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.

Sect. 2. Of the Apropriation of Medicines to the seve∣ral Parts of the Body.

ANtient Physitians also kept a grievous rac∣ket about this, some denying any specifical vertues at all in Medicins, or any congruity to certain parts of the Body, but were of O∣pinion that such as strengthen the Head must needs strengthen the Bowels and all other parts of the Body, by the same Rule, because being ignorant of the in∣fluence of the Heavens, they would give no Reason for the contrary, and so whatsoever is obnoxious to one part of the Body must needs be obnoxious to all the rest, by the same Rule.

Others hold them to be apropriated to the particu∣lar parts of the Body by an hidden property as they call it, because their ignorance in Astronomy knew not what to make of it, or how the Midicines opera∣ted and their experience testifying that they had dist∣inct operations upon distinct parts of the Body.

Others have labored to find out a middle way be∣tween both these, and they hold that what Medicines strengthen one part of the Body, must needs in some measure strengthen all the rest, yet so as that it is pe∣culiarly apropriated to that Part of the Body which it strengthens, and their reason is, Because the sub∣stance of the Medicine agrees with the substance of that Part of the Body which it strengthens, and e∣very one almost that hath but wit enough to eat an Eg, knows that the substance of all Parts of the Body are not alike. This argument hath some weight in it, though in my Opinion it falls a little too low, for it is a certain truth, the Sympathy, and Antipathy in the Creation is the cause both of all Diseases, and also of the operations of all Medicines, However I may in∣tertex my Opinion of what Physitians call [hidden Qualities] now and then with it, yet my scope shall be to treat chiefly of this at this time, till time and op∣pertunity (together with the will of my Creator) give me leave to digest what they call [hidden Qualities] into such a form that others may understand it as well as my self: I am sickly and have no body to help me, I can do things no faster than I can.

That the Qualities and Use of these Medicines may be found out, and understood by every one, and so my Country reap the benefit of my Labor, they shall find them presented to their view in this Or∣der.

Medicines a∣propriated,

• 1. To the Head.
• 2. To the Breast and Lungues.
• 3. To the Heart.
• 4. To the Stomach.
• 5. To the Liver.
• 6. To the Spleen.
• 7. To the Reins and Bladder.
• 8. To the Womb.
• 9. To the Joynts.

CHAP 1. Of Medicines apropriated to the Head.

BY [Head] is usually understood all that part of the Body which is between the top of the Crown, and the uppermost joynt of the Neck; yet are those Medicines properly called Cephalical which are apro∣priated to the Brain, not to the Eyes, Ears nor Teeth; neither are those Medicines which are proper for the Ears proper also for the Eyes, therefore (my intent being to write as plain as I can) I shall subdivide this Chapter into these parts.

Medcines apro∣priated —

• 1. To the Brain.
• 2. To the Eyes.
• 3. To the Mouth. and Nostrils.
• 4. To the Ears.
• 5. To the Teeth.

For what Medicines are apropriated to an unruly Tongue, is not in my power at present to deter∣min.

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.

Of Medicines apropriated to the Eyes.

TAke such Medicines as are apropriated to the Eyes under the name of [Ocular Medicines] I do it partly to avoid multiplicity of words, and partly to instruct my Country Men in the Terms of Art belonging to Physick, (I would have called them [Ophthalmicks] had not the word been troublesom to the reading, much more to the understanding of a Country man) as I even now called such Medicines [Cephalicks] as were apropriated to the Brain.

Ocular Medicines are two fold, viz. such as are referred to the Visive Vertues, and such as are referred to the Eyes themselves.

Such as strengthen the Visive Vertue or the Op∣tick Nerves which convey it to the Eyes (say Do∣ctors) do it by an hidden Vertue, into the reason of which no man can dive, unless they should fetch it from the Similitude of the substance; And yet they say a Goats Liver conduceth much to make one see in the night, and they give this Reason, Because Goats see as well in the night as in the day. Yet is there no affinity in temperature nor substance between the Liver and the Eyes; However Astrologers know wel enough that all Herbs, Plants, &c. That are under the Dominion of either Sun or Moon, and apropri∣ated to the Head, be they hot or cold they strengthen the Visive Vertue, as Eyebright which is hot, Luna∣ria or Moonwort which is cold.

