CHAPTER. 1. The opinion of Ancient Physitions, concer­ning the naturall proprietie and vertues of Opium.

OPIVM (as ancient Physi­tions testifie and moderne confirme) is a certaine iuyce or viscous liquor which one time of the yeares destilleth or [...]sue [...] from the tops of white or blacke Popp [...]e, by me [...]nes of a little gash or incision made in the outtermost rind of them (as wit­nesseth Discordes in his fourth booke of Simples Chap. 60.) the which liquor after due conden­sation is reserued and layd vp for necessary vses, as may not only appeare by the History aforesaid, but by that of Peter Bellon hereaf­ter recited.

[Page 2]Good Opium (as Diescordes and other An­cient Physitions affirme) is weightie and ponderous, bitter in tast, and is quickly dis­solued in water, it is smooth and whitish and not rugged or lumpish, and being streined it doth not like waxe melt against the sun, be­ing kindled it causeth not a blackish flame, and being quenched or put out, it alwaies retaineth its naturall smell.

They ▪vse many times to sophisticate or mixe Opium with Glaucium, Gum, or the iuyce of wild lettice, but that which is sophisticated with Glaucium is easily discerned, for being cut into small peeces, it becommeth yellow; in like manner, if it be mixed with the iuyce of wild Lettice it becommeth more rugged and tart, and hath little or no smell at all; but if it be counterfeited with Gum, it will be bright & shyning in colour, but weake in operation.

Opium taken crude and raw, as asoresayd, to the quantitie of an Orobus or wild Fitch, appeaseth all Aches or paines, helpeth digesti­on, stayeth all Coughes and Destillations or Rheumes, which fall from the braine into the stomack, it is excellent against all kinde of Head-ach if the temples bee anointed and chaffed with the same and oyle of roses: be­ing dropped or instilled into the eares with [Page 3] the oyle of bitter Almonds, Mirrhe and Saf­fran, it healeth and recouereth Hearing, and the sooner being applied with the yolke of an egge hard rosted in the imbers: it auaileth much against inflammation of the eyes, and being mixed with vinegar is very good a­gainst Saint Anthonies fire, and healeth olde vlcers: with saffran and womans milke it is singular in gouts, and being mixed with Sup­posatories, it prouoketh sleepe.

Diagoras, Aetius and Mnesidemus disproue and finde fault with the vsage of Opium in the diseases afore-named, by reason of its stupefactiue qualitie, but Diescordes (affirming the lawfull vse thereof) maintaineth the con­trary, and proueth their opinion to bee idle and false; seeing that the propertie of Opium is quite of another operation; yet hee inge­niously else-where confesseth, that the indis­creet and super [...]uous vsage thereof produ­ceth no small detriment to the patient, ma­king him fall into a Lethargie, whereby death commonly insues; the which he further con­firmeth in his sixth Booke and seuenteeth Chapter of Poysons, and their remedies, where hee reckoneth vp the Symptomes which it causeth in those bodies which haue eaten too much thereof.

Nicander and Aetius haue written of the [Page 4] great annoyances that come thereby; and Gallen also in his second and third bookes D [...] Comp. Med. describeth Opium to bee a daun­gerous Medicine, saying, that it mortifieth the senses, and causeth deadly Symptomes, in regard whereof hee wisheth that no man should vse it, vnlesse his Patient bee in dan­ger of death, through the extremitie of his paine, and, hereunto assenteth Plinie and di­uers others: notwithstanding there bee no small number of moderne Physitions quite of another minde.

The cause of those dangerous effects and Symptomes, which crude Opium by its too much vse is said to procure, is attributed to its exceeding coldnesse; for most Physiti­ons hold, that it is not vnfitly ranged among things that are cold in the fourth degree.

CHAP. II. Of the assurance we haue that Opium may bee vsed, and taken crude or mixed in Medi­cines without any preiudice or indangering the Patients life at all.

A MAN shall find some Phy­sitions now a daies who ad­hering too much a conscience to the opinion of olde Leeches (capitall enemies to Opium its vse) doe not onely beleeue it as an article of their Creed, that whatsoeuer any Author hath said in detraction and disgrace of Opium is an vndoubted truth: To whom I answere and say, that wee ought not to submit our selues to their iudgement altogether, nor to [Page 10] beleeue the opinion or saying of any Physi­tion, whether antient or moderne otherwise then daily obseruation of the vse of things & our Grandame experience confirme in our vn­derstanding for truth: for seeing that the an­cient Physitions, as well Grecians as Arabi­ans, how great or learned soeuer they were esteemed, yet being all but imperfect men and subiect to errour, had their owne proper passions, and were full of con­tention and iealousie one against another, as wee are now adaies; whence it followes that wee ought not to receiue all their workes for gospell, without condition as aforesayd: for as for example Galen, Plinie, and others, put the world in feare and suspition of Opium, and contrariwise Oribasius, Diescorides and others commend it, and assure and affirme it to bee pro­fitable and necessarie for the cure of many diseases: who then in this case can giue vs better knowledge and satisfaction of truth of these things then Experience her selfe? Now shee tells vs that a man may safely vse Opium inwardly in mens bodies, Oribasius therefore and Diescorides, haue spoken truly, whereas the errour and abuse of others is manifest: which howsoeuer it falls out, it hinders vs nothing at all to search [Page 11] into these things, seeing that neither cause nor reason can preiudice or hinder the au­thoritie of daily experience.

