To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
IT is usual as soon as the Rose inva∣deth, to take those Medicines whereby nature is helped to thrust the matter from the inward to the outward parts: For which end the rob with the water-vinegar of the Elder-flowers
are applyed; for learned Phy∣sitians do acknowledg that this mat∣ter wanteth not its own malignity. Wierus useth this potion:
There are some, that in all Erisipe∣las, even in that which followeth oft∣times the Scurvie, doe swallow this bole, and drink the water of Elder-flowers above it, to discuss the ma∣lignity by sweating.
But if the belly be bound, give the sy∣rup made of the berries juice, which looseneth the belly, and resisteth ma∣lignancy.
In more strong bodies, and where evil humors stick in the first passages, you may give a half, or whole drachm, according to the patients strength, of the Polychrestick Pow∣der of the buds.
To temper the heat of the bloud in the intrails, these things are set down in the cure of the hot feavers.
The Topicks here should not be cooling, repelling, or fat, which ob∣struct the pores of the skin, lest that sharp and malignant matter be thrust to more noble parts, or closed up in the diseased; whence oft times the part hath been gangrenat: For which cause the common people by all means avoid moystening of the part, & when any evil here ariseth, ascribed it to it, though not rightly; for all moysten∣ing is not to be avoided, but only that which is made of restringent, repel∣lent, & things that obstruct the pores;
but those which unlock the pores and digest the humors and consume them. Though they be liquid, they are so far from hurting that they greatly help.
John de Vigo testifieth, that the Elder hath the vertue of resolving, drying and opening, by reason of the subtilty of its parts: wherefore these following made of it may be safely used.
Shave the bark from the trunk, and apply it every day three times round about the part diseased of the Rose.
Or, R. of white Sope ounce 1. dis∣solve it in lib. 3. of the water of the flowers of the Elder, apply it warm to the diseased part, and when it drieth renew it.
Some dry them before, and apply them dry, that they may satisfie the peoples desire, that much fear moy∣sture in this disease. This is com∣mended:
Or, R. The dried berries of the El∣der ounce 1. the flowers of the same M. 1. Having pounded, cut them, boil them in lib. 2. of the simple-water, to the consumption of the third part. Add to the Colature ounces 3. of a thin Lixive; mix them: Dip a lin∣nen cloth in them, being warm, wring it a little and apply it to the part, as hath been shewn.
Taberna Montanus saith, he hath tryed, that the Rose being anointed with the Rob of the Elder doth ease and discuss it.
Lac Aureum, which is prepared of the Lixive and oyl of the Elder well stirred together, till it acquire a milky colour, is commended much; chief∣ly here when the Rose enclines to ul∣ceration and gangrenates: For by its
drying and cleansing vertue, it hin∣dereth further putrifaction and cor∣ruption; and by mixing the oyle, it mitigateth the pain, and cureth the ulcer; apply it hot.
Those that avoid all moysture, let them use clothes dipt oft in these li∣quors, and dryed; or which is com∣mon, sprinkle upon the diseased part, small bran, mixt with the like quan∣tity of the powder of Elder-flowers.
To prevent this disease, many wonderfully praise this following;
R. Of new Elder-flowers, or in de∣fect thereof, of those well dryed, M. 1. of Milk of a red Cow, or at least with red spots; boyle them in a close vessel, and upon a slow fire. Let him drink once, twice, or thrice, when the Moon waineth; or if they will, through every month in the year, of this cola∣ture in the morning; and they shall be afterward free of this disease. See Dr: Sennert. de febrib. lib. 2. cap. 16.
Neither is this Medicine destitute of reason; for it is probable that the fluxibility and accrimony of the bloud, being taken away by this Me∣dicine, Nature is less afterward pric∣ked by it; yea those malignant im∣pressions stampt on the liver & reins, defiling the bloud by their contagion, are altogether wiped off, by the fre∣quent use of this specifick Medicine.
An Amulet made of the Elder, on which the Sun never shined, if the piece betwixt the two knots be hung about the patients neck, is much commended; some cut it in little pieces, and sew it in a knot in piece of a mans shirt, which seems super∣stitious.
I learned the certainty of this experi∣ment first from a friend in Lipsick; who no sooner err'd in diet, but he was seized on by this disease; yet after he used this Amulet, he protested he was free; yea that a woman to whom he lent it, was likewise delivered from this disease. Notwithstanding I leave
the whole matter to other mens judg∣ments, who may easily try it, seeing there is so many secret works in Na∣ture, whose operation is evident; yet their causes are hid in such deeps of obscurity, that they cannot be search∣ed out by the sharpest sight of mens reason.