The universal body of physick in five books; comprehending the several treatises of nature, of diseases and their causes, of symptomes, of the preservation of health, and of cures. Written in Latine by that famous and learned doctor Laz. Riverius, counsellour and physician to the present King of France, and professor in the Vniversity of Montpelier. Exactly translated into English by VVilliam Carr practitioner in physick.

CHAP. XIV. Of Diuretick Medicaments.

BY Diuretick Medicaments are conveniently purged the gibbous parts of the Liver, the Reins, Bladder, Womb, and the whole stock of the veins.

As the effects oppressing the veins, are known by the Urines, because part of the matter contained in the veins is carried to them, also the same effects often ending by that Crisis, which is made by a Perirrhoea; so the noxious humours are the more easily purged away by Diureticks.

Of these some are hot, some cold.

The hot by melting the humours, separate the more watry and serous parts which are afterwards attracted by the reins.

Those Medicines which are properly and truly called Diuretick, are sharp and vehemently hot and dry, therefore they drain the bloud and separate the serous hu∣mour from it, they also melt flegm and thick humours, and change them into a wa∣try humour, which is easily mingled with the serous humour, and is together at∣tracted to the reins, and expelled with the Urine.

But the cold ones sometimes by cleansing, and sometimes by increasing the watry hu∣mour, move urine.

Some Medicaments cleanse the humours that are contained in the vessell and reins, and do a little attenuate them, because although they are cold, yet they have thin parts, and so do move urine. Such are Grasse, Asparagus, Pellitory of the wall, Maiden-hair, &c. Many other things are endued with a moisture, which is afforded to the veins, and afterwards attracted by the reins, with which the humours in the veins are carried along. Of this nature is Marshmallowes, Cucumers, the greater cold Weeds.

The matter of these Diuretick Medicaments as well hot as cold, is this:

Hot Diureticks. Simple.

• Roots, of Smallage, Parsly, Fennel, Eringo's, Valerian, Asarabacca, Cammock, Radish.
• Rindes, the middle rinde of Broom, and the middle rinde of Tamarisk.
• Leaves, of Saxifrage, Burnet, Smallage, Nettles, Fennel, Germander, lesser Cen∣taury, Water-mint, Water-cresses, Savine.
• Seeds of Massilian Hartwort, Macedonian Parsly, Smallage, Radish, Nettles, Lo∣vage, Millet of the sun, white Thorne, red Chiches.
• Fruits, Laurel and Juniper berries.
• Flowers, Broom, Camomil.
• Gums, Turpentine.
• Animals, prepared bloud of Goats, Cantharides.
• Minerals, Carabe.

Compounds.

• Waters, of Fennel, Smallage, Savine.
• Syrups, of the five Roots, Venus hair, Byzantine, Oxymel simple and compound.
• Conserves of Broom-flowers.

Chymicals.

• Spirits, of Sulphur, Vitriol, Salt, Tartar, Turpentine.
• Salt, of Tartar, Ivie-berries, Bean-husks.

Cold Diureticks. Simple.

• Roots, of Asparagus, Grasse, Knee-holy, Marsh-mallowes, sharp pointed Dock, Sorrel.
• Leaves, of Venus-hair, Sorrel, Pellitory of the wall, Burstwort, Marsh-mallows, tops of Asparagus.
• Seeds, the four greater cold ones, Sorrel, Alkekengi, Barly.
• Fruits, Gourds, Pumpions, Cucumers, Strawberries.
• Flowers, of Althaea, Succory.
• Gums, Caphura.
• Juices, of Limmons, Sowre Pomegranates.

Chymicks.

Sal prunellae, Spirit of Sulphur and Vitriol: which although they be reckoned among the hot Diureticks, yet have a very great refrigerating vertue, and are usefull both in hot and cold affections, by reason of their extraordinary thinnesse and penetrating quality; which makes them the vehicles of other Medicaments.

Compounds.

• Waters, of Pellitory of the wall, Grasse, Sorrel, Barley.
• Syrups, of Venus-hair, Limons, and Marsh-mallowes.
• Conserves, of Venus-hair, Eringo roots, the inside of a Gourd.
• Troches, of Caphura.

Corollary.

Among the evacuating Medicaments, those things which move the months are to be reckoned, which are better referred to the series of Hystericals, where they may be found.