THE six BOOK OF Practical Physic. Of Occult or Hidden Diseases; IN NINE PARTS Part I. Of Diseases from Occult Qualities in General. Part II. Of Occult, Malignant, and Venomous Diseases arising from the Internal Fault of the Humours. Part III. Of Occult Diseases from Water, Air, and Infections, and of infectious Diseases. Part IV. Of the Venereal Pox. Part V. Of Outward Poisons in General Part VI Of Poisons from Minerals and Metals. Part VII. Of Poisons from Plants. Part VIII. Of Poisons that come from Living Creatures. Part IX. Of Diseases by Witchcraft, Incantation, and Charms. By Daniel Sennertus, N Culpeper, And Abdiah Cole, DOCTORS OF PHYSIC London, Printed by Peter Cole, Printer and Bookseller, at the Sign of the Printing-press in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange. 1662. Books Printed by Peter Cole and Edward Cole, Printers and Booksellers of London at the Exchange. Several Physic Books of Nich. Culpeper, Physician and ginger, and Abdiah Cole Doctor of Physic commonly called, The physician's Library, containing all the Wor●s in English of Riverius, Sennertus, Platerus, Rio a●us, Bartholinus. Viz. 1. A GOLDEN Practice of Physic: after a new, easy and plain Method of knowing, foretelling preventing, and curing all Diseases incident to the body of Man. Full of proper Observations and Remedies, both of Ancient and Modern Physicians. Being the fruit of one and thirty years' Travel, and fifty years' Practice of Physic. By Dr. Plater, Dr. Cole, and Nich. Culpeper. 2. Bartholinus Anatomy, with very many larger Brass Figures, than any other Anatomy in English. 3. Sennertus thirteen Books of Natural Philosophy: Hey the Nature of all things in the world. 4. Sennertus' Practical Physic; the first Book in three Parts. 1. Of the Head. 2. Of the Hurt of the internal senses. 3. Of the external Senses, in five Sections. 5. Sennertus' Practical Physic; the second Book, in four Parts. 1. Of the jaws and Mouth. 2. Of the Breast. 3. Of the Lungs. 4. Of the Heart. 6. Sennertus' Third Book of Practical Physic in fourteen Parts, treating, 1. Of the Stomach and Gullet. 2. Of the Guts. 3. Of the Mesentery, Sweetbread and Om●ntum. 4. Of the Spleen. 5. Of the Sides. 6. Of the Scurvy. 7 a●d 8. Of the Liver. 9 Of the Ureters. 10. Of the Kidneys. 11. and 12. Of the Bladder. 13. and 14. Of the Privities and Generation in men. 7. Sennertus' fourth Book of Practical Physic in three Parts. Part●. Of the Diseases in the Privities of women. The first Section. Of Diseases of the Privy Par●, and the Neck of the Womb. The second Section. Of the Diseases of the Womb. Part 2. Of the Symptoms in the Womb, and from the Womb. The second Section. Of the Symptoms in the Terms and other Fluxes of the Womb. The third Section. Of the Symptoms that befall all Virgins and Women in their Wombs, after they are ripe of Age. The fourth Section. Of the Symptoms which are in Conception. The fifth Section. Of the Government of Women with Child, and preternatural Distempers in Women with Child. The sixth Section. Of Symptoms that happen in Childbearing The seventh Section. Of the Government of Women in Childbed, and of the Diseases that come after Travel The first Section. Of Diseases of the Breasts. The second Section. Of the Symptoms of the Breasts. To which is added a Tractate of the Cure of Infants. Part 1. Of the Diet and Government of Infants. The second Section. Of Diseases and Symptoms in Children. 8. Sennertus' fifth Book of Practical Physic, Or the Art of Chirurgery in six Parts. 1. Of Tumours. 2. Of Ulcers. 3. Of the Skin, Hair and Nails. 4. Of Wounds, with an excellent Treatise of the Weapon Salve. 5. Of Fractures. 6. Of Luxations. 9 Sennertus two Treatises. 1. Of the Pox. 2. Of the Gout. 10. Sennertus' sixth and last Book of Practical Physic in nine Parts. 1. Of Diseases from occult Qualities in general. 2. O● occult, malignant, and venomous Diseases arising from the internal salt of the humours. 3. Of occult Diseases from water, air, and infections, and of infectious diseases. 4. Of the Venereal Pox. 5. Of outward Poisons in general. 6. Of Poisons from Minerals and Metals. 7. Of Poisons from Plants. 8. Of Poisons that come from Living Creatures. 9 Of Diseases by Witchcraft, Incantation, and Charms. 11. Idea o● Practical P●●sick in twelve Books. 12. Twenty four Books of the Practice of Pay●●●k, being the Works of that Learned and Renowned Doctor Lazarus Riverius Physician and Counsellor to the late King▪ etc. 13. Veslingus Anatomy of the Body of Man 14. A Translation of the New Dispensatory, made by th● College of Physicians of London, in Folio and in Octavo. Whereunto is added, The Key of Galen's Method of Physic. 15. A Directory for Midwives, or a guide for women 16. Galens Art of Physic. 17. A new Method both of studying and practising Physic. 1●. A Treatise of the Ri●kets. 19 Medicaments for the Poor: Or, Physic fo● 〈◊〉 Common People. 20. Health for the Rich and Poor, by Diet without Physic 21. One thousand New, Famous and Rare Cures, in Folio and Octavo. 22. A Treatise o● Pulses and Urins. 23. A Treatise of Blood-letting, and Cures performed thereby. 24. A Treatise of Scarification, and Cures performed thereby. 25. Riolanus Anatomy. 26. The English Physician enlarged. The London Dispensatory in Folio, of a great Character in Latin. Divinity Books Printed by Peter Cole, etc. Mr. Burroughs WORKS, viz. on Matth. 11. 1 Christ's Call to all those that are weary and heavy laden, to come to him for re●t. 2 Christ the great Teacher of Souls that come to hi● 3 Christ the Humble Teacher of those that come to him. 4 The only easy way to Heaven. 5 The Excellency of Holy Courage in Evil times. 6 Gospel Reconciliation. 7 The Rare Jewel o● Christian Contentment. 8 Gospel-Worship. 9 Gospel-Conversation. 10 A Treatise of Earthly Mindedness, and of Heavenly Mindedness, and Walking with God. 11 An Exposition of the Prophecy of Hoseah. 12 The Evil of Evils, or the exceeding sinfulness of Sin. 13 Of Precious Faith 14 Of Hope. 15 Of Walking by Faith, and not by Sight. 16 The Christians living to Christ upon 2 Cor. 5.15. 17 A Catechism. 18 〈…〉 Twenty one several Books of Mr. Willi●● 〈◊〉, Collected into two Volumes, Viz. 1 Scripture light, the most sure Light. 2. Christ in Travel 3 A lifting up to the cast down 4 Sin against the Holy Ghost. 5 Sins of Infirmity. 6 The false Apostle tried and discovered. 7 The good and means of Establishment. 8 The great things Faith can do. 9 The great things Faith can suffer. 10 The great Gospel Mystery of the Saints Comfort and Holiness, opened and applied from Christ's Priestly Office. 11 Satan's power to tempt and Christ's Love to, and Ca●e of his People under Temptation. 12 Thankfulness required in every Condition 13 Grace for Grace. 14 The Spiritual Actings of Faith through Natural Impossibilities. 15 Evangelical Repentance 16 The Spiritual Life, and In●●●ing of Christ in all Believers. 17 The Woman of Can●●h. 18 The Saints Hiding place, etc. 19 Christ coming, etc. 20 A Vindication of Gospel Ordinances. 21 Grace and Love beyond Gifts. THE Contents OF THE six BOOK. Of occult or hidden Diseases THE FIRST PART. Of the Diseases from occult Qualities in General. Page CHap. 1. Whether there are actions from the whole substance, or from occult Qualities 1 Chap. 2. Of the Names and Nature of occult Diseases 2 and venomous Diseases that arise from Humours 17 Chap. 5 Of the Differences of Diseases that come from the internal fault of the Humours 19 Chap. 6 Of the Signs of diseases that come from malignant venomous Humours that are bred in our Bodies 20 Chap. 7 Of the Preservation from, and Cure of these Diseases ibid. THE CONTENTS OF THE THIRD PART. Of occult Diseases from Water, Air, and Infections, and of-Infectious Diseases. Chap. 1 Of occult and malignant Diseases, and Venom that arise from Waters 22 Chap. 2 Of malignant Diseases from the Air 23 Chap. 3 Of 〈◊〉 24 Chap. 4 Of the Differences of infectious Diseases 26 THE CONTENTS OF THE FIFTH PART. Of outward Poisons in General. Chap. 1 Of the Naure of Poison 27 Chap. 2 Of the Differences of Poisons 2● Chap. 3 Of the Signs 32 Chap. 4 Of the Prognostics 33 Chap. 5 Of Preservation from Poison 34 THE CONTENTS OF THE SEVENTH PART. Of Poisons from Plants. Page CHap. 1 Of Opium 54 Chap. 2 Of Mushrooms. 56 Chap. 3. Of Napellas. 57 Chap. 4 Of Aconitum 58 Chap. 5. Of Toxicum and Pharicum ibid. Chap. 6 Of Hemlock 59 Chap. 7 Of the Colchian Ephemerum. ib. Chap. 8 Of Fleabane 60 Chap. 9 Of mad Nightshade and Dorycnium ibid. Chap. 10 Of the Mandrake. 61 Chap. 11. Of Smallage of Laughter, or the Sardonick Herb. 62 Chap. 12 Of Coriander ibid. Chap. 13 Of Ixia and Camaleon. 63 Chap. 14 Of Taxus the Ewtree. ibid. Chap. 15 Of Euphorbium. 64 Chap. 16 Of the Nut called M●tella ibid. Chap. 17 Of Spurge 45 Chap. 18 Of Hellebore 66 THE CONTENTS OF THE EIGHTH PART. Of Poisons that come from Animals, or living creature's. Chap. 1 Of Poisons from Animals in General 67 Chap. 2 Of Serpents in general 69 Chap. 3 Of the Aspi● or Adder. 71 Chap. 4 Of Cerastes 72 Chap. 5 Of Haemorrhous ibid. Chap. 6 Of Dipsas 73 Chap. 7 Of Amphisbena and Scitale ibid. Chap. 8 Of a Basilisk 74 Chap. 9 Of the Viper ibid. Chap. 10 Of the Scorpion 76 Chap. 11 Of a Crocodile 77 Chap. 12. Of Stellio or a Lizard so called ibid. Chap. 13 Of the Salamander. 78 Chap. 14 Of the Spider. ibid. Chap. 15 Of Cantharideses, or Span●sh-flies 79 Chap. 16 Of Flies, Bees and Wasps 80 Chap. 17 Of the Poison of a mad Dog 81 Chap. 18 Of the Brain and Blood of a Cat ibid. Chap. 19 Of Diseases and Symptoms which Poisons leave behind them. 82 THE Contents OF THE NINTH PART. Of Diseases by Witchcraft, Incantation, and Charms. Page Chap. 1 Of Fascination or Witchcraft, and whether any Diseases come thereby. 84 Chap. 2 What Enchantments, poisonous Witchcraft, and Magic are 86 Chap. 3. Many affirm that Diseases may be from Witchcraft and Charms 88 Chap. 4. Uv●erus denies that Diseases may come by Witchcraft. 90 Chap. 5 The Controversy is decided, and it 〈◊〉 showed whence diseases are made that are from Witches ibid. Chap. 6 Of the Signs of diseases from Witchcraft 96 Chap. 7 Of Preservation against Witchcraft 96 Chap. 8 Of the Care of diseases made by Witchcraft, and first of the Magical Cure 97 Chap. 9 Of the Natural Cure of Witchcraft 98 Chap. 10 Of the Divine Cure of Witchcraft 100 Also Two Eistles of that Excellent and Famous man Balthas●● Han Doctor of Physic, and chief Physician to the Elect●r of Saxo●y. THE six BOOK. Of occult or hidden Diseases. THE FIRST PART. Of the Diseases from occult Qualities in General. Chap. 1. Whether there are actions from the whole substance, or from occult Qualities. SOME confess that there are in nature hidden faculties: ●. De nat. fac. c. 14. Lib. ●1. d● sumpt. facult. but how many sorts, and from whence they come is not sufficiently explained. Galen calls them the Qualities of the whole substance, and reproves the Teacher P●lops, that bragged more ambitiously then learnedly, that he knew the causes of all things. For they who endeavour to know that, bring foolish ridiculous reasons, or deny things confirmed by experience. Libris de a-bed. rerum cau. exer. cit. 218. Fernelius in the last age learnedly defended occult qualities. And julius Caesar Scalig●r saith it is great impudence to bring all things to manifest qualities, And I suppose that there is no more foolish and detestable opinion in Physic, then to determine that the causes of all things which happen naturally, are to be fetched from manifest causes and Elements. For who is so foolish or impudent, that will impute the action of the Loadstone drawing iron to qualities fetched from the Elements? Some hate Cats, that if they be present (though they see them not) they fall into cold sweats, and faint, and cannot endure any Cupboard that contains them▪ Also purging Medicines that purge much in a small quantity, and the action of poisons testify the same. And the meanest Physicians know of what narcotick quality a few grains of Opium are. From which, and six hundred more Arguments, I conclude that these actions are far different from the actions of manifest qualities. Chap. 2. Of the Names and Nature of occult Diseases. THey are called occult Qualities, because their force is known only by their operation and effect; but we know them not by sense, because they affect the body privately. 5. Simpl. c. 1. Com. in lib. Gal. de const. art. By Galen they are said to act from the whole substance which Valeriola says, is when there can be no reason given of the acting, but the substantial form, as the elementary qualities flow from their forms. Nor a●e occult qualities to be contemned, therefore as the refuge of ignorance, but rather our weakness of understanding. Avi●en. de virib. cord. And as he that knows that fire warms from its heat, knows truly, and is not ignorant. So he that knows that a Loadstone draws iron, because it hath a virtue so to do, is truly knowing, and not ignorant. And in this our darkness, the form of fire and of the Loadstone, is alike unknown unto us, for the form is a Divine thing, and works, whole exquisite knowledge is hid from us; therefore it is the part of a fool to search after it. Scali. exer. cit. 307. sec. 29. For it is a part of humane Wisdom to be content to be ignorant of some things. And the true knowledge of all things is only in Eternal Wisdom. Chap. 3. Of the Original of occult Qualities. IT is hard and tried by few, to know the original of occult qualities: for they come not from the first qualities, which way soever mixed or tempered, for they cannot produce such actions as are in Purges, Poisons and Antidotes, either being simple or mixed, so that occult qualities should produce effects above the power and condition of the Elements. Nor are they from the peculiar mixture or unknown measure of the temper of the Elements, for these mi●●ures do not change Nature, nor exalt the essence: for it is an undoubted truth, that nothing acteth beyond the strength of its kind. Therefore occult qualities flow from their forms, which must be sought for. Let us search into the differences of the substances in which these qualities are, and then it will appear that all have not the same original: for some are alive, others not, of those that live not, some have had life, as Rhubarb, Wormwood. Some have not, as Stones, Metals. 1. Therefore occult qualities that come from living creatures, are in all the particular Individuums of every kind, only as long as they live; as force to stop a Ship, is the Remora, while alive, not dead. This quality is from the form of the fish living, and so it is in the Torpedo. 2. There are other occult qualities proper to some living, but not to all of that kind, as some hate cheese or wine, or Cats present, though not seen. These qualities depend not upon the form, but upon the peculiar disposition of the body. 3. Occult qualities are in things without life, & depend upon their specifical form, as the force of the Loadstone to draw i●●n, or 〈◊〉 it in the air, or to move towards the pole, or the virtues of Jewels, Metals and Minerals. 4. There are occult qualities in natural things that have lived, and do not, as in Plants and Animals which are used in Physic, as in Rhubarb to purge choler, in the Elkes hoo● against the Epilepsy etc. 5. There are occult qualities bred according to Nature in living things, both plants and beasts, as the venom of a Scorpion, Adder, Tarantula. 6. They are in living Creatures against Nature, as the venom of a mad Dog, and of the Plague. These are the divers subjects of occult qualities. Chap. 4. Whether do occult Qualities belong to Health? NOt only the elementary qualities concern man's health, but the occult; for whatsoever conduceth to the natural disposition of the parts of man's body, belongs to the health of it. For health is as a natural power to exercise natural actions, depending upon the constitution of the parts according to Nature; or a natural disposition of the parts of the body, that hath power to exercise natural actions. But to the constitution of the parts of man's body, occult properties do belong, and many actions are done by them. Therefore occult qualities belong to the health of man. Chap. 5. Whether are there other Diseases than Distemper in the similar Parts. FErnelius only (as I know) said that similar parts had other diseases besides distemper, 3. Path. ●● 2. de abd. rerum c●●. c. 10. 1.2. de abd. rer. ●●u. 〈◊〉 for three reasons. 