Book VIII, chapters 1–6: Physical experiments

THE EIGHTH BOOK OF Natural Magick: Of Physical Experiments.

THE PROEME.

I Intended to pass by these following Experiments in Physick, because I have everywhere mentioned them in my History of Plants; and we have not omitted any thing, that was certain and secret in them that we knew, unless i[…] be such things as could not be brought into that rank. And though other things shall be described in my Book of Distillations, yet that this place of Physick be not left empty, I changed my opinion, and have set down some of them here.

CHAP. I.

Of Medicines which cause sleep.

THat we may in order set down those Experiments, of which we intend to speak, we will begin with those Diseases which happen in the Head; and first, with Sleep: for Soporiferous Receits are very requisite to be placed amongst these Arcana, and are of very great esteem amongst Physitians, who by Sleep are wont to cheat their Patients of pain: and not of less, amongst Captains and Generals, when they practice Stratagemes upon their Enemies. Soporiferous Medicines do consist for the most part of cold and moist things. Plutarch in Simpos. saith, That Sleep is caused by cold; and therefore Dormitives have a cooling quality. We will teach, first, how

To cause Sleep with Mandrake.

Dioscorides saith, That men will presently fall asleep in the very same posture wherein they drink Mandrake, losing all their senses for three or four hours after; and that Physitians do use it, when they would burn or cut off a member. And skilful men affirm, That Mandrake growing by a Vine, will transmit its Soporiferous quality into it, so that those who drink the Wine that is made thereof, shall more easily and readily fall asleep. Here we will relate the pleasant stories of the Mandrake out of Authors of Stratagems. Junius Frontinus reports, That Hannibal being sent by the Charthagenians, against some Rebels in Africa; and knowing they were a Nation greedy of Wine, mixed a great quantity of Mandrake with his Wines; the quality of which, is between poysonous and sleepy: then beginning a light Skirmish, he retired on purpose; and in the middle of the Night, counterfeited a flight, leaving some Baggage in his Camp, and all the infected Wine. Now when those Barbarians had took his Camp, and for joy, had liberally tasted of that treacherous Wine; he returned, took and slew them all, as they lay dead as it were before. Polinaeus the same. And Caesar sailing towards Nicomedia, was taken about Malea by some Cilician Pirates: and when they demanded a great Ransome for his Liberty, he promised them double what they asked. They arrived at Miletum: the people came out of the Town to see them. Caesar sent his Servant, being a Milesian, named Epicrates, to those of the Town; desiring them to lend him some money; which they presently sent to him: Epicrates, according to Caesar's command, brought the money; and with it, a sump[…]uous, Banquet, a Water-pot full of Swords, and Wine mixed with Mandrake. Caesar paid to the Pirates the promised sum, and set the Banquet before them; who, being exalted with their great Riches, fell freely to it; and drinking the infected Wine, fell into a sleep: Caesar commanded them to be killed sleeping, and presently repaid the Milesians their own money. Demosthenes, intending to express those who are bitten as it were by a sleepy Dragon, and are slothful, and so deprived of sense that they cannot be awakened; saith: They seem like men who have drunk Mandrake. Pliny affirmeth, That smelling to the Leaves of it, provoketh sleep.

For the same, with Nightshade.

We may make the same of Nightshade, which is also called, Hypnoticon, from the effect of it: a Drachm of the Rinde, drank in Wine, causeth sleep, but gently and kindely. This later Age, seemeth to have lost the knowledge of Solanum Manicon: for in the very description of it, Dioscorides seems to be mad. But in my judgement, (as I have elsewhere said) he describes two several Plants in that place: Fuschius his Stramonium, and the Herb commonly called Bell a Donna whose qualities are wonderfully dormitive: for they infect Water, without giving it either taste or sent; so that the deceit cannot be discovered, especially, considering it must be given but in a very small quantity. I prepared a Water of it, and gave it to a Friend for certain uses; who, instead of a Drachm, drank an Ounce; and thereupon lay four days without meat or motion; so that he was thought dead by all; neither could he be awakened by any means, till at last, when the vapours were digested, he arose: although Dioscorides threatneth nothing but death from the immoderate use of it. The same may be made also

Of Poppy

In a Lohoch. Take the Heads of Poppy, and cut them cross-ways, with a tender hand, lest the knife enter too deep: let your nail direct the issuing juice into a Glass; where let it stand a while, and it will congeal. The Thebane Poppy is best. You may do the same with Nightshade, Henbane. Of all these together, you may make

A Sleeping Apple.

