The English physitian, or An astrologo-physical discourse of the vulgar herbs of this nation being a compleat method of physick, whereby a man may preserve his body in health, or cure himself being sick for three pence charge, with such things only as grow in England ... / by Nich. Culpeper.

DIRECTIONS.

HAving in diverse places of this Treatise promised you the way of making Syrups, Conserves, Oyls, Oyntments, &c. of Herbs, Roots, Flowers &c. whereby you may have them ready for your use at such times when otherwise they cannot be had; I come now to perform what I promised, and you shall find me rather better than worse than my word.

That this may be done Methodically, I shall devide my Di∣rections into two grand Sections, and each Sections into several Chapters, and then you shall see it look with such a Counte∣nance as this is.

Sect. 1. Of gathering, drying, and keeping Simples and their Juyces.

• Chap. 1. Of Leaves of Herbs &c.
• Chap. 2. Of Flowers.
• Chap. 3. Of Seeds.
• Chap. 4. Of Roots.
• Chap. 5. Of Barks.
• Chap. 6. Of Juyces.

Sect. 2. Of making and keeping Compounds.

• Chap. 1. Of Distilled Waters.
• Chap. 2. Of Syrups.
• Chap. 3. Of Juleps.
• Chap. 4. Of Decoctions.
• Chap. 5. Of Oyls.
• Chap. 6. Of Electuaries.
• Chap. 7. Of Conserves.
• Chap. 8. Of Preserves.
• Chap. 9. Of Lohochs.
• Chap. 10. Of Oyntments.
• Chap. 11. Of Plaisters.
• Chap. 12. Of Pultisses.
• Chap. 13. Of Troches.
• Chap. 14. Of Pills.
• Chap. 15. The way of fit∣ting Medicines to Com∣pound Diseases.

Of all these in order.

SECT. 1. The way of gathering, drying, and preserving Simples and their Juyces.

Chap. 1. Of Leaves of Herbs or Trees.

• 1. OF Leaves, chuse only such as are green and full of Juyce, pick ••hem carefully, and cast away such as are any way declining, for they will putrifie the rest, so shall one handful be worth ten of those you buy in Cheap side.
• 2. Note in what place they most delight to grow in, and gather them there, for Bettony that grows in the shadow is far better than that which grows in the Sun, because it de∣lights in the shadow; so also such Herbs as delight to grow neer the Water, let such be ga∣thered as grow neer the Water, though happi∣ly you may find some of them upon dry ground, the Treatise will inform you where every Herb delights to grow.
• 3. The Leaves of such Herbs as run up to Seed, are not so good when they are in flower as before (some few excepted, the Leaves of which are seldom or never used) in such cases, if through ignorance they were not known, or through negligence forgotten, you had better take the top and the Flower•• than the Leaf.
• 4. Dry them well in the Sun, and not in the shadow as the swinge of Physitians is, for if the Sun draw away the Vertues of Herbs, it must needs do the like by Hay•• by the same Rule, which the experience of every Country Farmer will explode for a notable piece of non-sense.
• 5. Such as are Artists in Astrology (and indeed none else are fit to make Physitians) such I advi••e, let the Planet that governs the Herb be Angular, and ••he stronger the better, if they can in Herbs of Saturn, let Saturn be in the Ascendent, in the Herbs of Mars, let Mars be in the Mid-heaven, for in those Hou∣ses they delight, let the Moon apply to them by good A••pect•• and let her not be in the Houses of their Enemies: If you cannot well stay till she apply to them, let her apply to a Planet of the same Triplicity, if you cannot wait that time neither, let her be with a fixed Star of their Nature.
• 6. Having well dryed them put them up in brown Papers, sewing the Paper up like a Sack, and press them not too hard together, and keep them in a dry place neer the fire.
• 7. As for the duration of dryed Herbs, a just time cannot ••e given, let Authors p••ate their pleasures: For,

  First, Such as grow upon dry grounds will keep better than such as grow on moist.

  Secondly, Such Herbs as are full of Juyce will not keep so long as such as are dryer.

  Thirdly, Such Herbs as are well dryed will keep longer than such as are ill dried.

  Yet this I say, by this you may know when they are corrupted, viz. By their loss of co∣lour, or smell, or both, and it they be corrup∣ted, reason will tell you that they must needs corrupt the Bodies of those people that take them.

• 8. Gather all Leaves in the hour of that Planet that governs them.

Chap. 2. Of Flowers.

• 1. THe Flower which is the beauty of the Plant, and of none of the least use in Physick, groweth yeerly, and is to be ga∣thered when it is in its prime.
• 2. As for the time of gathering them, let the Planetary hour, and the Planet that rules the Plant they come of, be observed, as we shewed you in the foregoing Chapter; as for the time of the day let it be when the Sun shines upon them that so they may be dry, for if you gather either Herbs or Flowers when they are wet or dewy, they will not keep, and this I forgot before.
• 3. Dry them well in the Sun, and keep them in Papers neer the fire, as I shewed you in the foregoing Chapter.
• 4. So long as they retain their colour and smel they are good, either of them being gone so is the Vertue also.

Chap. 3. Of Seeds.

• 1. THe Seed is that part of the Plant which is endewed with a vitall facul∣ty to bring forth its like, and it contains po∣tentially the whol Plant in it.
• 2. As for place let them be gathered from the plants where they delight to grow.
• 3. Let them be full ripe when they are ga∣thered, and forget not the Coelestial Harmo∣ny before mentioned, for I have found by ex∣perience that their Vertues are twice as great at such times than at others: There is an ap∣pointed time for every thing under the Sun.
• 4. When you have gathered them dry them a little, and but a little in the Sun before you lay them up.
• 5. You need not be so careful of keeping them so neer the fire as the other before men∣tioned, because they are fuller of Spirit, and therefore not so subject to corrupt.
• 6. As for the time of their duration 'tis pal∣pable they will keep good many yeers, yet this I say, they are best the first yeer, and this I make appear by a good argument, They will grow soonest the first yeer they be set, therefore then are they in their prime, and 'tis an easie matter to renew them yeerly.

