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 Cure of Diseases in Remote Regions.

The Calenture,

HAppeneth to our Nation in intemperate Climates, by Inflammation of bloud, and proceedeth often of immo∣derate drinking of wine, and eating of pleasant fruits, which are such nourishers thereof, as they prevent the meanes used in curing the same.

To know the Calenture.

At the first apprehension it afflicts the Patient with great pain in the head, and heat in the body, which is continuall or increasing, and doth not diminish and angment, as other Fe∣vers doe; and is oft an Introduction to the Taberdilla or Pe∣stilence, but then the body will seem very yellow.

To cure the Calenture.

So soon as you perceive the Patient possest of the Calen∣ture, (except the Chirurgion, for danger of the sign defer it) I have seen the time of the day not respected, open the Me∣dian vein of the right arm, and take such quantity of bloud, as agreeth with the ability of the bodie; but if it asswage not the heat by the next day, open the same vein in the left arme, and take so much more like quantity of bloud at his discre∣tion; and if the body be costive, (as commonly they are) give him some meet purgation, and suffer him to drink no o∣ther then water cold, wherein Barley and Annise-seeds have been boyled with bruised Liquorice. And if within 4. dayes the partie amend not, or being recovered, take it again, open the vein Cephalick in one or both hands, bathing them in

warm water, untill there come so much more bloud as cause requires. Suffer not the Patient to drinke seven dayes after he is perfectly recovered, any other drinke, then such water, as is before herein directed.

The Taberdilla,

IS a disease so called by the Spaniards, by the Mexicans, Co∣calista, and by other Indians is named Taberdet, and is so exceeding pestilent and infectious, that whole Kingdomes in both the India's have been depopulated by it, for want of knowledge to redresse themselves of it.

To know the Taberdilla.

It first assaults the Patient vehemently with pain in the head and back: and the body seeming yellow, is some sign there∣of, and within 24 hours it is so torturous, that the possest there∣of cannot rest or sleep, turning himself on either side, back or belly, burning in his back most extreamly. And when it growes to perfection, there will appear red and blue spots upon the Patients breast and wrists. And such persons as have not presently requisite means applyed to them to prevent it, will be, by the vehement torment thereof, deprived of their wits, and many to cease their pain by losse of their lives have despairingly slain, and drowned themselves.

The Cure of the Taberdilla.

When you perceive it afflict the Patient, permit him not to lie very warm, nor upon feathers (for of what quality soever he bee in Spain, having this sickness he is laid upon wheat-straw:) Then immediatly open the Median Vein, first in one arm, and the next day in the other, taking a good quantity of bloud: Let him have water cold, wherein Barlie and An∣nise-seeds have been sodden without Liquorice (for the Spa∣nish

Physitians hold Liquorice to bee hurtfull unto them) so much as he will desire, which will be every moment; but no other drink, nor any raw fruits: Assoon as the spots appear, give him some Cordiall potion: and laying him upon his belly, set six Ventoses together on his back, between and be∣neath the shoulders; and scarifying them, draw out (if it be a body of strong constitution) 18 ounces of bloud. After which, and that he hath slept, he will find ease within twenty four hours, and such alteration in himself, as he will thinke he is delivered of a most strange torment. Then give him moderately nourishing meats, (for he will desire to eat much) the fourth day, give him some convenient Purgations. And if in the mean while he is costive, provoke him every day by Clisters; and warn him to forbear 15 dayes all other drink then what is ordained: And be very carefull of his diet, for if this Taberdilla, which we call here in England Gods Tokens, come againe unto the Patient, he can hardly escape it. And it is no lesse Infectious, then the usuall English Plague.

The Espinlas

IS a strange sicknes, usuall in those parts to such as take cold in their Breasts, after great heat or travell. It comes most times to those that lye with their breasts upon the ground (especially) in the night.

To know the Espinlas.

The Party having it, will be giddie in the head, and have pain and pricking at his breast, as with many thornes; from whence I thinke it is called, for Espina in Spanish signifies a thorn; and there will be upon the Focell, being the upper bone of his arm, a hand breadth above the wrist, a little ker∣nell by the which it is certainly known: He that hath this disease, will have appetite neither to meat, nor drinke, nor can digest meat, though he be invited and moved to take it.

To cure the Espinlas.

The Espinlas appearing by the former signs, take presently oyle Olives, and therewith chase the kernell upon the Patients arm, using so to doe twice every day, untill it be dissolved; and laying oyle likewise upon his breast, stroke it upward somewhat hard with the hand; then spread fine flaxe upon it and the kernel, making it fast with a rowler, and within two or three dayes the diseased will be recovered thereof, where∣as else it is very dangerous to deprive them of life.

Camera de Sangre.

LAxativeness, or Bloudy Flux, proceed in those parts of divers causes: As by eating Grapes, Oranges, Limons, Me∣lons, Plantains, and especially a great fruit growing in the West Indies called Pina, like a Pine-apple, but bigger then four of the greatest which I have seen, which the Spaniars hold for the most delicate fruit that is there, and many other fruits. Also by sudden cold, or sitting (being very hot) upon a cold stone, or being hot by drinking water abundantly. And also eating of Butter, Oyle, and Fish is so hurtfull to the parties that have it, that they must refrain to eat thereof, and what∣soever else, that may ingender any slimie substance in the In∣trals.

The Cure of the Bloudie Flux.

