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. 1. Of the Distemper of the Brain.

ALL Distempers are usually divided into Simple, and Compound; Material, and Immaterial. Simple or single Distempers are seldom seen; as also immaterial distempers, for they come from Primary Causes, and either vanish of their own accord, or with very smal Remedies or Medicines: But Material Distempers produce all the Diseases of the Head; therefore we will fall close to discourse of them; which few Authors have done, in handling them severally, because in the laying down of the Diseases which are produced of those Distempers, they are suffici∣ently explained. We therefore will transfer the handling of the Hot distemper of the Brain, and al∣so the Moist and dry Distempers to the Chapters which contain those Diseases which are produced from them. But because the greatest number of Diseases of the Head come from a Cold and Moist Distemper of the Brain, we thought sit to discourse of that by it self in the beginning of this Treatise; that the Cure of that may be as the Foundation of the Cure of all Diseases coming from thence, and that the Medicines may be found in this Chapter which appertain to the Cure of their Cause: Ther∣fore we will avoid the vain repetition of those Diseases, which is the Custom of almost all Writers of Practical Physick, who by that means enlarge their Volumns, and make the Art more difficult and tedious to yong beginners.

The Cold Distemper of the Brain which is Compound and Material, or joyned with Matter, is for the most part waterish and moist; because the Brain is that Mother of Moisture or Flegm, and Coldness long abiding draws moisture to it self. For albeit somtimes it is joyned with a Melancholly Humor, yet that Humor is seldom begot in the Brain as Flegm is, but it is for the most part lodged in the Hypochondria, or Parts beneath the Ribs, and sent from thence to the Brain, whereby most grievous Symptomes are produced.

The Causes of a Cold and Flegmatick Distemper of the Brain, are these:

• 1 Cold and moist Meats which easily turn into Flegm; and also in the time of their Concoction, by cooling the Stomach and the Liver too much, produce abundance of Flegm, which after is sent up to the Brain.
• 2 Too great a quantity, not only of Meats which are too cold, but also of good and wholsom, which destroyeth the Natural heat, and begetteth Crudities.
• 3 Eating presently after or before meat, and before the former meat is concocted; whence come many Crudities, which send Flegm to the Head.
• ...

• 4 The ceasing of a Natural custom of vomiting, or purging flegm; or the omitting the Cu∣stom of taking Purges, Sweats, Diureticks, or provokers of Urine, or omitting of accustomed Ex∣ercise.
• 5 To be born of Parents troubled with a cold distemper of Brain.
• 6 Old Age, which by reason of the decay of Natural heat, produceth much Flegm: as also Youth by reason of Gluttony and disorderly Diet.
• 7 A Cold and Moist dweiling, neer standing Pools, Marshes, Fens and great Rivers, open to the North winds, Snow and Rain.
• 8 Long and deep sleep, especially presently after Meat.
• 9 A sedentary idle life, without, or with too much Care, Study, or Sorrow, because by disper∣sing the Natural heat, especially in the Brain, they make it cold.
• 10 To these may be added a hot and moist Liver, which sends many Vapors to the Brain, which there condense or grow thick, and so turn into Flegm.

The Signs of a cold distemper of the Brain, are taken eithr from the Causes above mentioned, by the prefence of which we may easily conjecture of the condition of the distemper; or they are ta∣ken from the effects of the distemper; which that they may be particularly examined and tried, we shall fetch from their Originals, namely, from Actions, Passions, Excrements, and Habit of the Body.

1 The Animal Actions, which declare a cold Distemper of the Brain, are these; A heavy and dull Mind, a slow blockish Wit, an unfortunate Memory, a great inclination to sleep, and long and deep continuance therein, except a Catarrh, or Defluxion, Pain of the Head, or Passions of the Mind do hinder it: Dreams of Coldness, of Waters, as Rain, Snow, Floods, Pools, Seas, and of white things A slowness and dulness of all the Sences: Slowness of Motion, yet continuance therein; because gross Spirits are more difficult to be diffused or dissolved.

2 The Passions which declare a Cold Diseases, of the Brain, are Cold Diseases, as Palsies, Lethar∣gy, Catarrh, or Defluxion, and many others, with which if the sick party have been formerly trou∣bled, we may well conjecture that he is subject to this distemper of a cold Brain. This will further appear if the sick man be better in clear, hot, and dry weathr, than in cold, moist, winter, and rainy weather. Moreover, an often and plentiful sending forth of snot and flegm from the Mouth and No∣strils, is a clear demonstration of abundance of cold Flegm and moisture in the Brain.

