To the Reader. IT is not unknown to the world, with what general applause a certain Treatise, concerning the preservation of Eyesight, written by Doctor bailie, sometimes of Oxford, hath been accepted; which by the happy experience of many, in the doubtful cures of that kind, stands thoroughly confirmed. Being therefore unwilling that a gem of such worth should lie any longer hidden under the soil of Oblivion; and withal desirous to give a more lustre unto it, aswell for the ornament of itself, as for the good of the merchant: I have now at length resolved to set it forth in the world, to the public view and censure of the Time, newly and artificially polished with most notable Collections, out of those renowned Doctors, Fernelius, and Riolanus, written on the same Subject. Peruse the book, and make use of it. If thou findest benefit by it, thank God first, that hath made his goodness manifest to the world by his singular gifts bestowed on these most excellent men; next to the Authors themselves, for their great pains and study taken for thy profit; and lastly to me, for my goodwill and costs in the publishing of it. Farewell. I. B. A brief Treatise concerning the preservation of the eye sight. THe preservation of the sight doth consist, partly in good order of diet, partly in use of Medicines. Concerning diet: Diet. some things hurtful are to be eschewed, and some things comfortable to the sight are to be used: wherefore they, which may choose their habitations, in this respect, may make election of air clear, air. declining to moderate heat and dryness: cold and moist air, and thick, misty, and rainy weather is hurtful: it is best therefore to abide in dry places, from moory, marish, and waterish grounds and specially to provide, that the site of the dwelling be not between the wet places and the sun: Winds. Dust. Smoke. Southern winds do hurt the sight: so do low rooms: places full of dust and smoky are noisome. Meats. Meats are best which are easy to be digested, and which do not stay long in the stomach: amongst such a young Hen is greatly commended: so is Partridge and Pheasant. Rasis praiseth the young stern, and the quail: so do all writers the Dove both tame and wild, but chiefly the wild Dove, which (as Zoar writeth) hath especial virtue against the weakness of the sight, which cometh by defect of spirits, and the rather, if the same be sod with rape roots, and turnip roots: for it is accorded by all writers, that the turnip hath great faculty to do good to the eyes, and to preserve the sight. Cross and slimy meats, and all waterfoule are dispraised. Of small birds, the martin, the swallow, the jay and pie, the witwall, the specht are noted very hurtful to the sight: and albeit these birds are seldom, or not at all used of the better sort, yet common people happily may be compelled to eat them. Fish. No fish is accounted good: yet some fishes, which do skoure in gravely-places, being savoury sodden with white wine, fenel, eiebright, sage, perslie, etc. may at some times be eaten: and so a little saltfish moderately taken doth no great harm. Flesh sodden with fennel, Preparat●●● of meats eiebright, mints, sage, etc. is reputed best; next are roasted meats; flesh fried with butter or oil is to be rejected, th'entrails, entrails. and feet of beasts are not so good, nor the brains for the most part, yet the brains of an hare, of a coney, and of pigeons, Brains. are said to quicken the sight. Milk and all things made thereof are found by experience to induce dimness of sight: rear roasted, rear sodden, Milk. or poch eggs are wholesome, Eggs. especially eaten with the powder of eiebright: fried eggs and hard are blamed. Of sauces, veriuce, vinigar of wine, Sauces. and the juice of limonds, are accounted best; pomegranates, not so good. Of spices, Spices. cinnamon is commended by Auicenna, as special good so the web of the eye, and for dimness of the sight: so is saffron; ginger, both inwardly taken, and outwardly applied, doth singularly clear the sight: cloves, mace, and nutmegs, and all three kinds of peppers, may be used. Sugar is convenient to condite things, but honey is better: 〈…〉. no oil is good, save pile olive called salad oil, and that is better than butter. 〈◊〉 herbs. Albeit few raw herbs in common use for salads are commended, except fennel, eiebright, young sage, terragone, which are very good: yet these are to be avoided as most hurtful, namely lettuce, coleworts, cabbages, beets, spinach, purslane, buds of dill, garlic, chibbols, onions, skallions, 〈…〉 etc. Gapers may be eaten: Olives not so good: radish roots, persnep roots, are greatly dispraised: carrot roots, the buds of asperage may be eaten, 〈◊〉 Rape 〈◊〉 Turnip. but the turnup or rape root, and the navew root are above all other noted for excellency to preserve the sight, and to that purpose many do preserve with sugar these roots, and eat them as sucket. equites. ●eares. apples. The most kinds of fruits are hurtful to the sight: yet pears and the better kinds of apples, may be eaten with the powder of eiebright, or with fennel seeds thinly incrusted with fine sugar: ●igges. figs are very good, not only for the sight, but also to open, scour, and to cleanse the breast, liver, stomach and kidneys: raisins. so are raisins, which have a special property to strengthen the liver: nuts are very evil, Nuts. for that they do fill the head: the walnut more tolerable than the hazel nut, chestnuts are very windy, better friends for Venus, then for the eyes: dates are not commended, nor mulberries. Dates. Confects Confectes made with fine sugar and thinly incrusted about with turnip seeds, and navew seeds, fennel seeds, anise seeds almonds, pine apple kernels, ginger, cinnamon, the powder of eiebright, etc. are reputed as very good means to continue the sight: likewise in the preservation of the sight, amongst other things, such drinks, Drinks. as are in common use and accustomed, are to be allowed: therefore he that hath used to drink beer, Beer. may not forsake the same and so of ale. And in this respect it is not amiss at meat to drink wine, Wine. for them which have been accustomed to the same: although wine in some affects of the eyes is forbidden, yet to preserve the sight, wine is not inconvenient, for the vapours of wine are drying, clear abstersive, and so do consume and extenuate gross and thick humours, so it be moderately taken. In this place I do greatly commend their counsels, which do prepare medicinable drinks with eiebright, medicinal ●●inkes. and other things comfortable for the sight, to be used in the morning, and at meats, if the patient can well endure so to drink the same: our authors herein are very ingenious, some addressing drinks with one thing, and some with another. ●rinke ●ade with ●●●bright. The simplest and most written of, is with the herb called of the Arabians Adhill, in Latin Euphragia, in English Eiebright, of whose miraculous virtues in preservation of the sight, ●rnoldus 〈◊〉 villa no●● Arnoldus de villa nova hath written in these words: Eiebright is good any way taken, either with meat, ●he praise 〈◊〉 eiebright 〈◊〉 the sight. drink or medicine, green and dry, against all impediments of the sight, whereby the clearness of the same may be obscured. And he writeth thus of wine made with Eiebright, 〈…〉 which he calleth Vinum euphragtatum. This wine (saith he) is made by putting the herb in the must or new wine, until the same wine become clear to be drunk. By the use of this wine, old men's sights are made young, it taketh away the impediments of the sight in all men's of all ages, especially in fat men, and such which do abound with phlegm. One (saith he) which was blind, and did see nothing in long time, by using this wine one year, was restored to his sight. The herb is hot and dry, and hath by property of substance to remove affects of the sight. Eiebright taken in an egg. And so the powder of the herb taken in an egg, or drunken in wine, doth wonderfully perform the same. And there are yet alive (saith he) witnesses of good credit, which have made proof hereof in themselves, which could not read without spectacles, but by use hereof have recovered their sight to read small letters. And so Arnoldus concludeth, that nothing to do good to the sight, is to be compared with wine made