Opoponacis Terebinthinae Seminis dauci Ê’ vj. ob iij. Opobalsami ana Ê’ vj. ob iiij Thlaspios Thuris myrrhae ana Ê’ vj. Succi hyppocistidis Polij Seâ—elios ana Ê’ v. ob ij Cypheos Casiae Stiracis Ê’ v ob iiij Petroselini Ê’ iiij ob iij. Opij Ê’ iiij ob ij Nardi gallicae anae Ê’ iâ—â— Seminis feniculi Nardi indicae Gentianae Mei athamantici Rosarum siccarum Cardamomi Folij Anisi Ê’ iij Acori Hiperici ana Ê’ ij Gummi Acaciae Phu pontici Scinci Ê’ ij ob ij Vini choi mellis Attici desoumati ana q. s BEcause many learned men of this age doe best allowe the description of Mithridatium deliuered by Damocrates as more artificially done in which the rules of compounding of medicines are more exactly followed and is in truth easier to be made of the Apothecaries better digested in orders not hauing so small diuisions in the proportions as this attributed to Andromachus and so may better be made of the Apothecary in what quantity shall seeme good to him therefore I doe thinke it not amisse in this place to recite that description also of Mithridatium of Damocrates as the same is expressed in the second booke of Galen de Antidot that such as shall thinke better to follow the same may by this pamphlet knowe the ingredience which is this Rec. Mirrhae croci ana Ê’ x Agarici Zinziberis Cinnamomi thuris Spicae Nardi Thlaspios Seselis stechados ana Ê’ viij Opobalsami costi Iunci odorati styracis Galbani terebinthinae Piperis longi castorei Sucoi hypocistidis Opoponacis Folij malabathri receÌ„tis Cassiae ligneae ana Ê’ vij Polij scordij Seminis dauci bdellij Piperis albi cypheos Carpobalsami Nardi celticae GuÌ„mi ana Ê’ iâ— boni ponderis Petroselini Opij Cardamomi gentianae Seminis feniculi dictaÌ„ni Foliorum rosarum Anisi asari acori ana Ê’ iij Phu sagapeni Succi glicirrizae Mei Athamantici ana Ê’ ij â— Acaciae Ventris scinci Sem. hiperici Vini mellis q. s PLiny in his 22. maketh mention of a kinde of Mithridatium made of two dry Walnuts two Figges xx leaues of Rhue one graine of falte Aetius and other writers die recite the same And they greatly coÌ„mend it against poison other pestilentiall diseases Of the quality and temperament of Mithridatium IT is of all men of our age coÌ„fessed and taken for a truth that medicines compounded haue their vertues and doe their effectes according to the nature of the simples whereof they are compounded So it must needes followe that Mithridatium compounded of many simples hath diuers sundry properties those agreable to the ingredience And wheras in Mithridatium are simples differing in quality some hauing power to heate some other to coole yet the greatest number are in quality whot and dry And albeit these being contrary and repugnant do make alteration the one with the other notwithstanding it must needes follow that those reactions not being infinite at the last one forme and quality must result in the compound agreable to the natures of those simples which doe beare and cary dominion Now whereas in Mithriâ—atium y e most simples haue quality to heate and dry it followeth that Mithridatium hath a whot and dryinge power And as compounds must haue a time of fermentation and rypening for the reactions of the simples are not perfited in a moment So the quality or forme which doth aryse by the workinge of one simple with an other hath not his perfection presently after y e mixture but a certayne space of time must be geueÌ„ before we can iustly expect the true action of the medicine compounded as proceeding from the forme of the medicine which doth resulte by fermentation of the working of the simples in y e compound So that before y e due time we may not loke for the vertues aunswerable to the composition but that some one simple aboue the rest may shew his quality that the compound medicine may do an effect aunswerable to that simple and not as proceeding from the whole coÌ„position In which respect Galen wryteth that Theriacle newly made doth greately prouoke sleepe by reason that Opium that is the ioyce of Poppy prepared myngled in it being of greater force then other simples before fermentation doth exercise his quality more then the rest and after that his quality is by fermentation with other simples broken he can not so strongly do his operation So Theriacle after the iust time of fermentation doth not so mightely prouoke sleepe as newe Theriacle doth The same is obserued in Mithridatium and all other compounds that immediately after myxture the qualities of the simples are strongest and shewe their powers best But certaine it is that after due time of working when the compound is fully rype no one simple doth worke in it according to his owne nature but by the reactions one common nature doth result which cannot be attributed to any one or moe simples but may be truely sayd a common nature arysinge out of all the ingredience and from that forme the actions of the compound do proceede Which forme is to vs not certainely knowen y e effects are best learned by experience Wherfore it is very wysely wrytten of Ioannes de sancto Amando in his exposition