3 From the Habit of the Body, we may have signs both general and particular of this Distemper: The general Signs are taken from the whol Habit or Constitution; for if the whol Constitution be cold and moist, then without question the Brain, which is most cold and moist of all other parts, is the same: Therefore a Skin which is cold, soft, smooth, and white; a Body soft and slow, not fleshy, with smal veins, declare a cold constitution o•• temper. The particular Signs of a cold Brain are in the Head; as paleness of Face, no Veins to be seen in the Eyes, soft hair, smooth, and thin, grow∣ing slowly, red, and not curling, continuing the whol life without baldness; and when the Head is quickly offended with outward Cold, and refreshed with Heat.

As to the Prognosis, or Prognostical part concerning this Distemper; It is hard to be cured, and often produceth grievous Diseases: that which hath been long breeding is most hard to be cured; that which is Natural, Hereditary, and from the Birth, is never to be cured; as also that which is in old folks, if it hath been of long continuance. Winter is not a sit time for the Cure of this Distemper but Summer.

The Cure is wrought from two Indications or Intentions; namely by evacuating or discharging the flegm abounding, and correcting or qualifying the distemper of the Humor by its contraries, which must be done by Diet, Chyrurgery, and Physick.

The Diet must be hot and dry; and first make choyce of a pure Air, somwhat hot and dry, but not too hot, for that would dissolve and powr forth the humors in the Head too soon, and so produce a distillation, and other diseases which happen to those who stay long in the Sun, or inflame their heads with too neer approach to the fire: The Air cannot be too dry, so it be temperate in its active qualities, but it had better be too hot than too cold.

Let not the Chamber of the sick party be too little, too low, nor too moist or filthy, but open to dry winds which may pass through: In moist, cloudy, cold times, the Chamber air may be altered with hot and sweet Herbs strewed upon floor; as Sage, Marjoram, Lavender, Rosemary, Tyme; or by bur∣ning the same, or other dry Woods, and especially Juniper: let the fire be cleer, and such as will dry the Air in the Chamber: Fumigations if they be not too strong, do well to consume moisture; but they must be carefully used, they must be very gentle and moderate, otherwise they do hurt by melting and powring forth the cold humors too speedily, which cause defluxions: and also you must consider the Patients Constitution in the use of them, for some men are presently brought to the Head-ach by any strong scent, having their heads presently filled with the vapor: A temperate and proper Fum••gation is made of the purest Amber, putting little pieces thereof upon the Coals; it's

no way offensive, dries well, and strengthens the Brain, especially the Indian Amber, called Gum. Animi; or you may prescribe this following, which is thus compounded.

Take Wood Aloes and Benjamin, of each two drams; of Storax, called Styrax Calamita, one dram and an half; Frankinsence and Sandarach, of each two scruples; Gum-Animi and Cloves, of each half a dram: Make a gross Pouder of them to be thrown upon the Embers.

Southernly winds, and those that cause Rain are to be avoided, night-air, and especially Moon∣shine, which much offend the Brain: Very cold and North Winds are to bewared of, especially when they suddenly are changed from the South; for such a wind doth squeeze a Brain full of moist excrements, and sends them down into the Body, even as a mans hand squeezeth a wet spunge.

