THE CHARITABLE physician HIS Hand Extended to the Curing of that Contagious Disease called the FLUX, OR Griping of the Guts.  
With other the most violent Distempers Now reigning amongst us.  
As also their symptoms, whereby they are known.  
All freely given to the Poor in distress.  
By J. Deacon.  
Orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano.  
LONDON, Printed by W. G. are to be sold by Isaac Pridme at the Golden Falcon near the New Exchange and for the Author at the Golden Anchor in Tower-street over against Barkin Church. 1657.   

The charitable Physician his Hand extended to the Curing of that Contagious Disease called The FLUX, OR Griping of the Guts.  
Dear countrymen,  
IT was the saying of an heroic Spirit, that Non solùm nobis nati sumus: If I am born to do good for my Native country, I shall be very happy therein. It was likewise the saying of one of the wise men of Greece, Largire cum utilitate. My heavenly Father, my high and mighty Lord hath bestowed a talon upon me, which I desire not to tie up in a Napkin, but to employ it to the honour of the Giver, and to bestow it to the profit of the Receiver. For my Lord hath commanded me to cast my bread upon the waters, and I shall find it after many days: He commands me to do good to all, but principally to those that are in distress: To such (I say) as groan under the burden of God's heavy hand, and consequently those that labour under the violence of this furious and almost contagious Disease now reigning amongst us, which is called by the common people The FLUX, with the Gripings in the Bowels. By which I understand many perish for want of means to purchase fit Medicines for that Disease from the learned Physicians; unto such alone I do present this talon, this Mite, this Drop of the Water of my Affections, which by God's blessing may be a means to extinguish, at leastwise to abate the flames of these poor people's calamities: Which in the name of God take thus, (if thou art afflicted with this terrible Disease.)  
Four or five Handfuls of Groundsel, or as much thereof as by bruising you may get almost to the quantity of Half a pint of Juice; unto which put the quantity of a Walnut of Fresh Butter, which warm over the fire, and so drink it off: And every half hour afterwards, for the space of four hours, drink one draught of Posset-Ale: After four hours expired, eat one Yolk or two of Eggs potched: Six or seven hours after take this Drink following, which you must make thus:  
A Drink. Take one Handful of plantain leaves, one Handful of Mint, and one Handful of Marygold flowers, and as much hartshorn as will lie upon a Shilling at twice, with half an Ounce of cinnamon grossly beaten, boiled in a Pottle of Fair Water until it be half consumed; then strain it, and after it is strained, boil it a walm or two with three Ounces of Hard Sugar: Of which Drink give the Patient every two hours four Spoonfuls: But within ten or eleven hours after the taking of the Groundsel-Drink, which I guess to be the hour of Rest, then let the Patient take ten or twelve Spoonfuls of the Drink thus boiled and strained, and let him take it for his ordinary drink for four and twenty hours after.  
(Observe to give unto Children one third part prescribed to men or Women of the Groundsel-Drink, and half of the Plantane-Drink; and to increase the same as the child is in age and strength.)  
This Medicine being thus taken, and these Rules observed at the beginning of the Disease, with God's help it giveth a speedy Cure: But if the Disease have continued long upon thee, then expect not so sudden a Cure, and therefore use the same Medicine every other day, viz. the Groundsel-Drink, and the Plantane-Drink, every day ordinarily, the oftener the better. The best and fittest time to give the Groundsel-Drink is at 6 a clock in the Morning. But if thou art suddenly taken sick at any time of the day with this Disease, then take the groundsel-drink presently, without delay, (for delays in this case are very dangerous) after thou hast been an hour in Bed: And if thy constitution be so hard to work upon, and thy body withal strong, so that the Medicine beginneth not to work effectually in an hour and a halfs time, than you may take such another draught of Groundsel. But if through stubbornness of thy Disease, and thy former long neglect, thy body doth still languish, then repair to my habitation, or send me a discreet Messenger (for Urines in this case are not to be trusted to) though many unworthy Professors of the honourable Science of physic do rashly adventure to give physic upon the bare inspection of the Urine, to the utter destruction of the sick Patient, although their idle prattle satisfies, but yet deceives ignorant people: A discreet Messenger I say that may be able to resolve me some questions concerning the state of your body: By which Messenger I shall send you a Pill and a Powder, which you shall have gratis, provided the Messenger bring me a Certificate under the hand of the Minister that you are poor, that so the Poor may not be deceived: Which Pill and Powder are of excellent virtue for opening the Obstructions of the Bowels, and evacuates that sharp humour and wind which causeth this violent distemper; and by the taking thereof not only this, but many Diseases have been Cured, and as many Prevented, to the preservation of thousands in this and other Nations.  
