• * 1.33

  White∣roses.
• * 1.34

  Rue.
• * 1.35

  Elder.
• * 1.36

  Tormentill.
• * 1.37

  Valerian.
• * 1.38

  Vitrol.
• * 1.39

  A Nettle.