Tractatus de simplicium medicamentorum facultatibus. = A treatise of the nature and qualities of such simples as are most frequently used in medicines,: both purging, and others. Methodically handled, for the benefit of those that understand not the Latine tongue. To which is added: many compound medicines for most diseases incident to mankinde: as also two alphabeticall tables, very necessary for the reader. Together with, the explanation of all hard words or termes of art, whereby the vulgar may the better understand it. / By Robert Pemel, practitioner in physick, at Cranebrooke in Kent. Licensed and enterd according to order.

CHAP. XVIII. De Corallio Rubro, Of red Coral.

REd Coral is a hard stony substance, growing on the Rocks in the Sea.

The Names.

Coral is called in Latine, Corallium, Coralium, and Coralium, this Corallium rubrum, in English, Red Coral.

The temperament.

Red Coral is cold and dry in the second degree.

The best kinde.

The best is that which is smooth, clear and red, for the redder it is, the better it is.

The Duration.

It will keep good ten or twenty years.

The inward Ʋse.

Red Coral doth dry, cool and bind, it strengthneth the heart, stomach and liver, purifieth the blood, and is therefore very use∣full in the Pestilence, against venome, and all pestilent Feavers, and malignant diseases, it cheares the heart, and is good against Melancholy, helpeth such as spit blood, or that bleed at the mouth or the nose, as also stoppeth the Fluxe of blood in man or woman, and being taken in wine or other liquor frequ••nt∣ly, it taketh away the hardnesse and stopping of the Spleen: it stayeth the Gonorrhaea, or running of the reins in men, and the whites in women, helpeth conception by its binding faculty, and is good for the stopping of of the Urine, and paines of the Stone in the bladder, if the powder (when it is burnt) be taken in Whitewine or Posset drinke: the powder taken in Wine, o•• di∣stilled Water brings rest to such as have an Ague, and is good for such as have Cramps. It is much commended in the falling sick∣nesse, or to prevent it, if a Childe so soon as it is borne, take ten graines thereof in black-Cherry-water, or in the Mothers mi••ke. Some affirme that it causeth an easie delivery of the birth; which

fit doe, it is by a specifick vertue, for experience doth manifest it to be of a binding nature.

The Chymicall oyle of Coral is commended against the Falling-sicknesse in children and others, as also in all Fluxes of the belly, and spitting of blood.

The manner of administring it.

It is given in Electuary powder, &c.

An Electuary against the Flux of the belly.

Take of red Coral in powder, three drams of Marme••••••de of Quinces two ounces and a halfe, species Diamargariton frigidum two drams, with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Quinces, make an Electuary, take of it a little before meat.

An Electuary against vomiting of blood, by reason of a bruise or fall.

Take of red Coral in powder a dram, conserve of red Roses, con∣serve of Comfry, of each one ounce, B••le Armoniack washed in Rose water and in powder, Blood stone in powder, of each a dram, A∣cacia, Myrtle-Berries, of each a dram, Suger Pellets halfe an ounce, with an ounce of Suger dissolved in Rose-water, make an Electua∣ry. The Dose is three drams, or halfe an ounce, with red Wine in the morning and before meat.

A Powder against Ruptures.

Take of Myrtle-berries, Cinamon and Nutmeg, of each two drams, of Knot-grasse dry, halfe an ounce, seeds of Plantaine and Purslaine, of each three drams, and the seeds of Garden Cresses, a dram, of red Corall a dram and a halfe; make all into powder, adding so much Sugar as will make it sweet. The Dose is from halfe a dram to a dram in red Wine, every morning or, second morning for a Months space if need require.

A Powder against the Fluxe of the belly.

Take of red Coral a scruple, roots of Tormentil two scruples, Mirrhe a scruple, Gum Tragacanth a dram, Plantaine-seeds halfe a dram, Dragons blood a dram, trosses of Spodium a dram, Bole Armoni∣ack and Harts-horne burnt, of each a dram; make them into powder. The Dose is a dram in Plantaine-water.

The outward Ʋse.

It helpeth sore Gums and Ulcers in the mouth, and healeth up soul hollow Ulcers in other parts, and filleth with flesh, and is used in medicines for the eyes, to stay the Flux of Rheume, and

takes away the heat and rednesse thereof, by cooling and drying up the moisture thereof: it fastneth loose teeth, and maketh them white, and helps to breed teeth in Children, the gums being rub∣bed therewith, and some hang it about their neck of such as have the Falling-sicknesse.

A Powder to white the Teeth.

Take red Coral, Brick, of each half an ounce, make them into powder, and take some of it, lay it on a course linnen cloath, and rub your teeth therewith.

For bleeding at the Nose.

Take of red Coral in powder half an ounce of Bole Arminick, in powder an ounce; with the juice of Sheapherds purse and lint or tow make Tents, and put them up into the nostrils.

The hurtfull quality.

It must not be given too often, where the body is very costive or hound.

Of those things that are made of red Corall.

First, Estence, of Tincture of Corall, 2 Chymicall oyle or li∣quor of Coral. 3 Flores Coralliorum. 4 Olium Coralliorum succina∣tum [good in the Falling-sicknesse and Apoplexie, if three or four drops be given in any convenient liquor.] 5 Syrup of Coral simple and compound. 6 Magister of Coral. 7. Salt of Coral. 8 Dia∣corallion.

The Dose.

The Dose is from a scruple to a dram.