with eiebright. If the wine be too strong, he counseleth to allay the same with fennel water; and to that intention, you may also add sugar. In countries which for their common drinks do use wine and water, they always do mingle things for the sight in wine, and not in water: for wine in truth is a fitter liquor to receive the qualities and to carry the same to the eyes, than water: which things they do put in the must, and so let it stand, until the wine be ripe, and ready to be drunken, and so do use it. Notwithstanding in other Countries which have other usual drinks, Eiebright may be used in beer, in ale, or mead the same things may be put in their common drinks, So some have put them in ale, some in beer and some in mead, and no doubt but all these means are very good according to the usage and disposition of the party. So even in this our Country they which either by use or by constitution of body, may well bear the drinking of wine, may well compound the same with things good for the sight others of hot complexions and dry, not greatly accustomed to wine, may of ale, beer, and mead make such drinks, because in the North countries, ale and beer are the usual and common drinks, and in some places, mead also is much used: therefore in mine opinion it is convenient for most men, to make these drinks with ale, beer, and mead, rather than with wine: and mead assuredly is a very convenient thing for them which can well away with honey. How Eyesight wine may be used. Touching the direction of those which have been accustomed to drink wine, I do nothing doubt, but that they may with out offence bear such drinks for the sight compounded with wine, to take a draft in the morning, especially if the alloy the same with the distilled water of fennel, according to Arnoldus counsel. And for this purpose, choice may be made of very good white wine, and the things may be mingled in the countries where the wine doth grow, notwithstanding in that our most used drink with meat is ale, or beer, The use of Eiebright ale, and of Eiebright beer. these are very convenient to receive these things for the sight, and absolutely better than wine, if ye like to drink the same with meat: as our authors do counsel. Which ale I think better to be made with grout according to the old order of brewing. Ale made with grout. And so the things for the sight may be sodden in the grout, or other way put in the drink, when it is newly cleansed, How to make Eiebright Ale and beer. & put into the vessel in which it is tunned to be kept that in the working of the drink in the vessel, the virtues and qualities of the things may be drawn and received into the same. When these things are compounded in mead, Eiebright mead. than the same are sodden with the honey, in such order as other herbs are sodden, when they make metheglin. I think it best to begin with the simplest order to compound ale or beer to each man's best liking with eiebright only, taking to every gallon of the drink a great handful of the herb, The quantity of eiebright to the drink. and bind it together, or put it in raw and thin tinsel of silk, and so tie the same by a string to the tap of the vessel, that the herb may hang in the midst of the drink, not too low in the ground, neither to high in the barm, being put into the drink when it is newly cleansed: let all work together until the drink be clear and ripe, to be drunken according to the common use, and then ye may drink of it at pleasure in the morning fasting, and at meat also if you will, and can well like thereof; and most men may like to drink it, because this herb doth yield no ungrateful taste, but rather with a pleasant sapour doth commend the drink. It were not amiss, to avoid windines, to every handful of the herb to add two drams of fennel seeds, Fenell seeds. well dusted, and a little bruised. As I do put this for more proportion to begin withal, that the stomach be not at the first offended with the strangeness: So after a time, ye may increase the quantity, and put to every gallon of the drink, two handfuls of the herb, wherein ye may best be directed by the taste, that the herb shall yield into the drink. Spices may be added. In the winter season ye may also add some spices, as ginger, whole mace, a few cloves, nutmegs, cinnamon, and make as it were bragget ale: which drink, besides that it doth preserve and clear the sight, will also help digestion, cleanse and cut phlegm, and break wind. I can witness, The effect confirmed by examples. that many by this simple composition of eiebright and fennel seeds, have found great good for their sight, not only to continue in good estate, but also that some have found remedy against the dimness and other impediments, growing in their sight. In truth once I met an old man in Shropshire, called M. hoard, above the age of 84. years, who had at that time perfect sight, and did read small letters very well without spectacles: he told me that about the age of 40. years, finding his sight to decay, he did use Eiebright in ale for his drink, and did also eat the powder thereof in an egg three days in a week, being so taught of his father, who by the like order continued his sight in good integrity to a very long age. I have heard the same confirmed by many old men Rowland Sherlooke an Irish man, Physician to Queen Marie, did affirm for truth, that a Bishop in Ireland perceiving his sight to wax dim, about his age of fifty years, by the use of eiebright taken in powder in an egg, did live to the age of 80 years, with good integrity of sight. Drinks more compounded for the sight. We do read of many drinks to preserve the sight, compounded not of eiebright only, but many more things added: so some put to it sage, some vervain, some celendine, and fennel seeds, anise seeds, & the forenamed spices: others elecampane roots, iris, galengale, & cubebs, and in truth all these are greatly commended to preserve the sight, and may very aptly be put in drinks for the sight: notwithstanding, for that we are now to deliver a drink for the sight, which may be pleasing, and allowed with meats, mine opinion is, that the same aught to be made as simple as may be. For if Galen in his 6. book de sanitate tuenda, doth prefer the composition of the medicine termed diatrion piperion, which hath fewest simples, because (as he writeth) that is soonest & with less trouble to nature digested: The most compound not always best. surely the drinks for the sight, which are compounded of fewest things, are most to be commended, especially when we mean to use the same with meat, as all our authors do counsel us. Wherefore, for my part at this time, I will only advise to have for use, either wine, or ale, or beer, according to each man's best liking, made as it is before prescribed with eiebright and fennel seeds, and to drink of the same in the morning, or if it so like with meat, as other drink. It is holded better to drink oft and small draughts at meat, Drink often and small draughts. than seldom and great draughts; for so meat and drink will better mingle, and the meat will less swim in the stomach, Not best to begin the meal with drink. which giveth cause of many vapours to the head. It is affirmed not good to begin the meal with drink, but to eat somewhat before you drink. When you drink wine if you mean to allay the same with water, When to mingle water with wine it is best to mingle to the wine fennel water, or eiebright water, and Montagnana doth counsel to do the same some reasonable time before you do drink, and not presently when you drink, as commonly men do. Bread in our intention is to be made of fine flower of chosen wheat, Bread. always leavened and salted somewhat more than common bread, well wrought, thoroughly baked, not new nor old, of about a day or two days old. Past with fenil seeds. unleavened bread is not accounted good: and the bread is better, if fennel seeds be wrought with the past; to which purpose some do cause cakes to be made of some portion of the dowgh, in which they knead the powder of fennel seeds, and the powder of eiebright, and do eat them in the morning, and after drink the eiebright drink, and make that a breakfast. evacuation. As generally in the preservation of health: so especially to continue the sight, it is convenient that the body be