1. In a similar part, besides the distemper, are found things that make up its constitution, for there is matter and form which may be the subjects of a disease, as temper; for the whole substance is the perfection and integrity, by which every thing subsists. Therefore whatsoever destroys the matter and form, are diseases of the whole substance; some are manifest, some are hid. The manifest demolish the substance of the parts by manifest qualities. The occult oppose the whole substance from occult causes. But Fernels reasons only prove that there are diseases from occult qualities, and to be cured by the same. As for the first kind, the change and corruption of substance causeth not a disease, but the destruction of the part, but a corrupt thing neither suffers a disease nor health. If the corruption is not perfect, but beginning, it is a disease of distemper or alteration. If this destruction of substance come from an occult cause, it belongs to diseases of occult qualities therefore it is not the corruption of the form. The second reason of Fernel, is from curing: Medicines are given, that work by occult qualities, that is from the whole substance; therefore there are diseases answerable to them: for if there were no occult diseases, remedies had been invented in vain, which oppose the actions of them with their whole substance, as vonemous diseases, and the plague. To this I answer, a preternatural disposition from an occult quality, is more properly to be called diseases of occult qualities, than diseases of the whole substance or form: for it is not affected immediately, only the noble qualities are affected, which the form useth for to act by. Fernels third Argument is from actions hurt: for saith he, all actions hurt, are either from the disease of the part acting, or from an external error, but there are actions which are neither referred to diseases of distemper, nor to external error. It follows that there are others from whence these actions arise, as in malignant and pestilent fevers, in which there is often no distemper to be observed, and yet strength is so dejected, that they often kill. Therefore every poison of itself, as it is poison, works by an occult force, and puts an evil disposition into the body, that cannot be cured but by Antidotes But it must not be called a disease of the whole substance, but a disease of occult qualities. Chap. 6. What Diseases are in similar Parts, besides Distemper? SOme Learned men having examined Fernels reasons mentioned for diseases of matter ●nd form, have seen some falsities in him, and therefore have rejected his truths also. I shall give my opinion. If any with Fernel will call them diseases of the whole substance or form, that have a hidden cause, because they destroy the substance and form of the part, it cannot be allowed, because they affect not the form immediately, as I showed. But they shall say truly, if they shall say that they change those noble qualities, which the form useth besides the first qualities, and bring in the contrary. That there are such occult qualities and evil dispositions appears by what is said, and they bring the same into our body, and so alter it, that after many years that malignant quality hath been observed to revive. They say so of the English sweeting disease, that many which scaped it, had a great palpitation of the heart two or three years after, others all their lives. The same you may see in other venomous diseases, and the French pox. For many have been seemingly cured, and after twenty or thirty years have relapsed, which shows a malignant disposition that remained. Gal●n knew this Saying. The least part of deadly poison getting into the body, changeth it all in a moment, and altars it with a disease like itself. Chap. 7. Of the Causes and Differences of occult Diseases in General. OCcult diseases are preternatural dispositions, stamped upon the body of man from occult qualities, acting otherways then by the first qualities, and are cured by remedies that act occultly. These occult causes are divers, and produce divers diseases, as fevers with a cough, not deadly, but contagious; so there is an occult venom in the French pox, that kills not presently▪ but tormenteth men long. So the Lepers die not presently: and there are malignant fevers, with, or without the p●●gue. The causes of occult diseases, are sometimes without the body, from the air corrupted by vapours, and corrupts the humours, which causeth occult diseases; or when they stay with them that have an infection, as the Scurvy, Elephantiasis, and venom of a mad Dog, the Pox, and the like, by which, contagion is carried to others. Also poison from Plants, Minerals, Animals taken in do the same. Or conveyed by a bite or sting of a beast, as of a Scorpion, Tarantula, Basilisk. To these you may refer diseases by Witchcraft. There is another difference taken from the parts in which the occult qualities lie, by which a man is not presently killed, because poison doth not suddenly go to the heart, but to some other part, as Spanish flies go to the bladder, Opium and evil malignant air to the brain, making an Epilepsy; the Sea-hare to the lungs, and the French pox to the liver. Some differences are from the manner and force of the action: for-deletery poisons have forms, which are the principles of acting, but the instruments are the hidden virtues that flow from these forms, which are unknown to us, except only by the effect. Also they act without the help of the first qualities, and cure distinguished from them. Chap. 8. Of the Signs of occult and venomous Diseases in General. IF he have been with them that have a contagious disease, or hath taken poison, The Signs. or been bitten or stung by a venomous beast. 2. If no Symptom can be referred to the quality. If they be gre●●, and not usual in other diseases. 3. If they ●e only cured with Antidotes that work by an occult quality. You may know if the cause of an occult disease be bred in, or brought to the body by the die● before, and by his conversing with such as had the like disease. The Symptoms show what part is chiefly affected. If the heart he suddenly smitten, the vital faculty is dejected; the pulse is weak, the heart beats, the mind is troubled, there is fainting. If the brain be affected, there is hurt of sense and motion presently, watching and raving. If the liver, the colour all over is changed there are spots and pustles all over, the urine is changed in colour and substance. The Prognostic. The stronger the malignant cause acteth, the shorter is the disease. Whatsoever gets quickly to the heart, is dangerous. Every occult disease is to be suspected, and also malignant and venomous are worse than such as act by manifest qualities. The greater the Symptoms, the more the danger. Chap. 9 Of the Cure of malignant, venomous, and occult Diseases in General. YOu must preserve or cure. Preservatives are excellent in contagions, of which hereafter. In diseases that come from humours gathered inwardly, you must evacuate presently. Poisons that come by chance, can scarce be prevented, except you do as Mithridates' King of Ponius that used Mithridate often, of which Cardanus. If the malignant venom hath pressed the body, take it presently away, or abate its force: if it be by a humour bred in the body, use Purges or Sweats▪ If poison be drunk, and still in the stomach, vomit it up with Oil or Fat. If it be gotten from the stomach to the guts, purge, or give Clysters: if it be in the liver, sweat: if it come by a little sting or touch, draw it out presently, that it pierce not in, of which before. Give Antidotes in all cases, or proper or common, if it be not known. In sharp poisons taken it, use fat Oils, but in such diseases, look more to the occult than the manifest qualities. If there be other diseases also, as plethory, cacochymy or obstruction, give not Antidotes before those causes be removed, and it must be done very quickly in great poisons. For those causes nourish the hidden venom, and oppose the strength of Antidotes. This was the opinion of Eustach Rudius, Eust. Rud. l. de morb. occult. etc. 12. which I suspect, for you must oppose what is worst and urgeth most; therefore give things at first against poison. Against venomous diseases, we give Antidotes simple or compound, called Alexiteria. Simple are Angelica roots, Valerian, Swallow-wort, Contrayerva, Tormentil, Zedoary, Burnet, Scorz●●era, white Dittany, Masterwort, Snakeweed, Citron peels, Ashen bark, Carduus, Rue, Scordium, Sorrel, Galangal, Paul's Bettony. Compounds are Mithridate, Treacle, powder of Saxon, Diascordium. Mathiolus his Antidote. Annulets by Fernel and Palmar, and the like. THE SECOND PART. Of Occult, Malignant, and venomous Diseases, arising from the internal fault of the Humours. Chap. 1. Of Malignity and Venom in general. THAT is malignant that hath worse symptoms, and is harder to be cured then ordinary. Malignity is an adventitious quality to a disease that makes beyond its nature more difficult or dangerous. It is from manifest or occult qualities, as when an ulcer is in a part only distempered by a manifest quality, it may be cacoethick, or of an ill condition, but that is only from manifest qualities. On the contrary, if a part be stung by a venomous beast, or bitten, there will be an ulcer also, but such as is from an occult quality: here we shall speak only of malignity that flows from occult qualities. Hence it is clear that malignity differs from poison, for malignity comes after another disease, but poison by i●s pernicious force brings a hidden disease without another disease, so the Plague poison can kill without a fever of itself, and so will Hemlock, Napellus. Poison therefore is that which of its own force by an occult way doth vehemently and immediately afflict the body and endanger life, but the doubt is whether it be a quality or a substance, therefore distinguish it, sometimes it is taken for the thing poisoned, sometimes for the form of action and hurting our bodies privately. If it be taken for the thing poisoned, it is of a double nature: some are bodies and act by a bodily contract, and though they touch not all with their own body, yet they send forth Atoms and small bodies that infect, and move to & fro in the air in the time of contagion. Others act by intentional species, that is, spiritual qualities that kill, as the poison of the Torpedo that ben●●●s the hand of the Fisher through the Spear. If poison be taken for the venemosity itself, it is an occult and dangerous quality. The differences of malignant and venomous diseases are from the effects and causes, for we are ignorant of their forms, therefore we shall describe every poison in its proper place by it● proper signs: but here we shall propound the differences of occult diseases fetched from their causes▪ they are bred in or without the body; from evil humours bred in the body are divers sorts of malignant fevers, and pestilent fevers, and the plague. The causes without the body are divers both malignant and venomous. 1. The air drawn in, Inspiration sent out by transpiration. 2. Bad water drunk. 3. Contagion or Infection any way communicated to the body hurts secretly. 4. Poisons taken have power to corrupt the body. 5. The stingings and bite of venomous creatures, either piercing the body, or any other ways hurting, as by sight, hissing, venomous breath, or spiritual species. Also venomous ointments with which darts or swords are infected: all these poisons are taken from Plants, Animals, or Minerals; of which in order. Chap. 2. Whether malignant venomous humours are bred in our bodies. MErcurialis denies it, Fernelius affirms it; and they both bring unsatisfying Arguments. But Rudius decides the controversy in saying, they are properly poisons which are such of their own nature, and not such as by conception become enemies to our bodies. And true poison is only that which is bred without the body. 6. De lo. off. c. 5. Galen seems to favour Fernel▪ against Mercurialis, when he says that poison is bred in Dogs when they are mad, which is very infectious, and a pestilent venom breeds of dead carcases, and if poison breed in a Dog, why not in a man▪ nor is the external agent only requisite for generation, but the disposition of the matter is more than the outward acting Instrument. Chap. 3. How are malignant and venomous humours bred in men's Bodies? THerefore since poison is bred in our bodies the difficulty is, how it is bred. Note first that all the corruptions of our bodies are not to be imputed to the matter alone, or to the efficient. Sometimes the efficient produceth it, when the venomous quality or disposition is so fixed that it infects the humours that flow to it: but usually venomous humours are bred in respect of the matter, and they afterwards turn malignant. Note secondly that there are divers concoctions in our body, in which new mixtures are made, nor is there a resolution as far as the first matter in every mutation or corruption, but when any thing corrupteth, only the form, and the determinate temper of that form, or the subjects with its accidents perish, and others that are subordinate remain, some with their accidents: hence it is that often some form is manifest which lay hid before. And what Hypocrates spoke of the powers of humours I find true in the nature of poison. Lib. de vet. medici. In man (saith he) there is bitter, sweet, salt and sour, and six hundred more qualities, which according to their plenty and strength have other faculties, by mixture of the mutual contemperation, nor are these seen, nor do they molest, but any of these are separated, and is alone, than it is evident, and molesteth a man, etc. thus must we dispute concerning poisons. A man feeds upon divers Creatures and Plants; the Plants are fed by dung of Animals and showers, or by floods, and we may find everywhere things contrary to our bodies in the dung and excrements of Animals, in the earth, rain and rivers, which are carried with the nourishment into the body, and there exercise their force. 6. Epid. come 5. tex. 25. Hypocrates gives an Example of this, As when a Woman or a Goat eats wild Cucumbers, the child or the Kid will be purged, because the milk is made purging. And though it be first made chyle, then blood, and thirdly milk, yet the purging quality is kept after so many changes, when the infant hath sucked. From whence it is easy to conclude, that many things get into our bodies with the nourishment, that have venomous and malignant qualities. For how many men do feed upon Mushrooms, Melons, and the like, which breed bad juice? How many malignant showers fall upon the Plants that feed the cattle? How many beasts that are man's food, eat venomous Plants and Creatures? The Stork eats Hemlock, the Quail Hellebore, the Duck's Toads which nourish them. Hens eat Scorpions and Serpents, and when man eats these meats, it is no wonder if that poison which feed them (though after divers concoctions it took divers forms) become hurtful unto man, and be a kind of poison in him. Chap. 4. Of the Causes of occult and venomous Diseases that arise from Humours. THese Causes are efficient or material. As to the efficients, in regard divers concoctions are made, there must be divers excrements, according to the variety of the parts, one in the liver, another in the heart, another in the stones, womb, and the veins and arteries that contain blood and Spirits, when they are distempered, suffer the blood and Spirits to corrupt, and they are distempered by excess or occult malignity, by which the solid parts are often corrupted, as appears in soul ulcers, gangrenes and sphacels. This evil disposition is sometimes from the parents to the children, and they produce evil humours, which cause the malignant Scab or Elephantiasis. Sometimes it is from meat and drink, and venomous medicines that exceed in the first qualities, and secretly hurt the body. The Stars may do the same. For though they usually nourish the earth with benign influences, yet by accident they may hurt this or that person by occult influences, Lib. 4. the febr. c. 4. 3. Apho. 1. except they keep a proportion, of which hereafter. Hypocrates shows how much the air conduceth to the breeding of diseases, saying: That change of seasons doth chiefly breed diseases, and they are either breathed in, or sent into the body by the pores, and the plague comes from the air. Also imagination and passions may be counted efficient causes: for frights and anger have caused great diseases. And I observed about six times, that when the plague was here where I live as Professor, that many fell into the plague by anger, which (though it be hard to be explained) is probable to me. For many bodies are of constitutions subject to the plague, either by the air or other cause, rather than to another disease; and if imagination, fear or anger come upon them, this disposition is easily brought into act, and the good humours may be corrupted by those passions, as Mercurialis shows. In lectionibus de pestle. c. 22. 1. de ven. c. 6. Cardan mentions hatred among these causes, it is a passion made of anger and sadness, and corrupteth the humours. The other cause that corrupteth the humours is material, and makes them malignant or venomous, and the plague is often bred from bad diet in time of famine, Gal. lib. de cib. lo. &. mal. suc. which Galen saw under Commodus the Emperor. Also Cucumbers and Pompions produce humours as bad as poison, if they lie long in the body. Also good meat not well digested in the stomach, may cause bad chyle, and good blood is never made of bad chyle, but a humour or green choler, which is burnt and corrupted in the liver, and mixed with the blood, and when it rests in the veins, it is scarce perceived, but when it is stirred by the motion of the body or mind, it is worse, and corrupts more, and is separated from the good humours, and brings great diseases, and sudden death. But meats that have in themselves a malignant venomous quality, as Mushrooms▪ Frogs do this much more. Chap. 5. Of the differences of Diseases that come from the internal fault of the Humours. THere are two chief differences of Diseases from internal humours. The first are malignant, but kill not, only cause greater Symptoms than the first qualities can produce, with these a man may live long. The second are such as presently kill, and are well called Venomous. Of the first sort are the humours that cause an Epilepsy, fear of water, dancing, madness, Scurvy, Colic, and malignant Dysenteries, Elephantiasis, Gangrene, and simply malignant Fevers. Of the second sort, are the humours that beget pestilent fevers, and the plague. As for the first sort, the Epilepsy and the other diseases are not the evident causes, or from obstruction of the ventricles of the brain, nor is fe●● of water, from the biting of a mad Dog. But this Epilepsy is from a humour or vapour that hurts the membranes of the brain, and the nerves especially. And fear of water may come from internal humours without the biting of any mad creature. Mercellus Donatus hath five Examples of this, Lib. de hist. med. mirabil. and the diseases mentioned are not from manifest qualities, but from malignant, occult and venomous causes. As for the second kind, the humours are so corrupted, that they do not only turn malignant, but breed deadly diseases, that kill like poison, as pestilent Fevers and the Plague, Buboes and Carbun●les, of which before. Chap. 6. Of the Signs of diseases that come from malignant venomous Humours that are bred in our Bodies. THe signs of these diseases are from the causes mentioned in the fourth Chapter, especially from the air, which if it keep not its natural constitution, the humours must needs be corrupted, as experience confirms. Another sign is when famine hath been either by scarcity or siege, and men have had an ill diet, the inward humours are corrupt. The third is, when no manifest Cause went before, and the man had not to do with any man of the like disease, and there are the signs of malignity and venom, Gal. lib. 1. c● diss. seb. ●. 4. it shows that it is from the internal fault of the humours. And by comparing the strength with the disease, you may know the event of the disease. Chap. 7. Of the Preservation from, and Cure of these Diseases. WE have showed the Cure largely before, only if there be a malignant or Epidemical disease stirring, either from air or bad diet, or the like, let it be removed by convenient Evacuations, lest the humours corrupt. And observe from what cause the fault is, that you ma● apply sit remedies: as Pills de Tribus, Rhubarb, and Syrup of Roses, and the like. These must be repeated at a distance, and good Antidotes used. After purging, it is good to sweat, and take heed of anger, fear or passions, which stir up the hum●●s that he still and close, and make a plague without any society with them of the plague. See for the Cure Lib. 4. the feb. Cap. 6. THE THIRD PART. Of occult Diseases from Water, Air, and Infections, and of infectious Diseases. Chap. 1. Of occult and malignant Diseases, and Venom that arise from Waters. MANY Diseases come from bad waters, as Dysentery and Dropsy and malignant Diseases also, as the Scurvy. Marsh standing Pools easily corrupt, and the drinking thereof in Armies, causeth malignant pestilent Fevers, because they are infected by Frogs, Toads and Serpents, and other venomous Creatures. Also Waters are unwholesome, in which Flax or Hemp are steeped. And some Fountains have killed them that have drunk thereof, and therefore the Waters of the River Styx are so odious, among Poe●s. Pausanias and other Historians mention of many poisons that will infect waters You may cure these Waters by boiling them or quenching steel, or stone, or iron in them when you are in Armies, or on a Journey, and cannot boil them, at least you may strain them. And if any have drunk such Waters, let him presently take an Antidote. Chap. 2. Of malignant Diseases from the Air. AIr as it is a pure Element, neither corrupts, nor is infectious; Paraeus lib 10. c. 13. but it may be corrupted by other things. Paris is seldom free from the Plague, by reason of inundations, for besides the stink of the mud, all the Jakes of the City are full of stinking water, that go not into the Common-shore, but to the Gates of the City, and cause a stink, especially in hot weather. Also malignant vapours arise from Dens and Caves, saith Mercurialis, De ven. c. 13. he had seen many Caves near Rome, into which, if either man or beast go, they presently die. The air becomes pestilent, when the small bodies that use to be in the air (that of themselves are not venomous) do corrupt. These are all dangerous diseases, and none can be secure from them, for none can live without air. Therefore let such as by reason of their employments, or the like, cannot fly, never go abroad, but with good Antidotes in their mouths and anointed about their noses. Chap. 3. Of Contagion. IN contagious diseases. 