The pearle of practise, or Practisers pearle, for phisicke and chirurgerie. Found out by I. H. (a spagericke or distiller) amongst the learned obseruations and prooued practises of many expert men in both faculties. Since his death it is garnished and brought into some methode by a welwiller of his.

THE SECOND PART OF THE APPENDIX OR ADDI∣TION, VNTO THIS COLLECTION, contayning the vse and vertues, of sundry vegetables, animals, &c. gathered out of the Phisickes, of S^t Leonardo Phiorauante.

CHAP. I. Of the vse and vertues, of Ebulus or Danewort.

TAke the buds of this vegetable, when they are young and greene,* 1.1 perboile them in water, and make thereof a sallade, and giue it vnto those, that haue costiue bodies, and it will prouoke them to the stoole.* 1.2 It is an herbe, verie profitable for the sinewes, it comforteth the weake partes, and preserueth such, as are weake in the ioints from many accidēts: it purgeth flegme, which (for the most part) causeth debilitie of the nerues. Whosoeuer vseth to drinke of a sirupe, made of the berries thereof, shall not be troubled with the gowt, nor any disease.* 1.3 in the articular partes. The seede dried, is profitable, against all infirmities caused of humiditie.

CHAP. II. Of Elleborus niger, and the vse thereof.

THe roote of blacke Hellebore,* 1.4 being dried and kept two yeares, may be safely vsed, without other prepara∣tion, and may be ministred against any infirmitie, that hath his originall, of a melancholicke cause. Therefore it is most appropriate, against the feuer quartaine, and lunatike per∣sons,

vexed with melancholie.

CHAP. III. Of the vse and vertues of the herbe called Gratia Dei, a kinde of Geranium in English blew Storkes bill.

TAke of Gratia Dei, dried in the shadow, and beaten in∣to sine powder, ℥ j, Cinamon ʒ j, cloues, ℈ j, wheate flowre, lb j, orenges condite, ℥ j, make thereof a past, with honie, and bake it in the ouen with bread: but take great heed,* 1.5 that it burne not. Of this you shall giue ℥ j, to purge against many infirmities: but aboue the rest against Scro∣phulae, against scabs, and the white scall. For it euacuateth onely the superfluous humiditie of the body, it drieth and is appropriate for such kinde of infirmities.* 1.6 Howbeit you must note, that all soluble medecines are not fit, for one dis∣ease or complexion: for chiefly and properly, Rubarb pur∣geth choller, blacke Hellebore auoideth melācholie, Dane∣wort dispossesseth the body of flegme, and this herbe clen∣seth the bloud.* 1.7 Therefore euery one hath his peculiar pro∣pertie: though sometime either of them, may worke, vpon more causes then one, yet not so properly or simply, but by accident, and in regard of circumstances.

* 1.8Two drammes of the powder of this herbe, dronke in wine, or broth, prouoketh vomite and siege, and is very good for such as are lunatike.* 1.9 It helpeth or at the least delayeth the extremitie of the feuer. It is good against greefes of the stomacke, and wind in the bellie.

* 1.10A decoction thereof made with ley, helpeth putrified vlcers, if they be washed therewith: for as it purgeth the sto∣macke, so it clenseth the sore, and healeth it quicklie, if you wet a cloth, in the said ley, and applie it thereunto.

CHAP. IIII. Of Rubarb, and his vertues.

THe herbe called, in the Italian toung, Lappacia maggiore, or Rombice domestice, is a kinde of Rubarb, which among

the learned Herbaristes is termed by the name of Rhare∣centiorum: whereof ʒ j, when it is new will lose the bodie, euacuate choller, as the Rhabarbarum doth.* 1.11 It is very good against oppilations: it purgeth the bloud, and taketh away scabs.

You shall haue,* 1.12 a most precious medecine thereof: if you mixe the greene roote, with honie, cinamon, saffron, gin∣ger, and the powder of roses.

