Introduction - Uppsala Monitoring Centre

and learned work of chirurgerie, called ‘Chirurgia parua Lanfranci
Lanfranke of Mylayne’ his brief: reduced from divers translations to
our vulgar or usual phrase, and now first published in the English
print by John Halle chirurgien. Who has thereunto necessarily
annexed. A table, as well of the names of diseases and simples with
their virtues, as also of all other terms of the art opened. ... And in the
end a compendious work of anatomy ... An historical expostulation 40
also against the beastly abusers, both of chyrurgerie and physick in
our time: with a goodly doctrine, and instruction, necessary to be
marked and followed of all true chirurgie[n]s. All these faithfully
gathered, and diligently set forth, by the said John Halle.’ Date: 1565.
Henbane: ‘There are three kinds: the black, the yellow, and the
white. The black is our common kind: whose seed causes madness,
and is not allowed. The yellow grows in my garden, the seed whereof
was given me, of master Roger Lee Doctor of phisick: which is better
than the black, but yet to be eschewed 41 as hurtful. That whose
flower and seed is white, I never saw as yet. It is only allowed
wholesome, being cold in the third degree, and is a narcotic, or
stupefactive 42 medicine: assuaging pain, and represses the
inflammations of the eyes: helps the gout, and assuages 43 the
swellings of the breast and stones.’
Opium: ‘…brought by art into a mass, must needs be like in
temperament to the poppy, whereof it is made: and is sayeth Galen
the mightiest among narcotic medicines, and causes dead sleep, but
ought rarely, in great extremities (and then warily) to be used. For it
strangles, and vehement pains are often eased therby (being used
alone) for some small time: after the which it returns more violently
then before. But in every doubt of this and his use: let master Turner
be to you a sufficient satisfier.’
Digitalis, mercury, willow and Hellebore foetides mentioned in ‘The
Physicians of Myddvai; Meddygon Myddfai’, or the medical practice
of the celebrated Rhiwallon and his sons, of Myddvai, in
Caermarthenshire (Wales), physicians to Rhys Gryg, Lord of
Dynevor and Ystrad Towy, about the middle of the thirteenth century.
40 Expostulation= a protest
41 Eschewed = avoided
42 Stupefactive = makes stupid
43 Assuages = relieves