George Starkeys PILL VINDICATED From the unlearned Alchymist and all other pretenders, With a brief account of other excellent specifick Remedies of Extraordinary virtue, for the honour and vindication of pyrotechny.
THat the •ill of Mr. Richard Matthews, was in truth mine, and that he had the receipt from me, as it is really so, and known to very many, so it is acknowledged by Mr Andrews, Mr Kendall, and others, as in the Appen∣dix to the unlearned Alchymist may be seen, to which I also added an Epistle, owning, and avowing the same.
The universality of it, was but a mistake in the unlearned Alchy∣••••; rather a shift he was driven to, for the secret being rather a Mystery of preparation, then a bare receit, was looked on by me as a store-house or Common place from which various compositions might flow, for the Corrector (as Mr. Matthews calls it) is a means by which all vegetall malignity is totally extinguished, and is a true natural means to prepare vegetable concretes by, which being made of salts alcaliz••e and oyls essential united, might be advanced with oyl of Cynamon, Mace, Cloves &c. or any other sort at pleasure, and might be farther enriched with any spirit or tincture made by spirits, besides the alterations to be made by various concretes, in which (as need requires) the latitude of that Pill extends it self to all the Herbs, Seeds, Roots, Gums, Flowers, &c. in the world, as also to all oyls, and salts (volatile and fixed) of Herbs all spirits, and tin∣ctures also may be made use of, in their time, and place, to alter and vary this preparation as occasion required.
Now Mr. Matthews being no schollar, nor daring to profess gi∣ving advice as a Physician, was necessitated to take this course, to pitch upon one more general composition whose latitude of virtue was larger then other specifications are, where Opium is either wholy lest out, or added in small quantity, and cry it up for universal, least
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if he should have given expectation of any variation of the Pill, as need required, he should be compelled to use judgement, in advising when and where, and how to make his alterations, which being a task beyond his abilities, he avoided by commending the Pill beyond its proper limits, a profitable, but disingenuous trick.
He that hath read or shall read my Books sent out, to wit Natures Explication and Helmonts Vindication, and Pyrotechny asserted, shall finde the ground of these and far nobler preparations; and that these Pills, and su•h other specifick remedies, are onely succed••eous to greater secrets yet sufficient for the full cure of many diseases, which need no other, and where the effect may be attained by an inferiour, what need a more rare and secret remedy be sought? I shall therefore say no more by preamble, but come to the business intended, and shall give the virtues and manner of use of several medicines made, and publickly exposed to sale by me. And first,
My Diaphoretick Diuretick and Anodynous Elixir.
Its opperation is by sweat, and urine, asswaging pains or any ordi∣nary violent disturbance in the body, it pacifies the Archeus, and by a resolutive faculty opens obstructions very powerfully and pleasant∣ly, it is a medicine deserves great commendation, and hath been (in Mr. Matthews his name) very famous all England over, and in neighbouring Countreys.
This of mine exceeds his beyond comparison, as I shall appeal to any mans experience, For his was my way used in my younger years, from 1651 till 1655. when I communicated it to him, since when I have so far exceeded my preparations therein, that it is below me to make them as formerly, and those that deal with me will not buy them, besides he did not come up to the height of that preparation as I taught him, as Mr. Kendal and others, whom I taught the same process, know who make that common preparation far better then Mr. Matthews, for his Pill wanting the closing part of an Artist, is fain to begiven with Cautions of lying so many hours, to wit four∣teen at least; and yet it makes giddy, suspends the urine, and causeth great drought, and burning heats, with costiveness, the symptomes of a defect in the opperation, which I would not after teach Master Matthews to mend because he had dealt ill by me, but Mr. Kendal Mris. Marden, and Mr. Luddinton, Mr. Andrews and others do mend that fault, and finde the difference beyond credit. But my Pills are far higher graduated then any of theirs, as may be tryed in Autumnal, and winter Agues, old Coughs, old Pains, old Gonor∣rhaea's,
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and old inveterate venereall maladies, old obstinate uterine ob∣structions, and the like, in which Cases experience will soon discover the excellency of mine beyond any of theirs, so as not to admit a pa∣raled, nor comparison.
