Section 51

Bella Donna.
A Drachm of the Root of which , amongft other properties, hath this ; that it Will make men mad without any hurt : fothat it is a molt p'ealanc fpeftaclc to behold Inch mad whimfies and vifions j which alfo is cured by fleep : but fometimes they refufe to eat. Neverthelefs , we give this precaution , That all thofe Roots or Seeds which caufe the Takers of them to fee delightful vifions, if their Dole be in- creafcd,will continue this alienation of minde for three days : but if it be quadru- pled,ic brings death. Wherefore we muff proceed cautioufly with them. I had a Friend, who, as oft as he pleafed,knew how
To make a man believe he was chanced into a Bird or Beaft ; and caufe madnefs at his pleafurf. For by drinking a certain Potion, the man would feem fometimes to be changed into a Fifh j and flinging out his arms , would fwim on the Ground : fometimes he would feem to skip up , and then to dive down again. Another would believe himfelf turned into a Goole,and would eat Grafs, and beat the Ground with his Teeth, like a Goofe : now and then ting, and endeavour to clap his Wings. And this he did with the aforenamed Plants: neither did he exclude Henbane from among his Ingredients; extracting the tflfences by their MenHruum,and mix'd fome of their Brain, Heart, Limbs,and o- thcr parts with them. 1 remember wnen I was a ynung man , I tried thefe things on my Chamber- Fellows : and their madnefs Mill fixed upon fomcthing they had eaten, and their fancy worked accordingto the quality of theirmeat. One, who had fed luftily upon Beef , fa w nothing but the formes of Bulls in his imagination,
H h a and
llo Natural Magick. TSool^ 8.
and them running at him with their horns ; arid fuch-likc things. Another man alfo by drinking a Potion, flung himlelf upon the earth, and like one ready to be drowned, ftruck forth his legs and aims , endeavouring as it were to fwim for life : but when the ftrength of the Medicament began to decay, like a ShipwracVd perfon, who had efcaped out of the Sea, he wrung his Hair and his Clothes to drain the Water out of them j and drew his breath , as though he took fuch pains to efcape the danger. Thefe, and many other molt pleafant things, the curious Enquirer may findcout : ic is enough for me only to have hinted at the manner of doing them.
Chap. III.
To caufe fever al \^r,des of dr earns.
NOW we will endeavour to (hew how to caufe pleafant, fad, or true dreams. But that we may more certainly effect it , it will be good firft to know the caufes. 1 he meat in conco&ion muft be corrupted , ( this mull be taken for granted ) and turned into vapors ; which, being hot and light , w ill naturally afcend , andcreep through the Veins into the Brain ; which being always cold , condenfeth them into moiUure, as we fee Clouds generated in the greater World : fo by an inward reci- procation, they fall down again upon the Heart, the principal feat of the fenfes. In themean while, the Head grows full and heavy, and is overwhelmed in a deep fleep. Whence it comes to pafs , that the fpecies defcendiDg , meet and mix with other vapors , which make them appear prepoftcrous and monftrous 5 cfpecially, in the quiet of the night. But in the morning , when the excrementitious and foul Blood is Separated from the pure and good , and become cool and allayed ; then pure, and ucmixed, and pleafant vifions appear. Wherefore I thought it not irra- tional , when a man is overwhelmed with drink , that vapors mould arife partici- pating, as well of the Nature of what he hath drank or eat, as cf the humours which, abound in his body , that in bis flcep he fhould rejoyce or be much troubled : that fires and darkncfs> hail and putrefaftions, flaould proceed from Choler, Melancholy, cold and putrid hnmors. So to dream of killing any one , or being befmeared with Blood, fhews an abundance of Blood : and Hippocrates and Galen fay, We may judge a man to be of a fanguine Complexion by it. Hence thofe who eat windy meats, by reaion thereof, have rough and monftrous dreams : meats of thin and fmall va- pours, exhilarate the mindc with pleafant phantafms. So alfo the outward applica- tion of firnples , doth iofec> the fpecies while they arc a going to the Heart. For the Arteries of the body , faith Galen, while they are dilated, do attrait into them- felves any thingthat is next them. It will much help too, to anoynt the Liver : for thi Blood paflcth upward out of the Stomtck by evaporation , and runneth to the Liver ; from the Liver to the Heart. Thus the circulating vapors are infe&ed , and reprefent fpecies of the lame colour. That we may not pleafe the Sleepers onely, but alfo the Waking, behold
