2-2 
 
 ^yC^-C rfJw")/ 
 
 THE 
 
 WILLIAM R. PERKINS 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 DUKE UNIVERSITY 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/lettertotpesqietOOberk 
 
A 
 
 BETTER 
 
 /■ 'to 
 
 T— - P-, Efq ; 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 Author of SIRIS. 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 Some farther Remarks on the Virtues of 
 
 TAR-WATER, 
 
 AND 
 The Methods for Preparing and Ufing it. 
 
 Non Jibi, fed toti. 
 
 Nothing is more difficult and difagreeable, than to 
 argue men out ofth-ir prejudices i IJhall not, therefore, 
 enter into contro<verfies on this Subjecl, but if men difpute 
 and objeS, fkall leave tbe decijion to time and tryal. 
 
 Sir is, Se&. 6Zl 
 
 Second Edition, with Amendments. 
 
 DUBLIN; 
 
 Primed for R. Gvnne, M pcc xlxv. 
 
( 3) 
 
 LETTER 
 
 T O 
 
 T. P. Efq ; 
 
 FROM 
 
 The Author of SIRIS. 
 
 f. A MONG the great Numbers, who drink 
 l\ Tar Water in Dublin, your Letter inform* 
 JL JL me, theie are fome, that make or ufe it 
 in an undue Manner. To obviate thofe Inconveniencies, 
 and render this Water as generally ufeful as poflible, 
 you deiire I would draw up fome Rules and Re- 
 marks in a fmall compafs, which accordingly I here 
 fend you. 
 
 2 Four. 
 
(4 ; 
 
 i. Pous. a Gallon of cold Water on a Quart of liqaid 
 Tar, ftir, mix, and work them thoroughly together, 
 with a wooden ladle, or flat flick, Ur the l'pice cf 
 five or fix Minutes. Then let the Veflel Hand clofe 
 covered three Days and Nights, that the Tar may- 
 have full time to fubfide. After which, having firfl 
 carefully skimmed it, without moving the VtiTc), 
 pour off the clear Water, and keep it in Eotdes, 
 well corked, for Ufe. This Method will produce a 
 liquor ftronger than that firft published in Sjris, but 
 not offenfive if carefully skimmed. It is a good general 
 J? ale, but as Stomachs and Constitutions are various, 
 it may admit of fome Latitude. Lefs Water or more 
 ftirring makes it ftronger, as more Water or lsf$ 
 ftirring makes it weaker. 
 
 3 The fame Tar will not do fo well a fecond Time, 
 but may ferve for other common Ufes : The putting off 
 Tar that hath been ufed, for frefii Tar, would be a 
 bad Fraud. To prevent which it is to be noted, that 
 Tar already ufed is of a lighter brown than other 
 Tar. The only Tar that I have ufed is that from 
 our Northern Colonies in America, and that from 
 Norway, the latter being thinner, mixeth eafier with 
 Water, and feems to have more Spirit. If the for- 
 mer be made ufe of (as I have known it with 
 good Succefs) the Tar Water will require longer flir- 
 ring to make it. 
 
 4. Tar Water when right, is not paler than 
 French nor deeper coloured than Spanijh White Wine, 
 and full as clear ; if thare be not a Spirit very fenfibly 
 perceived in drinking, you may conclude the Tar 
 water is not good ; if you would have it good, 
 fee it made yourielf. Thofe who begin with it, 
 little and weak, may by Habit come to drink more 
 and ftronger. According to the Seafon ; or the Hu- 
 mour of the Patient, it may be drank either cold or 
 warm ; In Colics, I take it to be beft warm. H it 
 difgufts a Patient warm, let him try it cold, and 
 vice vjr{a._ If at firft it create to fome fqueamiih 
 
 Perfons 
 
Perfons a little Sicknefs at Stomadi, or naufcating, ft 
 may be reduced both in Quality and Quantity. In 
 general, fmall Inconveniencies arc either removed, or 
 bcrn with fmall Trouble; it lays under no Reftraint as 
 to Air, Exercife, Cloaths, or Diet, and may be taken 
 at all Times in the Year. 
 
 5. As to the Quantity in common chronical Indif- 
 pofitio.ns, one Pint of Tar Water a Day may fuffice, 
 taken on an empty Stomach, at two or four Times, 
 to wit, Night and Morning, and about two Hours after 
 Dinner and Breakfaft ; more may be taken by flrong 
 Stomachs. Alteratives in genera], taken in fmall Dofes, 
 and often, mix beft with the Blood, how oft or how 
 ftrong each Stomach can bear, Experience will fhewv 
 But ihcfe who labour «nder great and inveterateMaladies, 
 mult drink a greater Quantity, atleaft one Quart every 
 twenty four Hours, taken at four, fix, or eight GlafTes, 
 as beftfuits theCircumftances and Cafe of the Drinker. All 
 of this Oafs muft have much Patience and Perfeverance 
 in the Ufe of this, as well as of all other Mcdecines, 
 which, if fure and fafe, muft yet, from the Nature of 
 Things, be flow in the Cure of inveterate Chronical Dif- 
 orders. In acute Cafes, Fevers of all Kinds, it muft 
 be drank in Bed . warm, and in great Quantity, the 
 Fever Hill enabling the Patient to drink, perhaps a 
 Pint every Hour, which I hare known to work 
 furprifing Cures. But it works fo quick, and gives fuch 
 Spirits, that the Patients often think themfelves cured 
 before the Fever hath quite left them. Such therefore' 
 mould not be impatient to rife, or apply themfelves 
 too foon to Bufmek, or their ufual Diet. 
 