vpon the antitodary of Nicolaus that it is better alwaye to vse a medicine compound exercised then one lately inueÌ„ted whereof we haue no experience For although we may by discourse of reason gather that y e compound as Mithridatium is whot and dry because y e simples wherof it is made are the most part whot and dry and then experience doth confirme this coniecture yet other qualities of Mithridatium and of other compounds are not so easely knowen by any discourse or method but chiefly learned by experience For the coÌ„mon forme from whence many secrete vertues doe procede is not knowen by any learning or methode So it must needes follow that the actions of y e same forme are not learned by methode or doctrine but chiefly by experience In which respect also we haue reason to retaine the description deliuered by Mithridates before any other for y t that noble king gaue better proofe in himselfe of the vertues of the medicine then any other hath of it by any other composition That Mithridatium is not so whote as Theriacle compounded after Andromachus description which is in these dayes most followed and that it may more safely bee vsed Some learned men of our time by reason go about to discourse and prooue y t Theriacle is not in quaÌ„tity so whot as Mithridatium in that respect doe inferre that it may more safely bee vsed Which they doe gather for that in Theriacle a greater quantity of Opium that is the ioyce of Poppy prepared is then in Mithridatium whose cooling power doth much abate the heating qualities of other medicines This argument in these two medicines newly made before fermeÌ„tation is perfite may take place
in the confection of Theriacle then it followeth that when like quantity of both is taken as for example ʒ j surely a greater portiō of euery one simple is taken in Mithridatium and lesser in Theriacle the lesser quantity must needes haue lesser strength in remedyinge other poysons saue that to the which the base or grounde doth call them So it remayneth fyrme that Galen writeth as obserued in his time that Theriacle is in deede better then Mithridatium in bytinge of vypers and like beastes and that Mithridatium exceadeth th'other in remedying all other poisons taken into the body and inward diseases Wherefore in this our countrey where no such perill and danger is of vipers Mithridatium by good reason ought to be reputed of greater estunation then Theriacle Of the composition of Mithridatium IT shall not be amisse in this place to declare the composition of this medicine And it is to be noted that where all writers doe greately cōmend it yet certayne it is that they do not in one sorte describe the makinge of the same But almost euery authore hath a seuerall description differinge in the number of the simples and also in y e proportions and quantities In time past y e Apothecaries in making of Mithridatium folowed most the description of Nicolaus Praepositus of Auicenna and of Nicolaus Mirepsicus some of Aetius some of Paulus The former descriptions contayninge aboue one hundred simples were long and laborious and required many supplyes for simples vnknowen Wherefore in these our later daies in which learned men haue examined euery thing perfitly the most part haue commended one of y e three compositions expressed by Galen in 2. de Antid of the which two were taken as Galen wryteth out of the bookes of Andromachus The first found without name is attributed to Andromachus as compounded by him of others supposed the very same which was found in the closets of kinge Mithridates after transcribed in the workes of Andromachus The second description is also recyted out of Andromachus bookes vnder the names of Antipater and Cleophantes The thyrd is referred to Damocrates It doth not appeare by any thing written by Galen which of these three compositions is best to be folowed And so of y e learned men of our time some hath vsed the one and some the other Many doe best like of the first description attributed to Andromachus both for that Andromachus by the opinion of Galen and of all other auncient wryters was adiudged very skilfull in cōpounding of medicines therein did farre excell all phisitions of his time and also because it may bee iustly gathered that that description is the very same which Mithridates vsed For in y e Andromachus was phisition to Nero the Emperour of Rome it appeareth that he obtayned to see and to consider of all the bookes which found in Mithridates closet were translated into latine by Lineus the grammarian and brought to Rome And it is not agreable to reason that Andromachus studying to make a more perfit medicine then that which came vnder the name of Mithridatium woulde also inuent an other vnder the same name But it is very probable that Andromachus with diligence perusinge the recept of Mithridatium vsed of Mithridates would leaue it in such forme as Mithridates compoūded it and deuise an other by the same which hee meant to make more perfite Andromachus therefore not alteringe the description of Mithridatium but leauing it in the