An excellent treatise teaching howe to cure the French-pockes with all other diseases arising and growing thereof, and in a manner all other sicknesses. Dravvne out of the bookes of that learned doctor and prince of phisitians, Theophrastus Paracelsus. Compiled by the learned Phillippus Hermanus, phisition and chirurgion. And now put into English by Iohn Hester in the spagiricall arte, practitioner.

Capit. 1. Of the Pockes, hovv to knovv them, and the cause whereof they spring.

TO knowe the originall of this filthie sicknesse, there is fur∣ther regard to be had, then to the onely act of intemperancie, for the chéefe cause thereof, was the in∣fluence of the heauens, which in the very instant when this disease first shewed it selfe, did so strongly infect the secret parts both of man and woman, that thereby the said disease (first in the Parents, and after in the children) hath with a certaine secret poison, infected and spoiled the whole bodie, shewing it selfe commonly (though not alwaies) in the secret parts. For those parts by the influence of the stars are first of all infected, and then the person so infected, giuing him selfe to incontinence, dooth cause the saide disease to shewe it selfe, first in the secret parts, and afterwards throughout the whole bodie, and béeing infected themselues, doo also ingen∣der infected children, as they also doo that are infected with the Leprosie. For the Leprosie and this disease are so neere of kinne, that they are Cozen-germanes to each other, there∣fore such infected persons, must of necessitie begette corrupt children, because that their séede is also infected, and after∣ward such children are yet more corrupt, by reason of the cor∣rupt milke that they sucke from their Mothers: so that it is

almost impossible to cure the saide children the disease béeing so rooted in them. First through the infection of the seede, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and next of the milke: but such children so borne and nouri∣shed, are sometimes not so greatly troubled with open sores and botches as their Parents haue béen, but they haue many greefes and paines in their hodies, so that it shold séeme that they are not troubled with this disease, but with the Gout or some such like, notwithstanding it is nothing els but the Pockes, but that it chaungeth by meanes of generation, and the complexion of the child which differeth frō the Parents. These two, to witte, the influence or impression of the hea∣uens, and the generation, are the first and principall causes of this disease, and for that the influence is partly past and gone, we may also perceiue the furie of this disease to be part∣lie asswaged, and therefore not so terrible as it hath beene, and the older it is, the feebler it becommeth, but though the Pockes doo vanish away, yet there spring other diseases e∣nowe, different from those that heeretofore haue raigned, so that we are enforced to séeke for newe remedies to heale the said new diseases. For euery disease hath his proper remedy wherewith to be cured, and vntill the same remedie be vsed, the Patient cannot be holpen, but is the longer the more spoiled, vntill in the ende there commeth one, who by chance vseth the right remedie, and so ignorantly by good fortune healeth the Patient. Whatsoeuer shall be needfull to the curing of the Pocks or any other disease springing thereof, shal by Gods helpe be perfectlie taught in this Booke, so that nothing shall be wanting therein.

To proceede now with other causes of diseases, you shall vnderstand that there are many other causes besides those a∣fore mencioned: for though those are the principall, yet it chaunceth notwithstanding, that some doo fall into thys foule disease, which through the impression or influence were not so much inclined thereto, and that chaunceth through compa∣nying with women, where through the secret parts are first infected, then y^e blood throughout the whole body, & lastlie the

newes, the flesh and the bone. It happeneth also a man to be infected by sweat, and that commeth by lying with another, for when one man lieth with another that is infected, and the ••••me doo sweat sore, hee must needes be infected with the ve∣nome of his sweate. But this infection dooth not alwaies chaunce, for if the person infected haue had it a long time, and that it doth not appeare outwardly, but lyeth hidden inward∣lie, he dooth not infect so sore, nor so soone as those that are but newlie infected with it. Therefore let euery man take heede, that he doo not lye with them whom he knoweth not, for that it is very dangerous, therfore I counsaile euery man to haue great regard heereof, to eschew such a danger.

Now we will shewe the signes whereby one may knowe when any man is infected with this disease, for a thousand are taken in hande to be cured with the receipts for the Pockes, which are not infected therwith, but with some other disease, as the Goute, the Dropsie, and such like, these and other moe as are all old Ulcers, and other infections of the skinne, are altogether, or for the most part, taken in hande to be cured with such remedies, as pertaine properly to y^e Pocks, which happeneth oftentimes, to the great hurt of the Patient, yea to his vtter ruine. Therefore you ought to take great héede that you vse not the remedies pertaining to the Pockes, till such time as you knowe perfectly, that the disease springeth frō no other cause but the Pockes. Therefore you shal learn to know it thus.

When this disease doth first attach any man, hee doth al∣waies feele great pricking and shooting betwéene the skinne and the flesh, and whē he beginneth to were warme, it trou∣bleth him so that he cannot abide it, and whosoeuer hath not (for a certaine space) felt or béene greatly troubled with such pricking or shooting, although their disease seeme ouglie or lothsome, yet it is not so ill as they suppose, but is sprung of some other cause. And if a man chaunce to get any infirmitie in his secret part, as botches, running, or such like, and haue not felt the said signe of pricking or shooting, you shall then

know, that as yet no certaine iudgment can be giuen, for such infirmities come sometime before the signe can shew it selfe, but when the wound is healed vp, and that nature is not suf∣ficiently purged, then commeth the aforesaid signe, and the other euill diseases sometimes many yeeres after. But to instruct you perfectly in all thinges, you shal vnderstand, that this disease taketh place first of all in the sinewes, vppon the bones, and in all the ioynts of the bodie, so that it is verie hard to be knowne from the Goute, because it also doth shew it selfe alwaies in those places: but the paine of the Pockes is alwaies greater in the eueninges then in the morninges, and dooth encline to an Ague. And alwaies (this excepted) thou shalt haue regard to the aforesaide signes of pricking or shooting, for if those signes want, it is not the Pocks, but the Goute or some other colde disease. And if the Patient haue many open holes very redde and inwardly white, which doo not greatlie spread abroade, but continue at one stay without much matter, and will by no meanes heale outwardlie, vn∣derstand also the same to be a great signe, yet not so great as the first: for if the first signe of pricking haue not appeared, it is no sufficient token of the Pockes, but some other disease proceeding of Melancholie.

