that same which is educed out of many gums The seeds of Line Foenugreek Mallows Quinces Flea-wort and Marsh mallow roots as also their roots macerated in warm water are very mucaginous Figs also Gum Arabick Tragacanthum and Isinglass if they be a whole night infused in water or other liquor and the next day recalefied and strongly expressed through a new cloth or bag will dimit much mucaginous matter Thus the mucage of Bdellium Sugâ—penum Ammoniacum and Galbanum is extracted to make up the confection of the mucilaginous Emplaister To every ounce of water or other liquor they ordinarily impose an ounce of seeds or roots but if the Mucage should be more crass then the quantity of roots or seeds must be augmented if more liquid diminished as one dram of seed to an ounce of water This Muslidge applyed to an inflammation helps much â„ž A Muslidge against inflammation The roots of Marsh mallows â„¥ ss Flea wort seedÊ’ ij â—nfuse them upon hot embers for a day and a half in Night-shade water afterwards strain it and apply it to the part affected This Mucage mitigates the dolour of the eyes caused by heat â„ž Another to the pain of the eyes from a hot cause Quinco kernelsÊ’ iij. infuse them a whole night in the water of Night-shade Water-lillyes and Eye-bright ana â„¥ i. ss in the morning extract the Muslidge and apply it to the part grieved CHAP. XI Of Collyryes IT is not enough that a Medicament be accommodated to an affection onely but it must be fitted to the part affected also for we do not prescribe one Medicament to the ears mouth nose and belly but exhibit a singular Medicament to each as will best fit it The eyes have their peculiar Medicaments called Collyryes which are endued with eximious qualities respecting their affections eximiously such as Galen speaks of libro de oculis libris 4 5. composit medicament loc as also Paulus and Aetius in many places There are two kinds of Collyryes the one dry Collyriorum differentia Collyria ficca called by the Arabians Sicf by the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Latines Collyria fieca the other humid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which are by the more recent called Collyries absolutely either because by their liquid form they are better accommodated to application the eyes not tolerating a hard and crass remedy or else because they are made of dry Collyries levigated upon a Marble and dissolved in water or such convenient liquor Some of the humid Collyries are of the consistency of Honey or a soft Unguent Tuthiae praeparatio as Tutia redacted to the form of an Unguent by much ustion and lotion with the juice of Fennel or other convenient liquor Others are altogether liquid and fluxile as all those which are made of the waters of Eye-bright Roses or Plantain with a small quantity of white Trochisks These should be reposed in glass vessels as the more solid in earthen pots And as a multitude of ocular affections are cured by Collyries so a multiplicity of materials go to their confecture as the whole Family of Medicaments whether of Minerals Animals or Plants from which either Powders can be efringed or Waters distilled or Juices extracted or Excrements desumed When you would quicken the sight make an oxydorcical Collyrie of such Medicaments as cure caligation as the galls of Animals the waters of Salendine and Eye-bright or the water of Community which confect thus â„ž Eye bright m. iij. Salendine Fennel Vervine Fumatory A water to quicken the sight ana m. ij Rue Balm ana m. j. Cloves Mace long Pepper ana â„¥ ss macerate them a whole night in equal parts of white Rose-water and white Wine then distill of the water with which wash the eyes This Collyrie will cure the pruriginous scabies of the eye-brows â„ž White wine * * * White For the scabies of the eye-lids Rose water ana â„¥ j. ss Hepatick Aloes finely pâ—lverized Ê’ j. mix them and make thereof a Collyrium This Collyrie will roborate and refrigerate â„ž A cooling and strengthening water for the eyes The water of Plantain and red Roses ana â„¥ ij whites of Eggs â„¥ ss mix them and beat them well together and make thereof a Collyrie This Collyrie applyed to the eyes will asswage their dolour â„ž For the pain of the eyes The waters of Purslain and Plantain ana â„¥ j. ss the mucilidge of Quince seeds made in Night shade water â„¥ j. mingle them fiat Collyrium This Collyrie will most efficaciously desiccate roborate and refrigerate â„ž A water strengthening and drying The water of Mouse-ear white Roses and Plantain ana â„¥ j. Troch alb RhasisÊ’ i. Tutty preparedÊ’ ss fiat Collyrium This Collyrie commonly called Eleiser roborates the eye and hinders the lapse of the fourth membrane or uvea and it is thus confected â„ž Collyrium Elciser Antimony Lapit Hematit anaÊ’ x. Acacia â„¥ ss AloesÊ’ j. let them be finely powdered cum aqua * * * Knotgrass Corrigiolae fiant Trochisci and when occasion calls for them dissolve one of them in white Rose water This other Collyrie which hath its denomination of Lead is endued with a sarcotical and consolidative faculty and is thus made â„ž A Collyrie of Lead Burnt Lead Antimony Tutty washed burnt Brass Gum Araback Traganth ana â„¥ j. Opium â„¥ ss make of these a Powder and with white Rose water form them into Trochisks which dissolve in white Rose water This Collyrie of Lanfrancus so called in whose Works I could never yet finde it is excellent against the French disease and is thus described by the antient Writers â„ž Collyrium Lanfranci White Wine lb j. of the water of Plantain and Roses of each a much as will suffice AuripigmentumÊ’ ij VerdigreaseÊ’ j. Alâ—es Myrrke ana ℈ ij let these be finely powdered and make thereof a Collyrium CHAP. XII Of Virgins milk VIrgins milk is one of those Medicaments which the sedulity of our age hath invented the making of which works no small admiration in the Vulgar whil'st of two unicolourous juices mixed together they educe a third white viscid and lent substance like milk to the spectators eyes Thus many exhibiting a specimen of their ingeny are believed to do miracles while they onely unfold Natures secrets Lac virginale cur dicitur Now it is called Virgins milk partly from its colour whereby it is like milk partly from its consistency and virtues wherein it is eximious even to delete the freckles of the skin which change and adulterate the virgin and genuine colour of the face This topical Medicament is made after many wayes whereof this is the most ordinary Receipt â„ž Litharidge of Gold finely powderedÊ’ iij. white wine vinegar of the best and strongest lb. ss mingle them together stir them with a wooden spatula for three hours afterwards filter the liquor through a brown paper in the form of a funnel
Linctus for it is assumed by little and little as it were by licking or sucking that by staying and lingering in the passage it may deerre into the breast or at least its cough-curing virtue may reach the cavities of the Breast and the grisles of the Lungs concoct Spittle and cause its exclusion which by the strength of nature may easily be done after concoction of the humour by a Vomit or Expectoration upwards Now they are not onely exhibited in a morning upon a fasting stomack but also at evening and sometimes betwixt meals to several effects and for several intentions and according to the matter intention and quality whereof the Medicaments consist for they are given to leniate deterge incrassate incide expectorate and stay blood Eclegms also according to the Antients may be made of Medicaments of any sapour yet very bitter and very sharp Medicaments we do not approve of for this use for besides that ingratefull sense they bring to the palate they exasperate the hollow artery and the jaws and greatly molest the lungs yet are souâ— ones sometimes prescribed for the attenuation of gross humours But use hath so far prevailed that in the confecture of CoughcuÃing Eclegms it is almost a Law that nothing but sweet Ingredients should make up the Compound as juice of Liccorish Pines Jujubs Sugar-candy Dragaganth and such like Electuaries mixed in Honey or some fit Syrup But if the condition of any affection preternaturally require bitter or sharp Ingredients then must they be mixed with the other Medicaments in a less quantity both that they may be more easily assumed and also that in altering the humour contained they may not hurt the part containing Quae eclegmata conveniant Asthmaticis Such Lohochs as these are for their notable faculty in inciding and opening commended to the pursy and such as breath difficultly because of gross humours in their Lungs An Eclegm should be assumed upon a stick of Liccorish a little beaten or out of some little measure and holden in the mouth till it melt of its own accord and till it slide down the mouth of the stomack or insinuate it self into the Artery subjected They are reposed in earthen vessels leaded and may be kept a whole year without impairing their virtues Yet such as in their Confecture receive Almonds or Nuts as they grow mouldy sooner so do their faculties sooner fail and decay There is to be sold in Shops a certain Electuary somewhat liquid for Glisters and it is made of one pound of the decoction of Violets Malva the herb Mercury Pelitory of the wall Beets and Wormwood with the same weight of the Pitch of Cassia and Honey despumed which being thicker than any Syrup and borrowing its colour and virtue from Cassia is called Lohoch of Cassia Lohoch cassia CHAP. XI Of Electuaries in general SUch Medicaments as externally applyed can cure any Poyson whether within the body or inflicted on the body by some bite are by the Greeks called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which introsumed help many grievous affections The Latins do not onely retain and confound both these names but also denote them by the name of Electuary to us for the Antients called them Antidotes the later men Electuaries Whereof according to their different consistency there be two kinds the one solid which Apothecaries make into little pieces which they call Lozenges the other more liquid made and formed into the consistency of an opiate But if according to Galen the difference of Antidotes or Electuaries be taken from their quality and vertues some are assumed because of deadly Medicaments others are prevalent against venemous beasts others are prescribed to diseases contracted by ill victualls and some are accommodated to all these uses which may not only be wholsomley introsumed but also externally applyed as Triacle Mithridate Electuaries according to their different solidity are called Dry and Tabulated Electuaria sicca ac tabulata or Liquid which have the consistency of an opiate a mean betwixt an Eclegme and Pills as all Antidotes whose powders are subactd with sape honey or wine which put to sugar righly prepared and agitated with a woodden pestell do acquire the just consistency of a solid Electuary So that wine and the same Electuary may be formed liquid or solid according to the adjection of sugar or honey with artificiall mixtion yet they can scarce be brought to a solid Consistency which admit of the extract of Cassia and the inner part of fruits The proportion of honey to powders in liquid Electuaries should be the same with sugar to them in dry and solid Electuaries which is that to one pound of honey or sugar should be mixed three ounces of Powder yet either may be increased or diminished as the power of the Antidote is requisite to be more valid or more weak for by how much more sugar or honey is added to the powders by so much is the Electuary weaker and by how much the lesse by so much the stronger In purging Lozenges one dramme of powder should be mixed with an ounce of sugar cocted in water or some juice to a consistency somewhat more solid than a syrup in Cord all Lozenges two ounces of sugar often go to one dram of powder the quantity whereof should be by so much lesser by how much the quality is stronger and the sapour more ingratefull But Physicians should define a just quantity of sugar or honey Medicorum error for while they prescribe onely according to their custome as much as will serve of either indefinitly they leave the Apothecary doubtfull in making the Electuary and they commit the sick persons safety to his judgement for he may make the strength of the Medicament more weak or more intense as he pleases and you shall scarce find two Apothecaryes who put the same proportion of sugar or honey to the same remedy when the quantity is not prescribed In the Confecture of the liquid Antidote Electuarium liquidum faciendi modus the honey is washed with a little water and boyled by little and little on a moderate fire and despumed till the water or other liquor be exhaled then it is taken off the fire and before it be absolute cold three ounces of the mixed powders are sprinkled upon the honey every pound of honey so prepared requires three ounces of Powder and then they are mixed with a woodden postell till the mixture be equall The weight of honey should not be changed because of the mixture of the pulpe of Cassia Tamarinds or Manna Dactyls and Almonds or other fruits for in confecting an Electuary of a Legitimate consistency the weight of dry powders must be answerable to the sape honey or sugar A soft Electuary should not be reposed in a box before it be thoroughly cold least its superiour part be extrinsecally incrusted in a certain Membrane it is betetr to let it be fermented and the
