pts for the multiplying of salt: Nor less strange is that
which some report of a certain water somewhere in Hungary, which
transmutes the leaves of this tree into brass, and iron into copper. Of
the galls is made trial of spaw-water, and the ground and basis of
several dies, especially sadder colours, and are a great revenue to
those who have quantities of them: Nor must I forget ink, compos'd of
galls {oz}iiij, coppras {oz}ij, gum-arabic {oz}i: Beat the galls
grossly, and put them into a quart of claret, or French-wine, and let
them soak for eight or nine days, setting the vessel (an earthen glaz'd
pitcher is best) in the hot sun, if made in summer; in winter near the
fire, stirring it frequently with a wooden spatula: Then add the coppras
and gum, and after it has stood a day or two, it will be fit to use.
There are a world of receipts more, of which see _Caneparius de
Atramentis_. Of the very moss of the oak, that which is white, composes
the choicest cypress-powder, which is esteemed good for the head; but
impostors familiarly vend other mosses under that name, as they do the
fungi (excellent in hemorages and fluxes) for the true agaric, to the
great scandal of physick. Young red oaken leaves decocted in wine, make
an excellent gargle for a sore mouth; and almost every part of this tree
is soveraign against fluxes in general, and where astringents are
proper. The dew that impearls the leaves in May, insolated, meteorizes
and sends up a liquor, which is of admirable effect in ruptures: The
liquor issuing out between the bark, (which looks like treakle) has many
soveraign vertues; and some affirm, the water stagnate in the hollow
stump of a newly fell'd oak, is as effectual as _lignum sanctum_ in the
foul disease, and also stops a diarrhaea: And a water distill'd from the
acorns is good against the pthisick, stitch in the side, and heals
inward ulcers, breaks the stone, and refrigerates inflammations, being
applied with linnen dipp'd therein: nay, the acorns themselves eaten
fasting, kill the worms, provoke urine, and (some affirm) break even the
stone it self. The coals of oak beaten and mingled with honey, cures the
carbuncle; to say nothing of the viscus's, polypods, and other
excrescences, of which innumerable remedies are composed, noble
antidotes, syrups, &c. Nay, 'tis reported, that the very shade of this
tree is so wholesome, that the sleeping, or lying under it becomes a
present remedy to paralyticks, and recov