The genesis of the American materia medica : including a biographical sketch of "John Josselyn, gent," and the medical and materia medica references in Josselyn's "New-Englands rarities discovered," etc., and in his "Two voyages to New-England," / with critical notes and comments by Harvey Wickes Felter.

  • Felter, Harvey Wickes, 1865-1927.
Date:
[1927]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The genesis of the American materia medica : including a biographical sketch of "John Josselyn, gent," and the medical and materia medica references in Josselyn's "New-Englands rarities discovered," etc., and in his "Two voyages to New-England," / with critical notes and comments by Harvey Wickes Felter. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    “Their Horns are far better (in my opinion) for Physick than the Horns of other Deer, as being of a stronger nature: As for their Claws, which both Englishmen and French make use of for Elk, I cannot approve so to be from the Effects, having had some trial of it;” “For Children breeding Teeth” “The Indian Webbes 5d make use of the broad Teeth of the Fawns to hang about their Childrens Neck when they are breeding of their Teeth.” The Jaccal56 [p. 22].—“Their Grease is good for all that Fox Grease is good for, but weaker.” THIRDLY, OF FISHES. The Sturgeon [p. 32].—“Of whose Sounds is made Isinglass,—a kind of Glew much used in Physick.” The Cod [p. 32].—“To stop Fluxes of Blood .” “In the Head of this Fish is found a Stone, or rather a Bone, which, being pulveriz’d and drank in any convenient liquor, will stop Women’s overflowing Courses notably: Likewise,- “For the Stone [p. 33]. “There is a Stone found in their Bellies, in a Bladder against their Navel, which, being pulveriz’d and drank in White-wine Posset 6 or Ale, is present Remedy for the Stone.” “To heal a green Cut .” “About their Fins you may find a kind of Lowse, which healeth a green Cut in short time.” “To restore them that have melted their Grease.” “Their Livers and Sounds eaten, is a good Medicine for to restore them that have melted their Grease.” The Dog-fish [p. 33].—“For the Toothach.” “Upon whose Back grows a Thorn two or three Inches long, that helps the Toothach, scarifying the Gums therewith.” The Tortous (The Land Turtle) [p. 34].—“For the Ptisick, Consump¬ tion and Morbus Gallicus.” “They are good for the Ptisick and Consumptions, and some say the Mor¬ bus Gallicus.”7 5d Married squaws “living with their husbands” (Josselyn.) (Felter.) 5e Probably the gray fox (Vulpes Virginianus Schreb. (Tuckerman). (Felter.) 6 Posset.—The term posset, now obsolete, is a frequent one in early colonial medical references and general literature. It had reference to milk coagulated with wine, beer, acids, treacle or infusions. Lexicographers note it variously, thus: “Posset [posca, sour wine and water], a preparation of milk curdled with wine” (Gould, Practitioner’s Diet.) ; “Milk curdled with wine, treacle or any acid” (Hooper’s Med. Diet. [1850]) ; Posset, n. (W. posel, curdled milk posset, “a beverage composed of hot milk and curdled by some strong infusion, as by wine, etc., much in favor formerly; ‘I have drugged their posset’ (Shakespeare)” Webster’s Diet.) (Felter.) 7 Morbus gallicus is “the venereal disease” (Hooker’s Diet. [1850]); syphilis (Dor- land and others). (Felter.)