MEDICINAL CURES, ASTRONOMY, MAINLY IN ENGLISH
19th cent. Paper. 15.5–16.5 × 18–19.5 cm. Pp. 60, with scribal pagination 19–42, 11–[12], [13]–14, 43–8, 51–76. Scribe: Martin Driscoll [Bawnard, par. Grange, bar. Decies-within-Drum, Co. Waterford], 1855 (p. 66).
Bound in quarter green rexine, with leaves stapled; one endpaper at front and back; date of writing inside front cover and (underlined) back cover. Collation obscured by binding, but pp. 11–14 misbound between pp. 42 and 43; lacuna in text owing to loss of leaf foll. p. 48. Double columns, ruled in pencil (rectos only), 12–18 lines. Pp. 11–14 mostly torn away with loss of text, but upper inner corners, bearing fragmentary text, survive. English throughout save for glosses (pp. 38, 39, 48, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) and charm (p. 57) in Irish. Scribbling in pencil, pp. 26–7, 66–8, 76. Manuscript in reasonably good condition; page numbering occasionally damaged due to marginal cropping (e.g. pp. 52, 71–3); occasional slight loss of text due to marginal cropping (e.g. p. 53, upper margin; p. 67, outer margin); staples rusted with resultant staining at spine; leaves lightly stained throughout; heavier staining pp. 19, 47–8, 51–6, 76; upper outer corner of pp. 23–4 torn away with slight loss of text; pp. 75–6 creased and slightly torn.
Manuscript gifted by its previous owner to Risteárd Neancól N.T. (1908– 1958), grand-nephew of Martin Driscoll (fl. 1855), its scribe (see also MS Lincoln 1); it subsequently passed to Risteárd’s widow, Siobhán Lincoln (1919–2011), who had it bound by W. G. Field, Printing Works, Youghal, c.1960; manuscript now owned by Siobhán’s son, Richard Lincoln, Ardmore, Co. Waterford (Risteard de Lioncól, ‘Siobhán Ní Mhurthuile, Bean de Lioncól, 1919–2011’, An Linn Bhuí 15 (2011) 155–7: 157). Previously noticed in Siobhán Lincoln, Ardmore: memory and story (Ardmore 2000) 159–60, 192.
Note that in the description below cross-references to the following printed works are given in cases in which these works can be reliably identified as the ultimate authority for the item catalogued: Nicholas Culpeper, The English physitian enlarged: with three hundred, sixty, and nine medicines made of English herbs that were not in any impression until this (2nd ed., London 1653 (USTC No.: 3066212); first ed., 1652); John Gerarde, The herball or generall historie of plantes. Gathered by John Gerarde of London (ed. Thomas Johnson, London 1633 (USTC No.: 3016965); first ed., 1597); John K’Eogh, Botanalogia universalis Hibernica (Cork 1735; ESTC No.: T145176); Thomas Lupton, A thousand notable things, on various subjects (ed. London 1793 (ESTC No.: T112101); first ed. [1579]); and John Quincy, Pharmacopoeia officinalis et extemporanea: or, a complete English dispensatory, in four parts (11th ed., London 1739).
p.
19 a1. ‘For the Liver Complaint.’ Beg. 3d worth Hicra picra pound in mortar. Ends (p. 19b7) for 3 mornings. and every 3.rd after.
19 b8. ‘For the Scurvy.’ Beg. 1d worth of white pricipitate powder. Ends with p. 19 this is to be rubed.
20 a1. ‘For the Piles.’ Beg. 1 ounce of the dryed oak bark in a pint and a half of water. Ends (p. 20a10) citron ointment applied twice a day will cure them.
20 a11. ‘How to Cure Corns.’ Beg. Take a piece of lean beef about the size and thickness of a crown piece. Ends (p. 20b3) and the cure will be certain.
20 b4. ‘For the hooping Cough.’ Beg. Take of the flowers of furze one handfull. Ends (p. 20b11) a wine glass to be taken 3 or 4 times a day.
20 bx. ‘For Epilipsy.’ Beg. Houseleek dried in an oven. Ends (p. 21a2) an equal quantity of sugar morning and evening.
21 a3. ‘Receipt for Piles of long standing one of the best ever administered.’ Beg. Take of Ammoniated copper ½ Drachm. Ends (p. 21a10) it never failed.
