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 bodyes are loaden with impure excrements are chiefly in danger of this delinquency Quae ingressum bypocausti praecedere debent He therefore that consults his sanity should never enter 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 Mallows Violets of each m. ij the flowers of Melilot 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 Fotus pro calculosis Water-cresses Pelitory Beets Violets of each m. ij Faenugreek 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 the heart of the waters of Bugloss Scabious Cardaus Sorrel Roses of each â„¥ iij. spec diamarg. frigid Triasant of eachÊ’ j. ss Powder of Tormentill Gentian Dictamus and grains of Kermes of eachÊ’ ss with which besprinkle a linnen cloth and apply it hot to the region of the heart The Antients
day recalefied and strongly expressed through a new cloth or bag will dimit much mucaginous matter Thus the mucage of Bdellium Sagapenum 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 ℞ A Muslidge against inflammation The roots of Marsh-mallows ℥ ss Flea wort seedʒ ij infuse 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 ℞ Another to the pain of the eyes from a hot cause Quinco kernelsʒ iij. infuse them a whole night in the water of Night-shade Water-lillyes and Eye-bright ana ℥ 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 ℞ 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 ℥ 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 ℞ White wine * White For the scabies of the eye-lids Rose water ana ℥ j. ss Hepatick Aloes finely pulverized ʒ j. mix them and make thereof a Collyrium This Collyrie will roborate and refrigerate ℞ A cooling and strengthening water for the eyes The water of Plantain and red Roses ana ℥ ij whites of Eggs ℥ ss mix them and beat them well together and make thereof a Collyrie This Collyrie applyed to the eyes will asswage their dolour ℞ For the pain of the eyes The waters of Purslain and Plantain ana ℥ j. ss the mucilidge of Quince seeds made in Night shade water ℥ j. mingle them fiat Collyrium This Collyrie will most efficaciously desiccate roborate and refrigerate ℞ A water strengthening and drying The water of Mouse-ear white Roses and Plantain ana ℥ j. Troch alb Rhasisʒ i. Tutty preparedʒ 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 ℞ Collyrium Elciser Antimony Lapit Hematit anaʒ x. Acacia ℥ ss Aloesʒ 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 ℞ A Collyrie of Lead Burnt Lead Antimony Tutty washed burnt Brass Gum Araback Traganth ana ℥ j. Opium ℥ 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 ℞ Collyrium Lanfranci White Wine lb j. of the water of Plantain and Roses of each a much as will suffice Auripigmentumʒ ij Verdigreaseʒ j. Aloes 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 ℞ Litharidge of Gold finely powderedʒ 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 into a glass drop by drop to that which is filtrated adde pluvial or fountain water in which dissolve a little salt upon the mixtion whereof a milk will appear This is also an usual form ℞ White wine vinegar lb. ss Litharidge of Gold finely powdered ℥ j. boyl them together till the third part be consumed and to
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 sour 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 caspa 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 crassitude equall Sugar also must be prepared before it receive powders for it should be dissolved in stillatitious water or other fit liquour Electuarium siccum faciendi modus and then be despumed and boyled softly on a fire till it be thicker than a syrup and till a drop thereof will not dilate it self and
Sparadraps Page 127 The fourth Book The rules or laws that ought to be observed in the compounding of Medicaments Chap. 1. WHo first Compounded Medicaments and the reason of Composition Page 128 Chap. 2. Of the basis of Medicaments and the mode of their Collocation in receipts Page 130 Chap. 3. Of the forms and end of Medicaments Page 132 Chap. 4. Of the Several weights of Medicaments and their marks Page 134 Chap. 5. Of the measures that Physitians use Page 136 Chap. 6. Of the quantity of Medicaments to be exhibited Page 137 Chap. 7. A just proportion of Medicaments can scarce be defined yet a little in excess or defect is not perilous Page 139 Chap. 8. Of such Medicaments as may without harm be taken in a great quantity for whom they are Convenient and when Page 140 Chap. 9. Of such as must be prescribed in small quantity Page 142 Chap. 10. In what quantity Simples should be mixed in Composition Page 143 Chap. 11. Of the manner how to repose Medicaments conveniently Page 145 Chap. 12. Of the Conservation and duration of Medicaments Page 147 Chap. 13. Of such as by a certain Antinomasia are preferred before others from which their denomination is desumed Page 148 Chap. 14. Of such roots seeds flowers stones and waters as excel others in dignity Page 150 Chap. 15. Of Succedaneous Medicaments Page 151 Chap. 16. What Medicaments are and when they are rightly substituted Page 153 Chap. 17. Of adulterate Medicaments Page 157 The fifth Book The several forms of Medicaments whose use is Excellent in preventing and profligating diseases SECT 1. Of such as may be assumed at the mouth 1. OF some ordinary Decoctions common by their long use 161 2. A description of a dose 163 3. Of a Purgative potion 164 4. Of Juleps 166 5. Of distilled Restoratives 167 6. Of decoctions or Apozemes 168 7. Of Gargarismes 160 8. Of Emulsions 161 9. Of Amidalates 163 10. Of the Ptisane or Hordeate used by the Ancients 164 11. Of Lohochs or Eclegms made for present use 165 12. Of Apophlegmatismes 166 13. Of a purging Bolus 167 14. Of Opiates 168 15. Of Condites or preserves 169 16. Of the regal paste 170 17. Of Marchpane Ibid. 18. Of Piniolates or Pignolates 171 19. Of Pandalea's 172 20. Of Hypoglottian Medicaments commonly called Sublingues 173 21. Of Tables or Tabulets Ibid. 22. Of Powders 176 SECT 2. 1. OF Errhines 178 2. Of Pessaries 172 3. Of Nadils or Penicills 180 4. Of Suppositories 181 5. Of Glysters 183 SECT 3. Of such as are extrinsecally to be applyed 1. OF Bathes 185 2. Of A Semicapium or Insess 186 3. Of a Vaporary 187 4. Of a Hypocaust or Sudatory 188 5. Of Fomentations 189 6. Of Epithemes 190 7. Of the manner of Lotion 191 8. Of an Embroch or sprinkling 192 9. Of a Liniment 193 10. Of Muslidges 194 11. Of Collyries 194 12. Of Virgins Milk 197 13. Of Alome-water 198 14. Of Irontals Ibid. 15. Of Cataplasms 200 16. Of Empasms and Diapasms 201 17. Of Sinapisms Phaenigms 202 18. Of Dropax and Piccation 203 19. Of Psylothers 204 20. Of Vesicatories 205 21. Of Pyroticks and Cauteries 206 22. Of Plaifters for the stomach or descuto 208 23. Of Quilted Caps 209 24. Of Bags 210 25. Of Dentifrices 211 26. Of Odoraments 212 27. Of perfumes and Suffumigatories 213 Three Books of Medicinal Materials Treating of such things as are requisite for Compositions made and kept in Apothecaries Shops The first Book Of Plants SECT 1. Chap. 1. OF Water Page 217 Chap. 2. Of Wine Page 219 Chap. 3. Of Vinegar Page 221 Chap. 4. Of Omphacy Page 222 Chap. 5. Of Sugar Page 223 Chap. 6. Of Honey Page 224 Chap. 7. Of Manna Page 226 Chap. 8. Of Cordial-flowers and first of Violets Page 227 Chap. 9. Of Bugloss-flowers Page 228 Chap. 10. Of Borage-flowers Ibid. Chap. 11. Of the four common Emollitives and first of Mallows Page 229 Chap. 12. Of Brank-Ursine Page 230 Chap. 13. Of Mercury Page 231 Chap. 14. Of Pellitory of the wall Ibid. Chap. 15. Of Bete and Arack Page 232 Chap. 16. Of the five Capillaries and first of true Maiden-hair Page 233 Chap. 17. Of common Maiden-hair Page 234 Chap. 18. Of Polytrich Page 235 Chap. 19. Of Ceterach Ibid. Chap. 20. Of Salvia vitae Page 236 Chap. 21. Of some other Plants that are of the second sort of Capillaries and first of Moon-fern Ibid. Chap. 22. Of Dodder Page 237 Chap. 23. Of the five opening roots and first of Smallage Ibid. Chap. 24. Of Petroseline Page 238 Chap. 25. Of Sperage Page 239 Chap. 26. Of Fennel Ibid. Chap. 27. Of Butchers-Broom Page 240 Chap. 28. Of the four greater Coole-seeds Ibid. Chap. 29. Of the four lesser Coole-seeds and first of Lettice Page 241 Chap. 30. Of Purslain and its seed Page 242 Chap. 31. Of other less Cooling-seeds and by the way of Succeraceous Plants Page 243 Chap. 32. Of the four hot seeds and first of Annis Page 244 Chap. 33. Of Cummin Page 245 Chap. 34. Of Caraway Page 246 Chap. 35. Of the other four seeds which are hot in a lesser degree and first of Ameos Ibid. Chap. 36. Of Our Ladies-Rose Page 247 Chap. 37. Of Carret Page 248 Chap. 38. Of Some flowers from which most efficacious waters and Oyls are extracted and first of Roses Ibid. Chap. 39. Of Water-Lillies Page 249 Chap. 40. Of Lilly Page 250 Chap. 41. Of Saffron Page 251 SECT 2. Of Purgative Simples Chap. 1. ORhabarb Page 252 Chap. 2. Of Cassia Page 253 Chap. 3. Of Tamarinds Page 254 Chap. 4. Of Myrabolans Page 255 Chap. 5. Of Aloes Page 256 Chap. 6. Of Senna Page 257 Chap. 7. Of Mechoachan root Page 258 Chap. 8. Of Agarick Ibid. Chap. 9. Of Polipody Page 259 Chap. 10. Of Carthamus Page 260 Chap. 11. Of Wallwort or Dwarf-Elder Page 261 Chap. 12. Of Devills-Milk or Esula Ibid. Chap. 13. Of Hermodacts Page 262 Chap. 14. Of Turbith Page 263 Chap. 15. Of Scamony Page 264 Chap. 16. Of Hellebore Page 265 Chap. 17. Of Coloquintida Page 266 Chap. 18. Of Widdow-wail and Spurge-Olive or Mezereon and Chanilaea Page 267 Chap. 19. Of Thymellaea or Spurge-flax Page 268 Chap. 20. Of Laurel Ibid. Chap. 21. Of Kicinus or Palma Christi Page 269 Chap. 22. Of Soldanella Ibid. SECT 6. Of Exotical Calefactives Chap. 1. OF Ginger Page 270 Chap. 2. Of Zerumbet Page 271 Chap. 3. Of Setwel Page 272 Chap. 4. Of Galanga Ibid. Chap. 5. Of Acorus or Water-flag Page 273 Chap. 6. Of Calamus Aromaticus or the Aromatical-reed Ibid. Chap. 7. Of Costus Page 274 Chap. 8. Of Both Beens Page 275 Chap. 9. Of Scecachal Page 276 Chap. 10. Of Cinamon Ibid. Chap. 11. Of Nutmeg Mace and Macer Page 278 Chap. 12. Of Pepper Page 279 Chap. 13. Of Cloves Page 280 Chap. 14. Of Cardamoms Ibid. Chap. 15. Of Cubebs Page 281 Chap. 16. Of Carpobalsamum and other Balsams Page 282 Chap. 17. Of Kermes Page 283 Chap. 18. Of Squinant Page
Apothecaries prepare daily and openly before all mens eyes and places them in convenient pots and glasses and other vessells in their shops either for present use or perseverance till occasion serves and of those the Physician selects for the necessity of the exigent sometimes this sometimes that and prescribes how much is most convenient to be administred for the expelling of the disease Now the Physicians work is not to prepare these Medicins but to prescribe them hence it is that Apothecaries are tearmed the Physicians hand for it is better to commit our lives into the hands of two than one to operate according to Prescript for if the Physician alone should prescribe prepare and afford Medicines It were too great a trouble to ly upon one mans shoulders Besides he hath power to save or kill and not to be liable to punishment by Law Which is an Impious and Intolerable thing an act not to be indured therefore it was ordained that Apothecaries should be appointed who ought to prepare and preserve Medicaments and to distribute them out in certain quantities according to the Doctors Judgment and decree But I would not abrogate Chymicall remedies totally from Apothecaries shops for there are many of them of excellent vertue Chimica remedia non negligenda to the dissipating of many crabbed distempers but they are such as the learned and skilfull onely should use and not ignorant Mountebanks Qui debeant uti chymicis remediis and wandering Quacks and deceivers who scarce know how to prepare a Medicin yet will proclaime themselves to the world to be more skilfull than Galen and Hyppocrates But to returne to our intended purpose I say there are divers modes of preparing Medicins which that I may prosecute in order I will begin with Lotion afterwards I will extend my discourse to those ingredients which are simply prepared with water often when medicinall with juice or other liquor then I will demonstrate what preparations are made with contunding grinding or scraping afterwards I will explaine what preparation heat performes and I will add to these those that are finished with a mixed manner CHAP. III. Of Lotion LOtion by learned Sylvius is accounted the last manner of preparation Primus praeparationis modus cur by some the middle but by us the first because most Ingredients before they will serve our use before any other preparation can be made ought to be washed though some I confesse are not to be washed till they be burned rosted or scraped This Lotion is twofold Duplex Lotio the one a superficiary Lotion which detracts the adherent filth from the superficies of roots hearbs and other Medicinall materialis and It is common to all other things which being inquinated with clay or other pollutions are to be washed the other is more intimate which dilates it self both without and within and thorow the whole substance Now this preparation is made in water or other liquor for this end and purpose to remove some notious quality or to introduce some good one as the disease it self the nature of the disease or the occasion requires The Ingredient or materiall to be washed is either obdurate solid or stony as the substance of shells bones stones concrete Juices dry gums and metalls or such as are of themselves liquid as Turpenttne Oyle or such as are easy to be melted as wax pitch rosin butter or such as are dissoluble as Lime-stones Bole armeniack Lytharge of God or Silver Those things that are hard and solid before washing ought to be pulverized or burned and so bruised that they cannot be grinded without ustion as Ivory and Harts-horne and so the water or liquor may reach wash and purge every part Those that will easily melt as Wax and Rosin c. ought first to be warmed that being melted they may more eafily yield or be made more pliable if they will easily dissolve of themselves they are to be sprinkled with some water or juice and then washed if liquid of themselves they are to be washed by continuall stirring and commixing water or other liquor with the body of the thing to be washed The liquors in which this Lotion is made is either pure water as fountain or rain-rain-water or medicinall as sulphurous Sea water or Bituminous or some other humour as milk honey vinegar the juice of Plants distilled water and decoctions of simple medicaments This Lotion is either much and hard or little and light or a medium or