This is Excerpt from the book "Approoved medicines and cordiall receiptes with the natures, qualities, and operations of sundry samples. Very commodious and expedient for all that are studious of such knowledge.". The section is about MEDICINES Of Metalles.
ANTIMO∣ny is colde and dry in the second degree, founde in the Mynes of Syluer: if it be burned it sauoreth lyke Brimstone: that is most chiefe that is bryghtest: Besides the vertue and power of during, which is com∣mon to all metalles, it is astringent 〈◊〉〈◊〉 byn∣ding: Wherefore it is mixed with m••••l〈…〉〈…〉 for the eyes: it doth refrigerate, and prohi∣bite the increase of superfluous fl••she: it ••••opeth the Fluxe of bloude that commeth
from the raynes, and paniculs that couer ye brayne: that parte that is burned shall not blister, if it be anoynted with Antimony, & with freashe grease: and in case it be bliste∣red, and haue gathered a skurfe, yet if it be anoynted wyth Antimony, Waxe, and Ce∣russe, it will shortly be cicatrized, & briefly, it is of the vertue that lead burned is.
WHite leade is colde & dry in the ij∣degree: taken inwards it is poy∣son it is made of Leade dissolued in vyneger: it is colde & dry clea∣uing or abstrictiue of the poares: it repres∣seth superfluous fleshe, & mixed wyth oynt∣mentes and playsters that bee lenityue, i〈…〉〈…〉 doth cicatrize: if it bee burned it is called Sandix, of the olde Authors cōmonly Mi∣nium or redde Leade, and is of more sub∣till substaunce than Cerusse is: howvei•• there is a kinde of Minium that is natural•• and not made by Acte.
GIpsum is colde, dry, and bynding: with the white of Egges, and Myll dust it ••asicheth bloud: when it is burned it is not so cleaning or stoping of the poares of the ••ody: but it is dryer, and of more subtility of substaunce, and repercussyue, specially wyth water and vyneger.
YEllowe Orpment is hoat and dry in the third degree, and doth putrify the mem∣ber bothe burned and vnburned, but the burned is of more subtill substaunce: it is ••sed to take away hayre: if it remayne long to the parte it doth burne the Skynne, ••••d is not to bee taken inwardes. That which nowe commonly is called Realgar is of the kynde of Auripigmentum, & found with it in the same Myne, but it is not so perfect. Also Arsenike which is whyte, is Judged to be of lyke kynde and vertue.
THis is of the same power, & vertue that the other Auripmentum is.
VErdegresse is hoat and dry in the fourth degree: it resolueth, and cōsumeth dead fleshe: mixed wyth Oyle and waxe, it doth onely mundify, and that without any great sharpnesse or taste.
COpper or brasse burned is very hoat, & sharpe: howebeit, it hath mixed a certen bynding or stiptikenesse: if it bee washed it is speciall to cicatrize soares and vlcers in tender fleshe: vnwashed also it doth ye same in hard fleshe.
THis is subtiller than is vstum or Squa∣ma Aeris: it is a••stersiue, and vsed to consume & mundifie, specially in a certaine
disease of the eye Lyddes which is called Sycosis.
THe batteringes both of brasse and Iron doe dry strongly: but they differ in that the battring of Brasse is more subtill: the battring of Iron is bynding, and therefore it is meetest to heale corrupte vlcers and soares, more than the battring of Brasse: but the battering of Brasse doth more con∣sume and waste the fleshe: both kyndes bee sharpe and byting.
COpperesse is hoate and dry in ye fourth degree, and with al hath a certaine bin∣ding and strictiuenesse, by reason of yt heat: it is a Corrosiue, and consumeth fleshe: by reason of the byndinge it both compact and strengthen the substance of the part where vnto it is put: the weight of a dramme of it
taken inwardes, killeth the wormes after Dioscorides.
THis is very hoat and sharpe, and also a∣stringent: it doth burne the fleshe, and gathereth ouer it a skurse: it is vsed in me∣dicines for the eyes: if it be burned it is of lesse sharpnes, & in substaunce more subtill.
OF this there is both naturall, and arti∣ficiall: it is temperate in heat & colde, & abstersiue without sharpnesse or byting: it is good for vlcerations in the eyes, and for all moyst soares and vlcers that bee in ten∣der bodyes, as Women and Chyldren: for hard and dry bodies, it is of lyke efficacy.