As for what appertains to the constitution of the Eyes themselves seeing they are exact in sence, they will not indure the least inconvenience, therefore such Medicines as are outwardly applied to them (for such Medicines as strengthen the visive Veertues are all gi∣ven inwardly) let them neither hurt by their hard∣ness nor gnawing quality, nor be so tough that they should stick to them, Therefore let Oculiar Medi∣cines be neither in Pouders nor Ointments, because Oyl it self is offensive to the Eyes, and how pleasing Pouders are to them you may perceive your self by but going into the dust.

Medicines apropriated to the Mouth and Nose.

APPly no stinking Medicine to a Disease in the Nose, for such offend not only the Nose, but also the Brain; neither administer Medicines of any ill tast to a Disease in the Mouth, for that subverts the Stomach, because the tunicle of the mouth and of the Stomach is the same; And because both Mouth and Nostrils are wayes by which the Brain is clen∣sed, therefore are they infected with such vices as need almost continual clensing; and let the Medicines you apply to them be either pleasant, or at least, not ingrateful.

Medicines apropriated to the Ears.

THe Ears are easily afflicted by Cold, because they are alwaies open, therefore they require hot Medicines. And because they are of themselves very dry, therefore they require Medicines which dry much

Medicines apropriated to the Teeth.

VEhement heat, and vehement cold is inimical to the Teeth, but they are most of all offended by sharp and four things, and the reason is, because they have neither Skin nor Flesh to cover them, they delight in such Medicines as are clensing and bind∣ing, because they are troubled with Defluxions and Rhewms upon every light occasion, and that's the rea∣son the common use of fat and sweet things, soon rots the Teeth.

CHAP. 2. Of Medicines apropriated to the Breast and Lungues.

THe Medicines apropriated to the Breast and Lungues, you shall find called all along by the name of [Pectorals] that's the term Physitians give them, when you hear them talk of Pectural Syrups, Pectoral Rowls, or Pectoral Oyntments, now you know their Use.

They are divers, some of which regard the part afflicted, others the matter afflicting.

But although sometimes in Ulcers of the Lungues we are forced to use binding Medicines, to joyn the Ulcer, yet are not these called Pectorals, because binding Medicines are extream hurtful to the Breast and Lungues, both because they hinder ones fetching his breath, and also because they hinder the avoi∣ding that Flegm by which the Breast is oppressed.

Such Medicines are called Pectorals, which are of a* 1.1 lenifying Nature, for by their operation is the breath the easier fetched, and what sticks to the Sto∣mach the easier spit out.

Neither yet is the way or manner of provoking this same spitting alwaies one and the same, for som∣times the matter is so thin that it cannot be cast up by the motion of the Lungues, but it slips besides. A∣gain, Sometimes it is so thick that it cannot be cast out by the narrow Arteries of the Lungues. These then are the genuine operations of Pectorals, viz. Some to make the thin matter thicker, others to make the thick matter thinner.

Besides, Those which make thin matter thicker are of two sorts, viz. Some are mild and gentle, which may safely be administred, be the matter hot or cold which offendeth, (the degrees of temperature will sa∣tisfie, which such be among the Simples, neither shall you want instructions among the Compounds) O∣thers are very cold, which are used only when the mat∣ter offending is sharp.

But because such Medicines as conduce to the cure of the Phtisicks (which is an Ulceration of Lungues and the disease usually called, The Consumption of the Lungues) are also reckoned in amongst Pectorals. It is not amiss to speak a word or two of them.

In the cure of this disease are three things to be re∣garded.

• 1. To cut and bring away the Concreated Blood.
• 2. To cherish and strengthen the Lungues.
• 3. To conglutinate the Ulcer.

And indeed some particular Simples will perform all these, and Physitians confess it; which shews the wonderfull Mysterie the All-wife God hath made in the Creation, That one and the Same Simple should perform two contrary Operations on the same part of the Body; for the more a Medicine clenseth the more it conglutinates; And it is wisely done of Phy∣sitians to shut their Eyes against such a Mysterie, and against Astrology also, which is one means to reveal it, they make a long Harvest of little Corn, and get the more money by it. They usually in such cases first use Medicines which are more clensiing; lastly, Me∣dicines more binding and strengthen the Lungues all the time.