mean for the things that are washed for the detraction of their filth ought either to be washed strongly or lightly and the water so off changed till it remaines pure and all its impurity segregated and ejected Those that are washed in a medicinall liquor should lye in the same a certain space according to appointment as a whole night or the space of some houres that they may attract the greater power from the liquor or loose their malignant quality This preparationis injuriously called by Sylvius A Lotion when it is rather an Infusion or Maceration or rather as another hath it an Imbution Imbutio quid for the liquor seldom or never adds faculties to the Medicin but rather detracts from it as we see in Rhabarb and others steeped in water whose purgative faculty remaines by being transmitted into the Liquor Yet are they not washed that they may so lose their vertues but increase them Aloe cur abluatur and so in Mesues judgement Aloes should be washed in odoriferous water that it may coroborate the more or in some purging juice or decoction as juice of Roses or the infusion thereof that it may with more celerity relax the belly yet it is not alwayes washed that its purging faculty may be intended but rather that its heat may be remitted as when it is washed in the water of Endive Succory or such like that it may not too much exestuate the liver Lotion therefore ex consequenti either adds to or detracts from medicinall materialls and causes not onely the filth to be wiped off but also mitigates in some their acrimony in others destroyes their malignity and dulls their violence and makes them better either to be assumed or applyed Now that Metalls may be washed Metallica ut abluenda they ought to be pulverized very small and then to be put into pure water or any other Medicinall liquor and to be continually stirred with a wooden Spatula for a whole day and in the morning following the water to be powred out and other water put on and agitated as before till the water that 's powred off be cleere and by this means 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 milk 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-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 Crocus 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 morter with a Leaden pestill with rain-water till the water wax thick like blackish clay then the liquor must be strained dryed made into balls and kept To preserve unctious 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 ballance 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 washed 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 praeparatio 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 mitigated The five opening roots after Lotion should be steeped in vineger Quinque radicum aperientium praeparatio that they might the easier cut viscid Phlegme and sooner deduce humors by the passage dedicated to the expelling of humor Nettle-seed Urticae semen quibus conveniat steeped in the decoction of the
and then the oyl to be pressed out for the commixtion of the other ingredients Ginger with other hard roots green Almonds with other fruits are to be macerated so long till they the wax soft or loose their unprofitable or ungratefull quality In the making of syrup of Poppyes Syrupus de papavere the heads of the Poppyes are to be macerated in water for a day or two or sometimes three till they wax tender and their quality transmitted into the water Lignum Pali sancti and that Peregrine root Guaiacum Radix Chinae which the Easterne Indians calls Lampatan will scarce emit their vertues without a long maceration before their coction The same method must be observed with other woods and roots which ought to be macerated in some or other convenient liquor answerable to their propertyes that their vertues of what kind soever they be may be transmitted into the water or decoction Dates must be macerated three whole dayes in vinegar according to the prescript of Mesue before they be pulped Dates for the composition of Diaphaenicon Tamarinds and Mirabolans also must be macerated in whey made of Goates milk that according to the opinion of the same Author their bad and Nocumentall qualities may be amended and that they may no wayes offend the stomack Tincture or infection is neere a kin to humectation and maceration Tincture of Insection for those that are to be infected must be immerged into some certain juice yet not alwayes for the colour or tincture only but that it may acquire a more excellent quality As Sericum Crudum tinctured in Succo Cocci Baphicae Cochaneel or with a decoction of Kermes Berries before it go into the composition of Confectio Alkermes that it may more increase its Cardiack quality and give it a more delightfull tincture Digestion also may be reduced to Maceration by which Medicaments are occluded in some convenient vessell or other close shut as meat in the stomach and so macerated adding thereunto Wine Vineger Oyle or some other convenient juice Chymists make a more ample discussion of digestion but nihil attinet ad nos under which they comprehend rectification insolation and sometimes nutrition CHAP. IX Of Triture WHen Medicaments of themselves hard and solid cannot conveniently be assumed or applied therefore they are prepared and changed by Apothecaries with such Art that they may easily and wholesomely be assumed for they breake and pulverize them and that either grosse or fine as the occasion requires Now this breaking of Medicaments is chiefly for three ends The reasons of pulverization First That they may be exactly mixed with others Secondly That they may acquire a new faculty Thirdly That their malignity may be corrected The manner of breaking of Medicaments The divers manner of wayes of Triture is different and various for many are brayed in a stone morter as in Marble others in Metall morters as Iron Brass Lead and sometimes glasse others in a Wooden morter as of Box or Guajaicum with pestells usually of the same matter for an Iron pestell is most apt for an Iron morter a Wooden one for a Wooden morter a Leaden for a Leaden morter and a glasse pestell for a glasse morter Some cannot nor will not be so exactly pulverated by beating as by grinding and rubbing and that upon a smooth marble made hollow for that purpose where instead of a pestell we use a little marble stone called a Mannipulus which we hold in our hand and circumduce it this way and that way round the stone Gemms so that we leave no part of the Medicamet unrubbed and after this manner Gemmes and pretious stones are made into powder till we can perceive no knobbs with our fingers which powder so brayed the vulgar call marbled dust after which manner also those powders ought to be attenuated which go to the making up of Ophthalmick unguents Some are brayed and ground with turning stones as Wheat and Barly in a Mill and so a great quantity of hard seeds may easily and speedily be bruised and grinded to powder Those Medicaments we prepare onely for coction need but little bruising and those also that are of a thin substance whose vertue is dissipable need but little bruising also as almost all flowers And those require much bruising that are hard thick solid nervous and not easy to be broken as also such as partake of a malignant quality as Colocinth the grosser part whereof assumed being not well powdered inheres in the turning of the Intestines and exulcerates the part causing the bloody flux Those that confist of a meane substance as many odoriferous simples must be bruised moderately least their more subtill and odoriferous parts should exhale and be dissipated yet they must be beaten very small when they go to the confection of any electuary and when we would have them to search and penetrate to the remotest parts then must they be beaten very fine when we would have them to stay long in the body then they must be courser provided they be not indued with any maligne quality some must be beaten very fine and small that they may sooner performe their operation and manifest their power Roots and hearbs are sometimes beaten green and sometimes dry sometimes raw sometimes boyled for their different ends and uses but those must alwayes but be bruised mode rately that are to be boyled for alwayes observe Note that a greater Triture is requisit for roots than leaves lesser for fruits and a meane for seeds For seeds require but a contusion betwixt roots and hearbs So likewise many Medicaments can scarce be redacted to powder unless something be mixed with them The husks of Silkwormes As Coloquintido fericum crudum Camphire and many more which onely dilate by beating them alone unlesse there be some unctious or liquid matter superadded sometime we use to sprinkle some with wine other with water some with oyl and vineger that they may not only sooner be brought into powder but also better serve our intention The harder part of Animalls as bones hornes clawes nailes may be more easily pulverated if they be first filed or burned in a Crucible There are some who also burn Sericum Crudum Sericum must not be burned wooll and the haires of severall Animalls before they powder them but thereby they loose their former vertues and acquire new ones and therefore it is better to cut them small and dry them in an oven and so beat them strongly till they returne into powder some unctious seeds as the four great coole-seeds are to be excortiated before they be powdered because they clog and sticke to the pestell many gumms dropps and juices conveighed to us from far Countryes are full of tender fibres and as it were covered with a coare which are so hard to be broken and dissolved the innermost not dry of it self that they cannot be beaten to powder alone but must first be
superficies or because the substance of it is contained in a rare texture as some seeds many odoriferous spices and most flowers require a light and small Coction others on the contrary whose vertue is not easily resolved either because it is vallid and firme or because it resides in a grosse or dense substance or because it is posited in the middle as in Roots Woods Gumms Stones and sharp Medicaments as Onions and Garlick which grow sweet and mild by Coction require long and valid Coction others whose substance and vertue is posited in a meane between these two extreames as all the three Sandalls Jujubees Tamarinds mellow fruits and many seed endure but a meane and moderate Coction Now that Coction that is made in liquour of a moderate heat is called Elixation What elixation is And that liquor in which the Medicament is boyled is for the most part water and that either simple as common water or Medicinall or compound to which Lees of Wine Hydromel Milk Buttermilk Wine Vineger juices of plants Salt-water or sulphureous waters and all liquors in which Medicaments are put and boyled may be reduced The use of this elixation is manifold The benefit of Elixation First because it resolves the excrementitious humors of a Medicament in boyling and hence Colocynth and Turbith are boyled that they may not gripe and torment the belly but it is quite contrary with those Medicaments that purge by Leniating and Lubricating the belly and with those that are best when they are fullest As Cassia and Tamarinds for such become worse by Coction because thereby their native humidity is diminished and their purgative faculty destroyed Secondly It dissipates all those flatulent grosse and corroding humours that provoke the ventricle to loathing of the same as in Senna Polipodie Carthamus Walworke c. Thirdly It breaks all acrimony violence and ulcerating faculties as Mesue writes of Scammony which by his prescript will be better if it be boyled in a sorbe apple or in a quince or rose water as all other sharp sapors which become better by Coction Fourthly It bridles and corrects the more vehement and maligne attraction of the Medicament and therefore we boyle white Hellibor and most valid Medicaments that their violence may be broken and experience hath taught me that they become more benigne when they are boyled in water or juice of hearbs seeds or fruits Lastly Elixation doth very comodiously mixe the different qualities of Medicaments that one quality as it were concrete might result from them all which if it be weak in any plant it must be boyled easier and lighter if more potent and valid more and harder by how much the substance of the Medicament is grosser and more solid Therefore we first boyle the woods then roots then seeds then barks then fruits and last of all flowers on a gentle fire free from smoak This order of Elixation is to be observed in the preparation of all Medicaments especially Apozemes which are made of the decoction of roots leaves seeds and flowers dulcorated with Sugar or Syrups The punctuall time of Coction cannot be defined as some vainely have limited but left to the judgment of the Artist for some require much time of Elixation others lesse CHAP. XII Of Assation and Frixion ASsation is the coction of Medicaments in their own juice What Assation is after which manner of preparation flesh roots and fruits are cocted without any adventitious humour Now this Assation is made divers wayes The manner of Assation for flesh is decocted at the fire on a spit or in an oven or an earthen pot or carbonaded on the coals The roots also of black Beets are roasted in the ashes Beta Romana and Chesnuts in a frying pan but those rather appertain to a Kitchin than a Physician Now many Medicaments are dryed before the fire that they may depose their useless and retain their salutary quality others that they may become more mild others that they may be easier and sooner pulverated Rhabarb is sometimes dryed that it may be less purgative Scylla and more astrictive as also the Sea-onion that its vehemency may be obtunded whereby Dioscorides saith it offends the Intrals The brains of Sparrows excite Venery So also Sparrows brains are dryed that they may be sooner pulverable fitly to be mixed with those Medicaments that incite to Venery Many also are prepared by Assation The benefits that come by Assation that their copious and excrementitious humidity may be thereby washed Now they ought to be stirred or moved with a spoon or spatula while they are broyled on a hot tile oven or frying pan lest they be burned and they must be taken out before they grow black Assation and Frixion differ thus The difference of Assation and Frixion Assation is with its own juice Frixion with an adventitious humour as with Butter Oil Wine Vinegar or other juice or liquor after which manner many Aliments are fryed and broyled as Beans and Pease both that they may be more pleasant and also that they may more depose their bad qualities Gal. 29. lib. 2. de Aliment Coriander seed is fryed Coriander seed that is it is prepared with Vinegar that its quality which is noxious to the brain may be obtunded Semina viticis are also to be fryed Agnus â—â—stus that the flatulent humour may be discussed and that they may inhibit Venery Now some are fryed in the oil of sweet Almonds Myrab Citrin Chebul Nigri for the composition of Tripherae Persicae some in the juice of unripe Grapes others in Wine or other Liquor according to the Physicians purpose and scope that they may acquire a better quality or lose their noxious or ill qualities CHAP. XIII Of Vstion MAny Medicaments especially such as are more solid as Minerals or such as are indued with a malignant quality are burned before they be fitted for mans use Some also are burned that they may be sooner pulverated as bones horns claws flax and hairs of Animals others are burned that they may change their colour others that they may obtain a new faculty and one fit for our purpose Many sharp Medicaments are sometimes burned that they may grow milde and lose their Acrimony others not sharp that they may acquire Acrimony And thus as Galen in prooemio l. 9. simpl took notice that many sharp Medicaments lose much heat by burning and many not sharp assume and acquire heat thereby This he proves by the example of Vitriol which becomes more milde and moderate by ustion and some not sharp become more hot and crude by ustion as Fex vini Quick-silver crude Lime Tartar and many others Now how the same efficient produces contrary effects The reason why sharp Medicaments by Ustion lose their Acrimony Physicians thus judge Acrimony is acquired by heat increased to a certain degree which degree sharp Medicaments exceeding lose their Acrimony But such as were