21 a11. ‘For the asthma.’ Beg. The roots of Marshmallows a decoction of it. Ends (p. 21b1) its the best in the world be sure of it.
21 b2. ‘For the Hiccup.’ Take ½ a drachm of the Tincture of the M [e]adow Saffron 3 times a day.
21 b5. ‘For Scold Head.’ Take of oil of Turpentine one ounce olive oil 2 Drachms mix and apply.
21 b9. ‘For the Headache’ about a pint of gruel with a little peper and salt every night.
22 a1. ‘The Piles the following simple remedy was given me as a certain cure for the Piles.’ Beg. Take a handful of the common strong nettle. Ends (p. 22az) taking this is certain.
22 b1. ‘For the jaundice.’ Beg. Take the white of 2 eggs. Ends (p. 22b7) take this quantity twice a day.
22 b8. ‘For the bloody flux’ give a heaped spoonful of common Resin powdered in a little fresh broth every 5 or 6 hours till the flux ceases.
23 a1. ‘Lilly of the Valley.’ Beg. grows about a foot and a half high. Ends (p. 23b7) the roots and hogs grease is excellent for scold heads. Cf. Culpeper, 143 (‘Lilly of the Valley’), 143–4 (‘white-Lillys’).
23 b8. ‘An approved medicine for any ache or swelling. and likewise for sinews shrunk or perished.’ Beg. Take a good quantity of the flowers of cammonile. Ends (p. 24a2) and it will help it.
24 a3. ‘For the Chincough.’ Beg. Take a mouse and flea it. Ends (p. 24a10) this is also good for them that cannot hold their water, Probatum. est. For a similar receipt, see Lupton, 5 § 25. Transcribed from this manuscript, Lincoln, Ardmore, 192.7–11.
24 a11. ‘Pleeiurasy / An expereinced medecine for pleurisy.’ Beg. Take brooklime sheeps suet. Ends (p. 24b4) this hath been truly p[r]oved
24 b5. ‘For the Headache or [magrim cancelled] / megrim and is a good medecine to take away any extreme ache or swim[i]ng in the head.’ Beg. Take rosemary. Lavender flowers. Ends (p. 25a10) although it be ever so extreme or grievous. this hath been proved.
25 a11. ‘For the Headache / an Excellent good medicine for any manner of ache or pain in the Head.’ Beg. Take roses cake and wet it. Ends (p. 25b8) and this will speedily help him Probatum est.
25 b9. ‘For the Headache.’ Beg. Take the juice of rue (otherwise called herb grace). Ends with p. 25 Probatum est also this herb sodden in white wine doth the like.
26 a1. ‘The Kidneys.’ Beg. There are 2 in number one on each side. Ends (p. 26a10) the use of the kidneys is to sepirate the urine from the blood.
26 a11. ‘Swallow worth.’ Beg. Fragus says that by applying this herb to the soles of the feet. Ends (p. 26b2) through all parts of the body.
26 b3. ‘Com[f]rey.’ Beg. is better than any of the two former. Ends (p. 26b7) the roots to be used. Cf. Quincy, 98 § 129.
26 b8. ‘Yarrow.’ Beg. Schroder highly extols it for a drier. Ends (p. 27a1) in ruptures and all manner of weaknesses. Corresponds to Quincy, 99 § 135 (lines 1, 6–z).
27 a2. ‘Red roses.’ Beg. the leaves steeped in vinegar. Ends (p. 27a5) being applied to the temples. Corresponds to Quincy, 99–100 § 141 (lines w–z).
27 a6. ‘Roman Wormwood.’ Beg. it astringes Incides Discusses. Ends (p. 27b5) and bad digestion it is hard by ever omited. Corresponds to Quincy, 111 § 200 (lines 25–38).
27 ‘For the Headache.’ Two receipts. Beg. (a) The juice of Ground Ivy snuffed up into the nose. Cf. Lupton, 42 (§ 17). (b) The leaves of the Elder made hot between two stones (p. 27b11). Ends with p. 27 cures the Headache. Cf. Lupton, 53 (§ 3).
28 a1. ‘For Deafness.’ Beg. The juice of the buds leaves and inner rhind of the Elder. Ends (p. 28a8) but cures the Deafness. Cf. Lupton 54 (§ 5).
28 a9. ‘Antichoke’. Beg. a decoction of the root taken doth strengthen the stomach. Ends (p. 28b4) but you must take the pith clean away.