Secondly, A special care is to be had of Diet, for as Hippocrates saith in his Book of Humane Nature, Diseases are partly from Diet, and partly from the Air wherein we breath: Therefore let the Diet be of good Juyce, easie concoction, neither cold, nor over nourishing: Therefore Mutton, Kid, Veal, are to be used, and which are better, young Pidgeons, Chickens, Capons, Hens, Partridges, Black-birds, Thrushes, and all kind of Mountain Fowl, and Yolks of new laid Egs: roast Meats are better than boyled. Take heed of hard flesh, and of hard concoction, as Beef, Pork, Venison, Hares, Geese, Ducks, and Sea Fowl: as also of the Heads, Entrals, and Appurtinances of Beasts. Eat Fish but seldom, and make choyce of those which have solid Flesh, coming out of swift Rivers, and stony places; boyl them in Wine, adding Vinegar, Butter, and Spice, which Sawce is to be al∣lowed with other meat, unless the Liver be over hot; of which principally use, Nutmeg, Cloves, Cinnamon: never or seldom eat cold and moist Herbs, as Lettice, Purslain, Spinage: but in Sum∣mer time we can allow a moderate use of Herbs which are gently cooling and drying, for the streng∣thening of the Body, and fixing the Blood that it may not evaporate, as Endive, Succory, Sorrel, but they must be taken boyled, not raw. Roots of Parsly, Carrots, Parsnips, Mints, Hysop, Wa∣ter-cresses, are very good. But you must avoid all things that easily disturb the Head, and fill it with vapors; and they are of two sorts: Either they are such as discuss and melt the Humors with their sharpness, as Onions, Garlick, Mustard, Rocker, Rhadishes: or such as fill the Head with gross vapors, as Milk, and all Milk meats: All manner of Pulse, as Beans, Pease, &c. of which the red Pease are the least hurtful, by reason of their opening and abstersive nature; therefore the broth of them is allowed. You must avoid all green raw Fruit, which are not lasting especially, and those which are very moist: dryed Fruits may be used at second or last courses, as Raisons, Almonds, Pine-nuts, Dates, and the like; but you must use them sparingly, for they are for the most part hard of concoction. Pears boyled and Sugared, Citron Rinds Candied, Lemmon and Orange Pills Candied, may be eaten at the last course: but it is much better to take one spoonful of digestive Pouder after meat, whose Aromatical sweet vapor ascending with the vapor of what is eaten doth strengthen and dry the Brain: It is made of Coriander Fruit, Annis seeds, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, with a double quantity of Sugar of Roses. Let your Bread be of the best Wheat, wel baked and leavened, and made with Salt and Annis seeds: in a great distemper Bisket is best. Let your drink be thin wine of smal strength, which wil not fill the Head with many vapors, wel mixed with Water; and also it is profitable one hour before meat to mix wine and water that the vapors may be allayed, and to boyl a little Coriander seed in the water that it may better strengthen both Stomach and Brain: in stron∣ger Diseases use Hydromel, or Water and Honey. This is a good Rule in all Diet, To eat mode∣rately, and to let the Supper be less and lighter than the Dinner. Sobriety, as in all Diseases, so e∣specially in Head-Diseases is of great concernment; for the Head by much food is filled with Hu∣mors and Vapors: and contrarily, by little and slender Diet it is emptied of them.

Thirdly, You must use moderate Exercise, and every day continue it, for too much rest wea∣kens the Natural heat, and makes it so dull that it cannot well concoct, and fills the Body full of Ex∣crements: On the other side, Motion and Exercise stir up the Natural heat, help Concoction, ex∣pel Excrements, and cheereth the Spirits, and purifieth them, but you must exercise before meat, and after meat rest for an hour or two, or at least move very easily.

Fourthly, Use a mean in sleep and waking, for as with moderate sleep the strength is repaired, so with too long the Body is made cold, burdened with excrements, especially the Brain: but too much watching, makes the Body thin, spends the Spirits, and feeds upon the sound parts of the Body. Let not therefore sleep be too long, but according to custom commonly seven hours are allowed, but more or less may be taken according as age and custom shall require; if you offend in either ex∣tream, it is better to offend in too much waking than in too much sleep. You must not sleep straight after meat, but two hours after at least, having taken a gentle walk. You must sleep with your head high, and upon one side; lying on the back is not allowed.

Fifthly, Al the Excrements of the Body are to be evacuated in their season, of the Brain especially; therefore every morning hawk from the Pallat, blow the Nose, comb, and rub the Head with a course cloth, or spunge, which will fetch the superfluities of the Brain through the sutures or seams of the

Skull. The Belly must be kept open; and if it will not otherwise, use a Suppository, or a Clyster, or some gentle Lenitive at the Mouth. For the Excrements are not only taken away by so doing, but also by degrees somthing is fetcht from the Brain, or at least somthing is reteined and derived thereby from the Head, which was, or would have been sent thither as to the weakest part.