obedient, and do his office for evacuation accordingly: and if nature herein be slack, it may be procured with broths made of loose herbs, as mallows, violet leaves, mercury, ground sell, great raisins the stones taken out, damask prunes and currants: and if need be of more medicinal things, surely the same must be gentle: for as strong medicines, which make agitation of humours are not good to be used for this intention: so gentle medicines taken in due time, do great good to the sight: which I do leave to the appointment and direction of a learned Physician. Of all manner of evacuation, these which are done by vomiting are most hurtful: so are fluxes of blood by the nose. And as belkes do ease the stomach, so much belching giveth occasion that fumes do arise to the forepart of the head, whereby the sight may be harmed. Nothing is more hurtful to health then fullness. Fullness hurtful. And he that will continue his sight good, must be careful of over-plentifull feeding, and therefore must end his meals with appetite: and never lay gorge upon gorge, but so feed, that the former meat may be concocted, before he do eat again. It is best to make light suppers, and somewhat timely. Use of Venus. As modest use of Venus performed in the fear of God in due time, when the meat in the stomach is digested, and nature is desirous to be disburdened, is to be allowed: so immoderate and unseasonable use thereof, doth of all things most hurt the sight, and soon induce blindness: overmuch watching is not good: very long sleeps are more hurtful: Sleep and watching. the mean sleeps of about seven. hours, are best: yet better to abridge the sleep and to enlarge watching, then chose: sleep taken in the night is best, as most natural, when external air doth not distract nature's motion, and all external things concur to help sleep, therefore the more hours a man doth borrow of the day for sleep, the worse. It is not good especially to this our purpose, to sleep immediately after meat: for two hours at the least ought to be put between meat and sleep. Best to begin sleep upon the right side, and then to turn on the left side: to sleep upright upon the back is nought generally: to turn upon the face worse for the sight. The Moon shine hurtful to the sight. Care must be had that you sleep not in a chamber, or any place in which the Moon doth shine. Exercises. Exercises are needful: the same best, after the belly hath done his office, that the excrements are a voided: otherwise by exercise vapours are stirred, and do ascend more plentifully to the head. Writing after meat. All exercises must be done fasting, and none after meat. And I wish you might after meat for bear writing by the space of three hours: but if your course of life and calling will not so permit you, you may herein follow Montagnana his counsel, to write either standing upright, or a little leaning and resting your head upon your right or left cheek: in no case to write bowing yourself forward, and holding down the head. When opportunity and time will serve, frictions with a rough linen cloth are very good, Frictions. which are to be performed thus: first to rub the feet, the legs, than the thighs, the hips, the buttocks, ascending to the shoulders and neck with soft and long rubbings, even until the parts begin to wax red. Amongst orders to remove the weakness of the sight, Auicenna writeth that the combing of the head is not of least force, Combing the head. which ought to be done every morning fasting backwards against the hair for it draweth the vapours out of the head, and removeth them from the sight. Affections of the mind. Mirth, joy, and pleasantness of the mind is good: a little anger doth not hurt: immoderate sorrow, fearfulness, and all vehement affections are forbidden in all affects, but in this our case chiefly, as most hurtful to the sight. To preserve the sight by Medicines. THE order to preserve the sight by medicines, doth consist of things outwardly applied, Outward Medicines. & inwardly taken. Amongst outward medicines to preserve the sight, it is accounted a great secret, to smell much to marierum. The smell of marierun. So these things following, are sound very much to comfort the sight in staying the visible spirits from wasting: videlicet, Things comfortable to the sight. coral, pearl, the stone called Lapis Armenius, spectacles of Crystalline or clear and pure glass, green & sky colours, to dip the eyes in cold water, to which purpose, many have cups made in the form of an eye, Eye cups. called eie-cups: & to wash the eyes with the waters or decoctions of eiebright, roses, Things put into the eyes. and vervain. Some other things are put into the eyes to clear the sight, & to remove impediments which do often grow there: to which purpose as approved very good & without hurt, the juices & waters of eiebright, of fennel, of vervain, of marigolds, of pearlwort are greatly commended. And Montagnana doth mention a certain kind of preparation of the juice of fennel, A preparation of the juice of fennel. singular good to preserve the sight from dimness, to take the juice of fennel in the month of April, and to put it in a vessel of glass, with a long and narrow neck, and let it stand fifteen days in the sun, that it may be well dried, then remove the glass softly, that you do not trouble the residue, or grounds, and so power it into another vessel: and to every half pound of the juice, put an ounce of chosen lignum aloes, beaten into fine powder, Lignum aloes. good for the sight. and let it stand other fifteen days in the Sun. Then strain it twice through a thick cloth, and keep the clearest in a vessel of glass to your use: you may drop a little hereof into your eyes to clear the sight. And some do distill this wood in a stillatory of glass, and put the water thereof into the eyes, and hold this for a great secret as miraculous to preserve the sight. And the same Montagnana doth compound another medicine more abstersive to remedy the dimness of the sight, dissolving in an ounce of the water of Rosemary flowers, Sal gemma doth clear the sight. two scruples of Sal gemma very finely powdered, and filtered, and counseleth to drop the same often into the eyes; affirming by his experience, that it doth so mightily clear the sight, that suffusions are thereby wonderfully removed, and especially moistures of the eyes. I am here also in this place for the cleansing and strenghtning of the eyes especially to commend unto you the frequent use of old and clear white wine, in which the Calaminar stone hath been oftentimes extinguished: and likewise the pure liquor of good sugar-candy dissolved in the white of an egg, being hard roasted and the yolk taken out. The urine of a child. Also our authors do commend the washing of the eyes with the urine of a child, and sometimes to drop the same into the eyes. A lie of fenel stalks. And for this purpose also they do commend lie made of the ashes of fennel stalks. We do read in all our writers great commendations, A preparation of the liver of a Goat for the sight. of a liquor of the liver of a goat, prepared in manner following. Take the liver of a male goat, not diseased, nor newly killed: and after it is well washed, prick it in many places, and fill the same with grains of pepper, and infarce the liver with the leaves of fennel and of eiebright, then roast it with a soft fire clear, not smoky, until it be reasonably roasted: and in the time of roasting, receive the liquor which doth distill, in a convenient vessel, and apply the same to your use. Auicenna in his third fen. third book and fourth treatise, cap. de debilitate visus, above all other things doth commend the medicine called collyrium de fellibus, Collyrium de fellibus for that it cleanseth the pores of the eyes, cleareth and conserveth the spirits, mundifieth the moistures or waters of the sight: as you may read in Auicenna in the foresaid place. Inward Medicines. Medicines to be taken inwardly are in number many: but I think best at this time to mention a few, which are easy to be had, and as of great efficacy most commended: & of such the powder following is most simple: A powder for the sig●● yet by experience approved of such force that many, after their sight hath been decayed, have by the use of it, received again the