472 
EXTRACTS FROM ANCIENT PHARMACY. 
need, neither of my secret, nor any other receipt to recover his health. With 
this case I was moved to such a compassion and sorrow, that not only I wished 
myself evil, but also I desired to die 5 seeing my ambition and vainglory to 
have been the cause that this poor man was not succoured with the remedy and 
gift that God, the Father and Lord of us all, had given me.’’ The result of these 
reflections was the present work, containing receipts, many of them more 
curious than valuable. Alexis ends his preface as follows :— 
“ But of one point I will advertise the reader, and that is, that he do the 
things with good diligence, and that in medicines concerning man’s body, he 
use the aid and help of physicians. Although indeed many of them, moved 
with a certain rustic and evil-grounded envy, with a passion of jealousy, are 
wont to blame, and contemn things that come not of themselves. Wherefore, 
as well in this, as in every other point’ if he that will use these, should per¬ 
chance find that the thing would not take effect according to his consentation, 
let him beware that he abuse not himself in the confection of them, and to 
begin again with more diligence. Assuring himself that, as I have said, there 
is nothing in this book but is true and experimented. And giving always glory 
and praise unto God only for all, have a good hope that by means of his divine 
grace I will consequently make you a present of the rest of all that I have 
gotten in so many travels, voyages, costs, and diligent study. Farewell.” 
Some peculiarities may be noticed. The leaves are numbered, not the conse¬ 
cutive pages, in consequence of which, page 122, the last, is in reality page 244. 
There is considerable variation in the spelling of the same words occurring in 
different paragraphs. And, lastly, a fact well known to the English scholar re¬ 
ceives occasional illustration, namely, that certain familiar words have ceased to 
bear their original signification. In Book iv. p. 80, we read of an advertise¬ 
ment or lesson concerning the making of powders, and conserves for the teeth. 
Alsc^(Book iv. p. 82), three advertisements or lessons of importance to keep the 
teeth white and uncorrupt, and also a sweet breath. 
Many other instances might be enumerated. 
The Secrets open auspiciously with the manner and secret to conserve a 
man’s youth, and to hold back old age, and to maintain a man always in health 
and strength, as in the fairest flower of his age. 
From the sublime we come to this :— 
“ To make an oil of a red dog, by the means whereof (besides other infinite 
virtues that it hath) I have healed a Friar of Saint Onofres, who had by the 
space of twelve years, a lame and dry withered arm like a stick, so that nature 
gave it no more nourishment.” 
The particulars of the cure are thus related: — “I caused him to be 
anointed with the said oil (which I had set in the sun the summer of the year 
1547) by the space of two Misereres, and made him tarry in the sun until the 
said oil was clean dried up, and had pierced through the said arm; and within 
four days, men did perceive, and see perfectly, that the veins gave nourishment 
unto the member. Nine days after the arm was as full of flesh as the other, 
and, with the help of God, was as whole and sound as though it had never been 
hurt.” A much earlier^cure is mentioned in the year 1514, with respect to a 
Portuguese of the name of Diego. 
Leaving these flights of imaginative pharmacy, the celebrated Pil. Ruffl 
makes its appearance as Pills of Master Michael Scott, the which heal the 
grief or pain of the head, be it inveterate or recent: purge the brain, clarify 
the sight, cause a man to have a good memory, good colour in the face, and be- 
also very good for many infirmities. 
This formula contains aloes, confection of scammony, mastich, bay berries, 
roses, saffron and myrrh. 
It is needless to mention that there are various remedies against the plaguCj, 
from which the reader wiU derive amusement if not much instruction. 
