An exact collection of the choicest and more rare experiments and secrets in physick and chyrurgery (both cymick and Galenick) viz. of Leonard Phioravant, Knight and doctour in physick and chyrurgery, his Rational secrets and chyrurgery &c. : whereunto is annexed Paracelsus's One hundred and fourteen experiments : with certain excellent works of G.B. áa ortu Aquitano ; also Isaac Holandus, his secrets concerning his vegetal and animal work : with Quercetanus his Spagyrick antidotary for gun-shot : also certain collections out of some manuscripts of Dr. Edwards and other physitians of note ...

An order to use in healing all manner of Diseases appertaining unto the Chirurgian.

VVOunds and all other sorts of sores, are of sundry and divers kinds, as is aforesaid, neverthelesse the order to helpe them is not much different one from the other, if we should say onely the truth without abuse. For yee shall un∣derstand, that Nature is the master of all things created, and the Physitian and Chirurgian are helpers of that Nature, as the antient Professors of the Art have affirmed. Then seeing this is so, what need we to make such adoe, having Nature that worketh so gently, if it be not hindered by the Minister, and therefore if we will speak of Wounds, I say, that the Minister hath three operations to doe and no more, and the rest leave to Nature that worketh gently. The three operations that the Master hath to doe are these: To defend the Wound so that there runneth no humours to it, and that it putrfie not, and to keep it clean, and when the Minister hath done that, let Nature work that which she will work well, and if any de∣sire to see if it will be so in effect, yee may see by a Dog, for if he hath a great wound upon his body, he healeth it without any Medicine, onely with diet, and keeping it clean with his tongue, and this is most true, that those which doe help Wounds by inchantment, doe nothing but keep the Wound clean, and cause the Patient to keep a diet, and so nature work∣eth as well on a Man as on a Dog, therefore let none marvell of this authority of a Dog, although I approve the like of a Christian. But for so much as it would be good to help Na∣ture, that it might work with more speedinesse, as Husband∣men and Gardners doe, who because they would have Nature to work the better, and quicker in their ground, doe cast thereon divers sorts of dungs, &c. The which is done onely

to help Nature to work the quicker, and to conclude, I say, that the Chirurgian should doe the same in helping of Wounds. But as for Ulcers of divers sorts, it were necessary to find out the cause, because they come of divers causes, for when the cause is found, it will be more easie to be helped, because Ul∣cers cannot come but by great distemperance of Nature in our bodies, as by great heat or cold, or by repletions of the body. Therefore in this case it is necessary to purge the bo∣dy: First, to ease Nature which is offended, and to extinguish the superfluous heat or cold that is in the bodie: That being done, the minister or helper of Nature hath three things to doe. The first is to mortifie or kill the sore, the second to mundifie, and the third to incarnate, and then Nature will cicatrize it, and these three operations are to be used in Ul∣cers. Also Imposthumes are caused of divers accidents, in the which it is also necessary to seek out the cause, whereby to know what purgations are fit to purge the body of the superfluous humours, and then the Minister hath three things to doe in that case. First to bring it to maturation quickly, then when it is ripe and broke, to mundifie it well, and thirdly to incarnate it, and these are the three operations that are to be done in an Imposthume to help Nature to work well, and so following this order thy work shall prove well, and goe the right way, as hereafter I will shew in his place, the ope∣rations to use in the effect, with the order to help them, and also to make thy Unguents, shewing their quality and vertue, and will prove by reason those things that are doubtfull, so that every one shall be satisfied in that matter.