Lastly, You must have special care of the Passions of the Mind, from which our bodies are many times wonderfully altered and disturbed; especially of Anger and Sorrow: Sorrow diminisheth the Natural heat, wounds the Spirits, whence comes smal concoction, and many Excrements: Anger makes a great boyling of the Blood, and motion of the Spirits, by which the Humors are diffused and dissolved, and then if there be any Excrements in the Brain, presently they are sent to the weak and infirm parts, from whence arise many dangerous Diseases.

The other two Means for Cure, namely, Chyrurgery and Physick, may be used as followeth:

In almost all Diseases which come of the Humors, we use to make a general Evacuation by Blood∣letting and Purging.

Blood-letting is not agreeable with Flegmatick Diseases; but if in other parts of the Body Blood do abound, the Liver be inflamed, and the age of the Patient be flourishing, and consistent with it, we may then let blood: for so will the ascention of vapors into the head be hindred, and superfluous Nourishment taken away, that Nature afterwards may more easily concoct what is raw and waterish in the blood; and then purging Medicines may be given more safe.

But if Plethora, or two great repletion do not Constrain, it is better before blood-letting to give a purge for Flegm by way of Potion, Bolus, Pills, or Pouder. The Forms whereof are as fol∣loweth.

Take of Senna half an ounce; Annis seeds, and Cloves, of each half a dram; Leaves of Mints and Bettony, of each half a handful; of the tops of Time, half a pugil: Boyl them to a quarter of a pint in Spring Water; strain it, and infuse in it two scruples of the best Agarick Trochiscated; of Cinnamon half a scruple; strain it again, and dissolve in it three drams of Diaphoenicon, and one ounce of Syrup of Roses. Let this be the Potion to be given with safe Government. Or;

Take Diacatholicon, and Diaphoenicon, of each half an ounce; make it into a Bolus with a little Sugar. You may ad two drams of Diacarthamum, and take away as much of the Diaphoenicon: or you may make it of equal parts of Diacarthamum and Diaphoenicon, without the Diacatholicon.

Or,

Take Pill. Cochie the less, two scruples; with the Water of Bettony make them into five or six Pills gilded; which let him take early in the morning, having eaten but a light supper over night.

The Pills of Agarick, and of Cochie the greater, are very fit for this purpose. For a Pouder.

Take Senna, Turbith, Hermodacts, of each a scruple; Diagridium half a scruple; one Clove: Give this pouder in Broth fasting.

After Blood-letting, if it be necessary, we come to the preparation and purging of the Humors, which may be done with the following Apozeme, or opening Drink.

Take the Roots of Cyprus, Flower-de-luce, Angelica, Zedoary, and of Elicampane, of each one ounce; the Leaves of Bettony, Marjoram, Balm, Penyroyal, Organ, Calaminth, of each a handful; of the tops of Time and Sage, of each half a handful; Annis seeds, Seselis, or broad Cummin, Fen∣nel seeds, of each three drams; Liquoris scraped, and Raisons stoned, of each one ounce; the Leaves of Senna sprinkled with Aqua vitae, two ounces; Carthamus seeds bruised, and fresh Polipody of the Oak, of each one ounce; Agarick trochiscated, Turbith, Hermodacts, of each three drams; Gin∣ger and Cloves, of Each one dram; Stoechas, Rosemary, Sage, and Lavender Flowers, of each one Pugil, or smal handful: Boyl them in fair Water to two pints; strain it and ad four ounces of white Sugar: clarifie it, and aromatize it, that is, make it sweet with two drams of Cinnamon; let this be for four morning draughts.

In the first and last draught dissolve of Diacarthamum, or Diaphoenicon three drams; and let him drink it with Physical Regiment.

Or if you ad no Electuary to the last dose the day following. you may give the purging Pills above mentioned.

After Purging, that the Brain may be altered and strengthened, and the Medicines purging, not leave any offence, the Patient may take this Bolus following:

Take of old Treacle one dram; Conserve of Rosemary and Roses, of each two scruples: with Sugar make a Bolus, which let him take in the morning two hours before meat, and drink after a smal draught of smal Wine.

But because this is a stubborn Disease, and will not alwaies yield to gentle Medicines, we must fly to stronger. And then after Purging, we must use a sweating Diet, which dries and warms the Brain and the whol Body; concocts crude and raw humors, & makes the thick humors thin, cuts those which are slimy and clammy, clenseth those that are foul and dul, and sends forth whatsoever is over

moist by Urine, Sweat, or insensible transpiration. For the effect of all which it is very good to use a slender Diet at the time of taking it.