 6. To fome, perhaps, it may feem, that a flow 
 alterative in chronical Cafes cannot be ciepen led on in 
 Fevers and acute Diitempers, which demand imme- 
 diate relief. But I affirm that this fame Medicine, 
 which is a flow alterative in chronical Cafes, I have 
 found to be alfo a moll immediate remedy, when co- 
 pic ufiy taken, in acute and inflammatory Cafes. It 
 
 might 
 
(6 ) 
 
 might indeed be thought rafh to have tryed it in the 
 moil threatening Fevers and Pleurifies without bleed- 
 ing, which in the common Practice would have been 
 held necefiary. But for this I can fty, that I had 
 Patients who would not be bled, and this obliged me 
 to make Tryals of Tar Water without bleeding, which 
 Tryals I never knew unfuccefsful. The fame Tar 
 Water I found a flow alterative, and a fudden febri- 
 fuge. If the Reader is furprifed, I own my felf to 
 be fo too. But Truth is Truth, and from whatever 
 Hand it comes fhould be candidly received. If Phy- 
 ficians think they have a right to treat of religious 
 Matters, I think I have an equal Right to treat of 
 Medicine. 
 
 7. Authority I have no Pretence to. But Rea- 
 fon is the common Birth-right of all. My Reafons I 
 have given in Sir is. My Motives every one will 
 interpret from his own Bread. But he muft own him- 
 felf a very bad Man, who in my Cafe (that is, 
 after long Experience, and under full Conviction of 
 the Virtues and Innocence of Tar water) would not have 
 done as much. All Men are, I will not fay allowed, 
 but, obliged to promote the common Benefit. And 
 for this end, what I could not in Confcience conceal, 
 that I do and fhall publickly declare, maugre all the 
 Spleen and Raillery of a World, which cannot treat 
 me worfe, than it hath done my Betters. 
 
 8. As the Morning's Draught is inoft difficult to 
 nice Stomachs, fuch may leilen, or even omit it at 
 the Beginning, or rather poftpone it till after Breakfaft, 
 and take a larger Dofe at Night ; the Diftance from 
 Meal time need not be more than one Hour, for 
 common Stomachs, when the Liquor is well clarified 
 and skimmed. The Oyl that floated on the Top 
 and was ikimmed off, mould be carefully laid by, 
 and kept for outward Sores. In the Variety of 
 Cafes and Conftitutions, it is not amifs that there 
 
 mould 
 
(7) 
 
 &ou!d be different Manners of preparing and 
 taking Tar-water. Tryal will diretl to the 'bed: 
 Wnether there be any Difference bet wen old Tar or 
 new Tar, or which of all the various Tars, produced 
 from different Trees, or in different Parts of the 
 World, is moll medicinal, future Trials mult deter- 
 mine. 
 
 9. I have made a fecond Sort of Tar Water, to bs 
 tiled externally, as aWafh or Lotion for the Itch, Scab?* 
 Ulcers, Evil, Lcprofy, and all fuch foul Cafcs, which 
 I have tried with very good Succefs, and recommend 
 5t to the Trial of others. For inveterate Cafes of chat 
 Kind,TarWater fhould be drank, a Quart every twenty- 
 four Hours, at four, fix or eight Glaffes : and after this 
 bath been done at leaft for a Fortnight, the Lotion 
 is to be applied outwardly, and warm, by bashings 
 fomenting and fteeping, and this feveral times in the 
 twenty four Hours, to heal and dry up the Sores, 
 the Drinking being ftili continued. This Water, 
 for external Ufe, is made in the following manner: 
 Pour two Quarts of hot boiling Water on a Quart of 
 Tar, ftir and work it ftrongly with a flat Stick or Ladle, 
 a full quarter of an Hour; let it ftand fix Hours, 
 then pour it off» and keep it clofe covered for Ufc. It 
 may be made weaker or itronger as there is Occafion. 
 
 10. From what I have obferved of the Lotion, I 
 am inclined to think, it may be worth while ia 
 obftinate cutaneous Ailments, Leprofy and Weak- 
 nefs of Limbs, to try a Bath of Tar Water; allow- 
 ing a Gallon of Tar to every ten Gallons of, 
 boiling hot Water ; flirring the ingredients a full 
 half Hour ; fuffering the Vefiel to Hard ei^ht or 
 ten Hours before the Water is poured off; and ufing 
 the Bath a little more than Milk warm. This Expe- 
 riment may be made in different Proportions of Tar 
 and Water. In Dublin many Cafes occur for Tryal, 
 which are not to be met wivh here in the Country. 
 