There are yet many other signes of the Pockes, as great Biles, with great paine in the head, and many redde pushes on the fore-head, vnder the hayre, and in the necke, but al∣though these doo resemble the Pockes, and that very néerely, yet you may not iudge them to be the Pockes, vnlesse the a∣foresaid signe haue gone before, because that is the most cer∣taine token of all other, and if so be that that haue shewed it selfe, then doubt not, for it is without all doubt that they are the Pockes, and so much the stronger as there hath beene greater Biles, or holes as aforesaid where Biles haue béen, and also if there be great paine in the members, and y^e more in the euening then at other times of the day, and that the a∣foresaid signe haue appeared, then you neede not doubt it to be the Pockes.

Thus much of the Pockes, with the signes thereof, nowe shall be shewed the meanes to cure them.

Capit. 2. Of the abuse vsed in the curing of the Pocks, by annointing or saluing.

THe first abuse of those that with annointing or saluing thinke to cure this foule disease, sprin∣geth of this, that they doo not knowe the dys∣ease, and therefore they can giue no good coun∣sell thereto. For howe is it possible to heale a disease which a man neither knoweth, nor the nature of it? For a man shall as soone spoile it as heale it, with that which blindly and without vnderstanding he doth minister vnto it. The seconde error is, in the composition of their receipts, which they doo so wonderfullie rūble together through their blind ignorance in the disease, that it is a great wonder that they bring not moe men to the graue then they doe, although they kill enowe, and too many toe. Therefore to shunne these inconueniences, we will teach thee to cure thy Patients by a better manner of annointing, whereof shall not onely ensue no perrill, but also the health of the Patient, according to thy will & his owne desire. But first, to make their error more manifest, I will sette before thine eyes the simples whereof they compound their receipts, whereby thou maist perceiue what abuse is in them: the simples are these. Euforbium, Staphisagria, Scamonea, Sal gemmea, Lapis Calaminaris, Pepper, Ginger, Camphier, Vermelion, Axungia, Saun∣ders, Bolus armenus, Terra sigillata, Common gumme, Ceruse, Litargirium, Minium, Crued quicksiluer, Mercurius sublimatus, Mercurius precipitatus. These with other things moe, which they ought not to doo, they vse in their annoin∣ting, which are hurtfull in diuers respects. And first because

they doo vse laxatiue Medicines which are very hurtfull to be vsed in such manner without the bodie. For Mercurie béeing a thing that dooth pierce so sore, doth also draw the other lax∣atiues with him into the bodie, and they both béeing so veni∣mous and so extreame hote, doo infect the blood in the vaines, and inflame the whole bodie in such sorte, that nature (after she is lightned of her burden, and discharged of that which op∣pressed her, must alone heale y^e disease) cannot by any meanes recouer herselfe, but by reason that she is so sore pined, is not able to make any resistance but remaineth vanquished, so that the Patient is brought to a consumption, or to the Dropsie, or els to death, therfore you shall in no wise vse any laxatiues thereto, howe light so euer they be, because they are alwaies hurtfull, and not profitable, sor of all that is vsed in curing the Pockes, there is nothing that dooth anie way profit bee∣ing outwardly ministred, but onely Quick siluer, therefore they are greatlie deceiued, which with strong Purgations doo purge the Patient, thinking thereby to expell the matter of the Pockes by stooles, which is vnpossible, other wise then by purging with Mercurie, and béeing purged therewith, hée doth expel it by stooles, but there are not many that haue the knowledge to bring Mercurie to that strength of purging, for it is a noble secret: and it is also neglected of the most parte, because of the great labour and cunning that is to be vsed in preparing of it. But I will sufficiently instruct them in the Chapter that followeth.

Nowe for the correction of those things that are needefull to be corrected in the annointing. First and formost you shall eschew all laxatiues, and all other thinges before mencioned, onely Mercurie excepted, for it is that which in the annoin∣ting performeth the action, and without Mercurie there is nothing profitable in this disease ministred outwardlie, but inwardlie there are manie noble remedies beside Quicksil∣uer, which both in this, and also in all other diseases, are of great force, so that the like hath not oft times been seene. But because in this Booke we haue taken in hand to write onelie

of the Pockes, wee will therefore meddle with nothing but Mercurie. In these two we will vse such dilligence, that no∣thing shall be vnpossible for you to helpe in this disease, if so be that you follow our counsaile.

Nowe to prepare your Mercurie that it may outwardlie be ministred without perrill to the Patient: you shall take in Gods name of the earth wherin Mercurie groweth, which is found in Dutch-land in the gold & siluer Mines, this earth is called in Dutch Berch ciuober, of this earth you shal take the softest which is not yet hardened, take twentie poundes thereof, this you shall beate and put it into a Kettle, & poure fayre raine water thereto, and let it seeth an howre long, and the earth and the other filthinesse will seperate it selfe, which you shall scumme off very cleane, then that which re∣maineth in the Kettle, you shall rub small, and put it into a Cucurbit, and sette it to distill vpon the fire with great heate, (according as I haue taught you in my Booke of Minerall distillations) and you shall see a white iuyce arise like Milk. And when you perceiue that it will drop no more, then take that white iuyce, and sette it alone to distill in Balneo marie, and the moisture that is thereby, will come alone, and in the bottome of the Cucurbit there will remaine an Oyle, as hea∣uie in a manner as Quicke siluer, (the manner to distill by Balneo marie, I haue shewed you sufficiently in my Booke of the distillation of Hearbes, to which Booke I referre you for breuities sake.)

