Pharmacopœia Londinensis, or, The London dispensatory further adorned by the studies and collections of the Fellows, now living of the said colledg ... / by Nich. Culpeper, Gent.

Of Medicines apropriated to the Brain.

BEfore we treat of Medicines apropriated to the Brain, it is requisite that we discribe what the na∣ture and affection of the Brain is.

The Brain which is the Seat of Apprehension Judg∣ment, and Memory, the Original of Sence and Mo∣tion, is by nature temperate, and if so, then you will grant me that it may easily be afflicted both by Heat and Cold, and it is indeed more subject to affli∣ctions by either of them, than any other part of the Body, for if it be afflicted by heat, Sence and Rea∣son is immoderately moved, if by cold, they languish,

and are dulled, to pass by other symptoms which invade the Head, if the Brain be altered from its pro∣per temper.

Also this is peculiar to the Brain, that it is deligh∣ted or offended by sinels, sights, and sounds, but I shall meddle no further with these here, because they are not Medicines.

Cephalical Medicines may be found out from the Affections of the Brain it self. The Brain is usually oppressed with moisture in such afflictions; therefore give such Medicines as very gently, warm, clense, cut, and dry; but withal, let them be such as are a∣propriated to the Head, such as Physitians say [by an hidden quality] strengthens the Brain.

Again, if you consider the scituation of the Brain, you shal find it placed in the highest part of all the Bo∣dy; therefore it is easily afflicted with hot vapors, this punisheth a man with watchings and head-ach, as the former did with sottishness and sleepiness; in such cases use such Cephalects as gently cool the Brain.

To make Cephalects of Narcoticks, or slupifying Medicines is not my iutent, for I am confident they are inimical both to Brain and Sences. Of these, and such Medicines also as purge the Brain, I shall speak by and by. To return to my purpose.

Some Cephalicks purge the Brain, some heat it, some cool it, some strengthen it; but how they per∣form this Office peculiarly to the Brain, most Physi∣tians confess they could neither comprehend by Rea∣son, nor discribe by Precepts, only thus, they do it by an hidden quality, either by strengthening the Brain, thereby defending it from Diseases, or by a certain Antipathy between them and the Diseases in∣cident to the Brain.

Lastly, For the Use of Cephalicks, observe, if the Brain be much afflicted, you cannot well strengthen it before you have purged it, neither can you well purge the Brain before you have clensed the rest of the Body, it is so subject to receive the vapors up to it; give cooling Cephalicks when the Brain is too hot, and hot Cephalicks, when it is too cold.

Beware of using cooling Medicines to the Brain when the Crisis of a Disease is neer: How that time may be known, I shall (God asisting me) instruct you hereafter, I cannot do all things at one time; let it suffice now, that according as the Discase afflicting your Head is, so let your remedy be.