(8) 
 
 -it. My Experiments have been made in various 
 Cafes, and on many Perfons ; and I make no doubt its 
 Virtues will foon be more fully difcovered, as Tar- 
 'Water is now growing into general Ufe, though not 
 without ti'iat Oppofirion which ufually atttends upon 
 ,NoveIty. The great Obje&ion 1 find made to this 
 Medicine is, th.it it promifes too much. What, fay 
 ahe-Objtclors, do you pretend to a Panacea, a thing 
 tango, chimerical, and contrary to the Opinion and 
 Experience of all Mankind ? Now to fpeakout, and give 
 xhis Objection or Queilion a plain and direft Anfsver, I 
 freely own that I fufpeft Tar-water is a Panacea. I 
 snay be miftaken, but it is worth trial : for the Chance 
 .of fo great and general a Benefit, I am willing to 
 ftand the Ridicule of propofing it. And as the old 
 Philofopher cried aloud, from the Hcufe-tops, to his 
 Fellow Citizens, educate jour Children ; fo, I confefs, 
 if I had a Srtuation high enough, and a Voice loud 
 enough, I would cry out, to all the Valetudinarians 
 wpon Earth, drink Tar Water, 
 
 12. Having thus frankly owned the Charge, I 
 mufl explain to you, that by a Panacea is not meant 
 a Medicine which cures all Individuals, (this confifts 
 met with Morrclity) but a Medicine that cures or re- 
 lieves a!! the different Species of Diftempers. And if" 
 God hath given us fo great a Blefling, and made a 
 Medicine (o cheap and plenty as Tar, to be with all 
 jlo univerfal in its ErTeds, to eafe the Miferies of hu- 
 raan Life, fhall Men be ridiculed or bantered out of 
 its Ufe, efpeciaily when they run no Rifque in the 
 Trial, For I can truly affirm, that I never knew any 
 harm attend it more than fometimes a little Naufea, 
 which if the Liquor be well cleared, skimmed and 
 fcottled, need not, I think, be apprehended. 
 
 13. It muft be owned 1 hive not had Opportunities 
 ■of trying it myfelf in all Cafes, neither will I under- 
 take to demooftrate a priori, that Tar Water is a Pa- 
 nacea. But ya mcthinka I am not quite deftitute of 
 
 probable 
 
I 9 > 
 
 probable Reafons, which, joined to what Fa£b 2 
 have obferved, induced me to entertain fuch a Sufp£» 
 cion. 
 
 14, I knew Tar was ufed to prefervc Cattle f;om 
 'Contagion ; and this may be fuppofed to have given 
 Rife to that Practice of drinking Tar Water for a 
 Prefervative againit. the Small-Pox. Bat as the Tar 
 Water ufed for that Purpofe was made by mixing e* 
 qu.il Quantities of Tar and Water, it proved a moft 
 pffenfive Potion ; befides, as a frefh Glafs of Water 
 was put in for each Giafj that was taken out, and 
 this for many Days on ti.e fame Tar, it follows thai 
 the Water was not equally impregnated with the 
 fine volatile Spirit,, though all alike itrongly faturated 
 With grofs Particles. 
 
 15. Having found this naufeous Draught xzr/ 
 uftful againit. the Small Pox, to as many as could be 
 prevailed on to take it ; I began to confider the Na« 
 sure of Tar. I rerk&ed that Tar is a Balfam flowing 
 from the Trunks of aged Evergreens j that it refills 
 Putrefaction ; that it hath the Virtues of Turpentine, 
 which in Medicine are known to be very great and 
 manifold ; but I obferved with all, that Turpentines 
 or Balfams are very offenfive in the taking : I there- 
 fore confidered diflir dlly the feveral constituent Parts 
 of Bilfams ; which were thofe, wherein the medi- 
 cinal Virtues refided, and which were to be regarded^ 
 rather as a Vifcous Matrix to leceive, arreit, and 
 retain the more volatile and active Particles ; and 
 if thefe laft could be fo feparated and dilengsged frona 
 the groffer Parts as to impregnate a clear and potable 
 Liquor, I concluded that fuch Liquor mull prove a 
 Medicine of great Force, and general Ufe. I consi- 
 dered, that Nature was the belt Chymift and Pre- 
 parer of Medicines, and that the Fragrance and 
 Flavour of Tar argued very attive Qualities and 
 Virtues. O % 
 
 16. f 
 
C io ) 
 
 1 6. I had, of along Time, entertained an Opi- 
 nion, agreeable to the Sentiments of many ancient Vhi- 
 lofophcrs, That Fire may be regarded as the Animal 
 Spirit of tins vifible World. And it feemed to me 
 that the attracting and fecreting of this Fire in the va- 
 rious Tares, Tubes, and Duels of Vegetables, did im- 
 part their fpecifick Virtues to each kind ; that this 
 fame Light, or Fire, was the immediate inftrumental 
 or phyfical Caufe of Senfe and Motion, and confe* 
 QU'ently of Life and Health to anim.ils ; that on 
 Account of this Solar Light or Fire, Phcebus was in 
 the ancient Mythology reputed the Gcd of Medicine. 
 "Which Light as it is leifurely introduced, and fixed in 
 thevifcid Juice of old Firs and Pines, fo the letting it 
 free in Part, that is, the changing its vifcid for a vo- 
 latile Vehicle, which may mix with Water, and 
 convey it throughout the Habit copioefly and ineffen- 
 fively, would be of ii. finite Ufe in Phyfic, extending 
 to all Cafes whatfoevcr, in&fmuch as all Diftempers 
 2re in Effct a Struggle, between the Pis Vita and 
 the peculiar iMiafma or fomes morbi ; and nothing 
 iirengthens Nature, or lends fuch Aid and Vigour to 
 Life, as a Cordial which doth not heat. 
 
