THE Hammer for the stone: So named, for that it showeth the most excellent remedy that ever was known for the same.  
Lately devised by Walter Carie Master of Art, and student in Physic.  
¶ Imprinted at London, by Henry Denham dwelling in Pater noster Row at the sign of the Star. 1580.   

To the Reader.  
COnsidering with myself (gentle reader) how common a disease the stone is, and how little help the parties grieved have by the usvall means of Physicians in this our time, and of long time have had: and also hearing it diverse times objected, that the most learned Physician can neither prevent the stone, in those, who naturally are inclined thereunto, neither cure it in those in whom it is engendered, I did endeavour myself with all study and diligence, to find out something, which might far excel the remedies now daily used for the cure of the stone.  
Whereupon taking mine invention from Etius, who used very much the powder of Goat's blood for cure of the same: also being further persuaded thereunto by authority of diverse, writing of the nature of goat's blood: I did with my great charge attempt to draw a pure and clear liquor out of the blood of the male goat, which with the patience of the Physicians, I will be bold to call a Quintessence.  
And having made experience thereof now two years, and better, with diverse: I thought good to publish the same, to the relief of many, which are grieved with that disease, and that in such sort, as it shall appear unto the world, that I rather seek herein to benefit my Country, than any private gain to myself.  
For whereas no man troubled with that disease, can have the help of the Physician, without his great charge: I have devised that mean, that any man so diseased may have such ease with very small charge, as I dare boldly avouch, cannot be had by any usual means.  
But for the commendation hereof I leave it rather to be commended by the help and ease of those, who feel the passions of that most terrible disease, than use any long Rhetorical persuasions, knowing that good wine needs no garland, & that the fairest garland can be no long credit to sour wine.  
But for better performance of my promise, I think it very necessary, to signify unto such as are inclined to the stone, and to those that are already troubled with the same: First, 
The division of the book into four Chapters.  the causes of the stone, and whereof it is engendered. secondly, the difference of stones engendered in man's body. thirdly, the usual way, both to prevent and cure the stone. And fourthly, the way or mean now late devised for preventing and curing of the same. Wherein being somewhat instructed, they shallbe the better able to govern themselves, in avoiding and curing the disease, as not needing the Physicians continual counsel, but being Physicians to themselves.  
Yet I would not have any man think, that I mind to make any long or curious discourse of the stone, touching all the deepest points of the same, as endeavouring to make the Readers perfect Physicians herein: but only to show them a superficial knowledge, sufficient to direct them in the taking of my Quintessence, both for the preventing and curing of the stone.  
And thus (gentle Reader) have I divided that, whereof I mind to write into four parts, wherein I will not endeavour myself to speak whatsoever may conveniently be spoken: but rather to speak nothing that may conveniently be left out.  
W. C.   

The Author to those that are vexed with the stone, in verse, as followeth.  

THy silver, gold, thy precious stone,  
Thy muck, thy worldly wealth,  
Nought helpeth now thy grievous groan,  
No ease it gives, no health:  
Now dost thou lie   

Amidst thy friends a prisoner,  
A piece of pining clay.  
Thy hope for want of hearts desire,  
Doth fail and vade away:  
Thou seekest to die.   

Thy friend's eye tears, thy heart drops blood,  
Thy limbs and joints do quake,  
Thy stomach vomits that is good,  
whose force makes bedstead shake:  
An endless wo.   

Thy doleful life to thee is death,  
And death were life to thee,  
For pain doth cease with thy last breath,  
But life heaps misery.  
Come death! why so?   

what? what? sends God a malady,  
and not a mean for ease?  
No Physic good? no remedy?  
This raging grief t'appease?  
Though Physic fail,   

Behold a faithful friend unknown,  
(To do his Country good,)  
will ease this grief and heavy groan,  
with water of goats blood:  
Then do not quail.   

Though dreadful death an action brought,  
This Goat thy bail will be:  
And though the cause be slily wrought,  
The verdict goes with thee:  
Lift up thy heart,   

His harm, thy hope: his woe, thy wealth:  
His heart receives the knife,  
He yields his blood to bring thee health,  
His death shall be thy life,  
And end thy smart.   

Lo, thus the Author greets thee well,  
Thy friend without desert:  
He craves but thanks, and so doth sell  
A salve for wounded heart:  
He seeks good will, gives ease of pain,  
Good words for ware: an easy gain.   
Vale.   