That the vse of Opium deserueth to be ap­plauded of all Physitions, wee haue two prin­cipall and certaine assurances; whereof the former is not onely the certification of Peter Bellon aforesaid, but of a hundred honorable personages, who haue beene in Asia, and af­firme that the Turkes eate thereof in great quantitie almost euery day ordinarily with­out any mischāce or hurt to their bodies at al, which may in part be a sufficient demonstra­tion that Opium is not a thing so venemous and daungerous to the life of man, as some giue out and proclaime it to be.

But heere some (to small purpose) may tell mee that the Turkes may easi­ly digest Opium, how colde soeuer in re­garde of the hot Clime they liue in, where­as the Christians dwelling vnder a colder in Europe can doe no such matter: to whom I aunswere, that if it were graun­ted that Opium were of such qualitie as a­foresayd: yet whether a man could di­gest it or not, cannot bee Physicallie at­tributed to the temprature of the Cli­mate, but rather to the strong constitu­tion, or naturall vigour of the people; for [Page 12] the Turkes being from their very cradle more grossely brought vp and sed then the Chri­stians are ingenerall, become not only more able bodied and stronger thereby, but also more apt and able to eate and digest diuers things which the tender and nice Christians cannot iudure: and that the truth is so, Let vs but consider a little the difference of natu­rall toughnes and strength betweene a Chri­stian Paysant or Carle here amongst vs, and a Gentleman or Citizen; do not we see (I pray you) that the Paysant can more easily indure a purgation made of White Hellebore, Tithy­malls, Euphorbium or Colocynthis (which are accompted violent and venemous Medi­cines) then these tender sparkes aforesayd can brooke Rheubarbe, Mechoacan, Sena, Aloes or the Damaske rose.

But why the Turkes deuoure Opium on this fashion, ought rather to be imputed vnto an ordinarie custome, and common vsage among them, then to any other cause what­soeuer; euen as the Indians are accustomed to take Tobacco, which is a plant not onely Narcoticke and stupefactiue, but of a vio­lent and extreame vomitiue quality also. Notwithstanding we see that Christians, all Europe ouer, by little and little haue brought themselues into such a custome and habit [Page 13] thereunto, that they feele no alteration or preiudice at all ( as they thinke) by the vse thereof.

I make no question but a man might finde a number of people among Christians that if they cannot alreadie, could easily accu­stome themselues to eate Opium as familiar­ly, as they take Tobacco: although they could not vse [...]t in such quantitie, nor so often in regard it is a pure essence and extract, which Nature hath seperated from its plant: For es­sentiall things are alwaies farre more ef­fectuall then grosse bee, for confirmation whereof we neede not doubt, that if a man should separate the rosinous and sulphurous substance of Tobaccao, and bring it into such a consistence as Opium is, and afterwards giue it vnto such as vsually take Toba [...]co, they could not possibly indure the tenth part so much of this as of the leaues, as hath beene alreadie practised and tried.

There be some Empericks (I know) which giue crude Opium to their Patiens in as great or greater quantitie at a time then Discorides hath limitted, and that without any great daunger or hazard of life at all, onely cor­recting it a little with the powder of Cara­way-seed; and in case of necessitie I my selfe would not sticke, or make any scruple to [Page 14] vse it, yea I durst, if neede were, take two or three graines thereof at a time my selfe; for although I neuer did eate thereof hither­to indeed, yet haue I often tasted the same, and also receiued great quantitie of the sulphurous vapours, both into my stomacke and head in time of the preparation there­of without any perceiuance, or the least touch of any offence in the world: neuer­thelesse it is not my counsell that any Physi­tion should vse it crude in this maner, seeing we haue Art and meanes to prepare it other­wise.

The second assurance that wee haue con­cerning the vse of Opium, is in that wee finde and see that the most expert and wisest Phy­sitions of olde, found it good, and therefore prescribed this Medicine as a principall in­gredient, and as one of the most important ba­ses in their chiefest compositions, Alexiteries, Diaphoretickes, Anodynes, Cordialls, which naturally resist the most grieuous and vio­lent diseases that can any waies happen to humaine bodies, for which cause they vsu­ally call them Opiate Confections, as that of their Tre [...]cle of Andromachus, their Mithridate of Danocrates, their Triphera magna, Aurea, Alexandrina, Philomuim romanum, Requies Ni­cholai, and others, which they haue vsed as [Page 15] principall Medicines for these many hundred yeares and yet doe; for they are indeed the most pretious and necessarie compositions their ordinarie Apothecaries haue.

