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. XL. Of Medicines applyed Plaister-wayes to mittigate paine, and of little Bags.

LIke unto Epithemes, are Fomentaes, so called, * 1.1 because they doe by their heate, as it were cherish the parts of the body to which they are applyed, and they are exhibited either to heate the parts, or to cleanse, and discusse, or to mittigate paine, or soften that which is hard. * 1.2

1. And they are two-sold, moist, and dry; the moist are made either of hot water, Oyle, Milke, or wine, or decoct∣ions of Plants, made with warer, wine, Vinegar, Milke, whither a spunge, or linnen cloath, answerable, to the mag∣nitude of the part affected, is dipt whilst it is hot, and ap∣plyed to the part, and when they begin to be luke-warme, or to coole, they are changed for hot, or the same are heat againe in the Liquor.

2. Sometimes, simples, included in Linnen baggs, are boyled in water, wine, or Milke, and are applyed hot to the part affected, for which purpose, tis convenient to prepare two Baggs, that when the one is cooled, the other may be applyed.

3. Sometimes, a Hoggs Bladder, or an Oxe his Bladder, is halfe filled with the Liquor of the decoction and applyed hot to the part affected.

4. Fomentations, are made also, of living Creatures dissected, and as yet warme, especially Pidgeons, as also of the parts of living Creatures newly slaine, whilst they are hot, as the Lungs, Paunch, o•• Oyles made of the same.

5. Sometimes the steam onely of Waters, of Wine or Vineger boiled, is stirred up by the fire onely, or by casting in of stones or Irons burning into the Liquour, or some of the Liquour poured on them is applied to the part; the va∣pour is taken by a Pipe or Tunnel with a wide orifice, or it is put about the part with some covering, whereby the steam being detained and included, it may act the stronger on the part affected.

But dry Fomentations are made with Bags, * 1.3 the Bags are compounded of Herbs, Flowers, Barks, Roots, Seeds, Aro∣maticks, Gums, which are agreeable to the present intenti∣on, being cut and pounded proportionable to the figure and magnitude of the part affected, are put into a Bag, and ap∣plied to the part, for a cordial Bag an Ounce, or an Ounce and half may suffice, for the stomack a greater quantity is required.

The Bag is prepared either of Linnen or Silk, and being pricked through with a Needle is applied dry to the part, and sometimes it is wet in Wine or Vineger, and put on a hot stone or brick heated by the fire, it is applied to the part affected and makes it warm.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fomenta∣tions.
• * 1.2

  Differen∣ces of Fo∣menta∣tions. Moist.
• * 1.3

  Dry.