1. There is the disease which is called Contagious, because it infects another with the same disease. 2. There is the Medium by which the like disease is produced in another. 3. There is the action by which the like disease is produced in another. And lastly the disease which is produced in another▪ A contagion is an infection, or a body sent from a sick body, that can produce the like disease in another. To clear this. 1. Consider the contagious body. 2. The infection by which it doth infect another. 3. The body that is infected. 1. The contagious body is not only a man, but an Ox or Sow, or the like. And that is only contagious that can breed any thing in itself, which being sent to another of the same kind, produceth the like disease. 2. When that Contagion passeth to another body, with which it hath some likeness, the passage is by infection or seed, in which there is force to act by the quality that flows from the force. But we are ignorant of that quality and the form from whence it flows: therefore it is truly called an occult Quality. For this quality and form are in as small a body as an Atom, and is so called; and as one saith, The infection of diseases is multiplied by little bodies, that like seeds, comprehend the whole essence of the disease. Now the quality by which the infection acts so powerfully, is not manifest; for no manifest quality hath such force; but it is occult, and not sensible, but known only by the effect. Nor can you say that this infection is the effect of rottenness, for that putrefaction be made many alteration are required, and long time. But Contagion taken in suddenly infecteth, and often kills, and begets the like contagious humour in the party; and works like contagious poison before there is any putrefaction wrought, as appears in the Plague. This Miasma or Contagion is spread and sowed about, by the pores of the skin. Sometimes it comes forth with the sweat, or sticks to the skin with a thicker excrement or filth. Sometimes it goes out of the body by the breath: sometimes by matter or quittor that comes out of the ulcers. Sometimes those Atoms fly about in the air, and therefore the seeds of the Plague are sowed far about. A Contagion or Miasma is sowed and spread abroad two ways, either by fuel alone, or by the air, and by its fuel. This fuel is not the subject of that form, but gives a place to the contagi●●. Such are all things that are porous and thin, as wool, flax, cotton, feathers, hairy beasts skins, and walls may receive Contagion, as experience shows: and some solider things, as stones and Metals, but then they are soul, for when they a●e clean from silth, they cannot receive it so easily. 3. The body that is infected, and receiveth the same disease thereby, is somewhat like it. For it is received into garments, wool, but the like disease is not produced in them, because they have no Analogy with the body infecting. Nor doth the same Contagion infect all alike, for the Plague which in Sows infects not men nor Oxen, and that which infects men, infects not ●ogs nor Oxen. And all men, and are disposed to receive all Contagions, but the kindred are most sit to receive, by reason of the agreement of humours. Chap. 4. Of the Differences of infectious Diseases. IN contagious diseases there is an excrement bred which like a vapour or little body, or by silth, infects another body with the same disease. Catarrhs are often contagious, and malignant pestilent Fevers, sore Eyes, Consumption, Dysenteri●s, Scurvey, Scabs, Itch, scald Heads, Arabian Leprosy, Dog's madness, the French pox, of which we spoke before in a Treatise in Folio in English. THE FIFTH PART. Of outward Poisons in General. Chap. 1. Of the Nature of Poison. I Had thought to have concluded this Epitome with the French pox; but when I found many things remarkable concerning poison, I thought good to set them forth. There are many Authors of the same, but they follow not the Method of Sennertus. First, what things are accounted poisons? Eusiach. Rud. lib. 1. de morb. occul. c. 40. Some think Bezoardick Medicines and Purges are to be reckoned among poisons. For the understanding of this: Observe first, that Galen used the word deadly for that which may kill, or that which may do good sometimes, though it may kill by accident. Note secondly, that some Medicines always hurt, and never do good; these are poison, and so must be called. But they which sometimes do hurt, are not to be accounted poisons, and they which sometimes do good, are not to be excluded from the number of poisons. For there is a difference of things hurtful in general, as Saffron cheers the heart. But if you take too much of it in meat, it hurts. As a Merchant who bought a great deal of Saffron, & cast a great deal into the porridg-pot against supper, and after he had supped, sell into such a laughter, that he almost died thereby. The same is to be thought of some purges and Bezoardicks, that have no occult quality against the body, which by the excess of good qualities, do hurt: these are not to be counted poisons. Therefore poison is whatsoever is apt to hurt us much by an occult quality. Card. 1. de ven. c. 1. & 4. Or thus, it is that which corrupts the complexion, not only by a quality, but by a propriety; for it is necessary to the Nature of poison always to kill men, Avicen. doctr. 2. c. 15. but to hurt much only. They define not poison rightly, that say it is that which can kill a man presently by an occult quality, or that can by a property corrupt the heart suddenly. Some are enemies to the brain, and cause madness: others are enemies to other parts. Lib. de ven. c. 3. But how comes poison to the heart? It is either drawn by the heart, or goes to it being carried by its hurtful quality, or by both. It is probable that all poison being active from the destructive form it hath against the heart, turns every thing it toucheth in man's body into poison, and multiplies itself, for spiritual things have great force to multiply by Species or Atoms, as appears in Musk; but it chiefly hurts that part with which it hath the greatest Antipathy. Have poisons power to nourish? Aerr. lib. de ther. c. 2. Some deny it, and bring reasons against experience. For the Egyptians eat Vipers; and there are a people that are Serpent-eaters near the red Sea called Candaeans. And the Maid that fed upon Napellus, that she might kill Kings that lay with her, Avic. l. 4. Fen. 6. ●r. and the like show the truth of this. And he that takes these for fables, makes himself a fable. There are divers poisons, some have no nourishment at all, but are wholly contrary to Nature, as Arsenic. Some have nourishing parts that are taken with the poison, these may nourish, especially if they be accustomed by degrees to them. And Galen gives no other reasons, but that Nature may be made acquainted with poison by degrees, and be nourished by them. Chap. 2. Of the Differences of Poisons. SOme are poisons in their own Nature. Others are so by corruption, as rotten fish and stinking flesh. 3. There are poisons made by art, by boiling and sublimation, we shall speak only of those that are of their own Nature poisons. Some are Minerals or Metals, as Arsenic. Others are Plants, as Napellus. Others are from Animals, as Scorpions, Vipers. Secondly, they either act by the ●irst qualities, or by hidden qualities, or by both together, but this division i●●●lse. For poisons are not to be judged by their first qualities, Gal. de temp. c. 4. & alibi. but by their contrariety in the whole substance. Moreover they are all enemies to the heart or some determinate part, but as they are hot, cold, moist or dry, they hurt all, but not as poisons. For though manifest and occult qualities may be in the same subject, yet their effects must not be confounded. For with their manifest qualities they heat, cool, dry, or moisten, but kill with the occult qualities, or hurt very much. The third difference, is from the effects, for their forms are hidden from us, and show them● selves by their operations Hence some are enemies to the heart, and kill men presently. Others are enemies to the brain, as furious Nightshade, Gal. de purge. med. fac. c. 4. Dog's poison. Others hurt the Liver, as the plant that purgeth blood. And some poison hath Antipathy against all parts. The fourth difference; some poisons are deadly, others not. Nor is it true, that all poisons either kill or make fit for death, for as it is in Chap. 1. Mercuria. lib. 1. de vene. c. 5. Many do but hurt greatly, and cause only folly and doting, so that with them they may live long. Some kill sooner or later, by hurting greatly a member that is simply necessary to life, as the heart, liver, lungs or stomach, etc. Fiftly, some kill presently, others at distance, as a grain of Nubia, which being divided among ten men, kills them all in a quarter of an hour, such is Arsenic and the poison of an Adder. Among them that kill at a distance, S●alig. & 〈◊〉. is the poison of a mad Dog that often lies hidden many yea●●. Question. Whether are there such Poisons by Art or Nature, that can kill a man at a certain time? I think it cannot be, for though all natural things have their circuits, and that there are the beginnings and ends of actions, they are for the most part unknown, and cannot be determined in this darkness of man's mind. Moreover the agent and patient concur in every action, and because the actions of active things are not out in a disposed patient, and the man's body, in respect of the circumstances, hath more or less power to resist, it cannot be that the same poison should kill sometimes sooner, sometimes later. The sixth difference, is from the manner of poisons getting in: some are taken at the mouth with meat: some come from without, many ways. Some venomous beasts leave their poisons upon Plants; as it was reported of a young man that was talking with his Sweetheart, Mizal. memo. cen●. 1. é joa. Bocatio. and rubbed his gums with Sage, and fell down dead. The Gardener found a great Toad under the Sage that infected it. Some poison's hurt by touch, rubbing, or anointing. The Turks have a poison so strong, that by touching only, it kills a man the same day. Card. l. de ven. c. 15. Scal. e●er. 157. It is reported of the Son of the King of Cambaia, that was nourished with such poison, that he was all over poison, so that the flies that touched his skin▪ swollen and died. It is a question how poisons should kill only by the vapour: it is either from the material quality, or the spirital species that poison, kills. For 〈◊〉 poisons, like Atoms and little bodies, exercise their force, whether it be in fume, vapory or dust, or in a Juice or Ointment, and the venomous quality is in that little body, as in a subject. For when such a quality depends upon its form, it cannot be moved but with the same. Chap. 3. Of the Signs. Poison is either taken unawares, or given by subtlety and stealth by wicked men. And this is a common sign, it presently makes a great change in the body, by which it differs from those that are bred from humours in the body by putrefaction. For in poison bred in the body, the symptoms arise by degrees, not altogether, but by succession; but in poison taken from without, many Symptoms appear together from Nature stirred up by the poison with horrid and turbulent vomiting, overturns all that she may send out her enemy. And we may suspect poison, when a sound man bred up well without foul humours, Gal. 5. de lo. affec. ●. 1. shall suddenly have his actions and things voided, and retained, altered, and the qualities, presently the motion of the heart and pulse is disorderly, without any other apparent cause. The strength fails, the pulse is either depraved or abolished, with beating of the heart, fainting and death. Some have Migraines, Convulsions, Trembling, Hickets, biting, stomach-pain, and guts griping-stoppage stoppage of urine, vomiting of choler, or the like, sometimes looseness of belly. Cold sweats, and chillness, swollen tongue, black and inflamed lips, swollen belly, and body often, with spots. All these Symptoms are worse than such as come from poison bred with in. Poison from biting or stinging of venomous beasts have other signs, there is presently pain in the part. It is inflamed, and rots, and mortifies, except you have present remedies. Poisons at a distance called Temporary, have their conjectures, though no certain signs, by the effects. There are often long diseases without reason: or folly, madness, or Epilepsy, running pains, and Consumption. But the poisons that affect the lungs, cause a dry cough and tongue, thirst, spitting of blood, and Consumption, and other poisons that hurt other parts, are known by the actions of those parts hurt. Whether may one killed by poison be discovered certainly? Galen thought they might be known to be poisoned, when he writes thus: A man of his own nature abounding with good humours, and well educated, and fed, when he dies suddenly (as they use to do that take deadly poison) If his body be blue or blackish, or of divers colours, 〈◊〉 stink, they say he is poisoned. From which words we may gather, joan. Baptist. Sylvat. that Galen thought that men poisoned, might be discovered. But the best way to make it manifest, is to open the body, and have an expert and wise Physician. Chap. 4. Of the Prognostics. TO prognosticate artificially, consider the Nature of poisons, and differences. Some hurt more, others less; some sooner, some later. 1. They that set upon the heart kill presently, or are overcome. They that assault the liver or lungs, last longer. They which hinder breathing, quite kill presently. The second difference is from the great, mean or small quantity of the poison. 3. The more and the greater the Symptoms, the sooner and certainer is death, as sounding, chillness, cold sweat, turning of the eyes. If these come together, there is no hope, and the more they increase, the worse it is. If they decrease, there is some hope. 4. It is a sign of death, if after the poison is taken, there is no vomiting, or purging, or voiding any thing, though means have been used. There are other prognostics which are manifest from what hath been said. Chap. 5. Of Preservation from Poison. THey that will be preserved from poison, let them keep close to Cardan's Rules. Lib. 3. de ven. c. 1. The safest way is to use Antidotes, as Mithridates did Mithridate, so that he could not be poisoned. There are divers Antidotes internal and external. Albertus Magnus speaks of the external, as the Diamond, Topas, Smaragd worn constantly upon the bare skin, no poison can hurt that man. Anthelmus Boet. lib. 2. the gem. c. 175. Lib. death. ad. pis. c. 16. & ad pamph. Some precious stones keep men from infectious air. These are worn for Annulets: and if poison be near, they sweat. Treacle and Mithridate are the best inward, and Galen saith that none can be poisoned that take as much as a Bean every day of Treacle and bids them use it in time of health. And experience shows that you may safely give preservatives against poison to sound bodies, and by them they get an incredible propriety to resist poison Some of these Antidotes are without any excess of quality, as Bezoar stone, sealed Earth, Bole, Hartshorn, Smaragds, and the like. These are given safely to all bodies. Mithridate and Treacle, though they be less hot, by reason of the fermentation, yet take heed that by the too much use, you do hurt thereby. Chap. 6. Of the Cure of Poison in General. SOme make differences between Bezoardicks and Antidotes, and say that Bezoardicks act not against poison, but only strengthen the body to expel it: and they help only by accident. Some say that Bezoardicks fight against poison, Eustach. rad. de morb. oc. lib. 2. c. 7. and are wholly against them. Antidotes are hurtful in too great a quantity, and are in some sort against the heart, but both by use are good in venomous diseases; us all Cordials, Bezoar stone, Hearts and Unicorns-horn, etc. Some Antidotes are proper against some peculiar poisons, and all strengthen the heart to resist poison: as Tormentil roots, white Dittany, Borage, Bugloss, Sorrel, Scabious, Borage and Bugloss ●●owers, Violets, Roses, Waterlillies, Gillyflowers, Citron and Basil seeds, Wood-alo●s, juice of Citrons, Pomegranates, Oranges, Quinces, Saffron, Cinnamon, Cloves, Hartshorn, bone of a Stag's heart, Ivory, Pearl, Musk, Amber, Coral, Hyacinths, Smaragds, Saphires, sealed Earth, Bole. Many of them resist poison, and Compounds made of them. And though h●t must be given against cold and cold against hot poisons, yet you must not so much look at the manifest qualities as to that force which is in medicines, to oppose poison in the whole substance. Therefore in hot poisons you may give Treacle and Mithridate: and if the poison will give leave, first abate the Cacochymy. Lastly, let him that hath taken poison, either at the mouth, or other ways, sleep but little; for he must constantly take medicines, and observe whether the Symptoms increase, or abate by the Bezoardicks, more of which hereafter. Chap. 7. Of the Cure of Poison taken in at the mouth. WHen any one thinks he hath taken poison, let him presently have a Vomit, before the poison exercise its cruelty, and let it be repeated often, and made of things that may dull the sharpness of the poison; as of fat Broths, Oil, Buttermilk boiled, Broom, Dill, jesamine flowers, Radishes, and the like, to which you may add Bezoardicks, so that they stop not vomiting. Therefore make choice of things that bind not, as Hartshorn, Bezoar stone. If the poison get to the stomach and guts, give Clysters. As, Take Mallows, Pellitory, Althaea, each two handfuls; boil them in water, strain them, to a pint and half, add Oil six ounces, Electuary of Fleabane two drams, make a