For it is made of Opium, Mandrake, juice of Hemlock, the Seeds of Henbane; and adding a little Musk, to gain an easier reception of the Smeller: these being made up into a ball, as big as a mans hand can hold, and often smelt to, gently close the eyes, and binde them with a deep sleep. Now shall be shown

A wonderful way to make one take a sleeping Medicine in his sleep.

Those things which we have already spoken of, are easily discovered after sleep, and bring a suspicion along with them. But ou[…] of many of the aforenamed dormitive menstrues, there may be extracted a Quintessence, which must be kept in Leaden Vessels, very closely stop'd, that it may not have the least vent, lest it should flie out. When you would use it, uncover it, and hold it to a sleeping man's Nostrils, whose breath will suck up this subtile essence, which will so besiege the Castle of his senses, that he will be overwhelmed with a most profound sleep, not to be shook of without much labour. After sleep, no heaviness will remain in his Head, nor any suspicion of Art. These things are manifest to a wise Physitian; to a wicked One, obscure.

CHAP. II.

To make a Man out of his senses for a day.

AFter these Medicines to cause sleep, we will speak of those which make me[…] mad: the business is almost the same: for the same Plants that induce sleep, if they be taken in a larger proportion, do cause madness. But we will not tell those things which breed it for ever, onely which may make us sport for a day, and afterwards leave no harm. We will begin with,

How to make men mad with Mandrake.

We have told you, That a small dose brings sleep; a little more, madness; a larger, death. Dioscorides saith, That a Drachm of Morion will make one foolish: we will easilier do it with Wine, which is thus made: Take the Roots of Mandrake, and but put them into new Wine, boyling and bubling up: cover it close; and let them infuse in a warm place for two months. When you would use it, give it to somebody to drink; and whosoever shall taste it after a deep sleep, will be distracted, and for a day shall rave: but after some sleep, will return to his senses again, without any harm: and it is very pleasant to behold. Pray make trial. We may do the same

With Stramonium, or Solanum Manicum:

The Seeds of which, being dried and macerated in Wine, the space of a night, and a Drachm of it drank in a Glass of Wine, (but rightly given, lest it hurt the m[…]n) after a few hours will make one made, and present strange visions, both pleasant and horrible; and of all other sorts: as the power of the potion, so doth the madness also cease, after some sleep, without any harm, as we said, if it were rightly administred. We may also infect any kinde of meat with it, by strowing thereon: three fingers full of the Root reduced into powder, it causeth a pleasant kinde of madness for a day; but the poysonous quality is allayed by sleep, or by washing the Temples and Pulses with Vinegar, or juice of Lemmon. We may also do the same with another kinde of Solanum, called

Bella Donna.

A Drachm of the Root of which, amongst other properties, hath this; that it will make men mad without any hurt: so that it is a most pleasant spectacle to behold such mad whimsies and visions; which also is cured by sleep: but sometimes they refuse to eat. Nevertheless, we give this praecaution, That all those Roots or Seeds which cause the Takers of them to see delightful visions, if their Dose be increased, will continue this alienation of minde for three days: but if it be quadrupled, it brings death. Wherefore we must proceed cautiously with them. I had a Friend, who, as oft as he pleased, knew how