same perfectly: the powder is thus made. Take of the powder of eiebright four ounces, of mace one ounce, mingle them together, and take thereof the weight of three pence before meat. Montanus in his 92. counsel giveth great praise to a syrup, A syrup for the sight. against the decay of the sight through the weakness and dimness of the same, which he compoundeth thus. Take of the juices of fennel, of each two ounces. of vervain, of each two ounces. of roses, of each two ounces. The leaves of the herb eiebright of each M. S. of endive, of each M. S. of celendine. of each M. S. boil the herbs in two pints of water until the half be spent: then strain it hard, and mingle the juices with the decoction, and with sugar according to art make a syrup, which is to be kept in a glass vessel. You may take two ounces of this syrup in the morning fasting. In windy bodies he maketh the syrup thus, Take of fennel seeds, of each iij. ounces. of anise seeds. of each iij. ounces. of the herbs of eiebright of each M. iij. of vervain, of each M. iij. of rose-leaves, of each M. iij. of celendine. M. i. of rhue. M. i. S. boil these in water until half be consumed: strain it hard, and with sugar siruppize the decoction: both these syrups are excellent good to defend the sight from dimness. Mesue in his book called Grabadin, An excellent electuary 〈◊〉 preserve the fight. writing of the diseases of the eyes, above all other medicines extolleth an electuary under the name of Human, as having noble vettues to perserue the eyes, and to continue the visible spirits in their clearness, which he compoundeth thus. Take the herb called Adhil, that is eiebright, ounces, ij. fennel seeds, dram. v. mace, of each Dra. i. cubebs, of each Dra. i. cinnamon, of each Dra. i. long-peper, of each Dra. i. cloves. of each Dra. i. beat all into powder, searce it, then take of good honey clarified, lib. i. of the juice of fennel boiled and clarified, one ounce. of the juice of Rhue of Celendine both boiled and clarified, of each half an ounce. boil all to the height of an electuary, and then put to it the powders according to art, and so reserve it in glass vessels. You may take hereof the quantity of Dra. iij, in wine as Mesue writeth: If wine seem too hot, you may allay it with fennel water, or with Eiebright water: it must be taken in the morning fasting: and you ought to forbear the taking of other things, by the space of three hours, and so at night, but than you must make a light supper, and sup the more timely. Distilled ●aters. Where in this little Treatise mention is made of distilled waters, I wish the same to be artificially done in stillitories of glass, that the qualities of the herbs may remain in the distilled waters. And therefore I do not allow of the common manner of distilling in stillirories of lead, by the which the watery parts only are drawn. FINIS. A Treatise of the principal diseases of the eyes, gathered out of Fernelius and john Riolamus Doctors of Physic AS the Eyes are of a delicate and soft nature, so are they by the most light occasion offended, as by smoke, by dust, and the Sun beams: so the north wind, and vapours rising from minerals do hurt the eyes. But this peculiar property the eyes have, that they congeal not because they are of a fiery property, and do consist of an airy fatness. The eyes are subject to every kind of disease, Simeler, Organical, and common as the similer parts do labour with every distemperature, with an hot distemperature, as often as they are offended with smoke, or dust, which offence proceeding from an outward cause, is properly called Taraxis, redness of the eyes is more like unto Phlogosis, than Phlegmon because they arred without tumour. A cold distemperature doth dull the sight. A moist doth dilate the pupil: A dry distemperature doth either shrink up the whole eye, or the pupil thereof is dried or extenuated, as it happeneth in extreme old age, or by the immoderate use of venery. From thence Pthisis, and an Atrophia happeneth of the eye: I call that Pthisis which is an extenuation of the pupil, or apple, and becometh more angustior, and streyter, and more obscure: but that is an Atrophia, when the whole eye is consumed for want of nourishment. And as the Instrument doth suffer diseases of number, of magnitude, of situation and conformation, (I say) conformation in the figure, Meatus, and asperity, for it is a disease in magnitude, as often as the eyes are more great, and more standing forth then they should, for the lesser eyes are best, because the visible virtue being coacted and drawn together is greater than when it is dispersed, and is least subject to outward injuries: from whence it doth happen, that those which by nature have small balls or apples of the eye, have their sight most sharp, I mean not those which have it so by accident, as if they be extenuated by immoderate venery, for then things seem to be greater than they are: to this may be referred Enchanthis, and Rhinas', for they are the contrary of the same kind. Encanthis is an excrescence of the same flesh which is in the greater Cantho, but Rhinas' is when the same caruncle being eroded and eaten, doth appear as it were hanging forth. To diseases of number, do appertain Suffusio, which is commonly called the Cataracte, which is an humour concreate between the Cornea, and the Vuea: in like manner, the web called Pterigium and Onyx or Vngula and Hipopion. The web is a neruose membrane, which according to divers men, doth proceed from the great corner unto the apple, and sometimes at length doth cover the whole eye. Onyx or Vnguis is a Cicatrix from some ulcer, which is referred to the likeness of a nail. Hypopion is a certain Pus, collected under the Cornea, which doth succeed a suppurated inflammation & Chemosi, Hyposphagmati bloody and suggillat eyes, such as are when some vein is opened, broken, or gnawn, the blood waxeth blue and lived: To diseases of Site or situation doth appertain Ecpiesmos, which is, when the whole ball hangeth forth, which happeneth by the Muscles relaxed, which muscles do obuolue the optic nerve, which disease may be called Prolapsus oculi, although Paulus doth call it Proptosin, when the Cornea being eroded or eaten, the Vuea doth hang forth, of which Proptoseos there are divers names, for first when the vuea doth hang forth, because it appeareth like unto the head of a Fly, it is called Myocephalos, but when it doth increase more, and doth represent Acinum vuae, it is called Staphiloma, when it doth more increase, and the eye is stark blind and hath the likeness of the head of a nail, it is called Claws, but either affect is Morbus in situ, but the first is of the whole eye, the latter of one only part, that is of the vuea. Diseases of conformation are, when the natural figure of the eye is perverted, as in Strabismo or convulsion, Midriasei or dilatation of the ball: also diseases in Via, as a sudden obstruction of the Optic nerve, which is called Hamarosis. The Sick seeth nothing at all, when notwithstanding no cause appeareth in the eye, the tunicles of the eyes ought to be light, terse▪ and fair are sometimes exasperated with an inward and outward cause, as with smoke and dust. The eyes do suffer most often common diseases, as ulcers, and tumours against nature, first phlegmon, which is called Opthalmia, that is known by tumour, inflammation, redness and pain. The ulcers do manifest themselves by itch, by pain and Saines, but not also the Adn●ta, but also the Cornea is sometimes ulcered, and whether it be ulcered, we may easily know by this sign: There doth appear a white spot in the black of the eye, with the signs aforesaid: and when the Coniunctiva is ulcered there doth appear as it were a red spot in the white of the eye: But first, I will set down the manner of curing of those diseases, and then I will speak of the Symptoms. The precept of Plato in Charmide is familiar with Galen. Even as it is in vain to cure the diseases of the head without consideration be first had of the whole, so rashly to prescribe remedies to the eyes, except we first consider of the head, where is the original both of the eyes and the fountain of all diseases which come by defluxion. Therefore first of all the body is to be purged with pillulis lucis maioribus in a cold cause, and in an