To conclude then, Pectoral Medicines are such as either cut and clense out the compacted humors from the Arteries of the Lungues, or make thin Defluxions thick, or temper those that are sharp, help the Rough∣ness of the Wind-pipe, or are gently lenitive and soft∣ning, being outwardly applied to the Breast.

CHAP. 3. Of Medicines apropriated to the Heart.

THese are they that are generally given under the notion of Cordials, take them under that name here.

The Heart is the seat of the vital Spirit, the foun∣tain of life, the original of infused heat, and of the natural affections of man.

So then these Two Things are proper to the Heart.

• 1. By its heat to cherish life thorow out the Bo∣dy.
• 2. To add vigor to the Affections.

And if these be proper to the Heart, you will easi∣ly grant me, that it is the property of Cordials to ad∣minister to the Heart in these Particulars.

Of Cordials, some cheare the Mind, some streng∣then the Heart, and refresh the Spirits thereof, be∣ing decayed.

Those which checr the Mind are not one and the same; for as the Heart is variously disturbed, ei∣ther by Anger, Love, Fear, Hatred, Sadness, &c. So such things as flatter Lovers, or appease the An∣gry, or comfort the Fearful, or please the Hateful, may well be called Cordials; for the Heart, seeing it is placed in the middle between the Brain and the Liver, is wrought upon by Reason, aswell as by Di∣gestion; yet these, because they are not Medicines, are beside my present scope.

And altough it is true, That Mirth, Love, &c. are actions, or motions of the Mind, not of the Bo∣dy; yet many have bin induced to think such Affe∣ctions may be wrought in the Body by Medicines, which some hold is done by an hidden property (the old Bush ignorant Physitians have run into) Others that denied any hidden quality in Medicines, held it to be done by Enchantment, and that is the only way of a thousand to lead people in ignorance, viz.

To tell them (when they cannot give, nor will not study a reason of a thing) It is Diabolical, and done by Sorcery. I could give a Reason of the former, if it were my present scope to speak of hidden proper∣ties; a very short time will discover the latter to be the greatest of Falshoods. But to return to my pur∣pose.

The Heart is chiefly afflicted by too much heat, by Poyson, and by stinking Vapors, and these are re∣medied by the second sort of Cordials, and indeed chicfly belong to our present scope.

According to these Three Afflictions, viz.

• 1. Excessive heat.
• 2. Poyson.
• 3. Melancholly vapors.

Are Three kinds of Remedies which succor the afflicted Heart:

Such as

• 1. By their cooling Nature mitigate the heat of Feavers.
• 2. Resist Poyson.
• 3. Cherish the vital Spirits when they 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

All these are called Cordials.

• 1. Such as cool the Heart in Feavers, yet is not every thing that cooleth Cordial, for Lead is colder than Gold, yet is not Lead Cordial as Gold is, some hold it Cordial by hidden Quality, others by Rea∣son, Because it cheers a mans heart to see he hath gotten Money, an Apish Reason, unbeseeming a Scho∣ler; for Pearls, taken inwardly, cool the heart, and cheer it exceedingly, and such a frigid Reason will no waies hold in that, what Medicines do by hidden Quality is not my task at present, it may be here∣after, only here let it suffice, that cool Cordials are such Medicines as are apropriated to the Heart, and let the Heart be afflicted with heat, else take them not, for fear of Cordials they prove ruptures, for the Heart is maintained by heat, and not by cold.
• 2. Such as resist Poyson, There is a two-fold re∣sisting of Poyson.

• 1. By an Antipathy between the Medicine and the Poyson.
• 2. By a Sympathy between the Medicine and the Heart.
• ...

  Of the First we shall speak anon, in a Chapter by it self. The latter belongs to this Chapter, and they are such Medicines, whose nature is to strengthen the Heart, and fortifie it against the Poyson, as Rue, Angelica, &c. For as the operation of the former is upon the Poyson, which afflicteth the Heart, so the operation of the latter is upon the Heart afflicted by the Poyson.

