Culpeper's school of physick, or, The experimental practice of the whole art wherein are contained all inward diseases from the head to the foot, with their proper and effectuall cures, such diet set down as ought to be observed in sickness or in health : with other safe wayes for preserving of life ... / by Nich. Culpeper ... ; the narrative of the authors life is prefixed, with his nativity calculated, together with the testimony of his late wife, Mrs Alice Culpeper, and others.

It helpeth the Liver, Lungs, and other parts of the body.

This herb boiled in wine, and drunk hot about a quarter of an hour before the fit, and the pa∣tient afterward well covered in the bed, driveth away the Ague. The powder and water of this herb drunk with wine, hath the same effect. The juice drunk with wine, is good against short∣ness of Breath, and the diseases of the Lungs. It strengthneth the members, and is good against the ache of the body. This herb boiled in the urine of a healthful manchilde, and drunk, doth help the Dropsie, breaketh all Aposthumes, ma∣stereth the Falling-sickness. The powder eaten or drunk, helpeth against the stitches in the side. It is also good for them that begin to have the Consumption, called the Ptysick. The herb eaten, doth strengthen the trembling and Palsie members. The powder ministred in a Glyster, helpeth the Cholick, and other diseases of the

guts. The water drunk, hath the same effect▪ The juice drunk with wine, or the herb boiled in wine, and drunk hot, breaketh the stone, and driveth out gravel: being sodden in water, and the patient sitting over it, so that the hot va∣pour may come unto the diseased place, it help∣eth against the same infirmity. After the same manner being used, it is good against the Green sickness. Also it healeth the griping pains of the belly: it openeth the stopping of the members, pierceth and causeth urine. The leaves boiled in wine, and drunk as is aforesaid, provoke sweats, consumes the evil blood, and ingenders good Also the wine or water, in the which this herb is boiled, being drunk, consumeth the evil hu∣mours, and preserveth the good. It is excel∣lent for one that is bruised with a fall or other∣wise. The leaves, juice, broth, powder, and water of the herb, is very good to heal the can∣ker, and old rotten, festered sores. The leaves bruised or pounded, and laid to, are good against burnings, hot swellings carbuncles, and sores that are hard to be cured, especially, for them of the Pestilence: and also they are good to heal the bitings of venomous worms, and serpents, or creeping beasts. Finally the doun coming of the flowers thereof, when the seed is ripe, doth heal cuts and new wounds, without pain.

Thus much of Carduus Benedictus gathered out of the Herbals of divers learned men, which although it may be sufficient, yet I have thought good here to set down that, which two painful and skilful Physicians, Matthiolus and Fuchsius,

have written hereof in Latine: whose words, as (perhaps) they may bring some credit to that which is already written: so in them something more may be learned, or at the least, something ••s uttered for the better understanding of that ••foresaid. Their words in English are as fol∣••oweth.

Carduus Benedictus is a Plant of great ver∣tue, especially against the Pestilence, and also against deadly poysons: aswel taken inwardly, or laid outwardly to the stingings and bitings of venemous Beasts. They are healed with this Herb, that are sick of a Quarten, or other Agues, that come with a cold, and that by the drinking of the decoction, or stilled water, or a dram of the powder. In like manner be∣ing drunk, it helpeth infants that are troubled with the falling-sickness. The decoction ta∣ken in wine, doth mitigate the pain of the guts, and reines, and other griefs of the belly; it provoketh sweat; it killeth the worms, and is good against other diseases of the womb. The Herb it self as well green as dried, both drunk, and laid outwardly to the grief, doth heal ulcers. On such exraordinary occasions it is mingled with the drink made of Guacum, wine, and water, for the French Pox. Thus much Mathiolus.

Learned Writers affirm, that it taketh away the stoppings of the inward bowels; it provoketh urine, breaketh the stone, and helpeth them that are stung of venomous beasts. They say also, that they are not to be infected that take it in their meat or drink, before they come into the

evil air, that it helpeth them much that are al∣ready infected. Moreover, most agree, that it i•• a remedy against the bitings of Serpents. Finally, to conclude, late writers say, That it cureth the pains of the head, taketh away giddiness, recover∣eth the memory, being taken in meat or drink. Also it helpeth festering sores, especially of the Paps and Teats, if the powder thereof be laid up∣on it. Thus much Fuchsius.

By this we may in part understand, with how great vertue, God hath indued, and (as I may say) blessed this herb. To sum up all, it helpeth the body inwardly and outwardly; it strength∣ens almost all the principall members of the bo∣dy; as the brain, the heart, the stomach, the liver, lungs, and kidneys. I may say it is a preservative against all diseases; for it provoketh sweat, by which the body is purged of much corruption which breedeth disease. It expelleth the venom of infection: it consumes ill blood, and all naugh∣ty humours, whereof diseases are ingendred. Therefore giving God thanks for his goodness, which hath given us this Herb, and all other things for the benefit of our health; it will in the next place be convenient to consider how to make use of it in the application.