The preparations is opiate, and he that doubts the safety of that when corrected, let him consider, that there is scarce any Antidote or Theriacle, without it, and the virtues of such opiate Compositions, were by the Antients held in great esteem, of which sort of prepara∣tions he that pleaseth may read at large in Scroderus, and Mirepsus Of Opium saith the noble Helmont: happy is that sick party, whose Physician knows how to correct the deadly quality of Opium &c. and instances in the Cough, how great effects it hath had in one nights time, Yea experience confirms this daily in hundreds of ex∣amples, in acute diseases especially, or in acute paroxismes of Chro∣nical distempers, so that where such a cloud of witnesses appear, to deny or doubt a thing, is so to run mad in malice, as to incur the Censure of Crestes: In my Pyrotechny asserted, as also in natures ap∣plication, I have demonstrated the safety, and excellency of these preparations so clearly and fully, that I need but send the Reader thither for satisfaction, and shall briefly give directions, when, and how to administer this Pill, and in what cases especially it is most effectuall.
In continual Fevers, such as are common upon surfets, or colds, it is a very effectual and speedy remedy, in such cases, give of it an or∣dinary dose at a time, and let the party be attended so as to sweat soundly, giving him drink in his sweat, if he desires it, but let it be warm, and in each draught of drink he desires, give him five or six drops of true spirit of Salt, (not that rascall phlegme, which is of late cryed up about town) which true spirit is ponderous, tincted, and eminently acid, this spirit helps both to promote sweat, and to take away all the foulness in the tongue, throat, and mouth of the sto∣mack, and so after sweating cools the body and howels, exceedingly, to the great ease, comfort, and refreshing of the patient.
You may either give the medicine in form of a Pill, and let the party drink a draught of warm Ale or posset drink after it or dissolve it in warm Ale or burnt wine, and let him drink it, but lye so, as to promote sweat by and by after the taking of it.
But where the weakness of the party is great, or the age very yong, let a dose convenient be dissolved in some pleasant liquor, and give it gradually at 4, 5, or 6, times, allowing two hours between each time, and so nature finds help insensibly, and revives ostentimes be∣yond expectation.
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The ordinary dose for a man is to 20 or 24 grains, sometimes to 30, but in Fevers twenty grains are as large a dose as is needfull, and let it be repeated once in twelve, or sixteen, or 20 hours according as the disease is violent. The same dose and observation in Plurisies, Ca∣lentures, Measels, Purples &c. or any acute disease that threatens life most eminently.
Where the party is young or weak, 10 or 8 grains is a dose, to children very young 3 or 4 grains sufficient, and may be repeated as occasion requires, till recovery, which with Gods blessing will be in 3 or 4 days, sometimes in one dose, or two at most, the party so reco∣vers as to need no more.
In Coughs, and Flixes it is an excellent remedy, taken to bed∣ward either dissolved or in Pill, and drink a good draught of warm wine after it. The dose here is as in Feavers, onely the time to bed∣wards, but where the disease prevails so as to make the party keep his bed, give the medicine at any time, forbearing to eat an hour or two after it, and repeat it oftener till recovery, but where the party walks abroad, take it last at evening, and lye so as to favour sweat, and re∣peat it onely every night, for 3 or 4 nights together, then forbear 2 or 3 days, and take of true Ens veneris 6 or 8 grains, morning and evening, then take this Pill, again 3 or 4 evenings, then Ens veneris for 2 or 3 days, so continue both till recovery of perfect health, which will with Go•s blessing be in a short time.
In Agues give this Pill 20, 24, or 30 grains at a dose, about 2 hours before the fit be expected, either dissolved, or in Pill, and drink a good draught of warm Ale, or burnt wine after it, lye down and keep warm, the cold fit will not at all be felt, and the hot fit will be changed into a sweat: The intermittent day or days take Ens veneris morning and evening eight or ten grains at a dose.
