Notes and Queries, Number 35, June 29, 1850 | Page 6

a letter addressed "To his
highly esteemed Friend and Compatriot, Judge Rumsey, upon his
Provang, or rare pectorall Instrument, and his rare experiments of
Cophie and Tobacco." This letter is prefixed to the learned Judge's
Organon Salutis: an Instrument to cleanse the Stomach, as also divers
New Experiments of the Virtue of Tobacco and Coffee, &c. London,
1657, 8vo.
Howell says:--
"Touching coffee, I concurre with them in opinion, who hold it to be
that black-broth which was us'd of old in Lacedemon, whereof the
Poets sing; Surely it must needs be salutiferous, because so many
sagacious, and the wittiest sort of Nations use it so much; as they who
have conversed with Shashes and Turbants doe well know. But, besides
the exsiccant quality it hath to dry up the crudities of the Stomach, as
also to comfort the Brain, to fortifie the sight with its steem, and
prevent Dropsies, Gouts, the Scurvie, together with the Spleen and
Hypocondriacall windes (all which it doth without any violence or
distemper at all), I say, besides all these qualities, 'tis found already,
that this Coffee-drink hath caused a greater sobriety among the nations:
For whereas formerly Apprentices and Clerks with others, used to take
their mornings' draught in Ale, Beer, or Wine, which by the dizziness
they cause in the Brain, make many unfit for businesse, they use now to
play the Good-fellows in this wakefull and civill drink: Therefore that
worthy Gentleman, Mr. Mudiford, who introduced the practice hereof
first to London, deserves much respect of the whole Nation."

Of Judge Rumsey and his Provang (which was a flexible whalebone
from two to three feet long, with a small linen or silk button at the end,
which was to be introduced into the stomach to produce the effect of an
emetic), the reader may find some account in Wood's Athen. (Bliss's
edit., vol. iii. p. 509.), and this is not the place to speak of them except
as they had to do with coffee; on that point a few more words may be
allowed.
Besides the letter of Howell already quoted, two others are prefixed to
the book; one from the author to Sir Henry Blount, the other Sir
Henry's reply. In the former the Judge says,--
"I lately understood that your discovery, in your excellent book of
travels, hath brought the use of the Turkes Physick, of Cophie, in great
request in England, whereof I have made use, in another form than is
used by boyling of it in Turkie, and being less loathsome and
troublesome," &c.
And Sir Henry, after a fervent panegyric on coffee, replies:--
"As for your way of taking both Cophie and Tobacco, the rarity of the
invention consists in leaving the old way: For the water of the one and
the smoke of the other may be of inconvenience to many; but your way
in both takes in the virtue of the Simples without any additionall
mischief."
As this may excite the reader's curiosity to know what was the Judge's
new and superior "way" of using coffee, I will add his prescription for
making "electuary of cophy," which is, I believe, the only preparation
of it which he used or recommended:--
"Take equall quantity of Butter and Sallet-oyle, melt them well together,
but not boyle them: Then stirre them well that they may incorporate
together: Then melt therewith three times as much Honey, and stirre it
well together: Then add thereunto Powder of Turkish Cophie, to make
it a thick Electuary." p. 5.
A very little consideration may convince one that this electuary was

likely to effect the purpose for which it was recommended.
"Whether," says the Judge, "it be in time of health or sickness,
whensoever you find any evill disposition in the stomach, eat a
convenient meal of what meat and drink you please, then walk a little
while after it: Then set down your body bending, and thrust the said
Whalebone Instrument into your stomach, stirring it very gently, which
will make you vomit; then drink a good draught of drink, and so use the
Instrument as oft as you please, but never doe this upon an empty
stomach. To make the stomach more apt to vomit, and to prepare the
humours thereunto before you eat and drink, Take the bigness of a
Nutmeg or more of the said Electuary of Cophie, &c., into your mouth;
{70} then take drink to drive it down; then eat and drink, and walk, and
use the Instrument as before." p. 19.
Should any reader wish to test the efficacy of the learned Judge's
prescription, I am afraid he must make an "instrument" for himself, or
get one made for him; though when the Organon Salutis was published,
they were "commonly sold in London, and especially at the