Royal College of Physicians: A collection of medical receipts (MS504)

12 1 peny worth of o oyl of Camomil & an half peny worth of Aqua Vitea, shake well together in a bottle & put on with a feather & rubb in well before a good fire is w[m] whites Receipt water, untill all become to a pint or something more; then cast away y^e pieces of horn, & let ya^t in y^e vessell stand still untill it be cold, whi^ch then will be like a Gelly; & wheⁿ yo^w will use thereof, warm some of it in a saucer, & anoint y^e grieved place therewi^th by y^e fire, morning & evening & let it drink in, & it will heall it throughly / by Gods Blessing / at 9 or 10 dressings. This is a rare secret for any Aches in y^e joynts whatsoever, & hath helpen wheⁿ all other means hath failed. {9}Take y^e stones out of raisins of y^e Sun, yeⁿ stamp y^e said Raisins, & apply a Plaister thereof to any Ah, & it will cease it presently, & if yo^w use it 5 or 6 in such order, it will throughly cure y^e same. {1} If one suspect himself to be infected wi^th y^e Pleurisie let him hold in his breath as long as he can; & then if he can let it goe wi^thout coughing, he hath not y^e pleu= -rise; if not, he hath y^e pleurisie, or is in danger thereof. {1}Stinking & corrupt Wine will be marvellously mended, if according to y^e bignes of y^e vessell, a sufficient Quantity of clean wheet in a bag, be hanged in y^e said vesell, & after be taken out of y^e same. {2}To prove whether any water be mixt wi^th wine; put an Egge into y^e Wine, & if y^e Egge sink into it, there is water mixt wi^th it; but if y^e Egge swim; tis pure wine.

13 {1}A wort-leaf laid to y^e Crown of y^e head draweth up the Uoula, or flap in y^e throat. Also a plaister made of bean flower & y^e white of an egge and laid to y^e mould of y^e head y^e hair cut off a little first, helpeth if any thing will {1}A Little bay-salt stamped small, mixt wi^th y^e Yolk of an Egge, & applyed to a Felon, & so used divers times, doth per= -fectly & speedily heall y^e same; & also draws out all y^e pain of y^e Arm, & ceases the swelling, if any such be xc {2}Soap mixt wi^th a little salt helpeth perfectly a felon, uncome or other sore or swoln finger wi^th speed. Proved. {1}The juice of Broom mixt wi^th y^e Oyl of Radish or Mustard, is a very safe remedy for y^e killing and destroying of Lice. {2}Olibanum (whi^ch is a kind of frankincense) in pouder, mixt wi^th as much swines-grease, & boyled together, whe^rewi^th if Childrens heads ya^t are full of lice, or apt to breed lice, be anointed, they shall be afterwards free from Lice. This is better & safer than Ointmen^t made wi^th Quicksilver, whi^ch is dangerous. {1}To make y^e hands white. Mix y^e dung of sparrows in warm wa= -ater, & wash you^r hands therewi^th; or seeth y^eroots of nettles in that water & therewi^th wash you^r hands. {1}To take away hair. Salt finely stamped & mixed wi^th fasting spittle, laid on a fillet (& applyed certain times) to y^e place where superfluous hair is, doth cause ya^t hair will grow there no more. A thing certainly proved. Pigeons-dung doth work y^e like effect, applyed in such sort. {1}The water of distilled hony makes well rolled hair, if it be often used or spunged therewi^th. Proved.