This Diet drink may be made either of a Decoction of Guajacum, or Lignum vitae only, or by putting to it some Sassaphras, or Roots of Sarsaparilla, or those things which are most proper for the Head, as the Prudent Physitian shall think fit that wil consider the divers tempers and constitutions of Bodies; in respect of which he will prescribe a longer or shorter continuance of this Diet to fifteen, twenty, or thirty daies.

Now the Sweating drink is made as followeth:

Take of Chips of Guajacum, and Roots of Sarsaparilla, of each two ounces: infuse them twenty four hours in four pints of Water upon warm ••mbers: then boyl them gently without smoak to the consumption of half; strain it through a Hippocras bag, and keep it in a glass bottle, and give half a pint warm in the morning, covering him warm, and provoking sweat.

Take of Sarsaparilla two ounces; infuse them twelve hours in twelve pints of Spring Water; then boyl them as before to the consumption of the fourth part; strain as before, adding Corian∣der seeds, Liquoris, Sugar or Cinnamon, as much as will make it pleasant. Use this for ordinary Table Drink at the time of the Diet; eating Bisket made with Annis seeds, roast Meat, not boyled, Almonds roasted, Raisons, Pinenuts, Prunes boyled with Sugar, and the like.

This is alwaies to be observed in the use of Sudorofick or Sweating Medicines: You must give a Purge once a week, and that day omit sweating, by reason that sweating expels only the thinner matter, leaving the thick which must be sent forth by stool. Moreover, because by the use of swea∣ting Medicines the Body is often bound, you must give a Clyster every third or fourth day.

If the Disease be not yet cured, you may use these bags for the Head, in the time of sweat.

Take of Annis seeds, Fennel seeds, Bay-berries poudered, of each three ounces; of Milium, or Millet seed, or Hyrse, one pound; of common Salt half a pound: Fry them in a Pan, powring by degrees a little strong Wine upon them. With these fill two bags, apply them hot one after another to the mold of the head being shaven; do this presently after he hath taken the sweating Potion. Then wipe off the sweat, and clap this strengthening Plaister to the Head.

Take of cleer Amber, Frankinsence, Mastick, of each one dram and an half; Galbanum, Opopa∣nax, of each one scruple; of Misselto of the Oak two drams; male Peony seeds half a dram; Oyl of Nutmegs as much as is sufficient: Make a Plaister of them in an oval form. Or you may use the head strengthening Plaister in the Apothecaries Shops at Mountpelior, not in the Dispensatory, whose description followeth:

Take of Storax, Benjamin, Laudanum, of each four ounces; Peony roots, Flower-de-luce roots, Misselto of the Oak, Mastich, of each one ounce; liquid Styrax as much as is sufficient to make a Plaister: of which one ounce upon Leather in an oval form may be applied to the Coronal Suture.

If you desire a more drawing dissolving Plaister which is commonly called Epispastick, thus you must make it.

Take of Emplaster de Mucilaginibus two ounces; Flower-de-luce roots, Hermodacts, Pellitory of Spain, Staphisagre, Cubebs, Pidgeons dung, Mustard seed, of each one ounce; Nutmeg, Cloves, Cinnamon, long Pepper, and black Pepper, of each half a scruple; Liquid Styrax as much as is suf∣ficient: Make a Body of Plaister, and spread a little upon Leather in an oval form for the mold of the head.

After General Evacuations, you may come to Particulars; which are made by Errhins or Juyces, for the Nostrils, sneezing pouders, Apoplegmatisms, or Medicines chewed in the Mouth.

Take Leaves of Marjoram, Sage, and Bettony, of each one handful; beat them in a Marble stone Mor∣tar, sprinkling by degrees Bettony Water, and white Wine, of each two ounces: Press out the Juyce and make an Errhine, which you may make sharper if you ad half an ounce of Flower-de-luce roots.

It is a custom now adaies to rub the dry Leaves of Tobacco between the fingers, and to snuff up the Pouder: this fetcheth much humor from the Brain, and is at hand.