above This Prescription is accommodate to stay both fluxes to wit of Flowers and Hemorthoides â„ž Shepherds purse Knot-grass Mouse-ear Plantain ana m. j. Roses m. ij Balaustians m. j. boyl them in Bean cod water let the vapour enter in at the genitals This will asswage and allay the dolour of the Hemorrhoides â„ž Mullein m. ij Marsh-mallows m. j. Linseed â„¥ ss boyl them in milk and whil'st they are hot put them in a stool-pan and sit upon it that the vapour may ingrede the fundament CHAP. IV. Of an Hypocaust or Sudatory AN Hypocaust is a place made like a little Fornace Hypocaustum quid wherein sweat is procured by dry heat ascending through like Spiracles from the fire set under it It is called by another name to wit Unde dicatur Laconicum Ejus usus Laconicum because the Laconians chiefly used it as the Romanes did baths It conduces much in frigid and diuturnal diseases for seeing its fervid and sharp heat doth not onely calefy the external habit of the body but the very praecordia and internals also it potently opens the passages calefies melts and by sweat educes the humours But seeing this external calour continually thus occurring and insinuating it self into the internals doth speedily project the humours it can scarce be tolerated one quarter of an hour without dissipation of the spirits and loss of strength whereupon swoundings often follow but the more delicate and such also whose bodyeâ— are loaden with impure excrements are chieâ—â—y in danger of this delinquency Quae ingressum bypocausti praecedere debent He therefore that consults his sanity should never enâ—â—â— these Sudatories till he have by purge and phlebotomy if need be exonerated his body for so the reliques of those humours that infest his body may be easily projected by sudour The Rusticks custome is irreproveable who being destitute of an Hypocaust extracted by due and artificial industry take a Hogshead of a just magnitude and calefy it either by a fire or by setting it over a pan full of burned coals or a vessel full of hot water and set therein sweating profusely and with case without any danger of swourding Some will sit in an oven where bread is but lately drawn out put their heads onely out at the mouth thereof and so sweat abundantly Chirurgions have invented a certain Aestuary of a vimineous texture like a Bird-cage wherein they excite such to sweat as are infested with the French disease which they properly call a Cage wherein the Birds do not nourish but are nourished These miserable Wretches are included herein with hot bricks and almost suffocated till they sweat abundantly in every part of their bodyes having before drunk of the Decoction of Lignum sanctum or Sarsaparilla or some other Alexitery which will both move sweat and deleate the French disease CHAP. V. Of Fomentations FOments are so commodious that no part of the body is averse to their sanative operations Aetius prescribes this Medicament to fore eyes Trallian initio lib. 6. to the ears to the flux of the belly yea he thinks them convenient to asswage any dolour Celsus cap. 12. lib. 3. admits of Foments in Feavers and thinks they should not be omitted but by all means applyed to pleuritical hepatical splenical and arthritical persons as also to the calculative or other parts affected where the ulcer hath not dissolved the continuity nor divided the integrity For Oribasius cap. 29. lib. 9. saith they rarify the skin for transpiration attenuate the blood discuss part thereof and so operate that the parts affected are not so dolorous Foments therefore are made for many purposes as thus to roborate the ventricle â„ž Wormwood both the Mints tops of Dill Roses of each m. ij A Foment roborating the stomack Penniroyal Marjorum of each m. j. Balaustians Cyperus nuts bruised of each â„¥ j. boyl them in water with a fourth part of wine added towards the end of the Coction and foment the ventricle with sponges dipped therein as hot as can be suffered Trallian prescribes many Foments to the splenetick affections which consist of such things as roborate it or as incide and digest the humours or as change and alter its intemperance This Foment after purgation doth remove obstructions and roborate it â„ž Cetrarch or Spleen-wort Roman Wormwood Staechados A Fotus for the spleen Tamaris of each m. ij Broom flowers Jasmine of each m. j. boyl them in water and wine for a good space and to every pint of the Decoction adde Oil of Capars â„¥ iij. with which foment the part affected either with sponges or bladders filled and applyed This Foment is very good to cure the Pleurisy â„ž For the Plenrisy Marsh-mallows Mâ—llows Violets of each m. ij the flowers of Mâ—lilot and Chemomile tops of Dill of each m. j. Linseed â„¥ j. boyl these either in water or milk and foment the side either with cloaths or spunges dipped therein After the foment liniate the part with some lenitive Oil as Oil of Lillyes Almonds or Violets or else with new Butter This foment for the diseased of the Stone must be applyed to the region of the reins â„ž Fotâ—â— pro calculosis Water-cresses Pelitory Beets Violets of each m. ij Fâ—nâ—greek â„¥ ij boyl them in Hydromel and foment the reins therewith CHAP. VI. Of Epithemaes SOme make no difference betwixt a Foment and an Epithema but Fernalius rightly asserts them to be different Medicaments Differentia inter fotum epithema both from their forms and their efficacy seeing a Foment endued with many qualities may be constituted many wayes and applyed to many parts But an Epithema is chiefly eximious for two qualities to wit alterative whereby it emends some distemper and roborative or alexiterial whereby it strengthens the heart and oppugns some kinde of poyson and for the most part applyed onely to the regions of the heart and liver They consist of distilled Epithematum materia cordial and alterative waters or liquid decoctions mixed with powders of fingular virtues wherein the proportion of powder is of one scruple or half a dram to every ounce of water which we mix with a little vinegar Some Alexipharmacal Confection is sometimes diluted in stead of powders as in some pestilent season or in some malignant distemper which impairs the strength of the heart and faculties of the diseased for in such a case it is most secure to mix some Antidote or Mithridate with the Epithema This Epithema doth refrigerate and roborate the liver inflamed with a Feaver â„ž An Epithema cooling the liver of the waters of Succory Endive Water-lillyes and Plantain of each â„¥ iij. Vinegar of RosesÊ’ j. Pulvis Triasant â„¥ j. ss Diarrhadon AbbatisÊ’ j. Troches of CamphorÊ’ ss fiat Epithema and with a cloth dipped in it bathe the region of the liver An Epitheme thus confected will muniate and preserve the heart and strength of the vital faculties â„ž An Epithema to comfort
Metalls lose their Mordacity and Acrimony if they have any such quality for Tutia washed thus is void of all mordacity and therefore we use it Tutiae lotic for the fluxions of the eyes so likewise many other Metalls being thus washed lose their Acrimonious quality As Galen shewes at large 4. Comp. Med. Gener c. 2. The Ancients were wont to quench burnt brasse in Asses miâ—â— two or three times over Cadmia lotio then pulverized it in a morter with water powred on it and so dryed it againe and so preserved it to dry up ulcers of the eyes and drive away fluxions Ceruss is often washed in milk sometimes in rain-water Cerusae lotio and sometimes in distilled water as the Physician orders it The usuall custome of our Apothecaries in the preparation of steele is to wash or sprinkle its dust with vineger Chalybis lotio vulgaris according to the Arabians custome afterwards they dry it on a large marble in the hot Sun dryed they bruise it again and put on vineger as before and so they do seven times but this is not simply Lotion but a manifest preparation yet is the dust of iron more laborioufly prepared by Alcumists of which they make their Crocâ—â— Martis but of this we have spoken one where The Lotion of Lead is thus Plumbi lotio first burnt well in a Crucible then pulverized in a Leaden moâ—ter with a Leaden pestill with rain-rain-water â—ill the water wax thick like blackâ—sh clay then the liquor must bâ—â—strained dryed made into balls and kept To preserve â—â—ctious substances Adioum meductarum ablutio first the Adeps or Medulla must be melted then strained from the drossy Membranes afterwards washed well in water till it appears pure and cleere The preparation of a Wolfs Liver consists in ablution siccation Jecoris Lupi praeparatio First let it be washed over and over in odoriferous wine in which wormewood hath first been boyled being thus washed according to Art Let it be well dryed in an Oven then afterwards laid in a dry place with dry Wormwood or Mint This Lotion is by some highly commended as of sufficient roboration to â—allance the weakness of the Liver which is naturally so by reason of its ill odor and insuavity The intestines also of a Wolfe must be washed and prepared after the same manner Intestini Lupi praeparatio save that they must be dryed in the North-wind they are commended by some learned Doctors for some speciall qualities in or against the Cholick passions Oyle Olei Lotio whilst it is in the water must not be much beaten least it be so mixed with the water that it cannot easily be separated from it clearly without some commixtion As for Rosin Refinarum picie Lotio Wax and Pitch let them first be melted upon the fire with a certain quantity of water and purge away their dross by straining them thorow a cloth Galen cap. 14. libr. 1. comp Med. gener cap. 58. lib. 9. de simpl Med. fac cap. 3. lib. 6. Meth. Lime also Calcis ablutio though it burnes vehemently yet twice or thrice washed its mordacity is taken away and may be safely applyed to any part whether Nervous or not which is a place most exquisitly indued with sense some wash it seven times over and make it up into a round ball which being dryed they so preserve it for future uses To shew gradually the preparation of severall Medicaments distinctly were superfluous and would be burdensome to the Reader both because Sylvius hath treated largely upon this subject and also because we have added many Lotions to many Medicaments in the Pharmacopoeia with other preparations of those compositions prescribed in it CHAP. IV. Of the Purgation of Medicaments BY Lotion of which we have treated in the former Chapter the filth and corruption mixed with Medicinall materialls is waâ—â—ed off but their superfluous and noxious parts are not purged thereby for French Barley though a thousand times washed will scarce lose it hilling nor other seeds their chaff and coverings nor fruits their skins or barks nor nuts their shells neither can fat onely by washing be purged from its Membranes therefore should be twice cocted and no more according to Hyppocrates advice before it be used in generall all Medicaments more or lesse should be purged by detraction which cannot be performed so much by Lotion as by Section Rasion and fraction or some other Artificiall Industry of the hand Thus the externall part of roots are scraped by cutting off their little fibres or the heart of them commonly so called taken out of them Yet sometimes they are not purged from their barks but the barks from every part as from superfluous and uselesse matter for of the Cinamon-tree the bark only is most desirable of Ginger the root of Santall-tree the wood of Canes the marrow or pith of Maiden haire the leaves onely of the Rose-tree the flowers of Pepper the seed other parts since they are either lesse usefull or superfluous are purged away For this reason the Medulla or pith of Cassia Fistula is separated from its cane Raisins from their stones Dates from their shells the Colocinth separated from its seeds the hillings from many seeds but from many fruits nothing the Cortex Medulla juice seed and flowers of Citron and Orange are good and usefull Whereas Nuts and Almonds are involved in a threefold skin wherefore they should be thrice purged the skin which is thick in some is taken away by the first the shell is broken by the second and the cover next to the kernell is taken away by the third wherein it is involved As a Child in a sheet in the wombe the usuall custome is to put Almonds or Nuts into water and when 't is ready to boyle rub them between your fingers and they will easily be cleansed CHAP. V. Of Infusion INfusion is a preparation of certain Medicaments whereby they are sliced into small peeces or bruised and so steeped in a liquor fit and convenient to the Physicians intention and that by the space of one houre or two or more dayes or weeks according to the nature of the Medicament or the Physicians Order for those that have a hard compact substance and a quality firmely inhering in the substance ought to be steeped or infused longer those that are small and tender a lesser space The use of this Infusion is chiefly threefold that the maligne force of the Medicine may be regulated or altogether absumed that the benigne or good quality may be made better or their vertues transmitted into the liquor Turbith before 't is used Turpethi praepa ratio ought to be steeped in new milk and afterwards dryed that it may not gripe the bowells when it is assumed Mezeorus laureola before they be exhibited in any Medicine ought to be steeped in white Wine and afterwards dryed that their crabbedness might be