plates or slices and so both inflamed together and stirred with an iron spatula In the interim heware lest the most noxious exhalation of the Lead pierce the nostrils Halitus plumbi for it greatly hurts the brain by its commixture with Quicksilver because of which also it offends the nerves and often causes stupidity and the Palsey to such especially as work much in Lead Now Sulphur and Nitre is put to the thing to be burned being a very valid and strong compage to the thing whose volatibles would sooner be dissipated otherwise than their fixed parts overcome by the flame as Alcumists observe And Assation is related to Ustion yea 't is a certain way to Ustion so is Ustion to Calcination and Calcination to Cinefaction but Cinefaction is most competent to Combustion for all combustible things are ordained for flames For in Minerals where there is scarce any fuel for the flame few or no ashes are left after Ustion of wood nothing but ashes yet both combustible and incombustible things may be levigated Combustibles whil'st they are attenuated into ashes by burning Incombustibles whil'st after Ustion by pulveration or grinding on a Marble stone they are attenuated into Alcool or small dust If these shall not satisfie the Reader he shall finde a more special ustion of Medicaments daily used of us in our Book called the Apothecaries Shop CHAP. XIV Of Extinction EXtinction is a suffocation of a matter hot or fiery in some Liquor Extinctio quid Now this matter is extinguished either when often burned or when onely ignified or heated as when Gems or Metals are extinguished in Wine-vinegar pure or stillatitious matter or some juice or liquor till they be totally cold ere they have been perfectly burned Many things are oft to be extinguished as Lapis Pyrites some but once as Galls and some are extinguished of themselves without the affusion of any humid matter Weckerus saith that Quicksilver may be extinguished with mans fasting spittle yet things not ignified are improperly said to be extinguished but be mended and prepared by fasting Spittle and mended by Sage for Spittle makes it more apt to be incorporated with other mixtures Sage amends corrects and asswages its fierceness for Sage is so called from its preservative faculty Salvia as it were Salvatrix for it much roborates the brain and nerves which the malevolent faculty of Quicksilver offends which should be mended with the juice of Sage A lump or mass of Gold often burned in the fire Aqua extinctionis auri is sometimes extinguished in common water which water is good for such as have the bloody Flux to shut the orifices of the vessels and for the leprous to roborate their principal parts and exhilerate their spirits for it is not a rash conceit that Gold as well refreshes the internals as the externals As the water wherein Steel hath often been extinguished is usefull to drive away many affects so Steel it self beaten to dust burned and extinguished in Vinegar is excellent for many uses of which more elswhere The virtue of Extinction is such that it attracts and retains the virtues of the humour in which it is extinguished So Cadmia or Lapis Galaminaris is sometimes extinguished in Wine sometimes in Vinegar for the various institutions of the Physician and Iron is sometimes extinguished in water mixed with oil that it may be more doctile to be made into Helmets or such pieces of Armour sometimes in water onely that it may be the more fragil CHAP. XV. Of Calfaction Insolation and Refrigeration CAlfaction is a certain manner of preparing Medicaments Calfactio quid as well simple as compound whereby they are neither boyled nor burned but moderately calefyed either in the sun or by the fire or by the heat of some putrid matter that these may be strained mollified and mixed more commodiously or that they may be used more easily and happily So an infused Medicament is calefied before it be strained not onely that all its quality may be transmitted into the liquor but that the liquor may more readily-permeate and wholly draw out Apothecaries do successfully give hot Glysters prescribed for such as labour in the Collick if it proceed not from choler warm ones to such as are sick of a Feaver not that their grief should wax hotter but to mitigate it and help the motion of Nature and the exclusion of the humour upward may be more easy Scarce any thing actually cold should be exhibited whether the remedy be applyed or assumed Also Baths and the very Linnen sick folks use should be moderately warmed Many Medicaments also must be calefied that they may more easily be broken mixed dissolved and strained Insolation is so like and near to Calfaction Insolatio quid that the one may easily supply the others course and place for they both promise the same effect And it is like a certain coction Hydromel vinosum quomodo fiat when Hydromel is calefied by being set in the Sun forty dayes whil'st the Dog-star rules for being more concoct it may be a taste like Wine Yet doth not this Art onely make it become like Wine What Hydromel is but that which is prepared of four pints of running water and one pound of honey must be so long cocted before Insolation till a raw egge may swim above it which we call Hydromel Now Conserves are insolated or calefied in the Sun that all their parts may be fermented together and their more humid matter discussed especially such as are prepared of cold leaves and flowers and should be kept a long time which will be a means to hinder their working up The juice of the herb Scylla by Galens advice cap. ult lib. de puere epileptico must be drawn out by Insolation or Coction in the Sun when the Air is obscure it may be extracted with fire and such Medicaments as by the institution of Winter cannot be insolated may be dryed by the Fire in Winter by the Sun in Summer Many Oils may be made by the infusion of flowers and permixtion of other things and may be insolated for the space of more or fewer dayes as the quantity and faculty of the thing infused requires For things more hot and dry need little or no Insolation cold and moyst longer Insolation Vinegar altered by flowers Vinegar of Roses must be prepared after the same manner For Rose leaves should be more insolated Elder flowers a shorter time as also that Vinegar which admits of Garlick Mint the flowers of Betony and Gilliflowers The Refrigeration also of Medicaments pertains to the Apothecary Refrigeratio for he refrigerates such things as he would have to congeal as jelly as also such things as are after coction hard he reposes in his Shop as solid Electuaries dry Conserves and Plasters Now Refrigeration differs from Extinction in this that all things extinguished are refrigerated not on the contrary c. CHAP. XVI Of Putrefaction and
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 sweet 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 it self for vinegar hath a purging faculty and it is Gal. l 1. Acetum esse calidum frigidum simpl li. 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 bonit as 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 fruits are harder more difficult to be cocted and lesse dissipable than flowers and leaves so Medicinall honey is made of these after a different manner for insolation will not suffice but they must be long concocted in water before honey be put to them and that fruits may be rightly cocted they must first be macerated
be catagmatical it helps the ferrumination of broken bones if it be sarcotical Sarcosis non tam medicamentorum quam naturae est opus herein it helps Nature that it generates flesh more easily which is not so much the effect of Medicaments as of Nature And as the composition of Emplaisters is various and manifold so also is their quality for they are compounded almost of all Medicaments wherefore all are not emphractical or such as fill the pores with their lentor but some are ecphractical as it were purging fractures others episastical or extracting and diaphoretical others chyptical which take away the filth of the skin and ulcers and some that are usefull for many affections as many other Medicaments called polychrestical which consist of contrary Medicaments Gal. initio l. 5. comp med gener An emplastical Medicament should want all mordacity for it can scarce stick to the pores if any sharp or biting quality be in it as Galen cap. 9. lib. 5. comp medic gener but it may be easily discerned by melting some part of it or by attracting some humour from above an Emplastick therefore should be of a terrene substance and viscous There are two main scopes in compounded Emplaisters to be minded that a solid and gross consistency and faculty odour and colour are often desired which rather please the fancy of the diseased than conduce any thing in effect to the nature of the Medicament Wax and common Oil Lithargy and sometimes Rosines do afford a fit consistency and matter but small or no virtue All things almost which are superadded as Minerals Metals Roots Wood Flowers and Seeds give a body and faculty to the Plaister which if they be dry they must be pulverated and mixed with the Plaister removed from the fire if any of them be not friable they are dissolved in some liquor which is absumed by coction before they be mixed with the Plaister or else it is mixed with the Plaister and dissipated by coction afterwards Green herbs which cannot be pulverated are either cocted in their own juice strained and mixed or others are cocted in the juice of these brayed and strained which juice being absumed the strength thereof being left if any remains that will not endure long coction they may be put in and cocted and then mixed with the Plaister But those Emplaisters must be long boyled which receive juice water vinegar wine or some decoction because whereas the Emplaister should be all viscid and thick that it might stick to the place to which it is applyed humidity which is oft mixt with it being contrary to viscidity must be resolved by heat if its quality must needs be retained in the Emplaster for such as are cocted in juices keep their faculties though the juices themselves be dissipated by exhalation Humidity also which is required in confecting Plaisters causes that the virtues of the rest of the ingredients be surer ingrafted and that they be carried to parts further distant Oil indeed is added to the materials of Emplaisters but not as to constitute their body but that the Wax might be melted with it and that it might obtund the sharp and austere ingredients and that the Emplaisters may obtain a more pleasant and leniating faculty Simple old Oil and Oil made by infusion as also any compound Oil may be put into the Emplaister that besides its matter it may also afford some virtue thereunto Wax as also some Rosines allow onely matter to Emplaisters no power to act Yet such Emplasters as have other matter analogical to them as Frankincense and * The dew of Lada Labdanum or such like Medicaments admit of no Wax nor Rosines in their composition But if Wax ingrede the Emplaister let it be melted in Oil if Lithargy let that also be boyled in Oil and if Juices Liquors or other such like must be mixed with it let them also be warmed with these till the watry and humid portion be resolved then let Rosines and Fat 's be induced as also Gums whereof some are mixed simply with it others after maceration in Wine Oil or Vinegar and percolation When the Plaister is throughly boyled and taken from the fire let Turpentine be mixed therewith that it may not feel any force of fire Last of all when all these are confounded and cocted to a legitimate consistency and refrigerated let the Powders be by little and little scattered above all and diligently agitated and moved with a Spatula till all be compact into a mass neither too soft nor too hard but viscid glewish and adherent yet not so as to inquinate the part to which it adheres nor to be hardly divelled from the place whereunto it is applyed And that the form of it may exist in a due consistency the quantity of Oil must be diminished when Fat 's Marrows and Turpentine are admitted in its confection and augmented when dry Gums friable Juices Rosines and dry Wood or Minerals that may be pulverated are mixed therewith In dry Ingredients the Oil must be thus proportioned Olci proportio in emplastrorum confectura to every ounce of Powder must be allowed three ounces of Oil to Wax the fourth part of as much Oil as the Wax is in quantity will serve so that to a pound of Wax we put a quarter of a pound of Oil. But because this quantity in the tempering of most Emplaisters may be better designed by ones judgement than defined by certain rules they now adayes put to a definite quantity of Oil and Powders as much Wax as will suffice that these liquid dry and viscid ingredients being by malaxation coagulated a fit viscous and glewish mass of Emplaisters may be induced Out of which mass are formed rowls of Plaisters of half an ounce or a whole ounce weight which being involved in oiled papers are reposed in the Apothecaries Shop for future uses Thus also are Emplaisters properly so called made which are prepared without Fire and Wax whose materials malaxated in Honey or some viscid matter are coagulated into the consistency of an Emplaister as Emplastra de crusta panis and de baccis lauri or other such common Emplaisters which are a medium betwixt Plaisters and Cataplasms That Ceratum confected of an equal weight of Wax and Honey is also referred to Emplaisters as also Cerotum or Ceronea of which before CHAP. V. Of Sparadraps THere is to be sold in many Shops a Cloth plaistered on both sides which the later Writers call a Sparadrap Tela Galterii sometimes also Galterius his Cloth peradventure because he was the Inventor or rather Infector thereof Which is thus made a certain Cloth somewhat bare with wearing is often dipped and inculcated in a fit Emplaister already made up but now melted till it be all infected inquinated and on every side incrusted which is then extracted and exposed to the air that by refrigeration it may become obdurate and so be preserved till future exigency Now hereof