 17. The Solar Light in great Quantity during the 
 Space of many fucceifivc Year?, being attracted and 
 detained in the Juice of antient Evei -greens, doth 
 form and lodge iMelf in an Oil fo fine and volatile, 
 as mall mix well with Water, and lightly pafs the 
 Prime Vice y and penetrate every Part and Capillary 
 of the organical Syftem, when once exempt and 
 freed from the groffer naufeous Refin. It will not, 
 therefore, feem unreafonable, to whoever is acquainted 
 with the medicinal Virtues of Turpentine in fo many 
 different Dizlempers. for which it hath been celebrated 
 both by antient and modern Phyficians, and withal 
 reflects on the Naufea or Clog that prevents their full 
 Operation and Effect on the human Body; it will noti 
 I iky, i'eeui unreatbiublc to iucfl a one to fuppole, 
 
 cbat 
 
( " ) 
 
 that if this fame Clog were removed, numberlefr 
 Cures might be wrought in a great Variety 'of 
 Cafes. 
 
 1 8. The Dejideratum was, how to feparate the 
 a£Hve Particles from the heavy vifcid Subftance which 
 ferved to attract and retain, them, and fo to order 
 Matters, that the Vehicle of the Spirit mould not on 
 the one hand be volatile enough to efcape, nor on the 
 other, grofs enough to offend. For the performing 
 of this, I have found a molt eafy, fimple, and effec- 
 tual Method, which furnifheth a potable inoffenfive 
 Liquor, clear and fine as the bed White Wine, 
 Cordial and Stomachic, to be kept bottled, as being 
 endued with a very fenfible Spirit, though not fer- 
 mented. 
 
 19. I tried many Experiments as to the Quantity' 
 of Water, and the Time of ftirring and (landing, in 
 order to impregnate and clarify it, and, after all, 
 fixed on the forementioned Receipt, as the molt ge- 
 nerally ufeful for making this falutiferous Liquor well 
 impregnated, and not offend ve to common Stomachs, 
 and even drank with Pleafure by many : in which 
 the mod medicinal and adtive Particle?, that is, the 
 native Salts and volatile Oil of the Balfam, being dis- 
 entangled and feparated from its grofs Oil and vifcous 
 Refin do, combined together, form a fine, balfamic and 
 vegetable Soap, which not only can pafs the Stomach 
 and Prim,? Fi<?, buf alfo infinuate itfelf into the minut- 
 eft Capillaries, and freely pervade the whole Animal 
 
 Syftem ; and that, in fuch full Proportion and - 
 Meafure, as fuiteth every Cafe and Conftitution. 
 
 20. The foregoing general Confederations put 
 me upon making Experiments in many various and 
 unlike Cafes, which other wife I mould never have 
 thought of doing, and the Succefs anfwer'd my 
 Hopes. Philofophical Principles led me to make 
 fefe Trials,- and on thofe Trials is founded my 
 Opinion of the falutary Virtues of Tar Water ; 
 
 whicl* 
 
( li ) 
 
 Which Virtues are recommended from, and depend 
 on Experiments and Matters of Fact, and neither 
 (tend nor fall with any Theories or Speculative 
 Principles whatever. Kowbeir, thole Theories, as 
 I faid, enlarged my Views of this Medicine, led 
 me to a greater Variety of Trials, and thereby en- 
 gendered and nourifhed my Sufpicion, that it is a 
 Panacea. I have ^ecn the more prolix in thefe 
 Particulars, hoping that, to as many as ihall can- 
 didly weigh and confider them, the high Opinion I 
 Conceive of this Medicine will not fee.n altogether 
 an Effect of vain Prcpi ffcir.cn or blind empiric 
 JElafhneis, but rather the Ref'ult of tree Thought and 
 Inquiry, 2nd grounded on my bell Reafon, Judg- 
 ment, and Experience. Much Complaint is indeed 
 made cf the Iniquity of the Times. However, it is 
 h ped they will not condemn one Man's Tar water 
 for another's Pill or Drop, any more than they would 
 harg one Man for another's having flole a Horfe. 
 
 21. j hose wiiO have only tne Good of Man- 
 kind a Heart, will give this V.edecine fair play ; 
 if there be any who aft from other Motives the 
 Pub'ick will look (harp and beware. To,.do Jultice 
 to Tar Water, as well as to thole who drink it, re- 
 gard muil be had to the particular Strength and 
 Cafe of the Patients. Grievous or inveterate Mala- 
 dies muft not be treated as common Cafes. I cured 
 a horrible Cafe, a Gangreen in the Blood, which 
 had broke out in feveral Sore6, and threatened fpeedy 
 Death, by obliging the Perfon to drink nothing but 
 this Liquor for (cveral Weeks, as much and as often 
 as his Stomach would bear Common Senfe will 
 direct a proportionable Conduft in other Cafes. But 
 this muft be left to the Conscience and Discretion of 
 the Givers and Takers. 
 
