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 Second Part of the Appendix or Addition unto this Collection, contain∣ing the Use and Vertues, of sundry Vegetables, Animals, &c. gathered out of the Physicks of Sir Leonardo Phioravante. (Book 2)

CHAP. I. Of the Ʋse, and vertues of Ebulus or Danewort.

TAke the buds of this Vegetable, when they are young and green, perboil them in water, and make thereof a Sallad, and give it unto those that have costive bodies, and it will provoke them to the stool. It is an hearb very profitable for the sinews, it comforteth the weak parts, and preserveth such, as are weak in the joynts from many accidents: it pur∣geth flegm, which) for the most part) causeth debilitie of the Nerves. Whosoever useth to drinke of a Sirrup made of the Berries thereof, shall not be troubled with the gout, nor any disease in the articular parts. The seed dried is profitable a∣gainst all infirmities caused of humidity.

CHAP II. Of Eleborus niger, and the use thereof.

THe root of black Hellebore being dried and kept two years, may be safely used without other preparation, and may be ministred against any infirmitie that hath his originall of a melancholie cause. Therefore it is most appropriate against the Fever quartane, and lunatick persons vexed with melan∣cholie.

CHAP. III. Of the Ʋse and Vertues of the Hearb called Gratia Dei, a kind of Geranium, in English, Blew Storks Bill.

TAke of Gratia Dei, dried in the shadow, and beaten into fine powder, ℥. i. Cinnamon ʒ i. cloves, ℈ i. wheat flower, lb i. Oranges condite, ℥ i. make thereof a past with honey, and bake it in the oven with bread, but take great heed that it burn not. Of this you shall give ℥ i. to purge against ma∣ny Infirmities; but above the rest against Scrophulae, against scabs and the white scall. For it evacuateth onely the super∣fluous humiditie of the body, it drieth, and is appropriate for such kinde of infirmities. Howbeit you must note, that all soluble Medicines are not fit for one disease or complexion, for chiefly and properly, Rhubarb purgeth choler, black Hel∣lebore avoideth melancholie, Danewort dispossesseth the bo∣die of flegm, and this hearb cleanseth the bloud, Therefore every one hath his peculiar propertie, though sometime either of them may work upon more causes then one, yet not so pro∣perly or simply, but by accident, and in regard of circumstances.

Two drachms of the powder of this hearb drunke in wine or broth, provoketh vomit and seege, and is very good for such as are lunatike. It helpeth, or at the least, delayeth the extre∣mitie of the Fever. It is good against griefs of the stomack, and wind in the bellie.

A decoction thereof made with lye helpeth putrified Ul∣cers, if they be washed therewith; for as it purgeth the stomack, so it cleanseth the sore, and healeth it quickly; if you wet a cloth in the said lye, and apply it thereunto.

CHAP. IIII. Of Rubarb, and his vertues.

THe hearb called in the Italian tongue Lappacia maggiore, or Rombice domestice, is a kind of Rubarb, which among the learned Herbalistes is termed by the name of Rha recentiorum, whereof ʒ. i. when it is new, will lose the body, evacuate chol∣ler, as the Rhabarbarum doth. It is very good against oppilati∣ons, it purgeth the bloud, and taketh away scabs.

You shall have a most pretious Medicine thereof, if you mix the green root with Honey, Cinnamon, Saffron, Ginger, and the powder of Roses.

If you rost the root in the embers, and mix it with condited Sugar, it breaketh the Scrophulae, and mundifieth them, and healeth them in short time. Some doe mix it with the gumme, called Ammoniacum, and so doe bring it into the form of an Unguent, and apply it unto the parts affected with Scrophulae.

CHAP. V. Of Tithymale, and his vertues.

GAther the herrb Tithymale (called Spurge) in the moneth of May; take forth the juyce, and mix it with Sugar ro∣sate, or Sugar violet in fine powder; then make of them both a moist past, and keep it in a glasse close stopped.

When you purpose to use it, minister two scruples thereof in broth, or any other convenient Sirrup: It purgeth without pain, helpeth all Fevers that come of heat, working not onely by the stool, but provoking sweat also.

It resolveth all continuall and quotidian Fevers, when the parties affected therewith be hot, and their sweat cold, yea, though they be brought very low, it will by Gods help deliver them of their troublesome adversary.

Laureola doth also move the body by vomit and seege, but it may not be used in any continuall Fever or quotidian, be∣cause it will inflame too much.

CHAP. VI. Of Soldanella, and his vertues.

THis hearb groweth in sandy and salt ground, and is hot and drie; it purgeth by vomit and seege, and is excellent a∣gainst the Dropsie, all windinesse and unwholesome moisture in the body. Being taken in Lozanges with Aromatico, the quantity of ʒ. i. it sendeth forth all the noysome waterinesse out of the body, drying and heating those parts in an excel∣lent manner.

CHAP. VII. Of Cyperus, and his vertues.