much commended the use of Scarlet cloth which is not approved of by the more recent because in its tincture it is infected with much Arsenick but I approve of it in poysonous diseases seeing poysons in such a case are often salutiferous CHAP. VII Of Lotion WE understand not by Lotion here a bath of cold water as Oribasius cap. 7. lib. 1. and Paulus cap. 51. lib. 1. do but the ablution of some particular member in some medicinal decoction to take away its filth correct its distemper digest its humour roborate its parts mitigate its dolour and to conciliate sleep This Decoction will by ablution of the head kill Lice ℞ Staves-acre ℥ ij Wormwood Tansy Betony A Lotion to kill lice the lesser Centanry of each m. ij Coloquintide seeds ℥ ss boyl them in a sufficient quantity of water till a third part be consumed and with a sponge wash his head This Lotion will denigrate the hairs of hoary heads which I prescribe to such old women as would not betray their age to their husbands by their whiteness ℞ The bark of Oke and Elm of each ℥ ij Galls ℥ ij the bark of Wallnuts lb. ss the leaves of the Pomegranate tree and Mirtle of each m. ss boyl them in a sufficient quantity of water adde thereunto Alume ℥ ij Vitriol ℥ j. after the Colature wash the hairs therewith letting it dry in the Sun Yet Galen cap. 1. lib. 1. de comp med loc professes that he never exhibited any thing to such as adorned themselves for their own or others delight for this were all one as to paint a Sepulcher In times past men washed their heads more frequently than now adayes which caused of late this Proverb Wash your head never feet seldome hands often This Lotion made of the decoction of such Simples will mitigate calour and soporate the senses will by ablution of the feet therein conciliate sleep ℞ Lettice m. iij. Betony Water-lillyes of each m. ij Poppy flowers A Lotion to wash the feet to cause rest m. j. boyl them in water and wash the feet therewith CHAP. VIII Of an Embroche or Aspersion BY Embrochation we mean the irrigation of some part affected with some Oil Decoction or Liquor accommodated to the cure of that distemper distilled thereon like rain and hence Embroche from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to rain This Medicament according to Aetius cap. 172. ser 3. tetr 1. is used when bathing is for some circumstances prohibited And as it is the decoction of Poppy and Chamemile it conduces much to such as are infested with night-watches feavers and delirations Archigenes seeing his Master Agathinus to rave because of his long wakes freed him both from his deliry and wakings by irrigating his head with much hot Oil. These irrigations seem to differ from foments onely in this that they are distilled upon the part from on high the foments being onely applyed thereunto by sponges cloaths or in bags Now according to Oribasius Prigatio cap. 23. lib. 9. we use irrigation onely when some inflammation must be resolved or ulcer suppurated Aspersion but aspersion in washing the face and in hot feavers and that in Summer with cold water in Winter with warmer Yet in more simple Feavers as also in the subversion of the stomack we use water mixed with vinegar in aspersion We use aspersions also to cure eyes infested with fluxes by the decoction of Basil which is most efficacious subjecting a dry sponge under the chin lest the water run down to the breast An Embroche or Irrigation is compounded of Simples cocted in Wine Water Lees or Oil as this same for the Lethargy ℞ Embroche capitis Cyperus Calamus Aromaticus Orris Bay tree of each ℥ ss Sage Rosemary Penniroyal Calamint Staechados of each m. ss Squinant Coriander seed Cummin seed of eachʒ ij boyl these in three pints of water till the third part be consumed adde to the Colature Aqua vitae ℥ iij. besprinkle this on the head An Irrigation to conciliate sleep consists of Simples endued with quite contrary qualities and is thus made ℞ Lettice m. ij Water-lillyes white Roses of each m. j. Poppy flowers Betony of each m. ss boyl these and let the Colature be sprinkled on the head To Irrigation we may refer the Stillicide or Laver of medicated waters but it is not now our intention to treat thereof but will proceed CHAP. IX Of a Liniment ALiniment is of a middle consistency betwixt an Unguent and Oil being more liquid than an Unguent Linimenium quid and more crass than Oil for it admits of a very little Wax and Fat in its confection and therefore is not fluid without incalescence at the Fire or Sun Its basis is Oil whereunto sometimes is added a little of refinous Fat with Wax yet not so much but it still retains its soft consistency for a Liniment is nothing but a very soft Unguent to the confection whereof any Oil may be assumed so it be accommodated with faculties requisite to the intended scope And therefore almost every Liniment being paregorical and lenitive is confected either of simple Oil or of Oil of Almonds Violets or such like which will not excessively alter any temper as this same to abate the dolour of the side in a Pleurisy ℞ Oil of sweet Almonds ℥ ij ss fresh Butter ℥ j. Litus ad pleuritidem a little Wax to make it up into a Linctus anoint the side therewith Now to mitigate some dolour caused by a frigid humour some Oil must be assumed which is calid in the same degree that it may correct the humours distemper As on the contrary this Liniment made of refrigerating Oils will amend the distemper and asswage the dolour caused by a calid humour ℞ Oil of Water-lillyes ℥ ij ss Oil of Roses ℥ ss Waxʒ iij. Let them be melted for a Liniment ℞ Oil of Violets ℥ ii the musilidge of Marsh-mallow roots or Linsud ℥ i. a little Wax to make it a Liniment and apply it to the part affected This Liniment will mitigate a cold distemper ℞ Oil of Chamomile and Dill of each ℥ i. ss Ducks fat ℥ i. A Litus for a cold distemper Wax ʒ iii. let these be melted together and make a Liniment CHAP. X. Of Mucagines or Musliges BEcause there is often mention made of Mucagines which are either applyed alone or mixed with other Medicaments our Institution leads us now to speak a little thereof Now this Mucilage is efficacious in mollifying humectating and leniating some dolour as that same which is extracted from glutinous roots and seeds sometimes it digests and attracts as 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
the passages of the Reins expell flowers and birth augment milke exterge cause flatuosity and excite stiffenesse in the yard CHAP. XXX Of Orobus or the bitter-Vetch THat which the Apothecaryes call Orobus the Greekes call Ervum it is a kind of pulse-like Vetches growing in macilent places wherein it delights more then in fat soyle for there it is more speedily corrupted there are two varietyes thereof the one is white sweet and lesse vulgar the other yellow which may be had in any Pharmacopoly both according to Dioscorides are well known to all though many take wild Vetches or Eruile which infest Corne for the true Orobus But the domestick Orobus is sowen and cultivated it assurges with a cubitall or longer culme geniculated incurvated concave and a little striated with leafes and flowers like Vetches round Cods grow upon its surcles protuberant with three or four graines disjoyned with no membrane It desiccates manifestly but calefies so gently Vires that it seems to be temperate it incides exterges removes and resolves obstructions it is seldome or never introsumed frequently adhibited for its seed ingredes salves very frequently CHAP. XXXI Of Lupines LUpine seems to be a kind of Bean for its Caule is streight erect Cave somwhat tomentitious like a Beanes culme onely it is round It s singular and fibrous root emitts a Caule with branches alternately posited with leafes qinquefariously dissected like them of Staves-acre with white flowers thrice erupting betwixt the beginning of Summer and Autumne after which Cods lesser and plainer then Bean Cods emerge each of them containing five or six round compressed and amare grains white without and subluteous within Lupines are macerated for many dayes space in water till they demitt their amaritude and then cocted before they be eaten if they be illited or eaten with honey or drunk in Posca they kill Wormes their decoction cures Morpheus scurfes scabs manginesse and malignant ulcers partly by digesting partly by exterging and drying them without mordacity cocted in Vinegar they discusse biles in the Neck and imposthumes distilling from the head to the eyes and makes the colour of skarres candid and white though their amarity demonstrates that they are calid neverthelesse they are justly reposed in this Section CHAP. XXXII Of Barley AS Barley is of cereals most usefull so most notorious whereof if we look at the time of its sature we have two sorts one autumnall whose straw spike and graines are greater the other vernall which in all parts is lesse the spike of each is circumvalled with beards and small leafes wherein is contained an oblong aequilaterall and medullous grain Both the sorts of Spelt are referred to the family of Barleys some call these segetives by the name soucrion vulgarly scourgeon which denotes its utility in succouring Nations as also another kind of segetive which some call Zeopyrum others bare Barley which growes in Cappadocia yea many reduce yet more cereals to this segetive as Olyra Typha Brisa Eteocrithon and Oryza which they call distich Barley India long agoe produced a kind of Barley gratefull and salubre to man but deletery to horses for the same given to Alexanders Horses to eat killed them at first but mixing chaffe with it it became innoxious Another sort growes in Thracia about Gedropolis which beasts would not touch the cause whereof Theophrastus attributes to its ill odour though a man cannot perceive it when it is denudated of its shel they call it Exasticum and Cantherinum Common Barley refrigerates and exsiccates Vires being a little detersive and hence Barley-bread stayes not long in the belly nor yet gives much of nutriment its flatuosity is deposed by elixation and therefore Hippocrates would have it done in a Ptisane that it may be longer cocted CHAP. XXXIII Of Rhus or Sumack RHus it both the Latine and Greeke name of a shrub and also of a fruit whereunto Cooks adde obsoniorum because it was frequently used in Kitchins and obsonies for Salt of old but now it is only dedicated to Pharmacy the Mauritanians call it Sumach It is an arbuscle growing fruticating most copiously in petrous places its Caule assurges three four and somtimes five Cubits high it is discriminated with many small boughes its leafes whose middle nerve or cost is red cohaere in clusters like ashleafes each whereof is oblong late serrated about whitish it emitts candicant flowers in July which are racemously congested like them of Lillax its small fruit with the seed which is small and red like that of Lentills is mature in autumne it is called Rhus coriaria because it hath an excellent faculty in condensing hides as also another Plant thence called Corinus coriaria which may be enumerated amongst the species of Rhus Sumach being very austere is astrictive and desiccative it cohibites dysenteryes and fluxions stayes womens flowers Vires and allayes the hemorrhoids its leafes and fruit are exceedingly astrictive they are dry in the third and cold in the second degree CHAP. XXXIIII Of Myrtle MYrtle is either silvestrian which growes and fruticates spontaneously in many hot regions and incultivated places or domestick which requires culture whereof there are two sorts the one lesser like Box-Tree only its leafes are more acute like broome leafes its berryes are black like Ivy and it is gravidated with vineous succe whence it is oft called black Myrtle it is much celebrated for its gracious odour and perpetually florid colour and diligently nourished in Gardens and transplanted in figuline pots into houses windowes and there custodited for delight and ornament There is a lesser sort called white Myrtle which beares broader and longer leafes then the former whose colour is not so obscure but whitish whence it is cognominated by culture it somtimes assurges to the altitude of a moderate Tree as we may see in some maritimous Gardens both Myrtles emitt white and suaveolent flowers out of which by due art a very fragrant stillatitious water may be extracted There growes about the Caule of Myrtle an unaequall concolorate lump which like a hand amplects its boughs Dioscorides calls it Myrtidanum but it is of no use and therefore neither bought not sold There is also another small wild Myrtle which delights in sylvous dry macilent and a prique places beareing black edible and sweet berryes which many call Vaccinia others give it fictitious names at will in Normandy the vulgarity of Aethiopians that are called Mores do from their blacknesse call them Morets Myrtle consists of contrary substances the frigid praevailing over the calid but participating much of tenuious calour therefore according to Galen it desiccates so efficaciously Both its fruit and leafes may be successefully either assumed or adhibited Vires and it being astrictive stayes excretions of blood and bridles other profluent humours their decoction helps laxated members and broken bones that cannot endure ferrumination many more commodityes doth Myrtle pollicitate whereof see Dioscorides C. 156. L. 1.
