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 ...

The Proheme or Entrance into this Collecti∣on, contained in the first four Chapters.

CHAP. I. What the duty of an expert Chirurgian is.

A Good and true Chirurgian is no other, then a Minister, and helper of nature; who hath three operations to perform in curing of wounds: The first is, that he joyn the separated parts close to∣gether: The second, to preserve it from pain: The third, that he keep it from putrefaction; all the rest he may leave unto nature, which will work with good expedition: And this is a sure intention concerning the cure of Wounds; never keep the flesh open with tents or pledgets; neither weaken nature by letting of bloud, or by purging, nor yet by streight diet, to cause the pain to increase, but keep the wound alwayes clean, washing it with Aqua Balsami, and lay upon the wound clothes wet in Magno liquore: This is a good and an approved order, whereof whosoever will know more, let him look in Leonardo Phioravante his book of Rationall Se∣crets, where he shall be satisfied more at large.

CHAP. II. The cure of all manner of Wounds in generall

ALl kind of wounds may be healed with these Medicines following (according to the method before mentioned) viz. with our Balsamo, with Aqua balsami, Balsamum artificiale, Quinta essentia vini Oleum refinae pini, Oleum Cerae & Terebinthi∣nae, Magno liquore, Cerotum magistrale, Elixer vitae, Oleum hype∣riconis compositum, our secret Powder, all which are set down in the forenamed book, and for the most part, are to be had for a reasonable consideration, at the house of W. I. in Amen Corner.

CHAP. III. The cause why Wounds cannot heal quickly.

THough there be many more, yet cheifly they may be re∣duced unto two causes: The one is, an immoderate and extream diet, which weakeneth the stomack and body so much,

that nature cannot prevail to conglutinate or soder the flesh together; and thus, through want of natural heat, the wound falleth to Imposthumation, Gangrena, Fistulaes, &c. and can hardly be cured. The second cause is, the keeping of them too much open, by reason of their tents or pledgets, so that they cannot joyn together again, but grow to Cancers and Fistu∣laes, whereupon many times the Patient remaineth lame ever after, or else speedy death is the end thereof.

CHAP. IIII. Of Wounds in the head, how they must be dealt withall.

ALl wounds in the head must be close joyned and kept to∣gether, the bloud must be crushed out, then wash it well with something that hath vertue to liquifie the bloud, as the Quintessence of Wine, or such like; then lay thereon lint wet in Oleum benedictum; this Medicine you shall change in four dayes, but every day once wash the wound round about with that Quintessence, and annoint it with the said Oil, and at the fourth dayes end dresse it again, and let it remain two dayes more, and after that for a day more, and the wound (by the help of God) shall be cured in twelve or fourteen dayes: Thus may you deal with all wounds, save those that are made in the belly; as for all other, either simple or compound wounds, you shall find their cure, methodically shewed, in the Rationall Secrets of Leonardo Phioravante published in English.

CHAP V. The healing of a greivous Wound on the side of the head.

THe wound was made on the side of the head, almost to du∣ra mater, and it was healed in this manner: First there was put into the same the Quintessence aforesaid, then a little Bal∣samo, then there was applyed a cloth which was wet in Magno liquore, made very hot, upon which cloth was laid our secret powder, covered with lint, and thus he was dressed once every day till he was whole. You must note, that whensoever the skull is hurt unto dura mater, there must be cast up at the nostrils our balsamo that the smell may pierce upward, and resolve the of∣fence. Sometime also in stead of a Defensative, you may an∣noint round about the wound, with the foresaid Balm, which preserveth from putrifaction and alteration.

CHAP. VI. A dangerous wound in the head, cured in five dayes.

IT was healed very quickly, by putting therein our Aqua cae∣lestis and balsamo, and by applying unto the same very hot clothes wet in Magno liquore.

CHAP. VII. The cure of a wound on the eare to the skull.

A Sore wound was made on the eare, which was cut unto the skull of the head, and was healed in this manner; First, by annointing it with out Quintessence, which caused it to wax ve∣ry hot, the space of two hours. After that there was put in our Oleum Philosophorum de Terebinthina & Cera, and so he dressed it every day once.

CHAP. VIII. How three wounds in the head, with fracture of the bone or scull were healed by I. P.

A Ceriain Miller in Buckinghamshire, called Peter Bull, be∣ing sore wounded in the head, whereof one wound was in the midst of the head, with fracture of the skull, another with∣in an inch of that six inches long, he had another wound over his eie brow two inches long. Besides the wounds in his head, he had also a great wound in the bow of his arm beside the elbow, so that a man might have laid his three fingers in it, divers of his fingers were also cut, and he lost two joynts. This man bled by the space of seven or eight hours before it was stinted; nor was he dressed untill the next day, but yet he was cured in this manner. First the hair was shaven away round about the wounds on his head, and the wounds were made clean, then was there dropped into the wound, Balsamum sul∣phuris, made very warm, and a fine cloth wet therein was ap∣plyed to the wounds, and round about the wounds there was a Defensative applyed, thus he was dressed once in 24 hours, and within the space of 3. weeks, he was perfectly helped, that he wore no plaister at all. Also you shall note that upon the wound next the cloth, there was laid cerotum magistrale, of Leon. Phioravante; Forget not, that this Balsom must alwayes be used warm, with a fine linnen cloth, or a peece of Cambrick, and not with any lint. This Balsam did cause the hair to grow

so fast about the wounds, that it was fain to be shaven away ve∣ry often.

