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

7 Take y^e Juice of y^e flowers of Broom, & y^e juice of Scala coeli, & honey, as much of one as of another, & seeth it all together, till it be of y^e thicknes of honey, & anoint y^e Gouty place therewi^th. severall have been cured by this. {9}Take of black sope as much as is sufficient, whe^reunto adde of y^e Yolks of raw eggs, half as much as y^e Sope, & mix them well together in a dish, untill y^e Sope hath lost his proper colour; whi^ch done lay thereof upon fine flax, & spread it like a plaister, & apply it to y^e grieved plaice, then take y^e whites of Eggs mixt wi^th wheat flower, & wet a Limmen clothe well in y^e same, & lay y^e same upon y^e said plaister, & tie it well upon it, ya^t y^e plaister remove not away, of all y^e said time unless there be great occasion. {10}For y^e sciatica, Ach, Gout, or other pain. Take a pint of pure Aqua composita, one beasts Gall, & one ounce of pepper beaten into powder, boyl them all together, untill half y^e Aqua vitae be consumed; yeⁿ lay some thereof on a Cloth like a plaister, & apply it something hot to y^e grieved place; & let it ly 12 hours unremoved, & thus do 4 or 5 times, if need be. It is a sure help. {11}One never had y^e Gout, untill he hath known woman carnally. Hippocrates. {12}For y^e Sciatica or Ach in y^e huckle bone. Take a pound of good black sope, one pint of good Aqua vitae, half a pint of Sallad Oyl, & a quarter of a pint

8 of y^e Juice of Rue, seeth them & stir them all together over an easie fire, untill it be something thick, & then it may be made into a plaister, & then spread some thereof upon a piece of Leather, & apply it to y^e pained place, & let it lye thereon unremoved 3 days & 3 nights, & if y^e pain be not then gone, apply Such another plaister thereto, & remove it not off so long, & it will help it certainly. {1}If any carry about him y^e seed of sorrell, gathered by a boy being a Virgin, his sperm shall not goe from him, neither sleeping nor waking: therefore it is said to be good again^st any pollution in y^e night. {1}The leaf of y^e greater Bur, born or laid on y^e top of y^e head, doth draw y^e Matrix upwards; but laid under y^e sole of y^e foot, it draweth downward, whi^ch is a notable Remedy again^st y^e suffocacions, falling & displacing of y^e Matrix. {1}To cause speedy delivery in a woman, & to help y^e af= ter-birth. Betony drunk wi^th water or Wine, causeth easy & speedy delivery, yea, though y^e child be dead; or if it be turned contrary to a right Course: Also it brings forth y^e after-barthen: y^e like effect hath peneroyall as some affirm.

9 {2}Vervin Stampt & strained wi^th Wine, water or Vinegar, and then given to a Woman ya^t travels, & cannot be delivered, causeth speedy delivery. {3}Oak fern (called Polypodium) stampt & plaistered upon y^e feet of a woman in Labour, causeth y^e birth of y^e Child alive or dead. This a secret. {4}Myrrhe given to drink in warm wine, y^e quantity of a big Nut, causeth y^e deliverance of y^e Child, quick or dead. See most excellent Receipts in Culpeppers midwife. {1}For sores & aches. Ale sod till it be thick like a salve, help, all sores, & Aches applyed thereto marvellously. {2}Sugar (especially Valentia sugar) made in pouder & put into a wound or cut, doth not only cleanse all corruption, but heals etc. If yo^u will, yo^u may mix a little fresh butter therewi^th, whe^reby it will not be of y^e less virtue. This is sure & excellent. {3}Carduus benedictus stamped, & then well sodden wi^th sewet, or swines grease, wine & wheat flower, untill it be like an ointment, is excellent for sores & ulcers; yea, though y^e bones therewi^th be bare, but yo^u must anoint y^e sores twice every day, washing first y^e Corrupcion from y^e sore wi^th White-wine {4}If yo^w stamp Harisse a little, & lay it in fair spring-water for y^e space of 24 hours, & then wash any sore or scabby place therewith, it will heall it wonderfully. {5}Seeth y^e Leaves of an Oak, & y^e middle rind thereof in water, & wash y^e head that is sore or full of Pustles, therewith, & it will help it p[erfe]ctly

10 {6} This will surely heall a scald head. Take Oyl-olive & put it into a dish wi^th fair water, & beat & stir them well together, as yo^w would make butter, then take it up & put it into a vessell, & put pouder of Brimstone & May butter thereto, & make an Oyntment thereof, whe^rewi^th anoint y^e forehead, & doubtles it will heall it. {7}Take of fresh Liquor or fresh buter, bees wax & tur= -pentine a certain quantity, melt them all together {[manicule]} & use it for a salve. 'Tis good to apply to any green wound & proved. The more yo^w would have it draw, y^e more Turpentine put into it. {1}For an Ach or Stitch . Take Butter, Aqua-vitae, & beasts Gall of each a like Quantity mixt together, & an Ach or Stitch anointed therewi^th something hot, every morning & evening, for 7 or 8 days, doth perfectly help. {2} The seeds of Carduus benedictus stamped & drunk, doth help y^e pains, prickings & stitches of y^e side, & y^e gripings in y^e Guts. {3}Take brandy warm'd & bath the place therewi^th before y^e fire, then take London-brown paper & wetting it in y^e brandy, {[manicule]} apply it to y^e pained place, & let it there continue, ye bosome bound up warm, this doe as often in y^e day as yo^w can conveniently, still after bathing wetting y^e paper & applying it as before; if yo^w drink also some of brandy burn'd well it will be more effectuall; especially if yo^w are troubled wi^th gripings. Proved.

11 1 peny-worth of y^e oyl of Exeter & 2 peny-worth of y^e oyl of Dal[...] mix 'em well together, & y^e grieved place therewi^th well before a fire [pleporter]. {4}An excellent medicine for y^e Ach in y^e bones or Arms, or any other place of y^e Body. Anoint y^e grieved place wi^th good & pure Aqua Composita by y^e fire & let it drink in, do this 3 or 4 times together; then at y^e Last Time, while it is wet, cast upon it y^e pouder of Olibanum (whi^ch is y^e fairest & whitest of the ffrankincense) & so lay a Linnen Cloth upon y^e pouder, & sew it fast, & let it lye there 3 or 4 days, untill it be well, whi^ch will be by that time God willing. {5}Take of good Aqua Composita & Oyl of Roses, of each a like quantity, mix them both together, & anoint y^e grieved place therewi^th (morning & evening) untill it be well, whi^ch will be quickly, but rub y^e place wi^th warmed Clothes well before. Proved. {6}Take of Oyl-olive, Aqua vita, Oyl of Exeter, & of beasts Gall of each a like quantity, mix all together, & anoint y^e Lame member therewi^th twice every day y^e space of a fortnight, be= ing well rubbed before, & 'twill help certainly. A woman in Worcester shire helpt many therewi^th. {7}A prinicipall medicine for all bone Aches, in wha^t part soever [...]ke a penny worth of Aqua vitae & another of Oyl debay, [...] them together, & anoint y^e grieved place therewi^th hot by y^e fire & it will drive away y^e pain for ever using it often, but yo^u must warm y^e ointment a little in a sawcer first, & chafe it well untill it be dryed in, & cover it warm at all times untill it be whole. {8}Take all y^e whole horn ya^t a Buck casts off, y^e latter y^e better, cast away y^e scaupe, take nothing but the horn, cut y^e same into pieces, then seeth y^e same in a Gallon of fair