Chap. 4. Of Roots.

• 1. OF Roots chuse such as are neither rot∣ten nor wormeaten, but proper in their rast, colour, and smell, such as exceed neither in softness nor hardness.
• 2. Give me leave to be a little critical a∣gainst the Vulgar received Opinion, which is, That the Sap falls down into the Root in Autumn, and rises again in Spring, as men go to Bed at night and rise in the morning; and this idle tale of untruth is so grounded in the Heads not only of the Vulgar but also of the Learned, that a man cannot drive it out by Reason: I pray let such Sap-mongers answer me to this Argument, If the Sap fall into the Root in the fall of the Leaf, and lie there all the Winter, then must the Root grow only in the Winter, as experience witnesseth, but the Root grows not at all in the Winter, as the sa••c experience teacheth, but only in the Summer. Ergo,

  If you set an Apple Kernel in the Spring, you shall find the Root to grow to a pretty bigness in that Summer, and be not a whit bigger next Spring: What doth the Sap do in the Root all that while? pick straws? For God's sake build not your faith upon Traditi∣on, 'tis as rotten as a rotten Post.

  The truth is, when the Sun declines from the Tropick of Cancer, the Sap begins to congeal both in Root and Branch, when he toucheth the Tropick of Capricorn and ascends to us ward, it begins to wax thin again, and by de∣grees as it congealed: But to proceed:

• 3. The dryer time you gather your Roots in the better they are•• for they have the less ex∣crementitious moisture in then.
• 4. Such Roots as are soft, your best way is to dry in the Sun, or else hang them up in the Chimney corner upon a string; as for such as are hard you may dry them any where.
• 5. Such Roots as are great will keep longer than such as are small, yet most of them will keep a yeer.
• 6. Such Roots as are soft it is your best way to keep them alwaies neer the fire, and take this general Rule, If in Winter time you find any of your Roots, Herbs or Flowers begin to grow moist, as many times you shall, especial∣ly in the Winter time (for 'tis your best way to look to them once a month) dry them by a very gentle fire, or if you can with conveni∣ence keep them neer the fire, you may save your self the labor.
• 7. It is in vain to dry such Roots as may commonly be had, as Parsly, Fennel, Plan∣tane &c. but gather them only for present need.

Chap. 5. Of Barks.

• 1. BArks which Physitians use in Medif cines are these sorts, of Fruits, o Roots, of Boughs.
• 2. The Barks of Fruits is to be taken when the Fruit is full ripe, as Orrenges, Lemmons. &c. but because I have nothing to do with Exoticks here, I shall pass them without any more words.
• 3. The Barks of Trees are best gathered in the Spring, if it be of great Trees, as Oaks or the like, because then they come easiest off, and so you may dry them if you please, but indeed your best way is to gather all Barks only for present use.
• 4. As for the Bark of Roots, 'tis this, and thus to be gotten, Take the Roots of such Herbs as have a pith in them, as Parsly, Fen∣nel, &c. slit them in the middle, and when you have taken out the pith (which you may easily and quickly do) that which remains is called (though somthing improperly) the Bark and indeed is only to be used.

Chap. 6. Of Juyces.

• 1. Juyces are to be pressed out of Herbs when they are yong and tender, and al∣so out of some Stalks, and tender tops of Herbs and Plants, and also out of some Flowers.
• 2. Having gathered your Herb you would preserve the Juyce of, when it is very dry (for otherwise your Juyce will not be worth a But∣ton) bruise it very well in a stone Mortar with a wooden Pestle, then having put it into a Canvas Bag (the Herb I mean, not the Mor∣tar for that will yield but little Juyce) press it hard in a press, then take the Juyce and clari∣fie it.
• 3. The manner of clarifying of it is this, put it into a Pipkin or Skillet, or some such thing and set it over the fire, and when the Scum riseth, take it off, let it stand over the fire till no more Scum rise, then have you your Juyce clarified, cast away the Scum as a thing of no use.
• 4. When you have thus clarified it, you have two waies to preserve it all the yeer.

First, When it is cold put it into a Glass, and put so much Oyl on it as will cover it the thickness of two fingers, the Oyl will swim at top, and so keep the Air from coming to it to purrifie it; when you in••end to use it, do no more but so, powr out into a Porrenger, a lit∣tle more than you intend to use, and if any Oyl come out with it (as if the Glass be not full 'tis a hundred to one it there do) you may easily scum it off with a Spoon, and put the Juyce you use not, into the Glass again it will quickly sink under the Oyl: This is the first way.

Secondly, The second way is a little more difficult, and the Juyce of Fruits is usually preserved this way, when you have clarified the Juyce as before, boyl it over the fire, till (being cold) it be of the thickness of Honey, this is most commonly used for Diseases of the mouth, and is called R••b and Sapa.

And thus much for the first Section, the Se∣cond follows.

SECT. 2. The way of making and keeping all Ne∣cessary Compounds.

Chap. 1. Of Distilled Waters.

HItherto we have spoken of Medi∣cines which consist in their own Nature, which Authors vulgarly call Simples, though somthing im∣properly, for indeed and in truth, nothing is Simple but the pure Elements; all things else are compounded of them: We come now to treat of the Artificial Medicines, in the front of which (because we must begin somewhere) we place distilled Waters; In which consi∣der,

• 1. Waters are distilled out of Herbs, Flow∣ers, Fruits, and Roots.
• 2. We treat not here of strong Waters but of cold, as being to act Galen's Part and not Paracelsus.
• 3. The Herbs ought to be distilled when they are in their greatest vigor, and so ought the Flowers also.
• 4. The vulgar way of Distillation which people use, because they know no better, is in a Peuter Still, and although Distilled Waters are the weakest of all Artificial Medicines, and good for little unless for mixtures of other Medicines, yet this way distilled they are wea∣ker by many degrees than they would be, were they distilled in Sand: If I thought it not impossible to teach you the way of distilling in Sand by writing, I would attempt it.
• 5. When you have distilled your Water put it into a Glass, and having bound the top of it over with a Paper pricked full of holes, that so the excrementitious and fiery vapors may exhale (which indeed are they that cause that setling in distilled Waters called the Mother, which corrupts the Waters and might this way be prevented) cover it close and keep it for your use.
• 6. Stopping distilled Waters with a Cork makes them musty, and so will a Paper also if it do but touch the Water, your best way then

• is to stop them with a Bladder, being first wet in Water, and bound over the top of the Glass.

