A friend to the sick, or, The honest Englishman's preservation shewing the causes, symptoms, and cures of the most occult and dangerous diseases which affect the body of man : with a particular discourse of the dropsie, scurvy, and yellow jaundice, and the most absolute way of cure : whereunto is added a true relation of some of the most remarkable cures affected by the author's most famous cathartique and diueretique pills.

CHAP. XII. Of the Nose.

IN the Nose are several distempers, as filthy rotten stinking Ulcers, caused through corrupt sharp and salt humors, &c.

Bleeding at the Nose proving destructive to many, is oftentimes outwardly caused by Falls, Blows, or by violent Exercise, or heat of the Sun, &c.

The Polypus is a fleshy matter growing in the Nostrils, caused through gross humors falling to the same, and oftentimes it happen∣eth through a melancholly humour, &c.

The Nose is also affected with putrid or rotten Ulcers. Caused by the French Pox, or Venerial sports.

For the cure of deep and rotten Ulcers in the Nose, called Ozene, take the juice of Calamint, and with a feather put it up into the nostrils, or blow the powder of the same therein with a quil, or anoint the nostrils with honey, which will bring them to a scurf or scab, that will fall of in four or five days, and when they are fallen of take the oyntment

of Roses and anoint the Ʋlcers therewith, and the more to Cleanse the same, dissolve Egyp∣tiacum in Barly water, and syring the no∣strils, or snuff it up therein.

Or anoint them with the juice of Pome∣granats boyled first in a Brasen Vessel to the consumption of half.

Or take a whole Pomegranate, and boyl the same in wine, and snuff it up into the no∣strils.

Or take Sugar of Lead dissolved in Plan∣tain water, and syring the nostrills which will both dry and heal.

Or make tents of dried Gentian, and put them up into the nostrils, for they will di∣late or open themselves. Then take salt of Gemme two drams, Mastick and Frankinsence of each one dram. Being made into powder, add thereto the juice of Celandine one ounce, oyle Olive half a pint, and let them be boy∣led to an ointment, after which anoint the tents therewith, putting them up as afore directed.

And sometimes with a feather touch the Ulcers with strong Vinegar, wherein is mix∣ed the powder of Album Graecum; if after all this there remain pains in the nostrills, Take oyle of Mirtles, Roses, of each an ounce,

Litharg of Gold and burnt Lead of each two scruples, fine Bole, Venus white Lead, the pow∣der of Pomgranate peels, of each one scruple, white Wax as much as is sufficient to make them up into an oyntment which annoint the part af∣fected therewith.

In the cure of these Ulcers, and such like, in the beginning the head ought to be strength∣ened, and dried, because they often happen through corrupt humors flowing from the head to the nostrils, so in the first place shave the Head, and apply thereto the Plaster cal∣led Emplastrum Stephaniaion, &c.

Or anoint the head with oyle of Roses, where∣in is mixed a small quantity of Roch Allum in sine powder.

Or take unripe Galls, and Willow leaves bruised and mixed with Vinegar, and apply to the head, by which means the foresaid Remedies shall have the better effect.

For the bleeding at the Nose, if strength and fulness permit, open the vein in the Arm and take it forth at several times, and not all at once, it is also good to put the Pati∣ents feet in hot water, rubbing them up and down, &c. and strong binding of the hand wrists, and above the knees, &c. is also of ex∣cellent use: let large Cupping-glasses be fasten∣ed

to the sides; if the Blood flow from the right nostril, fasten the Cupping-glass upon the Liver, and if from the left nostril upon the Spleen, if from both nostrils apply Cup∣ping glasses to both places, you may also apply them to the Shoulders with Scarification.

Apply to the Forehead juice of Lettuce, Sor∣ral, Plantain, Sheppards purse, and knot Grass, with a spunge, &c.

Or apply the Herbs bruised to the foresaid place, or the distilled waters of the same with linnen Cloaths made moist therein, or apply to the privy parts linnen Cloaths made moist with Vinegar or cold water, blow into the Patients Nostrils a small quantity of the Powder of a Toad prepared, or mix a little of the same with Paste, and apply it to the Pallate with your fingers.

If that take no effect, give to the Patient four Grains of the Powder thereof in two or three spoonfuls of Plantain water, or in the distilled water of Hogs Dung, for it hath been found effectual where no other Medi∣cine would prevail.