The Oyle remaining in the bottome of the Cucurbit, as afore said, you shall take and vse to annoint withall as folow∣eth. Take two ownces of the aforesaid Oyle, and sixe ounces of Spike Oyle, these you shall mingle together and warme them a little vpon the fire, and therewith annoint the disea∣sed parts of the Patient, but those parts which are not disea∣sed you shal not annoint therewith, because it would doo more hurt then good, for that there is no matter whereuppon they may worke, and not finding other matter to worke vpon, it would drie vppe the naturall moysture from those parts, but

the diseased parts you shall annoint as aforesaid in euery part or ioynt, and if there be any holes or blaines, you shall an∣noint those also in the euening when he goeth to bed, and you shall couer him very warme that he may sweat, and let him lye and sweat two houres long, and he must not in any wise stirre himselfe, because he may sweat the better, the sayde time being expired, you shall abate the clothes from of him, and giue him warme cleane clothes, that he may drie vp the sweate cleane in euery place, and beeing well dryed, take off his wette shirt, and put him on a cleane shyrt well warmed, then sette him by a good fire of Oken wood, and dry his heade with warme clothes, in the meane while make his bedde, and lay on a payre of cleane sheetes well warmed, then let him goe to bedde againe before it be colde, but couer him not too warme, but that he may sleepe quietly. In the morning whē he awaketh, you shall vse as you did in the euening, to witte, with fire and drying, and béeing well dryed of his sweat, you shall apparrell him, and let him washe his hands and his face in warme water, and then let him eate his meat, which shall be such as heere followeth.

First he shall eate no Swines flesh, nor no salted fleshe, no Hares, Conies, Harts, nor other venison, nor no Cowes flesh, nor no pottage, but broth made of good Mutton, sodden with Borage and a fewe Beetes and with a good deale of Bor••age, other Pottage he shall eate none, he shal eate good Mutton, Hennes, Partriges, and all manner of wild foule, excepting all water foules, and all that seeke their liuing or swimme in the water, for that their fleshe is ill to digest for a sicke man, ingendering naughtie and mellancholie blood, hee may also eate good young Beefe, beeing newlie killed, and not long salted, but he must not eate much of it, because it is hard of digestion for a weake stomack: but of all other there is nothing better for such a Patient, then good young Kiddes flesh that yet sucketh his damme, with good Partriges and good young Hennes, he shall not refuse to eate, for that of all other meates they are best: hee shall abstaine from Pepper,

and Ginger, but in his meate he may vse Cinamon, Cloues, and such like, also Nutmegges and Saffron: he shall also ab∣staine from Onions, Garlike, Skallions and such like, ey∣ther rawe or sodden, because they vexe the blood and inflame and dry vp the Liuer. His drinke shall be good Renish wine, tempered with water sodden w^t Annis seedes, Barlie, and Masticke, of each as much as a Chestnut, of this water hée shall take one part, and of Wine two parts, and hée shall drinke thereof vntill he be cured: he shall keepe himselfe ve∣rie warme, and out of the ayre within the house, he shal kéepe the windowes and the doores shut: this order he shall in all respects keepe with annointing, sweating, and diet, vntil he be perfectly cured, for if he do as is aforesaid, he shal vndoub∣tedly, by Gods helpe be cured, although hee had it twentie yéeres, if so be he haue not béen spoiled with other Medicines before.

Cap. 3. Of fumegation or smoking, with correcti∣on of the abuse vsed therein.

THere is yet another way of curing the Pocks, found out by practitioners, for when they per∣ceiued that of force they must vse Quicke sil∣uer, they tooke and killed it with Brimstone, making Cinober thereof, because it should not be knowne to be Quicke siluer: for the common people, per∣ceiuing so manie to be spoiled and killed with Quicke siluer, woulde not willinglie be cured therewith: therefore because they might the better vse it without gainesaying of the Pa∣tient, therefore they brought it into another forme, vsing it also after another manner without any annointing, because annointing was become odious to the Patient, therfore they found out a deuice to perfume or smoke the Patient, with the

smoke of Cinober or Vermelion and so to cure him, for they knew Quick siluer to be so subtill or piercing, that they wold enforce it into the bodie at anie place, through the pores or sweat holes. And therfore they set the Patient vnder a Tent or Canopie naked, with a Chafingdish of coales between his legges, wherin they strowed the Cinober, stopping him close round about, the Patient then beginning to sweat, the Mer∣curie with his whole substaunce creepeth into him in such sort, that it causeth all the slime in his bodie to ascende into his mouth, infecting and corrupting all parts of the Patient in such sort, that it is pittifull to behold, so that the one after long Martirdome at length creepes into his graue, the other becommeth cripple and deformed, the thirde toothlesse, and such like miserable accidents which are befallen them, that it would greeue a man to sée, how they haue handled a number of their Patients.

For Mercurie béeing vsed corporallie, hath this nature, that it dooth draw all the corrupt matter of the Pockes into the mouth, and because they haue dealt so disorderly there∣with, taking more of it then they ought, they haue therwith∣all drawne the corruption into the mouth in such abundance, that it could not haue sufficient egresse, but for want thereof is returned, and hath sought him a place in the entrailes, as in the Liuer, the Lunges, the Milte, and the stomacke, &c. So that some are fallen into the diseases of the Lunges, as Plurisies, shortnesse of breath, Coughes, consumptions, and such other, almost altogether incurable diseases. Others are fallen into diseases of the stomack, as vomitings, quesinesse, great and intollerable paines, and Apostoms of the stomack, not beeing able to digest any good nourishment. Others are fallen into diseases of the Liuer, as the yellow Iaundies, or Ictteritia, the Dropsie, the Bloodie flixe, hote firie Agues, and such like. And some into the diseases of the Milte, as the Feuer quartaine, the Cancker, the Woolfe, the Leprosie, to all which diseases they were not any way subiect or inclined, vntill such time, as they were brought thereto by the vnskil∣fulnesse

of foolish Chirurgions, and all these aforesaide disea∣ses, are altogether in manner vncurable, and in the end dead∣lie. Wherefore I would wish euery man to take heed, not to deale with Mercurie in any such sorte as is before expressed. But if thou wilt vse it in any such order as heereafter shalbe shewed thee, it shall not onely not be hurtfull, but thou shalt also therwith performe that which thou promisest to thy Pa∣tient, that is to say the curing of his disease.