Such cold Waters as are distilled in a Peuter Still (if well kept) will endure a yeer, such as are distilled in Sand, as they are twice as strong, so will they endure twice as long.

Chap. 2. Of Syrups.

• 1. A Syrup is a Medicine of a Liquid form, composed of Infusion, Deco∣ction and Juyce; and 1. for the more grateful tast, 2. for the better keeping of it, with a certain quantity of Honey or Sugar, hereafter mentioned boiled to the thickness of new Ho∣ney.
• 2. You see at the first view then that this Aphorism devides it self into three Branches, which deserve severally to be treated of, viz.
  • 1. Syrups made by Infusion.
  • 2. Syrups made by Decoction.
  • 3. Syrups made by Juyce.

  Of each of these (for your Instruction sake kind Country men and women) I speak a word, or two or three apart.

  First, Syrups made by Infusion are usually made of Flowers, and of such Flowers, as soon lose both colour and strength by boyling, as Roses, Violets, Peach∣Flowers. &c. my Translation of the London Dispensatory will instruct you in the rest: They are thus made, having picked your Flowers clean, to every pound of them ad three pound (of three pints, which you will for it is all one) of Spring Water made boyling hot by the fire, first put your Flowers in a Peu∣ter Pot with a cover, then powr the Wa∣ter to them, then shutting the Pot, let it stand by the fire to keep hot twelve hours, then strain it out (in such Syrups as p••••ge, as Da••ask Roses, Peach-Flo∣wers, &c. the usual and indeed the best way is to repeat this Infusion, adding fresh Flowers to the same Liquor diverse rimes that so it may be the stronger) ha∣ving strained it out, put the Infusion in∣to a Peuter Bason, or an Eartlien one well glassed, and to every pint of it, ad two pound of fine Sugar, which being only melted over the fire without boy∣ling, and scummed, will produce you the Syrup you desire.

  Secondly, Syrups made by Decoction are usually used of Compounds, yet may a∣ny Simple Herb be thus converted into Syrup; Take the Herb, Root, or Flow∣er you would make into Syrup and bruise it a little, then boyl it in a convenient quantity of Spring Water, the more wa∣ter you boyl it in the weaker will it be, a handful of the Herb, Root, &c. is a con∣venient quantity for a pint of Water; boyl it till half the water be consumed, then let it stand till it be almost cold, and strain it (being almost cold) through a woollen cloth, letting it run out at leisure without pressing, to every pint of this Decoction ad one pound of Sugar and boyl it over the fire till it come to a Sy∣rup, which you may know if you now and then cool a little of it in a spoon, scum it all the while it boyls, and when it is sufficiently boyled, whilst it is hot strain it again through a woollen cloth, but press it not; thus have you the Syrup perfected.

  Thirdly, Syrups made of Juyces are usually made of such Herbs as are full of Juyce, and indeed they are better made into a Syrup this way than any other; the O∣peration is thus, having beaten the Herb in a stone Mortar with a wooden Pestle, press out the Juyce and clarifie it as you were taught before in the Juyces, then let the Juyce boyl away till a quar∣ter of it (or neer upon) be consumed, to a pint of this ad a pound of Sugar, and boyl it to a Syrup, alwaies scumming it, and when it is boyled enough, strain it through & woollen cloth as we taught you before, and keep it for your use.

• 3. If you make Syrups of Roots that are a∣ny thing hard, as Parsley, Fennel, and grass Roots &c. when you have bruised them, lay them in steep some time in that Water which you intend to boyl them in, hot, so will the Vertue the better come out.
• 4. Keep your Syrups either in Glasses or stone Pots, and stop them not with Cork, nor Bladder, unless you would have the Glass break and the Syrup lost, •• and as many Opi∣nions as there are in this Nation, I suppose there are but few or none of this, only bind a Paper about the Mouth.
• 5. All Syrups if well made will continue a yeer, with some advantage yet of all, such as are made by Infusion keep the least while.

Chap. 3. Of Juleps.

• 1. Juleps were first invented as I suppose in Arabia, and my reason is because that word Juleb is an Arabick word.
• 2.It signifies only a pleasant Potion, and was vulgarly used (by such as were sick and wanted help, or such as were in health, and wanted no money) to quench thirst.
• 3. Now a daies 'tis commonly used,

• ...
  • 1. To prepare the Body for Pi••gation.
  • 2. To open Obstructions and the Pores.
  • 3. To digest tough Humors.
  • 4. To qualifie hot distempers &c.
• 4. It is thus made (I mean Simple Juleps for I have nothing to say to Compounds here; all Compounds have as many several Idea's as men have crotchets in their Brain) I say Simple Juleps are thus made: Take a pint of such distilled Water as conduceth to the cure of your distemper, which this Treatise will plentifully furnish you withal, to which add two ounces of Syrup conducing to the same ef∣fect (I shall give you Rules for it in the last Chapter) mix them together and drink a draught of it at your pleasure; If you love tart things ad ten drops of Oyl of Vitriol to your pint and shake it together, and it will have a fine grateful tast.
• 5. All Juleps are made for present use, and therefore it is in vain to speak of their durati∣on.

Chap. 4. Of Decoctions.