  To this Classis may be referred all such Medicines, as strengthen the Heart, either by Astral influence, or by likeness of substance, if there be such a like∣ness in Medicines, for a Bullocks heart is of like sub∣stanceto a Mans, yet I question whether it be Cor∣dial or not.

• 3. And lastly, Such as refresh the Spirits, and make them lively and active, both because they are apropriated to that Office, and also because they drive stinking and Melancholly vapors from the Heart, for as the Animal spirits be refreshed by fragant smels, and the Natural Spirits by Spices; so are the vital Spirits refreshed by al such Medicins as keep back Me∣lancholly vapors from the Heart, as Borrage, Bugloss, Rosemary, Citron Pills, the Compositions of them, and many others, which this Treatise will amply fur∣nish you with.

CHAP. 4. Of Medicines apropriated to the Stomach.

BY Stomach, I mean that Ventricle which con∣tains the Food till it be concocted into Chyle.

Medicines apropriated to the Stomach are usually called Stomachicals.

The infirmities usually incident co the Stomach are Three.

• 1. Appetite lost.
• 2. Digestion weakened.
• 3. The retentive Faculty corrupted.

When Appetite is lost, the man feels no hunger when his Body needs Nourishment.

When Digestion is weakened it is not able to con∣coct the meat received into the Stomach, but it pu∣trifies there.

When the retentive Faculty is spoiled, the Sto∣mach is not able to retain the Food till it be digested, but either vomits it up again, or causeth Fluxes.

Such Medicines then as remedy all these, are called Stomachicals. And of them in order.

• 1. Such as provoke Appetite are usually of a sharp or sourish tast, and yet withal of a grateful tast to the Pallat, for although loss of appetite may proceed from divers causes, as from Choller in the Stomach, or putrified humors or the like, yet such things as purge this Choller or humors, are properly called Orecticks, not Stomachicals; the former strengthen Appetite after these are expelled.
• 2. Such Medicines help Digestion as strengthen the Stomach, either by convenient heat, or Aroma∣tical (viz. spicy) faculty, by hidden property, or congruity of Nature; by which last, the inner skin of a Hens Gizzard dried and beaten to Pouder and taken in Wine in the morning fasting is an exceeding strengthener of Digestion, because those Creatures have such strong Digestions themselves.
• 3. The retentive Faculty of the Stomach is cor∣rected by binding Medicines, yet not by all binding Medicines neither, for some of them are adverse to the Stomach, but by such binding Medicines as are apropriated to the Stomach.

For the Use of these.

• 1. Use not such Medicines as provoke Appetite be∣fore* 1.2 you have clensed the Stomach of what hinders it.
• 2. Such Medicines as help Digestion (which the* 1.3 Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) give them a good time before meat that so they may pass to the bottom of the Sto∣mach (for the digestive Faculty lies there) before the food come into it.
• 3. Such as strengthen the retentive Faculty, give* 1.4 them a little before meat, if to stay Fluxes; a little after meat, if to stay vomiting.

CHAP. 5. Of Medicines apropriated to the Liver.

BE pleased to take these under the name of Hepa∣ticks, for that is the usual name Physitians give them, and these also are of Three sorts.

• 1. Some the Liver is delighted in.
• 2. Others strehgthen it.
• 3. Others help its vices.

The Pallat is the Seat of tast, and its Office is to judg what Food is agreeable to the Stomach, and what not, by that is both the Quality and Quantity of Food fit for the Stomach discerned: the very same Office the Meseraick Veins perform to the Liver.

Sometimes such Food pleaseth the Pallat which the Liver likes not (but not often) and therefore the Meseraick Veins resuse it, and that's thereason some few men fancy such food as makes them sick after the eating thereof.

• 1. The Liver is delighted exceedingly with sweet things, draws them greedily, and digesteth them as swiftly, and that's the reason Honey is so soon turned into Choller.
• 2. Such Medicines strengthen the Liver, as (being apropriated to it) very gently bind, for seeing the Office of the Liver is to concoct, it needs some ad∣striction, that so both the heat and the humor to be concocted may be staied that so the one slip not away, nor the other be scattered.
• ...