TUtty is colde in the first degree, and dry in the second: washed it doth dry with∣out
payne or smarte, and therefore it is vsen agaynst cankers and like malitious soares: it is good for rhewmatike eyes, and for all blisters and vlcerations in them, and also for soares, and vlcers in the fundament and secret members.
SPodium, after the description of ye greeke Authors, is of the substaunce of mettals, and is good for vlcers, & is much of the same vertue that Pompholix is: but Spodium that Auicen describeth, is made of ye rootes of Canes or Reedes burned: it is comforta∣tiue of the hearte, as be wryteth, and slip∣tike: but Spodium that wee nowe vse, is burned Juory, and taken to be of the same vertue: for Juory of it selfe vnburned is strictyue and byndiuge.
LYtharge is colde & dry made of dyuers Substaunces, for there is of it of the
colour of Golde, and of the colour of siluer: it is temperate in heate and cold restrictive and abstersiue: it drieth and healeth, and is a meant betwixte all other medicines of that Nature.
LEade is colde and moyst, and specially i•• it be washed: it is good agaynst ••oat in∣flamations, and vlcers of the fundament, & secret members: heaten as a thinne Plate it is good for the hoate barke, and for them that shed seede or nature in dreames.
BUrned leade washed, is colde: vnwashed, it bath a certayne heate and sharpnesse mixed, & remayning in it: it is good against malitions soares and vlcers: if it be washed it increaseth fleshe, and doth heale.
OF this there is naturall, and artificial: the natural is found in a certaine vaine,
contayning in it siluer and leade: the artifi∣〈…〉〈…〉 is made in the fyning of Golde and sil∣uer: it is somethinge colde: it increaseth fleshe, and doth heale vlcers and soares.
THe dregges of metalls doe dry, but the dregges of Iron most, which whē they be powdered finely, and mixed wyth vyne∣ger, doe heale mattering eares. The dregs of leade are of the same vertue, that bur∣ned lead is. The dregges of siluer are mix∣ed with playsters that doe dry.
IRon is colde and dry: fiered and extincte in water, it leaueth a certayne drying in it, which if it be drunk, healpeth them that be splenetike: if it be extincte in wyne, it is good for fluxes, and all weakenesse that cō∣eth by choler to the Stomacke.
BRimstone vntryed is best: it is hoat 〈…〉〈…〉 thirde degree: it is attractiue, and sub∣till: so that it is good agaynst the stingig of venemous beastes: wych turpentyne 〈…〉〈…〉 healeth Scabbes, Leaprosies of the Skin, ••etters, Ringwormes: it is good for the roughe, voth taken inwardes with a rer〈…〉〈…〉 Egge, and also the fumigation of it: also i•• is good for the shortnesse of wynde, and for them that wych coughtug voyde the matter and corruption from the lounges.
CInopar is hoat and sharpe, with a cer¦tayne astringency, and bynding: it help¦eth bloud, and aswageth burnings and bli¦sters, mixed with waxe.
OF this there is both Natural, & Artifi¦ciall: both kyndes consume the fleshe▪
it is a medicine both alone, and also with o∣ther lyke thinges, for malicious vlcers, and soares.
GOlde is temperate of complection, and amonge all medicins of metalls, is most commended to cauterize with, for the cau∣terizacion of it is soonest healed: the sub∣staunce of it reduced to powder, comfort∣eth the heart, and putteth away melācholy fantasies: this is the iudgement of the A∣rebikes onely: but the great Authors make no mention thereof.
OF Alume there be three kynde, in espe∣ciall Alumen Liquidum, which is our Alume Plume, or Iching powder. The iij. is Alumen Rotundum, not well knowne in this our time: all kyndes be bynding, and of grosse substaunce: the subtillest is Aiu∣lumen Plumeum, ye secōd Alumen Rotun∣dum, grossest of all is Alumen Liquidum: all kindes be hoat & dry in the third degree, bynding, & abstersiue, clense ye sight, cōlume
superfluous flesh in ye Eye liddes: all kinds be burned, and doe stay putrified vlcers: stop bloude, dry the gūmes that be moyste: wyth Hunny and vyneger stay and fasteu ye teeth that be loose, and are good agaynst vlcerations.
