= 
Cenury X. ae 
| of Green Perwinckle (the Herb) tied about the Calf of the Leg, or the 
| Thigh, &c. where the Cramp ufeth to come. I do finde this the more 
‘| ftrange, becaufe neither of thele hive any Relaxing Virtue, but rather the 
Pontrat . I judge therefore that their working is rather upon the Spits 
within the Nerves tomakethiem ftrivelefs, then upon the Bodily fubftance 
4 Nerves. / . | 
a ee havetryal made of two other kindes of Bracelets for com- 
4 forting the Heartand Spirits. ‘The one of the Trochifch of Vipers made into 
}ittle pieces of Beads ; for fince they do great good inwards (efpceially for 
| Peftilent Agues) it is like they will be effectual outwards, where they may be 
applied in greater quantity. ‘There would be Tichifehs likewife made of 
‘Snakes, whofe flefh dried is thought to have a very opening and Cordial 
Virtue. The other is of Beads made of theScarlet Powder, which they call 
= 
The Beads would be made. up with Amber-Griece, and fome ‘Pomander. 
It hath been long received, and confirmed by divers tryals, that the 
Root of the <Wale-Peony dried, tied to the Neck, doth help the Falling- 
fickneB; and likewife the Jncubws, which we call the Adare. The caufeof both 
thefe Difeafes, andcfpecially of the Epilepfie from the Stomack, is the grofs- 
nefs of the Vapors which rife and enter into the Cellsof the Brain: And 
‘therefore the working is by extream and fubtil Attenuation, which that 
‘| Simplehath. I judgethelike to be in Citorenm, Musk, Ren- Seed, Agnus 
Cafhus Seed, Oc. ha dee : sia 
There isa Stone whichthey call the Blood- Stone, which worn.is thought 
/on and cooling of the Spirits. Quare, if the Stone taken out of the Z oads 
Head, be not of the like virtue, for the 7oad loveth Shade and Coolnefs. 
_ Light may be taken fromthe Experiment of the Horfe-tooth Ring, and the 
Garland of Perwinckle, how that thofe things which aflwage the ftrife of the 
Spirits,do help difeafes, contrary tothe Intention defired 5 for inthe curing 
of the Cramp,, the Intention is to relax the Sinews ; butthe contra@tionof 
| the Spirits, that they ftrive lefs, is the befthelp: So toprocure eafie Tra- 
| vailsof Women, the intention is tobring down the Childe; but the help is, 
| to ftay the coming down too faft ; whereunto they fay she oad-/Ponelike- 
| wife helpeth. So in Pe(filent Fevers, the Intention is to expel the Jnfe@tion by 
| Sweat and Evaporation ; but. the beft meansto doit, isby Nitre, Diafcordium,, 
| and othercoolthings, whichdo fora time arreft the Expulfion, till Nature 
| can doit more quictly. For as one faith prettily, im the quenching of the flame 
\of a Peftilent Ague, Nature % like People that come to quench the Fire of an Houfe; 
| which are fobufie, as one of them letterh auother: . Surely it isan excellentAxiome, 
|and of manifold ufe, that whatfoever appeafeth the contention of Spirits 
|furthereth their action... He Cr ty 
_. The Writers of Natural Magick commend thé wearing of the fpoil of 
a Snake, for preferving of Health. Idoubt it isbutaconceit; for that the 
"| Snake is thought to renew her youth by cafting her fpoil.. They might as 
. well take the Beak of an Eagle, orapiece of a Harts-horn, becaufe thofe 
renew... pak 
sets It hath been anciently received, (for Pericles the UAthenian ufed it) and 
| it is yet in ule, to Wear little Bladders of Quick-filver, or Tabletsof Arfe- 
| Rick, as prefervatives again the Plague: Not, asthey conceive, for any 
| comfort they yield tothe Spirits ; but for that being poyfons themfelves, 
| they draw the venometothem fromthe Spirits. 
2. Vide 
‘Kermes, which is the principal Ingredient in their Cordial-Confection Alkermen, 
to be good for them that bleed atthe Nofe; which (no doubt) is by aftriGi- |. 
965. 
966. 
967. 
968, 
969. 
970. 
