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.

The Cure of preternatural Efflation which comes from breath depraved was shewed in depraved Breathing.

Nor can you cure that Snorting which is from the straitness of the No∣strils any way, but as you cure the stop∣page of Breath by the straitness of the Nostrils: as we shewed there, as also how you should purge the Nose from Snot and Flegm. Notwithstanding, if it come from the fault of the Instrument, when the nose is flat or strait, it can scarce be taken away, but it may be mended, if they sleep not upon their back but side. In Horses this snorting is cured by cutting the Nostrils.

Belching and Farting though they are good and for easement, yet because they are unseemly, they are to be re∣strained, or to be let privately. But if they be so forcible, that they cannot be stayed without danger, you must hinder the increase of wind, and this will hinder the noise and rumbling of the Guts, by taking away Crudities, and by discussing of wind with inward and outward Medicines, such as are prescribed in the Weakness of the Stomach; to which they usually apply things proper for the Spleen, in the Noise under the Ribbs, usual to Virgins. And this is good not because the wind cometh from the Spleen, or is contained there, but because the vertue of the things outwardly ap∣plied to the left side doth reach the Spleen, and therefore in some measure ought to be proper for it; as when you mix Seeds, as Cummin and the like in baggs made to dis∣cuss wind with Rue, Agnus Castus, Ceterach, and the like, and rub the Pouders with Vinegar, or when we add Oyls proper for the Spleen, to the Oyntments we use to expel wind.

If stinking Breath come from things eaten, as Garlick, or Raddishes which causeth belching, it will shortly be gone, and you may for that time keep a distance from Compa∣ny, or if you must needs converse, use some Persumes to correct it. But if it come from unclean teeth, or from be∣tween, or in the Hollowness of them, or other filth in the Mouth, then you must pick the teeth, and cleanse the mouth, and pull out rotten teeth.

If it come from the Stomach, that must be purged and amended, if from Diseases, as the Pox, they must be cu∣red, and then it will vanish. If from Loosness of the Sto∣mach, when the stink comes from the Guts to the Mouth, it is almost an incurable Disease in the Organ. But the Stomach must be strengthened and astringed, and in all these Causes, sweet things must be held in the Mouth and chewed, and the mouth washed with them, and they must be gargled and swallowed to correct the Stink, as fol∣loweth.

If the Cause be in the Stomach, purge it with things proper to the stink of Excrements, and the moistness of the Stomach. Among which the Pills of Aloes are best, be∣cause they cleanse the Stomach, and resist Putrefaction, or purging Wine, with Wormwood, which doth the same with Aloes, and is also sweet. Also other Purges, men∣tioned in Weakness of the Stomach. Among which Rhu∣barb, and Myrobalans are the chief and best Purgers; but you must mix many sweet-sented therewith, to correct the stink, as well Plants as Spices, and therefore the Aloephan∣gina-pills made of Spices, taken often are good. And we add to the purging Wine, Angelica, and the like that are well scented.

The Alteratives that are given to strengthen the Sto∣mach, must hinder the producing of Excrements: and this is by good Diet, which is little and drying. Let him be temperate in eating of flesh, because it easily putresies, and let it be well spiced, and with Vinegar, sour Juyces of Sorrel, Citrons, Lemmons, Oranges; as also his other Meat. Let his Bread be made with Caraway and Fennel∣seed. Let him after Meat eat Quinces, Pears, and other Astringents. when the Stomach is loose especially; Also let him eat Anise-seed, Fennel, and Coriander, Comfits, and other Pouders to be used after meat. In the morning fasting let him take the Pouders, Lozenges, Electuaries, Confections, and Conserves, which are good in a moist and loose Stomach, mentioned in the Weakness of the sto∣mach, choosing those that are most sweet-scented, as Aro∣maticum Rosatum, Diamoschum, Diambra, and the like. Tryphera magna is commended to make Men well colou∣red, and of sweet Breathes. And they say that Mastick of∣ten taken, doth amend this Infirmity.

You must hold sweet things in the mouth, and chew, and somtimes swallow them, as these following.

Of Simples, Angelica-root is most sweet-sented but bit∣ter; also Master-wort, Zedoary, Nutmegs and Cloves, are good.

Musk and Ambergreese for rich people, are excellent, with Sugar, made into Lozenges, with the Infusion of Gum Traganth, made in Rose or Orange-flower-water, or

the like, and held in the mouth, to dissolve and give a good Scent. To these they add Wood-Aloes, Sanders, Angeli∣ca-roots, which are good for a weak Stomach. Also a lit∣tle Benzoin.

Besides these, many sweet-sented things may be chewed, as Orris, and Acorus roots, Cypress, Elicampane, Orange peels, Citron peels, Roses, Bayes, Marjoram, Smallage of Parsley chewed, taketh away the stink of Garlick and the like, and conceals that which is from the mouth. Also Dill, and Anise, and Sowthistle, Dioscorides commends Myrrh, and Mastick. Mathiolus commends Gold held in the mouth.

