Praxis medicinæ, or, the physicians practice vvherein are contained inward diseases from the head to the foote: explayning the nature of each disease, with the part affected; and also the signes, causes, and prognostiques, and likewise what temperature of the ayre is most requisite for the patients abode, with direction for the diet he ought to obserue, together with experimentall cures for euery disease. ... Written by that famous and worthy physician, VValter Bruel.

A method seruing for the cure of the too much suppression of the moneths.

THe ayre must incline to heate, and her meat must bee heating: she may drinke sweet wine; labor and exer∣cise is very good for her. Shee must not sleepe so long as vsually she did; likewise she must auoyd all passions of the mind.

Syr. de quin{que} radicibus, of Maydens-haire. Artemisiae,* 1.1

Byzantinus, Agrimony. Oxymel compositum, water of Parsly, Dodder, Fennell, Baulme, Artemisiae, Sauine, Thyme, Wormwood, Penny-royall. A decoction with the roots of Fennell, Parsly, Asarum, rubia tinctorum, leaues of Nepite, Origan, Mug-wort, Sauine, Penny-royall, Saffron, Cina∣mon, seeds of Annise, Fennell, Carroots, flowers of Elders, Rosemary, Buglosse, red Ciches•• adde to this strayning Oxymel compositum. The thicke matter shalbe made thinne by attenuating medicines; the slimy matter shall be pre∣pared by cutters; because this matter is oftentimes caused by grosse and slymy matter, which must in time be pre∣pared: and for this very cause, a woman had need to be purged with these following medicines:

* 1.2The ankle bone must bee opened twice or thrice in euery yeere, especially if the body abound with blood. For by great store of blood the obstruction is nourished. But the part from whence blood must be drawne, must first be washed with the decoction of Mallows, Cammomill, Mellilote, Lillies for by this meanes the blood will descend to the lower parts. Pillul. de agarico, Mastichinae, Alephan∣ginae. Hiera simplex, Logo••ij, Dia••olocynth. Diacath. Diaphaenic. Benedicta laxatiua, Electuarium elescopi, Indum maius. Pillul. Aggregatiuae, Fatidae, de Sagapeno, Alephanginae. Agaricus.

* 1.3The Triacle of Andromachus, Mithridate, with the de∣coction of Cinnamon, Triphera magna, without any Opium, but with Cinamon water. The Trochisks of Myrrhe are very good. Hyppocra•• shalbe made with white wine and Cinamon: allay and mingle the decoction of Eringus herewith. Also the iuyce of Eringus, with white wine is good. Sauine, and Dittany infused in wine. Millium s••lis Sauine, with white wine. Cupping-glasses, with scarification shalbe applied to the share, hams, priuities or hips, and so the blood shalbe drawne to the wombe. The lower parts shalbe rubbed with a hot cloth, and the hips shall be tied very hard: quilts, fomentations, and sitting in

baths made with the decoction formerly specified: also a bath may be made with the flowers of Cammomill, Melli∣lote, Radice rubia tinctorum, Hyssop, Baulme, Nepit, Maioram, leaues of Bayes, and also Bay-berries, roots of Fennell, Parsley, Calamint, Origan, Penny-royall, Rose∣mary, Artemisia, Berries of Iuniper. A suffumigation of Artemisia, Aristolochia, Bay-berries, Iuniper, Cinamon, Cloues, Cassia lignea, Origan, Nepit, Frankincense, Sto∣rax, Galbanum. An oyntment for the lower part of the belly, of the mucilage of the seeds of Linus, Fengreeke, fresh Butter, Marrow of the bone of a Hart, Oyle of sweet Almonds, Lillies, Rue, Sauine. An oyntment of Arthani ta Oyle of Lillies, Tiles, Pepper. An emplaister of Southern∣wood, Sauine, roots of Cyclamen, Sagapenum, Myrrhe, Galbanum, Oppoponax, ••torax. A pessary ex oleo muscelino, Oyle of Tiles, Harts-marrow, roots of Broome, dip Muske Cotton in these. Another pessary may be made with the herb Mercury bruised, Triacle, Mithridate, Gentiana, Beauer-stone, Myrrhe, Berries of Iuniper, Tryphera magna, or else it may be made with Gumme Ammoniacke, Gal∣banum, oppoponax, Sagapenum, leedes of Melanthium, roots of Cyclamen, rubia tinctorum, Nigella, Sauine, Harts-marrow. An emplayste•• may be made of the same: and the pessary must be then vsed, when the plaister is layd on. Such medicines as do prouoke the termes, shall not be pre∣scribed vnto such as are newly recouered of a disease, nor vnto such as feele no paine by the suppression; neyther may they be brought downe in those that are fat or vnder 14 yeeres of age, or aboue 45, or in them that are with child, or that do giue sucke: also in them that haue an ill iuyced body, if it may be discerned that they haue small store of blood, or that they be weakned by dayly diseases: also if they haue lost great store of blood by bleeding at the nose or some other part: for then the blood shall rather be kept in: and if there be any humours that do corrupt the blood, they shalbe amended, if any of the former accidents hap∣pen,