The causes of the stone, and how it is engendered in man's body. The first Chapter.  
IT is not unknown unto such as have bestowed any time in the study of physic, that as well the old as new writers, with one consent do all agree, that there are two causes of the stone: the one material, 
Two causes of the stone.  the other formal. The material cause is an earthly, gross, thick, and slimy humour: the formal cause is the heat of man's body, digesting or baking the said humour, until it be hard, which then remaineth in the nature of a stone. This will I make more manifest unto you by a familiar example.  
Clay of itself is an earthly and slimy substance, which I will compare unto the humour whereof the stone is engendered. Also the fire I will compare unto the heat of man's body, whereby you may see how the stone is engendered. For this clay being baked in the fire, is made a stone, and looseth his nature of clay.  
Here also I think it good to note, that nature requireth always a fit matter to work upon. For one only action of nature, at one time worketh diverse and very contrary effects: which happeneth, because of the contrariety of the matters whereupon she worketh, and not by any diversity of her action.  
For as by fire, clay is made a stone: so chalk being a stone, by fire is converted into powder. And as clay by fire is made a fast and firm substance which before was soft, and easy to be dissolved in water: so chalk being before a fast and sound lump, is by the same fire made fit to be dissolved in water, because of the discontinuitie, or separation of his parts.  
Whereby you may gather, that this slimy humour, being in man's body, hath a nature very apt to be turned into a stone, which otherwise, by so small heat could hardly be. And therefore I would wish every man to have a special care in refusing meats, and other things, which are apt to breed the stone, and in using the contrary, which hereafter in place convenient, touching the preventing of the stone, I will not omit.   

The difference of stones engendered in man's body. The second Chapter.  
I Have (according to my promise) briefly spoken of the two causes of the stone. Now with like brevity I will speak of the difference of stones engendered in man's body, which I find by experience to differ in 
Five special differences of the stone.  place, colour, form, quantity, and hardness.  
As touching the first, there are two usual places where the stone is engendered, the kidneys, and the bladder. Unto the stone of the kidneys, the middle aged, and they that somewhat decline, are most subject. And these stones of the kidneys are also of two sorts. For they are either engendered in the hollow vessels of the kidneys: or in the substance or flechie parts.  
But unto the stone of the bladder, children are most inclined: which happeneth, for that all children (for the most part) first eat often, before that which they eat before be digested. Next after they have eaten, they use violent exercise, & motion of their bodies continually, whereby they force a thicker & more gross juice or nutriment, from the stomach into the body, than nature requireth: and that gross substance settling in the bottom of the bladder, by the temperate heat of the child, is converted into a stone. As in the making of the artificial wines, if you let them pass through the strainer gently, of their own accord, they come clear: but if hastily you force them by wring, they come thick, and being settled, will be full of grounds in the bottom.  
secondly for colour, there are some stones white, some black, others yellow, some red, some ash colour, and some mixed of diverse colours. Which diversity happeneth chiefly by difference of the matter whereof the stones were engendered: and somewhat by digestion of the stones, either by smaller or greater heat, with either longer or shorter time.  
The third difference of stones, is in form or fashion. For some are round, as a ball: some like an egg, some like a pease, some like a barley corn: some sharp, some piked, and of diverse and sundry other forms, whereof I need not speak.  
The fourth difference is in quantity. For the stone differeth in quantity, from the bigness of a pin's head, or less, unto the quantity of an egg, or greater. And the smaller sort of stones, are (for the most part) engendered in the kidneys, and that either in the hollow vessels of the kidneys, as I said before: which being but small, the stone cannot exceed the bigness thereof, and therefore must be small also. Or else in the substance or fleshy parts of the kidneys, here and there dispersed, which also are never found to be great. But the greater sort of stones are always engendered in the bladder, for that the vessel being great, will also admit the generation of a great stone.  
The fift difference is in hardness. For there are some (as I have often seen) which are scant congealed or baked, so that one may break them to grit with his finger & his thumb. Others somewhat harder, and not easy to be broken. And others so hard as they will not easily yield to the Hammer. The stone that breaketh gently, is (for the most part) red or yellow. The middle sort is of diverse colours. The hardest, white.   

The usual way how to prevent and cure the stone. The third Chapter.  
IN the two former Chapters I have briefly touched the matter, whereof the stone is engendered, and the difference of stones. Now I will show the usual means, both to prevent and cure the stone, which (amongst the Physicians of our time) are now daily practised.  
The stone in those, who only fear the disease, and are not yet troubled therewith, is prevented by two special means. The one is, by abstinence from meats, & things which are apt to breed the stone. Which are of two sorts also. For either they breed in the body a fit matter, easy to be converted into a stone: as Veal, Pig, Lamb, Ling, Gréenefish, Eels, Cheese, Milk: and generally, all very gross, slimy, sweet, & fat meats. Or else they cause an unnatural heat in the body, and inflame the kidneys, and other parts: as, heating the back at the fire, lying much upon the back, also great use of Pepper, Ginger, and other spices, or any thing of like nature.  
The other by purging that humour, which being in the body, is not as yet digested to the nature of a stone: which is done by two means also. Either by purgations, and laxative medicines: or otherwise, by those things, which being of a very subtle, thin, and piercing nature, pass suddenly through the liver, the kidneys, and the bladder, and violently carry with them, such stimie and gross humours, as they find by the way: as, white wine, and Rhenish wine, & such like taken fasting: which being not taken fasting, work not this effect. For being used either with, or soon after meat, they hasten the digestion, & carry gross and raw humours into the body, whereby they work a very contrary effect, and engender the stone being much used.  
But the stone being already engendered by the usual means, is to be cured chief by things, which cause the stone to break and void: as Saxifrage, Parslie, Pellitory of the wall, gromwel, and other things infinite, whereof I have named four good, pleasant, & easiest to be taken. There are also diverse other means: as letting blood, purging, glisters, vomits, and mollifying or distending the narrow and straight vessels with oils, etc. wherein the stone sticketh. But for brevity sake, all these I let pass.   