hot cause, with pil. lucis minoribus, or with Sena and Agarick which shall be boiled in a decoction, or with the distilled waters of Fenel and Eyebright, with which vehicles the purgative virtue is carried to the eyes: and consider that the Agarik doth especially profit the brain, and the Senna the eyes. The opening of a vein in hot diseases is profitable, but not in cold, yet the common people do hold an opinion that blood-letting doth weaken the sight, for it draweth the animal spirits and so doth weaken their force, because the vapour of blood or the natural spirit is the matter of the vital spirit, as here of the animal: for the eyes ought to be fiery and full of Animal Spirit. Masticatoria, without doubt, do profit to the derivation of the humour from the brain, but your errhina are hurtful, especially the stronger sort, because they draw to the part affected, for there is great affininity of the nostrils with the eyes: there is also a manifest foramen, from the eye into the nostril, whose opercle or cover is a little lacrimall flesh. But some man may say Aerius doth prescribe errhina: I answer those are the lighter sort, neither is the disease as yet confirmed, but now being confirmed and the humour fixed and not flowing, Cupping glasses adplied to the shoulders doth pluck back the flux from the eyes, even as a Seton, and Cautier, in Inio john de Vigo doth apply behind the ears bloodsuckers and Vesicatorium, as Vesicatorium. Recip. Fermenti acris one ounce. Cantharidum et Seminis Synapi, one dram. Mix them for a Vesicatorium. There Fernelius willeth to apply a cautier, and doth give a reason that from thence a branch from the iugular vain springeth and doth run through to the Optic Nerves. As often as the veins of the forehead do swell, they show the flux to be external and the tumour to descend from the pericoranium from whence springeth the coniunctiva, which flux is profitably stayed with some adstringent frontal, such as in this manner may be prepared. Recip. Emplast. contra rupturam desiccatini rubri an. one ounce. Malax them with oil of myrtles or roses, and spread it upon linen and make a frontal, which apply all over the forehead: or, Recep. Farinae volatilis an ounce & a half. boli armeni et Sanguinis Draconis ana. two drams. Work them well together with the white of eggs and oil of roses, and make a frontal as before. Also topical means applied to the head are not to be neglected. For this is a general precept, as often as diseases come by defluxion. we must not only respect that part that is offended but also that part that sends it. Beside a thin humour is to be engrossed and made thicker, and the lax ways are to be made straighter: this last prescribed frontal is most excellent, but first cephalical things and such as respect the head must be remembered. The use of Eyebright wine doth confirm and strengthen weak and ill affected eyes or the powder of Eyebright as, Recep. Euprasiae, Feniculi dulc. ana one ounce. Cum duplo Saccharo, take of it after meals or, Recep. Coriandri praeparat. one ounce. Euphrasiae et feniculi an. half an ounce. Cinamomi. one dram. Macis. two scruples. With the double weight of Sugar make a powder to be taken out of a spoon after meals, if you please you may boil the juices of Fenel and Eyebright with honey and make a confection: of which take morning and evening the quantity of a Walnut. For general things outwardly to be applied, I will prescribe two Colliriums, the one in hot diseases to be prescribed in the beginning of the flux, that it may be repelled, the other in the state and declination of hot diseases, and in cold also, they may at all times be used, the first Colirium shall be after this manner. Recip. Muccaginis Semi. Psyl●●. et Cydoniorum, extractae in aqua Rosarum, vel plantaginis, an. half an ounce with two ounces. Of the same water make a liquid Colirium: it is commonly made with the white of a new laid egg, being wrought together with rose-water or Plantain water: a Colirium to resolve is made in this manner. Recip. Muccaginis faenugreci extracted with Eyebright water or Fenel water an. one ounce make a Colirium, or with two ounces of the same water make a Collirium liquidum: a little of the Mucilage is to be prescribed because it doth quickly grow sour. And now I ask whether your Colliriae are to be distilled into the eyes as hot as may be suffered? as it liketh Scribonius: or cold as it pleaseth Mesue, or lukewarm according to Galen: But in my opinion they are to be instilled lukewarm, unless the affect do require some other thing, for in eyes that be exceedingly inflamed and burning, we drop it in cold; but in very cold affects we drop it in very warm, otherwise meanly warm doth always serve the turn. Now to proceed to cure those diseases whereof we have already spoken: every distemperature is cured by his contrary: as eyes that be inflamed and overhot, shall be cooled with the daily washing of them with cold things, or with the waters of Roses and Plantain: but if the distemperature be cold, we warm the eyes with putting in the waters of Eyebright, Fennell, Rue, Celendine, washing them often therewith: if the eyes be over-moist we dry them if we macerat tutia in those waters, as for example. Recip. Tutiae one dram. Infuse it in eyebright water two ounces, make a Collirium if the eyes be over dry we humect them by instilling woman's milk, or with a fotus of mallows, holy hocks and violets: But if some matter be joined with the distemperature, let it be resolved with a Collirium of the Mucilage of Fenugreeke extracted in the aforesaid waters; or wash the eyes with the decoction of Fenugreeke, with a sponge, or boil a bag being filled with Fenugreeke in water, and apply the bag to the eye warm: hitherto we have spoken of the Similer disease, now we will speak of organical, and first of diseases of magnitude. If the eyes shall be greater or lesser than they should be from their first conformation, all remedies are unprofitable: if they happen so by accident, as by some flux from the brain, all the body is often to be purged, the moist eyes are to be dried, we must look to the head that is over-moist with cephalical things. Also Cautiers must be applied to dry up the offending humour: we must apply for Topical, linen dipped in the water of Rue, Celendine, or Eyebright, and the infusion of Tutia, or the bag filled with Fenugreeke, or of the same hydrotical Decoction of the infusion of Tutia make a Collirium. Encanthis groweth whiles the blood doth more abundantly flow to the caruncle for nourishment, which being turned into the same substance groweth greater than it ought to do: sometimes it is so great that it hindereth the eye lids to be shut: it is burnt with gold, or else with a burning iron, or else cut off, or when it doth surmount it is bound with a thread, after it is softly bound up, and after being destitute of nourishment, the excrescence doth fall away of its own accord. Our ancient Physicians called this kind of remedy Anabronchismon, if the sick be of a delicate constitution and shall refuse the Chirurgery, let the excrescence be eaten away with burnt Alum or with oil of vitriol: but it must be diligently corrected with rose-water or milk, for the exquisite sense of the part. In the mean time while these things are a doing, we must defend the eye with some defensure to avoid the offence of a flux. Rhyas doth oftentimes succeed Epiphora if the Caruncle be plainly eaten it admitteth no cure: but if some part be only eaten, the flesh may be regenerated by applying incarnatives as tutia, aloes. thus, or infuse the same in succo granatorum, and being strained instill it by drop meal into the greater corner of the eye. But perhaps you will say will you mix adstringents with your incarnatives, such as is the juice of Pomegranates? which is altogether forbidden by Galen: lest the dry excrement should be retained in the part. But hitherto of diseases of magnitude: now follow diseases of number. Of the Web of the Eye. Chap. 3. Pterigium gooweth by the defluxion of thick and gross humours, being soft and white in the beginning. Dioscorides doth commend a Collirium of Snails, they are to be burned whole, and the powder to be mixed with honey, the powder of the cuttle bone or the pummis stone may be also mixed with honey