Nowe we will shewe wherewith they are wont, and doe yet perfume or smoke their Patients: the simples are these that followe: Cinober naturall, Mercurie calcined, Artificiall Mercurie sublimed, Alipta, Muscata, Cloues, Cinamon, I∣reos, Muske, Franckincense, Mastick, Mirha, with other such sweete thinges. These sweet things they haue therefore ta∣ken, because the Patient shoulde not smell the stinke of the Brimstone & the Cinober: but though at the first they haue not knowne him by the smell, yet in the ende hee hath made himselfe knowne vnto them by the feeling, for that hee per∣formeth his worke with great force, as those Patients know verie well which haue had experience of him, for as a sharpe poyson, so goeth he to worke in all his operation. Their first and greatest error therefore is, that they doo fume the whole bodie of the Patient, where as they shold not fume any more then the place where they know that y^e place desireth to haue issue. For in all diseases, nature hath her certaine emuncto∣ries or purging places, where through she coueteth to purge her selfe. As sometimes by stooles, sometimes by vemits, and sometime sweating: but in this disease, shee hath more places to purge by, as the groyne, the arme-holes, and such like, and sometimes other open holes in other places of the body, where a man must smoke, and not in any other place. But for your further knowledge you shall vnderstand, that Mercurie may be prepared in diuers manners, as laxatiue, opilatiue, corosiue, and attractiue, and also diaphoreticke, so that it may be prepared according to y^e desire of him that wil vse it.

But in this fumigation or smoking, the intent is onelie to make him attractiue, that is, to draw out of the bodie, that which is hurtfull or hindersome to nature, but heerein our cunning Chirurgions haue both been deceiued thēselues, and thereby haue also spoyled their Patients, first in that they perfumed or smoked the whole body of the Patient, for by that meanes the venimous matter, which before occupied but one or two places of the body, they haue now drawn through∣out all the whole bodie, secondly in vsing the Mercurie so grosselie with his whole substaunce, and that in such great quantitie, they haue also by that meanes brought their Pa∣tients to vtter ruine, and thirdly, in that they haue mingled other thinges with the Mercurie, where as it is the Mercu∣rie alone that must performe the action without helpe of any other thing, béeing outwardly vsed by fumigation.

Nowe we will shew thee the manner or order to prepare it to be attractiue, with the correction of the abuse heeretofore vsed in the ministring thereof. Although it hath chaunced sometimes, that there hath a Patient or two beene cured by meanes of this aforesaid fumigation, and also by annointing, yet you shall vnderstand, that y^e came to passe alone through the goodnesse of nature, which is willing to helpe herselfe, and strong to resist and ouercome the violence of the Medi∣cine, but yet for one so cured, there hath beene tenne thereby spoyled, besides those that haue béene sent ad Patres, to robbe Moles, but to eschew all these inconueniences, you shal pre∣pare your Mercurie in this order.

Take Cinober made by arte (not naturall Cinober, and beate it as small as is possible, whereof you shall take one pound, and one pound of Salt Peter, mingle them very wel together, and set them to sublime (as shall be taught you in another Booke, which shall intreate of the preparing of Mi∣nerals) the Mercurie béeing sublimed, you shall grind it smal vpon a stone, then you shall take an instrument or Earthen pot of two spannes in length, very well glazed within, it shal be one spanne wide in the bottome, and the mouth shal be as

wide as a bigge Apple, in this instrument you shall put of the aforesaid Mercurie, one dramme at a time, and you shall set the Patient and the saide instrument in such sorte, that the mouth of the instrument may be placed vpon the emunctorie or place, where the disease desireth his issue, and the other ende vpon a Chafingdish with coales, making it hote in such order, that it may warme the emunctorie, but heereof you must take great heede, that you make it not so hote, that you cause it bodilie to ascende, for this is the thing that hath kyl∣led so many, that the Mercurie with his venimous hote bo∣die, hath beene enforced into the bodie of the Patient.

Therefore you must haue great regarde, that you make your fire in such reasonable manner, that you doo not cause him to ascende, but that his spirit or dampe alone may per∣forme the action, then you shall see the matter issue foorth in such abundaunce, that the Patient shal thereby be deliuered from his disease. You shall hold the said instrument with the Mercurie so made, hote vpon y^e emunctorie, the space of halfe an howre at a time, and you shall vse this manner of fumi∣gation euerie night when the Patient goeth to bedde, and let him sweat euery time in such order as is afore shewed in the Chapter of annointing, vsing him in al points as is there specified, to wit, in sweating, in drying, &c. In this order you may fumigate or smoke without any danger, if you take héed that the Mercurie doe not ascend, so that you shall not onelie auoide all perrill in your curing, but shall also purchase to your selues, praise and thankes whensoeuer you shall vse it. Thus much of fumigation, with the correction of the abuses therein vsed, now concerning washing.

Capit. 4. Of vvashing vvith water.

