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 IAVNDISE.

THe ayre must be temperate; and their diet such as may coole, and moisten, and extenuate the humours, and may easily be digested; as Hens, Pullets, Birds of moun∣taines, fishes that doe liue in grauelly places; the patient may also eate Pruines, Apples, Cherries, Melons, yet with great moderation. His meate may be seasoned with the iuyce of Lemmons, and Oranges. Such nutriments as generate grosse and melancholly blood, and such, as binde, and multiply choler, must bee auoyded.

The patient may drinke ptisan, or wine allayed with the water of grasse, or Parsely. Also exercise in a meane may bee permitted. And baths and Frictions in the winter time are good. The sleepe in like manner must be moderate; and the excrements auoyded in due season. Such perturbations of the minde as doe inflame the spirits must be shunned, and pleasing obiects supply their place.

* 1.1Sirupe of Violets, Endiue, Lemmons, of Roses, Sor∣rell, Pomegranats, of Succhory with Rhab. water of Sorrell, Succhory, Endiue, Eyebright, Lettuce, Plantane, sir. de Dua∣bus et quin{que} radicibus, Oxymel-simplex, sir. of Agrimony, Wormewood, Mel rosatum, sir. Byzantinus. Water of Agrimony, Hops, Dodder▪ Sperage, Fennell, Radish, Ruscus. A decoction of the roots of Angelica, Broome, Rubiae tin∣ctorum, Sperage, Parsely, Asarum, Fennell, Aristol. Fumitary, Mayden-haire, Serpillum, St. Iohns-woort, Calamint, Cha∣moepitys, Sorrell, Rosemary, Endiue, Succhory, Cinnamon, Sugar, Horehound. Because phlegmy and grosse humors are mixed with choller, openers and clensers are very good; but they must bee vsed, some distances of time comming be∣tweene; otherwise there would bee great danger. If the disease bee caused by hot humors, the former of these me∣dicines may bee vsed, and the latter may bee vsed in a cold cause.

* 1.2Electuarium epsyllio, of the iuyce of Roses, Diaprunum solutinum. Hiera picra, Diaphaenicum, Pillul. aggregatiuae, de Rhab. of Agrimony, Manna, Cassia, Rhab. Also the infusion hereof in the water of Endiue. Diaphaenic. Pillul. Alephangi∣na, Aureae, Hiera simp. Agaricus trochiscatus, Agaricke in∣fused with Rhab. Cassia, Manna. A vomit with Elleborum, if the belly bee bound, a gentle clyster at the first is good, for this doth draw backe the humors which were running vnto the skinne. After this a stronger may bee giuen, and at certaine distances of time be administred. The Clyster may be made with the rootes of Fennell, Horehound, Parsely, Wormewood, Agrimony, Maydenhaire, seeds of Annise,

Fennell, Electuary of the iuyce of Roses, Cassia fistula. If blood abound at the first, the Basilica veine shalbe ope∣ned; or else there would be danger of the dropsy. But espe∣cially the veine shalbe opened, if the Iaundise be caused by the obstruction of the passages, thorow which the gall is conueyed into the bladder. If there be store of excrements about the belly, they shalbe driuen away by some gentle purge, before the former preparing medicines be admini∣stred. For euil humors will sooner be caught into the great veines of the liuer: if opening medicines bee administred, these also will generate obstructions. When the excre∣ments are remoued from the belly, then those humours that cause obstructions, shalbe made obedient to nature, and then by these present remedies shalbe expelled.

Clysters. Errhins. Sneezing medicines. If the hemroids did formerly runne, they must againe be opened.* 1.3 Also the monethly tearms must be caused to flow.