Balneo Mariae that the Aqua vitae may be separated from the faculty of the Medicament which lyes somewhat thick in a little quantity in the bottome of the vessell then it is gathered and reposed in a glasse vessell or an earthen one well glassed and so evaporated on hot embers If any one will make a more valid extract then he macerates another Medicament of the same kind in the former expression and after a daily and perfect infusion he extracts it by compression as before and this he doth three or foure times if hâ— desire a more potent extract and at length the last expression being finished he segregates the Aqua vitae from it by distillation in a hot bath or he dissipates it by insolation till the extract onely remain which hath great and powerfull vertues in a small body They do not cast away Rhabarbe and other Medicaments of grearer value after the first maceration or expression as the vulgar do but infuse them twice thrice or four times in other Aqua vitae till they have lost their colour sapour and what ever vertue was in them be left in the waters for then ought the last expression to be made which is mixed to the other from all which the Aqua vitae is separated by Balneo Mariae and the subsident onely or extract left These Extracts are not alwaies made by Aqua vitae but oftentimes by the decoction of hearbs stilled waters and sometimes by rain or fountain-fountain-waters Extractum pilularum for some masses of pills are sometimes macerated in rain-rain-waters for the space of eight dayes the juice of Buglosse Betony or other thing as necessity requires being added then it is boyled on a slow fire strained and congealed After the same manner is one pound of the best Rhabarb and of China sliced small macerated by the space of one whole day in two pounds of the juice of Borrage and Fumitory well purified then it is boyled on a slow fire Extractum rhei till the juice be absumed then is there made a strong expression which is again boyled with a slow fire in a Balneum Mariae to the Consistency of Honey some adde two ounces of Sugar but hereby the quantity is increased and the faculty of the extract more dull Extracts are prepared after many other manners which to treat of at large is not our purpose because we study to institute a method for Apothecaries not Alcumists CHAP. XXIV Of Cribration AS the husbandman with his fanne dissipates the straw and chaffe from his Wheat so doth he with his sieve segregate the best seed corn from the dead and feeble cornes to whom Cribration rather appertains than to an Apothecary yet both of them use this instrument to separate the flower from the bran which the vulgar call a searce or sieve sometimes a rangeing sieve and sometimes a haire Tamise which is made sometimes of the haire of a horses taile sometimes of flax sometimes of silk now a sieve is made of a vellume pervious with many round or long holes through which tares and small seeds may easily descend the more succulent and good remaining Cribration therefore is of use for that preparation of Medicaments which is performed in a sieve The use of this preparation is much Cribrationis usus for hereby the flower of grounded seeds or the meale is separated from the branne boyled roots are cleansed from their barks and fruits purged from their grains and stones The Quintessence of Cassia fistula is put in a sieve made of horses haire that the pith alone thus purged from the broken huskes and seeds may be extracted which is called extract of Cassia Tamarinds and Dates macerated in vineger or other liquor are after the same manner put into a hairy sieve for many definite uses and so pulped through with a Manipulus many seeds are boyled till they crackle as roots and leaves till they be very soft and then are transmitted through a sieve made of haire to the confection of Cataplasmes and other Medicines of divers forms Cordiall powders as also others which are ingredients in a Medicamentall composition must be sierced in a small tamise or fine sieve and especially such as are administred to loose obstructions and move urine or monthly flowers for by how much such are finer by so much the sooner are they carried to the places affected In sifting some powders a hairy tamise is requifite in others a silken one or one of pure and rare linnen Cribration is chiefly for the more commodious mixtion of things pulverated or of small bignesse and the separation of the smaller portion which is often better from the grosser portion which is often worse Now as there are severall instruments that serve for Cribration Varius cribrandi modus so is the manner of Cribration diverse for properly Corn and Pulse are to be put in a sieve stirred with a hand and turning the seeds this way and that way in the sieve holden up which ablegates the bad seed and retains the good After the same manner Cordiall powders are sifted Pulveres cardiaci quomodo cribrandi the tamise being moved to and fro in a mans hands not violently shaken that the smaller part of the powder may be transmitted the thicker part left Some that they may be more easily transmitted ought in the ranging of the sieve to be shaken into a round or other solid body with many percussions least the grosser parts be fastned in the sieve and therefore almost all ought to be grinded before they be sifted in the Tamise and those that will scarce permeate the tamise or sieve for crassitude ought again to be grinded and beaten till they may all passe through for tenuity and fineness CHAP. XXV Of Colation and Filtration UPon what account dry Medicaments are sifted upon the same are moist ones strained for that the filth may be segregated and the pure and sincere liquor onely extracted it is transmitted through a strainer and that either thick or rare or of a mean texture as the commodious use of the thing and exigency requires therefore the practisers of Pharmacy hold it requisite to keep many strainers in their shops both thick and rare linnen wollen hempen or hairy often old but oftner new that in a strong compression all the juice of the thing strained may be transmitted without the rupture of the cloth That grosse and viscid matters may be rightly strained Ad crassorum viscidorum colaturam quid requiratur three things are required that they be washed in more abundance of humour that they be put in a more rare and new strainer and that they be longer calified before colation for so their density being more rarified they may more easily permeate thus the juices of flesh and hearbs are to be calified before they be strained and all kinds of Honey and Manna eaten out of any liquor that that which is extraneous and sordid
if any such thing be mixed with it may be separated by Colature Those that are thin as the juice of hearbs Lemmons and many fruits ought to be strained warme and often cold for so their terrestriall and grosser part remaines the purer and more sincere being transferred as it were fined from their dreggs But Milk and muddy waters are strained cold that haires if any be fallen thereinto may be separated from the one and mud from the other yet all that which makes the water muddy is oft separated from it by residence as we see in Cisternes where water stands Tent-wine also is three or more times strained cold in a linnen napkin very long and fine for procuring the more pleasant mixture and consistency of the Sugar wine and sweet spices wherewith it is compounded Some may not be strained unlesse very hot others cold others warme and many need onely one colation some two and some three till they grow cleer Apozemes are strained through common strainers sometimes through a woollen bag or linnen strainer but syrrups which are more gross because of the admixtion of honey sugar and their long coction cannot so easily transmeate and therefore require a thin linnen strainer Decoctions whereof unguents are made are strained after the same manner as also the unguents themselves liquified till some thick thing which hath escaped the stroke of the Pestell and the heat of the fire be segregated The thinner part of many Medicaments is segregated from the thicker by the other kind of colation called filtration Filtratio which apparation those Medicaments onely use which make up the compound called Virgins Milk or which expostulate onely some smaller and thinner substance of some Medicament for they assume linnen or woollen lists two or three fingers broad and very long and they dip the one end in the vessell wherein the Medicament to be strained is contained the other end reacheth to another vessell that stands below it and bending into it doth cast out by drop and drop that humour into it which it had continently drawn from the former vessell CHAP. XXVI Of Spumation WHen scum swimming upon a liquor is detracted Spuma quid either with a spoon or feather if it be small or by colature that same act is called Despumation because scum is a certain viscid juice including flatulency for all enumeration of scum proceeds from the mixture of two substances whereof the one is spirituall the other humid it is moved and disjected by a various agitation as Galen saith Comment ad Aphor. 43. lib. 2. therefore the segregation of scums is made by the whites of Eggs which by their lentor and viscidity coact and collect the scum as when juices of flesh many syrrups and Apozemes are in boyling cleansed from their scums But seeing motion and heat are the efficient causes of scum Spumae efficientes cnasae and nothing that is crude and not moved is covered with scum then despumation appertaines to such things as by agitation and coction ingender scum That Honey and Sugar may be cleansed from scum an equall and sometimes a double portion of liquor is put to them and in boyling the scum is taken off with a blunt spoon least together with the scum the liquor in which the concoction is made should be taken off but if despumation by this rule seem unperfect then adde to certain pound weights of liquor certain whites of eggs which assoone as they are hardened by continuall boyling they gather scum so that the segregation of it from the liquour will be very easy because in straining it will be left in the strainer together with the whites of the eggs the sincere and pure liquour onely transmitted If the honey be very impure it must be boyled in a treble portion of liquor till it come to half that the despumation may be perfect which rule will hold in scumming other very impure Medicaments Honey may be purged and cleansed from scum by it self Quando mel per se despumandum when it hath no aliene quality or when it cannot sustein so long coction without impairing its vertue as those things that are mixed with it for then it were better not to mixe it for despumations sake than to despume it with the mixture Sugar to be purged of scum ought so long to be boyled that after despumation that which was a pound before may remain no more than a pound though two or three ounces of liquor have been added to the coction Fruits that are to be preserved while they are boyled with sugar or as some do better boyle them in a portion of sugar are purged by some few scum onely with a spoon as things full cocted are with a linnen strainer for they are wont to be transmitted through a cloth extended and fastned with nailes at every corner that the scum and dreggs might be left above CHAP. XXVII Of Clarification CLarification is a purging of liquid Medicaments from their grosser matter for hereby they are more acceptable to the palate and may more easily be distributed Now many are clarified by themselves alone as when the more feculent settleth as the juice of Apples Oranges Lemmons Bugglosse Sorrell some by despumation others by colation some also by coction the white of eggs for the most part added sometimes also without these as when the juices of plants and fruits are cocted to the consumption of the third part and then stand two dayes till they grow cleere Clarificatio quot modis fiat whence clarification is effected five manner of ways by rest by colation by despumation by the mixtion of vinegar or some sharp matter and by the agitation and coction of whites of Eggs with the thing to be clarified For if decoctions and syrups partake of vinegar they will be more and more purged by themselves through the vertue of the vinegar And whites of eggs must be agitated with a spoon till they be all froathy then put to the syrups or decoctions which must be boyled again and when the scum is gathered about the whites of eggs by perfect coction then must the scum be artificially craded and separated either by common trajection which is through a four cornered cloath fastned at every corner with a nail or by a more peculiar colation which is through Hyppocrates his sleeve Colation should be iterated three or four times till the syrrup or decoction be plainly cleere Men of later times have made certain potions in the form of a Julep which with their consistency being very clear they cill them Clarers but such are made after the manners before nominated CHAP. XXVIII Of Aromatization ARomatization is an artificiall manner of preparation Aromatizatio quid whereby Medicaments are made more odoriferous and suaveolent to the better acceptation of the palate and heart and the greater strength and oblectation to the vitall and animall faculties For Medicaments subverting the ventricle are made lesse offensive if they
will not keep one week and therefore Physicians are wont to prescribe them to present use and have them made so oft as necessity requires but we shall treat more largely of these in the next book for now we shall speak of such as may be kept by the Apothecaries for a long time of which for present use are often made Apozemes if they be dissolved in the decoction of Plants or Juleps if in distilled waters they often also ingrede the confection of Eclegmes Opiates and Condites both that they may acquire better acceptation and vertue and also a consistency more convenient to our purpose Yet they are sometimes prescribed alone and unmixed especially such as must be assumed by licking by little and little to move flegme as all brown syrups as the syrup of Colts-foot the juice of Liccorish Maidens-haire Hyssop or of some such like which by reason of their sweetnesse coct the spittle Now syrups are made of the decoction of hearbs Materia Syruporum roots fruits seeds flowers or their juices and such like as may be well decocted and the matters to be decocted are so chosen as they may answer our intent whether it be to corroborate some part or mend some vitious humour or educe it thence we have such variety of syrups for they are composed to calefy refrigerate moisten dry open obstruct cut thicken and purge And the decoction of those things whereof Syrups are made Aquâ— optima quae ought to be in water either rain-water or fountain water or running water which is best because void of all qualities the quantity whereof must be answerable to the quantity and hardnes of the things cocted for such things as are harder as roots and wood can scarce be cocted save with much time and water without adustion And therefore the water must be augmented when simples are long to be cocted as also when they are too bitter The decoction strained and clarified is boyled again with an equall quantity of sugar or honey or both and sometimes with sweet wine as it will appear in our book called the Apothecaries Shop CHAP. III. Of Propomates THe Ancients according to Aëtius and Paulus Aët. cap. 30. cent 3. ser 1. Paul Aeg. c. 15. lib. 7. Propomata quid de remed called aâ—l drinks dulcorated with honey by the generallâ—n me Propomata for they scarce knowing sugar made all drinks pleasant to the