Or take the juice of the leaves of Nettles, a quarter of a pint at a time sweetened with Sugar; for it is also a certain remedy against bleeding at the Nose, &c.

Or make Tents with Lint, and dip them in the juice of Nettles, and put them up in∣to the Nostrils.

Or you may burn the blood that cometh forth of the Patients Nose, and blow thereof up into the Nostrils, for it is also of excellent use.

Or take Egge-shells wherein Chicken have been hatched, being made into fine Powder, blow it up into the Nostrils.

Or take the Powder of the best Aloes, and roll it up with Wool. Or the hair cut off the belly of a Dog, make Tents there∣with, and put them up as afore directed.

How to cure the Polypus, which is a fleshy matter growing in the Nose.

After you have applied the forementioned remedies, &c. to the head, and purged suf∣ficiently,

Take the juice of the Cyprus Tree, and dip Tents therein, and often put them up into the Nostrils.

The juice of Aron-roots, commonly called Cuckow pint, roots, used as afore directed, will effect the same.

The juice of Garden Dragons, are also very good for the purpose aforesaid, &c.

Or take three ripe Pomegranates, the one sower, the other sweet, and the other between both, bruise them in a Wooden or Marble Mor∣tar, strain it, and boil the juice to an Oint∣ment, and dip a rag or lint therein, and put it up into the Nostrils, for it dryeth and con∣sumes the matter without pain or sharpness.

Or take the flowers and peels of Pomegra∣nates, Shumach, of each one pound, Grapes that are not ripe one pound and a half, infuse them in a sufficient quantity of Vinegar, 24 hours after which distil it, then add thereto Roch, Allum half a pound, White Vitriol one ounce and a half, and distil them altogether the second time, and touch the part often therewith: but if you perceive that it is not strong enough, add to the fore-mentioned wa∣ter a small quantity of Orpiment and Sanda∣rach.

Or take red Precipitate one scruple, Honey of Roses half an ounce, being mixed well to∣gether, apply to the part affected with a Tent.

Or take the white Ointment of Roses one ounce, red Precipitate one dram, mix them well to∣gether, and apply it as afore directed, for they are both of wonderful virtue to consume proud flesh.

You may also take Plantain water one ounce, Spirit of Vitriol two drams, and mix them together, and touch the Polypus often there∣with.

Or in the same manner use the water that the Goldsmiths separate Gold withal, called the second water.

How to cure the putrid or rotten Ulcers in the Nose, caused by the French Pox.

Take Plantain water two ounces, Syrup of Mulberries and Honey of Roses of each half an ounce, Sugar of Lead two drams, and siringe the Nostrils often therewith.

And often anoint the Nostrils with a fea∣ther made moist in the Ointments afore di∣rected, mixed with red Precipitate, with which I have cured many.

Or firinge the Nostrils with the distilled water of Cucummets, and strong Vinegar, in equal parts, sweetned with syrup of Mul∣berries, and the syrup made with the Bram∣ble-berries; after which apply Tents dip∣ped in the following Ointment.

Take Album Graecum three drams, Vinegar of Squills and Honey of Roses of each half an ounce, Mercurius Dulcis one dram, mix them very well together, and apply it as afore directed, changing the same as need require.

Or take springe water, and boil therein a suf∣ficient quantity of the inward bark of an Elm-tree, strain it, and make it somewhat sharp with spirit of Vitriol, and often siringe the Nostrils there∣with.

Or wash the Ulcers three or four times a day with the water made as followeth.

Take Mercury sublinate (commonly called White Mercury) half a dram, Roch-Allum one dram, both in fine Powder, Red-Rose-water four ounces, Plantain water twelve ounces, boil them altogether in some new-glased Vessel, to the consumption of the third part; after which strain it, and keep it for the foresaid use.

Or take Plantain water and Red-Rose-water of each one pint, Roch-Allum and Mercury sublimate of each two drams, Camphir one dram and a half; powder what is to be powder∣ed, and boil them altogether in a glased Vessel to the consumption of the third part as afore directed, which keep close stopped for use, for they both dry exceedingly, you may sometimes anoint the part with the forementioned Ointment, or with the Oint∣ment of Roses alone to keep the Ulcer sup∣ple, &c.