THE CURES OF the Diseased, in remote Regions. PREVENTING Mortality, incident in Foreign Attempts, of the English Nation. La honra mas vale, merecerla que tenerla. BY WISDOM PEACE BY PEACE PLENTY printer's device of F. Kingston: clasped hands emerging from clouds holding a caduceus and two cornucopias At London Printed by F.K. for H. L. 1598. TO THE Queen's MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. SAcred Sovereign, in my injust imprisonment in Spain, it pleased God to afflict me with the Tabardilla Pestilence: whereof being in cure, by an especial Physician of that King, I observed his method for the same, and such other Diseases, as have perished your majesties people in the Southern parts. Which Remedies have since, by my direction, taken the like good effects. And of perfect zeal to your majesties service, and Country's weal, I therewith acquaint your highness subjects. Jnuocating God to preserve your Majesty, enable them in your services, protect your Kingdoms, and suppress your Enemies. Your majesties loyal Subject George Wateson. The Writers intent. MAn that is borne, not for himself is borne, But for his Prince, his Country, and his friends. To help the sick, distressed, and forlorn, Are works of mercy, men to men extends. Who hath the power, and means, and will not cherish, Shall with the hider of his Talent perish. Transgression first did sin in man beget, Sin, sickness, death, and mischiefs many more: For as men's minds on wickedness were set, So plague's increased, which were not known before. But God, whose mercy, justice doth exceed, Sends helps for hurts, and salves for sores at need. The Books Content. The burning Fever, called the Calenture, The aching Tabardilla pestilent, Th' Espinlas prickings, which men do endure, Cameras de Sangre, Fluxes violent, Th' Erizipila, swelling the Patient, The Tinoso, which we the Scurvy call, Are truly here described, and cured all. Si Dios no es adorado, nunca seras bien curado. The Cures of the Diseased, in remote Regions. THE CALENTURE. THe Calenture (or burning Fever) called by the Spaniards, La Calentura, is the most usual Disease, happening to our Nation in intemperate Climates, by inflammation of blood, and often proceeding of immoderate drinking of wine, and eating of pleasant Fruits, which are such nourishers thereof, as they prevent the convenient means, that are used in curing the same. To know the Calenture. THe Calenture at the first apprehension afflicts the Patient with great pain in the head, and heat in the body; which is continual or increasing, and doth not diminish and augment as other Fevers do: and is an introduction to the Tabardilla, or Pestilence; whereof next is entreated: but then the body will seem very yellow. To cure the Calenture. SO soon as the Patient is perceived to be possessed of the Calenture; except the Chirurgeon defer it for danger of the Sign (I have seen the time of the day not respected) to open the Median vein of the right arm, and take such quantity of blood, as agreeth to the ability of the body, which not assuaging the heat, by the next day; to open the same Vein in the left arm, and take so much more blood at his like discretion. And the body being Costive (for so commonly the Patients are) to give him some meet Purgation; and not to permit him to drink other than water cooled, wherein Barley & Anniseedes have been sodden with bruised liquorice. And if within four days the party do not amend, or being recovered do take it again; then open the Sephalica vein, in one or both hands, bathing them in warm water, until there comes so much more blood as cause requires. And not to suffer the Patient to drink, seven days after he is perfectly recovered, any other drink, than such water as herein is directed. THE TABARDILLA. THe Disease called by the Spaniards, La Tabardilla, and by the Mexicans, Cocalista, is named by other Jndians, Taberdet: and is so exceeding Pestilent and infectious, as by the same, whole Kingdoms in both the Indias have been depopulated: which seemeth to ensue of the ignorance of the savage people, to minister redress to themselves. For the Spaniards and Portugals there inhabiting, and in their native Countries, where it is also contagious, before they had this knowledge, did abundantly die thereof. But now by applying the means here described, they are recovered of the same. To know the Tabardilla. THe Tabardilla first assaults the Patient very vehemently, with pain in the head and back: and the body seeming yellow, is some sign thereof, and within 24. hours it is so torturous, that he that is possessed thereof, cannot sleep or rest, turning himself on either side, back and belly; burning in his back most extremely. And when it grows to perfection, there will appear red and blue spots upon the patients breast and wrists. And such persons as have not presently applied unto them, means requisite to prevent it, will be by the incomparable torment thereof, deprived of their wits. And multitudes have desparingly slain and drowned themselves, that by loss of their lives, they might finish their terrestrial pain. To cure the Tabardilla. WHen the Tabardilla is perceived to afflict the Patient, permit him not to lie very warm, nor upon Feathers (for of what quality soever he is in Spain, having this sickness, he is laid upon Wheat straw:) Then immediately open the Median vein, first in one arm, and the next day in the other, taking a good quantity of blood: And let him have water cold, wherein Barley and Anniseedes have been sodden, without liquorice (for I have heard the opinion of good Physicians of Spain, that liquorice is hurtful unto them) so much as he will desire, which will be every moment: but no other drink, nor