There is more possibility of cure, by how much more expe∣dition the medicine is ministred: and detracting it, the Pa∣tients often die suddenly, without feeling much grief. For speedy and assured remedie, the Patients bodie must be clean∣sed of the sliminess, ingendred in the passages of the nutri∣ments, before any sustenance can remain in his bodie. To that purpose purge him in the morning, with halfe a pint of white wine cold, wherein half an ounce of Rubard being smal

cut hath been sodden, putting some Sugar Candie to it, to sweeten it, and immediatly after he hath so purged, keep at his navell Rosemary sod in strong Vinegar, applyed in the mor∣ning and evening very hot, untill it be stayed; giving him often Quinces bruised, and rouled in Marmalade like Pills, which he should swallow whole, and none of the fruits or meats before recited, nor any more white wine, but red wine of any sort: And if it be one the land use the Livers of Goats, (especially) Sheeps, or Bullocks rosted; not willingly permit∣ting the Patient to eat any other meat: And if at Sea, Rice onely sodden in water, rather then any thing else usuall there, untill the infirmitie bee perfectly asswaged.

The Erisipela,

REigneth much in those Countries, proceeding from the unwholsome aires and vapours those hot Countries doe yeeld, whereof many perish; and if it bee not prevented by Medicines presently ministred to the Sick Patients, it pro∣veth incurable.

To know the Erisipela.

Hee will be swoln in the face, or some part of him, and it will be of yellow colour mixed with red. And when it is pressed with the finger, there will remain a sign or dint of the same, and then by degrees it will fill again to the former proportion. It speedily infecteth the inward parts, because such swellings come sooner unto perfection in hot places, then in temperat Countries, and therefore the diseased thereof, must immediatly be provided of remedie.

To Cure the Erisipela.

The Savage people first found out perfectly how to cure this disease, (though it is the Spanish name of the Maladie) by bruising so much Tobacco as will yeeld four spoonfuls of

juyce, and to drinke it presently after they are infected there∣with, and to launce the places swollen, thereunto putting Ca∣sade wet, and made into paste, continuing in cold and shadie places neer Rivers: and not to travell and labour till they bee recovered: The Spaniards in India doe recover them∣selves by taking the same juyce of Tobacco, and setting so many Ventoses upon the swoln places as they can contain, scarifying them, and drawing out the corrupted humour so congealed, using the like in two or three other parts of the bodie, where the disease doth not appeare.

The juyce of Tobacco is very excellent to expell poison, and is the ordinary remedie used by the Indians, and other Savages when they are poisoned, and bitten with Scorpions, or other venemous creatures: But they make presently some incision where they are bitten or stung, and wash it with the juyce of Tobacco, then applying the same bruised thereunto two or three dayes, they heal it up with dried Tobacco.

The Tinoso or Scurvie.

IS an infecting disease sufficiently known unto Sea-fayring men, who by putrified meats, and corrupted drinks, eating Bisket flourie, or foul crusted, and wearing wet apparrel (especially sleeping in it) and slothfull demeanour, or by grosse a humours contained in their bodies get the same,

To know the Scurvie.

Many have perished when they returned out of hot Regi∣ons into cold Climates, where they have had the parts of their bodies, which with heat, were nimble and tractable to every motion of the Spirits, dulled and benummed with cold, which is a token that this disease is ingendring in their joynts; and soonest appears by swelling of their ankles, and knees, and blackness of their gums, or looseness of their teeth, which will sometimes come forth, when there is no remedie used in season.

Preservatives against the Scurvy.

You must have a care to preserve those things before re∣hearsed well conditioned, the badnesse whereof, in part breed this disease; they must use exercise of body, and such as are exempted from doing of labour, must hang or swing by the armes twice or thrice every day; they must not have scarcity of drink in hot climates, and coming into the cold, must be daily releeved with Aqua vitae or Wine: It is also an assured Medicine against this disease, to have such quantity of Beer brewed with graines and long Pepper, as in the morning, twice every week, there may be given a good draught to a man, proportioning three quarters of a pound of graines, and three quarters of a pound of long Pepper, to a Hogshead of Beer: Also white Wine, or Syder, boyled and brewed with graines and long Pepper in like quantity, is very singular good: And it is not fit to suffer the gummes to abound with flesh, and therefore sometimes let them bleed, and cleer them with strong Vinegar.

To cure the Scurvy.

If the Scurvy be setled in his mouth, the corrupted and black flesh must be taken away, and his mouth washed with strong Vinegar, wherein graines and long Pepper have been infused and brewed, and give him daily the drink that is before pre∣scribed; and as well such as have it in their mouths, as those that are swoln in their limbs, must have some meet Purgation presently; but those so swoln or stiffe (for so some will be without swelling) to scarifie the parts infected, and to ap∣ply thereto a Poultis or Cataplasme of Barly meal, more hot than the Patient will willingly suffer it; so doing every morn∣ing, permit him not to rest two houres after, although being nummed or faint, he be supported to walk, and suffer him not to eat any salt meats, if other meats may be had.

My self having eighty men, eight hundred leagues out of

England, sick of the Scurvy, I used scarifiing, and to the places scarified (being destitute of the helps mentioned) I applyed Poultisses of Bisket beaten in a morter, and sod in water, which, with the comfort of some fresh meats obtained, reco∣vered them all except one person, and they arrived in England, perfectly sound.