A way to caufe merry dream
When you go to bed, to eat Balm , and you cannot defire more pleafant fights then will appear to you ; Fields, Gar dens, Trees, Flowers, Meadows,and all the Ground of a pleafant Green , and covered withfhady Bowers : wherefoevcryou caft your eyes, the whole World w ill appear pleafant and Green. Buglofs will do the fame, and Bows of Poplar ; fo alfo Oyl of Poplar. But
Tomalf dark^and trotthUfome dreams,
we eat Beans ; and therefore they are abhorred by the Pythagoreans, becaufethey caufe fuch dream-. Phafeoli,or French Beans, caufe the fame : Lentilcs, Onyons, Garlick, Leeks, VVeedbine, Dorycnium, Picnocomiim, new red Wine ; thefein- fufe drcames , wherein the phantafms are broken, crooked, angry, troubled : the psrfon dreaming will frem to be carried in the Air , and to fee the Rivers and Sea v under him : he fhall dream of misfortunes , falling, death, cruel tempers, ° mowers
r Of Thy fical Experiments. zii
fliowers of Rain , and cloudy daycs ; the Sun darkned, and the Heavens frowning, and nothing but fearful apportions. So by anointing ihe afore laid places. with Soot, or any adult matter, ar dOyl, (whi Ji I add oceiy to make the other ei.ter the eafiet into the parts) fires, lightnings flalhing?,aod all things will apoear in darVoeR Thei'e are lafficieni : for I have aireaay ihewed in my Book Phjtog»om% how to procure true dreams.
Chap. IV.
Excellent Remedies for the Eyes,
Heretofore , being much troubled with fore Eyes , and become alrhoft blinde f when I was Liven over by Phyfiiansof beit account, a certain Empyrick u.i i nook me ; who, putting this Water into my Eye , cured me the very fame day: I might alraoit fay, The l^mc hour. By Girts, Entreaties, Cunning and Money, I gained the Secret , which I will not thick much to fet down, that every one may ufe it at their pleafure. It is good for Inflammations , Biearnels, &iilts, Fibula's, and fuch-like ; andcureth them certainly the iecond day ; if not the firlt. It I fl>ou!d let down all thoie whom I have cured by it , I fhould be too tedi. ou*. Take r wo Bottles of Greek' Wine , half a Pint of White* Rofe-water ; of Olendine,two Ounce? ; of Fennel, Rue, Eye-bright, as much • of Tutty, half an Ounce; cf Cloves as much ; Sugar Candy of Roles, one Drachm ; Camphire, haif a Dracnm ; and as much Aloes. Tutty is prepared after this manner : Let it be heat and exringuifhea fix times in Rofe- water , mixed with Greek- Wine ; but let the water at laft be left out : powder what are to be powdered finely ; and mix them with the waters. Aloes is incorporated with waters thus : becauieic will not be powered , let it be put into a Mortar with a little of the forementicned water* , and beat together until it turn to water, and Iwim about in ropings , and mix wi h the waters : then pu it to the reft. Set them all in a Glafs-D>ottle , clofe covered, and waxed up that it do not exhale abroad in the Sun and Dew for forty ds.es, ftil i fhaking them four time* in a day : at laft, when it is well funned , fetic op and refcrve it tor your ufe. It mult be applied thus
Ik Inflammations. Bleod-jhets And Ftftti la's,
let the Patient lie flat on his back; and when a drop of this water is put upon his: Eye, let him open and (hut hi? Eye-lids , that the water may run through all the ca- vities of his Eve. Do this twice or thrice in a day, and he (hail be cured. But thus it mult be ufed for
A Pearl in the Eye,
lc the Pearl be a^ove or beneath the Cornea, make aPowder of Sugar-Candy of Roles, burnt Allome, and the Bone of a Cuttle- Fifli , very finely beat and fcarched exactly • and when the Patient goeth to Bed, fprinkle a little of this Powder upon his eye, and by and by drop fome of this water into it, and let him Hiut his Eyes and fleep : for he will quickly be cured.
