A choice collection of rare secrets and experiments in philosophy as also rare and unheard-of medicines, menstruums and alkahests : with the true secret of volatilizing the fixt salt of tartar / collected and experimented by the honourable and truly learned Sir Kenelm Digby, Kt., Chancellour to Her Majesty the Queen-Mother ; hitherto kept secret since his decease, but now published for the good and benefit of the publick by George Hartman.

A Certain and Infallible Remedy to prevent and Cure the Fits of the Gout.

I Knew a Gentleman in Germany, who al∣ways Cured and prevented his Fits of the Gout (whensoever he perceived the least symptom of its approaching) by the fol∣lowing Remedy:

He caused a good quantity of the Herb Mullein (Verbascum in Latin) to be gathered every Summer when it was in its Flower, which is in Iune, it beareth many yellow Flowers upon a long straight stalk with large leaves at the bottom, which are hoary. Then he took a good quantity of this Herb, and cut it small, the Stalk, Flowers, and Leaves, and caused it to be boyled in a pail-full of Forge-water out of a Smith's trough, where∣in he quenches and cooleth his Irons; when this was boyled sufficiently, then there was put into it a large piece of Chalk in Powder. In this Water he bathed his Feet, Leggs, and Knees, as hot as he could endure it, in a Tub, continuing until the Water grew cold. Then a hole was digged in the ground in his Garden, wherein this Water was put with the Ingredients, and then covered with Earth.

This always prevented his Fit, so that he

never had any pain, lameness, or swelling at all, to which I was an Eye-witness. And I heard him say, that if he did not use this Re∣medy, he would have very shrewd and rack∣ing Fits, and keep his Bed by it for a Month or six weeks, and that twice a Year, chiefly in the Spring, and at the Falling of the Leaf.