The causes which moued Ancient Physi­tions to put Opium vnto the foresayd con­fections are not few, seeing that its proper­ties are to asswage all inward paines, strengthē the passages & conduits which are open, loose, & disbanded: precipitate, disperse and consume these venemous vapours which are raised from one part to another: incrassat and thicken al subtill corros [...]ue & humors, by correcting their malignitie and acrimonie: stop and stay all fluxes as well Dysenterick as Menstruall: appease and extinguish all extremities in burning Feuers: prouoke naturall rest and sleepe to Distressed and Lunaticke persons: and finally, like a Balme defend the partes from corruption, which operations and effects are required in all compositions, which are generally orday­ned to resist the violence of diuerse diseases, in appeasing and repelling whereof some of these properties before named are or­dinarily desired, as Quercetanus in his Pharmacop [...]a (intreating of the vetues of Opium) affirmeth in these wordes, say­ing, Pauci en [...]m sunt morbi qui non simul [Page 16] complacentur vel ardoribus, vel inflammationi­bus, vel inquietudinibus, commotiomibus, la [...]guori­bus, oppressionibus, vigilijs, de [...]luxionibus vel var [...] generis doloribus, capitis, pectoris, ventricul [...], ven­tris vel cu [...]scun (que) alterius Patris: ad quorum omnium Symptomatum ferociam compescendam Opium specificam & peculiarem quandam habet proprietatem, qua vel vnum exhis Symptomatis seorsim, vel plura cum malo coniuncta, Simul cum admirabili astantium, & ipsorum aegrorum admiratione euincit ac subigit, vnde saepeumerò in e [...]usmodi casibus tam mirandos sanationum ef­fectus prodere videmus Theriacam, Muhridati­um, Antidotos Esdrae & similes, quae Opium exci­iunt, &c.

For there bee very few diseases which are not either accompained with heates, inflam­mations inquietude, preturbation, langui­shing, oppressions, watching, fluxes &c. for mitigating and [...]epressing of which Symp­tomes Opium hath a specificall and a cer­taine peculiar proprietie &c.

And this may serue to assure vs that wee may boldly vse Opium inwardly without any preiudice to life, yea rather for its better con­seruation being administred with iudgement and discretion as all other Medicines what­soeuer ought to be.

CHAP. III. Concerning the good and euill affects which Opium may produce in mens bodies.

THat Opium (as aforesaid) be­ing wisely administred to the diseased, produceth in them many good effects, and con­trariwise abused exciteth di­uers dangerous and mortall accidents, is in no sort doubted among discreet Physitions; but touching the cause why Opium doth worke these effects in mens bodies is dispu­table: for most Physitions impute it to that extremitie of the fourth degree of coldnesse wherewith it is endowed, and for proofe and confirmation hereof they produce an argu­ment drawne from the effects of its opera­tion in this manner: Opium (say they) pro­uoketh a vigilant or watchfull man to sleepe, and incrasseth thin and subtill humours: vi­gilancie, then proceeding (for the most part) from a hot and drie cause with matter or without, and the dissolution also of the hu­mours from the like distemprature, Opium therefore contrarying and impugning the causes of these effects must needes bee of the [Page 18] qualitie aforesayd, and for the further con­firmation hereof they alledge Galen, Plini [...] ▪ and others, who in like manner witnesse, that when Opium is vndiscreetly vsed, it causeth Lethargicke sleepe, priuation of sense, stupe [...] faction of members, suffocation of natural [...] heate, and death in the end.

But although I cannot like a cunning Lo­gician, frame sophisticall Syllogismes, or giue such luster to my reasons, as many would doe, which take greater pleasure in the Flo [...] of words, then in the veritie and realitie o [...] things, notwithstanding if it be lawfull for meere Naturalists in plaine and simple termes to discourse of such things, whereof they haue sufficient experience, I may (vnder cor­rection of those which know these things better then my selfe) deliuer my opinion also.

Opium then is not such a colde thing as they would haue it, as I can proue both by reason and experience; by reason in regard it is not onely bitter, but inflaming and ex­coriatiue, which are euident tokens of its hot qualitie and complexion; for so the wisest Physitions in the world iudge of bitter things: and the light of Nature it selfe teach­eth vs that none of the foure elements doe corrode, in [...]lame, or heate, but that of fire. [Page 19] Againe, its nature is knowne by its colour, for being of a darkish yellow, when it is dry­ed and powdered, it must needs be hot, as Aloes and Myrrhe, and all things of like co­lour be, especially if they haue any bitter tast adioyned.

By experience wee may well approue that Opium is not cold in two respects▪ first that when the Turkes eate thereof, they become cheerefull, couragious and fierce in warre, secondly that when one giueth two or three graines thereof to any sick person, and couer him warme in his bed, it will make him sweate more then any other Diaphoreticke, which operations can by no meanes proceed from any cold qualitie it hath.