• 1. ALL the difference between Decocti∣ons and Syrups made by Decoction is this, Syrups are made to keep, Decoctions only for present use, for you can hardly keep a Decoction a week at any time, if the wea∣ther be hot, not half so long.
• 2. Decoctions are made of Leaves, Roots, Flowers, Seeds, Fruits, or Barks, conducing to the cure of the Disease you make them for; in the same manner are they made as we shew∣ed you in Syrups.
• 3. Decoctions made with Wine last longer than such as are made with Water, and if you take your Decoction to clense the passages of Urine, or open Obstructions, your best way is to make it with white Wine instead of Wa∣ter, because that is most penetrating.
• 4. Decoctions are of most use in such Dis∣eases as lie in the Passages of the Body, as the Stomach, Bowels, Kidneys, Passages of Urine, and Bladder, because Decoctions pass quicker to those places than any other form of Medi∣cines.
• 5. If you will sweeten your Decoction with Sugar, or any Syrup fit for the occasion you take it for which is better, you may and no harm done.
• 6. If in a Decoction you boyl both Roots, Herbs, Flowers, and Seeds together, let the Roots boyl a good while first, because they re∣tain their Vertue longest, then the next in or∣der by the same Rule; viz. 1. The Barks, 2. the Herbs, 3. the Seeds, 4. the Flowers, 5. the Spices if you put any in, because their vertue comes soonest our.
• 7. Such things as by boyling cause sliminess to a Decoction, as Figs, Quince Seeds, Lin∣seed &c. your best way is, after you have brui∣sed them, to tie them up in a linnen rag, as you tie up a Calves Brains, and so boyl them.
• 8. Keep all Decoctions in a Glass close stopped, and in the cooler place you keep them, the longer will they last ere they be sowr.

Lastly, The usual Dose to be given at one time, is usually two, three, four, or five oun∣ces, according to the age and strength of the Patient, the season of the yeer, the strength of the Medicine, and the quality of the Dis∣case.

Chap. 5. Of Oyles.

• 1. OYL Olive, which is commonly known by the name of Sallet Oyl, I suppose because it is usually eaten with Sallets by them that love it; If it be pressed out of ripe Olives, according to Galen is temperate, and exceeds in no one quality.
• 2. Of Oyls, some are Simple, and some are Compound.
• 3. Simple Oyls are such as are made of Fruits or Seeds, by expression, as Oyl of sweet and bitter Almonds, Linseed, and Rapeseed Oyl &c. of which see my Dispensatory.
• 4. Compound Oyls are made of Oyl of Olives and other Simples, imagine Herbs, Flowers, Roots, &c.
• 5. The way of making them is this, Having bruised the Herbs or Flowers you would make your Oyl of, put them in an Earthen pot, and to two or three handfuls of them, powr a pint of Oyl, cover the pot with a paper, and set it in the Sun, about a Fortnight or less accor∣ding as the Sun is in hotness; then having warmed it very well by the fire, press out the Herbs &c. very hard in a press, and ad as ma∣ny more Herbs to the same Oyl, bruised (the Herbs I mean not the Oyl) in like manner, set them in the Sun as before, the ostner you re∣peat this the stronger will your Oyl be; at last when you conceive it strong enough, boyl both Herbs and Oyl together till the Juyce be consumed which you may know by its leaving its bubling, and the Herbs will be crisp, then strain it, whilst it is hot, and keep it in a stone or Glass Vessel for your use.
• 6. As for Chymical Oyls, I have nothing to say in this Treatise.
• 7. The General use of these Oyls is for pain in the Limbs, roughness of the Skin, the Itch &c. as also for Oyntments and Plaisters.
• 8. If you have occasion to use it for Wounds or Ulcers, in two ounces of Oyl, dissolve half an ounce of Turpentine, the heat of the fire will quickly do it, for Oyl it self is offensive to Wounds, and the Turpentine qualifies it.

Chap. 6. Of Electuaries.

PHysitians make more a quoil than needs behalf about Electuaries: I shall pre∣scribe but one general way of making them up, as for the Ingredients you may vary them as you please, and according as you find occasi∣on by the last Chapter.

• 1. That you may make Electuaries when you need them, it is requisite that you keep alwaies Herbs, Roots, Seeds, Flowers &c. ready dried in your House, that so you may be in readiness to beat them into pouder when you need them.
• 2. Your better way is to keep them whol than beaten, for being beaten they are the more subject to lose their strength, because the Air soon penetrates them.
• 3. If they be not dry enough to beat into pouder when you need them, dry them by a gentle fire till they are so.
• 4. Having beaten them, sift them through a fine Tiffany Searce, that so there may be no great picces found in your Electuary.
• 5. To on ounce of your Pouder, ad three ounces of clarified Honey, this quantity I hold to be sufficient; I confess Authors dif∣fer about it: If you would make more or less Electuary, vary your proportions accordingly.
• 6. Mix them well together in a Mortar, and take this for a truth, you cannot mix them too much.
• 7. The way to clarifie Honey is to set it o∣ver the fire in a convenient vessel till the scum arise, and when the scum is taken off it is cla∣rified.
• 8. The usual Dose of Cordial Electuaries is from half a dram to two drams, of purging Electuaries from half an ounce to an ounce.
• 9. The manner of keeping them is in a pot.
• 10. The time of taking them, is either in the morning fasting, and fasting an hour after them, or at night going to bed three or four hours after supper.

Chap. 7. Of Conserves.