lachrimously whence it is often called Tears Liquor if this Liquor be oleaginous and liquid we call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Rosine if more terrene aqueous and concrete in the Trunks of Trees Resina Gummi we call it Gum if it be partly terrene and aqueous partly oleaginous and fatt participating both of the nature of Gum and Rosine then we call it Gummy Rosine Now Gum that I may use the exoticall Idiome Commi Gummi quid is a coagulated Lachryma or tear concreted in the Trunks of those Trees that produce it Gal. C. 40. L. de simp whose substance is more aqueous as that of Rosine is more oleaginous Gums therefore should be admixed most to aqueous seldome to oleaginous medicaments Rosine in the contrary easily takes flame but Gumme cracks in the fire for though it come hott from stillation yet is it presently coagulated in the air and becomes aqueous and hence Arostotle makes it to crack upon burning coles But since it is of many kinds according to the different nature of the Trees that produce it for some Gums are coagulated hard like a stone others softer some more pellucid or flave others more obscure or pallid some flowing from peregrine others from indigenous Trees I shall first treat of that which comes out of the spine Acacia and is nominated Gumme simply CHAP. III. Of Gum-Arabick GUmme is an Arabick word and when it is put absolutely it must be understood of Gum-Arabick which Galen calls Thebane some Babylonian and others Acanthine Gumme Nomina Acacia Gummi flua It flowes from a certain arbuscle which Dioscorides calls Acacia whereof he constitutes two sorts the first assurging with a direct and lignous caule armed on every side with hard spines vested with long leafes which look as if they were constituted of many small leafes cohaereing together white flowers short codds Species like Lupines a glabre and splendent seed which Matthiolus depinges ill The other Acacia growes in Cappadocia and Pontus which is lesser slenderer and lower then the other whose leafes are like Rue and virgults aculeated out of which a succe is educed which retaines the name of its Arbuscle Acacia because of whose rarity we substitute the succe of the wild Plum-Tree out of which laudable Gum flowes forth at first pellucid as glasse sincere and contracted into the species of a vermicle afterwards white sordid resinous and uselesse It is efficacious in spissating and refrigerating Vires it is commodiously mixed with ocular and arteriall medicaments it obstructs the pores of the skin is represses prociduous eyes that it may be more easily pulverated it must be verberated in a hot mortar with a hot Pestell CHAP. IIII. Of Gumme Tragacanth GUm-Tragacanth is pellucid white sweet light and sincere which flowes from the vulnerated root of a certain Plant of the same name this root adhaeres to the surface of the Earth and emitts low and rigid surcles whereon are many and slender leafes which cover white straight and firm spines this arbuscle which the Greeks call Tragacantha and the Latines Spina herci growes in Crete and many places in Asia which emitts its succe spontaneously and without incisure as Theophrastus asserts contrary to Dioscorides who saith that this Plant hath no need of vulneration which though it be exoticall and seldome seen by our herbalists yet I saw it cicurated and florid in the Garden of Jo. Gonnerius that perite Physitian yet it s coagulated succe which the Gentiles call Tragacanthum and the Apothecaryes Dragaganthum is sufficiently known to all it cannot be easily laevigated unlesse the Morter and pestle be hot It s use is commended to ocular medicaments in a liniment with Honey or Sugar Vires it emends the roughnesse of the artery coughs retusenesse of voice and other defluxions CHAP. V. Of Gum Ammoniacum THis Gum is called Ammoniack because it distills upon the Sands neare Jupiter Ammons Oracle but from what Plant is uncertain Pliny saith it flowes from a Tree they call Metopion Dioscorides sayes it emanates both from a shrub they call Agasyllis and from a ferulaceous Plant but the ferulaceous Plants can scarce be called fruticall Galen asserts that it is the Tears of Ferula from which is collected both a sincere dense Gumme conspurcated with no sordidity and coacted into small glebes as also an impure and inquinated one which Dioscorides call Phyrama who calls the other Thrausma That is good which is inquinated with no sandy terrene nor extraneous matter effigiated like masculine frankincense graveolent and amare the Apothecaryes call it corruptly Gum Armoniack it may be dissolved in Water Vinegar or White-Wine It is so efficacious a mollitive that it dissolves the stoney disease of the Junctures and discusses other tubercles it cures indurated Milts Vires and in drink liberates from obstructions it moves urine and flowers and extrudes stones CHAP. VI. Of Lacca and Cancamum WHat Lacca and what Cancamum are whether they be both one or distinct and what each of them is doeth not appeare by the writings of Authours Serapio Paulus and Matthiolus believe that Lacca is that which Dioscorides calls Cancamum Brasavolus Garcias ab horto and Clusius think it is a distinct thing who being desirous to find out the truth have lustrated various tracts of the world and think that Lacca is not only distinct from Cancamum but also unknown for seeing it is only used for perfumes and we have many more fragrant and suaveolent Thymiamata it hath not been so diligently sought after moreover being exoticall the Tree from which it delabes growing as it is thought in Arabia our Merchants have not deigned it worth the search and portage however it is a kind of Gum of a virous sapour sweet odour and rare use Now Lacca is destitute of both these qualityes frequently invented neither the Arabian Chermes nor the succe of Sorbe-Tree nor Medlar-Tree nor yet like Myrrhe as Avicenna writes who it may be knew it not but if Garcias de horto may be credited it is a kind of Favago and concreted liquor on the boughs of a vast Tree coacted by the sucking and help of winged Ants. And this Tree growes not in Arabia but in India especially in the province of Pegu where Lacca is called Trec as also in Bengala and Malavar where it is called Loc and Lac. Garcias indeavours to establish and confirme this opinion by reason and much History striving also to prove out of Amatus Lusitanus that Cancamum is an Aroma otherwise called Anyme whereof he constitutes two varietyes the one white which also according to Brissotus a Physician of Paris is Dioscorides his Cancamum and the other somwhat black which myrrhe or rather Mynea or Amynea Thus the obscurity of the thing Vires drives us to the affinity of names there to investigate the truth but if I may speak freely I think that Anyme or Amynea as some will have it
that name is now almost abrogated for the Barbarians out of some hatred conceived against the Cyrenians eradicated and extirpated all their Laserpitium as Strabo denotes The Syrian Laser is best after the Cyrenian and the Median after the Syrian There are two sorts of Asa the one pure sincere and transparent the other turbid and impure wherewith bran or Sagapene is mixed whole halite and stinking odour it well resembles Hence the Germans call it the Devills dung both of them are very odorate but graveolent so that I cannot easily assent to their opinion who think that one sort of Asa is sweet for neither the odour of the one nor of the other can be tolerated without loathsomnesse whence I admite that Garcias should say that no simple medicament in all India should be more in use then Asa foetida both in medicines and also in meats The Indians are wont to mix it with their Pot-hearbs in their pottage having first rubbed their kettles therewith useing no other condiment to any meat but take it to recall their appetite when they nauseate any thing If this be not a fable Asa must either not stink in India or the Indians must have brasen throats as the Proverb goes this Asa is so ingratefull to us both in odour and sapour that we can easily pardon Matthaeus Sylvaticus who reposed it amongst Poysons yet Dioscorides commends it for meat Who enumerated so many and so great faculties Vires wherewith it is indued that he was able to move loathsomnesse The more recent hold it very efficacious but only to a few affections who never use it save against the ascent and aberration of the uterus and some other diseases appertaining to women CHAP. IX Of Sagapene or Serapine SAgapene by Apothecaryes Serapinum is a concrete liquour flowing out of the sauciated root of a ferulaceous Plant in Media whose description Dioscorides omitted because perhaps he had not so much knowledge of the Plant as of the succe which Plant I neither yet saw nor read designed by any authour for being exoticall it is either not cicurable or if cicurated sterile without sucee and marcid It s concrete succe therefore is only brought us the best whereof is translucid yellow white within acrimonious graveolent and crasse in substance Sagapene calefyes in the third degree siccates in the second purges crasse Phlegme and other viscid humours as Mesue attests yet its purgative faculty is in some very ignave in others potent for either drunk or used by way of suppository it evokes flowers kills the young cures the dolour and praefocation of the uterus resolves attenuates dissipates moves and solves CHAP. X. Of Galbanum GAlbanum is also the concrete succe of a Syrian Ferula copiously growing in the Mountain Amanus which succe some call Metopium Dioscorides knowing this Gummeous succe better then the Plant left nothing in writing of its dignotion but as the ferulae are well known so also are their liquors and succes and that not only by their consistency but colour odour sapour and facultyes for Galbanum in aspect repraesents Asa in odour Opopanax The best is cartilaginous syncere like Gumme Ammoniack not lignous in which there is some ferula seed graveolent not very humid nor squalid this as all other Gummes may be easily dissolved in water Vinegar or Wine It is excalefactive extractive discussive it accelerates flowers deliverance in Child-bearing either by admotion or suffumigatiō dissolved with Vinegar and mixed with a little nitre it deleats pimples it discusses boyles and lumps on the junctures Vires it is adverse to Poysons and drives away Serpents CHAP. XI Of Opopanax THat Opopanax is the succe of Panax both its name demonstrates and Dioscorides affirmes but seeing there are many sorts of Panax it is not apparent out of which of them it emerges Mesue saies it flowes from the ferulaceous Panax Dioscorides from th◠Heraclean and some say from the Chironian Panax Dodoneus tells us that it distills from a peregrine Panax to wit the Syrian Panax which hath ample sharpe hirsute long and broad leafes a geniculated and ferulaceous Caule of three or four cubits heighth supernally disterminated into many boughs with luteous flowers erupting out of ample umbells after which broad plain and subflave seeds do emerge its root is whitish long succulent and odorate a Gummeous succe flowes out of its Caule vulnerated especially towards the root in summer which Pliny and many more call Opopanax which is laudable for many uses as the nomenclature of the Plant from which it flowes demonstrates for Panax or Panaces denotes the abigation of all dolours and the remedy of all diseases hence many Pseudomedicks call some medicaments which are more perilous then the diseases Panaceous remedyes thus did a lying drunken vain salacious Pseudomedick deceive many Country and credulous persons while he lived Opopanax is a kind of Gumme easily dissolvable by water it excalefyes in the third degree siccates in the second mollifyes digests Vires attenuates dissipates flatuosity leniates and expurges that which is very amate white within or somwhat yellow fatt tender friable easily liquestible and graveolent is good the black and soft is not good CHAP. XII Of Sarcocolla SArcocolla is both the name of a peregrine Plant and a Gumme flowing out of it it growes in Persia it is fruticous and spinose with nodose boughs appressed to the Tree which sauciated and somtimes spontaneously lacrymates a kind of Frankincense like Powder of a yellowish colour and amare sapour It calefyes in the second degree siccates not so much it cocts deterges carnifyes and glutinates whence it is called Sarcocolla Vires for it heales wounds wonderfully for it doth by a proper faculty expurge them from filth repleate them with flesh and obduce them to a skarre The Arabians say that Sarcocolla doth not only subduce the belly but educe crasse and viscid humours from places much dissited as from the cavityes of the Articles but reason and their effects seem to refragate this it doth indeed with much efficacy conglutinate wounds inhibite the fluxions of the eyes and digest but not so much as Galbanum if it be five dayes macerated in Asses milke in a glasse-vessell and the milk daily changed it will exceedingly help such as have pearls or dimme and clowdy eyes CHAP. XIII Of Gumme of Jvy THe trunk of the greater Ivy vulnerated and somtimes spontaneously elacrymates a certain Gummeous succe of an aureous colour graveolent and sharpe to the gust which they call Ivy-Gumme Now Ivy is a Scansory Tree which circumvests walls and vicine Plants which it kills with its multifarious convolutions and virour Wherof there are two prime kinds the one greater which erects it selfe on high the other lesser which creeps along the ground with slender and obsequious branches neither beareing flower nor fruit There are three varietyes of the greater Ivy one is called white Ivy because it beares