any rawfruits: and so soon as the spots appear, give him some Cordial potion: and laying him upon his belly, set six Ventoses together in his back, between and beneath the shoulders. And scarifying them, draw out (if it be a body of strong constitution) 18. ounces of blood. After which, and that he hath slept, he will feel ease within 24. hours, and find such alteration in himself, as he will think that he is delivered of a most strange torment. Then giving him nourishing meats moderately (for he will desire to eat much) the fourth day give him some convenient Purgation. And if in the mean while he is Costive, provoke him every day by Clysters: and admonish him to forbear fifteen days all other drink, then that is ordained. And to be careful of his diet: for if this Tabardilla, which we call here in England, God's Tokens, come again unto the Patient, he can hardly escape it. And it is no less infectious, than the usual English Plague. THE ESPINLAS. THe Espinlas is a very strange sickness, and usual in those parts, to such as take cold in their breasts, after great heat or travel. And most times it comes to those that lie with their breasts upon the ground (especially) in the night. To know the Espinlas. THe party having the Espinlas, will be giddy in the head, and have pain and pricking at his breast, as with many thorns: wherefore I think it is so called of Spina and Espina, the Latin and Spanish words for a Thorn. And there will be upon Huesso radio, or Focell, being the upper bone of his arm, a hand breadth above the wrist, a little kernel, by which it is certainly known. And he that hath this Disease, will not have appetite to meat or drink; nor cannot digest meat, although he be procured to take it. To cure the Espinlas. THe Espinlas, appearing by the former signs: Take Olive oil presently, and therewith chafe the kernel upon the patients arm, using so to do twice every day, until it be dissolved: and laying Oil likewise upon his breast, struck it upward somewhat hard with the hand: then spread fine Flax upon it and the kernel, making it fast with a roller: and within two or three days, the diseased thereof will be recovered. Whereas else it is very dangerous to deprive them of life. LAS CAMERAS, OR Cameras de Sangre. THAT is Laxativenes, or Bloody Flux, which in those parts proceeds of divers causes. As by eating of Grapes, Orringes, Limonds, Melons, Plantans, and especially a great Fruit that grows in the West Jndia, called Pina, like a Pineapple, but bigger than four of the greatest that I have seen; which the Spaniards do repute to be the most delicate Fruit that is there, and many other Fruits. Also by sudden cold, or sitting (being very hot) upon a cold stone, or, being hot, by drinking Water abundantly. And also eating of Butter, Oil, and Fish, is so hurtful to the parties that have it, that they must refrain to eat thereof: and whatsoever else, that defiles the entrails, with any slimy substance. To cure Las Cameras, or Cameras de Sangre, which is the Bloody Flux. WIth the more expedition, that medicine is ministered to the diseased of Cameras de Sangre, Laxativenes, or Bloody Flux, there is the more possibility it should prevail. And detracting it, the Patients often die suddenly, without feeling much grief. For speedy and assured remedy thereof, the patients body must be cleansed of the slimines, engendered in the passages of the nutriments, before any sustenance can remain in his body. And for that purpose, give to purge him in the morning, half a pint of white Wine cooled, wherein ½. ounce of Rhubarb hath been sodden, being small cut; putting in some Sugar Candie to sweeten it. And immediately after he hath so purged, keep at his navel Rosemary sodden in strong Vinegar, applied in the morning and evening very hot, until it be stayed: giving him often Quinces bruised and rolled in Marmelet like Pills, which he should swallow whole, and none of the Fruits, or meats before recited, nor any more white wine, but red wine of any sort. And if it be on Land, the livers of Goats (especially) Sheep, or Bullocks roasted: not willingly permitting the Patient to eat any other meat. And if at Sea, Rice only sodden in water, rather than any thing else usual there, until the infirmity is perfectly assuaged. THE ERIZIPILA. THe Erizipila is a Disease very much reigning in those Countries, the rather proceeding of the unwholesome airs and vapours, that hot Climates do yield, whereof many people do perish. And it is found incurable, except it be prevented by Medicines, presently ministered to the Patients vexed therewith. To know the Erizipila. HE that hath the Erizipila, will be swollen in the face, or some part of him, and it will be of yellow colour mixed with red. And when it is thrust with the finger, there will remain a sign or dint of the same: and then by degrees it will fill again to the former proportion. And it speedily infecteth the inward parts, because such swellings comes sooner to perfection in hot places, then in temperate Countries. And therefore the diseased thereof, must be immediately provided of remedy. To cure the Erizipila. SOme savage people have first found perfectly to cure this Erizipila, although it is the Spanish name of the Malady; by bruising so much tobacco, as will yield four spoonfuls of juice, and to drink it presently after they are infected therewith. And to lance the places swollen; thereunto putting Casada wet, and made in paste. Continuing in cold places and shady, near Rivers: and not to travel or labour, until they are recovered. But the Spaniards in Jndia, recover themselves by taking the same juice of tobacco, and setting so many Ventoses upon the swollen places, as they can contain, scarifying