28 b5. ‘The saven tree.’ Beg. procures abortion good for cleaning foul ulcers. Ends (p. 28b11) of great service against worms. Cf. Quincy, 87 § 75.
28 bw. ‘Penny Royal.’ Beg. its operative [sic] Discuitent and Carminivitive. Ends (p. 29a9) tis also commanded in pains of the head. Corresponds to Quincy, 87 § 74 (lines 10–23).
29 a10. ‘for a sore ear which seemed to be troubled with a worm.’ Beg. Take a handful of wild parsnips. Ends (p. 29b3) and continue the application of them for 3 days.
29 b4. ‘For an ague.’ Beg. Take one pint of barly not ripe. Ends with p. 29 the leese of beer or porter in its place.
30 a1. ‘To cure [a] wound by these following words [“]I will not put none of these Diseases upon thee” by reading that verse in the law Exodus the 15th and 26th.’
30 a7. ‘For a white swelling on the knee.’ Beg. one pint of flaxseed. Ends (p. 30az) and applied to the swilling till broke.
30 b1. ‘For the Quinsy in children.’ Beg. Take a spoonful of ground mustard. Ends (p. 30b10) and to use a good gargle daily.
30 b11. Definition of aloetic medicines: Aroetick med[i]cines, such as open the pores of the skin and make them wide enough for evacuating by sweat the matter which cause the disease.
31 a1. ‘Cammomile.’ Beg. A decoction made of cammomile and drank. Ends (p. 31b6) or in any other parts of the body. Foll. by line-space. Text resumes (p. 31b7) a stone taken out of the body of a man. Ends (p. 31b12) and in a little time too. Cf. Culpeper, 53–4 (‘Chamomel’).
31 bx. ‘Water caltrops moon.’ Beg. which white flower being made into a poultice. Ends (p. 32a7) a safe and present remedy for the kings evil. Cf. Culpeper, 54 (‘Water Caltrops’).
32 a8. ‘Cardus Benedictus or the Blessed thistle.’ Beg. tis an herb of Mars under the sign Aries. Ends (p. 33az) it provoke[s] urine the stoping of which is usually caused by Mars or the Moon. Cf. Culpeper, 55–6 (‘Carduus Benedictus’).
33 b1. ‘Celandine Sun and in the sign Leo.’ Beg. the juice with a little breast milk. Ends with p. 33 and rubed upon warts will take them away. Cf. Culpeper, 57–9 (‘Celondine’).
34 a1. ‘The Yellow waterFlags [corr. from waterhags (?)] moon.’ Beg. The water of the whole plant. Ends (p. 34a7) and those spreading ulcers called (Noli me tangere). Cf. Culpeper, 103 (‘The yellow Water-Flag, Or, Flowerdeluce’).
34 a8. ‘Speedwell moon’ tis admirable for the French pox if taken inwardly. Cf. Culpeper, 107–8 (‘Fluellin, or Lluellin’).
34 ax. ‘Fox Glove.’ Beg. tis found by experience to cure the kings evil. Ends (p. 34b10) I am confident that an ointment of it is one of the best remidies for a scabby head thats known. Cf. Culpeper, 108–9 (‘Foxglove).
34 b11. ‘Fermitory Saturn.’ Beg. if the eyelid or face be anointed with the juice of the herb. Ends (p. 35a8) or any other part of the body. Cf. Culpeper, 109–10 (‘Fumitory’).
35 a9. ‘Stinking Gladwin Saturn.’ Beg. ½ a Drachm of the seed beaten to powder. Ends (p. 35b2) even the kings evil. Cf. Culpeper, 114–5 (‘Stinking Gladwin’).
35 b3. Lard. Turpentine. and wax heals all green wounds. Cf. Culpeper, 117–18 (‘Winter Green’).
35 b5. ‘The root of the stinking Gladwin.’ Beg. boiled in wine. Ends (p. 36a8) I cured my son in 2 days of the bloody flux and great pains in the bowels. Conflated text; title and incipit correspond to Culpeper, 114.37 (‘Stinking Gladwin’; see p. 35a9 above); remainder of item corresponds approximately to idem, 152.2–7, 150.39–42, 151.40–42 and 152.23–7 (‘Mallows, and Marsh-Mallows’).
36 a9. ‘Medlare Saturn’ the fruit eaten by women with child stayeth their longing after unusual meats. Cf. Culpeper, 155–6 (‘The Medlar’).
