The Hihrv of Life and Death. 



The Grec ians attributed muchjbath for health, ard for prolongation of Life, to Opi- 

 ' ates • but the Arabians much more. Infomuch chat their Grand Medicir.?* ( which 

 they called, the Gods Hands ;) hid Opium for their Balis , and principal Ingredient ; o- 

 ther things oeing mixed, to aoate and correct, the noxious qualities thereof : Such were 

 Treacle , Mtthndate, and the rett. 



Whatioever is given with ^ood fucceffe, in the curing of Peflileniial a.r\d /Malig- 

 nant Difeafes ; to ltop and bridle the Spirits, left ti e; grow turbulent and tumulcuace, 

 may very happily be transferred to the prolongation of lite : For one thing is efF duail 

 unto both ; namely, the condenjatiun of '.he S/irits : Now there is nothing better for 

 that, than Opiates. 



The Ttirkes ft nde 0, , cveninaseafonablegood quantity, harmleffe and com- 

 fortable ; infjmuch,that they take i; befoic their battel, t- excite courage ; But co us, 

 unleffe it be in a very lmall quancicy,and with good Concit-vf s, it is Mortal. 



Opium and Opiates, are manifclily found to excite V mus \ which thews them to have 

 force to corroborate the Spirits. 



Difttlled water of voilde Poppj t is given with good fuccelle, in Su- fets , Agues , and 

 divers diieales i which, nodoib 1 ", isattmperate kind? of Opiate : N.itherletany man 

 wonder at the various ufe of it ; tor that is familiar to Opiates, in rcgaid that the Spirits, 

 corroboiated and condenfed, w.ll lleupagainfi any dilenie. 



The Tmkjswk a kinde of Hero , which they call Caphe ; which they dry and pow- 

 der ; and then dcink it in warm water ; winch they f.iv, doth not a little fharpen theirij 

 both in their Courage, and in their Wits ; uotwitbitanding, n it oe taken in a large 

 quantity, it aft' ds, and dUlurbs the minde ; whereby it is maiufeii, that it is of the fame 

 nature with Opiates. 



Ti-etre is a root much renowned in all the Eaflern parts, which they call ifcre/jwhich 

 the Indians , and oth rs, ule to carry in their mouthes, and co champ it : and by that 

 champing, they are wonderfully enabled, both to endure labouis, and to eve come hck- 

 neffes,aiid to the act of caqial eoniilatioii : lc teems to be a kincJe of Stupefatlive , be- 

 caufe it exceedi- .gly blacks the teeth. 



Tobacco, vn oui Age , is immoderately grown into ule ; and it affects men with a fe- 

 cret ktnde of delight ; uilomuch hat they who have once inued themfdves unto it, can 

 hardly afterwaids leave it : Ai, d, no doubt, it hath power to lighten the body, and to 

 flbvake off weanadie : Now the vemie of it is commonly thought to be, becaufe it opens 

 the pallages, and voids humouis : But it mny more rightly be referred to the condenfa.i- 

 on of the Spirits ; lor it is a kinde ol Hevhane , and manifeflly troubles the Head , as 

 Opines doe. ^ 



There are fometirnes Humours engeneired in the Body, which are, as it were, Opiate 

 themfelves ; as it is in tome kind o'i Mdancholies : with which, it a man be affeded it 

 is a ftgne ot very long Ufe. 



The Simple Opiates, (which are alio calhd Stipefattives) are theft ; Opium itfelfc, 

 which is the ju>ce of Poppy, both the Pep pies, as well in the Herb, as in the Seed i Hen^ 

 bane, Mandrake, Hemlcc\^, lobacctuNght^hade. 



The compound Opiates a; e, Treacle, Meihrid*.tc, Trifera-, Ladanum ParacelJi^Di- 

 aconinm, Diafcordmm, Tnitwum-, Pils of tiouyds-tongue. 



From this which hath been laid, certain Debgnations or Counfils may be deduced, 

 for the prolongation ol Life, according to the preient intention ; namely, of condenfmg 

 the Spirits by Opiates. 



Let there be therefore, every year,f om Adult year* of youth, an Opiate diet ; let it be 

 taken about the end of May ; besaufe the Spirits in the Sc immcr , are more ioole and 

 attenuated; and there are Idle dangers from cold humouis ; Let it be fome Magifirali 

 Opiate^ weaker than thofe chat ai e commonly in ufe, both in reft eel of a fmallei quan- 

 tity of Opium, and of a more lpaimg mixu. re of excream hot things ; Let it be taken in 

 the morning* betwixt fleets. The fare for that time wor ld be more fimple, and fpa- 

 ring than ordinary, without Wine, or Spices, or vaprous things : This Medicine to be 

 taken onely each otherdiy,and to be contuiucdfora Fort-night : chis Defignationin our 

 judgement, comes home- to the intention* 



Opiates alto may be taken , not onely by the mouth , but alio by Tnm°.s ; But the 

 Fumes malt be fuch , as may not move thecxpulive Faculty too iirongly, nor force 

 i down humours J But onely taken in a Weft, m.iy work upon the Spirits within the 

 brain : And therefore a Snffnmgation of Tobacco s Lignum, Aloes, Rofemary-leaves 

 I ■ Fj dried, 