To make a man believe he was changed

into a Bird or Beast; and cause madness at his pleasure. For by drinking a certain Potion, the man would seem sometimes to be changed into a Fish; and flinging out his arms, would swim on the Ground: sometimes he would seem to skip up, and then to dive down again. Another would believe himself turned into a Goose, and would eat Grass, and beat the Ground with his Teeth, like a Goose: now and then sing, 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 essences by their Menstruum, and mix'd some of their Brain, Heart, Limbs, and other parts with them. I remember when I was a young man, I tried these things on my Chamber-Fellows: and their madness still fixed upon something they had eaten, and their fancy worked according to the quality of their meat. One, who had fed lustily upon Beef, saw nothing but the formes of Bulls in his imagination, and them running at him with their horns; and such-like things. Another man also by drinking a Po[…]ion, flung himself upon the earth, and like one ready to be drowned, struck forth his legs and arms, endeavouring as it were to swim for life: but when the strength of the Medicament began to decay, like a Shipwrack'd person, who had escaped out of the Sea, he wrung his Hair and his Clothes to strain the Water out of them; and drew his breath, as though he took such pains to escape the danger. These, and many other most pleasant things, the curious Enquirer may finde out: it is enough for me only to have hinted at the manner of doing them.

CHAP. III.

To cause several kindes of dreams.

NOw we will endeavour to shew how to cause pleasant, sad, or true dreams. But that we may more certainly effect it, it will be good first to know the causes. The meat in concoction must be corrupted, (this must be taken for granted) and turned into vapors; which, being hot and light, will naturally ascend, and creep through the Veins into the Brain; which being always cold, condenseth them into moisture, as we see Clouds generated in the greater World: so by an inward reciprocation, they fall down again upon the Heart, the principal seat of the senses. In the mean while, the Head grows full and heavy, and is overwhelmed in a deep sleep. Whence it comes to pass, that the species descending, meet and mix with other vapors, which make them appear preposterous and monstrous; especially, 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 unmixed, and pleasant visions appear. Wherefore I thought it not irrational, when a man is overwhelmed with drink, that vapors should arise participating, as well of the Nature of what he hath drank or eat, as of the humours which abound in his body, that in his sleep he should rejoyce or be much troubled: that fires and darkness, hail and putrefactions, should proceed from Choler, Melancholy, co[…]d and pu[…]rid humors. So to dream of killing any one, or being besmeared with Blood, shews an abundance of Blood: and Hippocrates and Galen say, We may judge a man to be of a sanguine Complexion by it. Hence those who eat windy meats, by reason thereof, have rough and monstrous dreams: meats of thin and small vapours, exhilarate the minde with pleasant phantasms. So also the outward application of simples, doth infect the species while they are a going to the Heart. For the Arteries of the body, saith Galen, while they are dilated, do attract into themselves any thing that is next them. It will much help too, to anoynt the Liver: for the Blood passeth upward out of the Stomack by evaporation, and runneth to the Liver; from the Liver to the Heart. Thus the circulating vapors are infected, and represent species of the same colour. That we may not please the Sleepers onely, but also the Waking, behold

A way to cause merry dreams.

When you go to bed, to eat Balm, and you cannot desire more pleasant sights then will appear to you; Fields, Gardens, Trees, Flowers, Meadows, and all the Ground of a pleasant Green, and covered with shady Bowers: wheresoever you cast your eyes, the whole World will appear pleasant and Green. Bugloss will do the same, and Bows of Poplar; so also Oyl of Poplar. But

To make dark and troublesome dreams,

we eat Beans; and therefore they are abhorred by the Pythagoreans, because they cause such dream. Phaseoli, or French Beans, cause the same: Lentiles, Onyons, Garlick, Leeks, VVeedbine, Dorycnium, Picnocomum, new red VVine; these infuse dreames, wherein the phantasms are broken, crooked, angry, troubled: the person dreaming will seem to be carried in the Air, and to see the Rivers and Sea flow under him: he shall dream of misfortunes, falling, death, cruel tempests, showers of Rain, and cloudy dayes; the Sun darkned, and the Heavens frowning, and nothing but fearful apparitions. So by anointing the aforesaid places with Soo[…], or any adust matter, and Oyl, (which I add onely to make the other enter the easier into the parts) fires, lightnings, flashings, and all things will appear in darkness. These are sufficient: for I have already shewed in my Book Phytognom, how to procure true dreams.

