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.

BACK.

A good Medicine to strengthen the Back.

Take Oaken leaves and buds, Knot∣grass, Comfrey, and Clary, of each a∣like, and still them: this must be taken every morning two spoonfuls, but let it be a fortnight old, or else the fire wil not be out of it.

Another.

Take Comfrey, Knot-grass, and the flowers of Archangel; boile them in a little milk of a browne Cow, and drink of it every morning; it is very good.

For the Rains of the Back and Stomack.

Take of Fern that groweth on a house, and Camomile of each a handful, two or three slips of Unset Hysop, bruise 〈◊〉〈◊〉 these together, and seeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them

in a quart of Rhenish or White-wine, with a handful of Currants, till it come to a pint; and after it is sodden, put in∣to it an ounce and a half of white Sugar candied, and let it melt of it self, then strain it through a fair cloath, and give it the Patient to drink warm morning and evening.

To strengthen the Back.

Take a handful of Knot-grasse, a handful of Archangel flowers, nine branches of Gromel, and stamp it with a pint of Ewe milk, and warm it bloud warm, and let the Patient drink it an hour before he riseth for nine dayes to∣gether.

For the Raines of the Back.

Take your own water, and boil it well and scum it well, then take a quarter of an ounce of Oile of Bayes, and an ounce of Oyle of Roses, and boil it from a pot∣tle to a pint or a quart, and annoint therewith the rains of the back, and al∣so the Spleen vain in the foot.

For the pain of the Back, and heat of the Back.

Take Rose-water, and put thereunto Sanders and Rose leaves, and lay them in steep in your Rose-water one whole night, and it (being drunk) will take a∣way the heat, and greatly comfort the Reins: or wash the back therewith.

To cleanse the Back, and purge the Raines.

Take one Fennel root, and two Par∣sley roots, and pick out the piths of them, and put thereto one handful of Pellitory of the wal; and all these things being washed clean, seeth them in posset Ale, and drink thereof when you go to bed, and if you awake at midnight, drink of it also.

A good Medicine to strengthen a weak Back.

Take a good handful of the pith of the back of a young Ox or Heifer, slice ••t, and take out the stuff in it, and put

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it in a fair dish, put thereunto one, two or three of pure Dates, the skin within side taken off, and minced as fine as may be; then boile them in two or three spoonfuls of Rose-wa∣ter, then look what quantity of Dates, so the like of Raisons of the Sun, and red Currants, your Raisons must be minced smal, and the stones taken out, then boil your Raisons and Currants and Rose-water together till they be tender, and put in some crumbs of Bread, Cin∣namon, and Sugar, and Saffron small beaten to powder, then temper all these together in a fair dish, and have ready Pastionel, which is made of Su∣gar and yolks of Eggs, fine flower and butter, these work together into paste, and roll it as thin as you can, and make it into pieces, the fashion of a Pease cod, and bake them slenderly, and reserve them to your use, and when you list to eat of them, take one and heat it by the fire side in the morning, and eat it, and another 〈◊〉〈◊〉 noon.

For the Back.

Take some Comfrey roots, Knot∣grasse, Clary and Shepherds purse stamp them and strain them, with a little Mus∣kadine, and put thereto the rest of a pint of Muskadine, one Nutmeg grated, and two yolks of Eggs, and so drink of it cold.

To cleanse and comfort the Back and Reins.

Take a pottle of fair Spring-water, and put thereinto halfe a pound of Eringo roots, as new as you can get them, and meerly of themselves as they grow, with∣out any candying or confectioning, on∣ly bruise them very well before you put them into the pipkin of water, then take three good sticks of Licoras, and bruise them, and put them into the same water: let all these boil together over a temperate fire until half be consumed, then take it off, and every morning drink a pretty draught thereof for seven∣teen or eighteen dayes together.

A Conserve to strengthen the Back.

Take Eringo roots, and conserve them, as you do Damask white and red Roses, in every respect, the pith be∣ing taken out, one pound and a half of Sugar is enough for every pound of Roots, and three pints of water, and stew them closely at the first, as you do your Roses; if you will add to them five or six graines of Ambergreece bea∣ten to fine powder, it will be much more cordial.

A good Drink against the heat of the Back.

Take Fennel, Comfrey and Plantane, of each a handful, Anniseeds, Fennel seeds and Licoras, of each an ounce, Mastick two drams, Lapis dactilus two drams, boile these in two quarts of new milk till half be consumed, then strain it and drink of it morning and evening. After this drink, the space of an hour, take on the top of a knife this Electu∣ary:

Diatragacanth. frigid. one ounce, of

Sirrup of Violets one dram, mix them together, and take it as aforesaid.

For paine and heat in the Back.

Take Sage, Rosemary, Camomile and Maudlin, of each one handful, stamp them together, and frye them in May butter, and annoint the back with it warm.

Of the pain in the Back.

This pain proceedeth of Rheumes that fall into the sinews of the Muscles, or of great labour, and such like occasi∣ons.

Seeth Nep in your broth, which draweth the noisome and grieved mat∣ter out of the neck, and driveth away all pain in the shoulders and back bones. Also silver Mountain seeds sod in water and drink thereof twice a week every time three or four ounces. It is very good against all weakness of the back and raines.