 3*. A*r*% 
 
(»3) 
 
 22. After all that can be faid, it Is mod cer- 
 tain, that a Panacea founds odd, and conveys fome- 
 what /hocking to the Ear and Senfe of molt Men, 
 who are wont to rank the univerfal Medecine with 
 the Philofophers Stone, and the Squiring of the 
 Circle; v. hereof the chief, if not fole Reafon, I take 
 to be, that it is thought incredible, the fame Thing 
 fhould produce contiary Effects, as it mull do if it 
 cures oppofite Diftempers. And yet this is no more 
 than every Day's Experience verifies. Milk, for 
 Inilance, makes fome coilive, and others laxative : 
 This regards the PoiTibility of a Panacea in general ; 
 as for Tar Water in particular, I do not fay it is 
 a Panacea, I only fufped it to be fo. Time and 
 Trial will fhew. 
 
 23. But 1 am moll fincerely perfuaded from 
 what I have already feen and tryed, that Tar Water 
 may be drank with great Safey and Succefs, for 
 the Cure or Relief of moll, if not all Difeafes; 
 of Ulcers, Itch, Scald-heads, Leprofy, the foul Dif- 
 eafe, and all foul Cafes, Scurvies of all Kinds, Diforders 
 of the Lungs, Stomach, and Bowels, in Rheumatic, 
 gouty and nephritic Ailments, Megrims, inveterate head 
 aches, Pleurifies,Peripneumonies, EryfipeJas, Small-pox: 
 and all Kinds of Fevers, Colic?, Hyftericani all ner- 
 vous Cafes, Dropfies, Decays, and other Maladies, 
 nor is it of Ufe only in the Cure of Sicknefs, it is 
 alfo ufeful to preferve Health, and guard againft 
 Infection, and in fome Meafure even agiinfl old Age, 
 as it gives lailing Spirits, and invigorates the Blood. 
 I am even induced by the Nature and Analogy 
 of things, and its wonderful Succeis in Fevers of all 
 Kinds, to think that Tar Water may be veiy ufe- 
 fui agaiiiil the Plague, both as a Ptefervative and 
 a Cure. 
 
 24. But I doubt no Medicine can withftand that 
 execrable Plague of diftilled Spirits, wh ; ch do ail, 
 without Exception, (me Fire of the hot Sull impart- 
 ing 
 
( i4 ) 
 
 iag a cauftic and coagulating Quality to all diflilied 
 Spirits, whatever the Subject or Ingredients may 
 be) operate as a flow Poiion, preying on the Vitals, 
 and wailing the Health and Strength of Body and 
 Soul; winch Pell of human Kind is, I am told, 
 gaining Ground in this Country, already too thin 
 of Inhabitants. 
 
 J a fit, Iff, 
 
 F 1 N 1 & 
 
VOCABULARY, 
 
 O R 
 
 Explanation of certain Words 
 in Sins, not commonly un- 
 derftood. 
 
 Added by the Editor. 
 
 a B 
 
 Adforbent. Drawing in Qr fucking^ 
 Abfierfive. Cleanfmg. 
 Acids. All liquors and SiMancea that are foar^ 
 and four. 
 
 Acrimony, A fharp Quality in Bodies, ddtru&ive 
 to others. 
 
 Akobol. The fined and moll cxqui&ely raj:*fj\t 
 Spirits of V/ine. 
 
 .4®&Ju!L A Quality oppofitl 19 Asid. 
 
 g AitirttjvjSf 
 
c o 
 
 Alteratives* Medicine? which have no immmediate 
 fenfible Operation, but gain upon the Conititution by 
 changing the Humours from a State of Diftemperature 
 to a State of Health. 
 
 An afar c a A kind of Drop fy, fhewn by foft Swel- 
 lings in the Flefh, whrich dent ir, when prefled. 
 
 Analogy- Proportion or Relation between Things. 
 
 Anahfis. The refolving any Subflance or Thing 
 into its firft Principles. 
 
 Anodyne* A Remedy that alleyiates or quite takes 
 away pain. 
 
 Animalcules. Very fmall Animals, fcarcely dis- 
 coverable by the naked Eye. 
 
 Anti Scorbutic* A Remedy againft the Scurvy. 
 
 AntiHyJl cries. Remedies againft the Hyiterics. 
 
 Mntimbnf. A certain Mineral. 
 
 Aromatic. Spicy. 
 
 Arcane. Secret. 
 
 dilate. To make one Thing like another. 
 hma. A Difficulty in breathing. 
 
 Atmofpbtre. The Fluid that furrounds this Earth, 
 containing Vapours and Exhalations. 
 
 Ambient. Encompasfing. 
 
 Antiphlogifiic. That relieves Inflammations. 
 Attenuate. To thin. 
 
 (*\Jchtxy. An ill Habit of Body. 
 \j Chalybeate. Impregnated with Steel. 
 
 Cardiac' CordiaL 
 
 Cakhe. To burn to a Cinder* 
 
 Cauftich. Of a burning Quality. 
 
 CapU&riis. Small Arieritf or Veins in the Body, 
 as fine a* llaire. 
 
 Chrnu A confuted Mixture of Things. 
 
 Cbafm, A Gap. 
 
 CevdszfaUQn, A tlikkning or making any nataral 
 
 Body, to wke up U& Spate 0ft* H &4<2 U^ore. 
 
 Cjw&cjf. Delved: 
 
 Concretion* 
 
D I 
 
 Concretions. Gathering and flicking together of fe- 
 ver-! Partisliw in one Mafs. 
 