36 ay. ‘Spearmint Venus.’ Beg. it is good to repress the milk in womens breasts. Ends (p. 37a11) any wounded man that eats mint will never be cured and thats a long day. Cf. Culpeper, 159–60 (‘Mint’).
37 aw. ‘Lovage sun.’ Beg. if saturn offend the throat this is your cure. Ends (p. 38a4) desolveth wind resists poison and infection. Cf. Culpeper, 147 (‘Lovage’).
38 a5. ‘Mars[h]mallows Venus.’ Beg. the juice drank in wine. Ends (p. 38az) and is good for the falling evil. Cf. Culpeper, 150–52 (‘Mallows, and Marsh-Mallows’).
38 b1. ‘Great round leaved dock or Bastard Rhubarb Mars.’ Beg. gargled in the mouth. Ends (p. 38b6) and the kernel of the ear. Cf. Culpeper, 322–4 (‘Great round leav’d Dock. or Bastard Rubarb’).
38 b7. ‘Rue Sun.’ Beg. it takes away all sorts of warts. Ends (p. 38b11) and the place rubed therewith. Cf. Culpeper, 324–6 (‘Garden Rue’). Title glossed: ‘Rue in Irish [ruibh in Irish script]’.
38 by. ‘Savin Mars’ tis excellent good to break Carbuncles. Cf. Culpeper, 335 (‘Savin’).
39 a1. ‘Scabious.’ Beg. the herb bruised and applied. Ends (p. 39a6) lying in the flesh. Cf. Culpeper, 337–8 (‘Scabious, three sorts’).
39 a7. ‘Sow Thistle Venus.’ Beg. the herb boiled in wine. Ends (p. 39b4) and their children to be well coloured. Cf. Culpeper, 344 (‘Sow-Thistles’).
39 b5. ‘Periwinkle Venus’ the leaves eaten by man and wife together cause love between them. Cf. Culpeper, 297 (‘Perwinkle’). Transcribed from this manuscript, Lincoln, Ardmore, 192.17–19.
39 b9. ‘Plaintain Venus [or cruach phádruig added later in Irish script].’ Beg. it helps all torments and excoriations of the guts. Ends (p. 40b9) taken in drink kill the worm in the belly. Cf. Culpeper, 300–302 (‘Plantane). Foll. (p. 40b10) without break by cancelled text: one part of Plaintain water / and two parts of the [= idem, 301.z].
40 bx. ‘Moss’ stays casting and chincough comforts the heart ‘saturn’. Cf. Culpeper, 163–4 (‘Mosses’).
41 a1. ‘Mugworth Venus.’ Beg. being made into an ointment. Ends (p. 41a6) mixed with Daisies. Cf. Culpeper, 166 (‘Mugwort’)
41 a7. ‘Nettles Mars.’ Beg. the seed or leaves bruised. Ends (p. 41b6) and also green wounds. Cf. Culpeper, 171–2 (‘Nettles’).
41 b7. ‘Oak [Jupiter above line]’ stops the unvoluntary flux of natural seed in man or woman. Cf. Culpeper, 173, 284 (‘The Oak’).
41 b10. ‘The satiron or standergrass Venus.’ Beg. they provoke lust. Ends (p. 42a4) to heal the kings evil. Cf. Culpeper, 285 (‘Orchis’).
42 a5. ‘Piony. sun.’ Beg. the root of the male cure[s] the falling evil certainly. Ends (p. 42az) and all other runing and fretting sore[s]. Conflated text; title and opening lines (the root . . . taken also, p. 42a5–8) correspond to Culpeper, [295] (‘205’).x, 296.3–5, 17–18 (‘Peony, Masc. & Foemina’); remainder of item corresponds to idem, 302.1–4 (‘Plantane’).
42 b1. ‘Purslaine moon.’ Beg. the seed cure[s] the outrageous lust of the body. Ends (p. 43a4) Camerarius sayeth that the distilled water used by some took away the pain of their teeth when all other remedies failed. Cf. Culpeper, 307–8 (‘Purslane’).
11 – 14 . Misbound between pp. 42 and 43.
11 a1. Beg. The juice of the Pellotory <. . .> / the wall clarified. Fragmentary and incomplete. Breaks off with p. 11a7 me a. Corresponds to Culpeper, 293.z–294.3 (‘Pellitory of the Wall’).