THe hearb Cyperus, called in English Gallingal, being put in∣to new Wine giveth it an excellent good tast and smell, prevailing against inward passions caused of wind: It is good for such as are bursten, for it resolveth the wind: if you take the powder thereof being stamped very small, and make a plaister therof, with other things appropriate thereunto, ap∣plying the same to the rupture, and changing it once every day: Also if the Patient doe once in a day eat of the root, he shall in short space be helped of that disease.

CHAP. VIII. Of Elder, and his vertues.

TAke the roots of Elder, wash them clean, and scrape them till you come to the wood, stamp that substance, and take the juyce and strain it, boil it, and scum it well, and for every ℥. of the juyce, take ℥. i. of Mel rosarum, and drink it, for it will cool the stomack, help hot Fevers quickly, and purge the bloud.

CHAP. IX. Of the vertues and use of Tobacco.

TAke of the green hearb and root lb. iii. ss. stamp it in a a morter with a little salt, then put it in a glasse with ℥. vi.

of the spirit of wine, and set it thirty dayes to putrifie in horse dung; then distill it in Balneo, till all the substance be come forth; and put therein as much Oleum Sulphuris as will make it tart: then keep it close, and give thereof every morning a spoonfull to any one affected with the Fever, and it will help him in short time.

If any man be affected, or greatly troubled with Ulcers or Scabs, let him drink thereof every day one spoonfull, and wash the sores therewith, and in short time it will most wonderfully cure them.

CHAP. X. Of sweet Majoram, and his Vertues.

TAke sweet Majoram and stamp it, and take of the juice, ℥. i. Oile of bitter Almonds ʒ. i. and of Mastick, ℈. i. and snuffe it up at the nose three or four mornings together: and annoint the head with oile of Eggs. This purgeth the head of all paines, dissolveth tumors, quickneth the sight, and pro∣voketh sleep.

CHAP. XI. Of Persicaria, alias Arsesmart, his use and vertues.

YOu shall understand that this hearb doth work (in a man∣ner) against all infirmities, most strangely to behold. For if you take the powder thereof, and put it upon Copper molten, it will in the projection become like gold, and will draw it to a small quantity, and make it malleable and soft like gold, ex∣cept the colour.

Also if you make a strong lie of the ashes of Persicaria, and therein boil yellow brimstone, it will draw out of it quick sil∣ver, which is the Philosophers Mercurie. This hearb doth also most notablie preserve a man from many infirmities, if one part thereof be taken whilst it is dry, and one other part of Specie venetiane, being both of them well incorporated to∣gether, and used in your meats.

CHAP. XII. Of Man, and the Medicines that are made of him.

MAn is a rationall or reasonable creature, whereof we have written at large in our book called Phisica del Phiora∣vante. But here we will onely write of certain Medicines, that may be made or derived from him, which are for the ease, help, and remedy of divers infirmities, which are in men and wo∣men: The reason whereof is very good, for every like re∣joyceth with, and helpeth his like, and therefore man serveth for man. The fat of a man is (as every man knoweth) hot, and penetrative, and mollifying, if you annoint the parts there∣with, where the sinews be hard, and drawn together, or contracted, therefore it will quickly resolve them. I have made the Quintessence of mans bloud, rectified and circulated, with the which I have done most wonderfull cures, for if you give thereof ʒ. i. it will restore those that lie at the point of death.

It is most profitable against those infirmities that are in the bloud, for it correcteth the malignity of the bloud, and pre∣serveth it, as well as the spirit of Wine. If you put a little of it into a hogshead of Wine, it will purifie it, and preserve it a long time, more then any other thing whatsoever: So that this Quintessence worketh more effects, for the cure of great and dangerous infirmities, then any other-

Also from the liver of a man will be drawn by distillation, a water and an oyle. If the water be drunk every morning together, by the space of a moneth, the quantity of ʒ. i. with ℥. ii. of Liverwort water, it will recover such as are half rotten through diseases of the liver, and hath divers other properties, whereof I will not speak at this time.

From the flesh of man distilled, there will come forth a stink∣ing water, and an oil, which is most excellent to annoint wounds withall when they are badly healed, and that there remain any hurt about those parts, that they are not so sensible and pliant (as they were wont to be before) this resolveth them: and it mollifieth and softeneth all hardnesse of any tumour, of what origin all soever it shall come.

From the forepart of a mans scull there is drawn by di∣stillation, a water and oile, and a salt, which is most profita∣bly used, against the Falling sicknesse.

Finally from each other part of man, there are Medicines to be made, for the cure of sundry diseases in man, and wo∣man, as you may also read more at large, in the Spagyrick preparations of Josephus Quercetanus published in English by J. H. Practitioner in the Spagyricall Art.

CHAP. XIII. Of a Hen, and the Physicall use thereof.

SOme write, that the flesh of an hen will dissolve gold, and that the bones will calcine it easily.

Another told me, that the ashes of hens feathers, being cal∣cined white, doth mundifie, incarnate, and siccatrize Ulcers.

Also there is made an excellent Restorative of an Hen, after this manner.