pâ—late with honey which we now make with sugar that they may be more sweet and pleasant yet some not for want of sugar are condited with honey both for the peculiar condition of the sapour and the artainment of those excellent qualities wherewith it abounds for honey besides that sweetness which it hath being most pleasant to the tongue is such an excellent conservative that many use it instead of salt for the Babylonians Dionys Areop Melle qui corpora condiebant in time past buried their dead bodyes in honey and Appius the Cook Herod in Thalia covered flesh with honey that he might preserve it without salt many things also condited and other Medicaments are dulcorated and confected with honey both that they may be more pleasant to the palate and also keep more safely without corruption and acquire more notable vertues Wherefore Galen Cap. 177 simpl Medic. writes well when he saith that honey may safely be mixed with all Antidotes For it is most sweet Cap. 11. lib. de alim and it produces most thin juice and being mixed with Medicaments it causes them to induce and keep better Paul cap. 14. lib. 7. dâ— remed yet it is not equally wholesome to all for as Cap. 8. lib. 2. de fac nat it is good for old and cold men for it is noxious to such as are feaverish and young men especially chollerick because it is soon changed ingenders choller and becomes bitter in hot bodyes for if it be holden too long to the fire it will be bitter as also if it be kept too long Cap. 16. lib. 4. simpl for Galens father Cap. 11. l. 1. de Antidot Pater Galeni mel amarum babebat had a certain kind of honey as bitter as if it had been made in Pontus in that part where the Bees gather their honey from wormewood yet he saith it was Athenian honey and very good but that it became bitter by diuturnity of time Now Pliny Cap. 56. lib. 7. saith that one Aristaeus an Athenian first invented honey and the Curetes first taught the use thereof Mellis primus inventor though Ovid makes Bacchus the Author of it when he saith Liber inventi praemia mellis habet Furthermore many Medicaments are made of honey and also potions either more liquid called by Paulus sweet Potions as Hydromel that is watry and not enough boyled or more thick and longer boyled and insolated as Hydromel of wine as Oxymel and other Medicaments which are nominated from honey as the Medicamentall honeys of violets Anacardium Râ—ses and such like Many Medicaments are comprehended under this name Hydromel as Muscadell Melicratum Hydromel of water and of wine simple and compound Quid hydromelitis nomine intelligendum yet none is so simple but it consists of honey and water as the name demonstrates but it is called simple to difference it from the more compound whereof many differences are described every where by the best Physicians as by Galen lib. de Dinamid and by Paulus lib. 7. de remed In the Confection of Hydromel In hydromelite qua mellis ad aquam proportio the proportion of honey to the water is various according to the various scope of the Physician the temper of the assumer For in Summer it is prescribed most watry as also to young men but in Winter and to old men and flegmaticke with a greater portion of wine or honey and it seemes good to our Ancients properly to call that Hydromel Hydromel vinosum which is not very watry but of wine and perfectly cocted for it seems to resemble in sapour and heat most noble Wine as that of Malmesey for it much excites spittle concocts flegmes cherishes naturall hear and roborates the stomack its genuine description and the manner of its making shall be handled in the shop divulged by us And although the rule of confecting Melicrated Mulsa Melicratum mulsa hydromel idem or Hydromell which differ onely in name not in substance be not one but various yet Mesue part 3. distinct 6. delivers the most vulgar and usuall rule to wir the admistion of eight pounds of water to one of honey which must be cocted together till froth cease to swim above which opinion the best Authors follow though many mixe with every pound of honey ten of water and sometimes twelve according to their various intentions Rusticks in Summer decoct the Loture of honey-combes Hydromel Rusticorum first strained and they despume it well and repose it in ample vessells and having
hung a little lump of Leaven in the vessells they leave it for two or three dayes and then they drink it with great pleasure to expell thirst for this drink is sharp and sweet and most pleasant to their palates others boyle six pounds of honey in fifty pound of fountain-water and scum it well and then they dissolve an ounce and an half or two ounces of Leaven or Barm and put in the Barrell leaving a certain space as about two or three fingers breadth empty Apomel is not very watry and as in strength and vertue Apomeli it is equall to vinous Hydromel so hath it the same manner of preparation as we shall shew in our shop Amongst sweet potions is reckoned Oinomel Oinomel which is made of two parts of old wine and one of honey and sometimes of six parts of swee new wine and one of honey according to Oribasius Cap. 25. lib. 5. Collect. and because honey is of thin parts and most sweet those Medicaments that admit of its Commistion do conduce most to the attenuation coction and expurgation of grosse humours CHAP. IV. Of Syrups mixed with Honey THat which the Greeks call Oxymel and the Arabians Secanjabin The Apothecaries and not improperly call a tart sweet potion for it is a sower syrup made of water and honey or sweet wine and vinegar whence the taste recerves it as soure and sweet and as it hath a mixed and various sapour so hath it mixed virtues as by reason of the honey to the vinegar as of the vinegar to 〈…〉 for vinegar hath a purging faculty and it is Gal. l 1. Acetum esse calidum frigidum simpl 〈◊〉 2. Comp Med. loc cold and hot discussive repulsive and therefore Oxymel is commodious for hot cold diseases it cuts attenuates and cleanseth grosse and slimy humours it educes spittle Oxymelitis qualitas takes away obstructions it prepares cold humours for expulsion it moderates hot humours and quenches thirst for honey is averse to cold humours vineger to their lentour and water to heat and therefore causes that the honey be longer cocted better scummed and the vertue of the Oximel Mellis optimi nota better distributed as Messue his Interpreter well observes And the honey should not onely be very good sweet and sharp pale of colour neither too thick nor too watrish nor abounding with spume but the water also being a common solace both to the whole and sick as Galen saith Cap. 27. lib. de renum dignot Aquae bonitas qui dignoscatur Medicat and most necessary to all things ought to be most pure and good and it may be tryed so to be by taste sight and smell by tast as if it be free from all qualities indued with none by sight as if it be pure sincere and exquisitely cleere by smell as if nothing can be smelled therein which is in vitious waters and the vinegar also must necessarily be very good rather white than red Acetum quodnam optimum not stillatitious nor watrish but most sharp which hath a more potent faculty in cutting and attenuating Now that Oxymel is reckoned amongst Medicines is from vineger for it is not of them accounted sweet wine betwixt which Oxymel and Apomel takes place called by Serapis Acumel But because all vineger hath not the same vertue nor all men the same delight in its taste the same proportion of honey to vineger is not generally used for some would have more of vineger others more of honey whence Serapio thinks it should be made according to his mind that drinks yet the confection described by Mesue and Oribasius is most received and approved And it is made of one part of vineger Oxymelitis praeparatio two of water and four of honey and all are boyled together to the consistency of a more liquid syrup for if it be not perfectly cocted yet because of the honey it may be preserved long enough without corruption And this is called simple Oxymel in respect of that which is more compound which besides water honey and vinegar receives many roots and fruits whereof many formes are described by Nicolaus Myrepsus and later writers CHAP. V. Of Juices mixed with Honey HOney is the Countrey-mans sugar wherewith they often condite Cherries Goosberies and Pears Apothecaryes also not for want of sugar but by the Physicians advise confect certain juices fruits and flowers with honey and make them into Conserves Galenjabin Conserva Rosarum sapes and syrups conserves as honey of Roses called by the Arabians Geneljabin and by the Greeks Rhodomel which is made of one part of the flowers of red roses bruised and three parts of honey despumed Mel passulatum Sapes as honey of grapes which confected of one pound of dry grapes clensed and macerated for a whole day in three pounds of water then boyled to the half afterwards strained and mixed with an equall quantity of honey despumed syrups as another kind of honey of roses which is made of an equall quantity of despumed honey and red rose juice the Mercuriall honey or Mel Mercuriale is also confected after the like manner and cocted to the consistency of a thicker syrup And as the consistency of these conserves of roses is various so is their description and preparation for many take the same quantity of roses purged from their white and of honey as Mesue also did but they do not as he Rhodomel boyle them on the fire but expose them to the heat of the Sun Mel Rosatum foliatum for the space of ten or twelve dayes before they repose them in their shops thus also Rhodomel prepared without colature is called by some of a later stampe Mel Rosatum foliatum and by others Conserva mellis Rosarum But that which is confected of an equall part of the juice of red roses and of honey because of its sapour and consistency is called the syrrup of the honey of roses That same is a mean betwixt both because made partly of the leaves and juice of Roses with an equall weight of honey yet the former manner of confection is more approved after which manner also other Medicinall honeys are confected of other flowers Yet is it better that these be insolated than decocted with fire Cur prastet hac insolari quà m coqui because the odour of flowers being easily dissipable perishes and their qualities do not remain integrall after cocture but they will easily endure insolation which acting with a temperate and diuturnall heat not short and fervid better mixes such Medicaments yet that honey which is made of fresh roses is used to be cocted with a slow fire that which is made of dry roses should be insolated Now what way soever honey of roses is made whether of flowers integrall or broken it ought first a little to be calefied that it may be strained and it is called Mel Rosatum Colatum As
therefore seem much to be deceived who think that emulsions serve to nothing save the cure of the virulent flux of the sperme for in many things they may be used instead of Apozems and Hordeates when they are confected of brayed seeds which refrigerate leniate move urine or conciliate sleep upon which in the time of contrition either a Ptisane or decoction of such simples as conduce to that purpose must be superfused as when purged Almonds and Artichocks with the decoction of jujubs and dry grapes are contunded for the asperity of the jawes the frigid seeds with the decoction of Lettices and of the flowers of Water-Lillyes for the heat of the bowells and the same seeds with the decoction of the roots of seeds of Althea Liquorice and Figgs for the Acrimony of urine The quantity of the decoction must be augmented or diminished according to the quantity of the seeds an emulsion should neither be absolutely crasse nor absolutely liquid but in a mean betwixt the consistency of Apozems and Syrups like the more limpid Amygdalates which in colour and sapour differ not much from emulsions but they are somewhat more crasse as Hordeates are denser than Amygdalates Syrups than Hordeates Eclegmes than Syrups and Electuaryes than Eclegmes These are the best descriptions of Emulsions for the diseases of the breast and lungs â„ž An Emulsion to allay the heat of the stomach Of sweet Almonds blanched â„¥ j. Pine kernells not rancid â„¥ ss the 4. greater Coole seeds of eachÊ’ iij. beat them in a stone morter and with a pint of the decoction made of Jujubs and Raisons conquass them together dulcorate it with â„¥ 4. of sugar for 4. doses To extinguish the ardour of the reins and abate the Acrimony of urine â„ž To allay the heat of the urine The 4. greater Coole seeds of each â„¥ ss the seeds of Lettice and white poppyes of eachÊ’ ij bruise them well in a marble morter and mix with them one pinte of water or Ptisan in the Colature dissolve syrup Nimphaea â„¥ iij. forÊ’ doses This following Emulsion conduces to the cure of the virulent flux of the sperme after other universall remedyes â„ž Water Lentills Lettice seed of eachÊ’ ij Purslain and Plantain seed of eachÊ’ j. the 4. greater Coole seeds of each â„¥ ss beat them in a stone morter powring on Barley water lb j. ss add sugar of Roses â„¥ iiij for 5. or 6. doses To be taken two houres before meales CHAP. IX Of Amygdalates ALmonds are either bitter which are solely Medicinall or sweet which are partly alimentall partly Medicamentall Of these a certain potion is confected white as milk which Physicians prescribe to feaverish and pectorall affections for though Almonds according to Paulus Aegyn lib. 7. de re Med. and Oribasius cap. 2. lib. 2. Synopseos be moderately hot or rather temperate yet being brayed and diluted in water their fervour is abated and by a certain inciding and attenuating faculty purge the breast and bowells Actuar cap. 7. de spirit animal nut now of their cremour may be made a certain sorbicle which doth both nourish and lenify the asper Artery and facilitate the projection of such humours as are contained in the breast which is thus made â„ž Of Almonds blanched â„¥ ij beat them in a stone morter and poure on lb ss of water addÊ’ vj. of sugar boyle them a little on the fire and afterwards let it be given Some adde to the mixture two or more grains others refuse How Amâ—gdalates are made it may be