The surgeons mate or Military & domestique surgery Discouering faithfully & plainly ye method and order of ye surgeons chest, ye uses of the instruments, the vertues and operations of ye medicines, with ye exact cures of wounds made by gunshott, and otherwise as namely: wounds, apos fumes, ulcers, fistula's, fractures, dislocations, with ye most easie & safest wayes of amputation or dismembring. The cures of the scuruey, of ye fluxes of ye belly, of ye collicke and iliaca passio, of tenasmus and exitus ani, and of the calenture, with A treatise of ye cure of ye plague. Published for the service of his Ma. tie and of the com:wealth. By John Woodall Mr. in chyrurgerie.

Of white Coperas.

* 1.1 VVHite Coperas is easily made of other kinds of Copperas, it is generally called Vitriol, or white Vitriol in English, as if it were worthy a higher or more particular name, or respect, when in truth, as white wax is made of yellow wax, by the bleaking it in the ayr, and washing it oft: so is white Coperas made of green Coperas,* 1.2 and is thereby, in my conceit, the weaker, onely the superfluous hu∣midity is thereby evaporated, and it begetteth a new kind and shape, in all lotions it may serve in place of the other kinds of Coperas, but to draw spirits from, it is weaker then any other coperas that I know * 1.3.

The chief uses I have made there of, is for Collyriums or lotions for the infirmities of the eyes, namely against itchings, akings, smart∣ings, defluxions, and ophthalmia's of the eyes, wherein I find it to exceed either Lapis Calaminaris, Tutia, or Camphire. The salt thereof maketh also a singular vomitive medicine, which I first learned out of* 1.4 the daily practise of that worthy and famous Physician Dr. Peter Tur∣ner dwelling in St. Hellens, who highly commended it to me, and I have found it worthy his commendations in many great infirmities, the dose is from ℈ ss. to ℥ ss and ʒ jj. it is safely given.

* 1.5 It may very well be taken in Betony water with sugar, or in want thereof, in faire water with Rose-water, one spoonfull. It is good against the falling sicknesse, and in divers occasions of purging the head, also in fevers proceeding of crude and undigested humours. It Provoketh appetite. One receipt of my experience for outward infir∣mities of the eyes, I will here bestow upon the Chirurgions Mate made of white Coperas, which is as followeth. ℞ Vitriolum Album in powder ʒ j one new laid egge, or sound egge, boyle the egge hard,* 1.6 shell it, and cleave it through, and take out the yolke, and in place thereof put the powder of coperas mentioned, and let it so remain closed together two hours or more, then put it into a clean soft ragge, being still so closed together, and strain it hard, and a water will come out which is green in colour, keepe it in a glasse close stopped; and when occasion is, drop one drop or two at once into the grie∣ved eye. It is good in many infirmities of the eyes, and it will keep seven yeers without putrifying. It cureth all itchings, smartings, im∣moderate rheumes, the Ophthalmias in their beginnings, with many other infirmities happening to the eyes, and it strengtheneth well the fight. Thus much for this time of white Vitriol or Coperas.

Notes

• * 1.1

  W••ereo•• and how it is made.
• * 1.2

  White Copera▪s weaker then green.
• * 1.3

  The vertues thereof, for the eyes excel any other medi∣cine.
• * 1.4

  The Salt is vn∣mitive.
• * 1.5

  The effects of the Salt are fo•• the falling sick∣nesse. Fevers. Stomack.
• * 1.6

  Arecti•• for the eyes ill affected.