CHAP. IV.

Excellent Remedies for the Eyes.

HEretofore, being much troubled with sore Eyes, and become almost blinde; when I was given over by Physitians of best account, a certain Empyrick undertook me; who, putting this VVater into my Eye, cured me the very same day: I might almost say, The same hour. By Gifts, Entreaties, Cunning and Money, I gained the Secret, which I will not think much to set down, that every one may use it at their pleasure. It is good for Inflammations, Blearness, Mists, Fistula's, and such-like; and cureth them certainly the second day; if not the first. If I should set down all those whom I have cured by it, I should be too tedious. Take two Bottles of Greek-VVine, half a Pint of White-Rose-Water; of Celendine, two Ounces; of Fennel, Rue, Eye-bright, as much; of Tutty, half an Ounce; of Cloves as much; Sugar-Candy of Roses, one Drachm; Camphire, half a Drachm; and as much Aloes. Tutty is prepared after this manner: Let it be heat and extinguished six times in Rose-water, mixed with Greek-Wine; but let the water at last be left out: powder what are to be powdered finely; and mix them with the waters. Aloes is incorporated with waters thus: because it will not be powered, let it be put into a Mor[…]ar with a little of the forementioned waters, and beat together until it turn to water, and swim about in ropings, and mix with the waters: then put it to the rest. Set them all in a Glass-Bottle, close covered, and waxed up that it do not exhale abroad in the Sun and Dew for forty dayes, still shaking them four times in a day: at last, when it is well sunned, set it up and reserve it for your use. It must be applied thus

In Inflammations, Blood-shots and Fistula'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 shut his Eye-lids, that the water may run through all the cavities of his Eve. Do this twice or thrice in a day, and he shall be cured. But thus it must be used for

A Pearl in the Eye.

If the Pearl be above or beneath the Cornea, make a Powder of Sugar-Candy of Roses, burnt Allome, and the Bone of a Cuttle-Fish, very finely beat and searched exactly; and when the Patient goeth to Bed, sprinkle a little of this Powder upon his eye, and by and by drop some of this water into it, and let him shut his Eyes and sleep: for he will quickly be cured.

CHAP. V.

To fasten the Teeth.

I Could finde not any thing in all this Physical Tract of greater value then this Remedy for the Teeth: for the water gets in through the Gumms, even to the very Nerves of the Teeth, and strengthens and fasteneth them: yea, if they are eaten away, it filleth them with Flesh, and new cloaths them. Moreover, it maketh them clean, and white, and shining like Pearls. I know a man, who by this onely Receit, gained great Riches. Take therefore three handfuls of Sage, Ne[…]tles, Rosemary, Mallows, and the rinde of the Roots of Wall-nut; wash them well, and beat them: also, as much of the Flowers of Sage, Rosemary, Olive and Plantaine Leaves; two handfuls of Hypocistis, Horehound, and the tops of Bramble; one pound of the Flower of Mirtle; half a pound of the Seed; two handfuls of Rose-Buds, with their Stalks; two drachms of Saunders, Coriander prepared, and Citron-Pill: three drachms of Cinnamon in powder; ten of Cypress Nuts; five green Pine-Apples; two drachms of Bole-Armenick and Mastick. Powder them all, and infuse them in sharp black Wine, and let them macerate three dayes: then, slightly pressing the Wine out, put them into an Alembick, and still them with a gentle fire: then boyl the distilled water, with two ounces of Allome till it be dissolved, in a V[…]ssel close stopt. When you would use it, suck up some of the water, and stir it up and down your mouth until it turn to Forth: then spit it out, and rub your Teeth with a Linen-cloth. It will perform what I have promised: for it fasteneth the Teeth, and restoreth the Gums that are eroded. Now we will deliver other Experiments

To fasten the Teeth.

