BUT in these precautionary Directions, it is to be particularly advertised, that Astringents of any Kind whatsoever, as Bole, sealed Earth, Lemnian Earth, Coral, &c. are not to be given to Maidens, and Women in their monthly Courses, for Fear they should occasion Obstructions, and other bad Disorders: Those Remedies also are as much to be blamed which force this Evacuation by thinning the Blood too much, and irritating the Uterine Vessels: And lastly, in the Preservation as well as the Cure, the Seasons of the Year, Sex, Constitution, Age, &c. are carefully to be attended to.
BUT before I proceed further, Gratitude obliges me to do Justice to the Vertues of Sack, as it deservedly is ranked amongst the principal Antidotes, whether it be drank by it self, or impregnated with Wormwood, Angelica, &c. for I have never yet met with any Thing so agreeable to the Nerves and Spirits in all my Experience. That which is best is middle-aged, neat, fine, bright, racy, and of a Walnut Flavour; and it is certainly true, that during the late fatal Times, both the infected and
the well found vast Benefit from it, unless they who used it too intemperately; many indeed medicated it with various Alexipharmick Simples.
IT remains that we now say somewhat concerning the Use of Tobacco, whose Vertues for this Purpose are extreamly cried up by Diemebrooeck, and some others; but whether we regard the narcotick Quality of this American Henbane; or the poisonous Oil which exhales from it in Smoaking; or that prodigious Discharge of Spittle which it occasions, and which Nature wants for many other important Occasions; or, lastly, the Exercise it gives to the Lungs in drawing it; besides the Aptitude of the pestilential Poison to be taken down along with it, and the Irksomeness of its Scent; I must confess my self at Uncertainties about it; though as to my self, I am its professed Enemy, and was accustomed to supply its Place as an Antidote with Sack.
WE now then come to external Remedies, amongst which Amulets, and Characters, demand the first Notice: It must indeed be granted, that it is no new Custom or Contrivance to hang these Charms, made
various Ways, about many Parts of the Body, but what Vertues these Things have, is worth some Enquiry.
IT hath obtained with many, that Nature, or the Soul of the World, hath impressed upon some certain Bodies a very diffusive magnetick Vertue; whereupon some Adepts have ascribed to many of these Bodies a Faculty of expelling Poisons. Others conceit, that both artificial and natural Poisons do, by a certain Sympathy, when outwardly applied, draw away every Thing that is detrimental to the Constitution; after the Manner as Amber attracks Straws, and (as they report of the Snake-stone) imbibe its Venom: Some others again contrive Amulets of Spices, to invigorate Nature, and support her against the Enemy.
I think it proper to give my Opinion of this Matter; with Submission therefore to these great Men, I cannot easily come into a Belief of any Advantages to be had from this Practice; for most of the Efforts ascribed to them, is rather from the Power of Imagination, or owing to some manifest Property. Furthermore, it hath religiously obtained amongst many People, that Diseases
are to be driven away by painting Characters upon the Body; but it is strongly to be suspected, that this Practice hath been altogether owing to Jugglers, and Persons addicted to infernal Arts; for what medicinal Virtue can there be in a Figure? It seems to me, that because the Sacred Mysteries of our Art were anciently described by Hieroglyphicks, the Populace, who were ignorant of their Significations, mistook them for Charms against a Plague, and other grievous Diseases, and they propagated their Delusion down to Posterity.
THERE are innumerable Preparations of these Charms or Amulets to be met with in the Writings of several Physicians; but I shall take it to have sufficiently discharged my Duty here, to mention those only which were used by our own Country People; the principal of which was a Walnut filled with Mercury; for it is certain that many did promise to themselves Security from the Dignity of this Metal, which to them seemed to be the Parent of all others; others again expected great Matters from its Volatility, notwithstanding it was thus inclosed, thinking that the natural Heat of the Body would draw such