If you rost the roote in the embers,* 1.13 and mixe it with condited sugar it breaketh the Scrophulae, and mundifieth them, and healeth them in short time. Some do mixe it with the gumme, called Ammoniacum; and so do bring it in∣to the forme of an vnguent, and applie it vnto the parts af∣fected with Scrophulae.

CHAP. V. Of Tithymale, and his vertues.

GAther the herbe Tithymale (called Spurge) in the moneth of May: take forth the iuice and mixe it with sugar roset, or sugar violet, in fine powder:* 1.14 then make of them both a moist past, and keepe it in a glasse, close stop∣ped.

When you purpose to vse it, minister two scruples there∣of, in broth or any other conuenient sirupe. It purgeth without payne, helpeth al feuers that come of heat:* 1.15 working not onely by the stoole, but prouoking sweat also.

It resolueth all continuall and quotidian feuers,* 1.16 when the parties affected therewith be hote, and their sweat cold, yea though they be brought very low, it will by Gods helpe de∣liuer them of their troublesome aduersarie.

Laureola doth also moue the body, by vomite and siege,* 1.17 but it may not be vsed in any continuall feuer or quotidian; because it will inflame too much.

CHAP. VI. Of Soldanella, and his vertues.

THis herbe groweth, in sandie and salt ground, and is hote and drie.* 1.18 It purgeth by vomite and siege, and is ex∣cellēt against the dropsie, all windinesse, and vnwholesome moisture in the bodie. Being taken in lozenges, with Aro∣matico,* 1.19 the quantitie of ʒ j, it sendeth forth all the noisome waterinesse, out of the bodie, drying and heating those parts, in an excellent manner.

CHAP. VII Of Cyperus, and his vertues.

* 1.20THe herbe Cyperus, called in English Galingall, being put into new wine, giueth it an excellent good tast, and smell, preuailing against inward passions, caused of wind. It is good for such as are bursten, for it resolueth the wind: if you take the powder thereof being stamped very small, and make a plaister thereof,* 1.21 with other things appropriate ther∣unto, applying the same to the rupture, and chaunging it once euery day. Also if the patient do once in a day eate of the roote, he shall in short space be holpen of that disease.

CHAP. VIII. Of Elder, and his vertues.

TAke the rootes of Elder, wash them cleane, and scrape them till you come to the wood, stampe that substance, and take the iuice, and straine it, boile it, & scumme it well, and for euery ℥ of the iuice,* 1.22 take one ℥ of Mel rosarum, and drinke it, for it will coole the stomacke, helpe hote feuers quickly, and purge the bloud.

CHAP. IX. Of the vertues and vse of Tabaco.

* 1.23TAke of the greene herbe and roote lb iij ss stampe it in a morter with a little salt, then put it in a glasse with ℥ vj.

of the spirite of wine, and set it thirtie dayes to putrifie in horse doung. Then distill it in Balneo, till all the substance be come forth: and put therein as much Oleum sulfuris as will make it tart. Then keepe it close, and giue thereof eue∣ry morning a spoonfull, to any one affected with the feuer,* 1.24 and it will helpe him in short time.

If any man be affected, or greatly troubled with vlcers or scabs: let him drinke thereof euery day one spoonfull,* 1.25 and wash the sores therewith, and in short time it will most wonderfully cure them.

CHAP. X. Of sweet Margerom, and his vertues.

TAke sweet Margerom, and stampe it, and take of the iuice, ℥ j. oyle of bitter almonds ʒ j, and ℈ j of Masticke, and snuffe it vp at the nose, three or foure mornings toge∣ther: and annoint the head with oyle of egges. This purgeth the head, of all paynes, dissolueth tumors,* 1.26 quickneth the sight, and prouoketh sleepe.

CHAP. XI. Of Persicaria, his vse and vertues.

YOu shall vnderstand, that this herbe, doth worke (in a manner) against all infirmities, most straungely to be∣hold. For if you take the powder thereof, and put it vpon copper molten, it will in the proiection, become like gold, and will draw it to a small quantitie, and make it malleable,* 1.27 and soft like gold, except the colour.