Macerate the Leaves of Mastick, Rosemary, Sage, and Bramble; in Greek-Wine: then distil it with a gentle fire through a Retort: take a mouthful of this, and stir about, till it turn to Spittle; it fasteneth the Teeth, maketh them white, and restoreth the Gums. The Root of Pellitory bruised, and put into the Teeth, takes away the pain: so doth the Root of Henbane. For the bleeding of the Teeth, I have often made trial of Purslaine, so much commended.

For the swelling of the Gums,

beat the Roots and Leaves of Plantaine, and lay them to the swelling when you go to bed; and in the morning you shall finde your Gums well.

CHAP. VI.

For other infirmities of Mans Body.

I Will heap together in this Chapter, some Remedies not to be passed over, which I know to be certain, by continual Experience made; and although some of them are common, yet are they true. And first,

For the Head-ach,

There is a certain Essence, of the colour of Blood, extracted out of Roses, of a wonderful sweetness and great strength. Wet a cloth in this Liquor, and lay it to your Fore-head and Temples; and if sometimes it doth not quite take away a pain of long continuance, yet it will mollifie it. If the cloth be dried before your pain cease, wet it again. I have often known the Ophites, or Serpentine Marble applied to the Head, both to take away, and mollifie the pain. The Vertigo, I have seen it cured also, by applying the Hoof of an Elk, and by a Ring of it worn on the Finger.

Against the chopping of the Lips

the Seeds of Henbane are good: for being cast upon live Coles, if you receive the rising vapor through a Paper-Tunnel, upon the chopping of your Lips, as hot as you can endure, it appeaseth the swelling presently, and healeth the Clefts, that they will never more trouble you.

Against the clefts of the Fingers.

It is a most admirable Experiment, which I learned of Paracelsus; but have often practiced it my self: for it taketh away the swelling and pain, and cureth the Nail. Take a Worm, which creepeth out of the Earth; especially, in moyst Grounds: for if you search and dig there, you may easily […] them, winde him, being alive, about your Finger, and there hold him […] be dead, which will be within an hour. The pain will presently cease, the matter dry away, and in a short time be cured: Indeed I do not know a more admirable Remedy.

For a Pleurisie.

I found ou[…] a most powerful Remedy made of the Flowers of wilde Poppy. Gather them in the Month of May, before the rising of the Sun, and their opening: for, being thin Leaves, they are easily dried with a little heat, and shed: dry them in the shade, and lay them up for your use. Or else, still the Flowers, and keep the water. If any one taketh a drachm of the powder in Wine, and some of the water; or in the water alone: or shall apply a Plaister of the Powder to the place, the pain will presently cease, to the admiration of the Beholders. Missleto of the Oak infused in Wine, and drunk, doth the same. There is a Stone also brought out of the West-Indies, called in Spanish, Della Hijada; much like an Emerald: which being worn in Silver, upon the Arm, is accounted a preservative against this Disease.

Against the Colick

Civet is most excellent in this Disease: for the quantity of a Pease, applied to the Navil, and a hot Loaf out of the Oven clapt over it, presently easeth the pain: the Patient must ly on his Belly upon the Bread before it be cold.

Against Crab lice.

The Dust which falls from the Curry-Combs, while the Ostler dresseth Horses, or such kinde of Beasts, cureth them without any pain. Or the Powder of Lithargy, Aloes, Frankincense, Verdegreese, and Alome, beaten and mixed together with Oyl of Mastick, and anoynt the place. The Powder of Mercury praecipitate, is best by far, being applied.