the moneths shall not be caused to flow, by any of the former medicines: but if there be plenty of humors, and that they are suppressed because of thicknesse thereof, or a slimynesse, or stopping of the wombs vessell, or parts round about it, or else by the thicknesse of the womb, the moneths shall then be prouoked.

* 1.4Milke, the white of an Egge beaten; oyle of Violets, and Roses, Rosewater. These asswage the heat of the womb, if any be caused by Pessaries or such like medicines, a linnen cloth must bee dipped in them, and so layd to the necke of the wombe when occasion shall require.

A more particular method seruing for the cure of the suppression of the moneths.

* 1.5℞ Diacath. ʒ vi. Mannae Calabri••, ℥ i. sir. Artemisiae, ℥ i. ss, water of Artemisia, ℥ iiii.

* 1.6℞ sir. Artemisia, ℥ ii. sirupe de duabus radicibus, Byzan∣tinus, ana ℥ i. water of Fennell, Parsley, Matricaria, ana ʒ iiii.

* 1.7℞ roots of Asarum, ℥ ss, Fennell, Parsley, ana ℥ i. ss, Sauine, M ss, Nepite, M i. ss, of Maydenhaire, p i. boyle these in wa∣ter. q. s. vnto lb i. adde to the strayning sir. de quin{que} radi∣cibus, ℥ iii. This doth loosen the obstruction, and prepares the matter.

* 1.8℞ roots of Fennell, Parsley, ana ℥ i. Aristol. rot. ℥ ii, seeds of Annise, red Ciches, ana ʒ ii. ss, Raysins the stones being taken out, ℥ i. ss, Sauine, ʒ i, ss, flowers of Borage, Buglosse, leaues of Nepite, Artemisia, ana M i. flowers of Elder, M ss, Licorice, ℥ ss, Polypodij quercini, ℥ i. white and light Aga∣ricke, ʒ iii. ss, Ginger, ℈ ii. boyle these in water, q. s. vnto lb i. ss. adde to the strayning Elect. elescopi, ℥ i. sir. Artemisiae. Byzantini, ana ℥ i. ss.

℞ Elect. elescopi, ʒ vi. Benedicta laxatinae,* 1.9 ʒ ii. sir. Arte∣misia, ℥ i. water of Nepite, ℥ iii.

℞ Pillul. de Sagapeno, Mastichinarum, Faetidarum,* 1.10 ana ℈ i. Cinnamon, ℈ ss, Beauer-stone, Sauine, ana gr. xii. sir. Arte∣misiae q. s. make hereof 7. or 8. pills.

℞ Trochisc. de Mirrhae, ℈ ii. Cinnamon, Beauerstone,* 1.11 ana ℈ i. sir. Artemisiae, of sweet white wine, ana ℥ ii.

℞ Boracis, Corticum Cassiae Fistulae, ana ℈ ii. ss,* 1.12 roots of Cyclamen, Cinnamon, ana ℥ ss, Myrrhe, ℈ i. Giue ℈ ii. hereof with white wine.

℞ Triphera magna without Opium, Troch. de Myrrh••,* 1.13 ana ʒ ii. ancient Triacle, ʒ i. Beauerstone, ℈ i. ss. M••astri, roots of Dittany, Sauine, Cinnamon, Cassia lignea, ana ℈ i. conserue of Buglosse, ℥ ii. ss.

℞ Troch. de Myrrha, ʒ iiii. roots of Dittany, ʒ ii. ss,* 1.14 Sauine, ʒ ss, Beauerstone, ℈ ii. Giue ʒ i. hereof with the wa∣ter of Artemisia.