But the best Sternutatories are made thus:

Take the Leaves of Marjoram, Sage, Rosemary, all dried, of each half a dram; Pellitory of Spain and white Hellebore, of each one scruple; Musk three grains; which with a Quil may be blown into the Nostrils. Or,

Take Ginger, and Flower-de-luce Roots, or Orrace, of each one scruple; Castor half a scruple; Euphorbium six grains: Make them into Pouder. But the chiefest smelling Pouder is made of black Hellebore, with an equal weight of Sugar Candy finely poudered. Which also is excellent for curing a defluxion.

Apophlegmatismi, or Medicines drawing Flegm out of the Head, are either called Masticatories, that is, chewing Medicines; or Gargarisms, that is, Medicines to gargle in the Throat. A Mastica∣tory is th••s prepared.

Take of Pellitory of Spain two drams; Mustard seed and Stavisagre, of each one dram: Make

them up with white Wax into little Balls; of which let one be chewed every morning, holding down the head.

A Flower-deluce root is usual for the same purpose, which wil do good in smal infirmities. Ma∣stich alone chewed is the mildest Masticatory, and it attracts, and draws humors to the mouth with∣out heat and inflamation, which others do not.

A Gargarism is thus made:

Take of Stavisagre half an ounce; Mustard seed three drams; Pellitory of Spain one dram: Boyl them in Water and Honey to three ounces, in which dissolve Vinegar of Squils two ounces.

In the use of these Medicines we must observe, That the Evacuation which is made by the Pallat, is more beneficial than that which is made from other parts, because it is ordained by Nature for the only way by which the Head is to be purged and clensed. But the Nose is made for smelling and breathing through, and Nature doth oppress and abuse it, when she sends forth her superfluous Ex∣crements by it. Moreover the way of Evacuation by the Pallat is more safe, neither is the Brain so much shaked by it as by sneezing. But Errhines, or Medicines that purge the head by the Nose, do draw forth the matter more violently, because not only the quality or vapor of the Medicine stir up the Brain as in Gargarisms, but also the very substance it self.

We must also observe, That the use of Errhines or neezings is dangerous when the eyes are sore, or the Nostrils are ulcerated or sore, and when the patient is inclined to bleeding at the Nose, or to a giddiness of the Head, which neezings wil suddenly bring by shaking the Brain too violently.

Liquid and moist Errhines are snuft into the Nose from the palm of the hand, or by lying down are powred in; but the mouth must first be filled with Water or Wine, lest that Medicine come by the Pallat into the mouth, although that which passeth through brings the humors more forcibly out of the mouth.

They must take heed of Gargarisms that are subject to Defluxions or Consumptions.

Moreover, For particular Evacuations we may use Vesicatories, or Plaisters that draw blisters, to the Nape of the Neck. In the Dispensatory of Mountpelior is this Receipt, though it be not in any other.

Take of Galbanum and Ammoniacum, of each five ounces; of the Pouder of Cantharides, or Spanish Flyes, one pound and an half; Mustard, Pepper, of each half a pound; Virdegreece and Pellitory of Spain, of each two ounces and an half; Euphorbium one ounce and an half; Wax one pound and an half; Pitch, Rozin, and Turpentine, of each one pound; Oyl a smal quantity. One ounce or two of this Plaister spread upon Leather, may be applied to the Nape of the Neck.

The Brain is also strengthened by outward application of Pouders. Rhewm-Caps, by which it is comforted and made warm, and the remainder of the Humor dispersed.

Take Pouder of Orrace half a pound; Storax and Benjamin, of each two ounces: pouder the Head with them every night, and comb it off in the morning.

This Pouder is very refreshing by its scent, strengtheneth the Head, dryeth the Hair: If you wil make it stronger, put Cloves, Nutmegs, and Cinnamon thereto.

Take of Stoechas, Rosemary Flowers, and red Rose Leaves, of each half a smal handful; dried Bettony two scruples; Coriander seed, Lignum Rhodii, Frankinsence, Orrace, Nutmeg, Ma∣stich, of each one scruple; Benjamin, Vernix, Mace, and Cloves, of each half a scruple▪ Pouder them, and wrap them in the thrids of Scarlet or sweet Cotton, and with a piece of red Taffety make a Rhewm-Cap for the Head, to be sewed in another Cap, or to be worn by it self.

The following Fumigation doth dry the Head.

