Nine books of physick and chirurgery written by that great and learned physitian, Dr Sennertus. The first five being his Institutions of the whole body of physick: the other four of fevers and agues: with their differences, signs, and cures.

CHAP. IV. Of Physicall measures.

AS dry things for the most part are weighed, * 1.1 so liquid things are measured, although the manner of mea∣sures be appointed by Physitians, according to the manner of weights: But measures may be explained two wayes, either greater by lesse, or on the contrary, lesse by greater; or by weights: For if it be asked, what a Pint or a Pound is, tis answered, to be the halfe of a Sextarie, or to con∣taine fix Cyathos, or Cupps, or its answered, it contains nine ounces of Oyle: For the former way of describing measures, is certaine and stable, but the latter way of ex∣plaining them is not alwayes the same; for although the capacity of measures be not changed, yet the weight of the

things that are measured by the same measure are not the same; whence Physitians at this day, since in liquid things they rather regard the weight then measure, and they use measures onely for to save the labour of weighing. Three kinds of measures of liquid things are used; namely, some for measuring of Wine and distilled Waters, others are ap∣pointed for Honey, others for measuring of Oile; all which measures, although they are distinguished by the names of Ounces, yet the weight of liquid things varie in the di∣stinction of ounces: for since Oile is light, more of it goes to an ounce, Wine since tis heavier then Oile, lesse of it goes to an ounce; Honey since it is heavier, then both, a small quantitie, in comparison of the other, makes an ounce.

The first and least of measures which are tryed, not by weight, but onely by quantitie, is a spoonfull, and the division of measures doth not go beneath it: But a Co∣chlear, or a spoonfull, is four-fold; The least, that a little bigger, a great, the greatest; the least containes halfe a drachm in weight, of a thing that is of a middle weight; that a little bigger, a whole drachm; a great, a drachm and halfe, or two drachms; the greatest containes halfe an ounce in weight.

A common little Spoon is halfe a cup, * 1.2 and containes in weight of Oile, six drachms, of Wine or Water twentie scru∣ples, of Honey nine drachms.

A Cyathus or a Cup, is the sixth part of a pint, * 1.3 by common observation, it holds in weight of Oile twelve drachms, of Wine or Water thirteen drachms and a scruple, of Honey eighteen drachms.

Acetabulum, which by the Greeks is called Oxybaphum, * 1.4 is a Cup and halfe, the common observation it holds in weight, is eighteen drachms of Oile, twentie drachms of Wine and Water, twentie seven drachms of Honey.

Quartarius, or the fourth part of a Sextarie, * 1.5 containes three cups.

Hemina or Cotyla, is the twelfth part of a Congie, * 1.6 halfe a Sextarie, it contains six cups, but in weight nine ounces of Oile, ten ounces of wine and water, thirteen ounces and half of Honey, (this measure contains three quarters of a pint.)

The Italian Sextarie is the sixth part of a Congie, * 1.7 it con∣taines two Heminaes (or a pint and halfe) twelve cups; but in weight it contains eighteen ounces of Oile, twenty ounces of wine and water, 27 ouncse of Honey.

A congie is the eight part of Amphore, * 1.8 (which is a Tan∣kerd, or Rundlet,) containing eight gallons:) it contains six Sextaries, twelve Heminaes, but in weight, nine pound of Oyle, ten pound of Wine and Water, thirteen pound and halfe of Honey.

Urna, * 1.9 is half the Italian Amphora, but the third part of the Attick, for a Greek Amphora which is called, Cadus, and Merreta, is greater then an Italian, it containes 48. Sexta∣ries, but in weight it holdes seventy two pound of Oyle, ninty pound of Wine and Water, one hundred and eight pound of Honey (this Urne of our measure contains foure gallons and halfe.)

Culeus is a measure containing twenty Italian Ampho∣raes, * 1.10 tis the greatest of measures, but of these things tis spo∣ken more at large by others.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A Descrip∣tion of measures.
• * 1.2

  Mustrum.
• * 1.3

  Cyathus.
• * 1.4

  Acetabu∣lum.
• * 1.5

  Q••a tari∣us.
• * 1.6

  Hemina or Cotyla.
• * 1.7

  A Sextary.
• * 1.8

  A Congie.
• * 1.9

  Urna. Amphora.
• * 1.10

  Culeus.