The idea of practical physick in twelve books ... / written in Latin by John Johnston ... ; and Englished by Nich. Culpeper, Gent. ... and W.R.

Article, I. Of the hurt of the Memory.

The hurting of the Memory, is a diminu∣tion or utter abolition of the same, arising from Causes that hurt the dryness of the Brain con∣joyned with a moderate heat, (and very neces∣sary as to the memory) and so by means ren∣dring the Animal spirits, either torpid, that is over dul and sluggish; or else (which is as bad) inordinately moveable.

There is no need of SIGNS; for the very actions of the sick party discover the Symp∣tomes.

The CAUSES that hurt the tempera∣ment of the brain (that is absolutely necessary for the preservation of the memory) either they weaken and diminish the Native heat, and that likewise either Externally, as do al things of a Poysonous Nature; al Narcoticks applied to the fore part, and likewise the hinder part of the Neck: or else Internally, as doth a tem∣perament cold, and moist, which either affect∣eth Children and ancient people, by reason of their Age; or else it afflicteth others, by reason of meat and drink that is of a cold and moist Nature, or by reason of a Gross and thick Air, sicknesses, and other Causes, (of which we have already sufficently spoken in the cold di∣stemper) Or otherwise, they dissolve the said Natural heat; such as are, externally, al Philtra or amorous potions, watchings, ex∣cessive thought fulness, Medicaments, that are hot of quality; Internally, hot Diseases, im∣postums of the Brain, abundance of Yellow Choler, &c. Or else they exalt the same, such as are hot and dry temperaments, that cause an inordinate motion of the Animal spiritts. Or else lastly, They impede and hinder the motion of the Animal spirits; and such are, a less (than is requisite) conformity of the head and brain, the over great thickness of the same, &c.

The CURE respects the several Causes, and may be taken and understood, by what

hath been already above spoken. Those me∣dicaments that are appropriated, either for the conservation or restoration of the memory, are reputed and accounted to be that they term Tinctura lunae, taken in the water of lilies of the vally; The pouder of Trithemius, (of which there is sufficiently spoken in the mira∣cles of Mullerus) the Anacardine Confection, in weight half a dram thereof exhibited and taken with al possible cautions unless haply an hot and dry temperament hinder it. Those things that resist, and therfore are good against a cold and moist distemper, are, that water that Practitioners cal Aqua Magnanimita∣tis Cunradi. The lily of the vallys, balm fran∣kinsence, in weight half a scruple, taken with wine, Nutmeg, &c. Toughing which con∣sult the practitioners in Physick.