It is excellent for the cure of the dropsy, for by its evacuative quality it unburdeneth the languishing body from those hydropic humours which invade the life of the Patient.  
The Gout, though a Disease reputed incurable, yet this hath cured the same at twice taking, some Topical Medicine being applied to the part, intentionally to discuss the humour collected, and farther taking the same Medicine once in half a year intercepteth the furious reintration of the Disease, which commonly pursueth those that have had the Disease every Spring and Fall.  
It hath likewise mightily prevailed in the Curing of those which have had the Stone, which it dissolveth by its penetrative faculty, and afterwards by its expulsive faculty it forces the Stone away.  
It Cureth the Quotidian, Tertian, and Quartan Ague, though indeed the Quartan requireth longer time, but the rest it most commonly cureth at the first taking.  
It hath cured many of the Disease, Struma, commonly called the Kingsevil, if the Disease be not too inveterate, and the Mass of Blood wholly corrupted and consequently it cureth many Ulcers, Apostheums, Morphews, Itch, and such like deformities of the Skin; for by the operative virtue of this Medicine, those sharp humours which produce these unseemly and unwished for disasters, are carried away, and that at the first or second taking, but generally the third Dose performs the work without question, if the constitution be any thing helpful to Nature.  
But principally it is highly commended for those who have taken surfeits by Eating or Drinking: For by its virtue it exonerates the Stomach from those nauseous humours lately received from that redundancy; which humours by continuance a very few hours in the body, kindle the flames of violent Fevers, even to the subversion of Nature, and loss of Life, which too too many see and find by daily and woeful experience; all which calamities may be seasonably prevented by taking of this wholesome Medicine.  
It is very profitable for those that want an Appetite and Digestion, which indeed is the forerunner of many Diseases, for a Failing Appetite and a Weak Digestion speaks the whole body distempered, and gives certain notice of the pursuit of some furious disease. Many carelessly neglecting these Diagnosticks, precipitate themselves to their destruction.  
Indeed it is a proper Medicine to be taken at the beginning of any manner of Disease, for by its operative virtue it doth Diopilate the Stomach, Liver, Spleen and Mesentery, and presently cleanseth them from those Impurities, which being lodged in those official parts, their Natural operation is presently hindered, and the sad effects of ensuing Diseases produced.  
This Medicine being a perfect Catholic, worketh impartially on each redundant humour; and encountering with that enemy the Disease, in the beginning before he hath entrenched himself, gives him a repulse, and forces him to flight; indeed it is like little David to great Goliath.  
It were fit to be preserved for use in all families that are careful of their health, but especially for such as are remote from Physicians: it may be taken at any time if the patient find himself suddenly surprised with the symptoms of ensuing Diseases.  
The precedent symptoms are commonly these following. An unusual pain in the Head, unaccustomed passions and trembling of the Heart, oppression and loathsomeness of the Stomach, with a rare propensity to vomit: also a griping in the Bowels, pain in the loins or back, with shivering Chillness or shaking, with a sudden violent heat, with slothfulness, drowsiness and restlessness to the whole body.  
I say when these or any of these symptoms appear, then know assuredly there is a storm coming, then without delay take this Medicine.  
It may likewise be given to Children, if you find any of these symptoms appearing on them: But to such give not the powder in substance, but that which is called the infusion of it, which you must make thus. Take the whole powder, and let it lie in seven spoonfuls of white wine all night, then strain the white wine from the powder through a three double cloth, of the which wine give the Child one spoonful in the morning fasting, (if the child be not above four years old) but if a lusty Child, and near eight or ten years of age, you may then give the quantity of three spoonfuls, rather less than more, for if it should not work in an hour and a halfs time you may give another spoonful, when you find it begins to work, give now and then a draught of posset-drink; Let not the Child stir abroad all that day, nor sleep in four hours after taking the white wine; To a Child of fourteen or sixteen years of age, you may give four spoonfuls, always remembering to give rather a spoonful too little, than one drop too much, in regard you may increase the quantity when you please; it were fit that one of these powders were always kept in a viol full of white wine, close stopped, for it will keep a whole year being set now and then by the fire, or in the Sun, and then it is ready to be taken upon all occasions; for twelve hours' neglect may danger the loss of the Child; if the Child be taken sick one day and neglect the Medicine, till the next morning whilst the infusion is preparing: withal remembering that Children take not the Pill.  