[12] b1. ‘Sow Thistle.’ Beg. [ea]ting helpeth stinking breath. Fragmentary. Ends (p. [12]b5) Women. Corresponds to Culpeper, 344.24–6 (‘Sow-Thistles’).
[12] b6. Fragmentary text (final letters only): [car]buncles.
[13] a1. Acephalous. Beg. here the seed being drank is a remedy against the biting of mad dogs. Fragmentary and incomplete. Breaks off with p. [13]a9 washing <. . .> / cure <. . .> / fl <. . .>. Corresponds approximately to Culpeper, 172.16–18, 22–3; 26–7, 31–3 (‘Nettles’).
14 b1. Acephalous and fragmentary text: knees that come by falling / down of the humours. Corresponds to Culpeper, 45.15 (‘Broom, and Broomrape’).
14 b3. Acephalous and fragmentary text: <. . .> runing scab / <. . .> of Verdigrease / <. . .> and / <. . .>. Corresponds approximately to Culpeper, 115.6, 1 (‘Stinking Gladwin’).
43 a5. ‘Rosemary Sun in the ram.’ Beg. the decoction of it in wine. Ends (p. 43b5) in all the cold grief thereof. Cf. Culpeper, 319–21 (‘Rosemary’).
43 b6. ‘Horehound Mercury’ (title only). Cf. Culpeper, 130–31 (‘Horehound’).
43 b7. ‘Groundsel Venus.’ Beg. made into a poultice and applied to womens breasts. Ends with p. 43 when they are inflamed or swolen. Cf. Culpeper, 118–9 (‘Groundsel’).
44 a1. ‘Houseleek or Sengreen Jupiter.’ Beg. the leaves bruised and laid upon the crown of the head. Ends (p. 44a8) ringworms and the like. Cf. Culpeper, [132] (‘110’) (‘Housleeks, or Sengreen’).
44 a9. ‘Ivy Saturn.’ Beg. the juice of the leaves snuffed in the nose. Ends (p. 44az) into the eyes and nose. Cf. Culpeper, 135 (‘Ivy’).
44 b1. ‘Water Lilly the moon.’ The syrup of [sic] procure rest and to settle the brain of Frantic persons. Cf. Culpeper, 142–3 (‘The water-Lilly’).
44 b5. ‘Lilly of the valley Mercury’ (title only). Cf. Culpeper, 143 (‘Lilly of the Valley’).
44 b6. ‘White lillies. moon.’ Beg. an ointment made of the root and hogs-grease. Ends (p. 45a8) and trimly deck a bald place with hair. Cf. Culpeper, 143–4 (‘white-Lillys’).
45 a9. ‘Stone crop moon.’ Beg. being bruised and applied. Ends (p. 45az) knots or kernels in the flesh. Culpeper, 349—50 (‘Stone-Crop, Prick-Madam, or, Smal House-Leek’).
45 b1. ‘Garden Tansy Venus.’ Beg. this herb bruised and applied to the navel. Ends (p. 46a2) the seed is given to kill worms in children or the juice. Culpeper, 352 (‘Garden Tansie’).
46 a3. ‘Wild Tansy.’ Beg. stays the lask in men or women. Ends (p. 46az) the one [to] help conception and the other beauty. Cf. Culpeper, 353 (‘Wild Tansie, or Silver-weed’).
46 b1. ‘Thistle Saturn.’ Beg. the decoction of the thistle being drank in wine. Ends (p. 46b9) despair anvy and many more evils. Cf. Culpeper, 354 (‘The Melancholly Thistle’).
46 b10. ‘Cotton Thistle Mars.’ Beg. Dioscorides and Pliny. write that the leaves and roots hereof drank. Ends (p. 47ax) such as the rickets. Cf. Culpeper, 355–6 (‘The Woolley, or Cotton Thistle’).
47 ay. ‘Thyme Venus.’ Beg. there is scarce a better or more notable herb for the chincough. Ends (p. 47b6) kills worms. Cf. Culpeper, 358–9 (‘Time’).
47 b7–11. Conflated text: Tormentil sure cures the kings evil [= Culpeper, 361.7 (‘Tormentil, or Setfoyl’)] the ashes of the burnt branches will make teeth that are black as white as snow by rubing it every morning [= idem, 366.14–16 (‘The Vine’)].
