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. XXXI. Of sweet Smells, Perfumes, and Odoriferous, Bal∣somes.

SWeet Smells also are taken in at the Nostrills, * 1.1 but prin∣cipally they are exhibited for altering of the braine, and recreation of the Spirits and are exhibited for the resisting of filthy and Pestilentiall smells.

The materialls of these things are all such as breath a sweete Odour out of themselves, as Muske, Amber, Civit, Benzoin, liquid Storax and Ladanum, wood of Aloes, Rose-mary, Lavender, Marjerom, Spike, wild Basill, Ste∣chados of Arabia, Mace, Cloves, Cinamon, Frankinsense, Myrrb, graines of Juniper, Gallia Moschata, Camphir, and those things which are given cold, as Roses, Violets, Flowers, * 1.2 of Nimphea, santalls.

But they are exhibited severall wayes, and severall kinde of sweet smells, are made of those simples, for first they use to be reduced into powders, and are kept either in a Box, or woodden vessell, and as often as necessary, are put to the Nostrills, or else are included in a little bagg, or nodule of silke.

2. Secondly, the same reduced into powder are taken with Ladanum, Wax, Liquid Storax, to which some Tur∣pentine may be added also, and made into one masse in a hot Morter, by powring in of Rose-watar, of which little balls are made commonly called Pomander:

3. Thirdly Unguents and Linements, use to be made of sweete things, * 1.3 which they call Balsomes at this day, they are prepared of distilled Oyles, to which is added Amber, Muske, Civit, Indian Balsom, whereof the whole force of them depends, which are mixed with a certaine body which affords a convenient consistence, instead whereof although some take other things, yet extract of Plantine is conveni∣ently taken, or Oyle drawne out of Nutmegs, by which all the smell for the most part, colour, and taste is extracted by the Spirit of Wine, or which is most convenient, an extract and Oyle of Nutmegs, together to this mixture a colour a∣greeable to the Balsom, shall be made of a juice or tincture of the medicines.

4. Fourthly, perfumed waters use to be prepared, where∣with the Garments use to be sprinkled, or the nose, hands, and other perts of the body use to be wet, the same waters being put in a convenient vessell upon the coales, are dissol∣ved into an Odoriferous Vapour.

5. Fifthly, wash-balls are also prepared, or sweet balls to wash the hands, and feete, of which hereafter Chap. 42.

6. * 1.4 Moreover, sweet Vapours, or fumes, belong to Odori∣ferous smells the Greeks Thymiamata, which although they are taken for the sweetnesse and pleasantnesse of smell, or for strengthning the braine, yet they may be appointed for other ends also, namely to stop distillations, for drying ulcers of the lungs, when they are stuffed with thick matter, peculiar suffumigations, also are prepared for the wombe, and to provoke and stop courses, the falling down, and suffo∣cation of the mother, & the coming out of the Fundament.

1. * 1.5 But suffumigations are prepared, first of sweet medi∣cines, that are cut, or powred, being throwne upon live coales, or hot ashes.

2. Moreover, the same powders are made into Cakes or Trochees, with a convenient Liquor, and with a Gumme or Rosin.

3 Thirdly, the coales of Lime or Teile-tree or of Willow being mixt, Pyramids and Candles as it were are made of the same matter, which is kindled, when there is use for, them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Things causing sweete O∣dours. Simples Odorise∣rous.
• * 1.2

  Kindes of Odor fe∣rous things.
• * 1.3

  Balsomes.
• * 1.4

  Fumes.
• * 1.5

  How pre∣pared.