Chap. V.
To fafien the Teeth,
J Could finde not any thing in all this PhyficalTraft of greater value then this Rrnaedy for the Teeth : for the water gets in through the Gumms, even to the very Nerve eaten away , it filieth them with Flefh, and new cloatbs them. Moreover, it rmketh them clean, and white, and (hining like Pearls. I know a man, who by this onely Rcceit, gained great Riches. Take therefore three handfuls of Sage,
Kettles,-
lit Natural Magick. 2?0O^8.
Nettles, Rofemary, Mallows, and the rinde of the Roots of Wall-nut wafh them well, and beat them : alfo, as much of the Flowers of Sage, Rofemary, Olive and Plantaine Leaves ; two handfuls of Hvpociftis, Horehound, and the tops of Bram- ble ; one pound of the Flower of Mirtle; half a pound cf the Seed ; two handfuls of Rofe- Buds, with their Stalks ; two drachms of Saunders, Coriander prepared, and Citron-Pill : three drachms of Cinnamon in powder ; ten of Cyprcfs Nuts j five green Pine Apples j two drachms of Bole-Armenick and Maffick. Powder them all, and infuie them in (harp black Wine , and let them macerate three dayes : then, lightly prefixing the Wine out, put them into an Alembick, and Hill them with a gentle fire: then boyl the diftillcd water , with two ounces of Allome till it be diffolved, in a Veffel clofe fiopt. When you would ufc it , fuck up fome of the water, and flir it up and down your mouth until it turn to Froth : then ipit it our, and rub your Teeth with a Linen-doth. It will perform what I have promifed : for it fafteneth the Teeth , and reftorech the Gums that are eroded. Now wc will deliver other Experiments
Tofafien the Teeth,
Macerate the Leaves of Mafiick, Rofemary , Sage , and Bramble ; in Greek- Wine : then diftil it with a gentle fire through a Retort : take a mouthful of this , and ftir about,till it turn to Spittle; it fafteneth the Teeth, maketh them white , and re- ftoreth the Gums. The Root of Petitory bruifed,and put into the Teeth , takes away the pain : fo doth the Root of Henbane. For the bleeding of the Teeth , I have often made trial of Purflaine,fo much commended.
For the fwelltng of the (jttms , beat the Roots and Leaves of Plantaine , and lay them to thefwelling when you go to bed } and in the morning you (hall finde your Gums well.
Chap. VI.
For other infirmities of Mam Body.
T Will heap together in this Chapter, fome Remedies not to be parted over, which 1 know to be certain, by continual Experience made j and although fome of them are common, yet are they true. And firft ,
For the Hettd-ach^
There is a certain Eflence, of the colonr of Blood , extra&ed out of Rofes , of a wonderful fweetnefs and great ftrength. Wet a cloth in this Liquor , and lay ic to your Fore-head and Temples ; and if fometimes it doth not quite take away a pain of long continuance, yet it will mollifie it. If the cloth be dried before your pain ceafe , wet it again. I have often known the Ophites, or Serpentine Marble appli- ed to the Head, both to take away, and mollifie the pain. The Vertigo, I have leen it cured alfo, by applying the Hoof of an Elk, and by a Ring of it worn on the Finger.
AgAinft the chopping of the Lips
the Seeds of Henbane are good : for being caft upon live Coles, if you receive the rifing vapor through a Paper-Tunnel , upon the chopping of your Lips, as hot as you can endure, it appeafeth the fwelling presently, and hcaleth the Clefts, that they will never more trouble you.
Against the clefts of the Fingers.
