Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/100

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72
MEDICAL RECIPES OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

are sage, rue, elder leaves, red bramble leaves, white wine and ginger. "So drink of it evening and morning 9 dayes together: the first spoonfull will by Gods grace preserve safe for 24 dayes, and after ye ninth spoonfull for one whole yeare."

Another "safe medicine" is as follows:—"Take a locke of yr Owne hair, cutt it as small as may bee, and so take it in beere or wine."

The next is not so appetising: "For a dull hearing. Take a grey snaile, prick him, and putt ye water wch comes from him into ye eare and stop it with black wool, it will cure."

"To cure the biting or stinging of a Snake as it hath been often tryed"

"Take ye leaves of a Burr-dock, stamp and straine ym and so drink a good quantity, halfe a pint at ye least, ye simple juice itselfe is best."

Here is another antidote to the plague:—"Take a Cock chicken and pull off ye feathers from ye Tayle till ye rump bee bare, yn hold ye bare of ye same upon ye sore, and ye chicken will gape and labor for life, and in ye end will dye, then take another and do ye like, and so another still as they dye, till one lives, for then ye venome is drawne out. The last chicken will live and ye patient will mend very speedily."

"A most pretious Water of Wallnutts"

Cures many ailments. Among the rest: "One drop in ye Eyes healeth all infirmityes, it healeth palsyes, it causeth sleep in ye night. If it be used moderately with wine, it preserveth life so long as nature will permitt.'

"For Sciatica."

The principal ingredient is "the marrow of a Horse (kill'd by chance, not dying of any disease) mixed with some rose water. * * * Chafe it in with a warme hand for a quarter of an houre, then putt on a Scarlett cloth, Broad enough to cover ye part affected and go into a warme Bed. It cured my Aunt Lakes, who went yearly to the Bath for ye Sciatica, but never went after she knew and used this medicine."