Clyster. And purge thus: Take Scorzon●ra roots two drams, Sorrel half a handful, Agarick two drams, Zedoary, Citron seeds, each a scruple; Cordial flowers a pugil: hoyl them, strain, and ad to four ounces, Manna two ounces, strain it again, and add Syrup of Citron-peels. While these are doing, anoint every third hour the heart, feet, hands and temples, and places where you feel the arteries beat, with Oil of Scorpions, of which Mathiolus, it is excellent. Let the relics of the poison be driven from the heart and bowels by sweats, and leave not sweeting till the evil disposition be quite conquered. For diet, give Milk for meat and drink, and fat meats, Butter and Oil, Borage, Bugloss, Figs with Cordials, Hartshorn, Coral, Pearl, Hyacinths, Smaragds, Zedoary, Saffron, Citron peels. Chap. 8. Of the Cure of Poison from without. THat poison may not creep in, draw it out presently by Medicines and Chirurgery. As, Take Galbanum, Sagapenum, Myrrh, Pellitory, each half an ounce; Pigeons dung three ounces, Calamints a dram, dissolve the Gums in Vinegar, and with Honey and Oil make a Cataplasm. Or apply Chickens or Kids cut in two hot to the part where the poison is. These laid on, work by a hidden quality, oil of Scorpions, Spiders, and the Creatures that poisoned applied to the part. Gal. de ●● pis c. ●0. Galen saith that he knew the biting of a Crocodile cured by the grease of a Crocodile, and the sting of a Scorpion, by the Scorpion applied to the part. These act by the likeness of substance. You must continue the use of things that draw out poison, till pain, evil colour, and other Symptoms cease, and there is laudable quittor in the part. And to keep the poison from running inward or about, tie the vessels above: then cut off the part that is poisoned, if it may be done with safety. Give Antidotes at first to drive poison from the heart, and kill it, and to take away the venomous quality that is in the body. And 〈…〉 ulcer follow a bite or venomous sting, keep it long open, scarify it, and burn it as shall be showed. Poison taken by scent, must be opposed by contrary scent, as Myrrh, Amber, Musk, Ambergris, Civet, Rue, Asphaltum, Wood-aloes, Sanders, Cloves, Saffron, Storax, and the mouth being shut, you must take the scent of these at the nose. Of these we shall speak in the special or particular Cure of Poisons. Sennertus concludes this general Doctrine of poisons, with relation of diseases that come from fear and frights, because they are like poisons, and he reports out of Cardan, Lib. 3. de ven. c. 14. that when a man is frighted by Ghosts, or the like, the heat is drawn in, and the mind is troubled, and he becomes dumb; and if the fright be great, the outward parts are cold, and contracted, and the hair falls off, and if the body be cacochymick, he is very sick, and if strength fails, he dies. This he confirms by many Histories which I have left out, only I shall relate one of which I was an eye witness. When I studied in Physic in Oxitan, Anno 1617. a woman that grew melancholic from anger, hung herself, the Crowner sitting upon her, sentenced her to be hung in gibbets, about a mile from the City. Another woman that was her familiar acquaintance, seeing her ●ut of a window, neat the place, cried out, and fell into a great Diarrhaea suddenly, with a constant dotage that could not be cured. From whence I conclude, that in these diseases from terror, the heart is not only affected, as Cardanus thought, but the brain also. Hence they usually give Epileptic Waters: this is good for children. Take Tile-flower water, Peony, black Cherry water, each an ounce and half; ●earl prepared, Coral and Hartshorn, each a scruple; Fecula of Peony half a scruple. THE six PART. Of Poisons from Minerals and Metals. Chap. 1. Of unsleaked Lime. VNSLEAKED Lime hath some venom in it, though it is a stone, and may be reckoned among poisons for its malignant quality; also it hath fire in it, that will burn. Symptoms and Signs. This taken into the body, afflicteth grievously, for it corrodes and vexeth the stomach and guts, and causeth unquenchable thirst, bitterness of mouth and tongue, ●oughness, cough, Ama. Lusit. c. 5. cur. 91. want of breath, Dysentery, stoppage of urine, swooning and choking. A child of eight years old supposed it to be Chalk, and eat much, and died the sixth day with these symptoms. The Cure. Provoke vomit with things that abate the sharpness of the Lime: give the warm Decoction of Violets, Mallows, Althaea, Lineseed, Rice, Oil, fresh Butter, and Mucilages of Lineseed, Mallows, Althaea, Fleabane, and keep the belly open with Cassia, or a Clyster with Barley water, and Mallows roots and all▪ Mucilage of Fleabane, Cassia lignea, Waterlillies, and the like. The Antidotes are, the gall of a Kid, from a scruple to a dram, and the gall of an Hart or Deer a scruple drunk with warm Water, Earth of Lemnos two drams with Milk. Give fresh Butter and sat Broths in which Mallows is boiled. Chap. 2. Of Gipsum. THey who have drunk of this or eaten it with Wheat flour, have all died. The Signs and Symptoms. A great cough, dryness of tongue and jaws, great pain about the stomach, hickets, stretching of the Hypochondria, binding of the belly, dulness and dotage, fainting, and they die choked. Give warm Water with much Butter, The Cure. or Oil of sweet Almonds, or Oil of Lilies which will make them vomit it up. But because it sticks fast, give stronger Vomits, as Hellebore. If it be gotten to the guts, give emollient Clysters. Rhas'. ad Almans. c. pr. Some give a dram of Scammony, with two drams of Fleabane in a julep. Then give Fats to make the passage slippery; as the Decoction of Mallows, Althaea, Faenugreek seed, fat Broths, Goat's milk, juice of Mallows, Decoction of Dates and Figs. These are specific, Organ given in Vinegar and honeyed Wine, Li●ivium of Vine ashes or Figtree ashes, with sweet Wine and Treacle, or Mithridate, from half a dram, to two drams in Sa●k. Chap. 2. Of Vitriol. Diof. li. 5. c. 74. AMong Salts we reckon Vitriol, Chalcitis, Misy, Sorry, Melanteria, it participates of the nature of Brass or Iron, and mineral Day: this is not properly poison, for good medicines are made of it, in which there are no signs of venom, and if it be given a dram with Honey it kills the flat worms, Dioscor. and with water it is the Antidote against Mushrooms. The Symptoms and Signs. It causeth loathing and vomiting, and corrodes the stomach, except it be perfectly cast up it torments the guts, and causeth a Dysentery and great thirst. The Cure. Let it be presently vomited up with the Decoction or Oil of Dill, or Wormwood water, after vomiting, take much Butter or warm Milk with Sugar; if there be a gnawing in the guts, give Clysters of Barley water, Mallows and oil of Roses. If you suspect malignity, give Earth of Lemnos or sealed Earth, with mucilage of Quince seeds a dram, with Barley water, or red Coral with Wine. Chap. 4. Of Aqua fortis. THis kills by corroding rather then by poison, it is used by Goldsmiths to separate and corrode metals. Symptoms and Signs. It pierceth so that it burns the tongue like fire, and corrodes the tunicles of the Stomach and Guts, a Maid died by it in great torment. The mucilage of Quince seeds is good, for it lenifies and keeps the parts from corrosion by its sliminess. Or the eclegma of the mucilage of Althaea and Quince seeds, Gum traganth made with Rose water, Honey of Roses and Violets: Or a Gargarism of Quince seed, Althaea, Cowcumber seed, Roses, Violets and Moulin, and of selfheal, Lungwort, Sanicle boiled in water with Honey of Roses. Epist. 9 By this a Mariner was cured when he had dangerous symptoms from Aqua fortis. Chap. 5. Of Antimony. ANtimony is reckoned by many among poisons from its moving of such horrible vomiting of water, and because it leaves such great weakness after it, but good medicines are made of it though it be not free from malignity, as appears by the vapours that fly from it when it is melted. The Signs and Symptoms. For when the Chemists melt it, if the vapour be taken in at the nose, it causeth Suffocation, Palsy, and Epilepsy, and other symptoms: If it be taken crude, it causeth Vomiting, Convulsion, Colicks, and fainting▪ To keep evil vapours from hurting such as use Antimony, let them eat Bread and Rue. Or, The Cure take Bezoat water with Bole. Or this, Take Walnuts a handful, beat them with Honey, add Treacle an ounce, Zedoary half an ounce, Clov●●, Nutmeg, each two drams; with Honey make an Electuary, this is a preservative, and it may be used to anoint the nostrils. If it be given crude or ill prepared, it causeth evil symptoms, then give Bailey water with syrup of Roses, to cleanse, and cleansing Clysters: then strengthen the Guts and Stomach, with Wine wherein Cloves and Mastich is boiled: the Antidotes are Treacle and Bowl Armeniack two scruples. Chap. 6. Of the Loadstone. Gar. ab hor. aro. lib. 1. cap. 56. SOme reckon the Loadstone among poisons, others say it makes people youthful, but that I believe not▪ because it is a mineral and hath the nature of a metal: and if it lie long in the body, you must do as hath been showed in other cases; as if it stop in the Stomach, vomit; if in the Guts, use lenitive Clysters, and then give Antidote, as the Smaragd to be drank in Wine thrice in nine days, with Hartshorn and Coral. Also Treacle is good. Chap. 7. Of the Diamond. THere is the same reason for the Diamond, as for the Loadstone of which we spoke but there are more that think it not to be poison, of this we spoke Lib. 3. Part 2. Sect. 2. Ch. 7▪ Quest. 2. now I shall speak of the Symptoms and Cure of such as have taken Diamonds into their bodies. Signs and Symptoms. After taking Diamonds there is a vehement pain in the Stomach and Guts, and then follows fainting and death. T●e Cure. It is by vomiting, as the other, then give Goat's blood, with fat Broth, and then from a scruple to two drams of natural Balsam, and if these prevail not, use the general Antidotes. Chap. 8. Of Lapis Lazuli. MAny say that Lapis Lazuli burneth and ulcerates, and putresies, Mosu. lib. de simple. it is therefore not to be reckoned among things that are simply poison, but among those Purgers that are not without malignity, because they are vehement. The Arabians say it purgeth melancholy, strengtheneth, and cleareth, and therefore it is put into Confection Alkermes, but than it must be well prepared. Symptoms and Signs. This Stone not well prepared, or taken in too great a quantity, causeth turning of the Stomach Vomiting, want of appetite, and pain of the belly, sadness and Sorrow. It is cured as other corroding poison, by Vomits and cleansing emollient Clysters. The Cure. The corroding quality is taken away by Ass' milk warm drunk for seven days together. Conciliat. Two drams of Amber is the Bezoar or Antidote against this Stone. Chap. 9 Of Arsenic, Orpiment, Sandarach, and Realgar or Ratsbane. Arsenic both natural and artificial, yellow and red is of the same faculty. Yellow Arsenic and Sandarach by sublimation make white Arsenic or Ratsbane. Realgal and Risagallum are made of Orpiment and Sulphur with quick Lime and Salt. Signs and Symptoms. Foras. lib. 3. obs. 8. All the kinds of Arsenic bring grievous symptoms, which kill presently except they be opposed, as gripping of belly and guts, vomiting, unquenchable thirst, dryness of tongue, jaws and throat, and roughness, and then Dysentery and stoppage of urine, Cramp and Palsy, and Death, the white Arsenic is most dangerous. Histories confirm that Arsenic doth not only destroy by being taken in but hurts by being carried about. Amatus Lusit. cent. 2. cur. 34. Therefore they that have taken it are in great danger, The Prognostic. or they that handle it carelessly or apply it to cure the itch, or for other causes, for they either die, or run mad, or have a Cachexy. Provoke Vomit presently and often, with fat things, The Cure. and such as obtund or allay the sharpness of the poison as Butter, with warm water, or decoction of Turnip seeds, Arrage, with fresh Butter, oil of Linseed or Roses, or other fat broth in great quantity. If the belly be gripped, give Clysters of Mallows, Althaea, Violets, Vervain, Line seed, with Cassea and oil of Violets, or of fat Broth, cream of P●isan, Asaph's milk, and mucilage of Fleabane seed. And after give Milk in great quantity and Butter and oil of sweet Almonds, fat Broth, Rice boiled in Milk. The specific Antidotes against Arsenic are a dram of powder of Crystal with oil of sweet Almonds, or three drams of oil of Pine kernels Or▪ Pet. Appon. G aune. Ma Take Pine nuts beaten four ounces, infuse them in a pint of water; strain and give it to be drank, Or give ten grains of oriental Bezoar. Chap. 10. Of Brass, and its Verdigreece, and burnt Brass. IF meat be kept in a Brass-vessel (with Vinegar or Wine) and eaten, it disturbeth the stomach, causeth vomiting, and dryness of tongue, and corrosion, and fluxes. And Brass itself taken, causeth moreover difficult breathing, ulcers of the guts, and suffocation. Burnt Brass, flour of Brass, scales of Brass, Diosco. lib. 5. c. 47. and Verdigreece, are all poisonous; for burnt Brass taken, turns the stomach, makes fluxes, and pain. And so doth flour of Brass, and also it straitneth the lungs, and suffocates. Verdigreece taken, is a deadly poison, as Arsenic, it causeth pricking, grievous pain and corrosion in the throat, and stomach, and guts, and constant vomiting, and Dysentery, and stoppage of urine, and straitneth the throat, and stops the wind, and suffocateth. It kills in one day, Bases in conti. c. 2. in the quantity of a dram. It must be cured by Vomit, with warm Water, and Oil of Dill, or Butter; and by Clysters; The Cure. of Mallows, Violets, Barley, Althaea, Faenugreek seeds, Fleabane, with Honey, Oil of Roses and sweet Almonds. Then give Milk, fat Broth, fresh Butter, Faenugreek, Lineseed, Fleabane, Althaea and Mallow seeds. Some commend Sheep's suet, and advise that the bottom of the belly be anointed with hot Oil of Roses, and of Mastic. For Antidotes, use a dram of Bole, or sealed Earth, with Wine, juice of Mints, or Small age two drams. Or juice of Acorus roots two or three drams with 〈◊〉▪ or two drams with Treacle. Chap. 11. Of Aurichalcum, and Bell-metal. IT is most of Brass, and therefore is poison, and communicates to meat and drink boiled in it, which eaten, brings the same Symptoms, and must have the same Cure. Bells are made of Brass and other Metals, and the rust of them doth the same. Horstius writes that a Noble woman that had taken the filings of Bells in red Wine, In comment. ad sem. de occul. nat. miracul. by the advice of an old woman that promised her health by it, vomited violently, and her belly rose up, and swollen her body as if poisoned, and then she had headache, Megrim, and pricking, and fell into a Frenzy, and when she came to herself, her stomach was corroded, as if there were needles in it. The rust was purged out of her, which many saw. And if this happen, you must cure it as you cure Brass. Chap. 12. Of Iron, and its Rust and Scales. IRon is not poison, except you take it in too great a quantity, or stay too long in the body, and then it hurts not as poison, but causeth belly-ach, and dryness of mouth, and inflammation of the body, and vomiting. The Cure. It is as that of Brass by Vomits and Clysters, that are lenitive and cleansing, and by Manna, and Stomach-pills, and then Milk, Butter, and fat Broth. The Loadstone is instead of Bezoar against it. Chap. 13. Of Lead. IF Led be swallowed whole, and voided, it doth no hurt; but if it be small, and stay in the body long, and melt, De lieu. ven. c. 7. it causeth great Symptoms. Fernelius shows how it hurts. In Led not burnt, when it gets to the guts, The Cure. and shows its malignity, it is sufficient to abate sharpness, and cleanse by Ass' milk, and other Milk. Or the Decoction of Mallows, Althaea, Linseed, Hydromel, Oil of sweet Almonds. The Antidote against burnt Lead, is Quince seeds bruised after they are husked with Wine two drams, and two drams of Treacle every day with honeyed Water and Wine. Chap. 14. Of Ceruse. IT is made of Lead by corrosion, with the vapour of Vinegar, and causeth the same Symptoms, which are these. If it be taken into the body; the tongue, gums and teeth are white, there is hickets, and desire to vomit, dryness of tongue and roughness of the mouth, a cough, pricking in the stomach and belly, stretching at the heart, difficult breathing, bleeding by stool, needing, the head is troubled, and strange things fly before the eyes. They are drowsy and dull, cannot move hand or foot, the urine is black or bloody, the limbs are cold, and they die. Vomit presently with the Decoction of Arageseed and Rape seed, Mallows, Figs, The Cure. Water and Honey, O●l of Lilies, Orris, jesamine, etc. And give Clysters of Coleworts, Pellitory, Cardu●●, Centaury, Diaphaenicon, Oil of Lilies. Then alloy the sharpness of the poison, with hot Milk, Decoction of Figs, Mallow seeds, Althaea, Mucilages of Line and Faenugreek seed, Fleabane, Mallows, Oil of sweet Almonds, Lilies, jesamine. Then use Clensers and Diuretics with Antidotes. A Lie of Vine ashes, and Ash leaves, Walnuts, Oil of Angelica, Treacle, Mithridate. Chap. 15. Of red Lead. IT is made of common Lead, and is of the same force with it, and Ceruse and lethargy, and causeth the same Symptoms. Symptoms and Signs. It hurts the stomach and guts, causeth belching, loathing, vomiting, fluxes, and other Symptoms mentioned. The Cure. Give a Vomit presently, of Rape seed, Arage with Butter and Oil. Then give the Clysters mentioned; or two drams of the Antidote of burnt Ivory in Wine, or Treacle, or Mithridate. Chap. 16. Of lethargy. A Gricola mentions five sorts of lethargy, but we have only white and red, and from their colour are called lethargy of gold and of silver. Symptoms and Signs. Dioscorides shows the signs from lethargy taken; as heaviness of the stomach and guts, Lib. 7. c. 27. with great pains. The guts are wounded, the urine stopped, the body puffed up, and like Lead. The joints burn, AEtius & Avic. the guts are ulcerated, and there is a flux of blood, sometimes the gut comes out. The tongue is heavy, there is iliack passion, and the tongue is faltering. They foam at the mouth, the breath is stopped, the tongue inflamed, the body is blue, and the patient is choked. Vomit presently to prevent corrosion, The Cure. and oppose malignity, with the Decoction of Dill F●gs, Dates, with Butter or Oil: do it often. To Conquer all Infirmities Study my Sennertus, Platerus, Riverius, Bartholinus and Riolanus, of the last Editions. Then give Clysters of Hydromel, Centaury, Dill, St. johns-wort, Hiera picra, Oil of Rue, Hen's grease, etc. Resist malignity, and provoke urine with Myrrh, Wormwood, Hyssop, Smallage seed. Or, Take Smallage seed, Myrrh, each equal parts, Wormwood half as much with Wine. Chap. 17. Of Quicksilver, crude or sublimated, or precipitated. WE have spoken of the occult and manifest qualities of Quicksilver, we shall here show how it is poison. It may be taken in crude, sublimated, or precipitated: to the crude belongs a vapour that riseth from it. Symptoms and Signs. If Quicksilver taken in, stick in any cavity, or be mixed with any medicine that may keep it in the body, it causeth great evils, and death. So doth the fume of it taken in at the mouth: or if it be anointed outwardly, and pierce into the body, it doth hurt. Precipitate is worse, but Sublimate worst of all. For Quicksilver not killed, by its corroding malignity causeth wind, and pain of the stomach and guts, heaviness of body and stomach. If it be kept long, there is stoppage of urine, and the whole body swells, and the colour is of a Led blue. It causeth Palsy in the member where it is, Epilepsy, Apoplexy, Syncope and death. By its fume comes trembling, contraction of nerves, weakness of joints, palsy, hurt of senses, especially of the sight and hearing, Ferd. Ponzetus 2. de ven. c. 21. Fern. de lieu ven. c. 7. stinking breath and ulcers of the mouth, and the like, as the Quicksilver doth produce. Precipitate causeth the same, but worse, and Sublimate the worst of all, and by its touch like fire, it destroys whatsoever is near: with inflammation, Fondr. Bac in proleg. vin. valer. lib. 1. ob. burning of tongue, and swelling of the mouth, fainting, stoppage of urine, difficult breath, bloodyflux, and death. Some vomit first. I think it best to purge first, for if it rise upwards, The Cure. it is easily divided into small parts, and so cannot be expelled by vomit: therefore purge strongly. First, give a Clyster of Hiera picra, Oil of Hydromel, and Hen's grease. Then purge, Concil. & Guayne. and give filings of Gold, or Leaf-gold; or Costus with Wine, juice of Burnet, or three drams of Myrrh, with Honey; Wine after it. When the fume of Quicksilver is taken in at the nose or mouth, give Sage or Zedoary water. Sweat in a hot House, and rub the parts that are weak, with a bag of Sage, Groundpine, Bettony, Lavender, and juniper-berries boiled in Wine. If Sublimate or Precipitate be taken, they are cured as corroding poisons by Vomit, Clysters, and new Milk, with Fleabane seeds. The powder of Crystal is the Antidote against Quicksilver, a dram with Oil of sweet Almonds, or Oil of Tartar, or two drams of Salt of Wormwood. Strengthen the heart with Diamargariton frigid, and de Gemmis. If urine be stopped (as it is often) use a Bath of hot Water for the Pecten, with a Sponge wet in the Decoction of juniper berries, and Smallage seed. And anoint after with Oil of Rue or juniper. Chap. 18. Of Cinnabar. I Speak of that Cinnabar which is made of Quicksilver and Sulphur sublimed, and is common. The Symptoms caused by it▪ are the same with those of Quicksilver. Fernel in his Book of the Pox, Chap. 7. and Schenk●us in his 7. Book of Observations, speak of it from the relation of Dr. john Physician ●amic. Cure it as Quicksilver, The Cure. for the same Symptoms require the same helps. Spodium is held the best Antidote against Cinnabar, made of burnt Ivory, and given, two drams. Pet. Appon. to. de ven. Others say Spodium of Cane roots two drams, is better. Also the other Antidotes mentioned in the former Chapter, are good. THE SEVENTH PART. Of Poisons from Plants. Chap. 1. Of Opium. I SHALL speak of four things concerning Opium. 1. Whether Opium may truly be reckoned among poisons? 2. Whether it be hot or cold, whether it cause sleep, or do hurt by manifest or occult qualities? 3. What are the signs and Symptoms of Opium taken in? 4. How they are to be cured that have taken too much Opium? And how Opium may be corrected, that it may be a profitable medicine. The learnedest Writers say it is poison. The new juice of the black Poppy being crude, and not corrected, must be counted a poison. For experience shows it, though many, Dios. lib. 6. Gal. 3. de tem. c. 4. Avic. l. 4. fen. 6. tr. 1 & omnes fere in eum comm. & alij plur. as Turks and Egyptians eat Opium without hurt; for men by custom may be so familiar with poison, that it may not hurt them. But hence it follows, not that Opium is not poison, and works as poisons by hidden qualities, though I shall show, it may work also by manifest qualities. For the second: there are many Arguments that Opium is hot, which Scaliger Exercit. 175▪ affirms, calling it by the Name of Amphiam or Aphioure, and also Vesalius Mercurialis, and Capivaccius, and Erastus, and they confirm it by reasons. 1. It's inflaming and burning quality. 2. It's strong scent. 3. The bitter taste. 4. It's burning the mouth and lips. 5. It's causing thirst. 6. Its heating the mind. 7. It provokes Venery. 8. It causeth itching. 9 It causeth sweat. Dr. Michael Dor. & Daniel Vuinckeerus. All these are signs of great heat, as the Learned show in their Tractates of Opium. Therefore in regard Opium is not cold, and doth not cause sleep or death from thence, nor from heat, because other hot things have not the same effect, we conclude that Opium doth it by an occult quality and propriety. First, they that work by manifest qualities, are not more contrary to one part of the body then another. But Opium is chiefly hurtful to the brain, nerves, and animal spirits; therefore it doth not work by a manifest, but hidden quality. Secondly, the effects of Opium are so wonderful (as shall be showed) that they cannot be referred to manifest qualities. It kills a man in so small a quantity, as no pure Element can do the like, much less a mixed body▪ Lastly, if Opium hurt only by its coldness, or by its quality▪ as Pepper and Saffron. The Physicians and Chemists need not study so much to correct, but only give it in a less quantity, as they do Ginger and Pepper. Thirdly, let the Symptoms be reckoned that follow; after Opium is taken, none can give Opium unknown to the receiver, by reason of its unpleasant scent, though it hath been taken instead of another medicine. After it is taken, there follows great sleep, and a Megrim, and Itching over the whole body, which is so great, that it raiseth a man from sleep: there is a strong scent over all the body like Opium; the lips swell, there is hickets, little breathing, the eyes are dim, the nose is awry, & there are Convulsions sometimes. The Prognostic. If it be not prevented speedily, it ki●s suddenly, as Histories mention. The Cure. After general Evacuation, as in other poisons by Vomits and sharp Clysters, give the proper Antidotes against Opium, Dios. lib. 6. c. proprio. as Assa ferida, Castor or Organ, and Castor boiled in Wine: of these Dioscorides. Chap. 2. Of Mushrooms. SOme Mushrooms are venomous by experience, for some have died by them, and even whole families. Seneca called them a Voluptuous Poison. They kill not only when they are eaten, but when they are smelled. The Symptoms are when they are taken in too great a plenty, they cause strangling, or when they are not not well boiled or prepared; they also puff up the belly, cause hickets, ulcerate the guts, suppress the urine, and cause horror, cold sweat, Syncope, and sometimes Epilepsies, pain, and madness, and death. Those Mushrooms that of their own Nature are poison, The Prognostic. are more dangerous than such as by plenty eaten, or by ill preparation do hurt. Vomit presently: Take Broom flowers, The Cure. Elder-flowers, each two pugils; bark of Danewort two drams, Radish, Dill, Arage seed, each a dram; Agarick half a dram: boil them in Hydromel, add to the straining, Oil of Rue an ounce, make a Potion. Make Clysters of Organ, Hyssop, Rue, Calamints, Scordium, Hiera, with Agarick, Honey of Roses, Oil of Rue. These resist malignity, Calamus, Organ, Hyssop, Rue, Watercresses, Wormwood, Birthwort, Garlick. Treacle, Mithridate, Oxymel simple, and of Squils'. But Honey is the proper Antidote against Mushrooms. Chap. 3. Of Napellus▪ IT is sudden poison; for after it is taken, the lips and mouth swell, and are inflamed, Mathi. in. Dios. lib. 4 with the tongue also, so that it can scarce be thrust out. There are Convulsions, Faintings and Megrim; the eyes are twitched, the legs are weak, the pulse is faint, and death follows. Few escape after it, and if they do, The Prognostic. they fall into a Consumption. After Vomiting and Clysters, The Cure. give B●oarstone, sealed Earth, with Butter and Aqua me●s, or two drams of Smaragds, or Bo●● Arme●nc●: this is excellent. Take the Flies of Napellus twenty, 〈◊〉, Bole, each a dram; make a Powder, give it with Rue-water; Oil of Scorpions of Mathiolus must anoint the head. Chap. 4. Of Aconitum. A Conitum, Cycoctonon and Lycoctonon so called, because it kills Dogs and Wolves, is like Pardalianches, which kills the Panther. To these the other kinds may be referred: the juice of the Root is worst; and they are like Napellus. Symptoms and Signs. It is sweet upon the tongue, than it grows brackish, and strikes into the head, and causeth heaviness, Megrim, Convulsion of the temporal muscles, dotage, trembling, involuntary tears, red eyes, side-pain, heaviness of breast, difficult breathing, biting at the Pilorus, swelling as in a Dropsy and death. The Prognostic. Pliny saith it is the worst of poisons. Others think Napellus worse. They are worst in the Indies. The Cure. First vomit, if it be gone lower, purge or give Clysters, then give Antidotes, as Rue, Southornwood, Centaury, Organ, Horehound, Groundpine, long Birthwort, Hares and Kid's Runnet, with Wine and Vinegar, Eryngus, Castor, Treacle, Mithridate, Opobalsom a dram, and use Oil of Scorpions outwardly. Chap. 5. Of Toxicum and Pharicum. Writers do not explain these; they are Plants, with the juice of which they poison their Arrows. Some have used Napellus and Aconitum for the same. Chap. 6. Of Hemlock. THey record that Socrates was killed with Hemlock: for it acts not only by cold, but by its whole substance and occult quality; therefore it causeth dim sight and madness, sometimes difficult breath, Hickets, Astonishment and death. It is more deadly in some countries then in others. The Prognostic. After vomiting or purging give proper Antidotes, As, Rue, Dictany, young Laurel leaves, Carrot, Gentian, Pepper, Amomum, Cardamons', Ne●●e seed, Wormwood, Castor, with Wine, Treacle or Mithridate two drams. Give Wine, warm the body, especially the heart, make him move and run. Chap. 7. Of the Colchian Ephemerum. IT is called so from the Ephemerum that is not poison: it is a plant in every part of it hurtful to man, and grows much in Colchos. The Symptoms. If taken, it presently corrodes and ulcers the lips and stomach, and chokes as the Mushroom, if it go to the guts, it ulcerates and inflames them so that shave of the guts are voided, like washings of flesh, and makes the whole body itch. The Cure. After vomiting and purging, give Milk to drink. Dioscorides says that alone will cure. Chap. 8. Of Fleabane. THere are divers sorts, and all enemies to the animal spirits, they cause madness like d●●cards, and they rail and think they are whipped, and they cry, and bray like Asses, or neigh like Horses, and have a giddiness and trembling of the whole body: they toss to and fro or fall in an Epilepsy, or faint, they breathe not, and are seldom suffocated. The Prognostic. It yields easily to medicines while the party is strong, and the medicines proper. The Cure. Vomit with Hydromel and oil of R●e: Or give a Clyster, and then the Antidotes, as Pistacha●s, Castor, Rue, Wormwood, Bay leaves and berries, Ne●tle seed, Garlic, Treacle, Mithridate: Give with meat Radishes, Mustard seed, Garlic, Onions, Watercresses, fresh Butter, Pepper, Pistachaes, drink Wormwood-win● and provoke 〈◊〉 Chap. 9 Of mad Nightshade and Dorycnium. Hiero-tra-gus hist. stir. l. 3. c. 24. TWo Boys were killed with b●rries of Nightshade. And though there are many sorts of it, they are all poison, especially that called Bella donna, but mad Nightshade is worst. Symptoms and Signs. Dios. lib. 4. c. 69. A dram of the root of mad Nightshade, causeth strange imaginations not unpleasant, if you take as much more, it alienates the mind, and four times as mu●h kills. Honeyed water drunk plentifully, or Milk, The Cure. and then Bole, sealed Earth, Rue, Treacle and Mithridate: and things good against Opium, and use Castor and Rue to the Nose. Dorycnium is not the same, for that is like milk, sweet upon the tongue, and when it is in the stomach, it causeth constant Hickets and fainting, the guts are ulcerated, and they vomit blood. You must vomit here as in other poisons, but Honey water is best here, and Milk, sweet Wine warm, with Aniseed; and all Shellfish are good raw or boiled. Chap. 10. Of the Mandrake. THe Mandrake and its Apples are also dangerous, and though they hurt only by cold as some think, yet their bitter taste, and strong scent, itching and burning in the skin, and dryness of the mouth, persuade the contrary: for all these are from venom: besides they cause sleep, Lethargies, and when they are awaked, they roar and and sleep again presently, they ar● sad and dull, and sometimes mad, their eyes swell, they are red with swollen faces: there is ●urning the whole body, the mouth and tongue a●e dry. As for the Prognostic, it kills slowly, but if 〈◊〉 be not opposed, they die by Convulsions. ● et the Mandrakes be presently vomited or voided by stool, then give Pennyroyal, Wormwood, O●g●n, R●e, S●●rdium, Castor, ●it● Vinegar 〈◊〉 a D●●●ction, or in Powder▪ o● give Treacle, 〈◊〉, with Salt three days. 〈◊〉 ●ouse hi●, ●ive 〈…〉 E●thi●s of Castor, Rue, as in a Lethargy. Let the drink be sweet, or Wormwood wine. Chap. 11. Of Smallage of Laughter, or the Sardonick Herb. THese being taken, because they hurt the nerves, they make the mouth awry, for the muscles that move the lips, are contracted, so that they seem to laugh. The Signs. There is a heat in the guts, and stomach, and throat, and the whole body; they are mad, and some laugh constantly. The Cure. After Vomiting and Purging, give Hydromel, Milk, Butter, and fat broths plentifully. Emulsions of sweet Almonds, the great cold Seeds, Poppy seeds, with Barley and Lettuce water, and Plantain water. The Antidote is juice of Balm, with Vinegar, Bole and Whey. Anoint the neck with Oil of Costus, Castor, Foxes, St. johns-wort, Arragon Ointment, etc. Some make them drunk, that they may sleep it out. Chap. 12. Of Coriander. THe venom of Coriander is not to be sought in the first qualities, for it is hot, but you must consider its malignity: when green, and the ripe seed is not without fault, and must be prepared for Physic, Signa & sympto. for it causeth a mad dotage, so that they talk like drunkards obscoenly, with a shrill voice, they are sleepy, and giddy, and their body smells like green Coriander. Vomit with warm Water, or Decoction of Dill, The Cur●. Oil of Orris, or Lilies, Wormwood wine,: give fat broths, with Salt and Pepper. The Antidote is Root of Smallow-wort, with Win● or Treacle. Give rear Eggs, with P●pper and Salt. Chap. 13. Of Ixia and Camaeleon. The Symptoms and Signs. IXia smells and tastes like Basil, it inflames and exasperates, Aeti. & Dios. lib. 6. c. 27. causeth madness and want of breath, binds the belly, causeth pain, itching, and fainting. Give the decoction of Wormwood, Goats-organ, The Cure. in Wine or Vinegar or Hydromel, ●ft●r a Vomit or a Clyster. Or give the Roo● of Silphium, or Indian Spikenard, Castor, Treacle and Mithridate. Then strengthen the vital spirits, as in Chap. of swooning, l. 2. p. 4. c. 6. Chap. 14. Of Taxus the Ew-tree. The Symptoms and Signs. THey that sleep under this Tree, or eat of its fruit die (though in England it is innocent) yet they that are infected in other Countries, are all over, and fear choking, Petr. p●na in a●ver. p. 490. have a Dysentery, and often die suddenly. After Vomiting and fitting Purging, The C●re. give wormwood wine plentifully, or Ge●●ian, and Orris roots, with Oxymel or Treacle. Against the Dysentery give sealed Earth, Bole, Bezoar, Coral, Tormensil roots, juice and Syrup of Pomegranates, and of Currans. Chap. 15. Of Euphorbium. THough Euphorbium be used physically, yet if it be given in a great quantity, or not corrected, it is poison: and doth not only hurt by its burning, but by an occult quality. For it causeth sudden fainting that kills suddenly. The Symptoms and Signs. It being taken, burns the stomach, and corrodes the guts, causeth hickets and vomiting, inflames the body, and causeth thirst, and over-purging and Dysentery, cold sweats, fainting, and oftentimes sudden death. The Cure. Give a Vomit of warm Water, or the Decoction of Violets or Mallows, with Oil of Violets, or Roses, or sweet Almonds, and a Clyster of Althaea-roots, Violets, Mallows, Endive, Lettuce, Plantain, flowers of Chamomil, Moulin, cold Seeds, Mucilage of Fleabane. And then give now Milk and fat broths. The proper Antidote is seeds of Citro●s in Win●, & roots of Elicampane boiled, or sealed Earth, Smaragds, Crystal calcined, Species liberantis, Treacle. Chap. 16. Of the Nut called Metella. Lib. 3. de ven. c 5. Symp●o●●at●●. CArdan writes that it is of a mean, between Opium and Hemlock, and kills in a day, being taken in the quantity of a d●am. It causeth deep sleep, from which the party that took it can scarce be roused; cold breath, swollen lips, pale body, blue nails, cold sweat, and death. Vomit with Walnut shells green boiled in Wine. Give a Clyster of Centaury, Rue▪ Scordium, The 〈◊〉 Castor and Hydromel: and then a Decoction of Wormwood, Organ, wild Rue, Gentian, Elicampane in Wine; or Castor, Pellitory Ba●berries, Cinnamon, Treacle, Diagalangal, Diagingiber. Raise him from sleep by strong Ligatures, Errhins; and if he can walk, let him stir till he sweat. Let him drink new Milk, or new Wine. Chap. 17. Of Spurge. The Symptoms and Signs. IT is not simply poison, Esulae symptomata & signa. for being rightly prepared and given in a small dose, it is a purge, otherwise it causeth loathing and vomiting, and troubleth the heart, and destroys the temper of the liver, makes the belly-ache, and flux, which produceth Convulsions and Death. Provoke Vomit: after they begin to vomit, The Cure. that the whole venom may be evacuated, with warm Barley water, Oil of Dill or Violets Then give a cooling Clyster of emollient Herbs, cold Seeds, Mucilage of Fleabane, Oil of Roses and Violets, and the yolk of an Eg. Give Antidotes as against Euphorbium, and Gum Arabic, Traganth, fresh Butter, Cream of Ptisan, sweet Almonds, and the like. Chap. 18. Of Hellebore. THe question is chiefly of white Hellebore. Some would have it not to be mustered among medicines. Others highly commend it, but this controversy may be ended thus. Poisons are either simply so, and hurt all men always: or they are given by art and made Physic. Hellebore is of the last sort, and though many have perished by the use of Hellebore, yet it was by reason of the great quantity, or want of preparation. Symptoms and Signs. If it be taken in ●r●at quantity without preparation; it purgeth violently upwards and downwards, and causeth great pains in the stomach and guts, hickets, suffocation, difficult breathing, trouble of mind, sudden weakness, heart-beating, and they die by Convulsions or Suffocation. The Cure. Though Hellebore cause vomiting, it must not be suddenly stop●, but furthered with a decoction of Radishes, Dill and Arage seed in Hydromel often given. Give a Clyster of the decoction of small C●ntaury, Rue, Plantain, Althaea, with Oil of Dil, and yolks of Egs. For Antidotes, give powder of ●aterlilly roots or flowers, or Parsnep seed two drams, with Wine, or Treacle and Mithridate. To prevent strangling, give half a dram of Galbanum. Against the bellyach, make a bag of Bran, Salt, Cummi●, Pennyroyal, Lib. 3. pract. p. 2. & p. 1. & lib. 1. p. 2. ●. 