 Congenial. Of the fame Kind, or natural to any 
 Thing. 
 
 Comminution. A breaking or reducing to a fmallei" 
 I2se. 
 
 Corrofive. Of a gnawing or fritting Quality. 
 
 Corpufcles. The fmalieii phyfical Parts of thr 
 Body 
 
 Cooperating. Working together. 
 
 Culinary. Belonging to a Kitchen. 
 
 Chronical. Difeafes which are of long fianding. 
 
 Cuticle. The ontmoft shin Skin which cws:$ the 
 Body: 
 
 CoutefiQx. Cleaving together. 
 
 Calx. The powder of any Body burnt in a Cru- 
 cible. 
 
 CpitrifugaU That central force, by which Par- 
 ticles fly from eaeh other. 
 
 Cutaneous Eruptions. Breakings out on ihe Sk«i, 
 
 Coagulate, To thicken. 
 
 Cortical. The Vefiels of the Bark. 
 
 Coixifiing. A Being, emitting at the, fame Tiw'r- 
 >vivu another. 
 
 DEisrgent, Scouring or clflafliiag, 
 Decodion. Boiling a medicinal Lirt&or, rnatfe 
 of Roots or Herbs, &c. 
 
 Detibnt; ns. Parts fcyer«d or taken cJF fram. *ny 
 Thing. 
 
 Dendrographi z . A Treatifc on Ti?6, 
 Denfity. Thicknefs. 
 
 Deobjirutnt. Medicines which open ObHru&ion*. 
 Diaftole. The widening the Heart, when the Blood 
 Hows into it from the Lungs. 
 
 Diaphragm. A Mulcle which fepar-ates the Breuft 
 from the Belly. 
 
 P 2 Diophrefis* 
 
E X 
 
 JXi&phtriJh. A fending forth of ill Humours by 
 the Por^s of rhe "Body. 
 
 Diaphoretic. A Medicine which caufc* Sweat, or 
 Respiration. 
 
 Ihfintsriis. Blao-Jy Fluxcr, 
 
 £>reary. Sorrowful. 
 
 Jjiurtih. Which provctai or canfes Urinf. ' 
 
 ETjlu%ia. Vapours which pafs thro' the Por«. 
 rirJTtn:e. A he? ting, or vehement Motion 
 of -'■■• . • . : r ic'esupon the Mixture of certain Fluids, 
 .or natural Bodies. 
 .Mlajlic. Sp::' 
 Elaborate % 
 
 ity. The Quality that Amber, Sealing- 
 , &c, hafe, q{ ■ Bodies to them whtn 
 
 Emanation* That which flows from another. 
 To fet at Liberty. 
 tics. Medicines which caufe vomiting, 
 {jeftring. 
 Epidemical. A general contagious Diftemper. 
 
 : 'elas. A Diieafe called St. Anthony's Fire. 
 \ ofions. An eating, or wearing away with fharp 
 Humours. 
 
 Eruptions. Breakings out of Pimples, or Spots on 
 |he Skin. 
 
 Evaporate. To diflblve into Vapour. 
 Evacuation. Emptyings. 
 Eventifotion, blowing with Air. 
 Txcrtmentitious. Of the Nature of Excrements, 
 Excretions. Grofs or ufelefs Parts, feparatcd nnd 
 call out /rem the Blood. 
 
 Exhalations. Particles breathed forth, or raifed by 
 the Sun from Codies. 
 
 Expeclorated. Phlegm difcharged out of the Breaft 
 by Spitting, 
 
 Exfadatiotis. 
 
h y 
 
 Exfudatiom. Sweating out. 
 
 Expan/ion. Enlargement into a greater Space* 
 
 Evolution, Unfolding. 
 
 Extro'vafated. Out of the proper Place. 
 
 FEbrifuge. A Medicine which cures the Fever. 
 Fermentation. An inceffant Motion of the in- 
 ward Particles of a mixed Body, 
 
 Fibres. Small Threads of which the larger Part* 
 of Plants and Animals are made up, 
 
 Filtration, Straining of any Liquid, which ad- 
 mits only the finer Parts to pafs. 
 
 Focus. Is the Point of Convergence, or Con- 
 courie, where the Rays meet and ciofs the- Axis;, 
 after their Refraction by Burning-Glafs. 
 
 Pliable, Eafily crumbled, or rubbed into fmaJl. 
 Parts. 
 
 Fugacious. Flying off, or vaniihirg* 
 
 GAngrt&ne. A beginning Mortification^ 
 Genial. Pleafmg, Natural. 
 Germinated. Spouted cut, put forth. 
 Glands, bicihy Kernals, in the Humaa Body, 
 Whole Ufe is to feparate the Fluids. 
 Grumous. Thick, cr clotted. 
 
 H. 
 
 J[Exn*cn?L Of fix equal Sides,, md as ra&x\f 
 JL Angles. 
 
 Hectic. A How continual Fever. 
 Hepatic. Belonging to the Liver. 
 Heterogenous. Or different Kinds, 
 Homogeneous, Of the fame Kind, 
 
 P % HipJtm&lm&tk 
 
Hyjccondriacaf. Troubled with the Spleen. 
 Hypotbefts. SuppoficioD. 
 