  Yet do not Hepatical Medicines require so great a binding faculty as Stomachicals do, because the passa∣ges of the Stomach are more open than those of the Liver, by which it either takes in Chyle, or sends out Blood to the rest of the Body, therefore Medi∣cines which are very binding are hurtful to the Liver, and either cause obstructions, or hinder the distri∣bution of the Blood, or both.

• 3. The Liver being very subject to obstructions, Medicines which withstand obstructions, or open them being made, are truly Hepatical, and they are such as cut and extenuate without any vehement heat (to these we shall speak in their proper places) and yet they retain a faculty both gently binding, and clen∣sing.
• ...

  Sometimes Inflamation follows the obstruction, and then must you use Hepatical Medicines, which cool, clense, and extinuate.

  In using these have a special care that your cooling Medicines be so tempered with heat, that the dige∣stive faculty of the Liver be not spoiled, and that the Diaphragma (which is very neer unto it) be not so cooled that it hinder the fetching of breath.

  And thus much for the Liver, the Office of which is to concoct Chyle (which is a white substance the Stomach digests the food into) into Blood, and di∣stribute it by the Veins to every part of the body, whereby the Body is nourished, and decaying flesh restored.

CHAP. 6. Of Medicines apropriated to the Spleen.

IN the breeding of Blood are three Excrements most conspicuous, viz. Urine. Choller, and Melan∣cholly.

The proper seat of Choller is in the Gall.

The Urine passeth down to the Reins or Kidneys, which is all one.

The Spleen takes the thickest or melancholly blood to it self.

I hope shortly to give you the exactest piece of A∣natomy now extant, in your own mother tongue, wherein you may as perfectly see these and all other internal operations of your Body, as you can your Faces in a Looking Glass. But to return.

This Excrement of Blood is twofold: for either by excessive heat, it is addust, and this is that the Latins call Atra bilis: or else it is thick and earthly of it self, and this properly is called Melancholly hu∣mor.

Hence then is the nature of Splenical Medicines to be found out, and by these two is the Spleen usual∣ly afflicted, for Atra bilis (I know not what distinct English name to give it) many times causeth Mad∣ness, and pure Melancholly causeth obstructions of the Bowels, and tumors, whereby the concoction of the Blood is viciated, and Dropsies many times fol∣low.

Medicines then peculiar to the Spleen must needs be twofold also, some apropriated to Atra bilis, others to pure Melancholly; but of purging either of them, I shall omit till I come to treat of Purging in a Chap∣ter by it self.

• 1. Such Medicines are Splenical, which by cool∣ing and moistning temper Atra bilis: let not these Medicines be to cold neither, for there is no such heat in Atra bilis as there is in Choller, and there∣fore it needs no such excessive cooling; amongst the number of these are such as we mentioned amongst the Cordials, to repel Melancholly vapors from the Heart, such temper and asswage the malice of Atra bilis.
• 2. Those Medicines are also Splenical, by which Melancholly humors are corrected and so prepared, that they may the more easily be evacuated; such Me∣dicines are cutting and opening, and they differ from

• Hepaticals, in this, that they are no waies binding, for the Spleen being no waies addicted to concocti∣on, binding Medicines do it harm, and not good.
• 3. Sometimes the Spleen is not only obstructed, but also hardned by Melancholly humors, and in such cases Emolient Medicines may be well called Sple∣nicals; not such as are taken inwardly, for they ope∣rate upon the Stomach and Bowels, but such as are outwardly applied to the Region of the Spleen.
• ...

  Aud although sometimes Medicines are outwardly applied to hardness of the Liver, yet they differ from Splenicals, because they are binding, so are not Sple∣nicals.

Chap. 7. Of Medicines apropriated to the Reins and Bladder.

THe Office of the Reins is, To make a separa∣tion between the Blood and the Urin, to re∣ceive this Urine thus separated from the Blood, is the Bladder ordained, which is of a sufficient bigness to contain it, that so a man may go about his business and not be alwaies pissing.

Both these parts of the Body officiating about the Urin, they are both usually afflicted by the vices of the Urin.

The Urin is oppressed

• 1. By Stones.
• 2. By Inflamation.
• 3. By thick Humors.

Medicines apropriated to the Reins and Bladder are usually called Nephriticals and are Threefold; some cool, others cut gross humors, and a third sort breaks the Stone.