• 1. THe way of making Conserves is two∣fold one of Herbs and Flowers, and the other of Fruits.
• 2. Conserves of Herbs and Flowers are thus made, If you make your Conserves of Herbs, as of Scurvy-grass, Wormwood, Rue, or the like, take only the Leaves and tender tops (for you may beat your heart out before you can beat the Stalks small) and having bea∣ten them, waigh them, and to •••• pound of them ad three pound of Sugar, beat them verie well together in a Mortar, you cannot beat them too much.
• 3. Conserves of Fruits, as of Barberries, Sloes, and the like is thus made; First scald the Fruit, then rub the pulp through a thick hair Sieve made for the purpose, called a pul∣ping Sieve, you may do it for a need with the back of a Spoon, then take this Pulp thus drawn, and ad to it its waight of Sugar and no more, put it in a Peuter Vessel, and over a Charcoal fire stir it up and down till the Sugar be melted, and your Conserve is made.
• 4. Thus have you the way of making Con∣serves, the way of keeping of them is in Ear∣then pots.
• 5. The Dose is usually the quantity of a Nutmeg at a time morning and evening, or (unless they be purging) when you please.
• 6. Of Conserves, some keep many yeers, as Conserves of Roses, others but a yeer, as Conserves of Borrage, Bugloss, Cowslips and the like.
• 7. Have a care of the working of some Conserves presently after they are made, look to them once a day and stir them about; Con∣serves of Borrage, Bugloss, and Wormwood have gotten an excellent faculty at that sport.
• 8. You may know when your Conserves are almost spoiled by this, you shall find a hard crust at top with little holes in it as though Worms had been eating there.

Chap. 8. Of Preserves.

OF Preserves are sundry sorts, and the Operations of all being somthing dif∣ferent we will handle them all apart.

There are preserved with Sugar;

• 1. Flowers.
• 2. Fruits.
• 3. Roots
• 4. Barks.

• 1. Flowers are but very seldom preserved, I never saw any that I remember save only Cowslip Flowers, and that was a great fashi∣on in Sussex when I was a boy; It is thus done, first, take a flat Glass, we call them jarr Glasses, strew in a lain of fine Sugar, on that a lain of Flowers, on that another lain of Su∣gar, on that another lain of Flowers, do so til your Glass be full, then tie it over with a paper, and in a little time you shall have very excel∣lent and pleasant Preserves.

  There is another way of Preserving Flow∣ers, namely with Vinegar and Salt, as they pickle Capers and Broom Buds, but because I have little skill in it my self I cannot teach you.

• ...

• 2. Fruits, as Quinces and the like are pre∣served two waies,

  First, Boyl them well in Water, and then pulp them through a Sieve as we shewed you before, then with the like quantity of Sugar boyl the Water they were boyled in to a Sy∣rup, viz. a pound of Sugar to a pint of Li∣quor, to every pound of this Syrup ad four ounces of the Pulp, then boyl it with a very gentle fire to the right consilience, which you may easily know if you di••p a dr••p of it upon a Trencher, if it be enough it will not stick to your fingers when it is cold.

  Secondly, Another way to preserve Fruits is this, First pare off the ••ind, then out them in halves and take cut the Core, then boyl them in Water till they are soft, It you know when Beef is boyled enough you may easily know when they are; the•••• boyl the Water with its like waight of Sugar into a Syrup, put the Syrup into a Pot, and put the boyled Fruit as whol as you left it when you cut it into it, and let it so remain till you have occasion to use it.

• 3. Roots are thus preserved, First, scrape them very clean, and clense them from the Pith if they have any, for some Roots have not, as Eringo and the like, boyl them in Water till they be soft as we s••ew you before in the Fruits, then boyl the Water you boyled the Roots into a Syrup as we shewed you before, then keep the Roots whol in the Syrup till you use them.
• 4. As for Barks we have but few come to our hands to be done, and those of those few that I can remember, are Orrenges, Lem∣mons, Citrons, and the outer Bark of Walnuts which grows without the Shell, for the Shels themselves would make but scurvy Preserves, there be they I can remember, if there be any more put them into the number.

  Th•••• of Preserving these is nor all one is Authors, for some are bitter, some are not, such as are bitter, say Authors, must be soaked in warm Water, often times changed till their bitter tast be fled, but I like not this way, and my reason is, because I doubt when their bit∣terness is gone, so is their Vertue also; I shall then prescribe one common way, namely the same with the former, viz. First boyl them whol till they be soft, then make a Syrup with Sugar and the Liquor you boyled them in, and keep the Barks in the Syrup.

• 5. They are kept in Glasses or glassed Pots.
• 6. The preserved Flowers will keep a yeer if you can forbear eating of them, the Roots and Barke much longer.
• 7. This Art was plainly and cl••erly as first invented for delicacy, yet came afterwards to be of excellent use in Physiak; For,
  • 1. First, Hereby Medicines are made pleasant for sick and queazy Stomi••••s, which else would •••• them.
  • 2. Hereby they are preserved from dccaying a long time.

Chap. 9. Of Lohochs.

• 1. THat which the Arabians call Lohoch, and the Greeks Eclegma, the Latins call Linctus, and in plain English, signifies nothing else but a thing to be licked up.
• 2. Their first invention was to prevent and remedy afflictions of the Breast and Lungs, to clense the Lungs of Flegm, and make it fit to be cast out.
• 3. They are in Body thicker than a Syrup, and not so thick as an Electuary.
• 4. The manner of taking them is often to take a little with a Liquoris stick, and let it go down at leisure.
• 5. They are easily thus made, make a De∣coction of any pectoral Herbs, the Treatise will furnish you with enough, and when you have strained it, with twise its waight of Ho∣ney or Sugar, boyl it to a Lohoch; If you are molested with tough Flegm, Honey is better than Sugar, and if you ad a little Vineger to it you will do well, if not, I hold Sugar to be better than Honey.
• 6. It is kept in Pots and will a yeer and lon∣ger.
• 7. Its use is excellent for roughness of the Windpipe, Inflamations of the Lungs, Ulcers in the Lungs, difficultie of Breath, Asthmaes, Coughs and distillation of Humors.

Chap. 10. Of Oyntments.

