Zoologia: or, The history of animals as they are useful in physick and chirurgery.: Divided into four parts; the [brace] first treateth of the more perfect terrestrial creatures. Second third fourth of birds. fishes. insects. / By John Schroder, Dr. of physick.

VII. Concha, the Shell-fish,

IS a kinde of Fish wanting an head, entrenched within shells, whether it be a single or double shell. Of this kinde are also those that have Pearl in them. It comprehends under it divers species for the most part, having names according to their fi∣gure and colour, or distinguished by a speciall name.

N. 1. The Concha increaseth and decreaseth with the Moon.

N. 2. Amongst water Animals none is accounted to be taken with a greater desire of eating mans flesh than this.

In medicinal use are,

1. The shells. 2. The flesh. 3. The Pearls.

The Vertues.

1. The shells have the vertue to dry, to move sweat, to cleanse, &c.

Hence their internal use chiefly is in Fevers, which they cure by sweat.

Outwardly they are good in dentifrices, in repres∣sing the swellings of the fundament (the ashes ap∣plyed.)

Preparat.

The shells are used both powdered only, and also calcined and powdered, or prepared after the com∣mon manner, and made smooth with water of Car∣duus Benedictus, and the like.

Of the shells of the long sort is made that famous medicine of Crollius against the Fever after this man∣ner;

Pour Vinegar upon the shells, let it stand for a night, then it extracteth the filth, which being scraped off, calcine the shells to whitenesse, and keep the powder.

The vertues.

It moves sweat in abundance, and therefore used the fit approaching (chiefly in a Tertian) it dis∣solves Fevers, especially if used the second or third time.

The Dose from one scruple and half to a dram.

N. Crollius gives it in a draught of hot Ale with a lit∣tle Butter.

2. The flesh, that is to say, the eatable substance belongs chiefly to Kitchens, and in meat is said to be good for Quartanes.

3. Pearls are round stones found in many Shell-fishes, of the same excrement where of their shells are made.

They are accounted twofold, Oriental and Occi∣dental; the former are more bright, and are prefer∣red before the rest; the latter are white and lesse bright: they are found also in many places of Eu∣rope, as in Scotland, Sil••sia, Bohemia, Frisia, and other Maritine lands, but they are of lesse worth. In like manner the greater, and those which have a hole through them are esteemed riper and more excellent than the lesse and not perforated.

The vertues.

They make a most excellent Cordial, by which the Balsom of life oppressed, and strength decayed are notably refreshed and comforted, therefore they resist poyson, the Plague and putrefaction, they exhi∣larate the minde, and for this cause they are in such repute, that the last help even of those that are ready to die, is usually from thence expected.

Preparat.

1. They are prepared after the common manner, by making them smooth upon a Marble, now and then sprinkling them with Cordial water (as of Roses, Balm, and the like.)

2. Salt of Pearls is made by dissolving them in Vinegar, or in the juyce of Barberies and Limons, thickning the filtration to the remaining of Salt, and being thick by washing or dissolving it again, pu∣rifying it and sweetning it.

N. They need not be powdered, because whole, and without digestion they yeeld to Vine∣gar.

N. 2. Pearls washed, and if you please, bruised, are dissolved in the juyce of Citrons poured on to the height of four fingers by digestion, on the dis∣solution is poured May dew distilled, or Balm water, and the dissolution is poured off. Then new juyce of Citrons is infused, digested, and May dew is again infused, or Balm water, and decanted, &c. And this work is often repeated, till the Pearls be almost wholly dissolved, a very few feces remaining. At l••st the dissolution is made thick with a gentle fire, to the remaining of the powder.

The Dose from 6 grains to 10. in the water of May dew distilled with Manna, or in Cinamon water with Rose water.

N. Pa••acalsus attributes great vertues to the Salt

of Pearl, as to other medicines thereof prepa∣red: the processes (quoth he) of these, though sim∣ple, yet wonderful is the operation of them; yet this action of vertues is not made by Art, but is in their very nature. Which is hid in the grosse sub∣stance, and cannot operate as a dead body, but after dissolution is made its body is revived.