THere is yet another peece of cun∣ning deuised by the subtill Pock-maisters, which perceiued y^t they coulde not longer vse their Mercu∣rie without hurt or shame, and al∣so without thanke of the Patient, for the Patients perceiuing the great perils that ensued by the an∣nointing, & how manie were ther∣by spoyled, woulde not anie longer trust their annointing, and so fared it also with their fumi∣gation, for when they sawe the numbers that thereby were killed, they feared, and woulde not anie longer be smoked: whereuppon the Pock-Maisters, were enforced to prepare their Mercurie after another order, that hee might be more secret and vnknowne, that they might yet vse him, for they wist wel, that without him there was no cure to be wrought, for as yet Guaicum was vnknowne, therefore they tooke sublimated Mercurie, and sodde it in Aqua vitae, and wyth the said Aqua vitae, they washed the Patient: which is a ve∣rie subtill and forcible manner of curing, and very perrilous, which manner of curing, I doo counsaile all men to leaue vn∣doone. But in this manner following, you shall not onely a∣uoide all daunger, but shall also haue good successe in your workes, which if (for the great labour and charge which is required in the preparing of your Mercurie) you will not fol∣low, I would wish you to leaue washing: for of all manners of curing, there is none the like for force and daunger, there∣fore if you wil not otherwise correct your Mercurie, it is not lawfull for you to cure any man by washing, for that they

which are this way cured, are in greater daunger then one man which dooth fight against two other for life and death. But if you will prepare your Mercurie as heereafter shal be shewed, you shall not onelie eschew all daunger which other∣wise may happen, but shall also performe as much as shal be requisite to the curing of this disease, & as much as hath béen hetherto performed by anie man, wherefore flie sloth, and vse diligence in preparing your Mercurie, whereby you shal not onely obtaine your desire in curing the disease without feare and danger, but also with great credite to your selfe, and pro∣fit to the Patients.

In this washing, besides this afore written, there is yet another abuse, that is, that they haue washed all the partes of the body, as well those that were sounde, as those y^t were diseased, then the which they could not haue cōmitted a grea∣ter ouersight, for by that means they haue brought the sound parts into a worse case then the diseased, for Mercurie vsed in such sort, is in the operation as hote as fire, so that in those partes wherein there is no corrupt matter to bee dryed out, there he goeth to worke, and drieth out all the good and na∣turall moisture, and thereby spoyleth the whole member.

Therefore aboue all things you must take heede that you doe not wash the whole parts, but onely those that are disea∣sed, for the diseased parts haue matter, wherein the Mercu∣rie may worke, and which is needfull to be dryed out. Nowe I will shewe you howe to prepare and to vse your Mercurie, but first I will shewe you those simples wherewith these Masters vse to washe, which are these. Mercurius sublima∣tus, Auri pigmentum, Arsenicun, Cerusa, Camphier, Aqua vitae. These thinges if I shoulde minister in this sorte crudlie without other correction, I thinke I shoulde kill all the Patients that I shoulde take in hande. For by reason of the strength of the Aqua vitae, the Mercurie be∣commeth so subtil and so fierie, that it is a great wonder that they die not all that are taken in hand to be cured in this or∣der. For of all other, this manner of curing is most daunge∣rous,

for the Mercurie by his subtiltie, and by meanes of the heate of the Aqua vitae, doth performe his operation in the inward parts of the Patient with such force, as manie sicke Patients haue better felt then I can describe, and though this be most true, yet there are some y^e vse it dailie, as though it were good, but I say that it is a secrete kinde of poyson, which though it be but outwardlie applied, doth yet not with∣standing (with great force) performe his worke inwardly in the bodie, for it inflameth and stirreth vppe the bloode in such sort, that the Patient oftentimes falleth a bleeding, bléeding themselues to death, others are like to be choked, so forciblie draweth this venime to the hart, but peraduēture some will defend his dooings herein, and say, I haue holpen many there∣with, but I would faine heare the Patient himselfe report it, yet nouerthelesse, I doe thinke well, that some one amongst a hundred, may be cured by this meanes, but I conne them no thanke therefore, but rather nature, which herselfe hea∣led the disease, and resisted the storme, but howe manie haue they spoiled and holpen vnder the grounde before they haue cured one, verilie a great number I am certaine, but to a∣uoide such a daunger, and to attaine credit in this arte, doo as is aforesaid, leaue off your washing, or els prepare your Mer∣curie as followeth.

The correction of this washing with Mercurie.

Take Mercurie which is sublimed, by himselfe with∣out any addition, as I will teache you in the fore alledged Booke, the same you shall sublime yet foure times with cō∣mon prepared Salt, then you shall poure vpon the said Mer∣curie, good rectified Aqua vitae, as I haue taught you to recte∣fie it in my booke of Distillations. This Aqua vitae you shall set on fire with a little Paper, and let it burne till it be con∣sumed, then pouré on more, and doo likewise, dooing it so of∣ten vntill the Mercurie doo cease to bite or eate vppon the

tongue, then seeth the Mercurie in Persic••••ie water, or in Celendine water, halfe an houre long, then let it be colde, and poure of the water, that the Mercurie be not vsed with his bodie, but that his spirit & his strength may come foorth, and be coupled to the disease, for in the spirit of the Mercurie is the vertue to cure the disease, and in the bodie of it, is the force to kill and spoile the Patient. Therefore it is the grea∣test ouersight that may be, to take Mercurie and to seeth it in Aqua vitae, and therewith to washe the Patient, for by that meanes, it entereth corporallie into the bodie of the Pa∣tient, and spoyleth and killeth him, as all other poisons natu∣rallie doe, therefore take heed that in no wise you vse it cor∣porallie, but onelie the spirit as is aforesaid, and so nothing can ensue to the Patient, but good.

With the aforesaid water ye shall washe or make wet, the diseased parts of the Patient, euery night when he goeth to bedde, then you shall lay him to sweate, vsing him in all points as is shewed in the other Chapter, and you shall con∣tinue this manner of washing, euery day once, vntill such time as he be perfectly cured, and that he feele no more pain. You need not feare to vse this manner of curing in this dis∣ease, for if you do as I haue here taught you in this Chapter, there can happen nothing but good to the Patient, and cre∣dite to your selfe, so that you shall wonder to see what shall come to passe in this order of curing, so that you may wyth credite and a good conscience, aske your reward. Thus much concerning washing.

Capit. 5. Of launcing or opening of Tumors.