administred at any time especially to such as love not pottage or broath but it is most frequently given at the houre of sleep and then you may put to it a little of the seed of white Poppy or Lettice especially if it be prescribed to a sick man that cannot sleep Some bray Almonds with warme water and so by the addition of a little sugar make it up without fire and so give it But it s better to bray them with luke-warme water and afterwards elixate them after the usuall manner the quantity of sugar should be augmented or diminished as the condition of the affection requires for as sweet things are bechicall and most accommodate to the affections of the breast Lungs so by how much the Amygdalate is more obdulcorated with sugar by so much it is more convenient to them by how much its lesse obdulcorated by so much fitter for the feaverish This sweet potion is very common at Lutetia Amygdalata Lutetiâ—e usitatissima in so much that the very women make of it daily so that their Medicks never describe any receipt but bids the Apothecary make an amygdalate leaving the materialls to his arbitration A greater quantity both of sugar and Almonds must be put in the confection that 's made for such as love solids lesse of each and more of water for such as love liquids CHAP. X. Of the Antients Ptisane or Hordeate THe vulgar Ptisane is a potion made of Liquorice-water and a little barley and often without the Ancients Ptisane is a meat made of select barley decortticated with grinding and water hence Ptisana from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to grinde and decorticate Hordeati praeparatio by Galens advice cap. 2. lib. de Ptisana the barley should be fat partaker of no adventitious quality neither too new nor too old nor yet wrinckled which Barley thus selected must be macerated in water then brayed in a morter that the exteriour shell and all glumosity may be excussed then rubbed with ones hands washed and purged from the bran then dryed and kept and when use calls for it then must a part of it be cocted in twelve times as much water on a slow fire till it swell to the height depose all flatuosity Antiquorum Ptisana and become a smooth continuall equall and lubricall juice thus the Ancients at first cocted their Ptisane and exhibited it to the sick yet some of them mixed with it boyled wine or honey or cummin and others a little oil vineger and salt but we being more delicate add none of these but onely sugar and sometimes a few Almonds and as we retain not the mixture of the Ancients so neither do we keep the name calling that a hordeate which Hippocrates and Galen called a Ptisane and it s thus made at Lutetia â„ž The best Barley well purified â„¥ ij boyle it upon a gentle fire in cleere water till the barley begins to swell pour off the water and let fresh be poured on then boyle it upon a cleare fire for four or five houres afterwards straine it add to the colatureÊ’ vj. of sugar afterwards boyle it againe and so make use of it For thus your Hordeate will be more crasse and nutritive in Italy they do not boyl it after colature and it is more liquid and more greedily assumed by some patients but it nourisheth not so much and therefore is assumed not only once a day
de aliment Common salt or the powder of sal Gemme or Hiera or other simple or compound is sometimes added to honey This is the common suppository wherewith the excretive faculty is excited to its work ℞ An usuall suppository Honey ℥ ij common saltʒ ij or sal Gem. ℈ iiij boyle then on a gentle fire in a little pipkin to aperfect consistency and make a suppository of the longitude of a finger For one cannot coct so little honey as to make up one suppository with honey alone least so little quantity as would serve one glans be burned or cause the ignition of the vessell before it can acquire a tractable consistency This suppository is very good to kill the worms of the fundament and educe that phlegme whereon they feed ℞ Another for the wormes Aloesʒ i ss Agaricke Wormewood of eachʒ j. sal Gemm ʒ ss make of chese a powder to which add honey boyled to a consistency ℥ ij and according to art rowl them up into suppositories Let them be immerged in the oil of bitter Almonds or of Wormewood or in the gall of an Oxe till use calls for them For Infants they cut a piece of white sope like an acorn which they immit or sometimes the stalke of a Bete or Mercury dawbed with butter instead of a suppository for all these gently exonerate the belly CHAP. V. Of Glysters or Enemata GLyster or Clysmus is a word borrowed from the Greeks signifying ablution as Enema injection and both are used for the same thing for ablution cannot be in the belly but by injection of some thing which by the fundament is immitted to the intestines to excite the excretive faculty to mollify the bardness of the belly to alter the intemperature to ease the dolour to discuss the flatuosity to cohibit the fluour and kill and expell the worms in the intestines Glysters are instituted for many more effects also The commodities that ensue Glysters for no part in the body almost but it receives solace from them Com. ad Aph. 17. lib. 18. if dolour possess the head if lippitude the eyes if strangulation the jaws if suffocation the breast if inflation the belly if inflammation the reins if dissury or ischury the bladder a Glyster will successfully cure all these evils Now the Uterus hath its proper Glysters which must be infunded into its fundament by a Metrenchyta the bladder it s Glysters neither want the bowels theirs whose orifice is narrow and nervous and their cavity profound And it is taken for a liquid Medicament infused into the intestines by the fundament whereof there are various descriptions according to the variety of the affections for which they are ordained as to mollify the belly after this manner ℞ Mallows Violets Marsh mallows brank Ursin Mercury Pelitory ana m. j. sweet Fennel seed ℥ ss in the Summer time the four greater cool seeds ℥ j. boyl these in a sufficient quantity of water till a third part be consumed of which after it is strained take lb. j. ss for strong people but for the younger sort lb. j. for infants lb. ss This decoction may in Summer be kept uncorrupt two dayes in some cold place in Winter four but it is best when it is new made Quamdiu decoctum pro Clyst possit incorruptum ser vari and those Apothecaries do ill that keep it a whole week and then use it Folia Orientalia are oft decocted herein and some Electuaries and Honey dissolved according to the various intentions of the Physician as to excite the slowness of the belly and to educe the humours lurking there And better to excite the drowsy faculty something of common Salt or pretious may be added Clysteris inventionem avis dedisse fertur whose virtue in moving the belly is thought to be known by the Bird called Ibis not much unlike a Stork which with its long bill draws up sea water and immits it into its belly whereby it is purged hence according to Galen praef sai introduct was the use of Glysters learned But be sure no Salt be dissolved in the Glysters prescribed to the dissentery for it will much imbitter the dolour of the intestines This Glyster will discuss flatuosity ℞ A Carminate Glyster Marsh mallows Pelitory tops of Dill Origanum Calamint Southernwood the flowers of Melilot and Chamomile ana m j. the seeds of Cummin Anise Coriander ana ℥ ss boyl them in the Colature dissolve Honey of Rosemary ℥ ij Bened. Laxativ ʒ vj. El. de Baccis Lauri ℥ ss Ol. Anethi ℥ iij. fiat Enema Some instead of Oils made by infusion dissolve ʒ j. of Oil of Aniseed educed by the chymical art or a little more or less as the condition of the body and disease require which I have oft expenenced with success when I could not have any other to my minde Here note Validius purgant Clysteres qui pinguia non admittunt that that injection wherein Oil or Butter or both have been mixed doth attract the humours more slowly for the faculty of the Catharticks is dulled with the addition of fats but the dolour of the intestines is sooner quelled Oils and Greases are mixed and added rather to mollify and leniate than attract As ℞ Of the decoction of the four emollient herbs lb. j. dissolve therein Honey of Violets red Sugar Catplicon ℥ j. ss Oil of Chamomile fresh Butter ana ℥ ij conquass them together fiat Clysmus Take notice also that Injections or Glysters do not onely purge the inferiour intestines but the middle also and sometimes the superiour as when the ventricle is ill affected and attracts it from the inferiour intestines so that Galen cap. 1. lib. 3. de sympt caus asserts that some have vomited up part of a Glyster though elswhere he seems to hold the contrary Which may happen also when a Glyster made of Milk or the decoction of Flesh is injected into some macilent fellow with whose sweetness and gratefull warmth his empty ventricle being allured sucks and attracts the liquor to it self that it may be refreshed therewith as we may reade in the Writings of Avenzoar Theys cap. 18. tract 10. lib. 1. This Glyster is good against the Lethargy Apoplexy and other affections of the brain whereby the senses droop and the faculties become dull ℞ Betony Marjoran Calamint Sage Origanum ana m. j. Mercury Arach ana m. ij boyl them with ℥ ij of Senna andʒ ij of Aniseeds in a pint of the Colature dissolve Honey of Rosemary ℥ ij Confectio Hamech and Hier. Diacolocynthidos ana ℥ ss Saltʒ ij fiat Clyster This Glyster cures the dissentery or other great flux in the belly ℞ Plantain Knot-grass Mullet ana m. j. boyl them in lb. j. of Milk and lb. ss of Bean-cod water till the third part be consumed in the Colature dissolve Bole-armeniack and Starch anaʒ ij the yolk of one Egge and so make it into a Glyster SECTION III. Of such as
its own poyson Pyroticks are applyed to divers parts of the body as sometimes to the head sometimes to the arms sometimes to one or other leg to resolve and divert rheumatick humours A Pyrotick is sometimes applyed to that same ample production of the peritoneum where the spermatick veins tend to the testicles for the cure of the bursting disease Cauterium ad Herniam that new flesh may supply the place of the morbid and intercept the passage of the descendant intestine that so it may be incarcerated in its proper place Many Circulators do so much adhibit this method of curation on the incautions diseased that they burn both Seminaries and productionary vessels with their oft repeated Pyroticks Their materials are all adust and caustical Pyroticorum materia exceeding the fourth degree of heat as Calx viva Arsenick Sublimatum Tartar Orpine Vitriol Nitre and it may be Lixivium as also the result of the ashes of Vine branches Pyroticks have various confections Conficiendi modus every one making them according to their own arbitration and thinking that best they themselves invent I knew a young Barber as ignorant as could be who was wont to adhibit a little Sublimatum subacted with the Egyptian Unguent which he earnestly commended for the best and most secure Pyrotick Marianus in his Chirurgy much esteems this Pyrotick which he desumed from Jo. Vigonius and it is thus described ℞ Lixivium lb. vj. Soap Roman Vitriol ana ℥ j. boyl them together in a brass vessel till the liquidness of the water be consumed and what remains in the bottom let it be reserved of which make Cauteries of what magnitude you please Cardanus confected his Cauteries of Soap and Lime alone mixed beaten and subacted to the form and consistency of an Unguent but now they are made before the fire and acquire a more solid and convenient form as this ℞ Lime stone lb. j. Salt petre ℥ j. infuse them a whole day in four pints of Lixivium afterwards stir it well with a spatula then strain it three or four times till the water be all poured off which dry before the fire or thus after infusion let the whole mixture be agitated with a rudicle next day let it be percolated three or four times till the water be clear which put in a brass vessel and coct it over a luculent fire till the water be consumed but not till all its lentour be exficcated then make of that mass many Cauteries of several magnitudes which preserve in a glass vessel diligently stopped for future use It is also well confected after this manner ℞ Of the ashes of Vine branches lb iiij Sal Gem. ℥ iij. Lime stone lb j. ss infuse them for four or five hours in lb xv of rain water which stir well together for a good space afterwards boyl it a little and when the whole mixture is perfectly cold strain it six or seven times through a thick cloth put the limpid Colature into a brass bason and coct it till a stony matter be left in the bottome which form into Pyroticks of different magnitudes Amongst Pareus his descriptions I finde a Cautery ridiculously called Sericeum whose effect not answering his vain pollicitations I will not here describe CHAP. XXII De Scuto or Of Plaisters made in the form of a Buckler to be applyed to the stomack MAny Medicaments as well assumptive as applicative are prescribed to the frigid distemper and imbecillity of the ventricle Gentle Purgatives and Eustomachical Medicaments as pils of Aloes and Rhabarb Aromaticum rosatum and digestive Powders are assumed Calefactives and Roboratives Cui parti accommodatum as Liniments Foments whereof before and this Scutum whereof we now treat are applyed Now this Medicament peculiar to the ventricle Scutum cur sic dictum is so called from its form it suscitates heat augments strength and helps concoction It is concinnated of some stomachical Emplaister extended upon a quilted piece of Leather and applyed Sometimes there is a piece of Tiffany put betwixt it and the part affected But it is more ordinarily confected of dry Medicaments which roborate the ventricle involved in bombast and sewed in a double cloth like a Buckler The abundance of Calefactives and Roboratives suggest to us such plenty of matter Ventriculum peculiariter respicientia that we may select such as especially respect the ventricle as Nutmeg Mace Cloves sweet Cane Squinant Roses Mint Wormwood and many more which recreate the spirits by their suavcolence and help concoction by their calour A Scutum thus confected is most