Royal College of Physicians: A collection of medical receipts (MS504)

[...] ad, it will bring it forth wi^th great speed {6} Cut or break a white Loaf in y^e midst, wheⁿ it comes hot out of y^e Oven, & lay it to y^e ear of such as have any quick thing in their head, & it will bring it out, shifting it still wi^th hot bread, till all y^e quick things be out. {1} For a Wen. Make pouder of unslackt Lime, & mix it wi^th black-sope, & anoint any Wen therewi^th, & y^e Wen will fall away; & wheⁿ y^e root is come out, anoint it wi^th Oyl of Balm, & it will heall it perfectly. {2} Take y^e fat of an hen (if it be as it is wheⁿ taken out of y^e hen, it matter not) & anoint y^e Wen therewi^th often, till {[manicule]} it wear away. {3} Take a pot-lid & hold it close to y^e fire, & out of it will fry a frothy matter, whi^ch wi^th a feather anoint y^e Wen {[manicule]} wi^th till it wear away. {1} To draw a thorn, iron, wood, &c out of y^e flesh. There is no thing better to draw out thorns &c in any parts of y^e body, yaⁿ black-soap applyed to y^e place, letting y^e same ly thereto about 12 hours wi^thout removing y^e same. {2} A little peece of y^e tongue of a foxe being moistned & made [...]weth out any [...]place This is tra[...]

3 {1}To preserve y^e teeth sound. In y^e morning if salt be holden in y^e mouth under y^e tongue, untill it melt into water, & y^e teeth rubbed therewi^th, it will keep them safe & sound, and that they shall not be worm-eaten: So also to rub y^e teeth every morn= ing wi^th salt not melted is very good for y^e same purposes. {1} For y^e Tooth-ach. The spirit of Thyme wetted on or soaked into {manicule }Linnen Lint & put into a hollow aking-took, undoubted ly cures y^e same (if y^e oyl ^{or spirit} be good). So also Take of salt & grated nutmeg of each a like quantity, & having dried yem on a paper before y^e fire, rub them fine to pouder, & snuff the said powder up into to y^e nostrill ya^t is on y^e contrary side to y^e pain. This oftentimes helps. --- {2}Seeth Ivy-berries in vinegar or in White-wine, & wheⁿ they are well sod, sup of y^e same hot Liquor, & wheⁿ tis cold spit out, & sup more thereof; this helps. --- {3}Take an handfull of Ground Ivy, as much of spear=mint & as much of salt, stamp them all a little together, then put all y^e same into a pint of vinegar, & seeth all well together; then strain it well, & put y^e same in a close glassen vesele or bottle, & wheⁿ you will use it, take a spoonfull thereof, & put it into y^e side of y^e mouth ya^t acketh, & hold down you^r Cheek, ya^t it may descend to y^e roots of y^e aking teeth, & it will take y^e Ach & pain away presently. This is a sure & proved medicine {&}Ginger powdered & Elecampane of each a like snuffed up into y^e nose often helps M^r Bristow./ To pinch both sides of y^e forehead til at y^e temples, very hard & so continue pinching foreheads twice helps p[relatu Araneserth]

4 {4} A head of Garlick (y^e skin pulled off & a little bruised) laid by equall parts to y^e hollow parts of y^e soals of y^e feet, will speedily help y^e Tooth-ach (especially if it come of a cold Cause, & be of y^e nether Jaw) by drawing y^e humors out of y^e soals of y^e feet. Many yat used this have not been troubed with the tooth-ach for 7 years after. {5} A peece of y^e root of Crow foot called also Gold knob. which is that which is called yellow craise I think, either put into y^e hollow {not sent.} of y^e Tooth (if there be any) or applyed to y^e tooth that aketh, will help y^e same immediately. Often proved. {6} A little Gun-pouder put into a peece of fine Linnen cloth, & y^e same put into y^e hollow-tooth or holden be-tween y^e teeth, so ya^t it touch y^e aking tooth, helps speedily {7} Take a little Rewue or herbegrace, & stamp y^e same, ye^u strain out y^e Juice thereof, then drop 3 or 4 drops of y^e sam^e Juice into y^e Ear, on yat side y^e aking tooth is, & let him ly on his other side an hour or two, & it will not only take away y^e present pain, but prevent it for ever afterwards. {8} To draw out a tooth. Fill an earthen pot wi^th Ants & their eggs, & set the same pot in hot Embers, so long untill all be burned into Ashes, & wheⁿ yo^w would draw out a tooth wi^thout pain, take of y^e same powder, & touch y^e tooth therewi^th, & it will fall out.

5 {9} Put y^e pouder of red Corall into y^e hole of y^e tooth, and it will fall out. {10} The pouder of Earth-worms burnt upon a red-hot-tile, or, of mice dung, or of an harts-tooth, put into y^e holes of teeth ya^t be worm-eaten, doth pluck them up by y^e roots, or make them fall out. {11} Take y^e Gum of Ivy, & green Ivy Leaves, of each a like weight, & burn to pouder in a New Earthen pot, & wheⁿ it is made in fine pouder, mix it together wi^th y^e milk of Spurge, & put some thereof into y^e tooth yat yo^w would have out, if it be hollow, if not, touch y^e tooth therewi^th, & it will fall out wi^thout any pain; but beware yo^w touch no other tooth wi^th it. {1} For y^e Gout & sciatica. The root of henbane stamped, & applyed warm to y^e pain of y^e Gout of y^e feet, & Sciatica helps &c Fry out y^e grease of shoe-makers patches, or peeces of Lea= -ther, & lay some of it upon brown paper, warming it a little at y^e fire, yeⁿ apply it to y^e grief, & it will take away y^e pains in one night. {2} Take one handfull of Mugwort, & seethe it in sweet Oyl olive till y^e third part of y^e Oyl be consumed; then anoint therewith any par^t ya^t is tormented wi^th y^e Gout, & y^e pain will soon cease. {3} For y^e Sciatica or Gout. Take an herb called Speregrass, & stamp it, & lay a little thereof upon y^e grief, but put

6 upon it a Cockle or a Wallnut-shell, & ty something on it ya^t y^e herb be not removed; & wi^thin 6 or 8 hours at y^e most, it will make a great blister on y^e same place. Then lay a Clot-leaf or else a Wort-leaf on y^e same, But first let y^e water out of y^e blister wi^th a needle, & it will draw out all y^e water ya^t causeth y^e pain. This helpt one ya^t was pained therewi^th 20 years. {4}A notable oyl for y^e Gout & Joynt-aches, true & often proved. Take y^e jouice of Sage, of Aqua-vitae, of Oyl of bays, of Vinegar, of mustard, & of beasts Gall, of each a like Quantity, put them all together in a great bladder, & chafe it well up & down wi^th your hands for y^e space of an hour & an half, & keep it for your use; anoint y^e grieved place therewi^th morning & evening & {5}Take Garlick & housleck, of each a like much, & stamp them both together, & plaister y^e same either to a hot or cold Gout, & it will help marvelously. {6}Seeth Ivy, mugwort, Walwort, & iner rind of Elder in water, wi^th much salt & bath therewi^th any sciatica, twice or thrice a day, for 8 or 9 days together, & twill help y^e {7}Culver dung sodden in Wine, till y^e wine be consumed, & then emplaistered hot to y^e Gout, healeth y^e same per -fectly: use it morninge & evening 4 or 5 days toge -ther. / 1 peny-worth of oyl of Exeter. & 2 peny-worth of y oyl of Dalthea, mix em well together & bath em in before y^e fire upon y^e grieves place. [gali Porder]: y^e wind-gout.