THE OPINION OF PETER TURNER DOCT: IN PHYSIC, CONCERNING ANNULETS OR PLAGVE CAKES, WHEREOF PERHAPS some hold too much, and some too little.  
AT LONDON Printed for Edward Blount. 1603. being the year of the great plague   

❧ The opinion of Peter Turner Doctor in Physic, concerning Annulets or Plague cakes; whereof perhaps some hold too much, and some too little.  
IT is very true gentle Reader, that Arsenic, Orpiment, Sublimate precipitate, Quicksilver, Toads and Adders, are in some sort rank and deadly poisons in the highest degree. For daily experience might teach it, though no learned writer had once mentioned it. But it followeth not therefore that there is no use of them in Physic or curing of diseases. For, to omit all the probable arguments taken from sweet kernels in bitter shells, precious Diamonds in the midst of course stones, and Pearls in base Oysters, alleged both by Philosophers and Physicians, to prove that in most poisoned subjects may be the noblest remedies, it is evident by the practice both of learned and unlearned, that they are often used both inwardly and outwardly. Myself I have divers times and yet not without the warrant of good Authors both old and new, cured sundry extreme coughs and impostumated lungs with the fume of Orpiment administered by the mouth. Myself also had the rebellious roots of a Wen (after I had used Sublimate and Praecipitate, in vain) well taken away with Arsenic. The place of the Wen being close by the ridge bone over-against the heart. I have also many times both given, and seen given Crude Mercury, that is Quicksilver unto children for the worms, and that with good success. As for Sublimate and Praecipitate, I refer me to any man of any reading or experience, whether they be not daily and usually administered both within and without, and that with good success, especially being brought as chemical writers call it into Turbittes: Toads dried and given in powder inwardly provoke urine exceedingly, and outwardly applied they stay bleeding most miraculously, and draw forth the matter of the plague into themselves, without breaking of the party's skin, or any other harm. Concerning Adders, who knoweth not that from them the Treacles have their names in Greek, because they are the Basis or most principal ingredient whereof they are compounded. Now if the fume of Orpiment may be taken inwardly, and the substance of Arsenic applied to Ulcers and raw wounds, wherein is as much danger of poisoning as by swallowing of it, as may appear by the speedy death of wild beasts upon the least raising of their skins with Arrow-heads dipped in Toxicum and such like poisons: I know no cause why a man should be afraid to wear them (especially enclosed in silk) upon the whole skin. Neither how they can be perpetually opposite to man's nature. Nay if that be a true and sufficient definition of poison At no time to agree with nature. I see not how these things may simply be called poisons, that sometimes and in some cases as hath been showed agree with nature as well as a man would wish. As for that point that sometimes they blister the skin, and cause angry weals or pumples to arise, seeing that inconvenience may be both easily prevented and as easily cured, & cometh only but by the wearers default it needeth not to terrify any man from the using of them. For if the wearer of these Annulets or plague cakes, assoon as they begin to sweat, either take away the Cake, or put linen enough between it & the skin, or sew it in thicker stuff, or anoint the place with oil or any unctuose thing, they may be free enough from that inconvenience.  
And if assoon as it beginneth to breed any itching, or raise any pimple, they remove the cake for a day or two, and anoint the place with a little cream or unguentum album Camphoratum, they shall not need to complain of any deep or foul holes or ulcerations. And yet it may be a question worth the considering, whether to have such things arise, be not rather a benefit where they appear, than a harm. For seeing the same effect or accident happeneth not to all that wear them, nor to all that sweat, it may seem that only they are subject to such blisterings in whom there is some venomous matter, which nature by the help of the medicine laboureth to expel. And as worthy the consideration it is, now we talk of blistering and corroding, to call to remembrance, how garlic, Mustart, and Rosa solis, the herb, being greatblisterers of the skin, are not for that condemned for poisons, nor refused to be taken into the stomach. The juice of a Limon will grave upon a knife as well as Aqua fortis or strong water, and yet who ever had any harm by taking of it inwardly. To blister therefore or corrode the skin, is not a sufficient argument to prove a thing a poison. It is also very evident both by experience and reason, that things outwardly applied have action, and work into the body by communicating their spiritual qualities (as I may call them) to the spirits of our bodies, by the means of the warmth that openeth our pores, and rarefying the subtle parts of the medicine, is the cause of a reciprocate action and passion, as may appear by purging simples and plasters. And hereupon, notwithstanding what hath been above said, and perhaps not sufficiently weighed, it may seem strange to some how Arsenic & such like strong poisons, having so strong poisoning spirits, should not also poison our spirits wheresoever they meet. For the better satisfaction of such as are not carried away with former prejudice, and are capable of these matters, this is in brief my answer.  