• 1. VArious are the waies of making Oynt∣ments which Authors have left to po∣steritie, which I shall omit and quote one which is easiest to be made, and therefore most beneficial to people that are ignorant in Physick, for whose sakes I write this; It is thus done,

  Bruise those Herbs, Flowers, or Roots you would make an Oyntment of, and to two handfuls of your bruised Herbs ad a pound of Hogs Grease tryed, or clensed from the skins, beat them very well together in a stone Mor∣tar with a wooden Pestle, then put it in a stone Pot (the Herbs and Grease I mean, not the Mortar) cover it with a paper, and set it either in the Sun or some other warm place three, four, or fivs daies, that it may melt, then take it out and boyl it a little, then whilst it is hot, strain it out, pressing it out very hard in a Press, to this Grease ad as many more Herbs bruised as before, let them stand in like man∣ner

• ...

  as long, then boyl them as you did the former, if you think your Oyntment be not strong enough you may do it the third and fourth time; yet this I tell you, the fuller of Juyce your Herbs are, the sooner will your Oyntment be strong, the last time you boyl it, boyl it so long till your Herbs be crisp and the Juyce consumed, then strain it, pressing it hard in a press, and to every pound of Oyntment, ad two ounces of Turpentine, and as much Wax, because Grease is offensive to Wounds as well as Oyl,

• 2. Oyntments are vulgarly known to be kept in Pots, and will last above a yeer, above two yeer.

Chap. 11. Of Plaisters.

• 1. THe Greeks made their Plaisters of di∣verse Simples and put Mettals in most of them if not in all, for having reduced their Mettals into Pouder they mixed them with that fatty substance, whereof the rest of the Plaister consisted, whilst it was yet hot, con∣tinually stirring it up and down lest it should sink to the bottom, so they continually stirred it till it was stiff, then they made it up in rolls, which when they need for use they could melt by the fire again.
• 2. The Arabians made up theirs with Meals, Oyl, and Fat, which needed not so long boyling.
• 3. The Greeks Emplasters consisted of these Ingredients, Mettals, Stones, diverse sorts of Earths, Feces, Juyces, Liquoris, Seeds, Roots, Herbs, Excrements of Creatures, Wax, Rozin, Gums.

Chap. 12. Of Pultisses.

• 1. PUltisses are those kind of things which the Latins call Cataplasmata, and our learned Fellows that if they can read English thats all, call them Cataplasms, because 'tis a ••rabbed word few understand; it is indeed a very fine kind of Medicine to ripen Sores,
• 2. They are made of Herbs and Roots fitted to the Disease and Member afflicted, being chopped smal and boyled in Water almost to a Jelly, then by adding a little Barley Meal or Meal of Lupines, and a little Oyl or rough Sheep Suer, which I hold to be better, spread upon a cloath and applied to the grieved place.
• 3. Their use is to case pains, to break Sores, to cool Inflamations, to dissolve hardness, to ease the Spleen, to concoct Humors, to dissi∣pate Swellings.
• 4. I beseech you take this Caution along with you, Use no Pultisses (if ••••an help it) that are of a heating Nature ••••re you have first clensed the Body, be••••ey are subject to draw the Humors to them from eve∣ry part of the Body.

Chap. 13. Of Troches.

• 1. THe Latins call them Placentulae, or little Cakes (and you might have seen what the Greeks call them too, had not the last Edition of my London Dispensatory been so hellishly printed, that's all the Com∣monwealth gets by one Stationer's printing a∣nothers Coppies, viz. To plague the Coun∣try with false Prints, and disgrace the Au∣thor) the Greeks 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 they are usually little round flat Cakes, or you may make them square it you will.
• 2. Their first invention was, that Pouders being so kept might resist the intromission of Air and so endure pure the longer.
• 3. Besides, they are the easier carried in the Pockets of such as travel; many a man (for example) is forced to travel whose Stomach is too cold, or at least not so hot as it should be, which is most proper, for the Stomach is ne∣ver cold till a man be dead; in such a case 'tis better to carry Troches of Wormwood or of Galanga, in a Paper in his Pocker and more convenient behalf than to lug a Gally-pot a∣long with him.
• 4. They are thus made, At night when you go to bed, take two drams of fine Gum Tra∣gacanth, put it into a Gally-pot, and put half a quarter of a pint of any distilled Water fit∣ting the purpose you would make your Tro∣ches for, to it, cover it, and the next mor∣ning you shall find it in such a Jelly as Physi∣tians call Mussilage, with this you may (with a little pains taking) make any Pouder into Past, and that Past into little Cakes called Troches.
• 5. Having made them, dry them well in the shadow and keep them in a Pot for your use.

Chap. 14. Of Pills.

• 1. THey are called Pilule because they re∣semble little Balls, the Greeks call them Catapotia.
• 2. It is the Opinion of Modern Physitians that this way of making up Medicines was in∣vented only to deceive the Pallat, that so by swallowing them down whol, the bitterness o•• the Medicine might not be perceived or a••

• least it might not be unsufferable, and indeed most of ••••ills though not all are very bit∣ter.
• 3. I am of a clean contrary Opinion to this, I rather think they were done up in this hard form that so they might be the longer in dige∣sting, and my Opinion is grounded upon Reason too, not upon Fancy nor Hear-say; The first invention of Pills was to purge the Head, now as I told you before, such Infir∣mities as lay neer the passages, were best re∣moved by Decoctions, because they pass to the grieved part soonest, so here, if the insir∣mity lie in the Head or any other remote part, the best way is to use Pills, because they are longer in digestion, and therefore the better a∣ble to call the offending Humor to them.
• 4. If I should tell you here a long Tale of Medicines working by Sympathy and Anti∣pathy, you would not understand a word of it, they that are fit to make Physitians may find it in the Treatise: All Modern Physitians know not what belonged to a Sympatherical Cure, no more than a Cookoo knows what belongs to Flats and Sharps in Musick, but follow the vulgar road, and call it a hidden quality be∣cause 'tis hid from the Eyes of Dunces, and indeed none but Astrologers can give a reason of it, and Physick without Reason is like a Pudding without Fat.
• 5. The way to make Pills is very easie, for with the help of a Pestle and Mortar and a lit∣tle diligence, you may make any Pouder into Pills, either with Syrup or the Jelly I told you of before.

Chap. ult.