Of Compounds, Wine is good to wash the Mouth, or to be drunk, in which the Roots and Seeds of Angelica, Marjoram, Sage, Coriander seeds, and other sweet Herbs and Spices were steeped.

Vinegar of Roses, Currance, Ras-berries, Straw-ber∣ries, is very good, mixed with other things for to wash, or held in the mouth or swallowed, doth presently take away the stink of things eaten.

Let him constantly wash his mouth with sweet red wine, Vinegar, Salt, and Allum.

The Decoction of green Myrtle leaves in Wine, is good to wash the mouth, and the Decoction of Citrons, and the like.

Another is made of the Decoction of Cypress roots, Ci∣tron peels, Roses, Sanders, Cloves, Cinnamon.

There are divers sweet stilled Waters, as of Roses, Musk, or Cloves, and other Spices, Salt, Orange-flower-water. Also Aqua vitae, with the Infusion of Cinnamon and Spices.

The distilled Oyls of Cinnamon, or other sweet things, are very good, either mixed or alone, if the least drop be held in the mouth.

If the teeth be foul, rub them with sweet astringent things, and such as resist Putrefaction.

As, Take Orris roots two drams, Angelica half a dram, Sanders, Wood-Aloes, Savine, or Juniper one dram, with a little Musk, and two drams of Salt Alkali. Some add Cut∣tle-bone, Harts horn, burnt Allum, when the teeth are foul, as shall be there declared.

Or mix a little Musk with Salt, or Harts horn, &c.

If the stink of the Nostrils come from an Ulcer, when that is cured it vanish∣eth, of which we spake in the Ulcers of the Nostrils. But if it come from an Organical Disease of the Instrument or Nose, when it is too strait, it is almost incurable, except you prevent the Falling of the Excrements from the Brain to the part.

But if it come from filth which either from its plenty or malignity is easily corrupted, being retained and stopped, then you must go thus to work.

First we purge the Head and Body of the Humors that abound, with Medicines mentioned in the Excrementiti∣ous Diseases of the Head.

Then snuff up things into the Nose, or anoint the No∣strils with Oyntments which cleanse and provoke Nature to expel the filth, and leave a sweet Scent in the Nose. For which use we have mentioned divers Errhines or Purgers of the Head by the Nose, the Phlegmatick Diseases of the Brain, with which you may mix these sweet-scented things following.

The Juyce of Flower-de-luce anointed or snuffed up, is sweet and very good.

Or thus. Take the Juyce of Flower-de-luce one ounce and an half, of Marjoram one ounce, of rich Spanish Wine half an ounce: mix them, and add Juyce of Beets to force more.

Or when there is great putrefaction, add to that the Juyce of Centaury and Wormwood, each one ounce; Vinegar of Roses, or Squills half an ounce, Myrrh one dram.

The Juyce of Bayes, and Myrtles, and other sweet plants may be added.

Somtimes these are boyled thick, that they may stick the better. Thus,

Take of the aforesaid Composition one ounce and an half, ad Labdanum, Storax, each half a dram; with Honey, or the in∣fusion of Gum Traganth made in sweet Water: make a Lini∣ment.

We use such things to be snuffed, or poured into the Nose to cause a sweet Scent, as Spanish Wine in which Basil, Marjoram, Calamints, Bayes, Lavender-flowers, Cinnamon, and Cloves have been infused.

Or the stilled Waters of Orange flowers, Roses, or Lem∣mons, or of those Plants which were steeped in wine.

Or other waters of Plants seeds, and Spices, that smell sweet, which with Musk or Ambergreese will be more pleasant.

Also there are sweet Oyntments of Musk and Amber∣greese dissolved in Oyl of Been or the like, which take not away the Scent of the other Compositions if they be ad∣ded. Civet is to be used alone.

The stilled Oyls of Cinnamon, Cloves, Marjoram, and the like, mixed with white Wax, and put into the Nostrils do smell strongly, and last long.

If a wound be in the rough Artery, which sendeth forth Air, Breath or Scent, it is deadly for the most part, because that part cannot easily be cured. But if the wound be in the breast and the internal part hurt, it is the like for the most part, although as I shewed in the Diseases of the Lungs, I saw one escaped that had a wound in his Lungs, The other wounds of the Breast without hurt of the inter∣nal parts must be cured as ordinary wounds.

When wind comes from a wound, that shews the Sto∣mach and Bowels to be hurt, and it is incurable. I know other wounds in the Guts that have been cured.

Notes

• The Cure of pre∣ternatural Effla∣tion.
• The Cure Snor∣ting.
• The Cure of bel∣ching and far∣ting.
• The Cure of noise in the Guts.
• The Cure of a stinking breath
• The Cure of the stink of the No∣strils.
• The Cure of breath from a Wound.