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

17 {1}For y^e pain of y^e Collick, & of y^e back. The decoction of Holliock wi^th hony & butter, being drunk, doth help marvellously. This is excellent & proved. {2}To break y^e wind in y^e belly. Take Cummin-seed, fennell seed and Anisse seed of each a like & beat them to pouder, then seeth y^e same in Wine, & drink a good draught thereof first & last 4 or 5 days together, & yo^w shall find great help {1}For y^e Cramp. Whose useth to rub their fingers between y^e toes of their feet when they go to bed, especiaally wheⁿ they smell most, & then to smell y^e same at their nose, it is a perfect remedy, do this 2 or 3 times a week if yo^w are subject to it {2}The little bone in y^e knee ioynt of y^e hinder legge of an hare doth presently help y^e Cramp, if you touch y^e grieved place therewi^th . Often proved. Also a peece of Briony root, called also wildvine held hard in y^e hand imediately takes away y^e pain you may carry it in your pocket dry for y^e purpose {1}To staunch blood. The three-cornered stone in a Carp, whi^ch is to be found in y^e hinder part of y^e head, nigh unto y^e neck, beaten small, & blown into y^e Nose, doth stay y^e bleeding of y^e Nose, by his binding faculty: whi^ch may be perceived by the tasting thereof. Proved. {2}If one bleed on y^e right side of y^e Nose, bow & press hard y^e parties att right little finger that bleeds: If on y^e left side, then ya^t little finger in like Case for this will stop y^e bleeding. Common & proved. [vw]. p:60 {3}If a spider be put in a Limon Cloth a little bruised, and holden to y^e nose ya^t bleeds (but touch not y^e nose there

18 wi^th, onely smell to y^e same) by & by, y^e blood will stay. This is very true, for y^e venemous Spider is such an enemy to mans blood, ya^t y^e blood draws back, & shuns y^e spider plsently. Also a bit of an hat (some say of any woollen Cloth) burnt & y^e ashes bound upon any cut or green wound, not only stoppeth the bleednig, but healeth y^e same probatum {1}Let y^e party ya^t bleedeth chew y^e root of a Nettle in his mouth but swallow it not down , & wi^thout doubt y^e blood will stanch; for if one keep it in his mouth he can loose noe blood --- It seems as if this stops y^e bleeding of nose or wounds. ------------------------ {2}Primrose Leaves stampt, & laid in y^e place ya^t bleedeth, stancheth y^e blood. Often proved. So doth yarrow an herb. ----------------------- {3}The Webs of Spiders (y^e more venomous y^e better) being applied to a Wound, will stop y^e bleeding of y^e same, for they are of great force & stiptick for all flux of blood; let it not be despised because 'tis easy to be had, for y^e web of y^e spider is in many Cases as good as ye silk-worms. This may serve as was said, till a Chirurgeon may be had. ----------------- NB. Beware ya^t nothing bind thy body hard wheⁿ thou bleedest, & then hold thy handfull of shepherds-purse, & stedfastly look up to y^eSun, & y^e bleeding will cease. proved. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- {1}For y^e Dropsie. If yo^w seeth Briony in water, & use to drink y^e same, it cures. ------------- {2}The roots of Eldern sod, & strained, & drunk 30 days to -gether, thrice every day (i) morning, noon & night, doth cure perfectly.

{19} Snails wi^thout their shells, or otherwise wi^th their shells stamped (& mixed sometimes wi^th Cheslep or Rennett), do draw out thorns or any other thing out of y^e flesh, though never so {3} deep, if applyed to y^e place. -------And also being laid to y^e belly of them yat have y^e Dropsie, they draw out y^e water: but y^e same must not be loosed from y^e belly, untill all y^e humors or water be sweat forth, or else y^e plaister of snails doth fall away of it's self. -------------------------- {4} Water or Wine wherein Wallwort is sod (if a good draught thereof be drunk every day first & last for y^e space of 20 days at y^e most) doth heall perfectly. This is excellent. --------------------------- {5} If such as be swoln wi^th y^e Dropsie do ly 3 days & 3 nights in their beds well covered round about in sodden barley, it helps perfectly. This was proved by them ya^t came swoln from Guming ------------------------------------- Yo^w shall know whether y^e Dropsie be hot or Cold by this following If y^e swelling begin first at y^e feet, & goe upward then it comes of an hot Cause; but if it begin first in y^e face, & goe downward, then it comes from a Cold Cause. --------------------- If one be wounded yat hath y^e Dropsie, 'tis hard to heall him. ------------------------- {6} For swoln Legs. Take Mallows & seeth them in water, then stamp them well & strain them, then put thereto Barrows grease & fry them together, untill it be something thick, & like an Oyntment, lay some thereof upon a Cloth & make a plaister, & apply it to y^e sore & swoln Leg, and lay lay a new plaister thereto twice a day morning & Evening 3 or 4 days together, & by that time twill be as small as the other. Proved.

20 {1}For y^e eyes. The paring of an Apple cut something thick y^e inside whereof laid to hot burning or run -ning eyes at night, going to Bed, & tyed or bound to the same, doth help y^e same speedily. A secret. ------------------- {2}A rare secret to consume y^e Web in y^e Eye often proved Take 9 little worms wi^th feet (of some called Swine lice) if they are toucht they become as round as a button; stamp them wi^th a little juice of Wood -bine or Betony; then strain ye same well; & let y^e party grieved, drink it in a morning something warmed do this 3 mornings together, & twill help etc --------------------- {3}The white of an Egg, & y^e Juice of Pelitory of the Wall well beaten together, & skined & then one drop of y^e same put into y^e Eye, doth heall y^e web. proved. -------------- {4}Wormwood newly stamped wi^th y^e white of an Egge, & laid over y^e Eyes takes away y^e blood & rednes thereof, of wha^t humour soever it comes. proved often. ................... {5}Put two of three seeds of Oculus Christi (or more as occasion shall serve) & wi^thin a while after yo^w shall not feell them, for they wil run up & down not grieving y^e sight but at last they will drop out of themselves, compassed about wi^th slimy water whi^ch hinders y^esig ht: thus if yo^w use them, they will clean & clear ye eyes marvellously purging out all corruption & white slime. proved. ------------------------ Quicksilver, & worth sowd up in a little linen Collar & worn about y^e neck keeps Rheums out of y^e eyes - probatum -

21 {6}A pece of raw beef not too thick nor too thin (being steeped all y^e night before in good Aqua Composita). & applyed to y^e Temples of y^e forehead, wi^thout removing all night, & thus doing 3 or 4 nights, doth help the watering & pains in y^e Eyes, & all distillacions or Rheums ya^t come from y^e brain. A secret. ------------------- {7}A marvellous water, whi^ch will (wi^th God's blessing) recover y^e sight again, hindred of any Cause whe^rewi^th Constantine y^e Emperor recovered his sight. Take 3 drams of Tuty made in very small pouder, as much of Aloe epaticum in pou= -der, two drams of fine sugar, six ounces of Rose water, as much of pure white wine mix all together, & put it into some clean vessell or Glass, & being closely & well stopt, let it in y^e sun a month together, stirring it together once every day; then take of y^e said water 4 or 5 drops in your Eyes morning & evening, & wi^th this continuing a certain space, it causeth y^e sight to come again as fair as ever. A most excellent thing & proved. ------------------ {8}Fill an Egge-shell newly emptied wi^th y^e Juice of Singreen, & set it in hot embers, & scum of the green baggage from it, & then it will be a water; then strain it, & put some of it into y^e hot eyes 4 or 5 nights together, & it will cease ye burning & prickling thereof quikly.