of whose roots springs Hypocistis whose spurious branch is like to a Quince-tree some call it Ludonorum others Robethron Fuschius fungus its succe is extracted as that of Acacia concreted and kept The other Cistus is Foeminine which bears long Cistus foem and not angust leaves white and small flowers and small seed in a triangular hull it is very like the Ladanigerous Cistus The Masculine Cistus is a small shrub greater then Thyme with leaves like Basil but rounder rosaceous flowers like them of the Foeminine but lesser with a lignous and hard root out of whose middle Hypocistis pullulates as viscum out of an Oak and other trees Hypocistis is very rare in whose stead we use Acacia Vires whose saculties are analogous though more imbecil it is chiefly astrictive it helps the Dysenterian collical and all fluxes of blood It siccates also and roborates and is a very efficacious remedy in all fluxions CHAP. 5. Of Tartar AS the substance of Milk part whereof is butyrous and ligher part caseous and crasser and part serous and moderate is not homogeneous so neither is the substance of Wine part whereof is tenuious and is called the flower of Wine part somewhat heavier occupying the middle of the Hogshead and part more crass which settles to the bottom which some call Lees and the more recent Tartar perhaps because this is the Empyricks Idol as Tartac was the Hevaeans But I rather think it so nominated because it possesses the lowest place And though Tartarum be but Lees of Wine yet is it indued with many faculties for as some excrements in an humane body are benigne and useful as Sperm Milk and other humours included in other parts for certain uses so are these dregs useful for as the Proverb goes No Wine without Lees for this excrement conserves it longer from corruption as ashes do fire from extinction Tartarum included in a Cloth-bag and suspended in a Wine-cellar or other moist place will exude an oleous humour which they call Oyl of Tartar which delabes from the Canvas bag into the vessel subjected as we have shewed in our Officinary It may be educed also by ascent but the work will be more and to less purpose The ashes of burned Tartar is frequent at Paris and very expetible to dealbate sayls which the vulgar call Gravellata It is celebrated for many other uses Vires for Tartar according to Cardanus hath no equal in detersion which purges sordid and hard lumps and excrescencies of flesh and shews the sound and living flesh CHAP. 6. Of Liquorice Juyce THe succe of Liquorice is expetible for many uses for it is eximiously bechical being successfully assumed solarly for the affections of the lungs and breasts and frequently with no less benefit mixed with other Medicaments Galen extols that which comes from Crete The Greeks call it Glycyrrhiza the shop-men Liquorice Celsus Sweet-root the Batavians Sweet-wood for its succe exhibits a sweet and grateful sapour which is thus educed The roots of Liquorice collected in July while new and humid are purged and brayed then cocted in water percolated and expressed the succe expressed is siccated by evaporation by the fire The way to juyce of Liquorice or Sun and kept That is best which is sweetest soft new pure tenacious blackest and which is totally liquescible upon the tongue That which comes from Spain is much commended where it is made both copiously and well Liquorice is without of the colour of Box within croceous its wood is viscid and not easily frangible its sapour sweet quenching thirst whence it is called adipsas That which is white or black within exucce old fragile and which makes dust by its fracture is not good We have spoken hereof in the fourth Section of our first Book CHAP. 7. Of Wax BEes are wonderful sagacious industrious and sedulous in collecting and confecting Wax which without their help no part of the world can perform for these little animals can solely act that which man cannot these Infects solely do suppeditate both Aliments and Medicaments to man by their own opifice And yet the commodities of Wax are so many and so great that they cannot be easily recenseated The flave odorate moderately fat pure coacted Wax which is void of all aliene matter eadnearest representing Honey is best In the second place we take that which is candid whether it be so naturally as the Pontian Wax or artificially by lotion as the Tyrrhenian Other colours are acquisititious as green by Verdegrease red by Vermillion black by Ink or burned paper From which mixture it changes its qualities New subflave Virgin-wax is best It is in a mean betwixt heat and cold humidity and siccity yet it is somewhat crass and emplastical Wherefore it is the matter both of calefactive and refrigerative Medicaments All Wax mollifies califies according to Dioscorides Cerae lotio dealbatio and moderately expletes the body It is good in broth for such as have the bloody flux That it may be dealbated it must be melted at the fire then demerged in pure fountain-Fountain-water where it must be stirred and expurged Dioscorides describes another way to make it most candid which see in his second Book Chap. 105. CHAP. 8. Of certain other succes more aptly described in another place SUcces are kept either in a liquid consistency as Vinegar Wine and Omphacium or in a solid one as Aloes and Scammony or else in a middle consistency as Rob and Sapa of each whereof we have treated in order partly in our Shop partly in our first Book of Medicinal Matter And since I am so farre from approving of things ten times repeated that the second time offends me I will not now return to the examination of what I have before delivered for I could willingly wish this short Work had been contracted into a lesser bulk As for Aloes and Scammony they being Purgatives we have treated sufficiently of them in the second Section of this Book wherein we have accurately described the nature and faculties of all purgative Simples As for the succes of fruits inspissated to the consistency of Rob and Honey we have handled them in the fifth Section and the first Section of the first Book speaks copiously of liquid succes Opopanax hath its name from Panax whose succe or rather gummeous liquor it is which when concrete and dry is subflave without candid within graveolent smooth fat fryable and easily liquescible in water Galen makes mention of other succes as Glacium and Licium but because they grow obsolete they are seldome or never kept in Pharmacopolies Finis Libri Primi THE SECOND BOOK OF Medicinal Matter SECT I. Of Minerals THE PREFACE THe matter of Medicaments is multifarious not onely because it arises from Plants Minerals and Animals of which we have treated before but also desumed from the Universal Tribe of Plants It remains now that we treat of Minerals which indeed do daily
that nothing is more false for if Metals have any sperm it is within themselves not elsewhere to be sought nor will ever mixed bodies naturally resolve themselves into Salt Sulphur and Mercury though these Chymical Vulcans do Hammer them out as Dom. Riolanus hath learnedly proved against them This Mercury or quicksilver is as it were the Monster of Nature which will not be subdued under Natures Laws it is whiter then any silver more fluxile then water more permeable then Vinegar yet it never madefies often refrigerates often califies sometimes curing onely frigid affections sometimes onely calid ones when it seems frigid then it induces calid effects when calid frigid ones it sometimes hurts in small quantity alwayes in great it easily loses its proper form and easily resumes it and in this it is Miraculous that it often profits being introsumed by the mouth and often causes Palsey trembling and other prave effects when extrinsecally applied Falop. Cap. 27 76. Lib. de lue Vener Trajan saw some who being anointed with a liniment made of Quicksilver before their deaths in the junctures of whose armes he sound much Quicksilver when he dissected their dead bodies He saw another who being onely thrice anointed with Quicksilver vomited many humours wherewith much Quicksilver was confounded It is also storyed of one Antonius Gallus that he being oft besmeared with Medicaments of quicksilver and not voiding any by spittle that much was mixed with his urine wherewith gold might be so dealbated that they would take it for silver Yet Brasavolus would have it assumed at the mouth to kill Maw-wormes and Fracastorius avers that certain women assumed each of them a pound of quicksilver to kill their young which yet received no harm they being frustrated in their design and the young excluded duely and alive Yet the same Author having afterwards approved and disapproved of its use confesses ingenuously that he is ignorant of its qualities but boldly asserts that it will cure the French disease One Jacobus Carpensis was the first that prescribed quicksilver to the cure of this disease whose use was so successful that he presently became very rich thereby the Neotericks following him mix it both with internal and external remedies for its use is deprehended both wayes as being indued with an alexiterial faculty whereby it extinguishes the venereous poyson in the French disease for it is its antidote though it be no way safe unless it be well handled duely castigated and opportunely given for we have known many who taking quicksilver from the unskilful have either perished or fallen into a worse case then before for this is a beast which can scarce be tamed by any art and therefore Galen is excusable who feared to use it and durst not make trial of its faculty having learned from Dioscorides that it was deletory Such as work Lead or other Metals wherein there is any portion of quicksilver are apt to contract trembling Palsey and corrugation of Nerves Those also that effode quicksilver out of Mynes though rustical and robust Men yet do they scarce tolerate that labour for four years but die miserably for it is an untamed Medicament whose active vertue and effect are both ancipitous and though it be liquid yet very ponderous Metals will swim upon it as wood upon water except Gold which sinks therein Now quicksilver is either natural or artificial the natural distils drop by drop out of the glebes of many Mynes as of those in the Mount Hydria or fountain-like flows copiously out of some vein in a Myne smitten with a spade or other Iron Instrument The artifical is made or rather extracted out of Cinnabaris of which we have spoken in the former Chapter I cannot assent to Brassavolus who after Vitruvius asserts that Mercury may be made of Marble unless that I could say with the Alchymists that this Sulphur and Salt may be elicited out of all mixed bodies Its qualities are as yet under debate for some from its effects say it is hot others cold Avicenna Vires whom Palmarius and many others follow says it is cold and moist Fracastorus Tomitanus and others who attribute an erosive faculty to it contend for its calidity I with Trajanus think it of a mixed quality participating of many other faculties but consisting chiefly of subtile and calefactive crasser and refrigerative parts for it incides attenuates penetrates melts resolves subduces the ventricle and what is most to be admired partly by an attractive faculty attracts humours from the superficies to the centre that is to the ventricle and excludes them by stool and partly by an impulsive faculty propels them from the centre to the habit and ejects them by salivation It is used for both ends in the French disease and it often works the fluor of the belly when it is given for salivation often salivation when it is intended for the fluor of the belly It is sometimes redacted to white and ponderous powder of which we have treated elsewhere which without molestation subduces the belly but harmes the bowels wherein it leaves the malign impress both of it self and aqua fortis in which it is immerged as I have observed in many who committed themselves to some Circulators SECT II. Of Medicinal and Precious Stones THere is no corner of the earth which doth not afford man either Food or Raiment no angle in which there is not something found idoneous for mans use Arabia is not onely happy in this but every remote and barbarous Region doth afford us many precious things with which we do not onely cloath our selves gallantly but use wholesomely What plenty of rich and precious Gemmes is daily brought us from both the Indies and other remote Regions with abundance of eximious Plants We call them Gemmes and Precious Stones for their rarity pulchritude elegancy and famous vertues There is no doubt faith the Poet but there is a Divine Vertue placed in Gemmes Hence Kings and Princes do adorn their Crowns enrich and illustrate their Fingers beautifie their Houses expel Enchantments ture Diseases preserve Health recreate the Eyes exhilarate the Minde and drive away sadness therewith CHAP. 1. Of the Smaragde or Emerald AFter the Adamant which is onely famous for its hardnesse being of no use in Pharmacy the Emerald takes place whose elegant viridity eximious dignity and efficacious vertue prefer it before all Precious-stones then which nothing can be objected more pleasant nothing more grateful to the Eyes for the lenity of its colour refreshes fatigated Eyes which the fulgour of others offend The Arabians call it Zamarrut Emeralds are found in many places but the best amongst the Giants called Cyclops or Arismaspi because they have onely one round eye in the middle of their foreheads for Arisma with them denotes one and Spu an Eye This people hath continual warre with Gryffons that they may more freely effode Gold and Precious-stones wherewith their Mountains abound which many Gryffons fierce and