To bring away the Stone,

Take Saxifrage, Maiden-hair, Pellitory of the wall, Parsely, Pimpernel and Ceterach; distil them in Balneo Mariae, and let the Patient drink of it every other day: for it corrodes and eats away the Stone, though never so great; and by daily experience, you will see in his Urine, Gravel and Fragments of the Stone voided out. Moreover, the Fruit and Leaves of the Mulberry gathered before Sun-rising, and distilled or dried in the shade, if it be drank in Wine, or a proper water, early in the morning, doth wonderfully remove the Stone. Mushromes growing on a Rock, reduced into Powder, or dried in the shade, or a warm Oven, and drank with Wine in a morning, is very Soveraign against the Stone. If the Kernels of a Peach-Stone be bruised, and macerated two dayes in the distilled water of Bean-Cods, and then distilled again, and drunk, bring down the Stone. The Hedge-Sparrow, which Aetius mentioneth, I know to be good against the Stone in the Kidney or Bladder. It is the least of all Birds, liveth in Hedges, carrieth his Tail upright; on the top of his Wings, there are some streaks of Ash-colour; of a short flight; and lastly, much like a Wren. He hath a vertue against the Stone beyond all the rest, eaten either raw or boyled, or dried or salted, or taken any way; also reduced into Powder, being made up close in a Pot covered and clayed up, that the vertue may not expire; and so set over the fire. I have also tried a water against this Disease, running out of a certain Vein, described by Vitruvius: which when I had diligently sought after, and found out, made me exceedingly rejoyce. The words of Vitruvius are these: There are also some Veins of acide Springs, as at Lyncestum; and in Italy, at Theano in fertile Campania; and many other places: which being drunk, have a vertue to dissolve Stones which breed in the Bladders of men. And this seems to be naturally done, because there lieth a sharp and acide juice under the Earth, through which, these Veins passing, receive a tincture of sharpness; and so, when they come into the Bodies of Men, they dissolve whatever they finde there congealed or setled. But wherefore acide things should dissolve them, we may thus guess the Reason: An Egg laid in any Vinegar some time, will wax soft, and his shell will dissolve. Also Lead, which is the toughest and heaviest, if it be laid in a Vessel of Vinegar, and closed up, will dissolve, and become Ceruss. By the same means, Copper, which is of a more solid Nature, if it be ordered as the former, will melt, and become Verdegreese. Likewise Pearl, as hard as Flint, which neither iron or fire can dissolve of themselves, when they are heat by the fire, and then sprinkled with Vinegar, break and dissolve. Therefore, when we see these things done before our eyes, we may infer by the same Reasons, that the Stone may naturally be dissolved by acide things, through the sharpness of their juice. Thus far Vitruvius. The place where the Vein is now to be found, is called commonly Francolise, about a mile from Theano, and runneth along the way toward[…] Rome.

To strengthen the Stomach.

We will not omit a wonderful Oyl, which helpeth concoction, and taketh away the inclinations to vomit: it is thus made: Pour half a Pint of the best Oyl into a brass Pot, tinned within, and of a wide mouth: then take fifteen pound of Romane-Mint, and beat it in a Marble-Morter, with a VVooden-Pestle, until it come to the form of an Oyntment; add as much more Mint and VVormwood, and put them into the O[…]l: mingle them, and stir them well: but cover the Pot lest any durt should fall in; and let them stand three dayes, and infuse: then set them on a gentle fire, and boyl them five hours for fifteen dayes together, until the Oyl have extracted all the vertue of the infused Herbs: then strain them through a Linen-cloth in a press, or with your hands, till the Oyl be run cleer out: then take new Herbs, beat them, and put them into the strained Oyl; boyl it again, and strain it again: do the same the third time; and as often as you renew it, observe the same course until the Oyl have contracted a green colour: but you must separate the juice from the Oyl very carefully; for if the least drop do remain in it, the Oyl will have but small operation, and the whole intent is lost. A certain sign of perfect decoction, and of the juice being consumed, will be, if a drop of it, being cast upon a plate of iron red-hot, do not hiss. At last, Take a pound of Cinnamon, half a pound of Nutmegs, as much Mastick and Spikenard, and a third part of Cloves: poun them severally, and being well seirced, put them into the Oyl, and mix them with a VVooden-stick. Then pour it all into an Earthen Vessel glazed within, with a long Neck, that it may easily be shut, and stoot close; but let it be of so great a capacity, that the third part of it may remain empty. Let it stand fifteen days in the Sun, alwayes moving, and shaking it three or four times in a day. So set it up for your use.