THere haue béene some that haue held opinion, that be∣cause of the great paines that men haue had on theyr shinnes, and the pypes of their armes, that therefore

the roote of the disease must needes lye there, (but they are deceiued, for the roote lyeth in the bloode) these going for∣wards in their opinions, haue made holes vpon the shinnes, and diuers other places of the bodie, thinking that the dys∣ease would haue runne out at those holes, and so haue beene gone, but their expectation was deceiued, for although they had made the skinne full of holes, yet the matter they looked for, ranne not out at them, but there issued a certaine yellow water, which procéeded of the paine which the Corosiue had made, and not any matter of the disease, neither did it con∣cerne the Pocks any thing at all. But I find no great fault in this, for as it holpe not, so it hindered not, yet it was a great foolishnesse of them to thinke the disease to be so cow∣ardlie to giue ouer his hold before any assault were laid to it. But because there may chaunce sometimes, much matter to lie about the shins, or such like places, which causeth in∣tollerable paines, to remedy the same you may vse the afore∣said meanes, to drawe away the said matter, yet not as they did, for they did nothing but sette open the doore, forgetting that which was most needfull, that is, when they had ope∣ned the place, they should haue applied a Plaister, to haue drawne out the matter, which otherwise of it selfe woulde neuer haue come forth.

But for your further helpe when any such maines do hap∣pen. I will sette downe certaine thinges whereof you may make Plaisters, and applie to such open places, whereby the matter may be drawne forth, and the paine diminished.

An attractiue Plaister.

Take Serapini, Galbani, Amoniaci, of each two drams, Oppoponacis, foure drammes, Bdellij, sixe drammes, dissolue it in Vineger, then straine it through a cloth, then séeth it so long till it beginne to waxe thicke, then put thereto of Rha∣barbe two drammes, Radicis affodeli halfe a dramme, Yel∣low Amber, two drammes, this you shall beate verie small,

and then vse it. This draweth so forciblie, that it leaueth no∣thing vntouched. But because this is no certaine rule for the curing of the Pockes, but onelie to diminish part of the mat∣ter, we will not stay anie longer about it, but proceed to the perfit curing of the same, and first of another manner of cure vsed by sweating.

Capit. vj. Of curing the Pockes by sweating.

THere is yet another opinion sprung vppe, and that is this, to cure the Pockes by sweating. This came first out of Italie into Dutchlande or Germanie, and at length it became cōmon heere in this Countrie: and indeede for some it was good, but for others hurtfull, for flegmaticke & moist bodies, are thereby dryed and made curable, but the Cholle∣ricke and Melancholick bodies, are thereby spoiled, not with the sweating, but with the hote Medicines that they vsed to prouoke sweate, which Medicines so enflamed and dryed vp the blood in the vaines, the Liuer, the Lungs, the Milte, and the Kidnies, that thereby manie Patients fell first into the Feuer quartaine, secondlie into the Dropsie, and lastlie into the graue. Well the Pocks are not to be cured in this sorte. For though it be good for one, yet is it hurtfull for annother, but if yee will cure, you must prouide such remedies as may be good for all complexions, and hurtfull to none, especiallie héere in sweating.

But for your better instruction, it shall be necessarie first to shewe you wherewith they vse to prouoke sweate. They haue taken good strong Wine, and mingled the same with Treakle, and with other things which you shal heare anone, and giuen the same to the Patient to drinke, and thē couered

him to make him sweat, and this they haue so long continu∣ed, vntill either the Patient was cured, or that they were hindered by hote Agues which they brought vpon the Pati∣ent, for by this meanes they had so spoiled the Liuer and o∣ther parts with heate, that they coulde not any longer vse their naturall strength, but went backward, ingendering e∣uill black enflamed blood, which must needes bring forth A∣gues and the Feuer quartaine, therfore now I wil shew you the simples whereof they make their Medicine to prouoke sweat, that you may the better eschewe them, and these they are.

The Drinkes which are vsuall giuen for the Plague.

Aqua vitae mingled with Treakle, Aqua vitae mingled with Camphier cardamomum, Grana paradisi, Pepper, Eu∣forbium, Radix vngulae caballine, Radix flammule. Be∣side these aforenamed, they haue yet vsed many other things, and moreouer deuised a meane to cause the Patient to sweat of himselfe, without helpe of any Medicine, and to performe the same, they vsed Crocks or great Earthen pottes, filling them with hote water, and stopping them so close, that no moysture could issue foorth, these they laid in bed by the Pa∣tient, and couered him with clothes in such sort, y^e by meanes thereof, and the warmth of the Pottes together, they caused him to sweat. This waie, though it be verie good to pro∣uoke sweat, yet in this disease it is not good, because this dis∣ease dooth not suffer it selfe to be expelled so easilie, without other greater helpes, but in the Plague. This is a verie good waie and profitable, yet in this disease, sweating is also ve∣rie needfull. Nowe followeth the correction of this manner of sweating.

The correction of sweating, vvhereby the Pocks may be cured.

The pores or sweat holes in the skinne, are also emunc∣torium, (that is to say a place wherethrough nature dooth purge herselfe) yea one of the most principall emunctories, therefore through the said pores or sweat holes, a man may very well purge nature, and also expell the matter of the Pockes, but not through the heate of clothes, neither of the aforesaid simples, as Aqua vitae and such like, for the afore∣said remedies they are not good for this purpose: but the strength is in the Mercurie alone, and it is hee y^e must worke the feate, that is, he can through sweating, expell the matter of the Pocks, and knoweth also where to find it, for which cause he must be made to be diaphoreticke, that is, to expell sweat by the pores, for beeing brought thereto, hee is so sub∣till in his operation against the Pocks, that it is almost in∣credible, for he leaueth no corner in the whole body vnsear∣ched, expelling all the corrupt matter that he findeth. But the preparing of him (I feare me) wil be too troublesome for lazie Practisioners, and therefore I thinke I may spare my labour, yet notwithstanding, I will reueale it for their sakes that are dilligent, knowing that he that desireth the health of his Patient, will spare no labour, nor refuse any trauaile to obtaine the same, and therefore I will nowe shewe you the preparing of it.

The preparing of Mercurie to prouoke sweat.

