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 weaknes of the stomake.

THe ayre must incline to heate, and it wilbe good, if the patient were well armed against iniuries of the cold. His meate must be easy of digestion, and of that, but a small quantity, for he must not take more then his stomake is able to digest; neither must he receiue any other meate in, vntil the former be digested. Venison, hard beefe and salt, all fat meates, dried fishes may not be allowed; they also that are presently corrupted, and are windy, and eyther very hot, or very cold, and of an euill sauour, are vnwholsome. Reare egs with Cinamon or Masticke are good. He may drinke good wine, but the vnseasonable vse thereof is bad. Exercise presently after meate is not good; his sleepe must not be vnquiet, and his head must be layd higher then the other parts of the body, affections of the mind must be auoyded, and hee must be so merry, that he do not trans∣gresse the limits of wisdome.

Syr. of Wormoood, Hyssop, Calamint, Mint,* 1.1 Oxymel compositum, squilliticum, waters of Mints, Wormwood, Fen∣nell, Betony. Syr. of the iuyce of Sorrell, Roses, Quinces, Gooseberries. waters of Sorrell, Plantane, Roses. If weake∣nes be caused by a cold distemper, they in the first place may the strength of the stomacke is hereby loosened; therefore bee vsed; if by a hot distemper, they in the latter place shall be vsed. He may not drinke lukewarme medicines, for whatsoeuer he takes, must eyther be hote or cold.

The liuer veine shalbe opened,* 1.2 if the disease be trouble∣some, and come vpon the patient on a sudden. Diaturb. with rhab. Hiera picra, Hiera de agarico. Pillul. Alophang stomati∣cae. syr. of the manifold infusion of Roses, rhab. cassia fistula,

Myrobal. Kebuli, Emblici, Bellirici, aloes washt, a vomit with Mulsa, or lukewarme water, wherein Radish hath bin boyled, and a little common Oyle must be mingled with it. He may vse sundry nutriments at one time. He may vse this vomit euery day for the space of 4 or 5 dayes, & then Oxy∣mel squillit. shalbe added; for hereby, the phlegmy, and other maligne humours mixed therewith, may be driuen out. Whilest there is any offending matter remaining, gentle medicines shalbe vsed: for strong medicines do weaken the strength of the stomacke.

* 1.3Gentle Clysters, and sometimes sharpe, euen as occasion shall require, may be vsed▪ Strong ligatures of the legs aboue the knees. Ventoses must be applied to the buttock, hips, and sometimes to the nauill. Lotions of the feet and armes with hot water. Opening of the hemroide veine: sweate and vrine must be brought out.

* 1.4Syr. of Quinces, Pomegranates, Troch. de Olibano, de terra sigillata.

* 1.5Triacle, Mithridate; Diarrhod. Abbatis, Aromaticum rosatum, diatrion pipereon, Diaspoliticum, Diagalanga, Plirisarcoticum, Diaxyloaloes, Diacinnamomum, Diacy∣donium, diacalamintha. Syr. of Mints, Hyppocras, Worm∣wood, Aqua vitae, syr. of Wormwood. Orange-peels, preserued Ginger, preserued Galingale, conserue of Rose∣mary flowers, long Pepper, Cinamon, Mace, Cloues, Cala∣mus aromaticus, Roots of Cyp••rus, decoction of the wood Guaia••um, Wormwood, Mints, Nutmeg, Masticke, Raisins, the skin of a Hare, whelpe, Cunny: also the palme of the hand being very warme, may bee layd vpon the stomacke. When hee goeth to bed, hee must first lie on the right side, then on the left, and at the length againe on the right. A sponge may be dipped in strong wine, where∣with the stomacke must be washed: some of the medicines for the stomacke must first bee boyled in that wine. An oyntment of Dialthaea, of the Oyle of Wormwood, Mints, Mace, Masticke, spices may be boyled in these. A cap

made of the softest feathers of a Goose, a medicine for the stomacke of bombast well carded and dipped in strong wine, & then it must be dryed, at the length some Cinamon, Wormewood, Nutmeg, and the former spices may thereto be added. Ceratum stomatichum Gal. being made of Galin∣gale, Wormewood, Nutmeg, Cloues, Mints. Sirupe of the iuyce of Quinces, Gooseberries, Sorrell, dry Roses, Aceto∣sus simplex, vinum granatorum. Conserue of Roses, Violets, pulpe of Quinces, also the iuyce thereof. Diamargaritum frigidum, Diatragacanthum, Diatrion, sandal. ambra citrina, burnt Iuory, Harts-horne, Corrall, waters of Sorrell, Roses, Plantane, an oyntment of the oyle of Roses, Myrtle, Quin∣ces, an oyntment of Roses, Violets, Ceratum sandal. of flowers of Pomegranats, Corrall, Sandalis, Roses, Spodium, the rinds of Pomegranates. The former may bee vsed, if a cold matter bee left behind, and if a hot matter doe there re∣maine, the former. Things that are too cold, are dange∣rous.