But if a man should obiect amongst both. these reasons, saying, first the Turkes being of a hot constitution, and liuing in a hot clime, become more faint-hearted and cowardlike then those of colder temperatures, and there­fore Opium tempering that heate maketh him more frolicke and cheerefull accidentally; secondly, that if a man giue but a cup-full of cold water onely to a sicke man to drinke, it will questionlesse make him sweate &c. Whereunto I answere, that if the Turkes doe acquire force and courage by tempering their heate with cold things, they might very [Page 20] well spare that great labour and toyle they take in sowing their Poppie, and gathering their Opium, seeing that spring and riuer­water might stand them in as great stead, be­ing a cold liquor, and dispiercing it selfe in­to all parts of the body, as soone as it is drunke, but it is so farre short of Opium in quickening the spirits, and raysing the cou­rage, that it worketh quite contrary ef­fects.

And whereas they affirme that a cup of water (which is apparantly cold) will cause any sicke person to sweate, I answere, that if it cause one that is in a Feuer, or pestred with some other hot disease to sweate, as many times it doth, it proceeds not from any Dia­phoreticall or sweating qualitie, inherent in it, but commeth to passe rather, per antiperi­stasim, and accidentally, for like as water cast vpon a hot Anuile or burning stone, imme­diately rayseth vp vapours and fumes, [...]uen so doth water giuen to such a bodie, which after condensation, nature either expelleth by vrine or sweate, nor hath it this operati­on in all diseases or tempratures, whence it is manifest that water naturally cannot pro­cure sweate but by accident onely, as is said.

Now let vs returne to their arguments, [Page 21] which goe about to proue that Opium is cold in respect it prouoketh sleepe, thickneth the humours, and taken too liberally causeth daungerous Symptomes and doubtfull e­uents, which reasons (I affirme) are of no force in this behalfe, for first as Opium pro­uoketh sleepe to all those which are afflicted with hot diseases, so doth it also prouoke the same in all other causes without exception, yea although they bee of different qualities, as witn [...]sseth Auicen and others, who haue diligently noted the same: and as for the humours, Opium doth not onely incrafsate and thicken th [...]se which are of a hot quali­tie, but those also which are coldest of all, as that white and christalline humour which floweth and distilleth from the braine vnto the other parts, whence it appeareth that a man cannot produce such a necessarie con­sequence of the operation of Opium, as those men goe about to doe, for it we were tyed of necessitie to adhere and stand to the sence of the former arguments, it would conse­quently follow that all colde things would procure sleepe to the diseased, where no o­ther thing could effect the same: Item, that they onely appeased all inward grieses, in­crassed euery humour, hot, cold or how s [...]b­till socuer, and in briefe had the very same [Page 22] vertues that Opium before is described to haue, whereas ou the contrarie part no hot things could effect the same; but experience proueth it farre otherwise, for if Quick-siluer, the Magisterie of Lead (compared to Saturne) Salt-peter, or Allome (salts of a cold tempra­ture) or the water de Sper: Ran, which is thought to coagulate or congeale the bloud by its extreame frigidi [...]ie, if none of these (I fay) perform those effects which Opium doth, nor Ice nor Snow themselues rationally ad­ministred in neuer so large a dose, can pro­cure sleepe, or cease paines, but rather for the most part cause more vehement fits. Yet I will not deny that cold things may some­times, and vpon some occasions procure rest, though not alwaies when neede is, nor so surely at any time as Opium well pre­pared.

And as for hot things, they are for the most part so farre from causing disquietnesse to mens bodies, or subtilizing grosse hu­mours that quite contrary a man may finde many that will prouoke sleepe, and thicken subtill and virulent humours, rather and soo­ner then other of a colder qualitie, as we may plainely perceiue by Mirrhe, Aloes, Storax, Olibanum, Worme-wood, Betonie, Safran and such other, yea & Sulphur it self (the very fire [Page 23] of nature) doth not onely prouoke sleepe in some reasonable measure, but doth also in such wise coagulate and condense the subtill and hot humours, that it auaileth much the Pthysicall in staying their defluxions, and it is a thing most manifest amongst Spagirists that Sulphur can coagulate water, wine or Aqua-vitae in such sort that a man may beate them to powder in a morter, and after re­duce them to that naturall forme they were in before.

I am not ignorant, that a man may tell mee that things of a cold or hot nature, doe worke diuersely in bodies according to the diuersitie of the subiect they light vpon, as the fire which hardneth clay, and softneth waxe, and so of cold things, in like manner that Opium being extreamely cold, by that extremitie worketh in bodies, where other things of an inferiour degree cannot in any wise; but neither of the two reasons reach to the deapth of our dispute, for first Opium (the subiect of our discourse) worketh not in mens bodies in this or that manner by electi­on, according to the diuersitie of their tem­pratures and complexions, but doth indiffe­rently prouoke sleepe, and causeth all paines to cease of what nature or qualitie soeuer as aforesaid.