℞ roots of Asarum, ℥ i. Cyclamen, ʒ iii. leaues of Nepite, M i. ss, Sauine ʒ ii. seeds of Parsley, Milij solis, ana ℥ ss,* 1.15 Car∣rowaies, ʒ ii. Licorice, ʒ v. boyle these in a little white wine, adde to lb i. of this strayning sir. Artemisiae, de quin{que} radi∣cibus, ana ℥ i, ss.

℞ roots of Fennell, Parsley, Sperage, Ruscus,* 1.16 Rubi•• tinctorum, ana ℥ i. the flowers of Cammomile. Mellilot, El∣der, ana M ii. ss, leaues of Rosemary, Artemisia, Sauine, Ne∣pite, Bayes, ana M ii. ss, Baulme, Origan, ana M i. seedes of Linus, Fengreeke, ana ℥ i. ss, seedes of Carrots, Ammi, ana ℥ ss, boyle these in water q. s. vntill the third part bee con∣sumed. The patient shall sit herein vp to the nauell, without prouocation of sweate, because it doth hinder the purgation of the moneths. A Quil•• shall be filled with Artemisia, and applyed to the priuy part. And after shee comes out of the bath, shee may take the following me∣dicine.

* 1.17℞ of Beauerstone, ʒ i. Cinnamon, ℈ i. Mithridate, ℈ i. ss, decoction of Cinnamon with Hyppocras, ℥ iiii. or else giue it with the conserue of Rosemary-flowers.

* 1.18℞ roots of Danewort, lb i. Elder▪ ℥ v. roots of Rubiae tinctorum, Flower-de-luce, ana ʒ ii. leaues of Sage, Artemisiae ana M iii. boyle these in an equall quantity of wine and wa∣ter, vntill the third part be consumed: the hips shall be wa∣shed herewith morning and euening: the continuall vse hereof is very good.

* 1.19℞ oyle of white Lillies, ℥ i. ss, of sweet Almonds, ℥ ii. Cammomile, Hens-grease, ana ℥ ss, roots of Asarum aristol. ana ℈ i. ss, anoynt the lower region of the belly, and that part of the side where the reynes lye.

* 1.20℞ roots of Dittany, Cyclamen, ana ʒ iii. Fennell. P••••sley, Rubia tinctorum ana ℥ i. leaues of Sage, Nepit, Artemisia, ana M i. boyle these in water q. s. vntill the third part bee consumed. Giue ℥ iii. hereof with ℈ i. ss, of Beauerstone, and gr. i. of Muske.

* 1.21℞ Triacle, ℥ ss, Saffron, ℈ ss, iuyce of Sauine, Danewort, with the water of Artemisia, ana ℥ iiii.

* 1.22℞ Harts-marrow. ℥ i. ss, roots of Rubia tinctorum, Ni∣gella, Bayberries, ana ℈ i. Myrrhe, Beauer-stone, ana ℈ ii. Cy∣clamen, Sauine, ana ℈ i, ss. oyle of Lillies, q. s.

* 1.23℞ Colocynth. Cyclaminis; ana ʒ ss. Nigella, Genti••n••, ana ℈ ii, Triacle, ʒ ss. make hereof a Pessary with the iuyce of Sauine.

* 1.24℞ troch. gallia muschata, roots of Rubi•• tinctorum, aristol. rot. ana ʒ i. Cinnamon, Cloues, ana ʒ ss, Artemisiae, Nepit, Baulme, ana ℈ ii. Frankincense, Storax, Galbanum, ana ℈ i. ss, This must be receiued into the wombe by a pipe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Preparers.
• * 1.2

  Emptiers.
• * 1.3

  Prouokers of the moneths.
• * 1.4

  Correctors of acci∣dents.
• * 1.5

  A draught.
• * 1.6

  A Iulep.
• * 1.7

  A Potion.
• * 1.8

  A Potion.
• * 1.9

  A draught.
• * 1.10

  Pills▪
• * 1.11

  A draught▪
• * 1.12

  A Powder:
• * 1.13

  A mixture.
• * 1.14

  A Powder.
• * 1.15

  A Potion.
• * 1.16

  A Bath.
• * 1.17

  An Elec∣tuary.
• * 1.18

  A Fomen∣tation.
• * 1.19

  An Oynt∣ment.
• * 1.20

  An Iniec∣tion.
• * 1.21

  Another.
• * 1.22

  A Pessary.
• * 1.23

  Another.
• * 1.24

  A Suffumi∣gation.