efficacious for the said uses ℞ Cyperus Lignum Aloes Calamus Aromaticus anaʒ j. Squinant Cinnamon Cloves Nutmegs anaʒ ss Mace ℈ j. red Roses Marjoran Wormwood Mint anaʒ ij Sageʒ j. make of these a fine powder which quilt between two linnen cloaths cut like the form of a Buckler and applyed This Description requires less cost ℞ Galangal Orris Pepper of eachʒ j. Bay berries Cummin seed anaʒ ss both sorts of Wormwood Mint Sage and Rosemary an◠us ss make of these a Powder and quilt them between a double sarsnet in cotten wool and apply it to the region of the ventricle CHAP. XXIII Of Cucufa and Semicucufa or quilted Caps THE brain being according to Hippocrates lib. de grandul as it were a great glandule and the head the very seat and continent of Plegm which like a Cucurbite it attracts a great congeries of frigid humours is alwayes resident in the head which unless they be vacuated by some convenient Medicament or else their continual generation hindred they will distill upon the jaws lungs breast and parts subjected Yet many are so averse to vacuate Medicaments or their brains of so frigid a constitution that though often purged yet will they complain of gravity in their heads especially if they have been troubled with any noyse or stood bare-head in the air Therefore after universal purgation a convenient Cucufa must be adapted to the head like a Cap Cephalical Powders being insperged in Cotten and the Cotten sewed within a double cloth and put upon the head to roborate it to cure its cold distemper and to stay the distillation Now all the matter of these Powders wherewith the Coif or Cap is refarciated is not desumed from dry Plants but some from Minerals and Animals which are as delightfull as usefull A Powder thus made is both good and pleasant for a roborative Coif ℞ Cloves Cinnamon Calamus Aromaticus Squinant Orris A Powder for a quilted Cap. ana ʒ j. Bay berries ℈ ij Storax benioin anaʒ ss Mace ℈ j. Marjoran Rosemary anaʒ ij Mosch ℈ ss make of these a Powder which quilt in a Cap. Those that cannot procure a Cucufa thus made may thus confect one with less cost ℞ Betony Balm Sage Staechados Rosemary ana m. ss Another for the same Bay berriesʒ iij. Cumminʒ j. make of all these a gross powder to quilt in a Cap or Coif
Liquorice may be added for besides its sweetness it hath a quality like the capillaries yet some reject it because it makes the syrupe more flave but the quality and vertue must be more looked after then the colour The Parisian Apothecaries make it accurately according to the description here given and it is most eximiously Medicinal they that do otherwise mixing but a small quantity of capillaries and macerating them lightly make indeed a pellucid syrupe but both in colour and vertue aqueous and so defraud the Patient of his expectation and the Physician of his scope This is the most celebrated of Preparative syrupes Vires for it is very useful to oppugne all affections of the breast liver spleen reins uterus and to tenuate and prepare humours for it tempers and cocts choler incides phlegme makes the melancholical humour easie to be expurged yea often subduces the belly by much use it moves expectoration incides and cocts the humours contained in the Lungs and educes them by a second purge CHAP. 11. Syrupus capel Vener Monspelie or Syrupe of Monspelian Maidens-hair ℞ of Maiden-hair fresh and cut m.ij. infuse it twelve hours in a sufficient quantity of water afterwards boyl it a little clarifie the Colature and to lb v. thereof adde lb iiij of Sugar to boyl it up into a Syrupe The COMMENTARY This syrupe is most frequently and simply compounded in the City Montpessier being onely made of the light decoction of true Maidens-hair clarified and sugar cocted to the consistence of a syrupe For thus it is most grateful both in colour and sapour and yet that is more grateful to the palate which admits of Rose-water which is adjected by the Court-Apothecaries that they may by guile rather then science gain their Princes and Nobles grace and get their money by subtilty It is of affine qualities but more imbecile then that which admits of all the Capillaries and Liquorice for it is more ignave in inciding and attenuating the humours and opening the passages and that is most imbecile which admits of Rose-water Vires for its faculty being somewhat astrictive reluctates with those of the Capillaries CHAP. 12. Syrupus de quinta radicibus or Syrupe of the five opening roots ℞ of the root of Smallage Fennel Parsly Butchers broom Asparagrass of each ℥ iiij boyl them in a sufficient quantity of water till it comes to lb iiij adde thereunto as much Sugar as will make it up into a Syrupe according to art The COMMENTARY The roots must be first cleansed then washed cut in pieces their middle cut out and rejected then brayed and cocted some would have the coction made in eight pounds of water cocted to five whereunto when strained and clarified they adde four pound of Sugar which manner and proportion I approve of Some would have some Vinegar added to the decoction that its incisive faculty may be augmented but when use calls for it it may be diluted in some attenuating opening or other fit liquour as the Medicks scope requires Some make it onely of two roots to wit Petroseline and Fennel roots but seeing it is less efficacious and the other roots easily attainable it is better to make it with five roots and then they shall not need that which is made of two But if one more studious of curiosity then necessity would rather have it of two let him take of Petroseline and Fennel-roots each four ounces coct them in a sufficient quantity of water and adde to two pounds of the colature two pounds of Sugar and make a syrupe It incides and attenuates crass and glutinous humours Vires diduces the passages removes obstructions expels Urine moves fluors ejects sand and emends the foetid colour of Virgins and the Jaundies CHAP. 13. Syrupus de Althea or Syrupe of Marshmallows Des Fer. ℞ of the roots of Marshmallows ℥ ij red Licers ℥ i. of the roots of Grass Asparagrass Liquorice Raisins stoned of each ℥ ss the tops of Marsh-mallowes Mallowes Pellitory Pimpinel Plantain both the Maiden-hairs of each m j. of the four greater and lesser coole seeds of eachʒ iij. boyl them in lb vj. of water till four remain and with lb iij. of Sugar make it up into a Syrupe The COMMENTARY The use of this syrupe is much celebrated in Paris both for its eximious faculties and its Authors dignity to whom posterity is much engaged for his illustration of the Medicinal Art and for those many Medicaments wherewith he hath furnished Apothecaries shops Syrupe of Althea is most useful to sanative Medicks its preparation is thus The roots must first be purged and washed then cocted afterwards the Liquorice must be cocted for by long coction it grows bitter then the herbs and afterwards the seeds be made in water to the dissipation of its third part Why liquorice must not be long boyled for longer coction makes the decoction more viscid all the Simples whereof it consists are dilucidly explicated in the first Book of Medicinal Matter This syrupe expurges crass and pituitous matters Qualitates takes away obstructions impels the sand in the Reins and abates the heat of Urine CHAP. 14. Syrupus de Cichor comp cum Rhaeo or Syrupe of Succory compounded with Rhabarb Des Nic. Florent ℞ of the roots of Smallage Fennel Asparagrass Barley whole of each ℥ ij The herbs of Succory Dandilyon Endive smooth Sowthistle of each ℥ ij both the Lettices Liverwort Fumatory Hops an m.j. both the Maiden-hairs Wall-rue Ceterach Liquorice Winter-cherries the seeds of Dodder of eachʒ vj. Boyl these in lb xij of water or a sufficient quantity till a third part be consumed to the Colature adde lb vj. of Sugar which boyl up to a Syrupe and in the boyling to every pound of the Syrupe adde of Rhabarb ℥ ss and Spikenard ℈ iiij tyed up in a rag and hung in the Syrupe The COMMENTARY Nicolaus Praepositus whom most Apothecaries have as president doubles the quantity of Rhabarb prescribed eight times and addes four ounces of Rhabarb to every pound of syrupe so that for every ounce of syrupe there are four dragms of Rhabarb and thus it is made all over Paris That it may be exhibited when use calls for it without delay some onely quadruplicate or triplicate the quantity This so ample quantity of Rhabarb displeases Fernelius Joubertus and others as being of no utility but much loss who think that it were more profitable when use calls for it to infuse some Rhabarb in a convenient decoction and mix it with the syrupe because its purgative faculty perishes by coction and asservation Yet they act prudently that make it with eight times as much Rhabarb though its faculties be more imbecile yet it hath other qualities thereby bettered The syrupe of Succory compounded with Rhabarb is alliotical Qualitates roborative and purgative it allayes the heat of the intrails demulceates the acrimony of choler opens the veins takes away obstructions roborates the liver
Honey despumed lb iij. Vinegar of Squills lb ij boyl them in an earthen pipkin to the consistency of a liquid Syrupe The COMMENTARY The Medick Marcellus makes it after another manner by superadding water For he takes of Squils lb j. Fountain-water lb iiij loyl them to a pinte and half and so let it stand a whole day close covered afterwards press it out and to the expression adde as much Vinegar with lb iij. of the best Honey let it be again gently boyled to a fit consistency Mervardus also and Bern. Dissennius think it cannot be made without water to which opinion some assent who mix twice as much water with this as with the Simple Oxymel But Sylvius saith this is needless seeing the Honey is first cocted and despumed in water and the Vinegar legitimately prepared with Scilla and the Acetum is thus made one pound of the segments of Scilla trajected on a thread and dried in a shade is macerated in eight pounds of white-Wine the mixture is insolated in either a Glass-vessel or an earthen one well glazed with an angust orifice by the space of forty days in the hot Sun then it is strained and the segments being ejected and the Liquorice preserved which was of more use heretofore then now There are many and various wayes of making it but the description we have given is most usual and agrees with that which Paulus Aegineta gives of it There are also many wayes of making Oxymel Scilliticum but Democrates Julian and the rest make it more compound but these are neglected and no where made therefore omitted by us It incides crass humours Vires takes away obstructions caused by crass humours impacted on the lungs and cures the Epilepsie Vertigo Cephalalgia and Hemitrania CHAP. 3. Oxymel Compositum or Compounded Oxymel â„ž of the roots of Smallage Fennel Parsly Butchers-broom Asperagrass of each â„¥ ij the seeds of Smallage and Fenâ—el of each â„¥ j. boyl them all in lb xij of water in the clarified Colature mix of the best Honey lb iiij white-wine Vinegar lb j. coct it into a liquid Syrupe The COMMENTARY The compounded Oxymel is made like the simple Oxymel Stilliticum one simple and usual Vinegar is here substituted in stead of the other Praepositus makes a certain compounded aromatical Oxymel and another potently diuretical mixing with the one many Aromata's with the other Grass-Orris and Radish-roots but these may be added when use calls for it and no other composititious Oxymel kept in shops The quantity of Honey is not determined by Authors because it is sometimes to be made more acrimonious at other times sweeter But if we should define the quantity we would make it in a mean betwixt acritude and sweetness It incides Vires attenuates and absterges viscid and pituitous humours frees the liver spleen and bowels from obstructions expels the sand of the reins and bladder and moves urine CHAP. 4. Hydromel vinosum simplex or Simple vinous Hydromel â„ž of the best Honey lb x. pluvial or fluvial water lb lx boyl them together till an egge will swim at top then insolate it and preserve it The COMMENTARY If this Receipt like not any one he may take water and coct it to the absumption of its third part accurately absterging and abjecting the spume for thus the more dissipable part of the water being vanished the remnant will have a consistence like a liquid Syrupe its sapour will be sweet and the coction fit for conservation Many Medicaments mutuate their basis and appellations from Honey as Mulsam or Mede Hydromel both aqueous and vinous Oxymel and many other Medicinal Honeys of the succes of Plants as Rhodomel or Honey of Roses Honey of Violets Mercury Raisins Rosemary and Anacardium Mede consists onely of Water and Honey mixed in a different proportion and that is called dilute Mede that admits but of little Honey How to make Mede and very much water For we make Mede saith Oribasiâ—â— when we mix much water with Honey and coct them till they cease to emit spume for then the spume must be taken off But the quantity of Honey must be augmented for pituious humours both to alter the peccant humour and to conciliate a more grateful gust Oribasius was out when he thought that Mede should be made of Wine and Honey and Melicrass of Honey and Water for they are both one Though Mesue calls Melicrass Oxymel and gives two descriptions thereof the one consists of Wine and Honey the other besides these two admits of many Aromata's as Cloves Cinamome sweet-Cane Mace and the like which by some he assenting thereto is called a Condite But this kinde of Potion which consists of Wine and Honey is called Oinomel Oinomel it is sometimes confected of two parts of old Wine and one of Honey and sometimes of five parts of new Wine and one of Honey which when cold is reposed into Hogs-heads Oribasius C. 25. L. 5. Collectorum Simple and vulgar Hydromel is prepared just as Melicratum so that they differ onely in name not in substance yet Galen saith Melicratum or Mede should be made of rain-water and Hydromel of fountain-water Apomeli is made also after the like manner for according to Galen it may be made of rain or any water so it be pure and Honey expressed from the comb which must be so long cocted together till spume cease to exurge which must be taken off as soon as it emerges for so it will depose its acrimony The Ancients called it syrupe of Honey-combs Philagrius gives a better description to a better Apomelie thus Let some Combs full of the best Honey be strongly pressed betwixt ones hands and let a portion of the honey expressed be injected into four times as much pure water and let the Honey-Combs be also immerged and washed in the water that they may depose all their Honey then let the water be strained then cocted over a luculent fire and well despumed let it then be taken off and frigefie and let what-ever swims upon be abjected then boyl it again and despume it which iterate thrice and when it is at last frigefied and purged from its excrements inject this Apomeli into an Earthen or Wooden Vessel Aqueous Hydromel is scarce ever preserved in shops but presently made when use calls for it but the vinous is often confected by the Medicks advice and kept in Citizens houses as some Nectar more precious then Malmsey for it potently cocts frigid humours moves expectoration roborates the stomack hinders crudities helps concoction moves appetite discusses flatuosity mitigates cholical dolours moves urine and very much profits cold constitutions The English were wont to make a more composititious vinous Hydromel which they called Metegla Metegla which received less of Honey but more Aromata and Leaven which is thus confected â„ž of the best and most refined Honey lb x. of the clearest spring-water lb lx boyl them together till a third part be