[Page 24]Secondly, putting the case that Opium were the coldest thing in the world, yet that small Dose, which we commonly vse to giue at a time, cannot exceed the great frigidi­tie of those things afore-named in their larger Doses.

Were it not a great absurditie, to be­leeue that one graine or two of Opium were colder then a dragme of Allome, prepared or crude, or one scruple of the Magisterie of Lead, or an ounce of the water of the Sperm [...] of frogges, or two ounces of the water of Nymphaa, or as an ounce or two of Quick-siluer, which some haue vsed to giue against the wormes and other maladies, all which passe through the bodie as cold as any ice, and manifestly coole the mouth, and other conduits where they passe, which one small Dose of Opium cannot doe, but rather con­trarily heateth both mouth and stomacke; whence you may gather that these reasons, and the like, are meere palliatiue and stuper­ficiall arguments, and fine gloses to enter­taine long chat, rather then to proue any coldnesse in Opium.

Now touching the Symptomes which Opium causeth being inordinately taken, Ex­perience her selfe teacheth vs, that Aqua-vitae (which is of a hot and subtill essence) being [Page 25] too abundantly ingurged, causeth semblable effects, for many being drunke with Aqua­vitae haue dyed, seased as it were with Stupidi­tie, priuation, of sense, Trembling, Lethargie; and indeed ended their liues in such manner, as if they had swallowed to much Opium, and be­came benummed and stiffe, as if they had di­ed in the very yee and snow.

Wine it selfe also causeth diuers Symp­tomes of Opium in them which abuse it, as wee may plainely see by the lamentable ex­amples vsed in diuers parts of the Papacie, where they commonly make those people drunke which are condemned to any vio­lent death, of whom some goe singing, and some rayling thereunto, and others as dull and senselesse as bruit beasts, none of them hauing any vnderstanding or memorie of their iminent slaughter, and which is worse, haue no true feeling of their sinnes, nor solide iudgement or discretion to re­commend themselues to the mercie of their Creator.

Wine (as all Authors affirme, and Expe­rience her selfe declareth) being abused, doth cause in processe of time Phrensie, Madnesse, Rage, Furie, Stupiditie, Lethargie, Palsi [...] and o­ther dangerous diseases, euen as Opium doth, and is notwithstanding an hot liquor, as all [Page 26] the world knoweth. Wee may then con­clude that Opium maketh not the Turkes fierce and couragious in warre, nor maketh the diseased to sleepe, nor appeaseth all in­ward griefes of the bodie, because of its cold qualitie, or by reason of its heate (although it manifestly appeare to be hot) but in regard of his operations, which doubtlesse procee­deth from a specificall and hidden proprietie wherewith it is indowed, euen as wee see in deiectorie Physicke, which purgeth neither by reason of any heate or coldnesse therein, but rather by a certaine specificall qualitie as is sayd.

Now as purgatiue Medicines rightly vsed, doe not onely euacuate Natures excrements, and bring the bodie to an excellent tempra­ture, but being abused doe mightily offend and bring dissolution to the same; euen so Opium well administred, endoweth the bodie with singular benefits, but abused and vn­temperatly giuen, worketh the contrary, whence it followeth that in the vsage of either of them, it behoueth the Physiti [...]n to be ruled by reason and experience, walking in a good conscience, and practising his Art in the best manner to Gods glorie and his Patients comfort.

CHAP. IIII. Wherein is shewed the Counsell and aduise of Theophrastus Paracelsus, concerning Medicines Narcoticall or Anodynes, and in particular that of Opium.

HAuing generally declared the opinion of ancient Physi­tions concerning the nature, vertue and vse of Opium, and the controuersies which are among moderne Physitions touching the qualitie thereof, it is not amisse to see now what Theophrastus Paracelsus (that great searcher and diuer into nature) saith in this behalfe.

This Author hath generally the vsage of Anodyne Medicines in such high esteeme and reuerence, that hee recommendeth them vnto his disciples as a principall pillor of the whole bodie of Physicke, assuring them that they are the most important remedies of all others to cure the bodies of men of the most grieuous diseases they are subiect vnto: In the seuenteenth booke of his Archidoxes and Chap. De Specifice anodyno, hee saith thus, that we should speake with great reuerence, and [Page 28] regard of the Anodyne or Specificall appeasor, we are moued by diuers reasons, for in par­ticular, wee haue met with some diseases, for cure whereof (finding no helpe or reliese a­mong our best secrets) the Specificall Anody [...] not without great admiration accomplished our desire, and this fell not out casually o [...] without reason, seeing it is the nature of Anodynes to extinguish diseases, euen [...] water quencheth fire. And in his first booke of Naturall things and Chapter D [...] Sulphure F [...]brionato, speaking generally in praise of those things which naturally pro­uoke sleepe, and are Anodynes, hee saith what greater secret would a Physition desire to possesse, then that which can cause all paines to cease, and extinguish all internall heate? hauing this, doth not his skill passe that of Appollo, Machaon or Podalyrius? Let a man consider a little this sentence, and marke with good iudgement the subiect thereof, and hee shall finde no iesting matter of it, In his Commentarie vpon the second Apho­risme of the second Section of Hippocrates, vb [...] somnus delirium, &c. Paracelsus speaking in the end of that exposition, concerning the benefit of wholesome sleepe, saith that sleepe is such a great secret in Physicke, that be­ing spoken without disgrace of other things, [Page 29] [...]ee would gladly haue any man tell him wh [...]re he can in all the world find such a reme­ [...]ie, which can ma [...]ifest such sodaine and [...]ctiue ease and reliefe, to the health of mans [...]odie as it doth.