A more particular method seruing for the cure of the weakenesse of the stomacke.

℞ sir. of Mints, Quinces, Wormwood, ana ℥ i. Oxymellis squillit. Mellis rosati colati, ana ℥ ss, waters of Wormewood,* 1.6 Fennell, Mints, ana ℥ iiii. Giue ℥ iiii. in the morning, at foure seuerall times.

℞ of the decoction of Barley and Radish,* 1.7 ℥ vi. Oxymellis squillit. ℥ i. ss, oyle of sweet Almonds, ℥ i. drinke these off lukewarme.

℞ Diaturbith ••um Rhab. ʒ iii. of new Cassia,* 1.8 ʒ v. of fine Sugar q. s.

℞ roots of Parsely, Buglosse, ana ℥ i. ss, Galingale, ʒ ii. ss,* 1.9 leaues of Baulme, Mints, ana M i. ss, seeds of Annise, ℥ ss, of scraped Licorice, ʒ iii. of Raysins, the stones being taken out ℥ i. of Cinamon, ʒ i. of white and light Agaricke, ʒ iii. boyle

these in water q. s. vnto lb i. ss, adde vnto the strayning, Dia∣cath. ℥ i. ss, sirupe of Orange-pills, ℥ ii.

* 1.10℞ Pillul. Mastichinarum, Aloes, ana ℈ i. ss, of the sirupe of Mints q. s. make hereof 8. pills.

* 1.11℞ Hiera picrae, Gal. Pillularum stomaticarum, de Agari∣co, ana ℈ i. Rhab. electi, ℈ ss, sir. of Wormwood, Mints, ana q. s. make hereof 8. pills.

℞ Specierum aromatici rosati Gabrielis, ʒ ss, Dialangae, preserued Ginger, ana ℈ ii. Mastike, Cinnamon, ℈ i. ss, of Cloues, Nutmeg, ana ℈ i. of fine Sugar dissolued in the wa∣ter of Wormwood, and Mints, ana q. s. the patient must eate one of these one houre before meate, and after it drinke a draught of wine.

* 1.12℞ of Mastike, ʒ ii. Spikenard, ℈ ss, Aloes, ℈ iiii. Rhab. ʒ i. ss Agarici trochiscati, ℈ i. ss, sirupe of Eupatorium, and Mints, ana q. s.

* 1.13℞ Diamargaritē calidi, ʒ ii. Aromatici rosati Gal. of Mi∣thridate, ana ʒ i. Diacydonites cum speciebus, ℥ i. sir. of Mints, q. s.

* 1.14℞ of Mastike, Olibani, ana ʒ iii. make pills hereof, with the sirupe of Mints, Giue ʒ i. of this moystned in wine, in the morning, this doth heate and dry the stomacke, and hinders the rheume falling downe from the head, if he take it mor∣ning and euening.

* 1.15℞ of the roots of Flower-de-luce, ʒ iii. of red Roses, ℈ iiii of dry Mints ℈ i. of Mastike, ʒ ii. ss, flowers of Nutmeg; Cin∣namon, ana ʒ ss, sir. of Pomegranats q. s. for the disease caused by moysture.

* 1.16℞ Sp. Aromatici rosati, ʒ ii, Diagalanga, ʒ i, of pre∣serued Ginger, ʒ i. ss, of Worme••eede, Nutmeg, ana ℈ ii. sirupe of Orange-pills, make this into a soft Electu∣ary.

* 1.17℞ of the roots of Galingale, ʒ ii. flowers of Cammomile Mellilot, ana M i. leaues of Wormwood, Mints, ana M ii. of the best Cinnamon, Mace, Nutmeg, ana ʒ i. bruise all these, and let them boyle together in sweet and strong wine, vn∣till

till the third part bee consumed, and wash the stomacke herewith.

℞ oyles of Nard, Mastike, ana ℥ i. oyle of Roses,* 1.18 ʒ iii. oyle of Quinces, ʒ i. ss, of Waxe and Vineger a little.