consumed Metheaglen casting away the spume as it rises and when it begins to grow cold put it into a convenient vessel in which hang a nodule of Leaven â„¥ iij. adding Cinamon Grains Pepper Ginger Cloves bruised of eachÊ’ j. set it in a place where the sun may * * * For 40 days come then preserve it in a Wine-Cellar for future use This kind of potion is most pleasent it will often keep two years in sapour and faculties it responds to Malmsey SECT IV. Of Succes dulcorated with Honey PHarmacopolies preserve some Honeys made of the infusions of Plants or of their succes compounded with Honey which from their confistence and Honey some call Syrupes of Honey but we rather from their succes which ingrede their confecture and Honey call them Melleous succes for whether the extracted succes of Plants be adjoyned to Honey or the Plants themselves be macerated in Honey their succes are alwayes mixed with Honey whence the whole mixture is rightly called A Melleous succe CHAP. 1. Mel Rosatum Lat. Rhodomeli Graec. Geleniabin Arab. or Honey of Roses â„ž Red Roses a little dryed in the shade lb ij Honey neither too old nor too new lb vj. mingle them and boyl them upon a gentle fire in a Pipkin to a good consistence and so preserve it for future use The COMMENTARY All do not prepare honey of Roses alike but many despising the descriptions of Mesue and Nic. Praepositus one while make it with fire onely another while by insolation another while by both and sometimes by none of them but onely by maceration some inject the whole Roses into the honey others bray them first some use onely the succe others both the succe and other Roses the most usual preparation is after the manner we have tradited wherein the Roses a little dryed must be macerated in honey then elixated a little afterwards exposed to the Sun and moved every third day that they may be hot on every side Whilest they are thus made and not strained they are called Honey of Rose-leaves if they be calified and strained as they are usually before they be used they are then called Honey of strained Roses and especially that that results from brayed Roses and Honey That which is made of two parts of the succe of exungated Roses and one of Honey cocted together to the absumption of the fourth part whose spume must be diligently extracted in boyling is called The liquid distrained Honey of Roses Honey of Roses cohibits hot fluxes Vires whether assumed or applied it helps deterges and roborates the stomack CHAP. 2. Mel Violatum or Honey of Violets â„ž of the fresh flowers of Violets lb j. the best Honey lb iij. mingle them in a convenient vessel with a narrow orifice insolate it and keep it for use The COMMENTARY Some to the confection of this honey bray the Violets others mix them whole being small flowers with hot honey in an carthen glazened pot then they expose the pot to the Sun for fifteen dayes each other day agitating the mixture with a rudicle then they repose it and when use calls for it mix it with a little water elixate it a little strain it and thus they get special honey of Violets others do otherwise and in Mesue's opinion it may be made like honey of Roses well but the Violets should be a little dryed or at least deprived of all acquisititious humidity and the honey should be used neither too new nor too old Honey of Violets is commended to pectoral affections it mitigates absterges refrigerates and roborates and therefore it is usefully mixed with many Glysters and Gargarisms and adhibited to deterge Ulcers CHAP. 3. Mel Anthosatum or Honey of Rosemary â„ž of the flowers of Rosemary lb j. Honey well despumed lb iij. mingle them in a Jarre-glass and set it in the Sun which after a convenient insolation preserve for future use The COMMENTARY This of Rosemary is made like them of Violets and Roses Some commend the oldest honey but I like the honey of a middle age because it is neither too dilute nor too crass This is called Mel Anthosatum because the flowers of Rosemary are for their dignity and praecellence called Anthos or flowers And seeing Rosemary flourishes twice in a year once in the Spring and once in Autumn honey of Rosemary-flowers may also be confected twice annually at the aforesaid times when its flower is fresh and fragrant for when it is dry it is almost inodorate and useless It is cephalical and nerval Vires it is a special ingredient in Glysters prescribed to the Lethargie Apoplexy and affections of the head it corrects the parts distempered by cold with its calour and dissipates flatuosity CHAP. 4. Mel Mercuriale or Honey of Mercury â„ž of the Juyce of Mercury lb iij. the best honey lb iiij mingle them and after elixation despume them and so preserve them for use The COMMENTARY They measure not honey all in the same quantity some adding more of the succe and less of honey others on the contrary and many a like weight of both We judge the honey to be more praepotent when it is made of the succe and of leaves or flowers macerated though its quantity exceed the succes It is sometimes made onely of the decoction of the leaves but this way I cannot approve of It may be equally confected of the succe of the Male as the Female Mercury for both have affine faculties and convenient for this confection To the male Mercury they referre Dogs Colewort but this honey may not be confected thereof it should be made betwixt the middle of the Spring and end of Summer for then Plants are more succulent and their qualities more efficacious Honey of Mercury serves scarce to any other use Vires save to ingrede Glysters to make them more absterfive and purgative CHAP. 5. Mel Passulatum or Honey of Raisins â„ž of Raisins purged from the stones lb ij infuse them 24 hours in lb. vj. of hot water either fountain or pluvial afterwards boyl them till half be consumed strain it with a strong expression and to lb iij. of the aforesaid Colature adde lb ij of the best honey which boyl up to a liquid Syrupe The COMMENTARY Some have described two Receipts the one with the other without honey for it may admit of honey though its Inventor Matthaeus describes it without the intervent of honey Whether way soever it be made it is very grateful to the palate and bechical and therefore justly ingredes the composition of some Eclegms There are other Medicinal honeys as the honey of Myrtle of Squills of Anacardium and that of Myrobolambs but they being of rare or no use in Medicine are seldome made We have omitted the honey of Anacardium for many causes First because the fruits whereof it is confected are exotical and very seldome brought to us Secondly because they are indued with a deletery faculty
strained and kept Oleum de Scorpionibus comp or Compound Oyl of Scorpions D. Mes â„ž of the roots of round Birthwort Gentian and Cypress of the bark of the roots of Capers of each â„¥ j. Oyl of bitter Almonds lb j. ss insolate them together in a vessel well covered for twenty days then adde Scorpions from ten to fifteen according to their bigness which insolate for a month afterwards let it be strained and kept The COMMENTARY Nature takes man for her Son whom she nourishes defends and liberates from diseases which she abigates either by the opposition of contraries or by the similarity or dissimilarity of Alexiterials Thus the Theriack which is in a mean betwixt the nature of man and of poyson cures malign contagious and pestilent diseases Thus Scorpions always to us offensive do not only cure the wounds themselves inflicted but also other venenate diseases by evoking the malign quality out of which by infusion and expression Mesue makes a simple Oyl consisting only of Scorpions and bitter Almonds and another more composititious besides these admitting of Cypress Aristolochy Gentian and the bark of the root of Capers If any one following Manardus his advice mix Scorpions with more Antidotes it shall be work worth his labour for it is of eximious vertue against all poyson and pestilence I have omitted the description of such more composititious Alexipharmacal Oyls because the frequent description of the same Medicament would make a man nauseate it Mesue took the compound Oyl we have transcribed from Rhasis which should rather be confected then the simple because more Medicinal and efficacious for whose confection the root of Cypress as also Aristolochy Gentian and the root of Capers must be minutely incided contunded then macerated in Oyl insolated and acted as the prescript shews Sylvius understands by one Kist of oyl one Sextary but we have put one pound and a half for a more certain dosis By way of liniment it helps venenate diseases Vires breaks the stones of the Reins and Bladder diduces the passages mitigates dolours and expels sand which it doth more effectually if the affected be therewith anointed after he comes out of a Bath Both of these Oyls have like faculties but the compound hotter and better CHAP. 3. Oleum de Castorio or Oyl of Beavers stones â„ž of Beavers stones cleansed from their membranes â„¥ j. white-wine â„¥ iij. Oyl lb j. let all be boyled together to the exhalation of the wine afterwards strained and kept The COMMENTARY Praepositus is not unjustly accused of latrociny for he stole the description of the Ancients not detecting their Authors that he might draw to himself their glory as it appears by that mole of Medicaments which he hath transcribed amongst which if there be any of his own invention they are not like the genuine offspring of a perite Medick or dexterous Apothecary which thing his description of the Oyl of Beavers stones sufficiently evinces for whose confection he prescribes â„¥ j. of Beavers stone to be decocted in lb j. of Oyl till the third be dissipated without the intervent of any wine water or fit decoction which the yongest Apprentice would finde to be imprudence for who knows not that Oyl will endure a whole dayes coction without sensible jacture unless it burn such things therefore as are cocted in Oyl mollifie not but become hard This Oyl may indeed be made without any liquor if it be onely macerated insolated and left for it was of old kept without percolation Fernelius adjects â„¥ j. of Aqua-vitae but this so small a portion cannot long endure fire Manlius gives another more composititious description which being harder to make and more sumptuous is seldome used we shall therefore hold to Praepositus his description with some castigation which shall effect as much as that of Manlius's pollicitates For it conduces to trembling Vires to the dolours of the nerves and articles to convulsious Fits and Palsey Mesue makes an Oyl of whole black Vipers cocted on a slow fire in an earthen vessel well leaded with a narrow orifice till their flesh be dissolved for the Itch Tetters and other cutaneous vices Fallopius assumes two Vipers of any colour cuts them in pieces immerges them in Oyl exposes them to the Sun about the canicular days in a vessel with a strait orifice afterwards expresses and keeps them which expression he prescribes as most conducible in curing the Ulcers of the French Pox. CHAP. 4. Oleum Vulpinum or Oyl of Foxes â„ž a Fox at his full growth and fat his intrails taken out and his skin pulled off and cut into small pieces of common Salt â„¥ iij. tops of Dill Thyme Germander of each m. j. boyl them together in an equal quantity of water and white-wine till the flesh be separated from the bones and to lb ij of the Colature add lb iiij of Oyl Sage Rosemary of each m. j. boyl them together till the water be consumed then let the Oyl be strained and kept The COMMENTARY It is not enough that we select the best simples but also rightly prepare rationally describe duly mix and exactly unite them into compounds that no useful part thereof be lost But how ill doth the old description of Foxes Oyl accord with these Laws let its form speak for Mesue commands that a Fox should be exenterated and then cocted integrally both body skin hairs feet and all in Fountain and Sea-water Oyl and Salt till the members be dissolved and a little Hyssop and Anise injected into the coction and some more water affunded whereas there was a pound of each sort before And thus you should have a pot of hairs bones flesh and plants cocted to putretude whose expressed pinguetude is Mesue's Foxes Oyl Paulus would have a Fox exenterated and yet cocted alive till his bones were separated but I cannot conjecture how an eviscerated Fox should be cocted alive Rondeletius would have one boyled with his skin and guts and only the excrements of the belly abjected but it is past my skill to eject the recrements and leave the intestines in the carcase His Colleague Joubertus would rather have the skin abjected then the bowels who would have the intrail washed and elixated with the flesh We reject both skin tayl and intrails as useless afterwards we cut the members and trunk and coct them in wine and falt with nerval and digestive herbs We adde to the colature Oyl Sage and Rosemary and so coct it again till the aqueous and vinous humidity be dissipated The Oyl thus made is very eximious Vires and most efficacious in what Mesue promises for it potently digests and resolves roborates the nerves defends them from cold injuries and cures the difeases of the articles CHAP. 5. Oleum Formicarum or Ants Oyl â„ž of Ants with wings â„¥ ij mature Oyl lb ss macerate them for the space of forty dayes in a vessel well covered exposing it to the heat of the Sun
