The Countess of Kent's 'Choice manual' / by Hector A. Colwell.

  • Colwell, Hector A. (Hector Alfred), 1875-
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Countess of Kent's 'Choice manual' / by Hector A. Colwell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    a small paper bag, four inches square; the side of the bag which is to be worn next the skin is to be perforated and covered with sarsenet or fine linen. It is to be worn over the pit of the stomach, and renewed two hours before the expected onset of every fit. Another amulet, recommended for cramp (i.e., probably epilepsy), is a powdered root of Meclioacan enclosed in a bag of sarsenet and worn like the preceding. Amulets and such like appear to have been in vogue as prophylactics or cures for a good many diseases. Thus, when James II. was at Salisbury in 1688 preparing to oppose the advance of the Prince of Orange, he was attacked by severe attacks of nose-bleeding, and after several vain attempts to arrest it, relief was finally obtained by use of a “ sympathe- tick ash.” The incident and the method of treatment are related by John Aubrey, E.R.S., in his “ Miscellanies” thus: “ To staunch Bleeding.—Cut an ash of one, two, or three years growth at the very hour and minute of the sun’s entering into Taurus : a chip of this applied will stop it; if it is a shoot it must be cut from the ground. Mr. Nicholas Mer- cator, astronomer, told me that he had tried it with effect. Mr. G. W. says the stick must not be bound or holden, but dipped or wetted in the blood. When King James II. was at Salisbury, 1688, his nose bled near two days; and after many essays in vain, was stopped by this sympatlietick ash, which Mr. William Nash, a surgeon in Salisbury, applied.” The foregoing reference to James II. brings to mind the fact that when the Duke of Monmouth was captured after Sedgmoor one of the things found upon him was a little book containing spells and charms, which among other things were supposed to shew how a sickness should end, and also to be cures for various ailments. Aubrey seems to have taken a good deal of interest in occult phenomena, and to have been credulous enough though quite honest both in his investigations and records. One more recipe from Boyle’s little work must conclude our brief note of it. It is marked A, is intended “ to clear the eyes, even from films,” and consists of dried human fasces finely
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