them, and drawing out the corrupted Humour so congealed. And doing the like in two or three other parts of the body, where the Disease doth not appear. The juice of tobacco, is very excellent to expel Poison, and is the ordinary remedy used by the Indians, and many other savage people, when they are poisoned, and bit with Scorpions, or other venomous creatures. But they presently make some kind of incision, where they are bit or stung, and wash it with the juice of tobacco: then applying the same bruised thereunto, two or three days, they heal it up with dried tobacco. THE TINOSO. THe Tinoso, or Sceruey is an infecting Disease, sufficiently known unto Seafaring men: who by putrefied meats, and corrupted drinks, eating Biscuit flowery, or foul crusted, wearing wet apparel (especially sleeping in it) and slothful demeanour, or by gross humours contained in their bodies, obtain the same. To know the Scurvy. ALthough most chirurgeons, and chief those that frequent the Sea, do understand how to discern when their Patients have the Scurvy; because it is so ordinary at Sea, as it hath been seldom seen, any Ship or Pinnace, to be four months upon any Voyage, to any part of the world, not arriving where they have been supplied and relieved with the benefits of the Land: but some of the Company have had this Disease. Yet it is not impertinent here to insert the signs thereof: the rather, because I have known some so destitute of knowledge, to discern and cure the same, as the loss of men lost thereby, hath diverted determined purposes to proceed on Voyages: and others to perish, when they returned out of hot Regions into cold Climates, where they have had the lineaments of their bodies, that with heat are nimble and tractable to every motion of the spirits, dulled and benumbed with cold: which is a token that this disease is engendering in their joints: and soon appears by swelling of their ankles and knees, and blackness of their gums, or looseness of their teeth, which will sometimes come forth, when there is not redress ministered in season. Preseruatines' against the Scurvy. TO preserve men from the Scurvy, there must be care to prepare those things before rehearsed, well conditioned: the badness whereof doth partly breed the inconvenience. And men themselves must have a discreet endeavour to avoid their own ruin, by using exercise of their bodies. And such as are exempted from being commanded to do labour, to hang by the arms twice or thrice every day. And not to have scarcity of drink in hot Climates: and coming into the cold, to be daily relieved with Aqua vitae, or wine. Also it is a certain and assured medicine against this Disease, to have such quantity of Beer brewed with Grains and Long pepper, as in the morning twice every week there may be given a good draft to a man, proportioning three quarters of a pound of Grains, and three quarters of a pound of Pepper to a hogshead of Beer. But white Wine or Cider, boiled and brewed with Grains and Long pepper, in like quantity, is very singular good. And it is not fit to suffer the gums to abound with flesh: and therefore sometimes let them bleed, and clear them with strong Vinegar. To cure the Scurvy. THe party that hath the Scurvy settled in his mouth, must have the corrupted and black flesh taken away, washing his mouth with strong Vinegar, wherein Grains and Long pepper have been infused and brewed: and give him the drink daily that is before prescribed. And aswell such as have it in their mouths, as those that are swollen in their limbs, must have some meet Purgation presently. But those so swollen or stiff (for so some will be without swelling) to scarify the parts infected, and to apply thereunto a Pultis or Cataplasm of Barley meal, more hot than the Patient will willingly suffer it. So doing every morning, permit him not to rest two hours after, although he being numbed or faint, be supported to walk: and not to suffer him to eat any salt meats, if other may be had. Myself having 80. men, 800. leagues forth of England, sick of the Scurvy, I caused this means of scarifying to be used, and to the places scarified, Pulteses (being destitute of the helps mentioned) to be applied of Biscuit, beaten in a mortar, and sodden in water: which with the comfort of some fresh meats (obtained) recovered them all, except one person, and they arrived in England perfectly sound. Conclusion. Let no man boast of beauty, strength, or youth: For like to flowers we bud, we spread, we fade: Nothing is certain, but the certain truth, To day a man, to morrow but a shade. His last apparel, cut out with a spade, Of Natures coarsest stuff (I mean) her mould, Must shroud the corpse, that living shone in gold. Quando tengas, mas fortuna, mira que es, como la Luna. To the Reader. THE cause that induceth me, publicly to express the Cures of Diseases of such consequence, as every judicial conceit may perceive, to have been the only prejudice to our Nation, in the expeditions of our time to the Southern parts: from whence in this and former ages, the English have returned with renowned Victory; yet exceedingly oppressed with extreme and penurious sickness, that hath much more prevented the proceeding and performing of their pretensions, than the power of Enemies: is not that I purpose, practitioner-like in Physic or chirurgery, to assume unto me any knowledge in those Sciences and Faculties: but to possess all men of remedy for such infirmities, as in my own experience, have infinitely impaired English Forces in intemperate Climates. Which I publish, for the good of those, whom cause may compel to have use thereof, and would be so censured of all. Imprinted at London by Felix Kingston, for Humphrey Lownes. 1598.