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SIR,
I Present you with ma∣ny thanks for your excellent Physick Treatise, and for your favour in the direction of it to me; But for your printing of it, all mankinde is to give you thanks. For certainly all ages and Nations have ever held a gratefull memory of the in∣ventors of any Devise or Engine,
to the publique advantage of hu∣mane life: For, as it is the good∣nesse of God that gives us life; so, of all men, they are most subser∣vient to that goodnesse, who help to make that life long and com∣fortable; amongst whom this your Whalebone Instrument will assuredly cause your name to stand. It hath already (though crept out by stealth) gained much credit abroad, in forrain Coun∣treys; where I have known per∣sons of eminent quality to hold it in great esteem. And besides the undenyed reputation (where rightly used) it gains, in the experi∣ence & practise thereof, it cannot in a rationall discourse, but have much preeminence above the u∣suall way of Physick. For doubt∣lesse mens diseases arise from the Stomach; whose impurities ob∣struct the passages of life, poyson∣ing and fermenting the whole
moisture of mans body, till it be∣comes like a House which having it Vaults and Sinks furred up and stopt, soon growes so full of pu∣trifaction and stink as cannot be endured: In which case Physiti∣ans are like men who should ad∣vise to cast into such a house Mirrhe, Musk, Amber-greece, or other pretious stuffe, in hopes to amend the uucleannesse there∣of: And to magnifie that course as rationall, they make learned discourses of the Drugges and the severall degrees of heat or cold, with their specifique virtues, which countenanced under strange names and Authors, pre∣vail to be made tryall of. But at last, when the simple Master of the House (after much fruitless trouble and expence) finds no ef∣fect, but that the corruption and stench is grown more abhomi∣nable: Then come you with this
Engine, like some discreet Per∣son, who with a Broom and a little water, without charge, in half an hours time, makes a clea∣ner House, than the others, with all their parade, cost, and trouble could ever doe: But as for the two remarkable Simples, which you most imploy; that is Tobac∣co and Cophie, a man may guess at their rare efficacie, who ob∣serves how universally they take with mankinde, and yet have not the advantage of any pleasing taste wherewith to tempt and de∣bauch our Palat, as Wine and o∣ther such pernicious things have; for at the first-Tobacco is most horrid, and Cophie insipid, yet doe they both so generall prevail, that Bread it self is not of so uni∣versall use. The Tartars and Arabs, two great Nations, have little or no use of Bread, yet they,
the Turks, Persians, and most of the eastern World, have hourly use of Tobacco and Cophie, but especially of Cophie: For, be∣sides the innumerable store of Co∣phie houses, there is not a private fire without it all day long: They all acknowledge how it freeth them from crudities, caused by ill dyet, or moist lodging; in∣somuch as they, using Cophie morning and evening, have no Consumptions, which ever come of moisture; no Lethargies in aged people, or Rickets in Chil∣dren; and but few qualmes in wo∣men with child; but especially they hold it of singular preven∣tion against Stone and Gout. When a Turk is sick, he fasts and takes Cophie, and if that will not doe, he makes his will, and thinks of no other Physick. And as for your way of taking both Cophie
and Tobacco, the rarity of the invention consists in leaving the old way: For the water of the one, and the smoke of the other may be of inconvenience to ma∣ny; but your way in both takes in the virtue of the Simples, without any additionall mischeif. And as for Tobacco, not in smoke, but swallowed down, there is not observed a more sure or sud∣den remedy for a Cough or the Stone, amongst all that men have found out. And whereas most medicinall Books are usually but bare transcriptions from former Writers; and so nothing but hear∣say upon hear say, with mon∣strous addition of untruth upon untruth, till upon try all not one re∣ceipt in an hundred makes good what it promiseth. Yours is all of your own constant experience on your self and others; which in
your personall recovery, and healthfull old age, gives a fair pledge to all who please to fol∣low so considerable an Example. Thus, Sir, with my best thanks I present you the love and Service of him who is
Your affectionate Friend and Servant, HENRY BLOUNT.