Also if you make a strong ley of the ashes of Persicaria,* 1.28 and therein boile yellow brimstone, it will draw out of it quicke siluer, which is the Philosophers Mercurie. This herbe doth also most notablie preserue a man from many infirmities, if one part thereof be taken whiles it is dry, and our other part of Specie venetiane; being both of them well

incorporate together, and vsed in your meates.

CHAP. XII. Of man, and the medecines that are made of him.

MAn is a rationall, or reasonable creature, whereof we haue written at large in our booke called Phisica del Fiorauante. But here we will onely write of certaine mede∣cines, that may be made or deriued from him: which are for the ease, helpe and remedie of diuers infirmities which are in men and women. The reason whereof is very good, for euery like reioyceth with, and helpeth his like, and there∣fore man serueth for man.* 1.29 The fat of a man is (as euery man knoweth) hote, and penetratiue, and mollifying if you an∣noint the parts therewith, (where the sinewes be hard) and drawen together, or contracted, therefore it will quicklie resolue them. I haue made the Quintaessence of mans bloud, rectified and circulated, with the which I haue done most wonderfull cures, for if you giue thereof ʒ j, it will restore those, that lye at the point of death.

It is most profitable, against those infirmities that are in the bloud: for it correcteth the malignitie of the bloud, and preserueth it, as well as the spirite of wine. If you put a litle of it into an hogges head of wine▪* 1.30 it will purifie it, and pre∣serue it a long time: more then any other thing whatsoeuer. So that this Quintaessence, worketh more effectes, for the cure of great and dangerous infirmities then any other.

* 1.31Also from the liuer of a man, will be drawen by distilla∣tion, a water and an oile. If the water be dronke euery mor∣ning together, by the space of a moneth, in the quantitie of ʒ j, with ℥ ij of liuerwort water, it will recouer such as are halfe rotten thorow diseases of the liuer, and hath diuers o∣ther properties, whereof I will not speake at this time.

* 1.32From the flesh of man distilled, there will come forth a stinking water, and an oyle, which is most excellent, to an∣noint

woundes withall, when they are badly healed, and that there remaine any hurt about those parts, that they are out so sensible and pliant, (as they were wont to be before) this resolueth them. And it mollifieth and softneth all hard∣nesse of any tumor, of what originall soeuer it shall come.

From the forepart of a mans scull,* 1.33 there is drawen by di∣stillation, a water and oyle, and a salt, which is most profi∣tably vsed, against the falling sicknesse.

Finallie, from ech other part of man, there are medecines to be made, for the cure of sundry diseases in man, and wo∣man, as you may also read, more at large, in the spagiricke preparations of Iosephus Quercetanus published in Eng∣lish by Iohn Hester Practitioner in the Spagiricall art.

CHAP. XIII. Of an henne, and the Phisicall vse thereof.

SOme write, that the flesh of an henne, will dissolue gold, and that the bones will calcine it easily.

Another told me, that the ashes of hennes fethers,* 1.34 being calcined white, doth mundifie, incarnate and cicatrise vlcers.

Also there is made,* 1.35 an excellent restoratiue of an henne, after this manner.

Take a good fat henne, and pull her quicke, and take forth the guttes onely, and stampe her in a morter. Then boile it, in xij, lb of faire water, with ℥ j of salt, till lb viij be consumed. That done, passe it thorow a strainer, and distill it in Balneo, till all the substance be come forth. Here∣of you may giue, vnto the sicke at all times, with a little of a plaine and simple Iulepe. When you finde any euill ac∣cident, in the bellie, you must adde thereunto, a little oyle of sweet almondes, newly made, (while it is warme) for then is it one of the best restoratiues, that can be found out or di∣uised in the world.

CHAP. XIIII. Of Eeles, and the medicinall vse them.