Vnsleaked Lyme, is hoate and dry in the third degree, and doth burne so strong∣ly, that it doth make a skurfe. Lyme that is fleaked doth also gather a skurfe: but by ly∣tle, & after a day or two: it burneth lesse thā the other: if it bee washed it putteth away his heat into the water, which is called Li〈…〉〈…〉 and the oftner it is washed, the lesse it doth smarte or byte, for so it dryeth gently with∣out any paynes or smarting.
THe strength of Lye is after the nature and power of the Ashes whereof it is made: for some is sharper than other some it is corrosiue, and ••oth putrifie & burne.
THe Ashes of the vyne, is causticke: and with Oyle and grease it is good against the brousing of sinowes, and the fractures of the Joyntes: it consumeth superfluous fleshe she, & is good agaynst the byting or sting∣ing of venemous Serpentes, and madde Dogges.
ALl Earth doth dry, & if it be pure wyth∣out any straūge qualties, it dryeth gēt∣〈…〉〈…〉y: if there be in it any fiery or sharp quali∣ty, washinge taketh it away: earth burned is of more subtilty than earth vnburned, & sharper: if the sharpnes be put away with washing, it doth dry wt more efficacy soares and vlcers that be hard.
TErra sigillata is colde, and dry: dissol∣ued in vyneger it healeth corrupt, and
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malicious soares: dissolued in wine it heal¦eth wounds: 〈…〉〈…〉peth the spitting of bloud is good agaynst poyson: infuled in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with the Juyce of plantayne, it heaieth v••∣cerations of the Bowells or guttes: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 haue little or none of this, but such as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 counterfayte.
BOlearmoniake is colde in the firste, a〈…〉〈…〉 dry in the second degree: it drieth m〈…〉〈…〉 so that it is good for vicerations of ye mou〈…〉〈…〉 all rhewmes of the stomacke & breast: sp〈…〉〈…〉¦ing of bloude, and also the vlcerations of Loonges: and agaynst all soares and v〈…〉〈…〉¦rations that neede drying: it is also sp〈…〉〈…〉¦all for the Pestilence.
THese three M••neralls be founde in o〈…〉〈…〉 Myne in the Isle of Cyprus, in th〈…〉〈…〉 vaines: the lowest is Sory, the seconde Chalcitis, the hyghest is Mysy, and they iudged to be of one vertue, but that Mysy
more subtill than the other two: Sory is the grosest of ye three: Chalcitis of a meane nature betwixt both: when they be burned, they be made more subtle, and lesse binding: they bee so hoate and sharpe, that they con∣sume the fleshe, and be causticke: they bee vsed in me••ycines for the Eyes: the one of them doth alter and chaunge in processe of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the other, as Sory into Chalcitis, and Chalcitis into Mysy. Mysy is of the co∣lour of golde, Chalcitis is of brasse, & So∣ry is blacke.
THere is salte digged but of the earth, & also salte that is made of the salt water: all kyndes of salt be abstersiue, and stiptike or bynding, but some more, some lesse, after the diuersity of the Groundes and Earthe where they be made. Salte is hoate & dry in the seconde degree, it doth consume all indystures, and condensate, and gather to∣gether the substaunce that doth remeyne, whereby the bodyes be preserued from pu∣trifactiō.
Sal Armoniake among all salts that be mineralles is chiefest, and doth con∣sume superfluous humors in the eyeliddes, whereby the hayres in them doe prosper & increase: all salte doth represse & extenuate superfluous fleshe, & is vsed in Glysters & in bagges or sackes to cease paints. & consume colde swellings, as in Dropsies: with oyle and vyneger also cureth the Itch of the bo∣dy: and is also good in playsters agaynst ye stinging or byting of venemous Beastes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and doth preserue frō the gout. Salte bur∣ned is more subtill, and resolutiue, & of iess•• bynding or restrictyuenesse, than salte vn∣burned. Sal gemmae is of ye nature of salte and moreouer purgeth Fleagme, and Ch〈…〉〈…〉¦ler: and helpeth medicines laxtiue in th〈…〉〈…〉 operations.