Arsenic and Orpiment are no ways poisonus or hurtful to nature, but by their corrosivenes or fretting qualities: otherwise they are as good, if not better, both preservatives and curers as any other most in use: and therefore so long as they are kept from corroding or fretting, they can do no harm, but may do much good in that kind, which they respect: That is to say, in all arsenical diseases, as the Plague, the Pleurisy, Noli me tangere, Cankers and Fistulas, and all of that kind. If thou desire this to be confirmed unto thee by example or experience, to wit, that they may be kept from corroding: Behold the Mountebanks or Quacksalvers of Germany and Italy, who before they play their parts before the people, drink first in their lodgings for that purpose half a pint or more of Sallatoyle, and then coming to their stage, take inwardly in all men's sight incredible quantities of these poisons, and then taking nothing after them but their Treacles which they have to sell, make their beholders believe that by them they be preserved from all harm. (Of this thou mayest see more at large in Mathiolus in his Commentaries upon Dioscorides) whereby it appeareth as I said before, that they may be kept from fretting or corroding of the inward parts, which granted, it followeth that the like may be done outwardly, and so be worn safely upon the bare skin, notwithstanding their corrosive qualities be no ways taken away. But if they may be clean taken away, as all that are well practised in chemical preparations do affirm, I see no reason why they should be so feared, especially to be applied outwardly. And why should it not be as possible to remove the corrosive qualities of minerals from their bodies, as well as to remove the burning quality of Aron roots, called in English Starch-worte, or Wake-Robin from them, which I have seen done, & then as pleasant bread made of them as of any other grain: or as well as to remove the bitterness of the gall of an Ox, which myself have done, and brought it to be as sweet as the juice of Liquorice, and then administered it with good success in the yellow jaundisse. But suppose that this were impossible: why may there not be as sure a way to correct that quality by mineral means as there is to correct the offending qualities of Scammony, Agarick, Helleborus, Euphorbium and such like by their like, that is by Vegetables? Is it absurd, nay is there not great probability to think that God hath in nature appointed mineral Alexipharmaca preservatives or remedies against the greatest poisons in that kind, when we see that in vegetables he hath in his great mercy and providence created an Antithora for a Thora, and an Antieuphorbium for Euphorbium, I think not. And if need were I can name some, but that such secrets ought always to remain with them that know them. Now if any man not satisfied with that which hath been said, object yet farther, that I have proved but the half of that which they expected. That is, that these Annulets may be safely worn without any harm, not showing the other more necessary part, that they may do any good. For satisfying all such, (although there is enough said to those that hold them dangerous, which is the question now in controversy,) I will farther yet briefly tell you my opinion of that point also, upon that small knowledge (yet dearly bought) which I imagine I have in chemical matters, partly by my own experience, & partly by reading of the professors of that art: I assure myself that there is in these minerals which the Alchemists call their spirits good store of gold, or to speak a little plainer of the spirits of gold: and from thence in my opinion it hath that incredible and admirable operation in preserving of our spirits from infection. For the better confirmation of this my supposition, to wit, that mineral spirits are not without part of the metals from which they come; If you will demand of the refiners or meltars down of metals, what the reason is why many times they cannot get the gold or other metals which they know to be in their Oars or Ours, they will answer you that the abundance of the wild spirits that are in them when they bring them to the blast, carry away all the metal with them, which they do by eating of them up as strong waters use to do. But if thou hadst rather hear what the learneder sort that deal with such things hold of these matters. Then read what is written in a treatise of Arsenic by Theoprastus Paracelsus, who was absolutely the most learnedst chemical writer and worker that ever wrote: And if thou hast any insight in this kind of Philosophy, whereby to understand him, he will satisfy thee of the natures of these things to the full. As for the authorities of such Physicians or Philosophers which are not acquainted neither with the chemical theory nor practice, I hold their censures as insufficient, for want of knowledge of those things which they dislike: & therefore how many soever they be in number, so long as they understand not what they reprehend, it maketh no great matter: and yet if this controversy were to be debated by authorities, my opinion should not be less assisted than any others. But seeing it would be both tedious and needless for the readers to be troubled with such allegations, I will not take that course at this time, in which my intent is only to let them know what my opinion and practice is of these things. Yet lest it might be thought that I have none but poor Paracelsus on my side, I will translate for them that understand no Latin, a few lines concerning these Annulets and Plague cakes, out of a little Treatise of the Plague of johannis Pistorius a learned Physician of Germany; his words are these. Many Italian Physicians are of that opinion, that there was never a more excellent thing (speaking of these Annulets) granted to mortal men by God, to preserve them from the Plague, and therefore call it a divine medicine invented by God, and take it upon their oaths that never any fell sick that wore them, and so much the more and the better I like of them, saith Pistorius, because their notable profit or virtue is confirmed by experience and made manifest to the senses, and a few lines after he saith further. And so much the more am I moved to like of them, because in the year 64. in Zurick, I never knew any amongst a great many that wore them to get any harm by them, or die of the Plague, notwithstanding the great conversation that the sound had with the sick, according to the custom of that place. And at Basill the like was observed. As these things (gentle reader) moved the foresaid Pistorius to allow and prescribe these Annulets to his patients, so have the same (together with my own long observations) done the like with me, and so having as I promised briefly, set down my opinion, I commit thee to the head Physician, who send thee health both of soul and body.  
Maledictus qui ponit carnem brachium suum: that is in effect; Accursed be he that putteth his whole confidence in secondary means, for it is neither herb nor salve, nor any thing else that healeth, but only the blessing of the head Physician. And hereupon it may fall out sometimes that they who commit superstition or Idolatry (as I may call it) in wearing of these Annulets, may now and then notwithstanding miscarry, but it were pity for that cause to derogate from the credit of so noble and general a medicine, for a few particular instances.  
FINIS.