new water in and so let the work be iterated till the water poured in and agitated appear clear and pure without filth These duly performed let the Ceruse be laevigated on a red Marble stone then dryed and again brayed and then formed into Pastils with Rosewater and reposed for future uses Some bray it with Vinegar and subact it into a masse others with another liquor accommodated to their intentions Ceruse refrigerates siccates astringes extenuates expletes Vires represses excrescencies and perduces to a scar it cannot be assumed at the mouth without peril CHAP. 10. Of Cadmia both factitious and fossile CAdmia which the Arabians call Climia is either fossile and native which is the stone out of which Brass is drawn and is called Brass-Ore which Artificers use in making yellow Brass which the shop-men call Aurichalcum or Orichalcum or else it is factitious The native is often found in Metal-Mynes it is a yellow stone very hard appearing of two colours when it is not accended but all over luteous when accended and it is probable this is the stone which Albertus calls Didachos or the Devils-stone The rivulets and torrents of Cyprus sometimes afford such a stone which being of many colours some call it The Rainbow-gemme of which we have before spoken but indeed it is neither the Rainbow nor Didachos Factitious Cadmia is a dense body concreted of the smoke of Brass melted in a furnace driven by the wind and cleaving to the sides and roof of the furnace Galen saith it is no matter whether we call it an earth or a stone out of which some Brass some Cadmia and some Diphryges is drawn for the stone Pyrites burnt in a furnace affords Cadmia There are five sorts of factitious Cadmia Vires the first is called Capnitis which is found in the very orifice of the furnace which is so exust and tenuious that it resembles Embers the second is called Ostraticls which for the most part is black and looks like a potsheard being more grave and therefore it delabes to the bottom of the furnace and it is the most sordid of all Galen calls it Spodes or Spodium the third and fourth are found in the middle of the furnace and they are called Placitis and Botrytis Placitis is crusty and encompassed with segments as with Zones which is less pondrous and adheres to the sides of the furnace under which Onichitis is found Botrytis is moderately heavy in face and colour like Spodium which when broken is cineritious and aeruginous The first is as it were the thinner smoke of the Brass which adheres to the top of the furnace of which hereafter All Cadmia is well and frequently had in the furnaces of Cyprus which they make of that stone which in dignity they call Cadmia They make whiter Cadmia of Silver but it is not comparable to that of brass Cadmia desiccates gently Vires absterges and helps humid and putrid Ulcers and draws them to scars CHAP. 11. Of Spodium NOthing is more frequently inculcated or heard in Pharmacopolies and nothing less understood then Spodium which all the Apothecaries that I know make of two sorts one coming from Greece and another from Arabia being in name one but in nature very different but that I may speak plainly there is no Arabian Spodium but fictitious as we said before and shall declare hereafter The Graecian Spodium which is indeed the sole Spodium is found in brass furnaces with Pompholix with which it hath much affinity and it is then made when micant sparks ascend from the Metal while it is cocting and because of their gravity delabe down again upon the pavement which as they refrigerate mix themselves with filth and hence this concreted heap of sparkes is inquinated which they call Graecian Spodium which is of use onely in external affections The Spodium of Avicenna and the rest of the Arabians if any is made of very dissimilar matter to wit of the burnt roots of Canes whereunto Avicenna attributes so many dowries that I cannot but admire the mans credulity or else simplicity in writing seeing it is contrary to reason that that root by ustion which they call Spodium should recreate the heart help against swounding quench thirst allay the heat of the stomack and cure the Palsey Melancholy and other diseases he enumerates And grant we that the Arabian Spodium can effect all these yet we ought not to prescribe it because it comes not at us Apothecaries in its stead substitute burnt Ivory calling it Spodium whereas it is indeed rather Antispodium as also that same they make of fig and Myrrhe-leaves burnt together whereof Dioscorides speaks more at large But as crude Ivory differs much both in nature and faculties from crude Canes so burnt also for crude Ivory is better then burnt Ivory Seeing then the Arabian Spodium cannot be had or if it could be had would not answer to those faculties Avicenna puts upon it and we have no analogous substitute it should be expurgen from Medicinal receipts for there is onely one and that the Gaecian Spodium which may not be assumed at the mouth The interpreters of the Barbarians language erre in translating the Arabian Tabaxir or the Indians Traesir Spodium for Tabaxil according to Garcias is a Persian word denoting a lacteous liquor or sweet succe which the Barbarians call Sacar Mamba it is got in reeds or rather trees which are so great that they can make many boats out of one each whereof being excavated betwixt two knots will hold two men wherein the Indians sail swiftly and desond themselves from Crocodiles The succe of these trees is very black and cineritious which they do not onely denominate Spodium though falsly but call it burnt ashes by the same name whereas Antispodium according to Dioscorides is made of ashes for that the ashes of Canes may be called Antispodium and be rightly substituted for defect of the Graecian Spodium but not assumed at the mouth Seeing now there is no Tabaxir of which they can make Spodium but ridiculously burn Ivory for that purpose we may admit of no Spodium but one and that the Graecian which is a kinde of factitious Cadmial as also Pompholix whose disquisition we shall now looke into CHAP. 12. Of Pompholix POmpholix is a small and volatile spark which while Brass is trying in the furnace flies on high and adheres to its supernal part At first when it is made it goes into bubbles and lumps which by touching are disperged for it is like white ashes and so light that it easily flies up and like dust adheres to the top of the furnace and while this by its levity is elevated upward another sort of sparks by their gravity delabe to the Pavement which we call Spodium so that both are made in one furnace both have mutual cognation and one may supply the defect of another Pompholix is by some Seplasiaries called Nil or Nihil by other The Cadmian Bubble
the later age found it good against the Pleurisie at the beginning thereof for it is astrictive roborative bechical and hypnotical it cohibits the humours falling down from the head upon the lungs and that it may better effect this some sugar of Roses must be added it may be safely given from half an ounce to an ounce and a half and to two ounces to the more valid especially if the Pleurisie be but beginning or not farre gone for it will either stay the former flux or hinder the rising of another CHAP. 9. Syrupus Nympheae or Syrupe of Water-Lillies â„ž of Water-Lillies lb ij infuse them six or seven hours in hot boyling water lb iij. afterwards boyl them a little and to the Colature adde again the same quantity of fresh flowers and let this be repeated three times and to the Colature adde an equal quantity of Sugar to boyl it up into a Syrupe The COMMENTARY Some make this syrupe onely of one infusion but that is more efficacious which is confected of two or three the green herbaceous and flave part also of the flower should be rejected and onely the white retained This is simple in reference to one more compound described by Franciscus-Pedomontanus which is seldome used because the Simple one is more easie of preparation and no less efficacious Moreover the description of the Compound is by some disallowed of by some changed by some the quantity of its ingredients is augmented by others diminished its description is well known This syrupe refrigerates much Vires cohibits venereous dreams restrains the immoderate flux of the sperm conciliates sleep allayes the heat of the bowels and abates the ardour of Fevers CHAP. 10. Syrupus Capil vener Com. or Syrupe of common Maiden-hair â„ž of the true Maiden-hair of the common Maiden-hair wall-Rue Spleen-wort Salvia vita of each m.j. Liquorice bruised â„¥ ij infuse them twelve hours in a sufficient quantity of water afterwards boyl them gently till it comes to lb v. adde to the Colature White Sugar lb iiij and so make it into a Syrupe The COMMENTARY This is the most usual description of this syrupe whereunto some adde Raisins and Liquorice others Jujubs but none of these please Fernelius who thinks that the syrupe is made more ignave and weak by the admistion hereof but 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 â„ž 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 â„ž of the root of Smallage Fennel Parsly Butchers broom Asparagrass of each â„¥ 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. â„ž of the roots of Marshmallows â„¥ ij red Licers â„¥ i. of the roots of Grass Asparagrass Liquorice Raisins stoned of each â„¥ 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 eachÊ’ 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
affections and vices of the skin arising from salt or adust humours CHAP. 4. Syrupus Buglossi Or Syrupe of Bugloss ℞ of the Juyce of Bugloss clarified lb vj. of the flowers of the same lb j. boyl them a little and to the Colature ad lb iiij of sugar boyl it up into the consistency of a Syrupe The COMMENTARY This syrupe being easie to make and of eximious faculties may not be omitted That it may be duly made the brayed Bugloss must lie in a moist and cold place a whole night or a day then it must be calified and expressed for its succe being viscid will not otherwise be easily educed when it is expressed it must stand to subside Some contund the flowers of Bugloss and coct them a little in that succe when clarified others coct them in water and affund the colature with sugar upon the succe all which they coct to the consistence of a syrupe Some take onely the leaves others the roots of Bugloss but I hold the whole Bugloss more convenient Syrupe of Borrages succe is made after the same manner and works the same effects so that he that hath the one needs not the other It is good for such as are marcid with long grief and sadness Vires labour under the Hypochondriacal melancholy or splenatick affections CHAP. 19. Syrupus de succo Acetosae or Syrupe of the Juyce of Sorrel D. Mes ℞ of the Juyce of Sorrel depurated in the sun lb iij. white sugar lb ij Boyl them together and make it up into a syrupe The COMMENTARY This is the most Simple of syrupes some make it after the same manner with the former others coct sugar to the consistence of a solid Electuary whereunto they afterwards adde the depurated and percolated succe then fervefie the mixture till it attain the consistence of a syrupe But more frequently they coct purge and percolate the succe and mix it with clarified sugar which they coct to a syrupe but then its faculties are more imbecile This syrupe Vires according to Mesue its Authour abates bilious and pestilent fevers extinguishes the flammeous ardour of the heart and ventricles and contemperates the aestuating bowels CHAP. 20. Syrupus Acetatus simplex or The simple of Syrupe of Vinegar or Oxysacharum D. Mes ℞ of the purest Sugar lb v. fountain-Fountain-water lb iiij boyl them together till half the water be consumed then adde white-wine Vinegar lb ij or 3 or 4 lb. according to the accidity required and so boyl it up into the consistency of a Syrupe The COMMENTARY Though this syrupe may be made at any time yet we subjoyn it to the former because they have much affinity betwixt their faculties it is called Oxysacharum for the Vinegar and Sugar whereof it consists That it may be rightly made Mesue would have it cocted in Earthen Tinne or a Stone-vessel not Brass or Copper as some do some would have distilled Vinegar but its quality being very sharp it hurts the ventricle and nerves the common Vinegar is better and more accommodate whose various proportions the Authour may prescribe as the Medick would have it sharper or less sharp It refrigerates hot humours incides crass and viscid ones Qualitates attenuates and prepares them for expulsion it arceates putretude quenches thirst and allayes the inflammation of the bowels Myrepsus exhibits another simple syrupe of Vinegar whose use I approve of and it is thus described ℞ Vinegar ℥ iiij Juyce of Pomegranates ℥ viij sugar lb j. boyl it up to a fit consistency It is made as the former and both of them are called Simple syrupes in distinction to another more compound whose description Nic. Praepositus gives But seeing it is of rare or no use we shall omit it This incides crass humours moves and impels them if inherent Vires allays calid humours refrigerates the heat of the ventricle and liver and emends the corruption of the humours or any syrupe of Vinegar kills worms whether in the Intestines or in the Veins as I saw in one of Paris in whose basilical Vein was a worm of a palms length CHAP. 21. Syrupus de Byzant simp comp or The Syrupe of Dynari or the Byzantian Syrupe both Simple and Compound ℞ of the Juyce of Endive Smallage of each lb ij Hops Bugloss Borrage of each lb j. boyl them a little and clarifie them and to lb iiij of the Colature adde lb ij ss of sugar to make it up into a Syrupe The Compound you may thus confect ℞ of the aforesaid Juyces rightly clarified lb iiij in which boyl Rose-leaves ℥ ij Liquorice ℥ ss the seeds of Annis Fennel and Smallage of eachʒ iij. spikenardʒ iij. strain it and adde Vinegar lb ij the whitest sugar lb ij ss or lb iij. boyl them according to Art to the consistency of a Syrupe The COMMENTARY Both the syrupes are usually made but he may omit the Simple one that makes the Compound as also the Compound syrupe of Vinegar for it will supply the want of both The Arabians call it Dynari because it purges the Ureters not from Denarium a piece of Money as some think neither can I credit Bern Dessennius who saith That this Name was invented by an inept and covetous fellow who by Dynari portended some sum of Money It is called the Byzantian syrupe from Byzantium or Constantinople where it is very frequent or was invented or else because Mesue had its description from some Byzantian Medick This syrupe opens Vires incides and attenuates it frees the Liver from obstructions as also the Spleen and Mesentery it helps the Jaundies moves fluors and cures Fevers which arise from viscid humours CHAP. 22. Syrupus de Moris comp or The compounded Syrupe of Mulberries ℞ of the Juyce of Mulberries not altogether ripe lb ss of the Juyce of red Black * Before they be ripe berries honey despumed of each lb j. ⸪ Wine boyled to a good consistence sapa ℥ iiij boyl these according to Art to the consistency of a syrupe The COMMENTARY As in stead of Diacodium which was made in form of an Opiate we use now the simple syrupe of Poppies so in stead of Diamorum the syrupe of Mulberries to whose confection some now adde the succe of Rassberries and of Straw-berries thus confecting it of three kindes of Berries others leave both out and sape also the succes must be cocted with honey to the consistence of a syrupe which is more dilute then Diamorum or Rob of Mulberries which is now seldome made most using this compound syrupe in its stead The simple syrupe of Mulberries also is very good which is made of their succe and sugar whereunto if you adde a little Rose-water it will be more grateful and efficacious in roborating and staying fluxes The compound syrupe cures the eroding Ulcers of the mouth Vires the affections of the teeth and gums the relaxation of the uvula or flesh in