28, Mints, Rue, Bayberries boiled in Wi●● or Milk. We have showed elsewhere how over-purging Hi●kets and Convulsions are cured. THE EIGHT PART. Of Poisons that come from Animals, or living Creatures. Chap. 1. Of Poisons from Animals in General. ANIMALS do convey poison to men divers ways. First, by biting, as the Viper, and all kinds of Serpents; the Mouse, the Spider, Scolopendra, and Dogs and all mad Cr●atures. By stinging, as the Scorpion, Spider, Wasp, and the fish called Pastinaca marina. Oth●rs by spittle, as ptyas. Others by urine, as Dormice that make malignant ulcers by pissing. Others communicate poison by a Me●ium, as the Torpedo by the spear of the fisherman, benumes or stupisies his b●●d▪ So Mathiolus reports a Vine-dresser was killed by a Serpent, others by touching the body with poison: but poison is most dangerous when malicious people give it in meat or drink. Also the gall of Venomous beasts is deadly; Gal. 5. the symp. med. facul. for all venomous beasts, or beasts that live upon poison have the poison chiefly in the Gall. Animals are either of their own nature venomous, as the Scorpion, Toad, or become such by their venomous food, of which sort was the King of Cambaia of whom we spoke. Therefore you may well suspect creatures that feed upon poison, as the Ducks that eat Water-toads, and the Quails that feed upon Hellebore: For in Athens they who said high upon Quails, died of Convulsions, and others also. Hence we may conclude that venomous creatures, if they live upon poison are worse; so the stinging of Wasps is worse if they have lived upon Serpents: hence we may w●l question whether it be lawful to eat creatures that have been killed by poison. Gal. lib. de therc. ad pis. Galen says that the Daci and Dalmatians rubbed the points of their weapons with Elicampane, with which they killed Dear, and then they never hurt them that eat them; therefore distinguish thus: If the poison that the weapon is touched with, is only a poison that kills a beast and not a man, the beast may be eaten. The Symptoms and Signs. You may know it from the Patient's relation, or by a part stung or bitten, that swells presently, is inflamed, and hath great pain, with other symptoms that poison. The Prognostic. I● a bite or sting hurt the Artery, the wound is worse, because the poison gets sooner to the heart, and there is a deadly Syncope: Also if a nerve be hurt the brain consents and there is the like danger; if a vein be only hurt there is less danger, for it threateneth only the corruption of humours. We spoke of the cure: Par. 5. c. 7. but now I shall show the proper Antidote against every venomous creature. Chap. 2. Of Serpents in general. THe Serpents are such as have Eggs, or bring forth quick Serpents, as the Vipers. We shall not dispute the temperament of a serpent because his poison is not in the first qualities: But the Serpents communicate poison to men divers ways, 1. By a horrid look that frights them, and by a deadly bite. 2. By spital. 3. By breath though they touch not, but by a Medium as a Spear. 4. By touch only without biting, Avic. l. 4. f●u. 6. math. in praef. ad l. 6. dios. as Gesner writes Hist 1. 4. of the poison of Germane Darts. 5. Their blood poisons when they are cut or wounded. Moreover they creep in at the mouth when people lie sleeping. The Symptoms and Signs There is from the biting of a Serpent a tumour, pain and heat in the part, first good blood flows out, then matter or serum that stinks, the face is yellow and blue, after two or three days the whole body is whiter, and the hair falls off, and commonly they die on the forth day. Also many die that are poisoned by breath, when a part is infected by spittle or blood, there are red spots and the flesh is corroded. First let the part be bound hard above the bite, The Cu●● and the part bitten be s●a●i●ied deep, and c●pped to draw out the blood and poison, then wash the wound with spirit of Wine, with Treacle and Mithridate dissolved in it, or apply young Pigeons split to the part, or Fi●s, or Garlic bruised▪: or Serpent's grease, ● or the head of the Serpent bruised; or the gall of the Serpent, which is best. Also in the mean time give Antidotes, and provoke sweat with Treacle and Mithridate. Some give Strawberry roots and leaves, and Paul's Bettony boiled in Wine, or a dram of Castor with Cardus-water Or, Take Gentian, long Birthwort, Bayberries, Myrrh, each two drams; bitter Costus, Rue, each a dram; Spike two scruples, Saffron a scruple, make a powder, and with Honey an Electuary give a dram or two, keep the Patient from deep sleep, lest the spirits being drawn in, the poison go with them. If poison be from breath do accordingly. If any part be infected by spittle or blood, sprinkle this powder often upon it. Take herb Cancer gathered in June an ounce and half, Ashes of a Mole an ounce, two Snakes skins make a powder, sprinkle it often upon the part. If a Serpent get in at the mouth, or be in the Guts or Stomach, you must tempt him out with the vapour of sweet milk, and he will come up by the Gullet, if the Patient bend forward with his head down; when he is in the Guts, give a decoction of Ash roots, small Centaury, Carduus, Wormwood and Scordium, and other bitter herbs, and Clyster of warm milk. Chap. 3. Of the Aspi● or Adder. Whether he be hot or cold. I shall not argue, for he hurts by an occult quality; the wound is no bigger than that made with a needle, yet it kills a man presently with little pain, and he kills not only by biting, but by spittle. Gal●n writes ●hus. The Adder called Ptyas lifts up his neck, Lib. de theriac. ad pis. c. 6. and with a pause as if he were rational, without any fear spits venom upon you. Symptoms and Signs. They who are bitten by an Adder, have heaviness of head, dim sight, dull senses, astonishment, slowness, sleepiness, pale faces, chillness of body, cramp, convulsion, and die in three hours' time except they have remedies. The symptoms that follow the spitting of a Viper are the same but more gentle. The Swallow-Adder kills presently, the Earthy Adder kills in three hours, The Prognostic. and the Ptyas or spitting Adder kills slower or at longer distance. Draw the poison out at the wound by ligatures and Scarifications, The Cure and apply green Centaury bruised with Mirth: or Treacle beaten with Rue; or a clout dipped in Spurge milky juice. Give Treacle also. Or, Take round Birthwort, Gentian, each a dram; Rue two pugils, Castor, Cassia Lignea, each two drams; Anise, Citron seeds peeled▪ ea●h a dr●m and half, make a Powder, give a scruple or a dram with Wine or Vinegar. If the par● be spit upon, wash it with spirit of Wine and Treacle. Let them that are bitten by Adders, sleep little. Chap. 4. Of Cerastes. TH●s Serpent hath two horns like a Snail, the ●ound he makes is not painful but deadly, by the violent poison though it continue nine days. Symptoms and Signs There is a tumour like a nail and matter comes out at the wound, pale or black, there are blue pustles and sometimes the whole body is blue, the lips swell, the mind is troubled, the strength fails, the yard stands, and Death follows. The Cure. If it may be, the best way is to cut off the member hurt, otherwise cut off the flesh about the p●rt, scarify and cup, and wash it with spirit of Wine and Treacle. Or use a Cataplasm of Orobus meal, Squils, Figs, Garlic, Salt and Pitch, give things internal as before. Chap. 5. Of Haemorrhous. THe name signifies a flux of blood, and he gives a deadly wound, which is known by a violent flux to be from him, for the wound doth not only bleed, or the Haemorrhoids, Nose, Womb, but the Ears and corners of the Eyes, the Gums, the roots o● the Nails, the mouth, by vomit and coughing and all the p●res of the body, as Lucan shows, The Veins in all the members are full found, And all the body is but one great wound. Also the part bitten is black, and there is great pain at the stomach, difficulty of breathing, the voice is stopped, the teeth fall out, and at length they faint and die. There is little hope, The Cure. therefore take off the member if it may be, or cup and scarify: or burn the part: Aetius. or use a Pultis of Vine leaves boiled in Honey and Purslane with Bran. Apply medicines to staunch blood, As, Tormentil, Shepheards-purse, Purslane, Plantain, Bole, sealed Earth, Bloodstone, with a little Treacle. Or use Garlic▪ Treacle, Raisins and Raspberries, or Bramble berries. Chap. 6. Of Dipsas. THey that are bitten by this have a great thirst, and all parts are inflamed, and though they drink much, they find it not quenched. Because the uretery passages are dried up, and the drink cannot pass, but lies in the cavity of the belly, so that it breaks to the groins, and the Patient dies thirsting. It is as that of other Serpents; The Cure. only give Diuretics also, of the cold seeds, and opening roots, Restharrow, Chervil, Shepheards-purse, Peach kernels, Barley, and the like; and Clysters to purge water, see Aetius Chap. 7. Of Amphisbena and Scytale. THese Serpents are so like that they are scarce to be distinguished▪ only Amp●ishena moves forward and backward, but ●●●tale only forward, both hurt the same way, with a very little wound, which makes inflammation, pain and redness, and sometimes an Imposthume and other symptoms like those of a Viper. The Cure. See the cure of the biting of a Viper. Chap. 8. Of a Basilisk. GAlen in his Book of Treacle to Piso c. 8. describes him thus. He is a Serpent a little yellow, with tumours in his head, and kills those that see or hear him when he hisseth, and if any creature touch him when he is dead it dieth presently. Cardan saith th●se are fables, because Galen 1. Simpt. med. f. c. 1. saith he never saw it, and knew none that did. But Dioscorides lib. 6. cap. ult. describes the biting of it, and saith the wound is a Gold-colour, and was cured by three drams of Castor drunk. Therefore let none deny that there is such a Serpent, though not so bad as reported, yet very venomous, that if any touch him with a Spear he kills him. The Symptoms and Signs. After the biting of a Basilisk, there follows great inflammation of the whole body, and the part affected is yellow, the flesh melts away and falls off by piecemeals, & he dies in a short space. The Cure. Aetius thinks it in vain to prescribe medicines against such a sudden kill poison. Chap. 9 Of the Viper. THough a Viper be a kind of Serpent, yet he differs from them all, because they lay Eggs, but the Viper brings forth young, the male Viper differs from the female, for she hath four teeth with whi●h she squirts out poison when she bites, but the male hath only two; & they are hollow, and lie at length in the Gums, and are only lifted up when they void the poison by biting. Symptoms and Signs. After the wound is made, the first blood is pure, the next is mattery frothy like Verdugrease: the part bitten and the whole body swell suddenly, red, or green, or black, or purple, as the humours are: there is pain that runs about, great heat, with black pustles about the part: there is vomiting of choler, Hickets, Megrim, Astonishment, Fevers, stoppage of urine, Bleeding, cold sweats, Trembling, Fainting, difficult breathing, and death. In some countries it is not very deadly, The Prognostic. but in ●ot Countries and in Summer, and when the Viper is provoked and angry, it kills in seven hours. If any swound or bleed at the ears, or be struck as with hail, death is at hand Presently draw out the poison at the part bitten, as before with the same remedies: The Cur●. the flesh of the Viper is the best remedy inwardly or outwardly taken, Treacle or troches of Vipers, or oil of Vipers, Rue, Garlick, give Antidotes presently. Costus is the Bezoar against this poison, a dram with Wormwood-wine. To all Antidotes, add Rue to make them stronger. Treacle and Mithridate are good, two drams with four ounces of strong wine Mathiolus lib. 6. see Dioscorides for his famous water against all poison. Chap. 10. Of the Scorpion. THere are many sorts, and all kill by a sting which squirts out poison, they are more dangerous in some countries then in other. Symptoms and Signs. Gal. de lo. off. c. 5. The Sting is small, but very deadly, for pain, inflammation and tumours follow in the part affected and the whole body, pustles arise about the wound like warts, and all the body is as struck with hail, there is cold sweat, with paleness and sweat, the hair stands an end, the face is drawn aside, they weep, filth comes from the eyes in the corners like glue, they foam at the mouth, and the body sometimes hath black spots all over. Women and Virgins chiefly are killed by Scorpions, and men when they are stung in the morning. The Prognostic. I have found by experience that if the same Scorpion be bruised and laid to the part, The Cure. or if it be anointed with oil of Scorpions, it is speedily cured; which is done by similitude, for like will to like, a Garden-Snail bruised with the sh●l and applied alleys pain presently. Or Earthworms, Calamints, Garlick, wild Rue, Scorpion-grass, bruised often, renewed after the part is washed with the decoction of wild Rue, Sulphur, Bay-leaves, and the like, Of compounds the best ar● Venice Treacle Diatessaron. Aetius commends this. Take Castor, Succi Ciren●ici, Pepper, each half an ounce; Costus, Spikenard, Saffron, juice of Centaury, each two drams; with clarified Honey make an Electuary, take the quantity of a Walnut. Let him eat Butter often, and drink old wine as much as he can, and eat no Smallage. Chap. 11. Of a Crocodile. HE hath a large mouth, and causeth great pain by tearing. First the blood that comes out is pure, than it is mattery and stinking, and there is tumour and inflammation, with black pustles, vomiting, ●eaver, cold sweat, fainting, and great symptoms, and Death. First, draw out the poison, The Cure. then wash the wound with Pickle, or spirit of Wine with Treacle or Mithridate, or Vinegar and Saltpetre. Anoint with Crocodiles grease, or apply Niter, Deers Suet, or Goose grease, Putte● and Honey, and use the Antidotes mentioned. Chap. 12. Of Stellio or a Lizard so called. IT is a Lizard with Starlike spots on his back, and the poison of it is conveyed by biting or taken in, to the hurt of man or beast. Signs and Symptoms. If his flesh be eaten or the liquor drunk in which he hath been, the stomach and guts are afflicted, as the Bladder is by Spanish flies taken, with pain and burning, with vomiting, the tongue is inflamed, the sight is dim, the head aches, and there are spots in the face, and the flesh is blue about the hurt if there be a bite, with other symptoms. The Cure. Giv● Vomits and Clysters presently, if there be a bite, apply Onions and Garlic, and let them be eaten and wine drunk after, and use Antidotes as before. Chap. 13. Of the Salamander. IT is a deadly destroying poison, for if he get into a Tree, ●e infects the fruit, and kills them that eat it; for the poison infects herbs and waters, if he fall in, as well as when he bites. Symptoms and Signs. The part bitten loseth natural heat, and is black, stinks, and voids filth, and the hair falls off, the internal parts a●e inflamed, the speech falters, and the senses fail, the body swells, and trembles, fainting and Death follows. The Cure. Scarify presently, and draw out the poison with Garlic, Onions, Rue, Salt and Honey, or ●ith a Hog's dung or Goa●●, with Vinegar hot. ●f you eat any thing the Salamander hath spit upon, vomit. Omit not Antidotes, as Mithridate, Treacle, Pine Rosin is good, or Galbanum with Honey. Or, Take juniper berries, Assa f●●da, black Pepper, each two drams; with Honey make an Electuary, give a dram or two with old Wine, which may be his drink, or new milk Chap. 14. Of the Spider. THere are divers sorts, some are worse poison than others, one sort hurts if he be burnt, by the scent of him, and in Vasc●nia, the Spider sends venom through the soles of their shoes. Symptoms and Signs. If the poison be taken in, or you be stung, there is a numbness in the part bitten, with chillness, the belly swells, the face is pale, there is wind in the guts, cold sweats, a desire to piss, but in vain; they vomit or piss things like Spiders. If a Spider be taken in, first vomit thus. The Cure. Take Spurge roots, Asarum, each two drams; Dill and Broom flowers, each a pugil: boil them, to four ounces straine●, add a dram of Honey, make a Vomit. Then give Antidotes, provoke sweat, by a hot house, with two drams of Treacle, and Carduus, or Scordium water and Wine. Or give Bole and Vinegar: Fracast. lib. 2. d● morb. c●nt. c. 2. this cured a man that was stung in the neck, and was swollen, and could not speak. Or, Take Assa faetida two drams, Myrrh, Garlic, Pepper, Castor, each half a dram; make a powder for four doses with Wine before bathing, every day. If th●re be ● bite, wash it with Salt-water often, or with a Sponge dipped in warm Vinegar, or the milky juice of Fig leaves, and give Antidotes. Chap. 15. Of Cantharideses, or Spanish-flies. THis poison is chiefly against the bladder; it corrodes all parts from the mouth to the bladder, and inflames, and causeth a feave●, loathing, dysentery, ●ainting, megrim and madness. But the chief burning and excoriation is in the bladder, the yard stands, and there is a strangury: and then a gangrene and death. The Cure. Vomit, and give Clysters, vomit with Hogshead broth, or of a Lambs or Goat's head, with Oil of Violets often. Give Clysters of Barley, Mallows, Mercury, Pellitory, Faenugreek, Linseed, Rice, Oil of Lilies, and Diaphoenicon. For the passage of urine, a Decoction of Althaea, Linseed and Mallows, with Oil of Violets. Then give Goat's mil●▪ fat Broths Rice with Milk, fresh Butter, fat Meat, Lettuce, Purslane boiled with Barley. Emulsions of the four great cold Seeds, and Lettuce water. Pennyroyal is the proper Antidote. Or, Take Troches of sealed Earth, Alkekengi, each half a dram; give them with Breast-milk. Use Baths of Mallows, Althaea, Violets, Lettuce, Purslane, seeds of Faenugr●ek, Line, and Epithems of Lettuce, Purslane, Cowcumber, Melón, juices and Oil of Violets laid to the parts pained. Chap. 16. Of Flies, Bees and Wasps. GReat flies are poison, if ●hey set upon the carcases of venomous beasts. Wasps that have fed upon Serpents, are most dangerous. Bees sting worse when they swarm, and fall upon any creature, they have killed a Horse. Symptoms and Signs. Great pain till the sting be drawn out with swelling, redness and pustles. Draw out the sting, with a Plaster of Ashes, Oil and Leaven; The Cure. if they do not, then suck long, & wash with Salt-water. Then use a Pultis of Barley meal, Mallows, and Plantain, and Vinegar, or Bole, and Vinegar, and Oil: the Bees stamped and applied, draw out all venom. If there be heat, cure it as in malignant fevers. Chap. 17. Of the Poison of a mad Dog. SEE Lib. 1. Pract. p. 2. c. 16. Chap. 18. Of the Brain and Blood of a Cat. SOme are frighted at a Cat in the Room, though they see her not, and have cold sweats and faint, if the Cat be not removed. Some say the brain and blood of a Cat are poison, Ponzet. lib. 2. de ven. tr. 6. c. 3. Mathio. in 6. Dios. In proemio lib. 1. Thenz. and a History confirms that a Girl that had an Epilepsy, was persuaded to take the blood of a Cat, which made her of the nature of a Cat in voice, mewing, and leaping, and creeping, as a Cat when she mouseth. Avenzoar saith that the breath of a Cat infects the spirits, and causeth Marasmus. Symptoms and Signs. After the taking of the brain of a Cat, there is a megrim, astonishment and madness. If it be in the stomach, vomit it up; The Cure. if it be distributed, purge with a scruple of the Extract of Hellebore, then give half a scruple of Musk every week, or give Diamoschu dulce. Or, Take Conserve of Rosemary flowers two ounces, Piony-seeds, Caraway, Cubebs, each half a dram; Diamoschu dulce, a dram, with Syrup of Bettony, make 〈◊〉 Chap. 19 Of Diseases and Symptoms which Poisons leave behind them. SOme poisons have greater antipathy to some parts: and therefore the evil disposition remains sometimes in one part, sometimes in another, as Cardan mentioneth. Cardan. lib. 3. de. ven. cap. ult. Sometimes there is after poison an evil habit of the whole body, Leucophlegmacy, Jaundice, Consumption, Strangling and Quinsy; the teeth drop out, there is melancholy, sadness, watching, madness, bad concoction, the belly bound, pain in the guts and stomach, Dysentery, spleen swollen, difficult breath, resolution of members, or palsy, hardness of joints, fevers, fainting, weakness of eyes, or stareing, convulsion, pain of the whole body, burning of urine, and stoppage, megrim, loathing, forgetfulness, and the like. The Cure consists in two things. 