It is a moll admirable Experiment, which I learned of Taracelfm ; but have often practiced ic my felf : for it taketh away the fwelling and pain , and cureth the Nail. Take a Worm, which creepeth out of the Earth ; efpecially, in moyft
Grounds :
Of Thyfical Experiments. 22$
Grounds : for if you fearch and dig there , you may eafily finde them ; winde him, being aiive, about your Finger, and there hold him till he be dead , which will be wir lin an hour. The pain will prefently ceafe, the matter dry away , and in a fhorc vmt be cared : Indeed I do not knew a more admirable Remedy.
For a Tleurifie.
I found out a moft powerful Remedy made of the Flowers of wilde Poppy. Ga- ther them in the Month of May , before the rifing of the Sun , and their opening for , being chiD Leaves, they are eafiiy dried with a little heat, and fh^d : dry them in the fhade , and lay them up for your ufe. Or elfc , Itill the Flowers , and keep the water. If any one takcth a drachm of the powder in Wine , and fome of the water ; or in the water alone : or fhall apply a Piaifier of the Powder to the place, the pain will prefently ceafe, to the admiration of the Beholders. Mif-lcto of the Oak infnfed in Wine, and drunk, doth the fame. There is a Stone alfo brought out of the Welt-Indies, called inSpanifh, Delia Hijada ; much like an Emerald: which being worn in Silver, upon the Arm, is accounted a prefervative againrt this Diieafe.
Againft the Colicky
Civet is moft excellent in this Difeafe : for the quantity of a Peafe , applied to the Nivil, and a hot Loaf out of the Oven clapt over it , prefently eafcth the pain : the Patient muft ly on his Belly upon the Bread before it be cold.
Againft Crab lice.
The Dud which falls from the Curry-Combs , while the Ortler dreffeth Horfes, or fuch kinde of Bcafts , enreth thctn without any pain. Or the Powder of Lithargy, Aloes, Fraakiacenfe,Verdegreefe, and Alome, beaten and mixed together with Oyl of Maftick, and anoynt the place. The Powder of Mercury praccipitttc , is beft by far, being applied.
To bring away the Stoncy Take Saxifrage, Maiden-hair, Pellitory of the wall , Parfely, Pimpernel and Cete- rach ; diftil them in Balreo Marix, and let the Patient drink of it every other day : for it corrodes and eats away the Stone, thongh never fo great ; and by daily experi- ence, you will fee in his Urine, Gravel and Fragments of the Stone voided out. M reover, the Fruit and Leaves of the Mulberry gathered before Sun riGng, and dilt illed or dried in the fhade . if it be drank in Wine , or a proper water , early in the morning, ooth wonderfully remove the Stone. Mufhronoes growing on a Rock, tedtke.i inro Powder, or dried in thr fhade, or a warm Oven, and drank with Wine in a morning, U very Soveraign againft the Stone. If the Kernels of a Peach-Stone be diftilled again , and drunk, bringdown the Stone. The Hedge-Sparrow, which AettHi mentionetb, T know to be good againft the Stone in the Kidney or Bladder. It is th- leaft of all Birds, liveth in Hedges , carrieth his Tail upright ; on the top of hi- Wings, there are fome ftreaks of Afh-colour ; of a Ihort flight : and laftly, much like a Wren. He hath avenue againlt the Stone beyond alltherelf, eaten either taw or boyle der,being made up dofe in a Pot covered and clayed up, that the vertue may rot ex- pire ; and fo fet over the fire. I have alfo tried a water againll this Difeafe, running out of a certain Vein, delcribed by Vttravim : which when I had diligently fought after, and found cur , made me exceedingly rcjoyce. The words of Vitruvitu are thefe : There are alfo fome Veins of acide Spring?, as at Lyncellum; and in Italy, at Theano in fertile Campania ; and many other places : which being drunk , have* vertue to diflolve Stones which breed in the Bladders of men. And this feems to be naturally done, becaufe rhere lieth a fliarp and acide juice under the Earth, through which, thefe Veins palTng, receive a tin^ure of fharpnefs ; andfo. when they ccms into the Bodies of Men , they diffolvc whatever they finde there