MAny haue vsed, the fat of an eele, against deafenesse, but to small purpose. But if you will distill the eeles, with Aqua vitae,* 1.36 you shall haue a most subtill oyle, which doth most excellently preuayle, against that infirmitie.

Also if you boile the skinnes of the eeles, in strong ley vntill they be dissolued, then strayne it and boile it to a thicknesse: and it will be a most strong glew for wood or o∣ther workes.

Also if you annoint a corroding vlcer therewith it will greatly represse the rage thereof and comfort it.

CHAP. XV. Of the Barbill, and to what vse she serueth in medecine.

* 1.37IN the moneth of May the Barbill hath egges, which are of a soluble quality, and of some those egges being eaten; they shall be prouoked to vomite.

* 1.38They haue a qualitie contrarie to other purgers they must be dried in the sunne, mixed with a little Sena, and thē ministred in wine or water that is sodden. When it hath well wrought, the patients must eate good meate to nourish them, and may drinke wine, and (when they are disposed thereto) suffer them to sleepe.

CHAP. XVI. Of Bees, and their medecinall vse.

BEes are of nature hote and moist, hauing a generatiue propertie.* 1.39 For if they be giuen to any barren creature they shall conceaue in short time after.

Also if yon lay dead bees in a drie place to putrifie, wet∣ting them sometime with wine, they will reuiue agayne,

though not as they were before, but they will be much big∣ger and of an other forme.

These bees if you bring into powder with as much Can∣tarides; boile them a little with oyle of Chamomill,* 1.40 and an∣noint any part where the haire is fallen away, and it shall quickly come agayne, and in a short space, a most straunge thing to behold.

CHAP. XVII. Of frogges, and their vse.

THe skinnes of frogges being boiled and made into the forme of a plaister with waxe and franckincense,* 1.41 is ve∣ry profitable for such as haue any maligne or troublesome accident about their legges thorow heate.

The fat of frogges is a wonderfull medecine against Fuo∣co sacro, or S. Anthonies fire,* 1.42 a disease hapning vnto children and others through the great heate that is in their bloud.

CHAP. XVIII. Of Centumpedes, called in English, Sowes.

IF you minister the powder of these creatures in wine, it hath many excellent properties, but chiefly,* 1.43 it hath bene experienced, greatly to preuayle, against the stitch in the side, for it will helpe that greefe presently.

If you burne the little crieking creature, called a Cricket, and minister the powder thereof, in some Diureticke liquor,* 1.44 it prouoketh vrine.

Mallowes, Alkakengi, Centum nodi, Centumgrana, and the rootes of Rapes: are of like propertie, being handled and vsed according to art.

These are oftentimes found in standing pooles, and pu∣trified waters, certaine small creatures, which are rounde like a cherry, hauing a tayle and two feete, which are in Lombardie called Comazz••. Take these, and distill there∣of

of a water or liquor,* 1.45 wherewith you may very soone con∣sume or breake iron: a very great secret obserued in nature.

CHAP. XIX. Of the resine or gumme, called Tacca Mahacca, and the vse thereof.

TAke thereof as much as you will, distill it in a retort of glasse, & from it there will come both oyle and wa∣ter. Of which I haue seene diuers medecines made, against sundrie diseases. Annoint the bellie, with this oyle cold, when you go to bed:* 1.46 and it helpeth against the cruditie of the Matrix.

If the genitall part of the man be annointed therewith before the act of generatiō,* 1.47 the woman shall be the more fit for conception: for by this meanes some kinde of sterilitie is taken away.

* 1.48It helpeth and easeth payne in the head, proceeding of a a cold stomacke.

* 1.49It helpeth digestion, and resolueth payne, throughout the body, in what part soeuer, they shall come: specially, when they haue their beginning of cold.

* 1.50The water hereof, dissolueth wind in the stomacke, hel∣peth digestion, prouoketh vrine, mitigateth all feuers that come of cold.

CHAP. XX. Of the gumme Carrana, and the medecinall properties of it.