℞ flowers of Cammomile, red Roses, ana M ss, leaues of Wormewood, Mints, ana M i. Cinnamon, Cloues,* 1.19 Mace, ana ʒ i. of Galingale, of the wood Aloes, Cala∣mi aromatici, ana ʒ i. ss, of Mastike, ʒ ii. oyle of Mints, q. s.

℞ of dry Mints, Maioram, Wormewood,* 1.20 ana M i. of Ma∣stike, Frankincense, ana ʒ i. of Mace, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Cloues, ana ℈ iiii. Ca••ami odorati, of Galin∣gale, of the wood Aloes, ana ℈ ii. Galli••e musc. Ladani, ana ʒ ss, Turpentine and Waxe, q. s. make a soft playster hereof; this will likewise serue for a medicine for the sto∣macke.

℞ Ceroti stomatici Galeni, ℥ i. ss, roots of Ciperus,* 1.21 ℈ i. of Saffron, ℈ ss. of Cinamon, ℈ ii. of Mastike, ℥ ss, oyle of Worm∣wood q. s.

℞ of red Roses, M ss, of Wormewood, Mints,* 1.22 ana M i. ss, boyle these in strong Wine q. s. dippe a toast here∣in, and so apply it, if the disease bee caused by a hot mat∣ter.

℞ sirupe of Violets,* 1.23 Succory with Rhab. ana ℥ ii. waters of Endiue, Borage, Violets, ana ℥ iiii.

℞ sir, of Violets, ℥ ii. Roses, Pomegranats,* 1.24 ana ℥ i. waters of Violets, Buglosse, ana ℥ v.

℞ Rhab. elect, ʒ i. Myrabol. citrinorum, ℈ ii. of Cassia, ℥ ss,* 1.25 of Spike▪ gr. iii.

℞ of clensed Barley, M iii. of scraped Licoras,* 1.26 ʒ vi. seeds of Gourd, Cowcumber, ana ʒ iii. of Sorrell, ʒ ii. of Licoras, ʒ iiii, of Raysins, M ii. boyle these in water q. s. vntill the third part be consumed.

℞ sir. of Violets, Roses, ℥ ss, conserue of Roses, ʒ ii. ss,* 1.27 con∣serue of Borage, Roses, Violets, ana ℥ ss, sacchari rosace••, ℥ i. ss, sir. of Pomegranats, ℥ i.

* 1.28℞ Diatragacanthi frigidi, Diamargariti frigidi, ana ʒ i. ss, of the finest Sugar dissolued in the water of Violets, make an Electuary.

* 1.29℞ of red Roses, M ii. leaues of Wormewood, M ss, seeds of prepared Coriander, Sandalorum, Oranges, red Corrall, ana ʒ i. ss, boyle these in water q. s. vntill the third part be consumed, wash the stomacke herewith.

* 1.30℞ the oyle of Roses, ʒ v. of Quinces, Myrtle, ana ʒ vi. of red Roses, red Corrall, ana ʒ ss, sandal. citrinorum, ʒ i. of Waxe and Vineger a little.

* 1.31℞ Cerati refrigerantis Gal. sandal. ana ℥ i. oyle of Roses, Quinces q. s.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Preparer.
• * 1.2

  Emptier.
• * 1.3

  Auerters.
• * 1.4

  Hinderers.
• * 1.5

  Strength∣ners.
• * 1.6

  A Iulep.
• * 1.7

  A Vomit.
• * 1.8

  Bolus.
• * 1.9

  A Potion.
• * 1.10

  Pills.
• * 1.11

  Pills.
• * 1.12

  Pills.
• * 1.13

  An Elec∣tuary.
• * 1.14

  Pills.
• * 1.15

  A mixture.
• * 1.16

  An Elec∣tuary.
• * 1.17

  A Fomen∣tation.
• * 1.18

  An Vn∣gent.
• * 1.19

  A Cerate.
• * 1.20

  An Em∣playster.
• * 1.21

  An Em∣playster.
• * 1.22

  A Cata∣plasme.
• * 1.23

  A Iulep.
• * 1.24

  Another.
• * 1.25

  Bolus.
• * 1.26

  A Potion.
• * 1.27

  A mixture.
• * 1.28

  Lozenges.
• * 1.29

  A Fomen∣tation.
• * 1.30

  An Vn∣guent.
• * 1.31

  A Cerate.