In acute torturing tormenting pains, this is an admirable remedy, restoring them if not very deeply fixed, or if fixed, easing the horror and rage of the paroxysme wonderfully, there give it every evening to bedward, and Ens veneris in the morning, and if the pain cause fe∣verishness, and that drought, give of spirit of Salt 5 or 6 drops in beer, as oft as thirst calls for it And it is to be observed, that if in Chronical cases recovery be not in 30 or 40 days, o• so notable pro∣gress in recovery, as to give the party hopes, and incouragement to expect a final cure by these means, he then seeks out for higher re∣medies, of which I shall give notice by way of Advertisement at the end of this Schedul of directions for more ordinary, and general∣ly useful specifick preparations.
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In hystericall eases this proparation is effectuall, such to wit as are not graduated, and so in scorbuticall dissempers, but where an high∣ly graduated or deeply rooted uterine exorbitancy is, or an inveterate Scorbute, there Salt of Steel truly ma•e, and sweet, or the Salt of Amber, or the volatile tincture of Red Corall equal in such cases, the highest Arcana's, which where need is, I shall furnish the desirous with all, with full directions for their use time, and dose.
And let the ingenuous Reader note, that this Pill is a very general remedy as to ordinary use, and seldome fails in acute cases, The smal Pox by this given in time, repeated duly and orderly, and the party kept in a sweating frame, do so wast gradually, as not to fill, yea I have often seen where the feverishnese of the sick party, his dry burning, idle talking, and the like symptomes, have threatened very much rigor, and the spots have so fully appeared, that the Flocks have been feared, yet by taking this medicine, and repeating it once in 12 hours, for the first 4 or 5 days, and sweat being promoted, they have so wasted, as that scarce 20 or 30 have come to maturity, all the body over, so sew, as onely to let the party know what danger he had escaped and that hath been all.
But observe that when the small Pox have filled, before the Phy∣sician is called, there give cooling absterfive remedies, as spirit of salt and Ens veneris, and now and then give of this Pill to send out the ma∣lignity, but keep not party in a swerting temper then, being unseaso∣nable.
Now to speak a word or two Concerning the Lues that moderne monster, the soure sawee of bewitching venery, it is a loathsome di∣sease, an sopportune punishment for a filthy loathsome sin. The un∣learned Alchymist looked on his medicine with an unreasonable muis∣tiplying glass, when he would teach the cure of it thereby. It is an obstinate disease, which appears at first either in a sore between the Glandula, and praepuce, or in the running of the reins, the former is the more dangerous, for that soon infects the body with scabs, Buboes, aches, eating ulcers in the nose, and throat, nodes in the shines &c. and those cause horrible nocturnal pains, oftentimes palsies, palpita∣tions, dangerous Coughs &c. the other to wit the Gonorrhaea if old and of long standing, especially if it be the second, third, fourth, or fifth, the party hath had, it becomes each time more and more ob∣stinate, for it seizes the Radical humidity and though cured, yet leaves its odious relic•s behind, which transplant into posterity, Scro∣phulus, scirrous, strumous, Apostematicall, seeds, hence proceed Chronical distempers, which every day grow worse and worse, hence
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also appear each year new obstinate diseases to the amazing of Phy∣sicians.
The milder sort of Gonorrhaea's are cured by this Pill given every night, and Ens veneris in the morning for about 10 or 12 ays toge∣ther, sometimes continued for three weeks, so as every fourth day a Pill of Diaceltatesson be given, omitting the other, and then repeat it again. In case of an ulcer, the sweet oyl of Colchotar of vitriol, or the true Basamus fuligi is of Helmont and Paracelsus will per∣form perfectly the external cure, and the Pill with Ens veneris, and my Diaceltatesson will compleat what is required internally.