The way of mixing Medicines according to the Cause of the Disease and part of the Bo∣dy afflicted.

THis being indeed the Key of the Work, I shall be somthing the more dilligent in it: I shall deliver my self thus;

• 1. To the Vulgar.
• 2. To Such as study Astrology, or such as study Physick Astrologically.

First to the Vulgar: Kind souls I am sorry it hath been your hard mishap to have been so long trained in such Egyptian darkness, even darkness which to your sorrows may be felt; the vulgar road of Physick is not my practice, and I am therefore the more unfit to give you advice; and I have now published a little Book which will fully instruct you not only •••• the knowledg of your own Bodies but •••• fit Medicines to remedy each part of it when afflicted, mean season take these few Rules to stay your Stomachs.* 1.1

• 1. With the Disease regard the Cause and part of the Body afflicted, for example, sup∣pose a Woman be subject to miscarry through wind, thus do,
  • 1. Look [Abortion] in the Table of Dis∣eases, and you shall be directed by that how many Herbs prevent miscarriage.
  • 2. Look [Wind] in the same Table, and you shall see how many of those Herbs expell wind.

  These are the Herbs Medicinal for your Grief.

• 2. In all Diseases strengthen the part of the Body afflicted.
• 3. In mixed Diseases there lies some diffi∣culty, for somtimes two parts of the Body are afflicted with contrary Humors the one to the other, somtimes one part is afflicted with two contrary Humors, as somtimes the Liver is afflicted with Choller and Water, as when a man hath both a Dropsie and the yellow Jaun∣dice, and this is usually mortal.

In the former, suppose the Brain be too cold and moist, and the Liver too hot and dry, thus do,

• 1. Keep your Head outwardly warm.
• 2. Accustom your self to smell of hot Herbs.
• 3. Take a Pill that beats the Head at night going to bed.
• 4. In the morning take a Decoction that cools the Liver, for that quickly passeth the Stomach, and is at the Liver imme∣diately.

You must not think (Courteous People) that I can spend time to give you examples of all Diseases, these are enough to let you see so much light as you without Art are able to re∣ceive, If I should set you to look upon the Sun I should dazle your eyes and make you blind.

Secondly, To such as study Astrology (who are the only men I know that are fit to study Physick, Physick without Astrology, being like a Lamp without Oyl) you are men I excee∣dingly respect, and such Documents as my Brain can give you at present (being absent from my study) I shall give you, and an exam∣ple to shew the proof of them.

• 1. Fortifie the Body with Herbs of the Na∣ture of the lord of the Ascendent, 'tis no mat∣ter whether he be a Fortune or an Infortune in this case.
• 2. Let your Medicine be somthing Antipa∣thetical to the lord of the sixth.
• 3. Let your Medicine be somthing of the Nature of the Sign ascending.
• 4. If the lord of the Tenth be strong, make use of his Medicines.
• 5. If this cannot well be, make use of the Medicines of the light of time.
• 6. Be sure alwaies fortifie the grieved part of the body by Sympathetical Remedies.
• ...

• 7. Regard the Heart, keep that upon the Wheels because the Sun is the Fountain of Life, and therefore those Universal Remedies Aurum potabile, and the Phylosophers Stone, cure all Diseases by only fortifying the Heart.

But that this may appear unto you as cleer as the Sun when he is upon the Meridian, I here quote you an Example, which I perfor∣med when I was as far off from my study as I am now, yet am I not ashamed the world should see how much or little of my Lesson I have learned without Book.

On July, 25. 1651. there came a Letter to me out of Bedfordshire, from a Gentleman (at that time) altogether to me unknown, though since well known, who was a Student both in Astrologie and Physick: The words which are these;

Mr. Culpeper,

My Love remembred unto you, although I know you not by face; yet because I do much respect that pretty little Lark, you so lately let fly into the world, which you call Semeiotica Uranica, which I have lately taken into my cage; I am therefore imboldned to write unto you in the behalf of a Neighbors wife, who is taken with a very violent Disease which began in the lowr parts of her Body, but is now as∣cended upwards, and tormenteth her in her Breast, Throat, Tongue, and Lips: This Dis∣ease took possession of her (as she relateth to me) about a fortnight before Michaelmas last, but the certain day and hour she is not able to no∣minate; she sent for me, and enquired whether she were not under an ill Tongue or not, or of what nature the Disease was: I have sent you the enclosed Scheam, I could find but one testi∣mony of Fascination or Witchcraft, which was one Sign possessing the Cusps of the Twelfth and First Houses, which to me holds forth no more than a strong suspition of it by the Que∣rent; However I am confident there is a Na∣tural Diseas which hurts much, because the Lord of the Sixt, which usually gives signifi∣cation of Natural Diseases, is now placed in the Ascendent; but at present I forbear to make any large discours of mine own Opinions, being desirous that you would endeavor your Skill in this Cure, for there is not a Doctor of them all far or near that have been so skilful to find out the Diseas, much less to effect the Cure. Sr. I expect your Answer; mean time bid you farewel, and remain yours in Affecti∣on, &c.

[illustration]

The inclosed Scheam,

My Answer to the Letter, was to this effect.

Sir,

I received yours, July 25. wherein I find your enclosed Scheam, and (I suppose) the nature of the Disease, and have sent you such an Answer as I could, being far from my Study, which I entreat you to take in good part, being Festinaxi calamo Conscripta. As for the ig∣norance of your Country Doctors, they wan∣ting the true Judgment of Astrology, is to me no waies admirable; I perceive you to be a yong man by the time of your Genesis, which you also sent me, beware whom you trust with that, he that knows your Nativity knows when ill Directions operate, and if he be an Enemy, knows when to do you a mischief; If Cecil had not had Essex his Nativity, he had never gotten his Head off, but to instruct you being a yong Student, I shall give you my Judgment Methodically.

Diacritica.

