The practice of physick in seventeen several books wherein is plainly set forth the nature, cause, differences, and several sorts of signs : together with the cure of all diseases in the body of man / by Nicholas Culpeper ... Abdiah Cole ... and William Rowland ; being chiefly a translation of the works of that learned and renowned doctor, Lazarus Riverius ...

CHAP. IV. Of those things which come forth of the Cavities of the Ears preternaturally.

MAny Preternatural things come out of the Ears, which we will set down particularly with their Remedies.

First, After an imposthume is broken which came after an Inflamation, or from an Ulcer coming from sharp Humors, filth, or matter, useth to come forth; whose Cure is laid down in the former Chapter.

Somtimes blood comes out of the Ears; as in wounds of the head, or blows by which the Veins of the Ears are broken or rent. If this flux be smal, it is not to be stopt, because then being reteined, it would cause Inflamation; but if it be great, or of long continuance, it must be stopt by bleeding in the Arm, and Cupping glasses applied to the Shoulders with Scarification. Then you must drop cooling and binding things in, as juyce of P••••ntane, Polygonum, or the Decoction of Madder, red Roses, Mastich, Acacia, Hypocistis, Pomegranate flowers, Sumach, and the like, made in Wine and Vinegar, or Smiths Forge-water.

Somtimes Water comes out of the Brain into the Ears, as in children, which must not be stopt, for if it be suddenly stopt, it cau••eth the Falling-sickness, or some grievous Disease of the Brain; for Nature casts forth Excrements by that way, though not proper; and the great moistness in childrens heads is not only purged by the ordinary waies ordained by Nature, as the Nostrils and Pallat, but also by the Ears, Eyes, and the who•• Head, from whence it becomes sore. But when this Evacuati∣on is symptomatical, and the humor begins to ulcerate the Ears, and hurt the hearing, we will lay down a convenient Method for the ••ure.

And ••irst, The abounding ••umors in the Head are to be purged with gentle Medicines often repea∣ted, and to be derived by Ve••cator••es to the Neck, and by a Caustick.

Then you must clense the Ears, and dry them with this Medicine:

Take of the Juyce of Agrimony, and Wormwood, of each four ounces: white Wine, and Honey of Roses, of each one▪ ounce: Boyl them a little, and drop into the Ear after it is wiped; then stop it with Cotton dipped in the same.

Take o•• white Wine four ounces: the Juyce of Agrimony, Wormwood, and Centaury the less, of each one ounce: Boyl them, and drop into the Ear.

In elder people, if water floweth out ••f the Ears long, you must purge the whol Body and the Brain with a Cephalick Apozeme that is purging; then you must consume the superfluous Humi∣dity

with a Sudorifick Diet; derive it with Vesicatories, Cauteries, and Cupping glasses; and use other Remedies which are set down in the Cure of the Cold Distemper of the Brain.

Lastly, There are Worms somtimes in the Ears coming out of filthy Ulcers, which are cured with the Ulcer; but because the Ulcer cannot be speedily cured, you must therefore endeavor the Cure of the Worms.

Take this one Medicine as an Example:

Take of the Oyl of bitter Almonds: the Juyce of Smallage, and the less Centaury, of each two ounces: Vinegar two drams. Boyl them a little; then ad of Mirrh, and Aloes, of each one scru∣ple. Mix them, and drop into the Ear.

If you will make it stronger, put half a scruple of Coloquintida thereunto.