 Hyfterics. A Disorder arifing from weak Nerves, 
 or a Defect, in the Animal Spirits. . 
 
 IChorcus. Sharp anJ watery. 
 LLi.tity. The Samenefs of a Thing. 
 
 Idofyncracy. Peculiarity of Temperament or Cca- 
 ilici:t!on. 
 
 Ignited. Fired. 
 
 JUapfes Gentle fallings into; 
 
 imbibe. To fuck or drink in. 
 
 Infufion. A Liquor wherein a Plant or Drug hath 
 been iteeped. 
 
 Inflammatory, Of a fiery angry Nature. 
 
 InfpiJ/lited. Thickned. 
 
 Jnofculatidns, Joining the Mouths of the capillary 
 Vcifcls. 
 
 Infulars. Living in J {lands. 
 
 Incinerating* The reducing of Bodies into AJheSj 
 by F 
 
 ./■;. .\ ■■;':!. Lying between the R 
 
 Jnjfi ■ '. us. Happening in an Inftant. 
 
 higenerabk. Thai: cannpt be engendered. 
 
 Inebriate. To iimhc drunk. 
 
 L. 
 
 Lah. Slender YMTeis for the conveying of the 
 Chyle. 
 Intern*. A quality contrary to too great a So-" 
 itign. 
 
 jgamettts* Bands. 
 lixi<vi*I. An Alcalj extracted from cakined 
 Herbs, by Means of boiled Lyz. 
 
 Luciform. Shining, or the Form of Light. 
 tbratiens, Performances of iluiious Peri' ns. 
 
 iutior. 
 Lip 
 
O 3 
 
 M. 
 
 Materia Medica. Whatever is ufed in the Art of 
 Medicine, for the preventing and cure of Difeafes. 
 
 Macrocofm. The whole World. 
 
 Magnetifm. The Quality oi the Load-Stone, 
 
 Maturated. Ripened. 
 
 Matrix. A Womb. 
 
 Menjiruum. A difolving Liquor. 
 
 Medicated. Cured or prepared. 
 
 Mechanijm. Mechanic Powers aad Engines ci" 
 artificial Inftruments. 
 
 Menbranes. Nervous Coverings. 
 
 Metapbyficks. Difcourfes on God and feparajtc 
 Beings. 
 
 Microcofin. The little World, or A-fan. 
 
 Mifcible. That may be mingled or mixed* 
 
 Momentum. Weight and Motion. 
 
 Morbid. Diitemper'd. 
 
 Mundane. Woridly. 
 
 Muriatic^ Of a briny Quality. 
 
 N. 
 
 NJfcent. Arifmg, beginning, 
 Naufea. A Loathing. 
 Nephritic. Belonging to the Reins. 
 Neutral Salts. Such as are neither Acid nor 
 Alkali;. 
 
 Nifus* A Tendency of one Body towards another. 
 
 O. 
 
 OBfiruclicns t Stoppages, 
 Obtufe. Blunt. 
 Organized. Furnilhed with jd-oper Organs. 
 Ofcillations. Vibration?, like a Pendulum of & 
 
 ClOCfe 
 
 Parotitic, 
 
R E 
 
 p. 
 
 PAralitic. Troubled with the Palfie. 
 Paregoric. Medicines which afluage or eafe 
 Pains. 
 
 Peripneumany. An Inflammation of the Lungs. 
 
 Peripateticks. The Difcipl«s of Ariflotle. 
 
 Percolation. A itriining through. 
 
 Peccant. Humours of the Body that contain forae 
 Malignity. 
 
 Permeated, Ptntt rated. 
 
 Pervade, To go through.' 
 
 PiJ/ilaum. Oyle made of Pitch. 
 
 Pharmacy. The Apothecary's Art. 
 
 Pfotcxomendn, or Phar.o?nena. Appearance, or Ap> 
 pearances of a natural Body, which offer themfelves 
 to the Confideration of a natural Phiiofopher. 
 
 Platonijls. Followers of Plato. 
 
 Plaftic That Faculty which can faihion or form 
 any Thing. 
 
 Prim* Via- Fir& Pa (Tag es. 
 
 Porof.ty. The having of Holes. g 
 
 Propelled. Driven forv 
 
 Preexifling. Having a being before hand. 
 
 Proximate. Near. 
 
 Primeval Of the fijrft or moft ancient Time.. 
 
 Preciptate. To fink down. 
 
 Pu^er.t. Pricking, tharp. 
 
 Purulent. Of a mattery, or corrupt Nature. 
 
 Pus. Matter or Corruption. 
 
 Parexyfm, The Fir, hti^ht, or Violence of any 
 Difeafe. 
 
 R 
 
 R. 
 
 ArefaShn, Making the Parts- cf any Body 
 tn than rjiiy did before. 
 attw. A Medicine for xeftoring Strength. 
 Cooling. 
 
T R 
 
 Reminifcettce. Recolle&ion or calling to mind. 
 Reclor. The higheft and moll exalted Spirit, that 
 *an be Operated from mixed bodies, 
 
 S Aline. Salt or brinifli. 
 Secretory. Seperating one Fluid from another. 
 
 Scorbutic. Of or belonging to the Scurvcy. 
 
 SenfathH, The perceiving things by the Senfes; 
 
 Seminary A Seed Plot, or Nurfery. 
 
