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 ...

THE PRINTER TO THE READER.

READER,

THY cheerful Acceptance of my former Endeavors in this kind for the Good of my Native Country, hath encouraged me, though with great Care, Labor, and Cost, to present thee with the Learned, Judicious, and Worthily renowned Riverius his Practice of Physick. He is an Author now living, and sufficiently known: And his Work will speak for it self, and praise him in the Gates.

And if thou shalt shew a Friendly Countenance to this worthy Stranger, who now speaks English, I shall be thereby encouraged by all other means to study to promote thy Good by bringing thee more acquainted with this, and other excellent Authors.

And whereas some, either out of envy, or mis-understanding, do condemn Works of this Nature, published in our Mother Tongue, al∣leadging chiefly, That such Books encrease the number of Empericks▪ are a hinderance to learned and able Physitians; also occasion some to hurt themselves by rashly practising on their own Bodies. I shall An∣swer to these Objections in order.

First, as for Empericks: These Books, and such as these published in English, are so far from making more Empericks, that they will spoil those that are, and make that we shall have fewer of them. For an Em∣perick being one that gives Physick (Hab Nab, as wee use to say) re∣lying only on Experience, and what he hath seen done before him, not being able to give any reason touching the Disease, its Cause, or Cure: These Books will teach such persons how to go upon good grounds, and to be able to give a solid Reason for what they do, and of Empe∣ricks, make them Rational Physitians, if they be men of good Natural Parts, though they be ignorant of all Tongues but their Mothers.

As for the hurt which is hereby pretended to be done to learned Physitians, it is a meer Imagination, and no learned Physitian that bethinks himself well, will so judg. For the use of these Books re∣spects chiefly the Poor of this Nation, together with Sea-farers, and Soldiers. But for the Rich that have Money to spare, and bide at home, no otherwise (in point of practice) than for an honest Curio∣sity; and delightful Speculation. What rich man is there so mad, who reading a Chapter in these Books, and seeing what a world of Conside∣rations and Cautions do belong to the knowledg and orderly Cure of e∣very Disease, but will be more fearful than ever he was before to com∣mit himself to the Cure of any but a learned Physitian. Now it is not by the Poor, but by the Rich, that the learned Physitian maintains himself; the poor are but a trouble to him, only before such Books as these were extant in the English Tongue, Conscience (somtime) forced the learned Physitian to take care of the poor, because the un∣learned were wholly unable: whereas now there may be found Industrious men that know no more Languages than their Native one, who may in a rational way contribute to the Necessities of the Poor. Nay, these kind of Books are profitable to the learned Physi∣tians; for many of the Gentry, especially of the Ladies and Gentle∣women, viewing the state of their own Bodies in such Books as these (as in Looking-Glasses) will perceive certain Diseases in themselves, either now in being, or likely ere long to seize upon them, which o∣therwise they would never have so much as dream'd of; and there∣upon crave the Advice and Assistance of the learned Physitian.

Also the Ladies and Gentlewomen being well read in such Books as these, will better know how to demean themselves towards their Hus∣bands, Children, or other Relations and Friends in their respective Sickness in point of ordering them, and will be more apprehensive of the Physitians Directions, and so better able to practice them; also more capable of his Reasons, and Prognosticks, and so more confident and cheerfully obedient. All which wil very much advance the Cure, and consequently the Honor and Gain of the learned Physitian: for as Hippocrates notes in his first Aphorism, It is not enough towards the Cure that the Physitian do what is fitting; but the by-standers and friends of the Sick must play their part, or all will not be well.

And in the third place, Whereas it is objected, That people reading these Books, will practice upon themselves and hurt themselves.

I Answer, If they do, they have none to blame but their own folly; for it is not the intent of the Publishers of these Books, that every one that can read English, should dare to take, of their own Heads, such Me∣dicines as are described in the said Books. But our intent is, That where

in the Country there is no learned Physitian at hand; at Sea, in the States and Merchants Ship, where the Chyrurgion is compelled to act both his own, and the Physitians part; In Armies and Leguers, &c. an ingenious and diligent Chyrurgion, Apothecary, or any other that hath from his youth been exercised in these kind of studies, and conver∣sant about the sick, may attain such a competent knowledg in the Cau∣ses and Methodical Cure of Diseases, as they may with honor to them∣selves, and profit to the sick (by Gods Blessing) supply the place of a more learned Physitian. For the use of such persons, these Books are intended, and for diligent Midwives; and not that every Fool should turn Physitian, or that every Reader should tamper with him or her self.