The preventing and curing of the stone, by a new mean late devised. The fourth Chapter.  
Ihave hitherto briefly touched the causes of the stone, the difference of stones, and the usual means for preventing and curing of the stone. Now I mind to show the way, both to prevent and cure the stone▪ by the Quintessence of goats blood. But the manner of making this Quintessence, the choice of the Goat, the time of the year, the diversity of the blood of the artery, and of the vein, and the order of distilling, and circulating the same: also, the preparation of the Beer in which it must be taken, I will not here speak of: but will deliver it in writing, to the right worshipful and most learned company of Physicians in London: wishing them to appoint certain Apothecaries, which shall be sworn for the just & true making of this Quintessence: which being so made, the Physicians may direct the same to be given, as to them (their patients, and circumstances rightly weighed) shall soeme most meet.  
But in the mean time you shall have of this Quintessence (although no great quantity, yet so much as shall be sufficient for the trial of the same with a great number, and of the Beer prepared, in which it must be taken) at Master Gray house the Apothecary 
The place where the Quintessence is to be had.  in Fanchurch street: whose honesty and good dealing I dare boldly commend unto you. The order of using this Quintessence, is this.  
Take every morning fasting half a wine pint of the Beer prepared, into 
How this Quintessence is to be used.  which the Apothecary shall add a quantity appointed of the Quintessence.  
But because the diversity of patients will make a diversity of the quantities of the Beer, & that the elder sort are able to take more, and the younger less, let this be a general rule.  
Every one take a very good and hearty draft, according to the ability of the person, in the morning, and fast one hour after it. And if he be not as yet vexed with the stone, it is sufficient to use this twenty days in the Spring, and twenty days in the fall of the leaf: which will preserve him from the disease. But if he be troubled with the stone, let him use it as long as he findeth any gravel to void: which is a certain rule to know when he is cured.  
Also he must use no violent motion of his body, but gentle walking, or such like, whiles he taketh it: lest the stone beginning to break, the pieces thereof fall into the narrow vessels, between the kidneys and the bladder: or from the bladder into the yard, to the great torment of the Patient.  
You shall have this half pint, with the Quintessence therein, sufficient for one quantity for four pence: which I have thought good to set down certain, that every man might know the same: and considering the charge in buying the Goats, and keeping them, also in making the Quintessence, I think every man may easily satisfy himself the benefit to be very small.  
And now to end this my short work, I let pass that which a number of writers set forth of the nature of the Goat, & the virtue of his blood against the stone. Only I allege one sentence of Fuchsius, an excellent, wise, and learned Physician, which I find in his book De medendis morbis. Writing of the stone, & the cure thereof, after he had showed diverse remedies, he endeth thus: Sanguis denique hircinus, ad calculos cùm renum, tùm vesicae praesens remedium est. Name praeexistentes soluit, & per urinam excernit, & ut alii amplius non generentur prohibet, ac dolorem sedat. And to conclude, goats blood is a present remedy, both for the stone of the kidneys and the bladder. For it dissolveth those that are there already, and voideth them by urine, and suffereth no more to engender, also taketh away the pain.  
Now I think it good to note, that if any person dwelling far from London, would take of this Quintessence, & cannot have the Beer fresh carried, in which it ought to be taken, let him buy at Master Gray of the Quintessence, which he shall have for five shillings the wine pint: and when he will use it, boil half an handful of Parslie in strong Ale, half an hour or less: and into one hearty draft thereof, add two spoonfuls of the Quintessence; and drink it in the Morning fasting, and fast one hour after it, at the least. Use this order twenty days together.  
The cause why I wish the parsley to be used is, for that it is a great opener, and will help the Quintessence to pass more swiftly to the kidneys & the bladder, where it ought to work, which otherwise continuing long in the stomach, would not work so effectually.  
But least this most excellent medicine should perhaps be slandered: as also, if any person whatsoever desireth to have conference with me for his greater ease, not finding (perchance by some abuse) such remedy as I have promised, and he looked for: let him (if it seem good) repair to my house in great Wickam in the County of Buckingham, where he shall find the Author, without either penny or penny worth, ready to do what possibly he may, for his further cure. And if by taking aught, herein he break his promise, let him be thought rather a deceiver, than one seeking the benefit of his Country.  
FINIS.