But where this disease is come to its height, there my Diaceltatesson must be given often, every day at first, for about a week, then every other day as long, then every third day, and so continue till the cure be compleat, and when the Diaceltatesson is intermitted, give of this Pill at evening, and Ens veneris in the morning, causing the patient to sweat soundly after the Pill.
A brief Index or Catalogue of other remedies admirable in specifick cases, made by George Starkey who is a Phylosopher by fire.
I may say confidently that I was the first that made this in England (that is known) in the year 1•52 I prepared it,
* for the Honourable Robert Boyl Esq one of the Royal society, who hath wrote of its ex∣cellency, as his extant Treatise thereof can testifie. Of this Helmont truly saith, nothing works more powerfully on the radical humidity then it, it is most excellent in feminine disease, especially menstrual stoppages, rickets of children, lingring fevers, obstructions of the spleen and mesaraicks, but especially for women after childbed, taking away after pains to admiration, helping their cleansings so kindly, and without violence, as is admirable, and hindring all feverish symp∣tomes to which many women after travel are subject, to the incredi∣ble ease and comfort of them, but this I must assure those that are concerned, that what I made in 16•1, for the Honorable Robert Boyl Esq and and is by him commended, is so inferiour a preparation to that as is made by me now, that the former deserves not the same name with this latter, which is yellow as the purest gold, and in taste rich of the Venus, so that it exceeds the other beyond all comparison, and nearer approaches the Element of fire of Venus. This I adde not to discommend the former, but to shew the difference between that and this.
This is a higher gradation of the former preparation by separating the sulpher from the white metal of Copper, which will abide fusion hammer and test, and is white as Luna, though yet differing from it,
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and totally dulcifying the saline nature from the sulsur,
* by which it was prepared, advanced, and perfected. This is the Nepenthes verum of the Phylosophers, the true Ladanum without Opium, lengthening the life by Gods permission, and conquering powerfully monstrous tragical maladies, such as the Epilepsie, A poplexy, Palsie, Coma, Vertigo, madness Hypocondriack melancholy, and uterine •rensies, with several other like diseases to the stupefaction of nature, of this and Mercury, is made the Horizontal Gold that is truly and perfectly universal.
In the Belgick Edition of Helmonts works under the itle of preparation of medi∣cines, mention is made of a middle Diaceltatesson, which is Antimonial,
* and pur∣geth only, this I call my Diaceltatesson Commune, and it is excellent in Chto∣nick diseases to give every third day or every other day to the quantity of 30 or 24 grains in two Pills, and my sweating Pill the other day at eve•ing with Ens venesis in the morning, the party may go abroad in the afternoon avoiding in∣temperancy if the day be clear when he takes it.
The other Dinceltaresson is my true Corallatum, curing radically the Gout,
* Lues, and all ulcers in the throat, lungs, bladder, and kidneys, as also it roots out all Agues; and hectical fevers (though never so inveterate▪ where the •ill and Ens veneris fail, this given every day, or other, or third day with an inferi∣our abstresive medicine between, will cure the most deplorable maladies, and is a true Arcanum, though not so highly excel lent as the Horizontal God &c
There are also volatile Spirits of Alcalays, especially of Tartar, and Tabacco,
* which as Helm•nt saith truly, do cleanse all obstructious in the veins, and cut off the occasional causes, of most diseases, especially if coagulated upon dissolved Concrets, of these the Elogy of Paracelsus and H•lm•n is true, that where that reacheth no other thing that is more powerful will reach, it cures then by an uni∣versal absttesion, and mundifying the vessels, and performs the desire of a care∣ful Physician, to the great comfort of the patient, the dose is from 10 to 20 or 30 drops, in whitewine or Ale fasting.
