CENTURY X. 519 



is conceived to impinguate those that wear such 

 beads ; I commend also beads of hartshorn and ivory ; 

 which are of the like nature ; also orange beads ; 

 also beads of lignum aloes, macerated first in rose- 

 water, and dried. 



963. For opening, I commend beads, or pieces 

 of the roots of carduus benedictus : also of the roots 

 of piony the male ; and of orrice ; and of calamus 

 aromaticus ; and of rue. 



964. The cramp, no doubt, cometh of contraction 

 of sinews; which is manifest, in that it cometh either 

 by cold or dryness ; as after consumptions, and long 

 agues ; for cold and dryness do, both of them, con 

 tract and corrugate. We see also, that chafing a 

 little above the place in pain, easeth the cramp ; 

 which is wrought by the dilatation of the contracted 

 sinews by heat. There are in use, for the prevention 

 of the cramp, two things ; the one rings of sea-horse 

 teeth worn upon the fingers ; the other bands of 

 green periwinkle, the herb, tied about the calf 

 of the leg, or the thigh, &c. where the cramp useth 

 to come. I do find this the more strange, because 

 neither of these have any relaxing virtue, but rather 

 the contrary. I judge therefore, that their work 

 ing is rather upon the spirits, within the nerves, to 

 make them strive less, than upon the bodily substance 

 of the nerves. 



965. I would have trial made of two other kinds 

 of bracelets, for comforting the heart and spirits : 

 the one of the trochisk of vipers, made into little 

 pieces of beads; for since they do great good in- 