You say you can find no Arguments of Witchcraft, but only one Sign possessing the Cusps of both Twelth and Ascendent, but if you had regarded the Propinquity of Venus to Saturn you would have made another of that, yet do not I think she is bewitched, because of other more prevalent restimonies; the Moon passing from the beams of Mars to the beams of Venus may seem to give some suspition of Honesty, and the Disease to come that way, which is encreased by Mars his being in the Ascendent in Scorpio, and the Dragons Tail upon the Cusp, yet I can hardly beleeve this, for Cauda in a humane Sign usually gives Slanders and not Tales of Truth, 'tis a hun∣dred to one if she suffer not in point of good name by the vulgar [this was too true] Be∣sides, the neerness of Venus to Saturn may well shew trouble of mind, and it being in the ninth House, pray enquire whether she have not been troubled about some tenents in Reli∣gion [the trouble of mind was true, but it was about a stranger, which the ninth House also signifies.]

Diagnostica.

Venus, Lady of the Twelfth, and Ascen∣dent, and Eigth, shews her alwaies to be her own foe in respect of Health; and truly I be∣leeve the original of the Disease was a Surfet either by eating moist Fruits, or else by cat∣ching wet in travelling; Venus with Saturn who is in square to the Ascendent troubles her Breast with tough Flegm and Melancholly: Besides, there being a most forcible reception between the Moon and Venus from fruitful Signs, I question whether she be not with Child or not, the Moon being in the fifth House, Mars is lord of the Disease, really in the Scorpion, and accidentally in the Ascen∣dent, together with Aries on the sixt, shew the Disease keep his Court in the Womb, and accidentally afflicts the Head from thence, so that heat of the Womb must needs be cause of the present distemper, and Mars in a moist Sign in the first neer the second may well de∣note heat, and breaking out about her Face and Throat.

Prognostica.

Whether she be curable or not, or how or when the Disease will end is our next Point; Truly I can see no danger of death the Moon being strong in her hain, and applying by Trine with a strong reception to the Lady of the Ascendent; yet this is certain, Mars strong in a fixed Sign will maintain the Dis∣ease stoutly, her hopes will be but smal when Venus comes to the Body of Saturn. viz. Au∣gust 2. for she will be overpressed with Me∣lancholly, the time I suppose of her Cure may be (if good courses be taken) when Mars leaves the Sign he is in, and comes to the place where the Body of Jupiter is, or at least then it may turn to another Disease more propiti∣ous; the Sun strong in the Tenth shews she may be cured by Medicine, and he being ex∣alted in the seventh, and caput there, I do not know but you are as likely a man to do it as any.

Indicationes Curativae.

It is confessed here that the Sun being ex∣ceeding strong in •••••• •••••••• House, should na∣turally signifie the curative Medicine, and as true that the evils of Mars, viz. heat in the Womb, and a salt humor in the blood ought to be removed before you meddle with the tough Flegm in the Breast, but yet seeing the Disease seems rather to participate of offen∣ding heat than any other Simple quality, you must have a care of hot Medicines left you go about ignem oleo extinguere, the Medicines must 1. be cool, 2. strengthning the Womb, 3. repressing the vapors, 4. of the nature of Sol and Venus.

Therapeutice.

To this intent I first commend unto you stinking Arrach, a pattern whereof I have sent you enclosed, you may find it upon Dunghils, especially such as are made of Horse-dung: It is cold and moist, an Herb of Venus in the Scorpion; Also Ros Solis an Herb of the Sun and under the Coelestial Crab, may do very well, and the better because Venus is in Can∣cer: It grows upon Bogs in untilled places, and is in flower about this time, it grows very low, with roundish green Leaves full of red hairs, and is fullest of dew when the Sun is hottest, whence it took its name; to these you may ad Tansie, which I take to be an Herb of Venus in Libra, and Let∣tice if you please which is an Herb of the Moon, Mars having his fall in Cancer they are all harmless, you may use them according to your own descretion: also Orpine, another Herb of the Moon is very good in this case.

Sir, I wish you well, and if you esteem of my Lark above his deserts, I pray trim his Feathers for him (correct the Errors by the Errata) else will he make but unpleasing Mu∣sick. Thus remain yonrs, &c.

I the rather chose this Figure to judg of, because none should have just occasion to say of us Astrologers that we do as Physitians vul∣gar practice is, when they judg of Piss; first pump what they can out of the Querent, and then judg by his words; of which I will re∣hearse you one merry story, and so I will con∣clude the Book.

A Woman whose Husband had bruised him∣self, took his Water, and away to the Doctor trots she; the Doctor takes the Piss and shakes it about, How long hath this party been ill (saith he) Sr. saith the Woman, He hath been ill these two daies, This is a mans water quoth the Doctor presently, this he learned by the word HE; then looking on the water he spied blood in it, the man hath had a bruise saith he, I indeed saith the woman, my Hus∣band fell down a pair of stairs backwards, then the Doctor knew well enough that what came first to danger must needs be his back and shoulders, said, the Bruise lay there; the wo∣man she admired at the Doctors skil, and told him, that if he could tell her one thing more she would account him the ablest Physitian in Europe; well, what was that? How many Stairs her Husband fell down, this was a hard Question indeed, able to puzle a stronger Brain than Mr. Doctor had, to pumping goes he, and having taken the Urinal and given it a shake or two, enquires whereabout she lived, and knowing well the place, and that the Hou∣ses thereabouts were but low built Houses, made answer) after another view of the Urine for fashion sake) that probably he might fall down some seven or eight stairs; ah, quoth the woman, now I see you know nothing, my Husband fell down thirty; thirty! quoth the Doctor, and snatching up the Urinal, is here all the water saith he? no saith the woman, I spilt some in putting of it in, look you there quoth Mr. Doctor, there were all the other stairs spilt.

Yet mistake me not, I do not deny but such whose daily experience is to judg Waters, and usually judg a hundred in a day may know somthing by them: If any thing may be known by Urine, I am sure it may be Art, put them both together, vis unita fortior. Thus I take my leave of you; be diligent and I am yours.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Galen's Art of Physick.