Platerus golden practice of physick: fully and plainly discovering, I. All the kinds. II. The several causes of every disease. III. Their most proper cures, in respect to the kinds, and several causes, from whence they come. After a new, easie, and plain method; of knowing, foretelling, preventing, and curing, all diseases incident to the body of man. Full of proper observations and remedies: both of ancient and modern physitians. In three books, and five tomes, or parts. Being the fruits of one and thirty years travel: and fifty years practice of physick. By Felix Plater, chief physitian and professor in ordinary at Basil. Abdiah Cole, doctor of physick, and the liberal arts. Nich. Culpeper, gent. student in physick, and astrology.

The Cure.

If Men or Women are provoked to Venery, to prevent unlawful acts, * 1.1 the heat is to be allay'd by hindering increase of Seed, and heat thereof, as also of blood; and preventing the commotion of Seed. Thus,

Purges are chiefly requisite when foul and sharp hu∣mors corrupt and sharpen the Seed, and cause lust.

To cool lust, we give things that quench, or that dry, though hot, if they consume it, by a propriety: nor do we spend time to Cure and expel wind which is not the cause, as we said: we give them evening or mor∣ning often, for the effect will not quickly be seen.

Sallats at supper of Lettice, Purslane, Mints with Vinegar are proper, without Spices.

And this Electuary: Take Conserve of Water-lillies, and Mints, of each an ounce; Lettice and Coleworts candied six drams, seeds of Agnus Castus, (so called from its ver∣tue) one dram and an half, Rue half a dram, Coral one dram, Crystal half a dram, Camphire a scruple, with syrup of Purslane: Make an Electuary.

A convenient Pouder: Take Snakweed roots one dram, Mints, Rue, Water-lillies dried, of each half a dram; the seeds of Vitex one dram and an half, Hemp seeds, Grapes, Let∣tice, of each one dram and an half; Crystal one dram, Cam∣phire a scruple; make a Pouder, take a dram in broath,

or syrup of Purslane, or with a little Sugar, or made into Tablets with Rose and Lettice.

A convenient Syrup: Take juyce of Lettice and Pur∣slane, of each two ounces; juyce of Mints half an ounce, Vio∣let and Rose-water, of each an ounce; Vineger of Roses half an ounce, Sugar three ounces; Boyl them to a Syrup, give an ounce often.

The Decoction of Lettice, Purslane, Endive, Mints, is good in broath.

Cold water drunk in great quantity, allaies lust.

Some affirme that they can take away all desire and use of Venery, with Wine in which the Fish called Mullus is infused, others give forty Pismires in drink.

Outwardly, cool the Feet, Privities, Loynes, so to wash the Yard in cold water, makes it presently fall, this remedy my Father told me, a learned man used who the first year of his Mariage, lost his Wife and Child at once in Child-bed, that he night die a Wid∣dower without desire of Women.

Things that Potentially cool, mixed with driers and applied by Fomentation to the Privities extinguish lust, as the Decoction of Lettice, Plantane, Purslane, Willows, Water-lillies, and the like.

Especially if they be applied to the Feet, with Vi∣negar.

The juyces of the same to foment the Stones, adding a little Vinegar and Camphire is better; and injected into the Womb, doth the same for Women.

Vinegar of Roses, doth the like.

It is good to anoynt the Reins with this: Take Oyl of water Lillies, two ounces, juyce of Lettice one ounce and an half, Vinegar half an ounce: boyl them to the consu∣ming of the juyces; add seeds of Vitex one dram, Cam∣phire half a dram, white Wax a little: Make an Oynt∣ment.

Unguentum Album, with Camphire, or that cooler of Galen for the Reins, with Camphire, doth the same.

And also Plates of Lead to the Reins.

Sugar and Crystal of Lead, with Oyntments, and Correcters, given in a smal quantity, are commended by the Chymists.

The smel of Camphire stupifieth lust, therefore they teach that it is to be worn to preserve chastity, which it doth by touching it, or tying to the Arms; And Vitex and Vervain, they say, doth the same.

Great fasting doth somewhat allay lust, especially abstinence from hot Meats, Spices and Wine, which rule they ought to observe, which pretend to chastity, by abstaining from certain Meats, as the Friers who pretend to mortifie by eating of Shel-fish and Botargo, and the like, in the holy time of Lent.

The sorrow of mind and grief, take away lust.

And Diseases with pain, whether hot or cold.

By letting blood, something is abated, but it cannot make the Body lean or weak, without some other in∣convenience. It is reported that one cured his Wife of her unsatiable desire, by opening all the usual Veins. And Hippocrates teacheth by the example of the Scy∣thians, that the opening of the Veins behind the Eares maketh Sterility and Impotency.

Gelding is the extream remedy, for extream Lechery, and taking off the Yard, is the surest way, for which cause they say Origen Gelt himself; And I know a Priest that having been often punished for sin, in that kind, did the same, and Masters usually do so to their Servants, to whom they commit their Wives: but they deserve this punishment best, that sin in Adultery, and Fornication, and therein persevere.

The surest remedy is Mariage which is granted by God to all that want the gift of Chastity.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Cure of the Venereal Itch and Frensie, and of Priapismus.