1. By giving proper medicines to the evil disposition, if it be known. 2. By taking away the venomous quality, which cherisheth that evil disposition, or correcting it at the least. For the relics of the poison are to be taken away, before you use the ordinary Cure. So after the French pox there are Symptoms, as dropping of urine, and the like, which cannot be cured, except you regard the malignant disposition. If the kind of poison be ●ot known, give ordinary Antidotes, with things that oppose the manifest disease. THE NINTH PART. Of Diseases by Witchcraft, Incantation, and Charms. The PREFACE. AMatus Lusitanus shows that Physicians ought to know these Diseases, Cent. 6. cura. 87 because such come to them for Cure. I shall from Philosophers, Physicians, Lawyers, and Divines, take such things as concern us; and divide thi● Tractate into four Chapters. 1. Whether there are Diseases from Witchcraft? 2. How they come? 3. How they are known? 4. How they are cured. Chap. 1. Of Fascination or Witchcraft, and whether any Diseases come thereby. FIrst the word Fascination is to be explained, it comes from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which signifies to envy, because the Vulgar people suppose that envious people hurt others by their looks chiefly. It is a sort of enchantment by which through looks or by commendations, not only infants and men, but also Lambs, Hens, Horses, and other beasts, and also flourishing corn and plants are praised, till they are killed, Arist. sect. 20. c. 34. probls. or grow weak and feeble. This Witchcraft is extended also to other things, some fear when they eat greedily, and others look steadfastly upon them, and give part of their meat to them that so look upon them, saying, Do not bewitch me. Some extend this to things without life. Secondly, Fascination is not only by sight, but by tongue and voice, of which the Latin Poet Virgil, Eclog. 7. When thou art praised, let Baccar crown thy Head For evil tongues have Prophets murdered. Lib. 7. c. 2. This Pliny observed, writing that in Africa there are families of Witches, by whose praise and commendations hopeful things perish, trees grow dry, and infants die. Hence I gather a threefold Fascination; the first is Poetical or Vulgar; the second is Philosophical; and the third Magical. The two first I deny, for the Poetical Witchcraft is fabulous, and delivered from hand to hand, rather superstitiously then truly, according to which infants are said to be bewitched, and other things, only by the active look of the Witch, as when any one praised another, or looks maliciously upon him whom he hates: Mothers and Nurses hang Annulets about their children's necks to prevent this. And the Poet Theotritus teacheth against this Fascination, That they should spit thrice into their own bosoms that fear it. Spit thrice in thy breast, And Witches detest. I suppose this Fascination is not only fabulous but superstitious, and Divines have cursed the users and the allowers of it. And reason shows, that there is no force in this Fascination, for nothing is sent out of the eye that may carry it, because sight from the best Philosophers, is not by sending forth any thing from the eye, but by receiving of species into the eye; though another Poet hath written thus. I know not what eye Made my Lambs for to die. Virg. in Egl●gis. Certainly the horrid aspect of an ugly old woman may terrify an infant, so that the humours being raised, they may complain as if displeased. So Tiberius the Emperor by a terrible look, astonished a Soldier, and killed him with trembling, but this from the event, and therefore I conclude that this Witchcraft is plainly fabulous. 2. The Philosophical Witchcraft is not properly Fascination, but to speak properly a● infection or contagion, for one is hurt often times by another's looks: so that Saying is true. If ●hou on sore look with sound eyes, Infection from the same shall rise. For the opinions of Avicen and Algaselis agree, that is, that no alteration can be made in another by sight, as it is merely sight; but the alteration is made by a venomous quality that remains in t●e putrid humours, or in the distemper of him that beholds. This evil quality infects the air about it with its poison, and one part of the air infects another, and so it comes to the eye to be infected; and this according to sound Philosophy. But these being left, we shall come to the third kind of Fascination, which is our business. Chap. 2. What Enchantments, poisonous Witchcraft, and Magic are. INcantation and Veneficium signify in general an action by which a man that hath made a League with the Devil, doth something above the course of Nature, by the help of the same Devil. These actions, and they that practise them, have divers names by the Latins, Incantationes, Veneficia, Artes magicae; Enchantments, Poisoning, and Magic Arts, and they are called Incantatrices Enchanters, Veneficae Poisoners, Maleficae evil Actors, Magis Magicians, Sagae, Lamiaes, Striges, Witches of divers sorts. The first are called Enchanters and Enchantments. These are either Verses, good or bad: the good verses or spells, or charms are such as are used for curing diseases, as when they speak certainwords in the time they gather herbs to make them more powerful. The evil Charms and Charmers are such as hurts men and beasts. 2. They are called Veneficae, because they gather poisons or hurtful herbs to do mischief. 3. They are called Maleficae, because they have a desire to hurt, by the Instrument of the Devil, either man or beast. 4. They are called Magis or Magicians which belongs not to them, for in the Scripture the Magis were three wise Kings that worshipped Christ at his birth▪ And sometimes it is used to signify such as are led by evil Angels; for it cannot be denied, in regard the mind of man is not to be satisfied with knowledge, that the Chaldaeans and Egyptians when they could not understand all things they desired, sought to the Devil for aid, hence the name of a Magician is infamous, although those men do labour to destroy Diabolike operations by the strength of nature. 5. They are called Sagae from knowing much, these profess to know and do much, and from a league with the Devil, can raise Storms, and hurt man and beasts and corn. And for this purpose they use charms, images and characters. 6. They are called Lamiaes from the Heathen-gods which could hurt or do good by the divers shapes they took: therefore because Witches in our day's feast and sport with Ghosts, and have also copulation with them, they are called Lamiaes. 7. They are called Striges from a bird so called, which Poets say would by night take children out of their cradles: And because the Witches were thought to do the same they have that name. And these are the chief names that are given to such as from a contract with the Devil and by his help can do things above the strength of nature, whether this contract be express or plain, or implicit. They are such as are so mad, that forswearing the omnipotent Lord of all things, make a covenant with the Devil, and deliver themselves wholly to his power: and though some enter not into an express covenant with the Devil; yet they use those things that implicitly show the same, namely characters, words, or the like, which are received from others who have been in covenant with the Devil. Chap. 3. Many affirm that Diseases may be from Witchcraft and Charms. THe question than is, whether it be so or no? If any doubt it we have Eye-witnesses to prove it: Lib. 1. epist 38. And besides the reports of john Langius of things done 1539. in the Bishop of Eistetens street, and the relations of Anthony Benivensis in his Book of hidden causes of blood and diseases Chap. 8. who reports that a woman o● sixteen years old fell suddenly into a horrid screeking, & her belly so swelled, that she seem to have been eight months gone with child, and she was so taken with Convulsions, that her sols of her feet would touch her neck, and at length she vomited wood, crooked nails, and Brass needles with wax and hair mixed in balls, and a piece of bread so big that none could swallow it whole this she did often. Cornelius Gemma mentioned another, Lib. 2. de divi. nat. car. of which he was an eye-witness, beyond all admiration, so that there is no doubting of this question. Forestue reports that he saw a cloth, nails, bits of iron, hair, and bones vomited. Lib. 18. obser. 16. in scho. And Francis Heidelshem page 186. reports that a melancholic man vomited iron, bullets, gunpowder, and other strange things. And what is more wonderful, some have lo●● their privities by witchcraft, Lib. 3. de mor. vex. c. 5. of which Baptista Codronchius, who says a young man envied a young woman, and desiring to leave her, lost his privities. And when another woman had taught him to use fair words and promises, and if need required, threatenings and force to compel her to restore them. He took her counsel, and at evening in a convenient place found out his Mistress, & when neither by prayers, nor any fair promises he could not persuade her, he put a towel about her neck, and almost choked her; nor did he lose till she promised him help. Then she put her hand between his thighs, and took away the enchantment. There are so many Histories to confirm this from credible Authors, that it would be tedious to relate all. And it is manifest every where that Witches have confessed before the Judges, that they have made some blind, others lame, others to have the Palsy, and others great pain, and to have caused many diseases. Hence it is manifest that diseases may come by Witchcraft. Chap. 4. Vuierus denies that Diseases may come by Witchcraft. FRom what hath been said, you may easily see the vain defence by Vuierus of Witches; he takes all these for fables, and cannot be brought to believe that there are Witches. And he supposes that all things which Witches think they do, are mere dreams and Phantasms: and he affirms that the fancy of Witches is only deluded by the Devil, Lib. de lamiis c. 5. so that they confess they have done, which they neither could, nor nature could suffer to be done: and he says many other things which will fall of themselves by what shall be written hereafter. Chap. 5. The Controversy is decided, and it is showed whence Diseases are made that are from Witches. TO decide this Controversy in short, we must do it by some conclusions. The first is, It is the Witches purpose to hurt men by diseases, and many men have been so hurt. The Histories in Chap. 3. prove this conclusion: and Sprengerus hath many more in his hammer against Witches. And though Vuierus takes these for fables, yet History is not so rashly to be deluded: that the Witches do act therein is manifest, because the instruments of Witchcraft being taken away, or the Witches burnt or dead, the patients grow sound, and the charms cease. The second Conclusion, Although Witches determine to hurt men, yet neither do it, nor can they do it. The Witches are not the first causes of such operations, but the Devil: the Witches are his work-fellows, at whose request by God's permission, he afflicts men with such diseases. Therefore the Devil and the Witch must agree to cause Witchcraft formally. We deny not but the Devil may in dreams suggest what the Witches may think true when awake, as appears by many histories in Baptista porta and Vuierus, as that of a woman which anointed herself and slept, and awaking, affirmed that she had been at Sea, and flew over mountains. There are many the like of women, which stirred not out of their bed that night, yet affirmed that they did wonders in strange places. Moreover, it is pleasing to the Devil to have Witches obedient to him, and he persuades them that they may do good or hurt to whom they please: To this end he gives them instruments, as powders which may cause diseases or death, by putting them into meat or drink, or rubbing their bodies therewith; which if they cannot do, it will be sufficient to sprinkle them only upon their clothes. To kill, it is a black powder; to cause a disease, it is ash-coloured, sometimes red, to cure it is white, either to be sprinkled upon them, or to be given in meat or drink. Daemonosag. lib. 1. lib. 1. c. 2. Nicolaus Remigius proves this by divers Histories. The third Conclusion, The Devil by God's permission bringeth diseases by natural Cause●. For he well understands all the force of Sympathy, and what is good or bad for a man's ●ea●●h. But how are these diseases brought upon men? If the disease be in the humours, the Devil by the command of the Witch moveth the internal causes, especially melancholy, and so causeth melancholy diseases; therefore ●he rejoiceth at the disposition of epileptics, and gets into them: for first he gathers all the black choler together, and then moves it, and sends the smoke of it into the cells of the internal senses, and if they be sharp as usually they are, it causeth the Falling-sickness, when he gathers a thick slimy matter into the inward substance of the nerves he causeth a Palsy, deafness and blindness, by putting evil excrements into the Organs.: oftentimes hatred and love and other passions. Hence the Poet. Thou makest the dearest brothers for to jar. That he may hurt speedily, he taketh the spiritual substance of the blood, and purgeth it, and separateth it from the gross. Or he makes a quintessence of poisons, as Chemists do of Gold, and with that infects the vital spirits, which works so strongly that it cannot be overcome by natural means and causeth death certainly. It is wonderful what he doth by Witches to disturb wedlock, to hinder propagation of mankind, to which he is a deadly enemy, this is called, the tying of the point, this he doth by prohibiting the breeding of seed, or hindering of erection of the yard, while it drieth and will not be spent. He doth the same to women by making a preternatural disease in their privities, so that they cannot receive a man. To this are referred the Philtres or Love potions which may cause Lechery, but cannot cause the love of any particular man, but instead of love causeth madness, Lib. disguis magi●. 3. of which see Martin Delrio, and of which the Poet. In threefold colours knit three knots, and cry (O Amarillis) Venus' knots I tie. The fourth conclusion. Sometimes the Devil without causes and natural means in man's body, hurts men only by his own power and sudden violence at the request of the Witch. For the Witch will not do it herself for fear of discovery or the like, but commits the whole matter to the Devil, and what she commands he presently doth. This is plain from a story in Nicolas Remigius, that one cursed another that wronged him, Lib. dem●nola. saga. c. 12. and he was taken up with a wind, and thrown down again, and made lame of one leg, so that he could not go; this he told the Shepherds that brought him home. He mentions two other Stories which clear the truth of this. The ●ifth conclusion. Sometimes the Devil deludes men and persuades them to diseases they have not. This is proved Chap. 3. out of Baptista Codronchius concerning the taking off of the privities; for it is not in the Devil's power to restore members when taken off. The sixth Conclusion. Although diseases and other evils which Witches think they lay upon men come from the Devil as the immediate cause, and the Witch doth nothing; yet are they in fault, by reason of their covenant with the Devil, that hurts men at their request, and by reason of their will to hurt, they are guilty of it. This is contrary to Uverius who defending Witches, as in Chap. 4. we showed, saith That what the Witches do is but a fancy and mere delusion, and whatsoever is spoken of contracts with the Devil from the best Authors. It is a wonder I cannot conceive how a christian should so cast off all piety, that he should forget his Creator and Redeemer, and his Covenant with them in Baptism and go into the Devil's ways, and profess himself an open enemy to his Creator and Lord who can presently destroy him in Hell fire, and join himself to the enemy of mankind the Devil: This hath been and is yet done, as appears by many Histories and confessions of Witches without torments. And how can these be mere Phantasms when the Witches have marks of their slavery which they willingly suffered to be made by the Devil upon their bodies, visible to all men's eyes. And it is plain that the Devil made them, for if you prick them with needles they feel no pain, nor do they bleed the least drop, as Nicolas Remigius affirms by Histories. Demonosag. lib. l. cap. 5. The sixth Conclusion. Though the power of the Devil be great, yet he can hurt none by the Witches power with him but by God's permission. This is manifest from the history of job, whom the Devil never afflicted without God's consent and permission. 