as before; If you would have it stronger, mix a little salt Armoniac, but first foment the eye with a decoction of Fenugreeke. Aetius useth to burn Plantain seed, and addeth to the powder myrrh, and also the scales and flower of brass, but we should apply no metals to the eyes, except it be first burnt and washed, for by the burning and washing, the sharpness and biting quality is removed, and so it doth raise no flux, of which our chiefest care should be. Also we may use oil of vitriol, but it must be well corrected with milk: but ye shall note that a great and inveterate web can be cured by no means but by Chirurgery: such are those that cover the whole ball and black, of the eye: webs gross and thick, black: and which do affect the temples, by consent are in no hand to be meddled withal. In like manner if there be suspicion of a Catarhact beginning, and there be also a web that is white and soft, we must abstain from things eating, because they generate and increase the Catarhact. Aetius & Celsus do show Chirurgery, and especially Paulus Aegneta in his 6. book and Cha 28. where he doth show a double kind of cure; the first, that the web be stretched once with a thread, & then with a lancet to be excoriated; the second, to make a passage with a needle that may contain a thread or setam (which is the bristle of an hog) and so hanging with the thread the web shall be cut with the bristle about the apple as it were with a saw, and that which doth remain about the lachrimall, shall with the lancet be cut away. Of the Hypopion or matter under the Cornea. Chap. 4. Because that Hypopion followeth to Hyposphagma, that is, eyes that are bloody by means of some vein being rupted, or open, which is also called Aimalops, because in this affect all things seem red: therefore the bloodshotten eyes must be quickly looked unto, least by neglect it grow into a leady colour, and then doth suppurate and degenerate into Hypopion, for that happeneth to the eye that happeneth to the skin by some blow, and groweth when corrupt matter is in great abundance, so that it doth occupy half the black of the eye, or shineth through the horny coat, which covereth the whole apple of the eye: this affect may rise not only of an ulcer, but also of great pain in the head, or inflammation in the eye that is corrupted, and besides inflammation, it may grow from abundance of humours which do break open the mouths of the veins: also, or stroke or falls may make the blood disperse and fly abroad, which turneth to suppuration ad Pus when it is out of their proper vessels. To prevent the inconveniences, the patient must forthwith be let blood in the arm, and in the temples, and in the corner of the eyes: if it be possible also we must use cupping glasses upon the shoulders, and such medicines as may stay inflammations: afterwards, we must use such medicines as do resolve and assuage pain, such as these. Recip Cadmie one ounce. aeris usti. half an ounce. Rosarum siccar. four drams. Croci. one dram. Folii. one dram. Lapidis Sus. one dtamme. Mirrhae two drams. Gummi six drams. Beat them with sweet wine, and use them with an egg. Also a Collirium ex Thure called Diolibanum. Recip. Thuris. Cerusae an. one ounce and a half. Cadmia Pompholigis. Terrae sanctae. Amili. Gummi an. six dramms Opii. two drams. Squam aeris one ounce. Tragacanth. five dramms. Let this be framed with rain water, Or this. Recip. Croci, Aloes, Myrrha, an. one dram, Vini three drams, Mellis six drams. Let the Saffron be dissolved in wine, then let it be mixed with honey, and kept in a glass vessel, with which, twice or thrice a day anoint the eyes. If these medicines and remedies do not prevail, than we must try another way: let the patient be set in a convenient place, having one to stay his head behind, then let the Chirurgeon hold his with one hand with the instrument called Speculum oculi, described in Parcus Chirurgery, and with the other hand, with the point of a lancet he shall neatly and cunningly scarify the horny tunicle, until he come to the corrupted and slimy matter, which he shall make to avoid by little and little: After this work ended, he shall use repercussive medicines, and medicines avoiding and ceasing pain, as the white of an egg beaten with rose and plantain waters, and then apply the remedies which shall be set down for ulcers in the eyes, which be cleansing, increasing flesh, and closing up: Moreover the Chirurgeon must be very careful lest flesh grow in the incision of the Membrain, which will bring both hurt, and also deformity to the party; to prevent which, this Collyrium is much available, and also commended, and doth also prevent inflammation. Recip. Gummi. Arabic. six drams. Spodii. four drams. Thuris. Mirrhae. Acatiae. Spicaenard. Squamae aeris. Opii an. two drams. With rain water bring them to a perfect form, and then make them into small trociskes, and when you will use them, wet them in the white of an egg with rose and plantain waters. Of Strabismus. Strabismus is an evil motion of the Muscles, moving the eyes, or a convulsion of the eyes, which if it be unnatural is uncurable, and that which cometh by accidents, is hardly or never to be cured, unless perhaps it be in infants: for the eye, for example's sake, being convulsed, is reduced ad levam Rasis, and Avicen doth commend the blood of a Turtle to be instilled: also the pie is eaten with profit, and the powder thereof is referred into a Collyrium: some suppose that the head of a Bat being burnt and powdered; others commend the head of a Swallow taken by insufflation. Of Amaurosis, or Gutta Serena, or Obfuscatio, stark blindness, or Hallucinatio. Chap. 5. Amaurosis is commonly an hindrance to the whole sight, without any appearance at all in the eye, for the apple appeareth sound and unchanged, only the Neruus opticus is stopped: this disease is uncurable, because there are no remedies therefore: wherefore as yet the humour being not settled as Aetius doth testify, that he saw one that did recover the sight, only with the applying of cupping glasses with scarification. Remedies are not to be neglected, often purgation with pills of Iod, with Trochisks of Alhandall, Hydroticks, Masticatoria, and also vehement Errhina are not to be neglected, for in this only affect of the eyes they do good, the brain must be dried with a cap fit for the same, cautiers must be applied at the root of the ear, for that cause remembered by Fernelius, and in Inio for rewlsion, beware you forget not to use cupping glasses. When the eye is exasperated, anoint it with fresh butter, aed instilling therein woman's milk, also the mucilage of philium, of quinces, of fenugreek, and of tragagant are to be applied, let the Mucilage be drawn in the decoction of Mallows, Holyhocks, Violets etc. Aetius doth much commend this salve. Recip. Croci. one dram. Mirrhae one dram. Piper. gran. 15. Spicaenard. two scruples. Succi feniculi sixteen drams. Ammoniac. Thimiamat two drams. Mellis six ounces. When they are all beaten finely, power into them the juice of Fennell, than beat them again until they be dry, afterwards pur the honey unto them, and keep this salve in a brazen box for your use,: before you use this salve, you must have a fomentation of Sea water hot, wherein dip a sponge and often bathe the eyes, also a Cucupha or cap prepared as followeth. Recip. Flor. lavendula. Stacados. Hysopi. Beton. Camomile. an. p. 1. Ros. rub. p. 2. Calami aromat. Ligni Aloess Ciperi an. one dram. Fol. lauri. Maioramau p. 1. Nucis muscat. Rad. ireos. Cinamoni an. two drams and a half. Gariphil. one dram and a half. Stiraces call. one dram. Ambrae griseae. gran. 6. Musci gran. 4. Beat all these to fine powder, and therewith make a cap quilted, or quilt bags, and apply to the head. This electuary is commended to comfort the stomach, and to prevent the engendering of gross phlegm in the brain. Recip. cinnamon. oped 1 dram, 1. scruple. Gariophil. Ligni Aloes. Maceris an. half a dram. Zinzib. half a scruple. Anisipul. one scruple. Make all into powder, and take the equal weight in sugar to them all, and with wormwood water make into tables the weight of three drams, they are to be used in the morning three hours before dinner. I have forborn to prescribe topical means, which have little or no use in this case, because the