Take of Aqua fortis, a fourth parte, Tinne, and Quick∣siluer, of each halfe an ounce, put this together in a Glasse, and sette it in a Chafingdish with warme ashes, (you must remember to put it into a Glasse, because the Aqua fortis

doth pierce through all thinges but onelie glasse, you must therefore take a Glasse with a flatte or round bottome with∣out a foote, and put it therein, setting it in the ashes as afore∣said) in the ende, when you perceiue the Quicke siluer to be dissolued, take it out of the ashes, and let it stand till one may say the Pater noster thrée or foure times, and there will be a little sand in the bottome, thē poure off the cleere, putting it into another cleane Glasse, and sette it againe in the ashes as aforesaid, and make vnder the Chafingdish a small fire, vn∣till you see the water be all dried or sodden out, then let it bee cold and breake the Glasse, for otherwise you cannot gette it out it will be so hard, when you haue taken it out, you must grinde it small vppon a stone, and put it in a small vessell of Siluer and gylt, or of golde, for that is best for this purpose, the said Vessell must be about the bignesse of a Spoone, and so deepe, that it may containe the said matter, and that you may couer the saide matter with Aqua vitae the bredth of a finger. This vessell you shall set in geod strong wine Vine∣ger, a little déeper then the said matter that is in the Vessel, and then sette the Aqua vitae on fire that it may burne (note this, that your Aqua vitae must be rectified, that it do not cō∣taine any fleame, according as I haue taught you to rectifie it in my Booke of Distillations.) The Aqua vitae béeing con∣sumed, you shall immediatlie poure on more, and let if like∣wise burne away, dooing this so often, vntill the Mercurie, with the tinne, doo conuert to a certaine kind of Oyle that is thicke and fat. Of this Oyle you shall take one graine & min∣gle it with good Wine, and giue it to the Patient to drink in the morning fasting, and then couer him reasonablie (not too warme) and you shall sée that which will make you to won∣der, that is, you shall see such aboundaunce of sweat issue frō the Patient (though he be not verie warme couered) that wil cause you greatlie to maruell: and of this you may be bolde, that he shall sweat so much as may be good and profitable for his nature and no more. This you shall giue him euery daie once, and whē he sweateth, let him be wel dried with warme

and cleane clothes, and he must take dilligent heede to keepe himselfe from cold, and out of the ayre, and that principallie when he sweateth, his diet and his drinke shall be in all re∣spects as is afore specified in the Chapter of sweating, and you shall not regard what hath béene written heeretofore by diuers, concerning the not eating of salte, for that they haue therein greatlie erred, therefore you shall vse so much salt as shalbe needfull for the seasoning of your meat to giue it a good taste.

But alwaies prouided you must vse measure in all things, and that principallie in salt and sowre thinges, because that they two béeing two much vsed, are verie hurtfull to the si∣newes, and for that cause you must take thē mesurablie, but in any wise not to vse your meate without salte, for that salt is the onelie thing requisite in the bodie, to preserue the hu∣mours from corrupting, for in what part of the bodie soeuer the salte beginneth to lose his vertue, in the same part imme∣diatlie beginneth a filthy rotting, not much vnlike to the Le∣prosie, wherefore in any wise you shall not forbid your Pati∣ent the eating of salt, for by that outwarde salt, the inwarde salt (which is in the bloode, and in all the other parts of man) must be nourished and maintained.

But that you may the better beleeue, that there is salte in all the parts of mans bodie, you shall vnderstand, that the bodie of man (by all Philosophers, and by me also) is accoun∣ted for a little worlde, which was called (by them) Microcos∣mos, which little world doth containe in it, all such things as the great worlde dooth naturallie containe in her. By which reason it must also containe salt, yet not bodilie but spiritual∣lie, and that this is true, a man may perceiue by this, that all whatsoeuer issueth frō man, is altogether salt, as the teares, the sweat, the vrine and such like, wherefore it is necessarie for the Patient to vse salt to maintaine the same as is afore∣said.

But concerning Vineger, you shall vse as little as is pos∣sible, because it is not onelie vnprofitable, but also hurtfull to

nature, for which cause you may not vse it much: the Pati∣ent must also refraine from drinking too much strong Wine, and principallie from sowre Wine, so that his drinke shal be of the best and sweetest Renish wine that can be gotten, and he must also drinke it measurablie, thus much concerning dy∣et and drinke. And heere you shall vnderstande, that by thys manner of sweating, all kinds of the Pockes may be cured, although they were neuer so ill, yea though one had had it xxx. yeeres long, so that to him that foloweth this prescribed ma∣ner of curing, there shall be nothing impossible (pertaining to this disease) but onelie that which God will not suffer to be cured, wherefore I would wishe you to vse it, assuring you that you shall not find anie other meanes that shall be much better then this is. Thus much concerning sweating.

Capit. 7. Of curing the Pockes by Seege, vvith laxatiue Medicines.

THe Doctors of Phisicke haue also herein tried all their cunning, & vsed diuers meanes with laxatiue Medicines, y^t (as though it were ve∣rie agreeable to nature) they might by Seege expell the matter of the Pockes, but because that nature diuers times chooseth other emunctories to purge herselfe by, therefore their deuices haue had no good successe, for though there be manie remedies whereby to purge the bodie from his vncleannes, yet not one of them is able to de∣liuer the bodie from this disease, wherefore I would not wish anie man to purge with any such laxatiues, because it is not onelie in vain, but also verie hurtful, for they doo not so much as once meddle or touch the matter of this disease, as beeing altogether vnable to expell the same, & yet because they must worke beeing once receiued in, they goe to worke vpon that

which they ought not to meddle withall, expelling that which is profitable to nature: yea and béeing too often vsed, or in too great a quantitie, they doo expell the blood, the fleshe, and at last they doo melt the marrow in the verie bones, expelling it also, according as wee haue seene the experience thereof in those which thus haue béene purged, for their flesh falleth a∣waie, theyr cheekes waxe hollow, they become leane and pale of colour, which palenes of colour so long continueth, as na∣ture continueth vnable to clense the bloode, and to ouercome the disease. What auaileth it then to purge with sharpe lax∣atiues, when it is the nature alone that must heale the dis∣ease.

