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 ...

CHAP. VII.

FOr that there is not a greater enemy to the health of our bodies then costiveness, both in the time of the Plague and otherwise, I have here set down how and by what meanes you may keep your self soluble, which you must use once four and twenty hours, if otherwise you have not the benefit of nature by custome.

A Suppository.

Take two spoonfulls of Honey, and one spoonfull of Bay-Salt small pounded, boyle them together untill it grow thick, alwaies stirring it in the boyling, then take it from the fire, and if you list you may add one drachm of Ihera picra simplex unto it, and so stirre them well together, and when it is almost cold, make up your suppositories of what length and bignesse you list: and when you minister any, you must first annoint it with Butter or Sallet oyle: you may keep these a whole year if you put them in Barrowes mort or grease, and so cover them up close therein.

A good Glister.

℞. Mallowes, Mercury, Beets, Violets, Red-Fennell, of either one handfull: Seeds of Fennell, Annis, Coriander, of either one drachm.

Boyle all these in a sufficient quantity of Water, untill half the water be consumed, then straine it, and keep it in a glasse close stopt untill you need, for it will keep a whole week. Take of the same decoction, a pint.

℞. Mel Rosarum, or common Honey, one spoonfull: Oyle of Violets or oyle of Olives, three ounces, Salt, one drachm, The yolk of an Egg or two.

Mixe all these together in a morter and so give it warm in the morning, or two hours before supper: and if you add unto this one ounce of Diacatholicon it will be the better.

Raisins laxative how to make them.

℞. White-Wine, three pints and a half, Senuae, half a pound, Fine white sugar, one pound, Currants, two pound. You must infuse the Senuae in the wine in a pot close stopt, and let it stand in a warm place four and twenty hours, then strein it and add to the straining the Currants, being clean pickt and washt, and lastly the Sugar, boyle all together on an easie fire, untill the wine be consumed, having care that you do alwaies stirr it about in the boyling for feare of burning, then take them from the fire, and put them up into a clean galley pot, you may eat one spoonfull or two of them a little before dinner, at any time.

A good Oyntment to keep one Sollible.

The gaule of an Oxe, Oyle of Violets, of either one ounce: Sheeps tallow, six drachms.

Boyle them together on a soft fire untill they be incorpo∣rated, then take it from the fire and adde thereto Alloes cica∣trine, one ounce. Bay-Salt half an ounce.

The Alloes and Salt must be both made into fine powder be∣fore you put them into the oyle, then stirr them together untill it be cold, and when you are disposed to have a stoole, then annoint your fundament therewith, both within side and with∣out, and if you annoint your navell therewith, it will work the better.

Good pills to keep one soluble, and they do also resist the Pestilence.

℞. Alloes Cicatrine, one ounce, Chosen Myrrh, three drachms, Saffron, one drachm and half, Amber Greece, six graines: Sirrup of Lemons or Citrons, so much as shall be suf∣ficient to make the masse.

You must grinde the Aloes, Myrrhe, and Saffron into small powder severally by themselves, then incorporate them to∣gether with the sirrup: you may give half a drachme or two scruples thereof in the evening half an hour before supper twise or thrise in a week: Rases would have you to take half a drachme or two scruples of these Pills every day, without using any other preservative at all, and he hath great reason so to esteem of them, for Galen, Avicen, and all ancient Writers in Physick do hold opinion, that Aloes doth not onely com∣fort, but purge the stomack from all raw and chollerick humors, and doth also purge and open the veines called Miserayick, and resisteth putrefact on: Myrrh doth altogether resist, neither will it suffer putrefaction in the stomack: Saffron doth com∣fort the heart, and hath also a propriety in it to carry any me∣dicine that is given therewith unto the heart, but to conclude, these Pills will purge all superfluous humors in the stomack, and principall members, and preserveth the bloud from cor∣ruption.