The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latin and compared with the French. by Tho: Johnson. Whereunto are added three tractates our of Adrianus Spigelius of the veines, arteries, & nerves, with large figures. Also a table of the bookes and chapters.

CHAP. II. The difference of Medicines in their matter and substance.

* 1.1EVen as the concealed glory of worldly riches lyeth hid in the bowels of the earth, and depths of the Sea and waters, as gold, silver and all sorts of metals, gemms and pretious stones, furnished with admirable virtues; so we may behold the superficies of this earth cloathed with almost an infinite variety of trees, shrubs, and herbs: where we may contemplate and wonder at the innumerable diversities of roots, leaves, flowers, fruits, gums, their smells, pleasant tasts and colours, but much more at their virtues. This same mother-earth, as with her breasts, nourisheth marvellous distinct kindes of living creatures, various in their springing, en∣crease and strength, wherein the immense goodness of God, the great Architect and framer of all things, doth most clearly appear towards man, as who hath subjected to our government, as a patrimony, so ample and plentiful provision of nature for our delight in nourishment and necessity

of healing. Therefore the antient Physicians have rightly delivered, that all sorts of medicines may be abundantly had from living creatures, plants, the earth, water and air.

Medicines are taken from living creatures either whole and entire,* 1.2 or else the parts and ex∣crements of them. We ofttimes use in Physick whole creatures, as foxes, whelps, hedg-hodgs, frogs, snails, worms, crabs, and other living creatures. We also make use of some parts of them as the livet of a Wolf or Goat, the lungs of the fox, the bone of the Stags heart, Cranium hu∣manum, fat, blood, flesh, marrow, the cods of the Castor or Beaver, which is therefore termed Castoreum, and such other particles that are usefull in Physick. We know that also there are some medicines taken from excrements, as horns, nails, hairs, feathers, skin; as also from urine, dung, spittle, hony, egs, wax, milk, wool, sweat, and others of this kinde, under which we may compre∣hend musk, civet, pearl, oesipus, and sundry others of this nature.

We take medicines from plants, both whole, and also from their parts, whether, trees, shrubs,* 1.3 or herbs. For we oft-times use succory, marsh-mallows, mallows, plantain, and the like, whole: but otherwhiles only the roots of plants, their pith, wood, bark, shoots, stalks, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, juices, gums, rosins, mosses, and the like.

Things taken from the earth for the use and matter of medicine, are either earths, stones,* 1.4 or Minerals. The sorts of earth are Bole-Armenick, Terra sigillata, fullers-earth, chalk, potters clay, and such like. Stones, are the pumice, Marchisite of gold, silver, brass, marble, the load-stone, plai∣ster, chalk, sulphur vivum, lapis specularis, and others. Metals and Minerals are gold, silver, tin, lead, brass, Iron, steel, antimony, ceruse, brimstone, Cinnaber, litharge of gold and silver, tutty, true Pompholix, verdigreece, alum, Romane vitriol, coprass white & green, salts of sundry kindes, both of Arsenicks, and such like.

The following medicines are from fresh water, rain-water, spring-water, river-water,* 1.5 and all things thence arising, as water lentils, common flags, water-lillies, water-mints, and all the crea∣tures that live therein. From the salt-water are taken salt, Alcyonium, all sorts of coral, shels of fish, the herb Androsace (which grows in plenty in the marshes at Fontignan and Cape de Sete) Asphaltum, which is found in the dead sea.

From the air proceeds Manna, therefore called mel aërium (i. e.) hony of the air,* 1.6 and also all other kindes of dew that are useful in Physick, by reason of the virtues they receive from the sun which raiseth them up; from the air, whereas they make some stay; as also from the plants, where∣upon they fall and reside.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The earth the mother of ri∣ches and medi∣cines.
• * 1.2

  What medi∣cines taken from living creatures.
• * 1.3

  What from plants.
• * 1.4

  What from the earth.
• * 1.5

  What from the water.
• * 1.6

  What from the air.