The skilful physician containing directions for the preservation of a healthful condition, and approved remedies for all diseases and infirmities (outward or inward) incident to the body of man ... whereunto is added experimented instructions for the compounding of perfumes, also for the chusing and ordering of all kinds of wines, both in preserving the sound, and rectifying those that are prick'd : never before imparted to publick view.

HEAD.

A Medicine for the Headache.

Take Elder leaves, and a good quan∣tity of Bay salt, and stamp them toge∣ther, and lay it to the nape of the neck, and by Gods help it shall take away the pain.

For pain in the Head.

Take Camomile, Rosemary and Be∣tony, of each a like quantity, and as much leaven as Herbs, beat them toge∣ther, then take a Nutmeg beaten very small, and so much Wine Vineger, as will incorporate into a paste, which you must apply warm unto the hin∣der part of the head, and to your fore∣head, changing it evening and mor∣ning.

For Head Ache.

Take a piece of leaven, the bignesse of an egge, and put to it two spoonfuls of White Wine Vinegar, and two spoonfuls of red Rose-water, and a few red Rose leaves, mix them together, and warm them; then take them, and spread them on two brown papers, then grate Nut∣meg upon it, and lay it upon a fire slice on the coals till-it be very hot, then take it, and lay it to the parties temples at night when he goeth to bed.

For the Head Ache sundry Medicines.

The juice of Ground Ivy cast into the nostrils purgeth the head and taketh a∣way the pain.

If the Rheume come of a cold cause, lay hot Callamint or running time brui∣sed to the head.

Hisop boiled on embers, and laid to the head, stoppeth the Rheume.

The juice of Coleworts cast into the nostrils cleanseth and purgeth the head.

The juice of onions cast into the no∣strils, also doth the like.

This Plaister was proved for dizziness in the head, and is good for any ache in the head: Take of Opium and of Saffron, of each one dram, of Roses four drams, and thereof with Vinegar make a Plai∣ster.

He that useth to take three Pills of Alloes, and the juice of Coleworts the bignesse of a bean, shall never have the Head ache.

For the Head Ache.

Take an Herb called Alehoofe and fill

a frying pan therewith, heat it hot, as you are able to endure it, and lay it to the aking place, and it will remove the pain; then take more, and lay it to the place that aketh, and at last it wil drive it clean away.

Another.

Take the whites of two new laid eggs, a little Aquavitae, and the juice of House∣leeks, beat all together, and therein wet some fine tow, and then lay it upon the temples.

Of giddinesse in the Head.

This Disease is caused by much fre∣quenting the Sun, and the head be∣ing over heated, as also from the sto∣mack, if it be overcharged with any superfluity whereby the mouth of the stomack is hurt, and so sendeth bad vapours to the head; but if it proceed from blood, which may be knowne by the redness of the eyes, the fulnesse of the veines, then the party must have the veine opened behind the ear, and bleed four ounces, and purge with

seven drams of Reb steeped in Whey all night.

Of the pain in the Head.

For the most part this pain of the Head proceedeth of the intemperature of the four humours; namely, of Blood, Phlegme, Choler and Melancholy.

If it proceed from Choler, the sign is evident, viz. belching or breaking of wind upward with loathsomnesse and thirst, drynesse of the mouth, tongue, and nostrils, the pain is pricking, sharp, and rather in the right, then in the left side of the head, heat over all the body, but especially in the nostrels, no appe∣tite, no sleep, the Pulses quick and lusty, the Urine reddish, the face yel∣low; the surest notes are, if the time of the year be hot and dry, the Patient young and hath used hot and dry things, to use cooling Medicines, and a good cooling dyet.

Of heat in the Head through Melan∣choly.

It is described thus, It is not so great

as the former, but with a drynesse and sadnesse the heat is more evident in the left side of the face, then in the right, it causeth disquietness and unnatural sleep, it causeth fearful faintheartedness, and carefulness, the colour of the face is red and blue, with a soure taste in the mouth, if the Patient be old, and if it be about Autumne, then the signes are more sure. Glisters are good in this case.

Of the paine in the Head caused by cold.