Take a good fat hen, and pull her quick, and take forth the guts onely, and stamp her in a morter. Then boil it in xiii. lb. of fair water, with ℥ i. of salt, till eight pound be con∣sumed. That done, passe it thorow a strainer, and distill it in Balneo, till all the substance be come forth. Hereof you may give unto the sick at all times, with a little of a plain and simple Julep. When you finde any evill accident in the belly, you must adde thereunto a little oyle of sweet Al∣monds newly made (while it is warm) for then it is one of the best Restoratives, that can be found out, or devised in the world.

CHAP. XIV. Of Eeels, and the medicinall use of them.

MAny have used the fat of an Eeel against deafness, but to small purpose. But if you distill the Eeles with A∣qua vitae, you shall have a most subtill oile, which doth most excellently prevail against that infirmitie.

Also if you boil the skins of Eels in strong Lie untill they be dissolved, then strein it and boil it to a thickness,

and it will be a most strong glew for wood or other works.

Also if you annoint a corroding Ulcer therewith, it will greatly represse the rage thereof, and comfort it.

CHAP. XV. Of the Barbill, and to what use shee serveth in Medicine.

IN the moneth of May the Barbill hath eggs which are of a soluble quality, and of some those eggs being eaten, they shall be provoked to vomit.

They have a qualitie contrary to other purgers, they must be dried in the sun, mixed with a little Sena, and then mini∣stred in wine or water that is sodden. When it hath well wrought, the Patients must eat good meat to nourish them, and may drinke wine, and (when they are disposed thereto) suffer them to sleep.

CHAP. XVI. Of Bees, and their Medicinall Ʋse.

BEes are of nature hot and moist, having a generative propertie. For if they be given to any barren creature, they shall conceive in short time after.

Also if you lay dead Bees in a drie place to putrifie, wet∣ting them sometime with wine, they will revive again, though not as they were before, but they will be much bigger, and of another form.

These Bees, if you bring into powder with as much Cantha∣rides, and boil them with a little oyle of Cammomil, and an∣noint any part where the hair is fallen away, it shall quickly come again, and in a short space, a most strange thing to be∣hold.

CHAP. XVII. Of Frogs, and their use.

THe skins of Frogs being boiled, and made into the form of a plaister with wax and frankincense, is very profita∣ble for such as have any malign or troublesome accident a∣bout their legs through heat.

The fat of Frogs is a wonderfull Medicine against Fucce sacro, or S. Anthonies fire, a disease happening unto children and others through the great heat that is in their bloud.

CHAP. XVIII. Of Centum-pedes, called in English Sowes.

IF you minister the powder of these creatures in wine, it hath many excellent properties, but chiefly it hath been expe∣rienced greatly to prevail against the stitch in the side, for it will help that grief presently.

If you burn the little crieking creature, called a Cricket, and minister the powder thereof, in some Dieuretick liquor, it provoketh Urine.

Mallows, Alkakengi, Centum-nodi, Gentum-grana, and the roots of Rapes are of like propertie, being handled and used ac∣cording to Art.

There are oftentimes found in standing pools, and putrified waters, certain small creatures, which are round like a cherry, having a tail and two feet, which are in Lombardie called Co∣mazzi, Take these, and distill thereof a water or liquor, wherewith you may very soon consume or break iron a very great Secret observed in nature.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Rosin or Gum called Tacca Mahacca, and the use thereof.

TAke thereof as much as you will, distill it in a retort of glasse, and from it there will come both oyle and water, of which I have seen divers Medicines made against sundry diseases. Annoint the belly with this oyle cold, when you go to bed, and it helpeth against the cruditie of the Matrix.

If the genitall part of the man be annointed therewith before the act of generation, the woman shall be the more fit for conception, for by this meanes some kind of sterilitie is taken away.

It helpeth and easeth pain in the head, proceeding of a cold stomack.

It helpeth digestion, and resolveth pain throughout the body in what part soever they shall come, specially when they have their beginning of cold.

The water hereof, dissolveth wind in the stomack, helpeth di∣gestion, provoketh urine, mittigateth all fevers that come of cold.

CHAP. XX. Of the Gum Caranna, and the Medicinall properties of it.

TAke it, and distill it in a retort with the yolks and whites of eggs, and there will come forth oyle and water, the oyle whereof will be black, and the water red.

The water of Caranna helpeth Chilblains, and all chops or clefts in the lips arising of cold in the winter.

It is a great ease, for the sore breasts of women that give suck.

The oyle worketh wonderfull effects in wounds of the head, arm or legs.

Annoint a simple wound therewith once or twice, and it will very speedily be healed.

Take a quantity of this Gum, and mix it with as much of the seed of water-cresses, and the white of an egg, and make thereof a Cerot to apply unto a Rupture, wherewith it will in short time be healed, all other circumstances being also ob∣served.

CHAP. XXI. Of liquid Amber, and the Medicinall vertues thereof.

TAke liquid Amber, and distill it in a Retort, and from thence there will come a red oyle.

This oyle is used against all indispositions of cold, and moisture, or wind.

The same healeth scabs, and is good for wounds.

If you annoint the stomack therewith, it will exceedingly comfort the same, for it is a thing uncorruptible, and like un∣to Balsamum.

FINIS.