original default is not in the eye. Of Opthalmia, or inflammation of the advata, or coniunctiva. Chap. 6. Opthalmia is properly an inflammation of the Adnata or Coniunctiva, which is known by redness, pain, heat, and stretching out: when there is redness without tumour, especially by some outward cause, as by dust and smoke, it is properly called Taraxis: when the white of the eye is so swollen upon the black, so that a kind thereof appeareth to hang forth, it is then called Chemosis: some affirm it to be Chemosis when the Membrain coniunctiva is higher lifted than the Cotnea, as if this were in an hole, which besides the redness and heat causeth the eyelids to be turned, so that they cannot cover the eye: contrary to this is Phimosis, when by some great inflammation the eyelids do stick fast each to other, and cannot be opened, but the hurt which they receive is but an accident in this disease. Epiphora, is generally taken for a sudden stream of humours in any part. As Pliny calleth epiphoram uteri or ventris, notwithstanding it is properly used for the affect in the eyes: when with great inflammation great quantity of humours flow unto them all these aforesaid affects do accompany each other: the causes are the recourse of blood, choler, phlegm, and melancholy, but most commonly blood & choler: the general our for this disease doth consist in blood-letting, diet, purging by the advise of a learned Physician because Opthalmicis Diarrheam superuenire bonum est, we must not omit to use cupping glasses upon the Shoulders with scarification which willbe good for rewlsion, also an Astringent frontal to intercept the flux, if it seem to be outwards. In the beginning a repellent Collyrium to hinder the generation of Phlegmon which must be framed of the mucilage of phillium and of quinces, and then a resolving Collyrium of the mucilage of fenugreek, being well washed from its biting quality. Abstinence from wine, in the beginning is very necessary, yet in the declination wine may be permitted even as a bath of sweet water, to contemperate the blood, is at the beginning denied, lest it should cause the humour to shed, and increase the defluxion. If the inflammation do continue the muscilages beforsaid shallbe drawn in the water of poppy, or in a decoction thereof, adding thereunto a little camphor or opium, and apply to the eye this cataplasm. Take of sodden apples iiij. ounces, and with the white of an egg and woman's milk, make a cataplasm: you must be careful to renew these medicine lest they dry over fast, and so cause heat: not long after use this Collyrium. Recip. Gummi arabici tragogant ana one dram. cerusa lota half a dram. opij gran, iij. Dissolve all with the white of an egg and woman's milk that giveth suck. In the declination of this disease this may be used. Take of the mucilage of fenugreek, and quince-seed drawn in rose-water, and eiebright-water ana. one ounce and a half, in which dissolve sarcocol in the milk of a woman that giveth suck two drams; aloes lot. one dram; myrrh half a dram: and so make an eyesalve; and where there is any great itching, or rather where the inflammation cometh of phlegm, this is a most singular Collirium. Recip. tutia prep.. aloes lota ana. half a dram. sarcocol. myrrha ana. half a scruple. sacchar. cand.. one dram. vitriol. albi half a scruple. aqua ros. aqua faniculi ana. two ounces. Boil them altogether a little while in a viol-glasse, and then drop thereof into the eye. Some commend this Collirium in all inflammations of the eyes, to take snail with the shells, and to beat them with a little salt, and thorough an hippocras bag to let the water thereof distill, which being clear put thereof into the eyes. It sometimes falleth out by unadvised applications, which doth cool and beat back, or else by some inflammation, that the natural heat is extinguished and choked, and thereupon ensueth a worse inflammation, than any of the aforenamed, which is a sphacelosous opthalmia, which doth deprive the eye of natural temperature, doth make it corrupt and utterly perish, which disease Galen in his introduction calleth grangrena opthalmon the gangrene or mortification of the eye: when this happeneth we must have recourse to proper remedies for gangrenes, changing them as the state of the disease and the part shall require. Of the suffusion of sight called Cataracta. Chap. 7. Hypochyma or Cataracta is an heap of superfluous humours made thick between the coat Cornea and the humour crystalloydes or crystallinus', directly upon the apple of the eye, swimming above the aqueus' humour in that place, which Celsus doth affirm to be void and empty: it hindereth the sight, or at the least the discerning of such things as are before our eyes. Fernelius appointeth the place of it between the membraim Vuea and the Crystalline humour: The difference thereof is borrowed from the quantity or quality; from the quantity, when it is whole, covering all the compass of the apple of the eye, in such sort that the patient cannot see any thing, sometimes it doth cover only half the apple of the eye or some part of it, either above or beneath, or in the midst, in such manner that that only part of the thing before our face can be discerned, which is placed against the part of the eye, which is affected: Some there are that do contend and affirm that this suffusion is no disease, but an outward moisture collected before the pupil, or apple of the eye, which humidity seeing that it is a substance doth not seem to be a disease, because it is a quality, and is placed under the predicament of quality: but to leave an over curious questioning, whether it be a disease, or quality, we will proceed to the cure. Now to proceed in order to the cure: first you must purge the brain, with pills that are proper for that purpose, and give them to the patient, the day before you begin your cure: then the next day following, about nine of the clock in the morning, the patient yet fasting, (provided that the cataract be ripe, and confirmed) cause him to sit overt: uhart a stool, in riding fashion, and sit on the same stool face to face, and make the parient to hold his sound eye closed with his hand, and in that sort charge him to sit steadfastly without starting, or stirring in any-wife: let another also stand behind him, and hold his head very steadfast: this done, first with your own hand lift up the over-eie-lid, and then with thy other hand put in thy needle, made for that purpose in at the greater corner of the eye, and finely trilling the tunicle called saluatella, or saluatrix, writhe always thy finger to and fro, till thou touch with the point of thy needle the corrupt water, which is indeed the cataract: and then begin by little and little, to remove that water from before the sight, to the corner of the eye, and keep it there with the point of your needle; the space of three minutes of an hour, and then remove your needle easily from it, and if it happen to rise again, bring it back the second time: but this you must beware of, that when the needle hath touched the catarract, you do not writhe it about with your fingers to and fro, till it be set in his place before named, but to draw it thither gently, and when you have it there, trill the needle about until it hath gathered the water about it, and then pull it out: when this is done cause him to shut close his eye, and apply thereupon a plaster of flax, and the white of an egg, and cause him to lie in his bed nine days together, removing the plaster three times in the day, and so many times in the night, without any other stirring of it, and provide also that he lie in a very dark place, and let him be kept in a thin diet, as rear eggs and white bread: and if he be young, and of strength, let him drink Barley water, but otherwise let him drink small ale, and wine delayed with water, for truly too much nourishment would offend, in procreating too much blood in the eye, which is very hurtful in the beginning of the cure. When the ninth day is past, let him arise and wash his eyes with fair cold water, and he shall enjoy his sight by the help of God. even as well as he had it before. Of the Aegilops or the lacrimall Fistula. Chap. 8. Between the nostrils and the greater corner of the eye riseth an Aposthume, which the Grecians do call