BOth Nitrum, & Aphronitrum haue t•• power and vertue of Salte: they be a〈…〉〈…〉 stersiue, and mundificatiue. Aphronitru•• is more subtill, and resolutyue. Nitru••
burned doth dry, and resolue: taken into the body it is inscissiue and extenuatyue of grosse humors, much more thāsalt. Aphro∣nitrum is not taken inwardely, without great necessity, for that it is euil for the sto∣macke: howbeit, it is good agaynst ye poy∣son of Musheromes, and so is Nitrum, both burned, and vnburned.
WYne Ieyes doth dry, and resolue: it is bynding and restrictiue, ac∣cording to the nature of ye wyne whereof it is: It doth resolue swellinges, and dryeth Mylke put to the breast: burned it is causticke: wyth Rosen it taketh away Leaprosies, and maketh the bayre yellowe: washed it is abstersiue, and is vsed wyth medycines for the Eyes: it is also vsed of certayne Physitions to bee ta∣ken inwardes, to laxe the belly: the leyes of vyneger is more bynding.
THe bloud stone doth dry, and is stipticke. and restrictiue: it healeth the roughnes and asperity of the Eye liddes, if they be in∣flamed, mixed wyth the whyte of Egges: without inflamations mixed inflamations, mixed wyth water: drunke, it helpeth the coughing of bloud. It healeth also vlcers, and soares: and the powder represseth su∣perfluous and proude fleshe.
THis stone draweth Iron to it, and is o〈…〉〈…〉 the vertue and power, that the bloud〈…〉〈…〉 stone is.
THe greene Jasper, both borne at the st〈…〉〈…〉 macke and in the ringeworme, comfor∣teth the mouth of ye stomack: also knit to th〈…〉〈…〉 Thyghe of a Woman in labour of Child〈…〉〈…〉 doth Accelerate the byrth.
THis stone grounde to powder, & drunke wyth Water, breaketh the stone in the Kidneis: and after Dioscorides, the stone in the bladder.
THis stone is resolutiue of swellinges of grosse matter, and bloud gathered and congealed within the fleshe: there are of thys diuers kindes: for Aetius sayeth thys stone is lyke to siluer: Dioscorides like to Cop••er, or Brasse, which burned is vsed to clense the sight, yt is offended by any grosse humors.
THis stone is blacke, and cast into ye fire, sauoreth like to Aspaltum: it is resolu∣tyue, and consumeth olde swellinges in the knees: the fume of it reuoketh women out of their passions called the mother, and the felling sicknes: it is written that there is great store of this kynde in Englande.
THe Pumishe stone is abstersiue, & scour∣eth the Teethe: vurned & washed it doth incarnate hollowe and deepe vlcers.
THe Stones that hee found in Sponges bee abstersiue, and breake the Stone in the Kydneies.
THis stone bound to ye Arme of her that is with Childe, doth stay all vntymely byrthes: in the tyme of the byrthe & labour bounde to the Leage, it bryngeth forthe the chylde wythout payne.
THis stone is sharpe, abstersiue, and re∣solutiue, more than Cinaberss is: and is also stipticke or byndinge: it consumeth fleshe & is causticke or burning.
THis stone is of the same vertue yt Cbri∣socolla is, and increaseth hayres in the Eye lidnes: taken inwardes, it laxeth the belly, and purgeth melancholy.
THe Saphire beatē to pouder & drunke wt mylke, bealeth all inward vlcerations, and in like case with mylke anoynted to the vtter partes. The powder of it layed vpon cuts and choppes of the tounge, bealeth ye same: also drunke it healpeth them that be bitte with Scorpions.
THe Emeraulde burned, and beaten to Powder, helpeth the dimnesse of ye sight. Anoynted wyth water, and wyth gumme Arabicke, it belpeth the Leaper: & drunke with water, it bringeth forth the same Di∣sease agayne. Borne vpon ye body, it stayeth bloud from what parte soeuer it cometh.
THese precious stones of the Arabikes, & of late practicioners in phisicke, are e∣steemed & vsed for thinges of great pryce & vertue, to comfort the bearte. The Greeke Authors make no mention of them for ye purpose.
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The Golden Tract Concerning The Stone of the Philosophers
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