same forme as it was founde confected an other which he called Theriaca And where we doe reade in y e 2. de Antid of Galen an other recept set downe vnder the name of Theriaca Mithridatis with assertion that the kinge vsed the same yet it seemeth not to be y t Mithridatium which was foūd in the closet of that king For all writers doe confesse that Andromachus long after added to that recept of Mithridates the flesh of vipers so that Mithridatium compounded by Mithridates had not in it the flesh of vipers and that Theriacle which Galen in that place calleth Theriaca Mithridatis doth receaue the flesh of vipers so it foloweth that it is not the Mithridatium vsed of Mithridates And he that will with diligence peruse that recept mentioned of Galen by the name of Theriaca Mithridatis shal◠finde it in y e simples not much differing from Theriaca Andromachi and many things repeated twyse in diuers clauses doth argue an imperfection that Galen may be thought in y t place to speake after y e common opinion whē hee affirmeth it to be the same which Mithridates vsed being in deede farre different from that medicine Wherefore we may reasonably conclude that the first recept transcribed by Galen in 2. de Antid out of Andromachus workes is in truth the selfe same that Mithridates vsed and in mine opinion in that respect the better to be liked and the rather to be followed For what better assurance can we haue of the true and perfect confection of this medicine then that which was deliuered by Mithridates and what description can more assure vs of the effects of this medicine then y t composition which Mithridates followed who first gaue so notable proofe of the medicine and thereby the first credite to the same So that if by discourse of reason it may be proued that an other description is more artificiall and more agreable to the rules of confection of medicines yet in mine opinion this description being the same that Mithridates vsed set downe happely by the king more according to experience then art is rather to be folowed then any other thought more cunningly addressed Neuerthelesse it is not to be deemed that kinge Mithridates was altogether vnskylfull when many volumes concerning phisike were found in his closet translated into latine brought to Rome And it appeareth that he taking delight in medicinall matters had about him dyuerse phisitions who mighte artificially dispence the simples in Mithridatium And Galen in the sayd booke de Antid commendeth the discription of Mithridatium attributed to Andromachus whereby it appeareth that this description of Mithridatium is not addressed altogether without arte For which cause y e learned of our time haue great reason to preferre that description of Mithridatium before others Albeit some do more esteeme the composition of Damocrates as with more arte and more cunning dispensed Notwithstanding because it is very likely y t the precept attributed to Andromachus as found in his bookes is the selfe same that Mithridates vsed and hath of many in this our countrey of late yeares bene folowed I thought best in this place to expresse y e same as I doe finde it in Galen in 2. de Antid and is in many antidotary bookes allowed which is as foloweth Rec. glicirrizae ʒ vij ob iiij Spicae nardi ʒ vij ob iij. Croci cinnamomi Zinziberis ana ʒ vij ob ij Galbani ʒ vij Castorei costi ana ʒ vj. ob ij Scordij iunci odorati
For then in deede euery simple retayning his owne vertue Opium may remitte the whot qualities of the rest at what time neither of these medicines is generally to be vsed but for some speciall point as Galen to prouoke sleepe doth counsell new Theriacle But after fermentation is perfited all the simples one altering the other euery one hath qualities so broken that not one retayneth his owne nature then surely the cōmon forme resulting doth follow the simples which doe beare dominion and they in both these medicines are whot and dry and y e whot and dry simples in Theriacle are moe in number and of greater force then in Mithridalium as may appeare to him that will compare both confections Whereby it followeth that the common quality arysinge in Theriacle doth heate more then that in Mithridatium Neyther the increase of Opium doth in proportion aunswere the strength of heating in it neither hath it any such force so greately to contemper the simples as these men doe imagine For although Opium hath speciall property aboue other medicines to induce sleepe yet his cooling quality of many writers is not accompted so great for it hath so strong bitternes that many doe suppose that it hath a myxt nature consisting of many whot partes if it be true that Galen wryteth in his 5. booke of simples that all bitter thinges are whot and being certaine y t Opium doth stupefy strongly cause sleepe it is of some inferred y t that power doth rather proceede of a property of substaunce then altogether depend of his cooling quality Wherefore it is not without reason affyrmed by learned men wryting hereof that Mithridatium doth not so strongly heate as Theriacle