Also divers Honorable Ladies and Gentlewomen, that out of a truly Christian and Charitable Disposition have not disdained, but counted it a great Honor to be helpful to the poor in the time of their sickness, may by perusal of these Books, and the like, confirm and encrease their knowledg, and become honorable Instruments in the Hand of God, of much relief and comfort to many poor distressed Creatures in their respective Countries and places of Habitation. For the worthy sakes of which honorable Ladies and Gentlewomen in the first and chiefest place, and for the ease of all others unacquainted with the Greek and Latin Tongues, and consequently unable to understand divers terms of Art, and other words drawn from the said Tongues (which it was necessary to retain for brevity sake, and to avoid tedious Circumlocuti∣ons) I have caused a Physical Dictionary to be added at the end of these Books, explaining all such terms of Art aforesaid, as are used therein.

When the Reader meets in these Books, with the names of Simple or Compound Medicaments, and desires a more full knowledg of them, let him have recourse to the London Dispensatory in English, where he may be satisfied; for it had been an endless and vain work, to repeat what hath there been said. If there occur accidentally the name of any Disease which the Reader would better understand, let him look into the Table of the Contents of the Chapters of these seventeen Books, and he shall find the Chapter intituled from that Disease; in the beginning of which Chapter he shall find the said Disease descri∣bed and explained.

Also the Reader may please to take notice, That many hard phrases in these Seventeen Books are explained in the Context, by more easie words following, which signifie the same with the foregoing hard word. As for example, MASTICATORIES, or Chewing Medicines, giving the Reader to understand, that Masticatories, is as much as to say, Medicines

Medicines that are only chewed in the mouth to bring away Rhewm by spetting.

So GARGARISMS, that is, Medicines to Gargle in the Throat: A PLE∣THORICK, or full Body: EMPYEMA, or Corrupt matter gathered between the Chest and Lungs: HYPOCHONDRIA, or Parts under the short Ribs: A VE∣SICATORY, or Plaister to draw Blisters. Many such passages there are throughout these Books, where the latter Clause is an exposition of the former.

And that thou maist know to whose great Industry and pains thou art obliged for the Englishing this most excellent piece of Art, know that (by reason of eight several Editions in Latin, of which there hath been fifteen thousand Books sold) it hath been three times translated at▪ my charge, By Nicholas Culpeper, Physitian and Astrologer; Abdiah Cole, Doctor in Physick, who hath practised Physick twenty nine Yeers in the Service of three of the greatest Princes in Europe: and William Rowland, a Knowing Physitian: and also by an eminently lear∣ned and pious Physitian, who desires not to be named, being (as he saies) content with the applause of his own Conscience, which tels him that while he was imployed about this Work, he was doing that which would weigh down in profit to his Country, all the good that all the Physitians in London did or could do in the same time; a work that tends to profit many millions, not only of this Generation, but of all that shall follow, till the world become one great Bone-fire; or this Nation and Language perish together. And it hath been (he saies) a longtime his Opinion, That it is more rational, manly, generous, and Christian, whilst God shall please to afford him Food and Rayment, to imploy his time and pains in Actions largely conducing to the good of Man-kind, though little advancing his own Fortunes, than in matters of petty and poor Concernment, that bring great gain with them: In which generous Resolution, God (the Author of it) will, he hopes pre∣serve him to his dying day; at which time the fruit and profit of his Labors will comfort him, but all the gain in the world will do him no good at all.

Use our Labors with Diligence, Care, Ingenuity, Compassion tow∣ards the sick, and in the fear of God. Attribute the Success and Honor of all thy Endeavors to him: Bless him for the Light he discovers to this Generation, denied to so many Millions of our Ancestors: Bless him for the Piety and Noble Generosity of our Governors, that give us leave to Be as Good as we Will, and to Do all the Good we Can (though see∣ming to cross private Interest) Oh! what would we have given for this single Priviledg a few Yeers since? Or what would the poor Prote∣stants in France and Germany give for the like Favor? How many of

them have been lately Massacred, or made fly from all that was neer and deer to them for want of such a Mercy as this?

Finally, Pray for those that have taken pains in the Work, and a∣mong the rest, for

Thy hearty Wel-wisher PETER COLE.

From my Printing-house in Leaden-Hall, June, 2. 1655.