Hence you may perceiue why these Ano­ [...]ynes (of what kind socuer) ought to bee so well regarded, esteemed and made accompt of among all Physitions▪ for seeing sleepe [...]s a Medicine farre surpassing all gemmes, & [...]ewels in the world, hee that knowes how to [...]pply this Somniferous secret, conueniently [...]nd in good season, ought to be held in great [...]ccompt and estimation among diseased people.

That Theophrastus doth also commend the vsage of Opium among his Anodynes, and Somniferous Medicines, it may easily appeare in the forenamed Chapter De Specifico Anod. wherein hee proposeth Opium onely without addition of other Somniferous things, to make that composition which he calleth his Anodynum Specificum, and attributeth vnto it this excellent proprietie, saying, that it cau­seth not the whole body of man to sleepe, but the diseases onely. In his booke De Morbis amentium, where he writeth of those that be Mad, Lunaticke, Phrantick, Epilep­ticke, &c. hee putteth the quintessence of [Page 30] Opium in the ranke before Aurum Potabile, Argentum Potabile, the Magisterie of Pearles, and all other pretious Medicines which bee ordained for these maladies.

Here some enuious Critick [...] (beside the pur­pose) will hit mee a blow on the blind side, saying how comes it to passe that these braue Spag [...]riques heale not all the patients that fall into their hands, seeing they brag of such singular secrets as these? of whom I de­maund the cause also, why they cure not all theirs, hauing such graue institutions, so­lid grounds and principall Medicines vsed ordinarily amongst them? This is not to proue that although Chymicall Medicines worke more citò, tutó & iucundè, by reason of their better preparation, and exaltation in power then other ordinary Medicines, that therefore they can surely ouercome and cure all hereditarie, inbred and incurable dis­eases, or such others which God for the ex­ercise of his iustice, hath inflicted and con­firmed vpon the bodies of men in such sort, that no Medicine nor skill in the world can cure. For,

[Page 31]In his booke De morbis resolutis, In his first booke of Minerall diseases, and in diuers other passages of his workes, hee maketh mention of Opium, with such great ho­nour and respect as any auncient Physition in commendation thereof euer did: after­wards concerning it's vsage hee mean­eth not that any man should administer it simple and crude, or grosly tempered and mixed with other Medicines before the due preparation, for in his first Chapter De Sulphure Embryonato, and his first booke de Reb. nat. hee aff [...]neth that Opium, Man­drage, and Henbane, containe in them some maligne substance, in regard whereof no man ought to vse them (if he worke wari­ly) before he haue reduced them into a quin­tessentiall f [...]rme, which indeed hath bin the principall occasion, that the Spagiricke Physitions (putting their hands to the plough) haue found the m [...]anes to prepare Opium into such a pretio [...]s and profitable Medicine that in all Spagi [...]icall and ordi­nary practise whatsoeuer, none other can bee comparable either for speedy or won­derfull operation, for w [...]ich onely Medicine all Christian Physitions and people, which know it, are eternally bound to giue the [Page 32] fountaine of all goodnesse, thankes, for his gratious guifts inspired into men.

CHAP. V. Of the inuention or meanes how to prepare Opium well, and wherein it generally cons [...] ­steth.

HAuing hitherto diuersly dis­coursed of Opium, in demon­strating its pretious and nece­sarie vse in Physicke, we [...] now goe about to shew th [...] effectuall manner of preparation, which the Spagirists vse, to the end wee may more fre [...]l [...] and safely administer the same, then the an­cient Physitions did, who commonly put the same into their Medicines vnprepared, which Quercetanus (in his Pharm. Dog. R [...]st. p [...] 186.) treating of the composition of Tre [...]kle, mightily complayneth of in these words, saying, De plorandus enim error est nobilis hui [...], alexipharmaci compositioni in tam magna, trium scilicet vnciarum dosi ad miscere tantum ven [...] ­nū quale Opium crudum & minus praeparatum esse constat. The errour of them is greatly to be lamented, &c. Which Quercetanus auouch­eth not to blame the inuention of auncient [Page 33] Physitions, nor the vertue of Treakle, which [...]ath beene, and yet is daily vsed with great [...]uccesse, but rather to insinuate and shew [...]ow much more warily & safely they should [...]aue delt in the vsage of Opium, then they [...]aue done heretofore, if they had as truely [...]nowne the Art Spagiricke, as wee doe now [...]d [...]ies; how bee it wee ought notwithstan­ding to take these things in good part which [...]hey haue reueiled vnto vs according to their [...]xperience, although the inuention of the [...]rue preparation of Opi [...]m, ought by all [...]eanes to be ascribed to Theophrastus Para­ [...]elsus, as principall and chiefe of the naturall Philosophers and Spagirists, who haue gene­ [...]ally written of the Chymicall preparation of all things in a manner, which are vsed in Physicke: where others on the contrary (in­ [...]reating of the Philosophers-stone) haue bu­ [...]ed themselues to besot and foole the world, [...]nd by that meanes haue rather seduced mens vnderstandings, then produced any [...]od fruits or workes of worth.