In Histerical distempers there is great variety,
* for the uterus in the feminine sex is not unfitly called by Physicians (animal furio•um) for it is in its extravagant exorbitancies strangely operative in women causing all sorts of diseases, as palpi∣tations, vertignes, Epilep•i•s palsies, with other distempers, and is exasperated by love, anger, grief, frights and all passions, in these cases the Salt of Steel (I mean the magisterial Salt of it) in which the whole substance of steel is by an Al∣chachestical preparation resolved into a Magistery, so a so the Essence of Amber, and the volatile tincture of red Corall are appropriated specisicks, that equal the grand Arcana, the dose of Salt of steel is 20 grains, of
* Essence of Amber from 8 to 16 grains, of the volatile Tincture of Corall •0 drops, and they are also admi∣rable Scorbutick Splenetick, and pulmoniack remedies in both sexes.
These with several other specifick abstersives, as spirit of salt, spirit of Sulphur vive, the essential sulphurous spirit of vitriol of Venus, Antimony, and other bo∣dies, with the Magistery and spirit of Saturn, are truly prepared by Geo•g• Star∣k•y, and as occasion offers are to be had of him with larger direction, for the use
But my Pill and true Ens venesis being of the most large and general use, I re∣solve to expose them to publick sale, and they may be had at the Authors near the Exchange in Bartholomew lane, by the Excise Office, at Mr. Dasarnes an Ac∣comptant, and at Mr. Samuel Watsons at t•e Coffee house at Ave Mary lane on Ludgate hill, and at Mr. S•on•s a Cossee house hext door to the Whalchone in Lothbury, and at Mr. Livewell Chapman. Stationer in Exchange Alley near
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Cornhill, and at the sign of Mara the great, a Coffee house in Exchange All•• and at Mr. Needle•s on Tower wharfe
Postscript.
Courteous Reader, I desire thy Candor in •udgment, not to imagine that I write here notionall conceipts, and apprehensions, but really what I have done, can doe, and have at Command the true keyes to effects and performe, the Horizontall •old I shall be master of Ere long, with other Arcanas as the Tinctura L•li, the Metallus Masculus, its Tin∣cture reduced to a Vinum Vitae, the milke or Element of Pearl, but I must make things successively, and every true Arcanum is truly tedious in preparation, those therefore I shall at present only dispose of myselfe, leaving the two forementioned Medicines of my true pill, and sincerely prepared Ens veneris at the places above mentioned, for they are the most generall in virtue and to be made in greatest quanti•y, Other specificks, which in Cases to which they are appropriated, Equall the A•cana, as Tincture of Corall, the Magisteriall salt of Amber &c. in womens dis∣tempers, and in anxie•es of the spleen in both sexes, as also in scorbutick C•ses, and inueterate Jaundies, so the lacteous liqvor of Cra•se•es for lin∣gring •abid fevers, the afterpains of Women in Child bed, &c. with severall other specificks which paper and time will not give me leave to instance by name, shall be disposed only by myselfe, because in them there is a choyce, where severall belong to the same Cases, which my experience of them will enable me better to informe such as would use them to make choyce of accordingly, then they can advise themselves, Therefore in cases where the pill and Ens veneris Either faile, or promote the Cure but slowly, upon notice by writing I shall Conce•ling the name of both pa•ient and Doctor Candidly, give my advice and counsell in publique writing, and shall upon such Emergencyes, have occasion of advising, restrayning altering or otherwise varying the administ ation of specifick remedyes, according as by eighteen yeares practise both in the fire, and in the Art of Medicine I have been instructed, and where the Extremity of disease cuts of all hopes of specificks, there I shall advise and supply true univer∣sall, of the highest gradation, and not otherwise, they being difficult and tedious to prepare, and Frustra•per plura fit, quod fieri potest per pauciora nor will scarce the sortreth disease, that shall be met with in practise require any other remedy; then my pill, Ens veneris and dia∣celtatesson, which last will rarely be absolutely needed, but where it is, I shall (and am provided to) supply such as desire it.
George Starkey,
*known by the title of Phylosopher by the fire.
Also for the stone is to be had the Ludus of Helm••• truly prepared, by the same George S•a•k•, of whose virtues none that hath Read Helm••t but is in∣structed, the dose 20 drop, which cures it radically, both in the Kidneys and bladder, and takes away all suture inclinations thereto.