2. The Gospel shows that he could not enter into the Swine or hurt them without God's permission, nor doth a hair fall from the head without God's will and permission. Therefore the Devil promiseth to do what th● Witch commands him, they cannot have their desire except God permit. Mag. daemon. lib. 2. c. 28. And Bodinus writes there are not two in a hundred that witchcraft can hurt. And it is known to be true from the voluntary confession of Witches. Chap. 6. Of the Signs of diseases from Witchcraft. IT is very hard to know these diseases, and we must be very industrious to discover them. This is because the Devil doth so warily get into natural causes that it is not easily discerned, what comes from natural causes and what from the Devil. Fernelius gives an example of this in a young Knight which had a shaking and Convulsion by fits; which by divers remedies given for some months could not be removed, but in the third month the Author of the disease was known, by voices and unusual words and sentences, Greek and Latin, which was the Devil, 2. de aba. re. cause. c. 16. and more plainly when he discovered the secrets of those that stood by, and of the Physicians, scoffing at them for their vain medicines, by which they had almost killed the party. The first sign than is of diseases from the Devil, when practised Physicians doubt of the signs, and cannot satisfy themselves, and all things are given in vain and to no purpose. Another sign is, because ordinary diseases come by degrees and have their times and seasons, and come to their state, but these are in their vigour without any apparent causes. Thirdly they have extraordinary symptoms and convulsions, no cause aforegoing that appears: some say that if the Witch comes to see the Patient he is worse, and trembles or is otherwise altered: but the certain sign is when a knife or a needle, or the like is ●o ●i●ed or purged forth, or come from ulcers t●at breed not naturally in the body. Some have another sign which to me is superstitious, they wash the Patient with the decoction of Vervain, and if nothing be sound in the decoction, or its colour not changed, they say there is no Witchcraft: but if many of his hairs be found in it, it is a sign of Witchcraft, this I say is superstitious though Vervain is commonly thought to discover Witchcraft. One think I suppose proves Witchcraft when married people formerly loving very well, hate one another without any evident cause. There are many Histories to confirm this. From whence we may gather this Prognostic. That all diseases from Witchcraft are long and uncurable but by the great mercy of God. Chap. 7. Of Preservation against Witchcraft. I Can say nothing to this certainly, nor can heathenish medicines please me that are used against it, as that of Rhamnus whose branches in the windows or doors they say defend from Witchcraft: Dios. lib. 1. c. 104. Nor doth Lion's foot take away the force o● Love-potions: Nor a Horse-shoe nailed to a Threshold, nor a thousand other things which are used against Witchcraft, for how can these being natural drive away diseases which are caused by the Devil, who is without a body and hath no organs of sense, and therefore can neither be touched with natural bodies nor can be either pleased or disturbed thereby. Although we will not deny that God who is above all nature, can give power to natural things to work upon incorporeal. Nor is it lawful for a Christian by any means to go to any Witch, and pray her or persuade her that she hurt not, or that she should take away any mischief done; for so he should pray to the Devil who did the mischief, and not the Witch, as I showed at large. It remains therefore that we only turn to Almighty God heartily, and implore the good Angels his Ministers, to defend us from those evils which the Devil besets us with both sleeping and waking. Chap. 8. Of the Cure of Diseases made by Witchcraft, and first of the Magical Cure. ALbeit Witches promise to cure such diseases by Words, Characters, Enchantments and Adjurations: yet these and the like have no force, as we showed, against Paracelsus and others which we shall not farther declare. Libro de cons. & dissen. And since it is certain, that the Devil chiefly causeth these evils, it is wicked and unbeseeming a Christian, to desire any thing from him who is the implacable enemy of mankind. Concerning this, there are two questions: first, Whether it is lawful upon suspicion of witchcraft, to ask or compel Witches to remove witchcraft and diseases which they, or others have caused? O● this there are divers opinions, and they desire to resolve it by divers distinctions, which well examined, I think thus: He that desireth by force to compel a Witch to cure a disease, believes in, and hopes for help from the Devil, which he should seek from the Lord, who severely prohibited ask counsel of Magicians. The Soul (saith he) in Leviticus that goes after Witches or Soothsayers, Levit. 20. vers. 6. I will set my Face against, and cut him off from the midst of my People. Hence St. chrysostom writes, That a Christian had better die then redeem his life by bondage to the Devil. Homi. 8. in epist. ad Coloss. For there are other remedies, and the Devil is not stronger than God: and though there be no hope of life, it is better to die, then to be cured by sin; for the Salvation of the Soul is better than the health of the body. And the Glory of God which by so doing is neglected, is to be preferred before all things. Another Question is, Whether it be lawful to search into any means or instruments used by Witches to cause diseases, and to remove them when found, burn them or any ways destroy them? This Question little concerns Physic, of which see Martin Delrio, that decides the reasons on both sides very well, and confirms his own judgement by Histories: but we shall speak of things more profitable. Chap. 9 Of the Natural Cure of Witchcraft. THerefore it is not lawful to seek help from the Devil or Witches, because we have lawful mea●s sufficient, namely Natural and Divine: of Divine we shall speak in the Chapter following; in this only of the Natural. And since in Part IX. Chap. 1. we showed three sorts of Witchcraft, namely Poetical or Vulgar, Philosophical, and Magic. The Poetical is no ways Witchcraft. The second which is Philosophical, comes by natural causes, sometimes with the Devil concurring, who corrupts and altars the constitution o● the body (God so permitting) that he may please the Witches that desire it of him▪ Diseases so caused, may be well cured by natural remedies, but not simply; for in such diseases there are two causes namely Natural and Diabolical, and if the Devil cease no● to act or hurt, there can be no perfect cure. The Natural medicines are twofold, either such as evacuate foul humours, which the Devil useth to cause diseases, or Alterers and Antidotes which are against the dispositions brought in by the Devil. For Evacuation Vomits are good●punc; for Experience shows that stubborn diseases, whose cause is in the stomach mesentery, and about the liver and spleen▪ which could not be evacuated by ordinary purging, have been cured by Vomits. And so Ruland cured Diabolical diseases, and it is observed that some have been so cured that have vomited knives, hair, glass, and the like with putrid humours▪ But let the vomit be proper, and Purges must not be neglected▪ Also use Alterers and Antidotes, external and internal; the internal are mentioned, as Herb True-love, round Birthwort and long, St. johnsor ●, and many others. The outward are Ointments, and Fumes, and Baths, as Ointment of Viscus Colurus or Misleto, experienced in a Maid bewitched▪ Henr. ab Hoer. in obs. med. raris obs. 8. thus made Take Dogs grease four ounces, Bears grease eight ounces, Capons grease twenty four ounces, Viscus Colurus Mislero green three branches, cut and bruise them till they are moist, Wood-leaves and berries, 〈◊〉 is them all into a glass; set it in the Sun nine weeks, and you shall have a green Balsam; ●o Con●er all ●firmities ●udy my ●nnertus, ●laterus, ●overius, ●artholi●us and ●iolanus, of the last ●ditions. with these b●dies bewitched, especially in the pained parts & the joints are to be anointed, and the patient shall be cured, it is a certain Experiment. The Ancient and Modern Physicians used Fumes of Bays, Rue, St. john wort, Sage, Rosemary, Roses, Wood aloes, Asphalium. Sanders, Citron peels, Frankincense, Mastic, Storax Calamite, Labdanum, Musk, Sulphur which strengthen the heart and brain, and discuss malignant and cold humours. Baths do both, by insensible Evacuation and altering, in which boil Rue, St. johns-wort, Mugwort, Vervain, Palma Christi, and the like mentioned. But these are mixed without Superstition or Ceremony, pronouncing of words, and the like, and we must trust only to Natural means, and leave the rest to God. Chap. 10. Of the Divine Cure of Witchcraft. BEcause the Devil can hinder the force of natural things, if God permit, we must have recourse to a Divine Cure, not only in diseases from Witchcraft, but also in all the calamities of this miserable life. And for this cause, for the prevention and cure of these diseases the Church which is the Spouse of Christ, hath constituted Exorcists, which every one knows have power in this thing: therefore we must put our whole confidence in God, & call upon him by a firm & sincere Faith; yet we must take heed least under the show of a Divine Cure, any thing be done superstitiously, or against the Honour of God. It is good against the same to appoint a Peregrination to a Holy place, that we may obtain that by the Merits of the Saints, which we cannot immediately by ourselves obtain from God. This is approved by daily experience among Christians and true Catholics: therefore to him be Praise, Honour, and Glory, and Thanksgiving for Ever. Two EPISTLES of that Excellent and Famous Man Balthasar Han Doctor of Physic, and chief Elector of Saxony. The First Epistle. MOst Renowned, Excellent and most experienced Sir, my Godfather and much honoured Friend. I prefent thee with a miserable but admirable Physical History (which I lastly told you in short) as I had it chiefly from mine own observation written with mine own hand. A certain honest godly woman twenty two years old, of a laudable temper, somewhat inclining to melancholy, in the year 1634. the 8 th' of November being Saturday, was troubled at evening with an unusual stopping and heaviness at the breast, she went to bed at her accustomed hour with desire to sleep, and though she obtained her desire presently, yet was grievously troubled, by which means after twelve of the clock, she was heard often to groan sadly, but they supposed she dreamt, and called her; but she awaked not till she had often groaned: being awaked she often lifted up her eyes, but kept them not long open, but presently composed herself for sleep again, and spoke not above three words. In the morning being Sunday, and the the 9 th' of November, she arose at six of the clock thinking upon the Church, and how she might according to her promise bring a young maid to be married to a Minister of the Church. But on a sudden she beheld two blue spots in both hands, which crept up from the wrists to the bending of the Arm, not in one continued line, and above both the bend of the arms, there were divers letters, among which were these two N B. joined together, and many crosses of this form ✝ she being undaunted continued her holy resolution, and by God's assistance she went to Church at 8. in the morning, and was very merry at the wedding-dinner, till four in the afternoon, and perceived no disturbance that day nor that night, but monday morning following being Novem. 10. she observed the number of crosses increased about her neck, breast and belly to the bottom of it. And all that day she felt great straitness and troubles, one fit followed another, and she had so great a desire to sleep, which was the forerunner of a fit, and more works and crosses that she could not be kept awake, at which time (to the terror and admiration of the beholders) the characters mentioned most like crosses were in most parts of her body, so that in seven day's time she was all over before and behind, from head to foot, marked as if sh● had been whipped with rods or thorns; at first her face was not marked, but afterwards it was with the same, but smaller, and more superficially in the scarf-skin, at night she went to bed and slept an hour after which she was troubled, & groaned, and folded her hands close. The standers by observing that awaked her, and parted her hands, and they sound a Needle stuck in the palm of her hand, and they drew it out; they bent it & put it in the fire unknown to her▪ and keep it stil. The 11th of November being Tuesday she was better but not without some fits, but gentle: this night she dreamt that she should find a needle under her bed, which she should put into the fire presently and so be cured. The 12th of November being Wednesday at noon she remembered her dream, and commanded her Maid to search diligently for a needle under the bed, the Maid returning brought a long Tailor's needle, she cast it into the fire, often, this done she went to bed at her usual hour, and espied a Ghost like a woman going into a Study, and hiding herself in a corner, at which she was much frighted, and trembled, and began to be sleepy as formerly, which by reason of her pain she resisted, And lo an ill-favoured old woman very terrible with her wrinkled face stood by her bed side, having a thick cudgel with which she smote her violently upon the legs, and being very angry she repeated these words, Give me my Needle, Give me my Needle. At which she cried out aloud, and the old woman vanished, and from that night, till Saturday after, which was the 15th of November●he ●he did not suffer any thing, but then about night walking about she pulled out another Needle from the sole of her foot with great pain, lamentation, and loss of blood, and showed it to the standers by, she slept well that night, and the following day being Sunday the 16th of November, she put on her b●st clothes and went to Church cheerfully, from which day she was not troubled, only she was sometimes found under the Table at night taken out of her bed, to which she went every night at her usual hour, after prayer and signing herself with the sign of the Cross, without any hurt, and at certain times the third, fourth, sixth and tenth day, she had new marks of crosses with other marks as of hearts and Astronomical characters of the Planets and configurations, as ♂. ⚹ ☍ and of Planets ♄. ♃. ♂ ☉ ♀. ☿. ☽. and some of chemical medicines, as 🜕. 🜔. ☉. (for she was not ignorant of Astronomy and Chemistry with which she refreshed herself by reading and calculating beyond ordinary women) were as it were cut in the skin, she continued indifferent well in this state to the twenty seventh of january 1635. and her fi●s were very little, and in a manner quite gone, at which time she went to see her neighbour to pa●s her time with her in reading or sewing, or discourse: in the midst of their discourse she had on her right hand the shape of a Rose, and on her left, of Three-leaved grass, with the year of our Lord 16●●, gently painted and so artificially that Ap●lles the best of Painters could not mend it. Under these figures without pain were painted to the admiration of the Beholders a wounded heart, the picture of a fool, and the Germane word Narr. and nescio with divers crosses. The 27th of February just at noon her trouble returned with more greater fits: And from that day to this, by God's Grace she never had any, whom I desire by prayer to defend her from these delusions of Satan, and to give her health, and be with us all to whom be Praise, Honour, and Glory for Evermore. This is that miserable History which I promised you, read it with your divine ingenuity, and consider it; and leave your opinion of such passions to posterity. For you● Books of Practical Physic, written from long and infallible Experience, with great pains and ingenuity, which all Learned men admire, may well contain it. In the mean while farewel, and be certain that I am most ready to serve you. Dated from the Electors Camp, the 5. of November. 1635. THE SECOND EPISTLE. IN my last Letter, Renowned Sir, my most Experienced Godfather, and very good Friend, I sent you a lamentable History of a Physical case: now I send you the opinion of the Famous and Excellent Physician Dr. joachimus Colbius concerning it. But by your leave I shall a little digress, and a little mention what was done, and what medicines were given without many flourishing words. That this trick or delusion was from Satan, there is no doubt in me. Some suppose that she gave him this opportunity by giving a smock to an old woman which was manifest to be the Witch. For this is a Maxim, not only among the Devil's Slaves the Witches▪ but also among Common people; that if a Witch get any silk or linen that hath been worn next the skin of any▪ than she can hurt any part of them that wore it, by pricking, striking, tying, twisting more or less when, and where she pleaseth. The crosses of which I spoke, were not always of the same form, but some longer, some shorter, sometimes very long; some were deeper, and caused pain and itching; some came to matter▪ and left marks behind them above a month, in some did not. But why crosses, roses and three leaved grass so artificially painted, and Characters which she knew, and things she delighted in? The cause of these, was the Devil's hatred to mankind for she signed herself with the sign of the cross, morning and evening against Satan's force, and loved Needlework, and Astronomy, and Chemistry, which by her friend leave she learned of a famous Doctor that live● in the house; the Devil therefore laboured to tak● off her faith, and the force of her prayers, an● mock them with the sign of the cross, and mak● her melancholy by scoffing at her recreations and so to destroy body and soul together. Thi● may be probably and Religiously supposed t● be true, in regard we cannot pierce more into the inward causes. The medicines applied we●● few and gentle, which purged the belly of melancholy, and did alter the humour, with some temperate Cordials, and things experimentally good for the womb, she had sent her from Hala an Amulet of herbs, and seeds rightly gathered at certain times, which had much. Camphire in it; but she refused it, lest she should purchase the displeasure of Almighty God, by vainly labouring against the hatred of the Devil, wh● is a Spirit, and cannot be touched by corporeal medicines. She used nothing to drive the Devil, but prayer and Divine worship, and Sacraments very cheerfully and courageously. Let this be sufficient to be spoken of this matter in the time of war, & while the guns roar and thunder, where the Muses in vain seek for their friend silence. Accept of it kindly, and suspend not your judgement, but give your opinion concerning these things▪ and declare them speedily to the Learned. Farewell worthy Sir, and continue to be my Friend, who am much your Servant. Given from the Electoral Army, November the 30th 1635. FINIS.