 Segregating. Seperating or putting apart. 
 
 Strophahus. Scorbutick Swellings and Sores, S3 
 the King's Evil. 
 
 Saponaceous. Of a foapy Quality. 
 
 Soluble. That can be difolved. 
 
 Spafms. Cramp or Contractions of the Sinews, o? 
 Nerves. 
 
 Specific. Peculiar to a Sort or Species of Things. 
 
 Stimulates. A pricking that irritates. 
 
 Sudorific. Provoking or caufing Sweat. 
 
 Subtilized. Made fubtle or tfrn. 
 
 Sublunary. Under the Orb of the Moon. 
 
 Sublimation. Raifing the Pazts of heavy Bodies by 
 Fire. 
 
 Sulfide. Sink or fettle. 
 
 Syfio/e, Contraction. 
 
 T. 
 
 'AngibU. Senfible to the touch. 
 
 Tartarous. Of or belonging to Tartar. 
 Terraqueous* Compounded of Earth and Water. 
 Tegument. A Covering. 
 Tepid. Lukewarm. 
 Tubes. Pip#s or hollow Veflels. 
 Tunics. Coats or Coverings. 
 Tudiutn <vit&. W«arifomenefs of Ijfy, 
 Tumours. Swellings. 
 Trachta* Wind Pipe. 
 
V E 
 
 v. 
 
 VAcuo. An empty Vcffel from which the Air has 
 been exhaufted. 
 Vapid. Flat or Spiritlef?. 
 Vaticination. Foretelling. 
 
 Vellkating. Irritating, a convulsive twilling of the 
 Fibres. 
 Vifcera. The Entrails, or Bowels. 
 Vibrations. Shakings. 
 Vigils. Watchings and Wakings. 
 Vifddity. Clamminefs or gluinefs. 
 Enlivening. 
 Making to grow hard and tranfparent 
 
 Vivifying. 
 Vitrifying. 
 like Giifs. 
 
 Vis vita. 
 
 Vinculum . 
 
 Volatile. 
 
 UncluouS. 
 
 Vulnerary. 
 
 Urinary. 
 
 Vehicle. What "a " Medicine h mixed with, to 
 
 CQnvty it through the J^o-.y. 
 
 Vital Faculty or Power. 
 
 A Bond or tye. 
 Apt to evaporate. 
 Fat or oily. 
 
 A Medicine good for Wounds. 
 Bt lodging to Urine. 
 
Errata Corrigenda. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Line. 
 
 
 J 7- 
 
 22. 
 
 r<W, alimentary. 
 
 25. 
 
 *7- 
 
 r. neutral. 
 
 37- 
 
 19. 
 
 r. convulfions. 
 
 6r. 
 
 28. 
 
 r. it is accounted. 
 
 75- 
 
 6,v 
 
 -*\ concave mirrour. 
 
 78. 
 
 27- 
 
 r. convertible. 
 
 tf/V. 
 
 29. 
 
 r. incorruptible. 
 
 81. 
 
 *3- 
 
 r. attributes. 
 
 86. 
 
 J 7- 
 
 r. is in. 
 
 88. 
 
 39 and 40. r. atorhs. 
 
 90. 
 
 21. 
 
 r. as the diftance. 
 
 94. 
 
 10. 
 
 r. phenomenon. 
 
 101. 
 
 6. 
 
 r. feem. 
 
 105. 
 
 32. 
 
 #*. mundane. 
 
 106. 
 
 20. 
 
 r. or alike. 
 
 107. 
 
 2. 
 
 r. analogy. 
 
 115. 
 
 9. 
 
 r. afcribed. 
 
 ibid. 
 
 19. 
 
 r. Locrenfis.' 
 
 Il6. 
 
 6. 
 
 r. he himfelf. 
 
 121. 
 
 38, 
 
 r. perhaps thought of, 
 
 122. 
 
 3 - 
 
 and 4. r. philofophy. 
 
 124. 
 
 34* 
 
 r. 77? or. 
 
 128. 
 
 9- 
 
 <&/<? fee. 
 
 ibid. 
 
 34- 
 
 r. ivTthiyiidui 
 
 I34. 
 
 «7- 
 
 r. a choir. 
 
 I36. 
 
 14. 
 
 r. depths. 
 
 I38. 
 
 9- 
 
 r. Synonimous, 
 
 I45. 
 
 2 5- 
 
 r. confidently. 
 
 In the Letter to T. P. after th* Word, Weaker, at 
 the end of the fccond Se&ion, page 4. infert the fol- 
 lowing Paffage.— — Ic is to be noted, that if feveral Gal- 
 lons are made at one* in the fame Veflei, you niuil add 
 five or fix Minutes ftirring for every Gallon. Thus 
 two Gallons of Water, and two Quarts of Tar require 
 ten or twelve Minutes ftirring. In page 13th, of the 
 Letter, Line 26, after the Words other Maladies, in- 
 fert what follows.- Note, that for Agues it mould be 
 
 drank warm, and often, in fmall Glaffes, both in and 
 out of the fit, »md continued for feveral Pays to prevent 
 a Relapfe. 
 
^m 
 
 mm 
 
 ■HSflwr 
 
 ■ 
 
 WOK' 
 
 "^vmS* 
 
 mm