what need had we of so much cost and time in seeking and congesting many Simples when much fewer were better yet no cost or pains must be spared when the sanity of a man lies at the stake so that the labour be not lost nor cost frustraneous A great and solemn composition whose bonity many ages have found and experience sufficiently proved must neither admit of mutation nor mutilation but such as are described without ground or reason must be either omitted or castigated This syrupe is denominated from Mugwort which is its Basis its preparation is clear enough in the description Yet it may be more Simply easily and as efficaciously made thus ℞ of the roots of Rest-harrow Madder Grass Butchers-Broom of eachʒ vj. the seeds of Carret and Roman-Gith of eachʒ j. Syr. de Artemisia simpliciter Mugwort m. ij Savin Marjoran Nep Hyssop of each m. ss boyl them in lb v. of water to the Colature adde lb i. ss of sugar and lb ss of Honey to bring it into the consistence of a syrupe This syrupe potently moves suppressed or staying fluors Vires and allayes the strangulation and subversion of the Uterus CHAP. 9. Syrupus resumptivus or The resumptive Syrupe ℞ of the flesh of Snails ℥ iiij Barley whole ℥ ij the pulp of Dates ℥ j. Raisins Kiquorce of eachʒ vj. Sebestens Jujubees of each n. xij Cotton-seed Melon Cucumer and Gourd-seeds of each ℥ ss The seeds of Lettice and * White Uagula Calalinae Poppy of each ʒ ij Coltsfoot Lungwort of each m.j. the flowers of Violets and white Lillies of each ℥ ss boyl them in a sufficient quantity of water to lb iiij of Colature to which ad de lb ij of the whitest Sugar Sugar of Roses and Diatraganthum frigidum of each lb ss coct it to a Syrupe The COMMENTARY The resumptive syrupes in a general acception may be referred to all analepticall and restorative ones wherein Medicks adhibit Snails flesh after the example of that whereof Joannes Tornamyra is Authour by assent though I could neither see it in him nor any other Antidotariographer in my life and that which is now made by Medicks is made after as many different manners as there are different Shops wherein it is made yea all the descriptions that I have seen of it and they were no few differ among themselves some admitting too many attenuatives others too viscid ingredients others useless ones and others in such a confused form as if they could scarce be prepared as described All of them require nemoral Snails which yet if there be any such are worse as Rubetae amongst Frogs because their succe is sharper and more fervid but less nutritive and apt to resarciate therefore I judge the vulgar more wholesom which live partly on the water partly on the land And Rondeletius said true that Snails could not alwayes live without water whence these terrestrial Snails must be such as live in muddy and fenny places partly on limpid water and partly on dry land But they must be duly prepared before they accede the confection of this syrupe their necks tails and members must be first abscinded their shels divided or separated that all the flesh may be extracted which must be purged from all filth cut into pieces and cocted together with the Simples enumerated and those in such order as they that require longer coction may be sooner injected those that require shorter later And so it were better to coct the simples severally from the flesh and the flesh first or last as the Medick will Sugar and Penidees must be added to the Colature It is good for such as resurge from long diseases Vires or are marcid tabid or consumed or labor under some prave affection of the lungs CHAP. 10. Syrupus exhilarans or The exhilarative Syrupe D. Dom. Laurent ℞ of the Juyces of Borrage and Bugloss lb j. ss of the Juyce of sweet smelling Apples lb j. of the Juyce of Balm ℥ ss of Kermes-berriesʒ iij. Saffronʒ ss Spec. diamarg. frigid ʒ ss Diambrae ℈ iiij Loaf-sugar lb ij coct it into Syrupe according to Art The COMMENTARY Doctor Laurentius the King of France's chief Physician gives this description in a certain learned piece of his about conservation of the Sight Melancholy Catarrhs and old Age and he confesses that his Kinsman Castellanus the King of France's chief Chirurgeon was its Author and it is thus confected The grains of Kermes must be infused a whole night in the depurated succes upon hot ashes the sugar diluted in its strong expression then all cocted into a syrupe in whose middle a little bundle must be suspended wherein the powders and Saffron are contained its dosis may be from one ounce to two ounces in the morning before meat or at night before sleep It is cognominated exhilarative because it hath an eximious faculty in recreating the heart and vitals erecting the saculties abigating sorrow and tempering the malign quality of melancholy This syrupe may be substituted in stead of that that is made of Kermes in such parts where the Illex is coccigerous of which consection we were not unmindeful but being easie to make we omitted it and left to such whom Nature hath inriched with its eximious succe There are inumerable more descriptions of syrupes in divers Authors but some of them being disapproved of others scarce proved we will not onerate or rather inquinate our Antidotary therewith For the acid syrupe of Manna the syrupe of sweet Pomegranates of Persian Apples of acid Prunes of Pears of deansed Grapes of Thyme and many more which Mesue describes are out of use I hear of the syrupes of the greater Centaury of St. Johns-wort of Ivy of Tobacco of Fennel and some others not yet proved by use of which if the Famous Colledge at Paris approve I shall approve also Myrepsus his syrupe the syrupe of Diasireos the syrupes of Lilly of Acorus of Madder of Penny-royal of Turbith of Grapes of Myrobalambs and others which Jacobus de Manliis Andernacus Wekerus and some of the later rank describe are now wholly neglected SECT III. Of Syrupes dulcorated with Honey THere rest yet some Syrupes which we shall describe in this Section that are not dulcorated with Sugar but with Honey nor made like the rest of the decoctions of Roots Leaves Flowers Seeds and Fruits but onely of limpid and aqueous succes whereunto we may well referre that Hydromel which is called the vinous Hydromel for in sapour faculties and consistence it responds to a Syrupe CHAP. 1. Oxymel seu Acetum mulsum c. Oxymel or sweet Vinegar Secanjabin in Arabick ℞ of the best Honey lb ij of fountain-Fountain-water lb iiij white-wine Vinegar lb j. boyl them together in a fit vessel to the consistency of a liquid Syrupe The COMMENTARY The Honey must first be cocted in water and despumed then must the Vinegar be by little and little adjected then all cocted together till they acquire the
consistence of a liquid syrupe But the Ancients have not definitely described the quantity of Vinegar for seeing Honey according to Galen is hot and in hot natures turns soon into bile so much Vinegar must be added by Oribasius his advice as will correct that bilefying faculty and so it may be made into Oxymel convenient and useful for all ages and sexes for it is as sweet as acid and as mean and should be made variously according to the gust of the assumer so that it may not hurt for things very sharp abrade the intestines and hinder expectoration but that which is moderately acrimonious is very useful to the affections of the breast and lungs for it educes spittle and facilitates spiration for it incides and attenuates crass humours expurges the bowels without molestation and attenuates mans meat It s preparation then is various and the proportion of Honey to Vinegar and of Vinegar to water is various for though the a queous be better to most yet it agrees not to all Oribasius would have twice as much Honey and four times as much water as Vinegar and would have them all cocted to the thirds which is the same with that that Mesue gives whereunto Serapius assents though he elsewhere makes them of equal parts but that is too sowre Now the middle betwixt both may be of one part and a half of Vinegar to two of the best Honey which emits not much spume for all Honey that emits more spume is not so good but must be cocted and despumed longer and so its greatest part dissipated in coction for it must be cocted till it effer no more spume Thus the quantity of the Vinegar must be augmented and diminished according to the will of the user to whom it is more convenient as he more defires is and so it should be made according to every disposition yet that which is kept in shops is usually prepared as Mesue hath described and is made more sweet or more sowre as the assumer desires it and the exigency calls for it Oxymel incides Vires attenuates and prepares crass and viscid humours for expurgation conduces equally to hot and cold affections and effects what we have before mentioned CHAP. 2. Oxymel Stilliticum or Oxymel of Squills â„ž of 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-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 Fennel 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 Oribasius 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
they inject it into water and assume and keep what swims above and abjecting the water take what is in the bottom and inject it again into the reverberatory fire where they burn it as before and again dimit it into water what swims above they again take and keep what sinks to the bottom they again burn till it subside not but remain upon the superficies of the water which they collect dry and keep for special Chymical Martical Saffron Some make it thus They put the limature of Iron on a dish in a very hot fire and permit it to be red hot when it is cold they bray it laboriously in an Iron-Morter then wash it that the more sublime part may be separated with the water the crasser is again burned and brayed as before which they iterate seven or more times till all the limature become croceous Some wash the limature of Iron in Brine before they calcinate it and afterwards in Vinegar some macerate it in Urine others put Salt to it and others Tartar some burn it with Sulphur others turn it into Rubigo but as these preparations are too curious so are they needless and it is better to hold to one good way then hover doubtful amongst so many But the dust of Iron must be filed very small for this purpose that it may be better calcinated by the fire then it must be brayed afterwards demerged and much agitated in water and the supernatant part collected dryed with moderate heat and kept without further calcination the crasser part must be again immitted into the fire till the whole become volatile and then it is true Martial Saffron Alchymists make it also of other Metals for they have Saffron of Tinne Saffron of Venus but by how much they seem more perite Artificers by so much they are more imperite Medicks They say that Mars his Saffron roborates the liver and spleen Vires takes away the obstructions of the bowels and therefore cures the foetid colour of Virgins Of this and other Cordial Powders prudent Medicks make a Confection in form of a soft Electuary or Tabels called Diastomoma most efficacious in removing obstructions wherewith they mix the Powder of Worms But I had rather make it thus ℞ of Steel well preparedʒ ij Cinamonʒ ss the species for the Electuary of the three Sanders and de Gemmis of each ℈ j. the Powder of Dictamus ℈ ss with Sugar dissolved in Balm-water ℥ iiij of which make Tablets ofʒ iij. weight or ℥ ss one whereof take in the morning fasting They used to put more Sugar to Cordial Tabels but then they are less efficacious THE SECOND PART Of Powders necessary to be had in Shops IN the former part of this Section we have tradited onely most select Cordial Powders omitting onely such whose qualities were affine and similar whose descriptions were ungrounded and use disapproved Now in this second part we shall treat of such as being more frigid and sweeter are not as the former Aromatical but Bechical and Thoracical for they are convenient for the Cough of the Lungs and all Thoracical affections CHAP. 17. Pulvis Diaireos simplex ℞ of Florentine Orris ℥ ss Sugar-candy Pul. Diatrag. frigid of eachʒ ij make of them all a Powder to be kept for use The COMMENTARY The Author of this Powder is most uncertain but its use most frequent it should be conveniently excepted in Sugar duly cocted in the white of an Egge clarified with Coltsfoot-water and concinnated into Tabels or Lozenges Each ounce of Powder must have a pound of Sugar yea they sometimes put two ounces of Sugar to one dragm of Powder and the Electuary thus made is more grateful but less efficacious as on the contrary when each dragm of Powder receives an ounce of Sugar The manner of its preparation is so easie that it needs no further description It stayes the distillation of the Jaws Vires attenuates cocts and expectorates crass humours There is another composition of Diaireos denoted by Solomons name which being harder to make more insuave and no whit more efficacious is seldome made CHAP. 18. Pulvis Diatragacanthi frigidi or The Powder of cold Diatragacanthum D. Myrep ℞ of Penidees ℥ iij. Gum Thraganth ℥ j. Gum Arabickʒ x. Starch ℥ ss the seeds of white Poppyʒ iij. of the four greater cool seeds Liquorice of eachʒ ij Camphyr ