The hammer for the stone so named, for that it sheweth the most excellent remedie that euer was knowne for the same. Latelie deuised by Walter Carie Maister of Art, and student in physicke.

The vsuall waie how to preuent and cure the stone. The third Chapter.

IN the two former Chap∣ters I haue brieflie tou∣ched the matter, whereof the stone is ingendered, and the difference of stones. Now I will shewe the vsuall meanes, both to preuent and cure the stone, which (a∣mongst the Physicians of our time) are now dailie practised.

The stone in those, who onelie feare the disease, and are not yet troubled therewith, is preuented by two speci∣all meanes. The one is, by abstinence from meates, & things which are apt to bréede the stone. Which are of two sortes also. For either they bréede in the bodie a fit matter, easie to be con∣uerted into a stone: as Ueale, Pigge, Lambe, Ling, Gréenefish, Eeles, Chéese, Milke: and generallie, all ve∣rie grosse, slimie, swéete, & fat meates. Or else they cause an vnnaturall heat

in the bodie, and inflame the kidnies, and other parts: as, heating the backe at the fire, lieng much vpon the back, also great vse of Pepper, Ginger, and other spices, or anie thing of like na∣ture.

The other by purging that humor, which being in the bodie, is not as yet digested to the nature of a stone: which is done by two meanes also. Either by purgations, and laxatiue medicines: or otherwise, by those things, which being of a verie subtile, thin, and pearsing nature, passe sud∣denlie through the liuer, the kidnies, and the bladder, and violentlie carrie with them, such stimie and grosse hu∣mours, as they find by the way: as, white wine, and Rhenish wine, & such like taken fasting: which being not taken fasting, worke not this effect. For being vsed either with, or soone after meat, they hasten the digestion, & carrie grosse and rawe humours into the bodie, whereby they worke a verie contrarie effect, and ingender the

stone being much vsed.

But the stone being alreadie in∣gendered by the vsuall meanes, is to be cured chiefly by things, which cause the stone to breake and void: as Saxi∣frage, Parslie, Pellitorie of the wall, Gromwell, and other things infinite, whereof I haue named foure good, pleasant, & easiest to be taken. There are also diuerse other meanes: as let∣ting bloud, purging, glisters, vomits, and mollifieng or distending the nar∣rowe and streight vessels with oiles, &c. wherein the stone sticketh. But for breuitie sake, all these I let passe.