CHAA. IX. Of contused wounds on the head, or other parts of the bodie

THe ancient Practitioners have esteemed contused wounds to be very dangerous. For they say contusions must first be brought to putrifaction, and turned into matter which opinion is not to be allowed, for the bruises are to be dissolved with∣out maturation, which hath been a thousand times proved in the wars, after this manner to have been performed. ℞. Magno liquore, Oleum benedictum, ana, mix them, and being very hot, wet clothes therein, and lay thereon twice a day, and in three or four dayes they will be resolved. Also the oyle of Fran∣kincense, or Oleum Philosophorum de Tereb. & Cera, will resolve any simple bruise in three or four houres, onely by continu∣all annointing the place therewith, so fast as it drinketh in any. Provided, that the bruise be not above six or eight hours old, for if it be, then will your work be somewhat the longer before it be finished.

CHAP. X. A contused wound on the head healed by I. P.

A Young man of 28. yeers of age, that had a great contusion on the head with a staffe, was helped thereof in 9 daies, by applying thereunto Balsamum sulphuris before mentioned.

CHAP. XI. A wound in the head, with fracture of the skull, cured by I. P.

A Little boy with a fall from a horse, had a fracture in the skull, which was healed with Balsamum sulphuris, & Ce∣rotum Magistrale Leonardo. The child did at his dressing, vo∣mit very often, which argued the breaking of his scull, yet was he healed in seven dayes.

CHAP. XII. To heal wounds speedily.

FIrst wash them very well with our Aqua balsami, then joyn them very close together, and lay thereon a cloth wet in Oleo rosini pini, and (through Gods help) they shall be quickly healed.

CHAP. XIII. To heal Wounds, by shot, or launce.

HE that will cure Wounds that are made with shot, launce, Arrowes, &c. must first wash the Wound well with urine, and dry the Wound well, then let him put therein the Quintessence of Wine, and forthwith joyn the Wound close and hard together, then let him put immediately therein, five or six drops of our Balsamo artificiato, and lay a cloth upon the Wound wet in Magno liquore, which must be applyed so hot as he may suffer it; thus must he doe the first day. That being done, he must put thereon our Quintessence of Wine, and then a little Balsamo, after that some Magno liquore (as before was said) and so let him hold on unto the end of his cure.

CHAP. XIIII. A most singular and wonderfull remedy to heal Wounds quickly.

VVOunds must be helped with drying Medicines, (as was noted in the third Chapter) such Medicines, I say, as have vertue to preserve the part offended from putrefaction. This will be performed with our Aqua Balsami, and the Oil distilled from Vern••ce liquid; for these two are apt to heal all sorts of Wounds, if yee wash them with the water, and annoint them round about with the oil, for they doe not onely keep the Wounds from putrifying, but they help to siccatrize quickly, and in such manner, as it seemeth marvellous, not onely most profitable for the wounded Patient, but best for the good and honest Chirurgian, who abhorreth in his work to play the Tin∣ker, which in stopping of one hole is wont to make three, but with as much safety and speed as Nature and Art will yeeld, to bring to passe all his honest intentions.

CHAP. XV. A wound in the eye with a splinter, healed by W. H.

A Splinter of wood leaped into the eye of a certain Maiden as she was chopping of sticks. The wound was so grievous,

that the gelly of her eye came forth by the space of a moneth; all this while she could neither see, nor take any rest. By the blessing of God, within four dayes after she could thred a needle, and was recovered in this manner. First there was dropped into her eye Balsamum Sulphuris warm, and then a cloth wet therein was applyed thereunto, by which onely she was cured: the Maid dwelleth in Nottingham∣shire.

CHAP. XVI. A prick in the eye with a knife, healed by W. H.

A Child of seven yeares of age had a puncture in the eye with a knife, which was cured by dropping therein Bal∣samum Sulphuris warm, and laying a defensative round about it.

Another cure performed in like manner, by W. H.

ONe George Clarke, servant to the right worshipfull Mr Butler of Denham (then high Sheriffe of Bedford) was healed of a puncture in his eye with the aforesaid Medicine.

An hand flat squatted and contused, healed by W. H. CHAP. XVII.

AN old man, called Thomas Smith, of Carlton in North-hamptonshire, Husbandman, in lopping of a tree had his hand caught between two boughs, and was squatted in pei∣ces; this contused hand was presently put close together, and annointed with Oleum Philosophorum de Terebinthina, & Cera, and through Gods goodnesse, was perfectly cured in eight dayes.

CHAP. XVIII. A wound or puncture through the arme. I. P.

A Young man, called Hudson, a Carpenter of Carlton in Northamptonshire, being thrust through the arme with a

Pitch-forke, was thus cured. First there was injected Magno liquore (as hot as he could abide it) into the wound; then was there a linnen cloth wet in the same oyle applyed unto the wound, upon the which cloth was also laid a pledget of Cerotum magistrale; this wounded man was healed in five or six dayes.

CHAP. XIX. Five wounds in the breast.

A Certain man that had five stocadoes into the body was thus cured. First there was put into the wounds the Quintessence of Wine, then were the wounds dressed with Balsamo artificiato, which caused him to vomit, and to avoid much bruised bloud; after that he drunk every morning a little Aqua Balsami, and in short time by Gods help was per∣fectly cured.

The manner to stay any flux of bloud, or vein, you shall find in the 17. Chapter of the second part of this Collection, and in the Secrets of Leonardo Phioravante, where he treateth of Wounds.