and experience doth also confirme the same For who so vseth these medicines doubtles he shall finde that Theriacle rightly compounded after Andromachus description which is in all this treatise to be vnderstood and is in these dayes of the Apothecaries most commonly made and so of the wyser sort in most vulgare vse doth heate more then Mithridatium which is confessed of the wryters commenting vpon the antidotary of Nicolaus and in this our age of many learned men affyrmed For which cause many in these dayes without daunger do vse Mithridatium when neede requireth In sōmer time whot seasons very few and seldome Theriacle And Galen doth expresly forbyd to gieue Theriacle to children More safe therefore is the vse of Mithridatium then of Theriacle not onely in respect of the heating quality which seemeth lesse more gentle in Mithridatium but also in respect that a greater quantity of Opiū is in Theriacle For admit that Opium by fermentation sustayneth great alteration notwithstāding y e common forme of Theriacle taketh some infection of Opium y t some effecte declining to his nature doth also proceede and the more if that stupefying and dormitory power in Opium doth depend rather of property of substance thē of manifest cooling quality as some do argue For the properties of substance in medicines haue not like alteration by fermentation as the manifest qualities haue by reaction we may therefore feare the common and often vse of Theriacle for y e quantity of Opium in it For like reason often vse of Theriacle may be suspected because of the flesh of vipers added to it as the base groūd of the medicine For notwithstanding y e great care of the place of the time of the kinde obserued in taking and choosing of the viper the diligence in preparing the care of myxture with other things for the better correction of the malignity of y e beast which hapely might remaine in the flesh yet a man may doubt of some errour cōmitted in so daūgerous a case And though all thinges therein bee ryghtely done yet some little quality of the nature of y e beast will remayne that a man may suspect often to vse the medicine And where kinge Mithridates was expert in phisicall matters it is not to be adiudged but that he did aswell know the nature of the flesh of vipers as hee knewe the venime of the beast so it is very likely that he purposing to compounde a medycine to be often taken for his safty against poison did of purpose make it without the fleshe of vipers knowing that if he shold haue added that he myght not with like safty haue dayly vsed y e same And what learned men doe so often in these dayes counsell Theriacle as do Mithridatium and we doe in this our time with lesse danger and more security for the measels the smale pockes the wormes and for internal diseases in children geue Mithridatium then Theriacle We may therefore in mine opinion iustly conclude that Mithridatium is a medicine more generally to be vsed may oftener and with more safty be geauen then Theriacle Of the age and keeping of Mithridatium Wwhere we haue sufficiently declared that compounde medicines must haue a time of fermentatiō before they be brought to vse this place requireth that we doe declare the tyme when Mithridatium is sufficiently fermented and come to his perfection Galen in his bookes de Theriaca doth write exactly of the time of fermentation of Theriacle affirming that it is throughly concocted in xii yeares not denying but y t it hath concoction in shorter time as in 5. and in 7. yeares so that we are to iudge that Theriacle is not sufficiently ripe to bee vsed before fiue yeares and in 7 yeares is better digested in xij yeares hath his full fermentation and perfect concoctiō Yet Aetius and Paulus Aegineta doe measure the concoction of Theriacle in shorter time For Aetius sayth that Theriacle is fermented in xij monethes and that it may be vsed after one moneth in some cases and so affirmeth that it endureth to thirty yeares Where Paulus appointeth y e age of Theriacle to be twenty yeares therein he doth not greatlye differ from Aetius for hee making the terme of Theriacle to be 30 yeares doth also say that then it is good in light diseases So that by Aetius Theriacle may be vsed after xij monethes and continueth in good perfection to 20. yeares and after declineth that at 30. yeares it is aged yet may it be vsed in deseases which are not very great Our later writers doe generally better allowe of Aetius Paulus opinion for the age of Theriacle then of Galens and some suppose an errour or fault in y t place in Galen and so they doe affirme y t Theriacle is fully concocted in the space of xij monethes and then may bee sold of the Apothecary and that the same being well kepte will continue in good strength 20. yeares and after doth decline and waxe weaker and yet may be vsed when it is 30. yeares olde but it is then as an old man decayed and weake of strength Of Mithridatium the former writers haue set downe no time of concoction leauing to a wyse man to determyne of y t which is written accordingly of Theriacle