Culpeper's complete herbal ... To which are ... annexed his English physician enlarged, and Key to [Galen's Method of] physic ... to which is also added ... receipts selected from the author's Last legacy / Nicholas Culpeper.

Nicholas Culpeper

Date:: 1814

Credit: Culpeper's complete herbal ... To which are ... annexed his English physician enlarged, and Key to [Galen's Method of] physic ... to which is also added ... receipts selected from the author's Last legacy / Nicholas Culpeper. Source: Wellcome Collection.

485/500 (page 391)

$dioiis in the beginning and encrease of a disease^ for then induxions most prevail. But seeing tliat in the cure of tumours there are two scopes, 1. Tliat that which flows to it may be repelled. 2. That that which is already in it may be discussed ; repulsives are most commodiously used in the beginning, discussives in the latter end. In the middle you may mix them, with this proviso, that repulsives exceed in the beginning, discussives in the latter end. Caution 1. If the matter offending be of a venomous quality, either abstain from re- pulsives altogether, or use purging first, lest the matter fly to the bowels and prove dan- gerous, especially if the bowels be weak. 2. Also forbear repulsives, if the pain be great. 3. Lastly, Have a care lest by repulsives you contract the pores so much, that the matter cannot be removed by discussives. I Besides, of cleansing medicines, some are I of a gentler nature, some are more vehement. I These are not known one and the same i way; for some are sweet, some salt, and I some bitter. I The use of cleansing is external, as the ! use of purges are internal. : They are used to cleanse the sanies and other filth of ulcers, yea, and to consume \ and eat away the flesh itself, as burnt Alum, X precipitate. See. X When these must be used, not only the 5 effects of the ulcers, but also the tempera- I ture of the body will tell you. j For if you see either a disease of fulness, I which our physicians call ^Plethoi'a'] or cor- I rupted humours which they call [Cacochpma] I you must empty the body of these, viz. j fulness by bleeding, and corrupt humours, i or evil state of the body, by purging before I you use cleansing medicines to the ulcer, } else your cure will never proceed prosper- J ously. CHAPTER VII. Of cleansing Mediemes. Cleansing medicines can neither be defined by heal, nor coldness, because some of both sorts cleanse. A cleansing medicine, then, is of a ter- rene quality, M'hich takes away the filth Avith it, and carries it out. Defnition.'] Here, to avoid confusion, a difference must be made between washing and cleansing. A thing which washeth, carries away by fluxion, as a man washeth the dirt off from a thing. A cleansing medicine by a certain rough- ness or nitrous quality, carries away the compacted filth with it. This also is the difference between cleans- j insipid, or without taste, or sweet, and vis- ing and discussing medicines, the one makes thick humours thin, and so scatters them, but a cleansing medicine takes the most; other fluxes, to cause suppuration, to con- tenacious humour along with it, without | tinue the heat, that so tumours may be any alteration. (39, 40.) ? CHAPTER VIII. % 1 Of Pmplasters. i By Emplasters, here, I do mean things 1 glutinative, and they are quite contrary to I things cleansing. I They are of a far more glutinous and ; tenacious substance. 5 They differ from things stopping because i they do not stop the pores so much, as stick I to them like Birdlime. » They have a certain glutinous heat, tem- \ pered both with coldness and moisture. I From these plasters take their names. Their taste is either none at all, or not I discernable whether hot or cold, but fat, »cous in feeling. Their use is to stop flowing of blood, and 5 ripened. 5 II$