LIFE AND DEATH. 355 



1. Gold is given in three forms, either in that which 

 they call aurum potabile, or in wine wherein gold hath 

 been quenched, or in gold in the substance, such as are 

 leaf-gold, and the filings of gold. As for aurum potabile, 

 it is used to be given in desperate or dangerous diseases, 

 and that not without good success. But we suppose that 

 the spirits of the salt, by which the gold is dissolved, do 

 rather minister that virtue which is found in it, than the 

 gold itself, though this secret be wholly suppressed. Now 

 if the body of gold could be opened with these corrosive 

 waters, or by these corrosive waters (so the venemous qua 

 lity were wanting) well washed, we conceive it would be no 

 unprofitable medicine. 



2. Pearls are taken either in a fine powder, or in a cer 

 tain mass or dissolution, by the juice of four and new 

 lemons, and they are given sometimes in aromatical confec 

 tions, sometimes in liquor. The pearl, no doubt, hath 

 some affinity with the shell in which it groweth, and may be 

 of the same quality with the shells of crawfishes. 



3. Amongst the transparent precious stones, two only are 

 accounted cordial, the emerald and the jacinth, which are 

 given under the same forms that the pearls are; save only 

 that the dissolutions of them, as far as we know, are not in 

 use. But we suspect these glassy jewels, lest they should 

 be cutting. 



Of these which we have mentioned, how far and in what 

 manner they are helpful, shall be spoken hereafter. 



4. Bezoar stone is of approved virtue for refreshing the 

 spirits and procuring a gentle sweat. As for the unicorn s 

 horn, it hath lost the credit with us ; yet so as it may keep 

 rank with hartshorn, and the bone in the heart of a hart, 

 and ivory, and such like. 



Ambergris is one of the best to appease and comfort 

 the spirits. 



5. Hereafter follow the names only of the simple cor 

 dials, seeing their virtues are sufficiently known. 



Hot. Saffron, folium indum, lignum aloes, citron pill 

 or rind, balm, basil, clove-gillyflowers, orange flowers, rose 

 mary, mint, betony, carduus benedictus. 



Cold. Nitre, roses, violets, strawberry leaves, strawber 

 ries, juice of sweet lemons, juice of sweet oranges, juice of 

 pearmains, borage, bugloss, burnet, sanders, camphire. 



Seeing our speech now is of those things which may be 

 transferred into diet, all hot waters and chymical oils (which, 

 as a certain trifler saith, are under the planet Mars, and have 

 a furious and destructive force) as also all hot and biting 



