Paracelsus, his Archidoxis comprised in ten books : disclosing the genuine way of making quintessences, arcanums, magisteries, elixirs, &c : together with his books of renovation & restauration, of the tincture of the philsophers, of the manual of the philosophical medicinal stone, of the virtues of the members, of the three principles, and finally his seven books of the degrees and compositions, of receipts and natural things / faithfully and plainly Englished, and published by J.H., Oxon.

THE Ninth BOOK OF THE ARCHIDOXIS.

Of Extrinsecalls.

HAving in the Precedent Books, treated of Intrinsecal Diseases; 'tis expedient now for us to write of those Diseases as proceed from without, and to set down some remedies for them. And although we insert nothing (in these Books) of the Origenal of those Internal and also Ex∣ternal Diseases, yet notwithstanding we will set down the Originals of those Medicaments, and then afterwards the composition of such like reme∣dies for external Diseases. Some remedies are one∣ly for Wounds, with which a Wound may be cured in twenty four hours; which you are to understand thus;

When there is a Wound made, it needs nothing else but that it be again knit together, or conjoyned on such wise, as two pieces of board are knit together with Glew. Do not at any rate let Wounds lie open, but endeavour to replenish them with flesh, for tis rather a thing Rustical then Medical. Consider that when the

lips of a wound are joyned together as two pieces of Boards stick together with glew, they are even more then half whole already; the which is to be neces∣sarily done by a certain Medicament, so contracting both sides of the Wound together, that it cannot be better and more fitly done; Thence it follows that where the lips touch each other by the compression of the Medicament helping Nature, there is the healing compleated; insomuch that there is no Wound wherein the Bone is not broken) is so evil, but will easily be healed in twenty four hours. But the Bones do not permit themselves to be knit so together as the flesh doth; therefore we speak not at all of them! in this place. For example understand us thus, viz. when any Member is plainly cut off, then (before that the Vains be dead, but whilest they are yet warm and fresh) let them be presently moistened with that Medicament, and let the wound be conjoyned, and so the sides there∣of will be so knit together (as two Sticks are conglu∣tinated with Glew) and be healed and united. Thus is the operation of this Medicament, and herewith dot•• Nature cure so soon because of the great resiccati∣on, or drying up of such like Medicines, and tis by that Virtue (which we have afore spoken of) that it heals. Moreover you are to know, that an Incarnative Medica∣ment is not at all to be used for Wound, nor any mum∣dificative, or Attractive, because that those extract, and are to draw out all Putrid Fluxes into much Sa••ies.

Furthermore the gaping or caveity of a Wound is to be filled with flesh; now that is a long time doing, and consequently very dangerously and without any Master∣ship. The same is also to be conceived of in old Ul∣cers, which are a long time loaden (as it were) and burdened with fluxes, whereby it comes to pass, that they cannot be cured without many accidents, and ex∣ceeding

great difficulty, and sometimes never. So then it is most necessarily expedient that the Medica∣ment of them, be made of those things which we have spoken of, and which do likewise by a certain force compress and cling together the Skin and widenesses Likewise in the curing of Ulcers, you are to consider, that the Generation of Flesh is necessary, but that cannot possibly be done by compression, or closing to∣gether (as we mentioned in Wounds) in Ulcers, as it Eistulaes and such like; all which are to be cured by the Virtue of such like Medicaments, as anon. There∣fore we describe and set down two Fundamentals, for such an opening or gaping of the Skin, the one is an Incarnative, the other is an Exiccative or dryer up.

Now let us speak also of the other deformities of the Skin, as Scars, Morphews, Serpigees, the Pannus or Birth-mark, the Stains and Leapry, and such like Dis∣cases proceeding from the Skin, the which we advise the cure of after this manner. First of all we ordai•• and appoint the Skin to be pulled off, even as the Skin of a Beast is stript off, then (afterwards) to be clad with new by a convenient Medicament. For it is to be un∣derstood, that the Skin must be took away by a cer∣tain Medicament, and a new Skin pure and unspotted be generated of another Colour; as with that Me∣dicament that follows hereafter, whereby much of Flesh and moisture is not to be attracted; thus are all Spots to be removed, by the way thus described. As to the taking away of their Original, we make no mention in this place, nor as to their entrance or be∣ginning, for it is elsewhere Treated of, nor doth it bring either benefit or dammage to our present intenti∣on or Doctrine. There are many other Distempers, as the Cancer, Buboes and such like, which require their Peculiar Medicament for the drawing out of the•• Originalitie, and the total purging out and cleaning a∣way

their defilements, the which is exceedingly well performed by the Specifical Attractive; then afterwards there is need of Consolidation, the which we have set down in our Discourse of Fistula's and such like.

But now the Ruptures, &c. breaking of Bones and the like are to be consolidated with a Stiptical Attractive onely, the which Medicament we shall not here repeat as having spoken there of elsewhere▪ In like manner there are found to be many superfluous Crescences, as Strumaes or the Kings-Evil, Kernels, &c. the which must first be evacuated or emptyed, and then be cured afterwards.

We will therefore divide Chirurgery into three Parts or Cures, and refer one part to Wounds, the second to Ulcers, and the third to Spots or Blemishes; as for the Cancer, we shall Cure it with a Specifical Attractive one∣ly, and afterwards with these Medicaments which we shall Teach here following.

A Remedy for Wounds.