Conserue of Roses, Violets, the great conserue of our description. syr. of the iuyce of Lemmons, Pomegranates.* 1.4 A decoction of Guaiacum with Oxymel. iuyce of Dodder, roots of Radish. roots of Cyclamen, Rhab. Hore-hound, Fumitary. An epitheme for the liuer of red Roses, Spike, Spodium, French Wheate, Saffron, Rose-water, Buglosse, Endiue, Vineger. If this be applied to the heart, white and red Beanes, the wood Aloes, Cloues shalbe added; a bath of Violets, Endiue, Lettuce, Succhory. Diacurcuma, dialacca, Diacalamintha, Diatrium sandali, Diarrhod. Abba∣tis. Triacle, Mithridate, Trochiske of Agrimony, of Rhab. with the decoction of Ciches, Creame of Goats Milke, also the Milke of Goats that do feed vpon Sperage, Agrimony, Fennell, Parsley, worms dried in a fornace; the powder of them must be drunke with wine and Sugar. A decoction of Hore-hound, red Ciches, Sperage, Radish, and white wine; the ordure of dogs that haue fed for the most part vpon bones, as also Goose-dung.

Shauings of iuory infused in wine,* 1.5 or some other ope∣ning

liquor. Wormes also dried, and giuen in Wine, the roots of Fumitary boyld in water, and then drunke off. A Fomentation with the roote of Cyclamen, herewith sweat must bee caused. An odour of sharpe hot Wine: the patient as he doth sit in a bath, may receiue the fume hereof vp at his Nostrils▪ Errhins of the iuyce of Cyclamen, Nigel∣la, Beete, Anagallidis. Rosewater dropped in the patients eyes in the beginning of the disease, for this will hinder the humors running vnto the eyes. The eyes also may be wash∣ed with the water of Barley, iuyce of Sorrell, Pomegranats, and a little Vineger. Dry baths, also moyst baths with sweet water and Vineger for the eyes. A bath of Brimstone, or else a bath of the decoction of the flowers of Cammomile, Mel∣lilot, Calamint, Rosemary, Dill, Branne, Pellitory of the Wall. These doe take away the yellow colour of the eyes, and soften the hardnesse of the liuer.

A more particular method seruing for the cure of ICTERITIA, or IAVN∣DISE.

* 1.6℞ leaues of Fennell, Parsley, ana ℥ i. Scolopendriae. M i. ss, leaues of Mallowes, Coleworts, ana M i. of Dodder, M ss, senae Alex. Polipodij quercini, ℥ i. ss, Epithymi, ℥ i. Colocynth. ℈ ss, M i. boyle these in water q. s. vnto lb i. ss, adde to the strayning Diacath. ℥ i. ss, oyle of Rew, ℥ i. of Cammomile, ℥ ii. of Salt, ʒ i.

* 1.7℞ sir. Byzantini, Oxymellis compositi, ℥ ii. waters of En∣diue, Succhory, Alkekengi, ana ℥ iiii.

* 1.8℞ Electuarij de psillio ʒ vi. Diacath. ʒ iii. Rhab. Agarici trochiscati, ana ℈ i. Giue this in the morning, or if the pa∣tient doth rather desire a liquid thing, these may be dissol∣in the decoction of Radish, Asarum, Aristol. rot. Agrimo∣ny, Dodder.

* 1.9℞ roots of Asarum, Aristolochia rot. ana ℥ ss, Fennell, Par••∣ley,

℥ i. seeds of Annise, Iuniper, red Ciches, ana ℥ iii. ss. Poli∣podij quercini, ℥ i. ss, Rhab. electi, ʒ ii. ss, Ginger, Spike, ana ℈ ii. boyle these in water q. s. vnto lb i. adde to the strayning sir. de Epithymo, Byzantini, ℥ i. ss.

℞ Electuary of the iuyce of Roses, ʒ ii. Diacath. ʒ i. ss,* 1.10 Diaphenic. ʒ ii. ss, Rhab. electi. ℈ ss, of Spike, gr. v. sirupe of Succhory with Rhab. ℥ ss, water of Succhory, ℥ iii.

℞ Pillulae de Rhab. Hierae simplicis Gal. Aggregatiuae,* 1.11 ana ℈ i. Diagridij, gr. iii. sir. of Wormwood q. s. make hereof 7 pills.

℞ Rhab. electi, ʒ i. Aloes, ʒ ii. Agarici trochiscati, ℈ ii. ss,* 1.12 Radicum rubiae tinctorum, Cyclaminis, ana ℈ i. Diagridij, gr. xii. sir. of Agrimony q. s. Giue ʒ i. hereof after the first sleepe.