But I knowe there be many that will say, and I graunt it to be true, that by purging they haue cured diuers Agues, and such like diseases, but though it be graunted that the dis∣ease healeth after such time as the Patient is purged, yet not∣withstanding it is nature herselfe which healeth the disease, after that her enemies are put to flight: but as for those lax∣atiues, they doo not so forsake the bodie of the Patient, but that they leaue manie reliques behind them, which afterward are the causes of manie great euils, & also the body is brought thereby to such a custome, that it doth looke dailie to be pur∣ged, and therefore will not performe the accustomed digesti∣on as it ought to doo, and notwithstanding all the euils that doo ensure these purgations, there is no helpe nor comfort to be expected of them toward the curing of this disease, because they doo not so much as once touch it.

Nowe I will shewe you wherewith they haue vsed to purge, to the end you may take heede of it, because it cannot any thing profit you. First they haue giuen the Patient of these Iuleps or Sirops, and after haue purged them with the laxatiues following. These are the Iuleps and Sirops, Siru∣pus de fumo terre, Sirupus acetosus, Simplex et compositus, Sirupus de Pomis compositus, Sirupus de menta, Sirupus de bisantijs, de Absinthis, et Epitimo, de Cicorea, et de Eupato∣ria. Iulep violatum, et Iulep rosatum. In verie hote diseases

these aforesaid Sirops they mingled with these distilled wa∣ters folowing, because they might the better be receiued. The waters are these, Aqua boraginis, Aqua buglosse, Fumus ter∣rę, Aqua cuscutę, Aqua melissę, Aqua scholopendrię, Aqua maioranę, Aqua finiculi, Aqua cicoreę, Aqua endinię, Aqua lupuli, Aqua capillorum veneris, Aqua eupatorij, Aqua lac∣tucę, Aqua scabiosę, Aqua cardo benedicti. These aforesaid waters with other moe, they vsed to mingle with theyr Sy∣ropes, and then gaue them to the Patient to drinke, to pre∣pare the matter, and afterward purged them with these lax∣atiues following. Diasene, Diacitoniton, Diacarthami, Aga∣ricus, Coloquintida, Turbith, Elleborus, Confectio, Hamech, Electuarium, Iudum, Diagridiū, Ezula, Hermodactilus. And also with these Pilles folowing. Pillule cochię, Pillule indę, Pillule lucis, Pillule artecite, Pillule feditę, Pillule areę, Pil∣lule de hermodactilis, Pillule de lapide armeno. Vpon all these aforesaid, I will God willing shewe you the correction, but principallie vppon the laxatiues, for that the other neede not greatlie to be corrected.

First you shall vnderstande, that it is not euill or hurtfull that the matter in the Liuer and the stomacke, be first prepa∣red, and then afterward purged with these Medicines folow∣ing, which are very easie and not burtfull to be vsed. These are they, Diacatholicon, Cassia fistula, Manna rhabarbarum, Aloes, Polipodium, Sena, Epitimum, Mirobolanorum fyue sorts or kinds. For these helpe to lighten nature, & to clense the blood of all vncleannesse proceeding of meate and drinke, they deliuer also from Agues if they be often vsed, & are hurt∣full neither to olde nor young, euerie man may vse them with out daunger. But as for the matter of the Pockes, they doe not so much as once meddle with it, but let it lie still vntou∣ched. For that requireth another manner of force wherwith to be roused and driuen forth, which pertaineth to the Mercu∣rie alone, for being brought to be laxatiue, he can find out that which the other could not find, and dooth expell that which he

knoweth to be offensiue to nature, not onely in this matter of the Pockes, but also in all other diseases, therefore I coun∣saile all men to vse diligence in learning to make the Mercu∣rie laxatiue, as hereafter shall be taught.

The correction of this that hath béene saide, is nothing but this, that you purge with no other laxatiue but onelie with Mercurie, and to make him laxatiue, you must prepare him thus.

First you must haue a kind of water, that with extreame heate of fire is distilled of Egge-shels, of this water you must take foure ounces, of Quick siluer one ounce, and put them together in a Glasse, which Glasse you must sette in a Cha∣fingdish or some other thing with sand, and sette the Chafing∣dish in or vpon the fire, & the Mercurie shall dissolue through the force of the water, and being dissolued, you shall distill of the water, and poure other vppon it, this you must doo so of∣ten, vntill the Mercurie become as redde as blood, when the water is drawne from it: this Mercurie is the right Purga∣tion to expell the matter of the Pockes by stooles. The Mer∣curie then being as redde as bloode, you shall grinde it to fine powder, and of the said powder you shall giue the Patient to drinke (with good sweete Wine, or other Wine that is not sowre) euery morning fasting three graines: or you may al∣so mingle it with Theriacle or Metridatum, and giue it him to eate euerie morning fasting, and let him fast after it at the least foure howres, and then shall he purge that, that is néed∣full to be purged, and is the right matter of the Pockes, and it shall not any way be hurtfull vnto him, but shall clense him from all vnhealthfull thinges, restoring him to a healthfull state, clensing all superfluitie, and leauing all the other hu∣mours of the bodie vntouched.

This is that, that purgeth the matter of the Pockes by the stoole, and there is no other laxatiue that is anie thing auailable, but onelie Mercurie beeing thus prepared. The Patient must be kept with meate and drinke, according as

is saide of the other in the Chapters going before, he must al∣so be kept from colde, & out of the ayre, but principally from the companie of Women, because that is the roote of this dis∣ease, which beeing frequented by the Patient, it renueth the disease, making it worse and more venimous then before, therefore aboue all things that must be eschewed. And thus much concerning the curing of the Pockes by Mercurie.

Heere endeth the first part.