will educe clear water then incend it and you will have rubicund Oyl keep each apart They are special Medicaments for the cure of wounds Balsamum 5. Med. Florent or the fifth Balsam by the Medicks of Florence â„ž of Turpentine lb j. old Oyl â„¥ vj. Oyl of Bayes â„¥ iiij Cinamon Spikenard of each â„¥ ij new Tyles well boyled â„¥ viij Bray such as are to be brayed and distil them in an Alembick It moves Urine breaks stones kills worms helps the hissing of the ears the Palsey Cramp Gout and all dolours of the Junctures either by way of Potion or Unguent a small quantity thereof in a water fit for the affection may be drunk Balsamum 6. Euonymi or The sixth Balsam D. Euonym which is yet vulnerary â„ž of Turpentine â„¥ ss Olibanum â„¥ vj. Aloes Mastick Galangal Cinamon Saffron Nutmegs Cloves Cubebs of each â„¥ j. Gum of Ivy â„¥ ij Pulverate and mix them with Turpentine then put them in a glass Alembick and adde to them Camphyr and Amber-grise of eachÊ’ ij Distil them with a slow fire the first water will be white and clear and is called the Wine of Balsam the second is flave called Oyl the third croceous and that is the surest Balsam This Balsam is much commended for its excellent faculties for it is the most speedy collective of wounds sarcotical to hollow Ulcers and epulotical to all it is a sure help for the Palsey and imbecility of the Nerves Balsamum 7. vulgare or The seventh and vulgar Turpentine â„ž of Venetian Turpentine lb j. Gum-Elemni â„¥ v. common Rosine â„¥ iij. let these be melted together adding thereunto the powder of long Birthwort â„¥ ij Dragons-bloodÊ’ iij. repose it in a vessel to cool This Balsam is inferiour to none in perducing old or new Ulcers to sanity it especially cures the external diseases of the head it is easie to make Balsamum 8. admirabile or The eighth and admirable Balsam â„ž of the leaves and stowers of Tutsan or the grains of the leaves flowers or tops of S. Johns-wort the tops of both the Oaks of Jerusalem of the leaves of Ground-Ivy of each m. ss of both sorts of Sage and of Ground-pine of each m. ss Macerate them two dayes in lb ij of white and generous wine adde lb ij ss of old Oyl Boyl them on a slow fire till the wine be dissipated adde to the colature of Turpentine lb j. Olibanum â„¥ iiij Myrrhe â„¥ iij. Mastick Dragons-blood of each â„¥ ij Storax â„¥ j. Boyl them a little on a slow fire then repose them seven dayes in the Sun and repose them in an earthen or glass vessel for use This Balsam is not causlesly called The Wonderful one for many affections which contemn other Praesidies are miraculously cured by the adjument of this It presently cures any new Wound or Ulcer it heals also inveterate and dyepulotical ones it roborates the nerves cures trembling and palsey conduces to all external affections of the head especially cold ones it foments innate heat allayes frigid dolours and roborates the parts I could describe more but they are needless if these be in readiness Finis Libri Quarti The Apothecaries Shop OR ANTIDOTARY Of EXTERNAL MEDICAMENTS THE FIFTH BOOK Of Unguents and Cerecloths THE PREFACE UNguents were of old in such use and fame that he that handled or sold them solely or them and other Medicaments was called an Unguentary and Myropolist The Arabians often call Cerecloths and Salves Unguents as Dioscorides doth many odorate Oyls according to that of Hippocrates A Medick should be Unguented that is Perfumed that by the fragrant halite of his vesture he may purchase glory amongst the vulgar But now Unguents are in a more angust acceptance taken onely for those Medicaments which adhibited and illited onely on external parts are thought to auxiliate them when other Medicaments would either through their gravity burthen them or through their humidity hurt them and are olaginous of a middle consistence betwixt a Cerecloth and a Liniment as a Cerecloth is betwixt an Unguent and a Salve Now the proportion of Oyl in the confection of an Unguent is such that one ounce thereof responds to each dragm of Powder and two dragms of Wax So that there is four times as much Oyl as Wax and eight times as much Oyl as Powder And seeing heat makes the consistence of an Unguent softer and cold harder Myropolists used to mix more Oyl in Winter and less in Summer with their ingredients Now seeing there is much conformity betwixt a Cerecloth and an Unguent both consisting of the same Materials onely differing in proportion the Unguent receiving more Oyl and less Wax that it may be of a middle consistence betwixt a Liniment and a Cerecloth more spisse then the one and more liquid then the other We have determined to treat of them both in this Book In whose first Section we shall describe the most approved and usual Unguents in the second Cerecloths Now Unguents are either made with fire as those that admit Wax Rosines and decoctions of Simples or without fire as such as need onely nutrition and subaction as the crude Unguent and the Unguent of Quicksilver of which we shall in particular treat in this Book beginning with the Refrigerative The first whereof that occurs is the Unguent of Roses CHAP. 1. Unguentum Rosatum or The Unguent of Roses D. Mes â„ž Hogs-suet nine times washed in hot and cold water fresh red Roses of each lb iij. mingle them and let them be macerated seven days afterwards boyl them upon a gentle fire and let them be strained afterwards fresh Roses put in macerated boyled and strained as before afterwards pour upon it of the Juyce of red Roses lb j. ss Oyl of sweet Almonds lb ss boyl them upon a gentle fire till the Juyce be consumed and if in boyling you adde a little Opium it will be excellent to procure sleep The COMMENTARY That this Unguent may be duly confected the Hogs-grease should be accurately purged from its membranes nine times washed in warm water and nine times in cold that it may depose all its odour for so it will be more apt to receive any odour and easily admit of the fragrance of Roses Now the maceration of the Roses should be iterated that they may be more efficacious half as much of their succe and the sixth part of as much of the Oyl of Almonds as there is of grease should ingrede the colature according to Mesue But to three pounds of Hogs-grease we put a pound and an half of the succe of Roses and half a pound of the Oyl of Almonds Some in stead of the Oyl of Almonds put the Oyl of Roses or Omphacinum but then the Unguent will not open the pores of the skin nor permeate so quickly It may be made without any Oyl seeing it is liquid enough of it self and thus almost all Myropolists make it But it is better to have it too liquid with the Oyl of
and Rosines be added as also all kindes of Gummes Some whereof are mixed sincere others diluted colated and cocted in Wine Vinegar or other liquor if Turpentine be required it may be added when the Salve is percocted and abstracted from the fire then must the hard Powders be cast and sprinkled agitated subacted and concreted into a mass neither soft nor hard but moderate and viscid which will not inquinate the contractants hands If liquid succes as Wine Vinegar Medicinal Waters or Decoctions ingrede a Salves confection they must be cocted till their aqueous humidity be dissipated New and spiss Succes must be dissolved in some liquor which must also be dissipated by coction dry and friable ones must be pulverated and mixed therewith And as it is of great moment which must be first put in the dispensation and which last so also which must be longer which less cocted For the light coction of Lithargie makes the Medicament white the longer black Verdigrease makes it sometimes citreous sometimes green and sometimes fusk according to the various heat of the fire And the mutation of colour often argues the mutation of qualities for Lithargie by longer coction makes the Salve both blacker and more exsiccative And though the consistence and faculties be the most looked after in Salves yet their colour and odour make them more commendable But seeing we have abundantly treated of general Precepts in confecting Salves in our Institutions Chap. 4. Book 3. it now onely rests that we discuss the particular preparation and confection of each of them CHAP. 1. Diachylon simplex D. Mes â„ž old Oyl lb j. Lithargie finely beaten lb j. ss Our London Apothecaries usually add as much water as Oyl to boyl it with of the musilidge of Marshmallow-roots Linseed and Foenugreek of each â„¥ iiij make it into a Plaister of a legitimate consistency The COMMENTARY The denomination of this Salve is multifarious for from the mucagineous succes which it admits in great plenty it is called Diachylon from its colour Album from its usual frequency Commune and from the five Simples that ingrede its Confection Pentapharmacum and often Simple Diachylon in reference to another more composititious The whole Family of Myropolists acknowledge Mesue its Author though Serapio and Avicenna gave descriptions thereof before him and all exhibit it according to the superiour form wherein Oyl and Lithargie suppeditate matter and corpulency and Succes efficacy which mixed in divers proportions and after divers preparations make up this Emplaister For more dilucidation prepare it thus Purge the Lithargie from its Lead dross and filth then levigate it small agitate and subact it twelve hours in a Metalline-Morter with Oyl then coct it on a slow fire alwayes stirring it till the Lithargie incrassate to a melleous consistence and adheres not to the bottom of the Kettle then take it off the fire that it may cooâ— then fervefie the succes extracted in water aparr till their more aqueous parts be exhaled then mix about a third part thereof accurately with the Lithargie and coct them again till the Lithargie incrassate as before then put the rest to it and agitate them letting them fervefie on a slow fire till they be all united and concorporated into a Salve of a legitimate consistence and if you put an ounce of the powder of Orris to each pound of this Salve then you have Diachylon Ireatum It is a sign the Salve is perfectly cocted when a part thereof adheres not to a Marble nor inquinates the contrectants hands yet it should be sequacious and viscid that Rolls may be formed thereof involved in paper and kept It is the best Mollitive for it mollifies the hard tumours and cocts the humours of the Liver Spleen Ventricle and other parts that which admits of Orris attracts incides and resolves more CHAP. 2. Diachylon Magnum D. Mes â„ž of Lithargie of Gold finely powdered lb j. Oyls of Orris Dill and Camomile of each lb ss musilidge of Marshmallow-roots Figs Linseed Foenugreek Isinglass Juyces of Orris Squills Oesypi of eachÊ’ xij ss Turpentine â„¥ iij. Rosine Wax of each â„¥ ij make it into a Plaister according to Art Diachylon Magnum cum Gummis â„ž Bdellium Sagapenum Ammoniacum of each â„¥ ij dissolve them in wine and boyl them to the crassitude of Honey adding the mass of Diachylon Magnum and make it into a Plaister The COMMENTARY As the Simple and Ireatum were so the great and Gummatum Diachylon are conjoyned and described all in one order because in name and faculties they have much affinity Paul Aegin dissents much from Mesue in the description and confection of the greater Oribasius dissents from Paulus and the usual method accommodated to Mesue from both which we now follow onely neglecting Raisins in whose stead we by Guido's advice substitute Althea's-root and you may thus confect it Agitate and move Lithargie already brayed and purged in a Morter of Copper with Oyl very long then coct it on a slow fire alwayes stirring it till it incrassate then adde the musilidges and coct them till their watry humidity be absumed afterwards put Fish-glue diluted in the succe of Orris and Squills into the confection and coct them till the succes be spent in stead of Alkanach you may put Alkam or Bird-lime which is more convenient for this Emplaister The Wax and Rosine must be put into these whilst they are on the fire the Turpentine and Oesypus may be added when they are abstracted from the fire all the mass must be continually agitated that its consistence may be idoneous Some by industrious sedulity mix a small quantity of the Mucagines at first with the Oyls and Lithargie that they may hinder its subsidence to the bottom of the vessel and make the Salve whiter Its faculties effect the same with the former but more efficaciously for it mollifies cocts and digests better The Gummatum Diachylon attracts mollifies and resolves potently CHAP. 3. Emplastrum de Mucaginibus seu Diachylon compositum or The Plaister of Musilidges or Diachylon compound â„ž of the Musilidge of the seeds of Marshmallows Lin Foenugreek the middle bark of Elm of each â„¥ iiij Oyl of Camomile Lillies and Dill of each â„¥ j. Ammoniacum Galbanum Opoponax Sagapenum of each â„¥ ss new Wax â„¥ xx Turpentine â„¥ ij SaffronÊ’ ij make it into a Plaister according to Art The COMMENTARY Though this Salve be of an uncertain Author yet all Pharmacopolists make it after this description which we exhibit from Fernelius its Transcriber for whose confection first extract the Chyles in water then coct them with Oyls on a slow fire till their a queous humidity be dissipated cut the wax into pieces and melt it herein agitating it with a spatle adde the Gummes diluted first in Vinegar strained and cocted to the absumption of the Vinegar then take them off the fire and adde Turpentine and Saffron to them still agitating the mass till it acquire a due consistence