Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/101

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MEDICAL RECIPES OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
73

"A blow on ye Eye."

"My Father Fl. (Floyer) going into Salisbury received so violent a blow from ye Coachman's whip upon his Eye that nothing of ye Eye could bee scene, but was like a piece of marrow of different colours. An excellent oculist, Dr. Turbevile, living there, thus cur'd him, above his owne expectation, my Father being then neere 60 yeares of age. He sent for young pigeons, and letting ym blood under ye wing, as fast as he could, putt ye warme blood into his Eye for halfe an houre together, after which he lay'd on a warme cloth and bound up his Eye for that night. In ye morning he brought with him ye seeds of Oculus Christi and putt ym into ye corner of his Eye, after which with a decoction of Balme and Betony he wash't it often in a day wh a sponge; and this in a short time restored ye Sight perfect."

"For the asthma " we have:—"R. the inner part of Ash keyes, parsly roots, powder of jett. After all, the powder of a Sea horse."

"For a Cold."

"Virginia Tobacco (ye stronger ye better) dryed and powdred to Snuff, and so taken at going to bed, is most excellent for a cold."

"Dr. Watson of Sutton, when my wife was confined and in great danger, directed her to take purple sewing silke, and cutt it very small with sizars, as much as could ly upon a 6d, and having turned the white of an Egg out, mix the silke and yelke, filling ye Shell up with the best Alecant wine in ye roome of ye white, so stirr it up well and sup it of. Excellent. My wife has given it to others very successfully."

"Convulsions."

"R. the furr of a living Bear's belly, boil it in Aqua Vitæ, take it out, sqeeze it and wrap it upon ye soales of ye Feet."

"Another."

"The kneebone of an Hare taken out alive and worne about the necke is excellent against Convulsion fitts."

"Calculus."

"Dr. Meazler told mee (19 Feb. 1670/71) that an ingenious Gentleman near ye Mines in Derbishire assured him that