Take of Lignum Aloes, Frankinsence, Mastick, cleer Amber, yellow Sanders, red Rose Leaves, Bettony dried, of each one dram; Cinnamon, Mace, Cloves, Styrax Calamita, of each one scruple: make them all into gross Pouder, which you must sprinkle upon coals of fire, and let the Patient take the fume or smoak of it fasting, covering his head with a large linnen cloth to preserve the fume, and opening his mouth: Let him do this twice or thrice in a week.

But if by Fumes he find pain in his head, you may only perfume his night-caps every evening: For which use this following is easily prepared.

Take of Frankinsence, Mastich, Styrax Calamita, Benjoin, and Sandarach, of each half an ounce; Mace and Cloves, of each two drams: Make gross Pouder of them.

But because this is a stubborn disease, and useth to produce new Flegm after both general and par∣ticular Evacuations, we shal prescribe those usual Medicines by which the humor may somtimes be drawn away, and the Brain preserved longer in that state, into which by Physick it is restored. To this end you may make a Magistral Syrup of those Drugs which are in the Apozeme, or opening drink above written, taking three times as much of the purging things as before, which he may use twice or thrice in a Month, the quantity of two or three ounces in a Decoction of Bettony and Marjo∣ram.

Or instead of Syrups he may use to take these Pills.

Take of the best Aloes half an ounce; Turbith that is Gummy, Hermodacts, and Agarick new made up, of each two drams; Diagridium one dram; Ginger and Cloves, of each half a scruple; Saffron and Salgem, of each seven grains. Pouder them all, and sprinkle them with the Water of Marjoram: then dry them in the shade, and make them into a Mass or Body with Oxymel of Squils; of which let him take half a dram or two scruples once in a week, two hours before Dinner.

The day after his Syrup or Pills, as also twice or thrice in a week, let him take a quantity of this Opiate, or Electuary.

Take of Conserve of Acorus Roots, or of Ginger, and Citron Barks candied, of each one ounce; the Conserve of Sage and Rosemary flowers, of each six drams; Nutmeg candied half an ounce; one candied Myrobalan, old Treacle, and confection of Alkermes, of each three drams; of the Pouder Diambra, and Diamoschi dulcis, of each one dram: with the Syrup of Citron Barks make it up: And let him take every morning two hours before meat, the quantity of a Chessnut; drink after it a little wine and water.

This following Balsom doth more strongly corroborate the brain, of which he may take now and then three or four drops in wine or broth.

Take of the Chymical Oyl of Nutmegs three drams; Oyl of Marjoram, Rosemary, and Amber, of each half a dram; Musk and Amber-greese, of each one scruple: with a little Oyl of a Mans Skull mix them together. You may make the Oyl of a mans Skull thus: Take the sha∣vings or raspings of a Skull that was never buried, put them in a Retort, or Still so called, in as much white Wine as will suffice: Let them stand in Balneo Mariae, that is, a kettle of warm water for some time; then distill it in Sand till it is dry; and you shall find the Oyl swimming upon the Water which is drawn off.

Anoint your Nostrils within with this Balsom every night, and it wil strengthen the Brain won∣derfully.

There is another cheaper for to anoint the Nostrils with: which is,

Take the Oyl of Orange Flowers two drams; white Wax one dram; melt them gently, and put thereto Oyl of Amber half a dram; of the Chymical Oyls of Sage and Rosemary, of each fifteen drops; Oyl of Spike five drops; mix them together.

It is also very good for the drawing away of the matter which breeds continually in the Brain, by an issue in the hinder part of the neck.

Lastly, The Baths which come out of Brimstone, Niter, Bitumen, as those called Bellilucanae, are very good for the drying and strengthening of the Brain if it be washed therewith for some daies, af∣ter general evacuations are made. Daily experience teacheth us that most grievous Head-Diseases coming of cold Distempers are thereby cured. It is profitable also to drink those Waters for the strengthening of the stomach which alwaies doth sympathize with the head. Therefore I set down this digestive Pouder.

Take of Coriander seed prepared one ounce; Annis seeds, and sweet Fennel Seeds, of each three drams; Cinnamon and Nutmeg, of each two drams; Coral, Ivory, and Pearl prepared, of each one scruple; Sugar of Roses as much as all the rest, or for rich folk twice as much, of which let him take a spoonful after every meal, not drinking or eating for three hours after.