TAke it, and distill it in a retort with the yolkes and whites of egges, and there will come forth oile, and wa∣ter, the oyle whereof will be blacke, and the water red.

* 1.51The water of Carranna helpeth Chilblaines, and all choppes or clefts in the lippes arising of cold in the winter.

* 1.52It is a great ease, for the sore breastes of women, that giue sucke.

The oyle worketh wonderfull effects,* 1.53 in woundes of the head, arme, or legges.

Annoint a simple wound therewith, once or twise:* 1.54 and it will very speedily be healed.

Take a quantitie of this gumme, and mixe it with as much of the seede of water cresses, and the white of an egge, and make thereof a cerote, to apply vnto a rupture:* 1.55 where∣with it will in short time be healed, all other circumstances being also obserued.

CHAP. XXI. Of liquide Amber, and the medecinall vertues thereof.

TAke liquide amber, and distill it in a retort: and from thence, there will come a red oyle.

This oyle is vsed, against all indispositions of cold,* 1.56 and moisture, or wind.

The same healeth scabs, and is good for woundes.* 1.57

If you annoint the stomacke therewith,* 1.58 it will excee∣dingly comfort the same: for it is a thing vncorruptible, and like vnto Balsamum.

Notes

• * 1.1

  To purge flegme.
• * 1.2

  Strengthen the sinewes.
• * 1.3

  Preuent the gowte.

  The generall vse.
• * 1.4

  To purge me∣lancholie.
• * 1.5

  Cure of Scro∣phulae.
• * 1.6

  Note.
• * 1.7

  One medicine may worke vpon diuers causes.
• * 1.8

  Prouoke vo∣mite.
• * 1.9

  Feuer.
• * 1.10

  Putrified vl∣cers.
• * 1.11

  Purge choller.
• * 1.12

  The correction or vse.
• * 1.13

  Scrophulae.
• * 1.14

  The vse.
• * 1.15

  Feuers.
• * 1.16

  Greeuous a∣gues.
• * 1.17

  Note.
• * 1.18

  Dropsie.
• * 1.19

  Purge ill moi∣sture.
• * 1.20

  Passions or windie tor∣ments.
• * 1.21

  Rapture.
• * 1.22

  Coole the sto∣macke purge the bloud.
• * 1.23

  The use.
• * 1.24

  Feuer.
• * 1.25

  Vlcers.
• * 1.26

  Payne in the head.
• * 1.27

  The chimicall vse.
• * 1.28

  Another chi∣micall vse.
• * 1.29

  The nature and qualitie of the partes of man.

  The fat.

  The bloud.
• * 1.30

  Purifie wine.
• * 1.31

  The liuer of a man.
• * 1.32

  Flesh of man.
• * 1.33

  Mans••••ll.
• * 1.34

  D••ss••lue and calcine gold.
• * 1.35

  A restoratiue.
• * 1.36

  Against•• ••eas∣nesse.
• * 1.37

  Lose the bellie.
• * 1.38

  The vse and qualitie.
• * 1.39

  Sterelitie pre∣uented.

  To quicken dead bees.
• * 1.40

  Cause haire to grow.
• * 1.41

  Hote afflu∣ctions.
• * 1.42

  S. Anthonies fire.
• * 1.43

  Stitch in the side.
• * 1.44

  Prouoke vrine.
• * 1.45

  Disolue Iron.
• * 1.46

  Cruditie of the Matrix.
• * 1.47

  Helpe concep∣tion.
• * 1.48

  Payne in the head.
• * 1.49

  Helpe dige∣stion.
• * 1.50

  Wind in the stomacke.
• * 1.51

  Chilblaines.
• * 1.52

  Sore breasts.
• * 1.53

  Wo••••
• * 1.54

  Heale quickly.
• * 1.55

  Rupture.
• * 1.56

  Cold and win∣dinesse.
• * 1.57

  Scabs.
• * 1.58

  Comfort the stomacke.