14 {1}For y^e Cough. Aqua vitae mixt wi^th white sugar Candy finely poudered, so that it be not too thick thereof, but indifferent, & a spoonfull thereof taken last at night, for 3 or 4 nights, doth presently help y^e Cough & hoarsnes, & breaks flegm mar= vellously. Proved. Also y^e sirrup of Ground-ivy, or ale-hoof. or gill-go by-ground (they are all one) is singluar good for hoarsnes & consumpt take a spoonfull of it first & last, for sometime. ---------------- {2}The pouder of y^e root of Emula campana mixt wi^th y^e pouder of Liquoris, & of white Sugar-Candy, if it be often eaten, a spoonfull at a time; effects as y^eformer. ------------------------------ {1}An approved medicine for shortnes of breath, taken thrice a day viz: 3 hours before dinner, 2 hours before supper, & about midnight, continuing y{e} same 3 or 4 days, & no more, heals. Take of manna elect, called manna granata 2ounces; y^eflowers of Cassia newly drawn half an ounce, penydes 3 ounces: Oyl of sweet Almonds being new, one ounce, y^e lungs of a fox finely beaten & pudered 2 ounces (make y^e rest in pouder that are to be poudered) mix all together, & make thereof an Electuary wi^th y^e syrrup of hysop. Yo^w may have it well made at y^e Apothecaries. see y^e 3^th on y^e next page. -------------- {2}Take of y^e Roots of hollyock dried in y^e shadow one pound made in fine pouder, clarified honey one four pound, seethe them over a fire, & stir them together till it be in y^e form of an E= -lectuary, whereof take often & yo^w shall be whole. ----------- {1}Whosoeve^r hath y^e pleurisie, or is stuffed in y^e stomach wi^th toug flege flegm, Let him take a scruple of ofy^e pouder of y^e seeds of nettles, wi^th y^e syrrop of Violets, & swallow y^e same as by licking it a little & little; & he shall spit out y^e tough flegm more easily. A rare secret.

15 {1}To help a stinking breath, ya^t comes from y^e stomach. Take two handfulls of Cumin-seed, & beat it to pouder, then seeth it in a pottle of White Wine, until a Quart thereof be Wasted, then give y^e party a good draught thereof first & last as hot as he may suffer it, & he shall have a sweet breath with 12 dayes. [Carses re] {1}For a clear voice: Drink y^e wine of Centory, once every morning 4 days together, & it will make thee sing clear, & speak wi^th a good voice. It cleanseth y^e breast marvellously. ---------------------------- {3}For Cough and Shortnes of breath. Take ye roots of Enula Campana, cut in small peeces, of hyssop & peneroyall, & also of scapod Liquoris of each 2 handfulls, seeth them all in a gallon of pure & fair water, untill y^e water comes to one pottle, then strain it well, & keep it in a clean vessell, close stopt or covered, & so use it. Drink a good draught something warm of it thrice every day first & last, and one hour after dinner, for y^e space of 7 or 8 days, & it will help them. A most excellent thing. ---------------------- {1}For y^e Squinamy or swelling & sore throat. The pouder of y^e tooth of a boar mixt wi^th y^e Oyl of Linseed, doth presently help, if y^e grieved place be toached wi^th y^e end of a feather or pen, smeared wi^th y^e same mixture. ------------------- {2}Dip a silk thread in y^e blood of a mouse, & let y^e patient swal= -low, & 'twill help. ----------- {3}Mark where a swine doth rub him, & then rub your hand on y^e same wood, post or stone, wi^th whi^ch hand rub your sore or swoln throat; & as some say that hait, have provod it, cut of a

16 peece of y^e same wood whi^ch y^e swine did rub himself, & rub y^e grieved place therewi^th; but y^e rubbing of y^e swines nneck is best for y^e neck, y^e leg for y^e leg & this is often proved. -------------- {4} Take a Jews-ear (whi^ch is to be had at y^e Apothecaries, & lay it to steep in Ale a whole night, & let y^e party drink a good draught thereof every day once or twice. ^Also hony & allom boild over y^e coals in a pottinger till y^e allom be dissolved and beaten a little at a time, helpeth.^ ----------------------- {5} Rub you^r hand on y^e bare earth or ground, & then rub therewi^th y^e swoln throat, if presently yo^w do thus 3 severall times, y^e swelling & pain will marvellously go away. ---------------------- {6}{manicule}Album Groecum (or white dogs-dung) made into pouder, mixt w{i}^th hony; & eaten helpeth. proved, ----------------- {7}{manicule} Take a Linnen napkin (a peece of new blue-linnen is best) dip it in cold spring water, wring out y^e water & roull it about y^e naked neck: it will in a short time become so hot, that 'twill smoke again, & lying on some considerable time heats marvellously. A rare secret. ------------------------ {1}For spots in y^e face. The blood of a white hen, smeared on a freckled or spotted face, & thereon suffered to dry, & afterward wiped away, clearly takes away all spots. ------------------ {2}The Oyle of Tartar, doth take away all spots, freckles & filthy wheals of y^e face, wi^th his cleansing strength. proved ------------------- {3}Anoint y^e freckled face wi^th y^e blood of an hare or of a Bull, & it will do them away & make y^e skin fair. provved