47 b12. On wheat. Beg. The bread of wheat baked hot. Ends (p. 48a4) plague. sore. or foul ulcer. Cf. Culpeper, 370–71 (‘Wheat’).
48 a5. ‘Wormwood Mars [or baramútar added later in Irish script].’ Beg. give this to drink to those that gets love possessed. Ends (p. 48b9) or any other poison eaten. Cf. Culpeper, 374–9 (‘Wormwood’). See next two items.
48 b10. the quinsy lies in the throat wormwood is your cure [= Culpeper, 376.w–377.1 (‘Wormwood’)]. See previous item and next item.
48 by–z. Wormwood is a present remedy for the cholick or to put it in [= Culpeper, 377.31–2 (‘Wormwood’)]. Incomplete. See previous two items.
49 – 50. Wanting.
51 a1. ‘Hearts Tongue Irish [Creamh muice fiagh in Irish script].’ Beg. a Decoction of it cures the bloody flux powerfully. Ends (p. 51a13) voilent cough asthma or consumption. Title and incipit derived from K’Eogh, 57 (‘Hart’s tongue’).
51 ax. ‘Sowbread Irish [núadshínuach in Irish script].’ Beg. cures scabs the Itch the mange. Ends (p. 51b6) causes a speedy dilivery. Cf. K’Eogh, 115 (‘Sow bread’).
51 b7. ‘Ledworth or Toothworth’ cures the Toothache by holding it in the hand. Cf. K’Eogh, 70 [first instance] (‘Leadwort or Toothwort’).
51 b10. ‘Satyron or standergrass.’ Beg. tis report that if men eat of the great root. Ends with p. 51 they shall beget daughters. Cf. Gerarde, 207 (bk 1.110 ‘Of Dogs stones’, ‘The Vertues’, § A).
52 a1. ‘Wild narrow leaved Flax Irish [líon na mban síghe in Irish script]’ cures the jaundice even when the flesh turns black taken in porter. Cf. K’Eogh, 47 (‘Wild narrow leaved Flax’).
52 a5. ‘Fenugreek [lúsra na ngréagac in Irish script].’ Beg. the seed is the only part used. Ends (p. 52a10) when they cannot be put back. Cf. K’Eogh, 44–5 (‘Fenugreek’).
52 a11. ‘Ferns.’ Beg. the roots powdered. Ends (p. 52b3) cures the rickets in children. Cf. K’Eogh, 45 (‘Female fern’, ‘Male fern’).
52 b4. ‘Featherfew Irish [méadhrúadh in Irish script].’ Beg. cures st anthonys. fire. Ends with p. 52 to draw out the Coruption. Cf. K’Eogh, 45 (‘Featherfew’).
53 a1. ‘Common Fennel Irish [Finneall curt (sic; leg. curtha) in Irish script]. Beg. the leaves and seed encrease milk. Ends (p. 53b3) all kinds of Inflemations. Cf. K’Eogh, 44 (‘Common fennel’).
53 b4. ‘Hogsfennel or sulphurworth.’ Beg. Good against coughs. Ends with p. 53 suffocation of the Brain. Cf. K’Eogh, 44 (‘Hogs fennel’).
54 a1. ‘The Berries of the wild Rose or DogBrier.’ Beg. being reduced to powder. Ends (p. 54a7) being 2 or 3 times repeated. Cf. K’Eogh 40 (‘Dog bryar’).
54 a8. ‘The Bark of Elm.’ Beg. steeped 24 hours. Ends (p. 54az) pimples and spreading tetters. Cf. K’Eogh, 42 (‘Elm-tree’).
54 b1. ‘Water crowfoot Irish [llaisir lean in Irish script]’ the leaves pounded may be applied to tetters. scabs. scruff. warts, &c. Cf. K’Eogh, 35 (‘Crow-foot’).
54 b5. ‘Cowcumbers [lus na bóe in Irish script].’ Beg. Take unpeeled cowcumbers. Ends (p. 55a5) being well rubed therewith. Cf. K’Eogh 35–6 (‘Garden cucumber’).
55 a6. ‘Cammomile.’ Beg. powder made of the flowers. Ends (p. 55b3) for a burn or scald. Cf. K’Eogh, 24 (‘Camomile’).
55 b4. ‘Carline Thistle Irish [Feochadán nimhe in Irish script].’ Beg. made into powder. Ends with p. 55 it cures the Itch & scurff. Cf. K’Eogh, 24 (‘Carline thistle’).