2. Unto this is very like the Salt or Magistery of Pearls of Riverius.

Take Pearls most finely powdered as much as thou wilt, make a paste thereof with juyce of Citrons or Oranges, and let it alone for a time. Then dissolve it with Vinegar distilled according to Art, till the Pearls be almost altogether dissolved: mingle the Vinegar with a third p••rt of River water, distill it in sand with a gentle fire, then with a stronger; being distilled, pour it again upon the Caput mortuum remaining, and dissolve it again, then filter it, and evaporate it very easily, and the remainder will be the Magistery of the Pearls.

The vertues.

Besides the vertues above said, it is a chief Preser∣vative against the Gowt.

The Dose one scruple at the most.

3. The Magistery of Pearls.

1. Common is made by dissolving it with Vinegar distilled, and precipitating it with Oyl of Tartar.

2. Butter is made, as that Buttery Magistery of Co∣ral thus;

Dissolve Pearls in the Spirit of May dew, or in distilled Vinegar, precipitate it with Oyl of Sulphur per C then sweeten and digest it for a time with Spirit of Wine, which being abstracted, thou hast a Magi∣stery melting in the mouth like Butter.

3. The feathery Dissolve Pearls according to art in spirit of Niter, then filter it, pouring distilled rain wa∣ter upon it, then precipitate it with Oyl of Sulphur per C. sweeten and dry it.

The vertues

Are to be gathered out of the aforesaid.

The Dose from 6 grains to 15.

4. The Oyl or liquor of pearls,

Is made per Deliquium; the manner is easie.

5. The Essence, Tincture, Arcanum of Pearls.

Take Pearls as much as thou wilt, dissolve them with distilled Vinegar, and make a Salt; purifie the salt thus made by frequent dissolutions in Vinegar and coagulations (the feces always cast away) until no more feces shall remain after the last dissolution, and the Pearls by that freed from all uncleannesse: then dissolve them with rain water, or May dew, and by distillation abstract the humidity, and repeat this so often, till the Pearls become sweet (this the sweet∣nessse of the water last distilled sheweth.) This Salt so freed from the feces, digest in a close vessel in M. B. 8 or 10 days with Spirit of Wine poured on to the height of two fingers; so the Pearls in that time will send their Essence like thick Oyl to the top of the Spirit of Wine, which warily separate, and pouring on new Spirit of Wine, repeat the labour as oft as thou pleasest: for almost all the Salt is converted, a very few feces left, into an Essence. This circulate a fresh with Spirit of Wine for a time, afterward by gentle distillation in B. M. separate the Spirit of Wine, and keep it for use.

The vertues

Are according to the rest, but stronger by far in respect of its very great subtilty.

The Dose from 6 grains to 14.

A secret by the Spirit of Guaiacum.

Take of Pearls powdered very small, as much as thou wilt, extract according to Art a most red tin∣cture with the Spirit of Guaiacum rectified, the re∣maining powder calcine gently, and extract again twice or thrice with new Spirit of Guaiacum. Coa∣gulate the Extracts in B. M. to the appearance of a divers coloured thin skin, which is a sign that the phlegm being abstracted there remains in a coagula∣ted form, the sole secret or Essence of Pearls with the Spirit of Guaiacum.

N 1. This Essence and Spirit can scarse be sepa∣rated asunder.

N. 2. The same Essence or Arcanum of Pearls is suddenly dissolved with water of Balm, and the like, a sufficient quantity, and is turned into a red tran∣sparent colour, of an excellent tast.

The vertues.

It cleans••th the bloud excellently, and is of great vertue in the French disease.

The Dose from 6 grains to 14.

Another Tincture.

Take Pearls half ounce, Spirit of Salt a sufficient quantity, dissolve them according to Art, decant, ab∣stract that it may become like pap, which wash off by a distilled water, circulate with Spirit of Wine 6 weeks, then abstract the Spirit of Wine, with a gen∣tle heat of B. M.

5. The flowers of Pearls.

Pearls are dissolved with distilled Vinegar, the dis∣solution is digested for a moneth, then the Vinegar is abstracted, and at length the flowers are elevated with a stronger fire.

6. The Spirit of Pearls, or the pearled Spirit of the earth.

Take of the Salt or Magistery of Pearls 6 ounces,

terra sigillat. one pound, mingle and imbibe with a sufficient quantity of Oyl of Pearls, and make Balls, which being dryed by a Retort, as the Spirit of Salt is distilled, rectifie it, and keep it for use.

The vertues.

It is a very great secret in the Gowt.