The signes are wearisomness of all parts, as if the body were beaten and broken to pieces, the paine is not ex∣treme without any swelling or thirst, sleepinesse, much spitting at the mouth and moisture at the nose, palenesse of colour, and somewhat sullen, the eyes run, and the mouth out of taste. In such cases use warm and dry Medicines, and purging, is very needful in this Infir∣mity.

Also this Wine following is excellent for this purpose. Take Rosemary two handfuls, Nutmegs one ounce, dryed Betony two ounces, Cloves two drams,

being cut very small, put thereto eight quarts of good Rhenish Wine, let it stand three dayes; then for a weak sto∣mack, drink a good draught at the be∣ginning of meals, but for the Head ache at the latter end.

This Wine is very good for a cold, and moist braine, and hurtful for young folks and hot complections.

The Dyet must be strong Wine, but very little, left it disturb the Head, once in eight dayes, wash the head with the decoction of Camomile, Marjerome and Steches, and before meales, rub the head with warme cloaths, and after meales take a little Marmalade to hin∣der the vapour in ascending to the head. But because the Laxative Medicines, through their own power, do not expel all humours for which they be given, without such things as convey their o∣peration towards some certain members which one desireth to purge, therefore take this Oximil following; and if you put thereto Nutmegs, Piony seeds or Cubebs, then doth it only purge the head, and no other part of the body; and if you put thereto Tamariscus and Caper roots, then it purgeth the Melt, and so

for all the rest, but because we speak now only of the head, these are the Simples, or Herbs that do conduct the Medicines thereto; viz. Nutmegs, Cubebs and Piony, Penniroyal, Marjerom, Balsome wood and Seeds, Frankinsence, Beaver Codd, Labdanum, Mellilot, Squils, Spick∣nard, Hisop and Pepper.

Oximel, that is called at the Apotheca∣ries Compositum, or Diareticum, Take Fennel roots, and roots of Smallage, of each two ounces, the seeds of Parsley, of Butchers broom, Sparage, Smallage and Fennel, of each one ounce, take out the pith or core of the roots, chop them and seeth them in a quart of water till they be mellow, then strain them through a cloth, and add the Decoction of three ounces of sharp Vinegar, twelve oun∣ces of Honey, let them seeth to a Sir∣rup; it doth attenuate all tough slimes, it driveth them out of the members, opens the obstructions of the Li∣ver, Melt, and the Kidnies, and ex∣pelleth them.

A very good Medicine for Paine or Wind in the Head, which much hindreth the Hearing.

Take one Clove of Garlick, pill it and make three or four holes in it, then dip it in fine English Honey, and put it in your ear, (and lye on the other side, and put in black wool after it, and con∣tinue this eight dayes, and it will expel the pain, expulse the Humour at the nose, and restore the Hearing.

For a White Scurf, or Scabbed Head.

Take White wort, Cellendine, Ground Ivy. Mercury, Wormwood, and an Herb called Dead mens Bells, grow∣ing in Woods like Leek blades, of each of these alike, and stamp them, and mingle them with fresh grease.

And burne green Ash to ashes, and mix it with fresh grease, and annoint the place eherewith.

To heal a Scald Head.

Take Lye that is made with the bark

of an Ashen tree, and wash the head therewith, and annoint it with Quicksil∣ver, killed in Barrowes grease, and fasting spittle.

Another.

Take yolks of eggs, and put there∣unto as much Turpentine, then fry them in Swines grease, and stir them well to∣gether in the frying to a Salve, and so lay it to the sore head.

Another.

Take the roots of the small reeds that grow in ditches, burn them to ashes, and apply the ashes wet in Vinegar to the sore Head. This healeth the sore, and maketh hair to grow.

The bark of an Ashen tree being well boiled in water, with the Lye thereof, sometimes wash the Head to cleanse it, whiles the other Medicines be applyed to the same.

Another.

Take black Snailes, and stamp them

very well, and in stamping them, there will be an Oyle come from them, and with the same Oyle, annoint the sore head.

For a sore Head.

First wash the head with pisse, and then annoint it with the dripping of a wild Duck, being roasted guts and all.