CHAPTER VI.

_Of repelling Medicines._

Repelling medicines are of contrary operation to these three last mentioned, viz. attenuating, drawing, and discussive medicines: It is true, there is but little difference between these three, some hold none at all; and if you will be so nice, you may oppose them thus. And so medicines making thick, correspond to attenuating medicines, or such as make thin, repelling medicines are opposed to such as draw, and such as retain the humours and make them tough, are opposite to such as discuss, some hold this niceness needless.

2. The sentence of authors about repulsive medicines is various.

For seeing an influxion may be caused many ways, a repulsive hath got as many definitions.

For such things as cool, bind, stop, and make thick, stay influxions, and therefore repulsives are by authors opposed, not only to attractives, but also to attenuating, and discussing medicines.

But properly such things are called repulsives, which do not only stay influxions, (for so do such medicines which stop and make thick) but such as drive the humours flowing to, or inherit in the place, to some other place.

The truth is, binding is inherent to repulsives, so is not coldness nor making thick: Yet such as are binding, cold and thin in operation, are most effectual.

Your taste will find repulsives to be, tart, or sharp, or austere, with a certain binding which contracts the tongue.

_Use 1._ Their use is manifold, as in hot tumours, head-aches, or the like.

_Use 2._ By these in fevers are the vapours driven from the head, Vinegar of Roses is notable.

_Time of giving._ They are most commodious in the beginning and encrease of a disease, for then influxions most prevail.

But seeing that in the cure of tumours there are two scopes, 1. That that which flows to it may be repelled. 2. That that which is already in it may be discussed; repulsives are most commodiously used in the beginning, discussives in the latter end.

In the middle you may mix them, with this proviso, that repulsives exceed in the beginning, discussives in the latter end.

_Caution 1._ If the matter offending be of a venomous quality, either abstain from repulsives altogether, or use purging first, lest the matter fly to the bowels and prove dangerous, especially if the bowels be weak.

2. Also forbear repulsives, if the pain be great.

3. Lastly, Have a care lest by repulsives you contract the pores so much, that the matter cannot be removed by discussives.