IF we would attain to such a Medicament as may (by its own proper Nature) so knit the Lips and sides of Wounds together, as two pieces of Boards are with Glew, then it is necessary that it be done by the greatest Siccity and Stipticknesse, as may serve for the Flesh onely, as follows;

Take Samech excellently well burnt and calcined in∣to a Whitenesse, whereto add Circulatum minus; then afterwards destil it, that a most dry Caput mortuum may remain in the bottom, and that the Glass be wholly red hot, then pour on fresh Circulatum again, as afore; and thus do so long until the Circulatum come off alto∣gether

sweet therefrom, as it is in it self, then suffer it to be resolved by it self. That which shall be resolved, is this Remedy here spoken of for Wounds, and may be Intituled, a Balsam for a Wound; for Balsam (in our Common Germain Speech) is as much as to say Baldtru∣sammen, that is presently conjoyned, and not according to the Latine Idioine. We shall not make any singular de∣scription of the Virtues of that same Medicament, but do make this General Assertion, that tis fit for all Wounds, as being what we have cured many hundreds of Wounds withal, by a bare washing, and that above what is credible to be done by Nature.

A Remedy for an Ulcer.

WE are also to understand, that Ulcers may in like manner be compressed or closed together by the Virtue of such a Medicament, together with a Generative Virtue. Nor do we imitate the writings of the Anticuts for their writings are malitious and wicked. This therefore is to be considered of, viz. a constraining or causing that to enter into the compo∣sition, and that on this wise;

Take the aforesaid Balsome for Wounds, and also the Balsome in like manner made of rust, as that of Samech, of each one pound, mix these together, and add thereto one pound and half of the Oyl of Iron, all being through∣ly permixt, let be put upon Ulcers, and let them be washed daily, as shall seem expedient, and let a Con∣solidative Plaister, such as we teach for Ulcers, be applyed; proceed therefore on with your Ligatures, even to the end of the cure; for this is to be heeded, that the Members are to be (as it were) drawn together or com∣prest with Ligatures, which thing we largely enough teach in other places. And therefore let thus much suffice for Ulcers.

A Remedy against Marks or Blemishes.

WE have sufficiently described the taking off the Skin, by a Specifical Corrosive, and together with that, the Cautery how it is to be done and u∣sed. And after the taking away of the Skin and the Ble∣mish with it, then the cure thereof is as follows;

Take the aforesaid Balsam for an Ulcer, to this, add of Washed Turpentine, of the Oyl of Worms, and of the Oyl of Eggs, equal parts; with this mixture must all the Flesh that is bared of its Skin, be washed. After this Cure there is no more requisite, for this is the proper∣tie of that Medicament, viz. to induce together with the new Skin, a new Colour, and a Natural hardnesse, in so much that it can no more be defiled with the afore∣going Blemishes.

Now although such like Staines and Blemishes may be removed by many Waters, as the Water of Bean Flowers, of Sigillum Mariae and such like, and also with Mans∣dung, but yet these are not for our purpose, for they do not at all times answer our expectation, and be∣sides all blemishes are much more perfectly taken a∣way with those things which we have already set down.

Nor hath any one reason to admire that we set down so few, and so brief Remedies for the whole Chyrurgery; for we do not imitate the wayes of the Surgeons, such as the Ancients have written of, and which the Modern Surgeons do also make use of, as well as they. For when we followed that Medicinal way or Method, we could never (by that kind of Physicallity) find or e∣ver perceive any thing well founded or certain. But we have made use of our own Remedies according to experience, and have by this way sound out the

best Medicines of all Chirurgery; even as we have com∣prehended them in this place, under three processe onely.

And albeit that there are to be found more disease then are here mentioned, as, the Bulla, Allopecia, &c yet are they comprehended under Blemishes, and Cica∣trizes, and are to be cured as those others are; for which there are many causes not here mentioned, but are les•• for our use or practise, but we are mindeful even o•• them; for when we had seen that Wounds (of which we have had many hundreds and thousands under our hands) were so speedily and exceeding wonderfull•• cured with these Remedies; what reason is there for us to imitate the long and vain processes of the Antients, and so be forgetful of our Neighbours. And what cause have we to make use of the Mundificatives, Washings, Sutures, Ligatures, Corrosives and such like, when as they are all Iunimicitious to Wounds, and do most mise∣rably deprave and spoil them; the causes whereof we do largly enough explain in the Book of Wounds. What need is there of the divers Emplastors, Cerots, Unguents and the like, that we should take them even for the cure of Ulcers, as also the Ligatious, Unctions? &c. all which to reckon up is tedious, for they teach no∣thing else but a Prolix, intricate and foolish way to walk by, the end of which is to enquire and to find out many Accidents by their foolishness; for it is by reason of our superstition, that we so much credit the Antients; For verily it is not the silly boasting nor use∣lesse writeings (for they can never Recompence or make amends for the lost paper employed about them) can inform, in Surgery, what a Fistula, Cancer, Ulcer and such like are, and so likewise to assign to each of them their peculiar Medicament; for they may all of them be sufficiently and exactly cured and healed by one onely Remedy, as the External Leapry, the Alopecia,

Serpigo, Blemishes or Marks and such like, as Pustules, ••••chings, and Cicatrizes, all which may be abundantly re∣moved by one onely Medicament, and one onely Pra∣ctick; as likewise the Artetick Wounds of dartings, of Missive Weapons and Bullets and such like Wounds. And so we will conclude our Surgery with these few Medica∣ments, and put a period thereunto.