The General use of this Medicine to Men & Women is as followeth. Take the Pill always over night two hours after the eating of a light supper, so go to rest; next morning take the powder fasting in a stewed pruon, pap of an Apple, a piece of sweet butter, or of honey the quantity of a hazel nut; one hour after drink a draught of posset Ale, and when it begins to work with you, drink now and then a draught of the said Ale; Sleep not in four hours after taking thereof, neither stir out of your Chamber all that day: about Noon eat some warm meat, making but a light Meal; And if it be needful you may take another pill and powder three days after, in the same manner as aforesaid. And if the patient's body be Costive, then 4 hours before you give the first pill give him or her a glister made only with half a pint of pure salad oil, and half a pint of new milk. So likewise the next day six or seven hours after the taking the powder give the same glister, if the inflexibility of the humours have prevented the Medicine working downwards answerable to your expectation; But this is notusual, yet the first glister is Common.  
But if you shall find any of the precedent symptoms formerly spoken of appear; then stay not till night or next morning, but immediately go to Bed, and as soon as you are warm, there take the pill, and within an hour after take the powder, in order and manner as afore directed; And withal remember the use of the glisters, if your body be very Costive: And if your body continue still in a distemper, than the next day in the Evening take another pill, and the next morning after another powder as afore prescribed, not forgetting the Glisters aforesaid.  
Be it likewise remembered, that whereas, each body hath its several constitution, habit, strength or weakness; And therefore you must take notice, that although the pill is to be given to men or women generally, yet the whole quantity of Powder is not to be given to every patient: but rather half the powder at a time to a tender body, or else the greatest part of the infusion of the whole powder, according to former direction for Children; and if the Medicine, whether the Powder or the infusion, work not in an hour, or two hours' time; then you may take the rest of the powder or infusion, always observing to take somewhat less than a grain exceeding the direction.  
But withal if you expect a blessing upon these my weak but willing endeavours, be mindful of that wholesome direction delivered by a holy one, which speaks thus; My Son? in thy sickness be not negligent, but pray unto the Lord, and he will make thee whole, set thy whole endeavours on work to relinquish sin, and to order thy hands aright, and then give place to the Physician, for the Lord hath created him; I say expect not a blessing until you fit yourself for that blessing by repentance,  
He that sinneth before his Maker, let him fall into the hands of the Physician (saith a holy One) and know thou whosoever thou art, that it's thy sin hath begot this punishment, which makes thee stand in need of the Physician; and assure thyself, if this punishment, this sickness, be removed from thee before an appearance of hearty sorrow be manifested in thee for thy sin, which occasioneth the same, this punishment, this sickness, is removed but to try thee, or to give way to a far greater affliction which will undoubtedly fall upon thee and that suddenly; therefore if you desire not only present but future comfort,  
Begin now an amendment of life: thou that hast by continual transgressions endeavoured to crucify again the Son of Life, repent that your Sins may be put away (which are the cause of all your present sufferings) when the time of refreshings shall come from the presence of the Lord, Act. 3. Unto such as are poor in spirit, whose inheritance is the everlasting Kingdom, Mat. 5. To such I say as thus mourn, it is my desire to Comfort them, for they shall, they must be comforted, it is due to them by promise; Unto whom I say as Peter said unto the poor lame man at the Temple gate who begged his Alms, Gold and Silver have I none, but only such as I have I freely give thee: In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.  
Ask and it shall be given you.  
Happy is the man that can say with Solon,  Patria, tibi & dictis & factis obitulatus sum.  

Books Printed for Isaac Pridmore and Henry Marsh, and are to be sold at the Golden falcon near the New-Exchange.  
1 THE Rogue, or the life of Guzman de Alpherache the witty Spaniard, written in Spanish by Matthew Aleman, Servant to his Catholic Majesty; the fifth and last Edition Corrected.  
2 A Physical discourse exhibiting the cure of Diseases by signatures, whereunto is annexed a Philosophical discourse, vindicating the soul's Prerogative in discerning the truths of Christian Religion with the eye of reason, by R. Bunworth.  
Self-Examination or Self-Preparation for the worthy receiving of the Lord's Supper; delivered in a Sermon concerning the Sacrament, by Daniel Cawdrey, sometimes Preacher