Aegilops, that is, oculus Caprinus a Goats eye, because that Goats are subject to this disease, we call this disease, Fistula lacrimalis. This Aegilops may happen through every humour, yet nevertheless it happeneth most often through phlegm, seldom through blood, but seldom or never from choler or melancholy: the phlegmatic humour continually flowing by the flesh of the lacrimall corner to the nostrils, and sometimes under the same flesh being there detained, doth putrefy and breaketh out into a fistulous ulcer, from whence certain do imagine that Aegilops happeneth always from phlegm; and by blood also this disease is wont to be excited, but not so often as with phlegm: but it is sufficient to know that this lacrimall fistula happeneth from some virulent humour and that which is corrosive. As concerning the cure, at the first beginning we must presently use repellents, such as is rose-water and the white of an egg well beaten together, or with oil of roses mixed with vinegar: which oil must be boiled to the consumption of the vinegar: then add thereto a little milk: we must be careful that none of the oil stick to the eye, for to that part it is very biting: or apply thereto Halica boiled in vinegar and beaten well together, for it doth not only help them in the beginning, but after they alter into Apostume; and doth break them and pierce even to the very bone: or a medicine framed of these, glaucium, saffron, and the juice of Pellitory of the wall, but the medicine must be oftentimes changed. ay, saith, Trallianus, have hindered these Aegilops as yet not grown to matter by the use of these things that they never came to suppuration: or the place is to be anointed with a Collyrium which doth vehemently stupefy; and lest the matter should happen to be cold we take bdellium dissolved in vinegar with oil of Roses which may be mixed therewith, or Ammoniacum and the juice of fennel, or snails with their shells; sometime with Aloes and sometimes with Myrrh mixed, and so apply it. In the mean time we must ordain a diet of such meat as is of good nourishment, and containing but few superfluities, as are Chickens, Hens, Partridges, Pheasants, Doves, Larks, new laid Eggs, Raisins and sweet Almonds: let his drink be Hydromell or wine delayed with water: for diversion of the humour flowing, the humeral vein of that side in the arm must be cut, or some other diversions with cupping glasses, or frictions and ligatures must be used: also the humours abounding, digested and prepared, must be avoided with hiera piera, or hiera logodion, or with pills of cochia, or by clysters and sharp Suppositories, neither will one purgation suffice, but divers and often reiterated: but if the disease do continue, we must use topical means and such as are discussive. Paulus commendeth ruta Sativa cum lixivio, framed of Ashes and lime: indeed in the beginning it is somewhat biting: but afterward it is most gentle and doth penetrate unto the very bone. Alexander Trallianus doth show an approved medicine which is the inward membrain of the reed, that which we find about the knots, and mix it with honey and apply the same, changing the same four times a day: when the place is well cleansed and purged, dip a sponge in mulsa and foment it: this aforesad menbrain of the reed may be applied by itself or else. Recip. Staphisagriae, two drams. Ammoniaci in aceto dissoluti, half an ounce, mix them and apply it. An other. Recip. Mellis puri, Aloes hepat. an. two ounces. Myrrhae, one ounce. Croci, half a dram. Aquae. lib. 2. Boil all at a gentle fire, to the consumption of the one half, and in that decoction being hot infuse a new piece of sponge, and with the same cleanse the sore, and then bind a soft piece of sponge wet in the same liquor, and it will work a wonderful effect, as hath often been proved. An other medicine. Recip. Succi foliorum lilii vel radicum eius. four ounces. Viridis aeris usti, one ounce. Mellis puri, three ounces. Olei nucum, Cerae q. s. Boil all to the consumption of the juices, and make an ointment, of which put it in cum licinio or tent, as is fit. I will describe an other medicine which doth not only cure the Lacrimall fistula, but all other Fistulas. Recip. Centauri minoris. Aristolochiae rot. an. aur. 1. Mirrhae aur 3. Aluminis. Gallae an. aur. half. Ireos. Sarcocollae Seif memitae an. aur. 1. Viridis aeris. one scruple. Mix all with honey and make an ointment. When the bone is foul, we use an actual cautier, and touch the bone through a Canula, which cautier must be either of brass or silver, and being artificially applied, will cure the fistula: (ay, saith the Author, have wrought with the Cautier, as aforesaid, and have had very good success. General rules for the conservation of the sight. Chap. 9 Whosoever doth desire to preserve his sight, let him take heed of the inequality of the air, of fire, smoke, wind, immoderate Coiture, much labour, superfluous weeping, drunkenness, overmuch sleep, especially in the daytime upon meat, immoderate watchings: Let them also avoid meats that do engender vapours, such as Cabbage, Coleworts, Onions, Garlic, all sharp things, and Salt, salads, beans and peason, all fat things, whether they be of flesh, or of oil, all things of hard digestion must be avoided, and all things that are vaporous. Medicines that do conserve the sight, some are abstersive and cleansing, and meanly temperate, such as are Fennell, and a Collirium of the same, Succus memitae, and Eiebright of its own property: some there are which do preserve the eyes by altering, or warming, by cooling, moistening, or drying, some preserve the sight by lenifying the asperity, and other things, by other means, of which we will speak afterwards. A Collirium Democriti which doth clear the sight and preserve the same. Recip. Succi faeniculi depurati lib. half. Boil it a little in a vessel of brass, and let it remain a while till it have a residence, then add two ounces of pure honey, and boil it again at a gentle fire with ten or twelve leaves of good gold, then strain it, and put it into a viol of glass, stopping the mouth thereof very close, than set it in the sun, pouring it from vessel into vessel, taking always away the residence, and put thereof into the eyes: some do add thereunto the gall of a Cock, the quantity of two drams. Another that doth conserve the sight. Recip. Tutiae Alexandrinae praep. Antimoniipraep. Lapidis haematitis. Ossis sepiae marinae abluti. aeris usti. Cortieum aeris. Aloes, folii, croci, an. partem unam. Piperis. Macropiperis. Salis ammoniaci an. partem. half. Margaritarum. Myrobal. cheb. Spumae maris. Clymiaes aureae. Saccari. Musci, caphurae an. partem quartam 1. Let it be very finely beaten and ground upon a marble divers times, until it be a very fine powder, of which put into the eyes. The eyes of a Crow hung about the neck, strengtheneth a weak sight, and doth preserve the eyes: the root of swine's grass or knot grass dried in the decrease of the Moon, and hung about the neck, doth also conserve and strengthen the sight, neither doth it suffer them to be inflamed. Also take the leaves of Rue, of Roses, Fennell, Eiebright and Celendine, of each equal parts, distill them all together, and put a little of this water into the eyes, for it is the best Collirium for clearing of the eyes, for the conservation and comfort of the sight: and it must be made in the spring-time. Also long Comings and frictions of the head doth divert and turn away the vapours that do offend the sight: also it is good to behold green things, and the skies: Clear spectacles are also very good. Moreover fill the hollowness of the hand in the morning with cold water, and with the same wash open the eyes: Also a nutmeg beaten with honey and eaten in the morning doth preserve the sight: also your Mirobalans Condite do the same. An excellent ointment for the eyes. Take Auxungia recens two ounces, steep it in rose water for six hours space, afterwards wash it again in white wine twelve several times, for the space of six hours more, then add thereto of Tutia praep. and in fine powder one ounce, Lapis hematites well washed one scruple, Aloes lota et pull. gr. 12. margaritarum gr. 3. mix it, and with a little water of fennel make an ointment, whereof put a small quantity into the corner of the eyes. FINIS.