The Hartlib Papers

[hand ?:]            Mr Robert Kueffler.

          The Vertues of the spirit of Nitre.

              for an extraordinary surfet.

The Patient lying in his bed, about 12 houres after the committed, whether proceeding from extraordinary drinking, eating, or an extraordinary cold after an violent exercise. Let him take about 12 or 16 drops in an anniceseed or stomack water [hand K:] in such a case it causeth immediately sleepe accompanied with much sweating & cureth in about an howres space he or shee will perfectly recover being in the vigour of their age in about six minutes time if they repeate their dose about three or foure minuts after with about six drops in spirit of wine.

                    For the Colick

Take to two or three spoonefuls of an extraordinarie good aniseseed water strong, of the Oyle of aniseseed 10, 12 or 16 drops according as necessitie requireth, and apply a little Oile of Nutmegs dropt upon some cotton to the Navel, it is best taken lying in bed, in causeth immediately sleepe, accompanied with some sweating after which the patient will not faile to receive extraordinarie ease. but in all occasions, and at all times it must be used fasting, and the patient must fast about an houre after

                    For a tertiane Ague.

Let the Patient be laid in a warme bed when the cold shaking cometh upon him let him take 12 or 16 drops of spirit of Nitre in aniseseed water Angelico or stomack, after cover him close this will cause two or three gentle Vomits, accompanied with sleepe & much sweating; cureth commonly after

                    For a quartane Ague

The effects of this remedie is beyond all expectation, if it be taken betimes afore it hath gotten a head, and sometimes cured with one onely dose if it be applyed betimes at the very first taking the Ague tarrieth out 3 weekes if the patient chanceth to Vomite. the best way for its application is, to cause some spirit of Garlicke to be made on purpose, you may sweeten it with a little sugar dissolved in warme water when the cold fit cometh observing the former direction of 14 or 16 drops in a spoonefull or two of this Spirit every morning or at night, if the Patient will resolve to faste after it is taken. Let a spoonefull be taken with a few drops. with this remedie I have cured one after the chief Doctours have judged him incurable.

                    Gout & Gravell

As for the Goute & Gravell Monsieur de Roches Esqu. Counsellour & Physitian to the King of France Lewis the 13 in his Triomphe des Veritez Philosophiques giveth us the names of severall Persons of qualitie, that have been cured by his application of this spirit, of which he writes mystically if being prepared in a Phylosophicall manner of so great a concernement to be revealed to the ungratefull multitude. but an Instance of its excellencie for the gravell, an ingenious persone a friend of mine living in Fanchurch Street against the little Church by name William Shephard, being troubled two or three yeares with Goute, Gravell and a little shaking in his hands after any extraordinarie drinking, I advised him to take every morning 5 or 6 drops in a Glasse of white wine, and to faste an houre after. but he exceding my prescription

               Vertigo or swiming in the Braines

This is easily and speedely cured if it doe not proceed from a Consumption.

          Paine in the head proceeding from a cold.

Is cured immediately if taken fasting.

                    The Night-Mare.

Is prevented if it be taken at night, and the patient faste at night after the taking. but because there is nothing soe excellent, but if it be taken improperly and at undue seasons, may prove prejudiciall to the patient, take these few Cautions for the use of it

     It is hurtfull & dangerous for them which have a consumption and therefore they may not take it.

     It must not be taken by them that are much constiped or bound in their body, accompanied with some inflammation, except the humor peccant be first evacuated by purging.

     It must allwayes be taken fasting, and never upon a full stomack.