56 a1. ‘Lime water.’ Beg. is most excellent. Ends (p. 56a5) scald heads. Leprosy.
56 a6. ‘for Curing the Piles.’ Beg. Take the roots of Pilesworth. Ends (p. 56az) to the place afflicted.
56 b1. ‘A Cure for the Eyes.’ Beg. Take Rue. Eyebright. Ends with p. 56 to expel Webs. Pearls and Films. Cf. K’Eogh 102 (‘White rose’).
57 a1. ‘Nettles.’ Beg. the seed mixed with Honey. Ends (p. 57a6) and the chincough. Cf. K’Eogh 86 (‘Stinging nettle’).
57 a7. ‘An Infallible cure for the Headache.’ Beg. ½ an ounce of beaten Ginger. Ends (p. 57az) it never failed.
57 b1. ‘A general charm against all bad Diseases.’ Charm written in Irish script (expansion of contractions italicised here; word-division as in MS): ‘beandaghaim dhuit a chruis a chrán díreach deas. an. cran nar ceasag Críost (MS XP̄T) ar is beandaighim duit aris a cruis. beanduighim duit a cruis. le haidh dul (do thaich no [MS n̄] baile) aon gallar da bfuil ann nár. shaighme ⁊ nár thugeme asi Amen’.
57 b10. ‘Coltsfoot.’ the leaves pounded with Honey. cure st.. Anthonys fire. Cf. K’Eogh, 31 (‘Colts-foot’).
57 bx. ‘Horehound’ mightly helps women in hard labour, aswageth the pains of womens breasts. Cf. K’Eogh, 62–3 (‘Horehound’).
58 a1. ‘A Cure for the Eyes.’ Beg. Take the juice of Rue. Ends (p. 58a6) of antient dimness of sight. Cf. Lupton, 69 (§ 16).
58 a7. ‘For the Web or spot on the Eye.’ Beg. Take the great bone of the goose wing. Ends (p. 58az) and save the sight. Cf. Lupton, 119 (§ 30).
58 b1. ‘Another Way.’ Beg. If the stone that is found in the head of the long snail. Ends (p. 58b9) or any other evil in the same. Cf. Lupton, 135 (§ 14).
58 b10. ‘An angel like water of marvellous virtue against the Bleardness of the eyes, chanks. and Burnings with fire.’ Beg. Take 3 ounces of unslacked lime. Ends with p. 59 if they be washed with it a little warm. Cf. Lupton, 138 (§ 22).
60 a1. ‘How to draw [a] Tooth without pain.’ Beg. reduce ants and their eggs into Powder. Ends (p. 60a5) it will fall out in a little time. Cf. Lupton, 89 (§ 53).
60 a6. ‘The youthful draught.’ Beg. Make powder of the flowers of Elder. Ends (p. 60b1) seem young a great while. Cf. Lupton, 64 (§ 50). Transcribed from this manuscript, Lincoln, Ardmore, 192.12–16.
60 b2. ‘A Fine Salve or plaster.’ Beg. Bay salt well beaten to Powder. Ends with p. 60 the same will be healed. Cf. Lupton, 113 (§ 4).
61 a1. ‘The ointment for old wounds such as Fistula & the like.’ Beg. Take common Turpentine qr of a pound. Ends (p. 61b4) stir all well together and keep for use.
61 b5. ‘The Wound Ointment.’ Beg. Take rosin and Burgandy pitch. Ends (p. 62a9) This will cure a fresh wound in either man or beast.
62 a10. ‘A Receipt for the Quincy.’ Beg. Shave the head. Ends (p. 62az) let it lie on till tis dry.
62 b1. ‘Another for the Quinsy.’ Beg. A poultis of stale urine. Ends (p. 62b5) all round the throat.
62 b6. ‘A certain remedy for the Stone & Gravel.’ Shred oinions and white wine and to drink a spoonfull of the Infusion pretty often.
62 b11. ‘A cure for the Itch.’ Beg. 2d worth of brimstone. Ends with p. 62 a spoonful morning & evening.
63 a1. ‘For an inflemation of the Breast.’ Beg. Take one handful of the flowers of Elder. Ends (p. 63a6) 3 ounces of honey in the infusion.