Now the best preparation of Opium, con­ [...]steth in three principall practises; the first [...] depriuing, or taking from it its Oleagi­ [...]ous, or sulphurous substance, wherein prin­ [...]ipally consisteth the euill, Narcoticall and [...]upefactiue qualitie; the second in correct­ing [Page 34] and mitigating its causticke and ad [...] [...]ing acrimonie, wherein it is almost parallel­led vnto Tithymalls, Spurges and other lacti­ferous corrosiues; and the third in accom­panying or mixing there with some suc [...] good additaments, and furtherers, as shalb [...] described hereafter.

CHAP. VI. Conteyning three manners, or waies to depri [...] Opium from its nar [...]oticall, stupefactiue an [...] nuisible Sulphur, which must be done be­fore its essentiall extract can be drawne.

IT is formerly said that Op [...] ­um is depriued and freed from its malignitie three manner of waies, the first (as Paracel­sus in his second booke D [...] morbis amentium saith) is by taking Opium, and mixing therewith certaine Aromaticall things, and reducing them into a Ma [...] with the rob or iuice of Quinces, and after­wards putting them, into a Quince, whose coare is first taken out; and lastly, hauing couered or infoulded the same in past, bak [...] it in an ouen like bread, and being taken out reduce or beate it into powder, and infuse i [...] [Page 35] in some conuenient liquor, whereby the es­sense or tincture thereof may be extracted, to which purpose he taketh the spirit of Vitrioll (composed against the Epilepsie) as a specifi­call furtherer in this case.

The second meanes, is to take Opium, and to cut it into small slices, and to put it into [...]a cleane Frying-pan, or vpon a Lamine or broad plate of yron, and with a gentle fire euaporate away its Sulphur, which will ex­hale or fume away like a grosse and stinking smoake, from which smell it is no [...] amisse to abstaine as much as may bee: some in the interim sprinkle it with a little rose Vinegar, and stirre it together with a Spatula or slice as it melteth like Aloes, and after spread it abroad vpon the sayd Lamine of yron, and so let it euapour away as long as any fume will arise, and vntill it become so drie that it may be powdred, alwaies bewaring that it burne not.

This manner of preparation is approued for good of Quercetane, and many other mo­derne Physitions, and I my selfe also alwaies obserue the same methode when I haue oc­casion to make any Laudanum for mine owne vse.

The third way is to dissolue the crude Opium in some conuenient liquor (as is sayd) [Page 36] and letting it digest and boyle easily, still scumming away the froath, and vnctuous Cremor swimming aloft, which indeed is its sulphurous malignitie, and reserue the rest for vse.

This manner of preparation is highly commended of Crollius in his Basilica Chy­mica, in the Chapter intreating of Lauda­num.

Of these three maners of preparing Opium before it be brought to an extract, let euery Physition make his owne choice.

CHAP. VII. How the [...]incture, quintesse [...]ce or (as some call it the substance of Opium) is to be ex­tracted, wherein his manifold vertues con­sist, and how to depriue or take away his maligne acrimony.

THE tincture of Opium (pu­rified from its sulphurous ma­lignitie as before) is ordina­rily extracted with Aqua­vitae rectified, or else with Vineger, iuice of Citrons, Oranges, Quinces or other egar and tart liquors, but of all these I make continuall choice of Vinegar, for egar [Page 37] things generally haue a naturall proprietie to correct all venemous things, and to qua­lifie and mitigate all those which haue any great Acrimonie, or any Causticke or aduring facultie, which a man cannot find that Aqua­vitae can by any meanes doe, and this is the reason that the most sage and auncien [...] Phy­sitions haue ordained that Scammonie [...]ould be corrected with the iuice of Quixces, which is an egar liquor: Euphorbium, the Hellebores, Esula, and other corrofiue and venemous Medicines, are commonly corrected with Vinegar, being therewith sprinkled or to­tally drenched: Antimonie (which is both of a vomitiue and purgatiue facultie as modern Artists know) being extracted in distilled V [...]negar, insteed of any alteratiue or nauseall qualitie, becommeth onely a Bezoardicke Medicine naturally prouoking sweate: Ar­senicke (that great poyson) and Mercurie sub­limate (that violent corrosiue) may bee so corrected by digestion with Vinegar, that a man may safely vse them in Chirurgery.

