Organon salutis an instrument to cleanse the stomach : as also divers new experiments of the virtue of tobacco and coffee, how much they conduce to preserve humane health / by W.R. ...

CHAP. VIII. (Book 8)

In the Veins, and other parts of the* 1.1 body, are corrupt humors, which Nature draweth, with the Quint∣essence of our food for main∣tenance of the several parts of the body; from whence commeth the Gout, and Infirmities in the Eyes, and other parts of the body; which when strength of nature cannot expell outwardly, then the same return upon the inward noble parts to destroy Man.

1. THAT those humors come out of the Sto∣mach to the severall parts of the body; and that those humors re∣turn to the Stomach again, to be avoid∣ed

by the ordinary passages of nature, and especially by vomit, doth appear, by that which is before spoken.

2. The Gout is the principall, and reputed unrecoverable Disease, which commeth from those humors, and run∣neth up and down into severall parts of the body, to seek some vent to get out of the body: In which case, although I will not presume to say, that the Gout can be absolutely cured, yet I dare say, that it may be much eased, so that a man may live long, without much trou∣ble of that disease.

3. Although vomiting is the princi∣pall means to avoid the matter of the Gout, as aforesaid; yet there be other outward means to draw the goutie hu∣mor which remaineth in the Joynts; which may stand well with Hippocrates his Aphorism, where he saith, that where Nature swelleth, and offereth to vent it self, there it is to be avoided in convenient places.

4. Many be the wayes and means which are prescribed in physick books: But that which, after many experiences, I found best, is, to apply a Sinapismus, or

Mustard plaster, as before; and that before and afterwards to apply one of the Dropaces, or pitch plaster, as cap. 2. numb. 7. which the learned Heurinus in his Method doth commend excee∣dingly; and doth much condemne the neglect thereof; which he thinketh to be for no other cause, but because it is cheap.

5. It must be applyed in convenient places, as I cited before out of Hippo∣crates. Which places I found to be most convenient, and with lesse offence (are these, that is) If the pain be in the Feet, between the great and little Toes, where the Toes doe part: If in the Heel or Ancle, to the sinews of both sides of the Shinne bone, over against the lower part of the Calf of the Legge: If in the Knee or Legge, a little below the Knee∣panne, and, as before, by the Calf of the Legge: If in the Fingers, upon the back of the Hand, between the Fore-finger, and Little-finger, where the Fin∣gers part: If in the Wrist or Arme, to the Inner part of the Wrist: If in the Neck, &c. then to the Nape, or hinder part of the Neck.

6. This Mustard plaister is to be used in this manner First, a convenient large Plaister made of Frankincense, Pitch &c. as before, is to be applyed to one of the said places for at least six hours; Then make a lesser Plaister of about an Inch, and not above two Inches in breadth, of the said Mustard Plaister; and apply it to one of the said places, as occasion shall require: let the same stay there for about eight hours, until the place blister and grow red: then take away the Mu∣stard Plaister, and lay the other Plaister thereupon. If the place doe blister, prick the same, to let out the water. Take this Plaister from the place apply∣ed, once every twelve hours, or oftener: W••pe the place affected, and Plaister, and so continue the same untill the place doth heal. Thus I have seen it of∣ten used, and never miss admirable ef∣fects; and without this course I have found all to be labour in vain.

7. Although men generally conceive the Gout to be only a waterish humor, yet, by the use of the means aforesaid, I have drawn out of the Feet and Hands, humors of the thicknesse of white of

Egges; and when it had stood a quar∣ter of an hour, it grew to be a substance, like leather; so that I could scarce tear it with the strength of both my hands: which I verily beleeve is the humor which congeals in the hands, and makes crooked and knotty hands.

8. Although this will draw the wa∣terish and salt humors out of the joynts; yet there is an easie convenient way to draw it out of the Stomach, to prevent it from coming to the joynts, (that is) Take about the bignesse of a Nutmeg of the said Electuary of Co∣phie, as before, every morning when a man is rising out of his bed: Then take into your mouth about an Inch in length of the stalk of a Tobacco leaf well dryed, and a little Cinnamon, to take away the loathsome taste thereof; which will draw the Rhume out of the mouth; and as it doth moisten, bite it; and sometimes a little of the juice of it may be let into the Stomach; and then drink some drink to drive it down: This a man may doe while he is putting on of his clothes, and oftener, as a man findeth it to agree with his body, with∣out

offence. But Tobacco leaves, or the stalkes thereof, undryed are loathsome and troublesome, howsoever the same are prescribed by Wecker's Antidotaries. I have known some being troubled with the Pox, have received great bene∣fit by often drawing of waterish hu∣mors with Tobacco, &c. as before: But I leave them to Mother Cornelius Tub.

9. I doe know that there are Infi∣nite numbers of Bathes and Pultices prescribed for the Gout; but I have of∣ten found, that boyled Turnips made to a Pultice, and the water wherein they were boyled for a Bathe, will serve as well as any others. Look more there∣of chap. 11. numb. 20. the end there∣of.

10. Also I have found a very good Pultice, by beating of the white of Egges to a froth; and then to mingle therewith ordinary Soap, and apply it to the grieved place. But if any skinne be broken it will burn, unlesse one of the Pitch Plaisters be laid on the place under the Pultice.

11. Also if there be any swelling or heat, after these Plaisters, take greene

Hemlock and Vinegar pounded to green sance, and binde it to the place, or lay the leaves of Burres under the said Pitch Plaister, to the place grieved.

12. He that will not use these means* 1.2 to draw the humos out of the body, but repercussive means to drive the same back into his body, may shorten his dayes, and breed many diseases, as I have known it to happen often times.

13. Also the malignancy of these hu∣mors may be known by this; For by the said application for the Gout I have often seen, That besides abundance of waterish humors, and thick humors drawn out, as aforesaid, of severall parts of the body, but especially out of the Knees, there came out thence an exces∣sive heat, with much smoak, as if it were out of a boyling pot.

Notes

• * 1.1

  6. Point.
• * 1.2

  Note.