In the Use of all these, take notice, That the con∣stitution of the Reins and Bladder is such, That they abhor all binding Medicines, because they cause stoppage of Urine.

The truth is, I shall speak of all these apart in so many Chapters by themselves, only let it suffice here, That Physitians confess some Medicines perform these by an hidden 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and even break the hard∣est Stone; but no man (they say, because they can∣not themselves) can give a Reason how, nor why they do it.

And Secondly, take notice, That the Reins and Bladder being subject to Inflamations endure not very hot Medicines.

Thirdly Because the Bladder is further remote from the Centre of the Body than the Kidnies are, there∣fore it requires stronger Medicines than the Kidnies do, lest the strength of the Medicine be spent before it be come to the part afflicted.

Chap. 8. Of Medicines apropriated to the Womb.

THese Physitlans call Hystericals, and to avoid multiplicity of words, take them in this dis∣conrse under that notion,

Take notice that such Medicines as provoke the Terms, or stop them when they flow immoderately, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 properly Hystericals, but shall be spoken to by and by in a Chapter by themselves.

As for the Nature of the Womb, it seems to be much like the nature of the Brain and Stomach, for experience teacheth that it is delighted with sweet and Aromatical Medicines, and flies from their contra∣ries.

For example: A Woman being troubled with the Fits of the Mother, which is a drawing of the Womb upwards, apply sweet things, as Civit, or the like, to the place of Conception, it draws it down again, but apply stinking things to the Nose, as Assafoetida, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the like, it expels it from it, and sends it down to its proper place.

Again, Sometimes the Womb of a Woman falls out, in such cases, sweet scents applied to the Nose, and stinking things to the privy passage, reduces it to its proper place again, and this made some Physiti∣ans of Opinion that the Womb of a Woman was ca∣pable of the sence of smelling. For my part I beleeve nothing less; only it doth it by apropriation to that part of the Body, for the Stomach is also offended with stinking things, not because it smels them, but because they are obnoxious to that part of the Body, judg the like by the Womb; it is offended by stink∣ing things, and strengthened by sweet: for smell is one of the Touch-stones by which Nature trieth what is convenient for its self; yet, that the Womb hath much affinity with the Head is most certain, and undeniable by this argument, Because most Cepha∣lick Medicines conduce to the cure of Diseases in the Womb, neither is the Womb often afflicted, but the Head principally suffers with it.

Chap. Of Medicenes apropriated to the Joynts.

The Joynts are usually troubled with Cephalick Diseases, and then are to be cured by Cepha∣lick Medicines.

Medicines apropriated to the Joynts, are called by the name of Arthritical Medicines.

The Joynts, seeing they are very Nervous, re∣quire Medicines which are of a heating and drying Nature, with a gentle binding, and withal such as by a peculiar vertue are apropriated to them, and ad strength to them. It is true, most Cephalicks do so, yet because the Joynts are more remote from the Centre, they require stronger Medicines.

For removing pains in the Joynts this is the Me∣thod of proceeding.

Pains is either taken away, or eased, for the true cure is to take away the cause of the pain, sometimes the vehemency of the pain is so great that you must be forced to use Anodines (for so Physitians call such Medicines as ease pain) before you can meddle with the cause, and this is usually when the part pained is inflamed, for those Medicines which take away the cause of pain being very hot, if there be any Infla∣mation in the part pained, you must abstain from them till the Inflamation be taken away.

Also the manner of easing the pain is two-fold, for if you regard only the pain, use Anodines, but if you regard the Inflamation, use cooling Medicines; be∣cause by them, not only the heat is asswaged, but al∣so the Flux of Blood to that part is stopped, especial∣ly if you mix some repelling Medicine with it. We shall speak of all these in the next Section.

Only here take notice, That such Medicines as take away the cause of pain from the Joynts, are of very thin substance and forcible in cutting and draw∣ing; and when you see the cause is taken quite away, then use such as bind and strengthen the Joynts, that so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may prevent defluxions for the time to come. And thus much for the Second Section.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The next Section will in∣struct you in the term.
• * 1.2

  Use 1.
• * 1.3

  Use 2.
• * 1.4

  Use 3,