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 Cordial and preservative Medicines inwardly to be taken.

THe several Medicines in this Treatise to be taken into the body for preservatives, are also Cordials, being indeed such Cordials as have vertue to open the pores of the body, and by sweating to give breathing to nature, and thereby to defend mans body from Contagion, being such also as heretofore have been pre∣scribed to be taken by men of the best judgments in Physick, for the defending, curing, and driving out the disease from the principal parts* 1.1 by sweat: for without all doubt, no Medicine can be generally so safe, for the first intention and entrance upon this cure of the plague, as is a true Diaphoretick or sweat-provoking Cordial Medicine, whether it be taken by way of a Preservative, or as a curative Medicine, as an∣cient Writers testifie.

* 1.2 And namely, Galen, the Prince of Physicians, attributeth unto Antidotes the whole Cure of the disease of the Plague; and by An∣tidotes, he meaneth Medicines Cordial and Preservatives, such as by opening the pores, provoke sweat.

But as there is no general rule, but may admit an exception; even so this excellent course may not be alwayes safe and warrantable at the first, in respect of the wonderful varieties this fearful disease pro∣duceth, as well in the beginning, as in the progresse thereof.

* 1.3 For it may upon occasion, as of fulnesse, or of obstructions of the body, so come to passe, that evacuation general or particular must as in due course precede, either by Blood-letting, Vomit, Purging, Glister, or Suppository, or some one or more of these; I say, where just cause is, they may as of necessity precede: for which cause, it will ever be safe to use expert advice, if such may be had; onely remem∣ber by the way, what is said of purging Medicines, and their danger, if first taken, in the Cure of the Plague.

Here following, I mean to set down several sorts of the chief of the compound Cordial Medicines mentioned in this Treatise following, or otherwise in frequent use, which are inwardly to be taken into the body, to prevent the coming of the disease; or being received by sweating, best for the expelling of the Venome so received into the bo∣dy, with the dose orquantity reasonable of each of them to be taken by way of preservative, to pre vent the disease before it cometh; as also what quantity may be fitly taken for the safe provoking of sweat, when any one feeleth himself evil disposed, and vehemently suspecteth himself to be fallen▪ or entring into the disease, by any of the symp∣tomes or signes before expressed, or otherwise.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sweating Me∣dic••••es the best.
• * 1.2

  Galen's Opini∣on of Diaphore∣tick Medicines.
• * 1.3

  Sweating some∣time to be ••••itted.