℞ water of Endiue, ℥ vi. macerate herein of Cinnamon,* 1.13 ℈ ss, Rhab. electi, ʒ i. Giue some of the strayning with ℥ i. Oxymellis compositi, vnto the remainder of the strayning, adde of fresh Rhab. ʒ i. of Cinnamon, gr. xii. the wa∣ter of Endiue q. s. macerate againe all these together vp∣on hot embers for the space of twenty foure houres. The strayning hereof must also in the same manner bee drunke.

℞ roots of Asarum, Radish, ana ℥ i. ss,* 1.14 boyle these in wa∣ter q. s. vntill the third part be consumed, mixe ℥ ii. of oyle with a good quantity of this decoction.

℞ Troch. de Rhab. ʒ iii. Diarrhod. abbatis, Diacurcuma,* 1.15 ana ʒ ii. Diatrion sandal. ʒ i. iuyce of Dodder, Horehound, ana ℥ ss, sir. of Endiue, iuyce of Sorrell, ana q. s.

℞ flowers of Elder M iii. Dodder, M i. ss, of burnt Iuory,* 1.16 ʒ i. roots of Asarum, ʒ ii. Rhab. electi, ʒ i. ss, infuse these for the space of 24. houres in lb i. ss, of strong wine, adde to the strayning of fine Sugar q. s. the patient may drinke a draught hereof two houres after they haue taken the Elec∣tuary.

℞ Troch. de Rhab. ℥ ss, Diacurcumae, ʒ ss,* 1.17 of Earth Wormes

dried ʒ ii. ss, roots of Cyclamen, ℈ ii. sir. Byzantini, of Agri∣mony, ana q. s.

* 1.18℞ Diarrhod. abbatis, Diacurcumae, ana ℈ ii. Trochisc. de Rhab. ʒ i. of fine Sugar, in the water of Dodder q. s. These following may bee applyed, if the disease bee caused by the spleene.

* 1.19℞ roots of Fennell, Parsely, ana ℥ i, roots of Cyclamen, rinds of the roots of Tamariske, Capers, ana ʒ ii. Dodder, M i. ss, Scolopendriae, M i. Sarsaparillae, ℥ ss, roots of Ruscus, seeds of Annise, ana ℥ i. boyle these in water q. s. vnto lb i. ss, adde to the strayning Oxymellis simp. ℥ iiii.

* 1.20℞ roots of Cyclamen, ʒ v. of Radish, ℥ i. roots of A∣corus, Licorice, ana ʒ vi. boyle these a little in lb ii. of white wine. After they bee macerated, adde to the strayning Oxy∣mellis simp. ℥ iiii. Giue hereof ℥ iiii. in the morning, and so lay him downe to sweat, but first he must bee purged with the following purge.

* 1.21℞ Diacath. ʒ iii. of Cassia, Manna Calabrina, ana ℥ ss, with Creame of Milke: this must bee giuen first of all.

* 1.22℞ roots of Althaea, Elecampane, ana ℥ iii. of clensed Bar∣ley, M v. of Succhory, Fumitary, ana M ii. ss, leaues of Sorrell, flowers of Cammomile, Mellilot, Violets, Buglosse, ana M i. Volubilis, Centory the lesse, ana M i. ss, boyle these in water q. s. the humour that is running towards the skinne, shall be driuen another way herewith.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Preparers.
• * 1.2

  Emptiers.
• * 1.3

  Auerters.
• * 1.4

  Strength∣ners.
• * 1.5

  Correctors of accidents.
• * 1.6

  A Clyster.
• * 1.7

  A Iulep.
• * 1.8

  Bolus.
• * 1.9

  A Potion.
• * 1.10

  A draught.
• * 1.11

  Pills.
• * 1.12

  Pills.
• * 1.13

  A draught
• * 1.14

  A Vomit.
• * 1.15

  An Electu∣ary.
• * 1.16

  A Potion.
• * 1.17

  A mixture.
• * 1.18

  Lozenges.
• * 1.19

  A Potion.
• * 1.20

  Another.
• * 1.21

  A draught.
• * 1.22

  Another.