The names.

In Latine Electrum, Chrysolectrum, Glessum, Resina terrae; but the usuall Latine names are Succum, Carabe, Charabe and Karabe in English 'tis called Amber.

The temperament.

Amber is hot in the first degree, and dry in the second.

The best kinde.

Although Authors mention three sorts, yet there are but two sorts in shops, the white and the yellow: the best is the whitest, and that which is most cleare, and being rubb'd will draw straws unto it, and gives a sent like Bitumen.

The duration.

It will keep good many yeares.

The inward use.

Amber strengtheneth the heart and stomach, stayeth vomiting, dryeth up moist humours in the stomach, and hinders the breeding thereof, and stayeth the flux of the belly. It is usefull in cardiack passions, and palpitations, or beatings of the heart. It recreates, or refresheth the braine, and is profitable in Rheumes, or Catarrhes, in Page  [unnumbered] the Falling Sicknesse, Apoplexie, Lethargie, Swiming of the head, suffocation, and inflation or windinesse of the Mother. It stayeth the flowing of blood and seed, provokes the termes in women, and cau∣seth a speedy delivery. It helpeth women that have the whites, and men that have the running of the Reines; for it stoppeth the flux, and strengthneth the parts very much. Being taken in Saxifrage-wa∣ter, it is a sure remedy for such as have their urine stopped. It is ve∣ry good for old coughs, and those that are falling into a Consump∣tion, being mixed with conserve of Red Roses, and so taken morn∣ing and evening; and is profitable for joynt-aches, and the running Gowt, if it be taken vvith tvvo or three ounces of the decoction of Lignum vitae.

The chymicall oile of Amber taken inwardly availeth against the Pestilence and contagious aire, if three or foure drops be taken for divers mornings together, in Carduus or Angelica-water. It helpeth the biting of a mad Dog, and is excellent to preserve from the A∣poplexie, Falling Sicknesse, svviming of the head, and Night-mare, taken in Piony-water, Betony-vvater, Lavender, Rosemary, black-Cherry-vvater, or in Lily Convally-vvater, or Sage-vva∣ter, or taken in Wine, especially if it be taken about the nevv of the Moone, in the morning fasting: for this oile is a singular secret to comfort the animall, vitall, and naturall spirits. If five or six drops be taken in Sage-water it restoreth the speech lost. It dryeth up Rheumes and sharpneth the sight, being taken in Fennel-water, or Eye-bright-vvater. It helpeth trembling of the heart and faintings of the spirits, shortnesse of breath taken vvith Horehound-vvater, and the Pleurisie vvith vvater of Sage of Jerusalem. It helpeth spit∣ting of blood taken vvith Tornentill-vvater. It helpeth a cold sto∣mach and vomiting being taken vvith Mint-vvater. It helpeth the intemperate frigidity or coldnesse of the Liver and Spleene, taken in Spleenwort-water or Wormwood-water, and helpeth such as are melancholy if it be taken in Borrage or Buglosse-water. Given in Endive-water, or a few drops thereof taken in the pap of a roasted Apple, with a leafe of Gold cureth the Jaundise. It doth wonderful∣ly ease the stone and urine stopt in the Kidneys or Bladder, if a few drops be given in Saxifrage, or Parsley-water. It stirs up to Venery taken with Diasatyrion in Wine. It helpeth the Running of the Reins taken with water or syrup of Purslan. It easeth the Collick taken with Cynamon-water or Aqua-vitae. It cureth the Dysentery, or bloudy Page  [unnumbered] Flux taken in Tormentil-water. It killeth Wormes taken in Tansey-water. It helpeth the joynt-Gowt and Sciatica or Hip-Gowt taken with the decoction or Lignum sanctum, as also trembling and the cramp. It much helpeth the affects of the wombe, as the suffocation and precipitation or •a•ling down thereof, as also barrennesse, taken in Minch or Penny-royall-water, or Anise-seed-water, and easeth paines in travell, bringeth away the childe and after-birth, provo∣keth the termes, and bringeth avvay the dead childe, given in Savin-vvater, especially if five or six drops thereof be given, and then as much more vvithin halfe an hour if need require.

The manner of administring it.

It is given in povvder, in Electuaries, &c.

A powder to hasten the birth.

Take of Cynamon halfe a dram, or a dram, Cassia lignea, tvvo scruples, Saffron half 〈◊〉 dram, of white Amber a scruple, make all into powder, and g•e• in Savin-water.

An Electuary against the pain and heat of the stomach, &c.

Take of conserve of red Roses two ounces, Marmelate of Quin∣ces an ounce, Mastick in powder two drams, red Corall in powder a dram & a half, oile of Amber a scruple; with syrup of Quinces make an Electuary. Take of it morning and evening before meat and af∣ter meat. It is excellent also to stay vomiting and the flux of the bel∣ly. Doring. de ol. succinii viribus f. 73.

The outward use.

Amber being burned on hot coals, and the fume thereof received to the head, doth help moist distillations thereof falling on the eyes, teeth, nose or stomach. The fume thereof (saith Doringius) cured an old man of the Apoplexie, that was judged to be certainly dead. Do∣ring. de ol. Succinii viribus, f. 71. Being worn about the neck, it cures Agues, and helpeth swellings of the throat and almonds, and is good in times of infection, especially used with salt, and hinders defluxions. A fume thereof doth much help to cure the Falling Sicknesse, and is good in the Pestilence, made into powder, and mixed with Ho∣ney and Oile of Roses, it is good for the infirmities of the eares, and mixed only with Honey, it cleers the dim sight. It is a present re∣medy against burning or scalding, if it be boiled with Linseed-oile, and the parts anointed with the same, or wet clouts therein, and lay them on. It is commended against the clifts or chaps of the hands, if the powder be strewed thereon, for it closeth them up Page  [unnumbered] and dryeth. The Chymicall Oile of Amber is good for cold and moist diseases of the brain, if the temples or nape of the neck be anointed with a few drops thereof: it discusseth, or expelleth winde in the eares and head, and strengtheneth the memory. It is commend∣ed in the curing of Wounds, Ulcers, and Fistulous tumours being ap∣plyed with other ingredients. It helps the Cramp being anointed therewith, and deafnesse if a few drops be put into the eares with Cotton-Wooll. It helpeth the stinking of the breath, if it be mixed with Plantain-water, or Rose-water, and the mouth washed there∣with, and easeth also the pain of the teeth comming from a cold cause; it cleanseth black teeth, and maketh them white, and helpeth the putrefaction of the gums and teeth. It is useful in the relaxation or swelling of the Uvula, or palate of the mouth. It stayeth the bleeding of the nose if the nostrils be anointed therewith, especially if a cloth wet in Plantain-water be applyed to the temples.

A Plaister against the heat of Ʋlcers.

Take of white Amber in powder an ounce, of Honey a pound, of common Salt in powder two ounces, mix them together and apply it. This draweth out the heat, easeth the paine, and healeth it Doring de Ol. Succin. virib. f. 183.

The hurtfull qual•ty.

It is not to be given in very hot and dry bodies.

The Dose.

Amber in powder is given from a scruple to a dram, or four scru∣ples. The Chymicall Oile from three drops to ten.

Of such things as are made of Amber.

Oile of Amber, Magister of Amber, Tincture of Amber, Pils of Amber, Balsam of Amber.