Vinegar and other sower and tart things are of such high esteeme among Physitions, that (in a maner) no man doth administer either Bezoar-stone, Vnicornes-horne, Terra­lemnia, Treakle, or any other preseruatiue to any sicke person, vnlesse they be mi [...]ed with [Page 38] Oximel-simplex, Syrupe of Quinces, iuice of Citrons, Pomgranates, Berberies, Sorrell or some other tart liquor; the which thing they doe not without great reason, considering that egar things ingenerall comfort the stomack, resist poysons, qualifie inward heates, and defend the parts from corruption; the which thing indeed Vinegar doth aboue all other vegetable things whatsoeuer, as may plainly appeare by its safe conseruation of all things from any corruption that are put therein, which neither the iuice of Citrons, Oranges, Pomgranates, nor any other thing can doe, vnlesse a man couer them with oyle and keepe them close from the ayre; and for my part I haue made sufficient experiment that the essence of Opium extracted with Vinegar is of greater efficacie, and more confortatiue then that which is drawne with Aqua-vitae, which liquor notwithstanding I mesprise not in regard it is a subtill and very excellent essence seruing many Me­dicinall operations, yet in this particular I doe in no wise approue or allow thereof, for many reasons which euery discreet Phy­sition can manifestly yeeld.

The meanes then to extract the Tincture of Opium (after it is prepared and powdered as aforesayd) is to put the same into a con­uenient [Page 39] glasse bodie hauing a strait or nar­row mouth, and that for euery ounce of Opium you poure ther [...]unto eight ounces of liquor at the least, be it Aqua-vitae, Vinegar or what other things soeuer the Physition pleaseth, and being well and close luted or stopped, let it be put in B. M. or set in the Sunne, or by a furnace, or neere the fire-side where it may remaine warme in digestion for the space of thirtie or fortie daies toge­ther, for by that meanes the Opium will begin to alter & change its acrimonious churlish­nesse altogether; for this maner of digestion doth much resemble the Suns operation, in concocting & ripening tart and crude things, & changing thē into a sweet, pleasant & de­lectable tast, as nature hath manifested by the example of Figs, which at first haue such a corrasiue and causticke kind of Milkinesse in them, which (as soone as it but toucheth any part of the body) rayseth pustules and blisters thereupon; which milkinesse not­withstanding is afterward conuerted by the Sunnes-heate into a delicate and sweet iuice.

Hauing thus accomplished the digestion of the Opium, his subtil part is easily separa­ted from the grosse by inclination or fil­tring; And his essence is afterwards easily [Page 40] brought into a required and due consistence by euaporation in B.M. and so may be well reserued for vse, as shalbe declared hereafter.

CHAP. VIII. Concerning the diuersitie of those opiating com­positions, which the Spagirists call Lau­danums.

THE Spagirists (imitating Paracelsus, who in diuers passages of his workes, term­eth Anodyne and mitigating Medicines Laud [...]nums) haue euer since retained that name of Opium so composed: which word signi­fyeth nothing else but a Medicine endowed with noble and singular vertues, and there­fore deserueth wonderfull comm [...]nd [...]tions, which moued Croll [...]us to blazen it in this ma­ner: Laudabile med [...]camentum, quod pl [...]ne suo nomine respondet si Laudanum dicas.

But the preparation thereof is diuersly handled, for euery Spagirist (for the most part) differeth from another, in one thing or other: For [...]irection wherein I haue principally made mention of foure prin­cipall-ones, according whereunto a man [Page 41] for his vse may comprehend all other what­soeuer.

CHAP. IX. Concerning the vertues and vse of all opiating Laudanums, aswell in generall as parti­cular.

HAuing alreadie set downe the manner how to prep [...]e Opium well, and to make excellent compositions thereof called Laudanums, it behoueth vs now to declare their vertues and vse for the better direction and aduer­tise [...]ent to them which shall haue occasion to vse the same.

CHAP. X. Confuting three erronious obiections which may be proposed against the vse of Lauda­num.

SOme 8. yeares since, [...]being in consultatiō with certain Phy­sitions, about a man which was troubled with a fluxe of the belly a month together, & at that time together with the same had a continuall Feuer, was depriued of naturall rest and mightily tormented with belly-ach, [Page 72] so that notwithstanding the vse of a great number of medicines, yet he was become ex­ceeding weake and feeble: vpon which oc­casion when it came to my turne to s [...]eake, I proposed Laudanum, for an excellent medi­cine in that case: but they vtterly disl [...]king the same, came vpon me with these three ob­iections following, which notwithstanding were not able to renverse or ouerthrow my opinion. To preuent therefore a mischiefe which may happen to some sicke persons for want of Laudanum, being denied the vse thereof vpon so slight reasons, I thought good for conclusion of this Treatise, to set downe their obiections and my refutation of them in manner as followeth.