Leechdoms, wortcunning, and starcraft of early England. Being a ...

LEECH ]]O0K. 1[. 22.')
smearings smear themselves. Of tlic cold nature of tlio Book ir.
^''- ^^'^"•
wamb ;
he who is of a cold mxture should avail him-
self of moderate discipline, as he who is of a dry or
moist nature. He who is of a hot nature, with hini
the luamh gathereth inflammatory humours ; these, if
they be low down, one must get rid of by wort drinks,
through purging of the wamb ;
if they mount up higli
one must get rid of them by vomitings.
XXVlll.
In case that the upper part of the bell}' is
filled with evil sordid humour, a thing which happeneth
to the men who in much continued drinking
take nutritious meats, or who spew, and chiefly after
meat, and who are subject to nausea, they are all
over blown as tvith wind, and the wamb is extended
and they frequently have breakings. To these men
one must give oxymel with radish ; that is a southern
leechdom : and then they soon spew up the thick corruption,
and it is well with them. Work up the leechdom
thus, from vinegar and from honey ; take the
best honey, put it over the hearth, seethe away the
wax and the scum, then add to the honey as much
vinegar, so as that it may not be very austere nor
very sweet ; mingle together, and set by the fire in a
crock, boil upon good gledes, clean and lively, till Lhe
TTiixture be mingled, so that it may be one, and have
the thickness of honey, and on tasting it the austere
sharpness of the vinegar may not be too evident. If
the wamb is full of wind, that cometh from lukewarm
humour ; the cold humour worketh sores. For
that shall one seethe cummin in ale, and seed of
march, and seed of more o' carot, and of dill. If
the chill be greater, then add rue, and leaf of laurel,
and seed of fennel sodden in oil. Then if the disease
still annoy, introduce this through a pipe or a horn, as
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