63 a7. ‘A remedy for Corns’ a leaf of Houseleek. or ground ivy dipt in Vinegar.
63 a10. ‘A cure for the toothache’ wild Tansy in water.
63 a12. ‘For the Itch an Ointment.’ Beg. The flower of brimstone one ounce. Ends (p. 63b5) rub to the place aflicted.
63 b6. ‘For the Dropsy.’ Beg. Take of broom ashes a ℔. Ends (p. 63b12) till the water be carried off.
63 bx. ‘A cure for a pain in the back’ apply a hare skin to where the pain is with the woolly side in.
64 a1. ‘For a Consumption.’ Beg. Take a pint of the streping of a red cow warm from her. Ends (p. 64a11) this cured a person given over by the Doctors.
64 ax. ‘For Rheumatism.’ Beg. Tak[e] a pint of spirits of Turpentine. Ends (p. 64b9) repeat morning and Evening.
64 b10. ‘For a sore Throat.’ Two receipts. (a) Beg. Take a handful of salt put it into an earthen pan; ends (p. 65a2) on the leg during the day. (b) or dip a piece of Black ribbon in hartshorn and wear it round the throat 2 or 3 days (p. 65a2–4).
65 a5. ‘To quench thirst when drink will not cure.’ Beg. pour vinegar into the palms of the hands. Ends (p. 65a9) wash the mouth with the same.
65 a10. ‘For Gout and Rheumatism.’ Beg. one table spoonful of mustard. Ends (p. 65b1) to be rubed to the parts affected with the hand.
65 b2. ‘To stop bleeding at the nose or any other part.’ Beg. Make a solution of roman vitrol. Ends (p. 65b9) stop any outward bleeding.
65 b10. ‘For vomiting or spitting of blood.’ Beg. Take of the leaves of plaintain. Ends (p. 66a2) give it to the patient.
66 a3. ‘To cure an Intermitting ague and Fever without returning.’ Beg. Take jesuits bark in fine powder. Ends (p. 66ay) or white wine after it.
66 az. ‘A cure for warts.’ Beg. a plaster of Sal ammoniac. Ends (p. 66b3) pounded together may be applied.
66 b4. ‘Jesuits bark’ good in all Fevers.
66 b5. ‘He that reads this and understands what he reads. hath a jewel of more worth than a Diamond. h̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶s̶t̶a̶n̶d̶s̶ / i̶t̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶’ [= Culpeper, 379.16–17 (‘Wormwood’)]. Foll. by scribal colophon: ‘Finished by / Martin Driscoll / this 13th day of october 1855’.
67 a1. ‘To know what planet rules any hour of the day.’ Beg. At Sunday night at 1 oclock after midnight Sol rules. Ends with p. 67 till you come to 24. begin with Luna that way.
68 a1. ‘To find out the signs.’ Beg. find out the moons age Double it. and Divide it by 5. Ends (p. 68az) 8 secrets. 9 thighs. 10 knees. 11 legs. 12 feet [and] so on.
68 b1. ‘Of the Planetary days and hours. and how to know what Planet one is born under.’ Beg. The planetary hours. are these hours. in which each planet rules. Ends (p. 70b2) Jupiter the same on thursday, and so Venus on Friday.
70 b3. ‘Of the Signification of the Seven Planets with respect to mans Body. Before I conclude my discourse of the seven planets their nature and influence. I shall give you an account of the signification of them as they respect the several parts of mans Body. and the diseases that they govern that properly may be applied accordingly.’ Beg. Saturn governs the right ear. the blader. and the Bones (p. 71a). Ends (p. 72b8) Fits. dimness of sight. small pox and measles.
72 b9. On judging the true nature of the disease. Beg. Here note that in all distempers before you apply any thing to the patient it is necessary to consult the motion and position of the Planets. and when by the Table of Planitary Hours before recited. you know the planet that rules. you must in the next place consider the nature of that planet. Ends with p. 73 to a patient under other circumstances and falling sick under a different position of the Signs and Planets.
74 a1. ‘The Birth of children. and other events. with respect to the moons age. and day of the week as follows.’ Beg. To be Born the 1st day of the new moon. portends their life shall be pleasant with an Increase of riches (p. 74a5). Incomplete. Breaks off with p. 76 On the 16th day will be unmannerly and unfortunately buy an[d] sell on this day. dreams portend luck on this day.
© Aoibheann Nic Dhonnchadha 2026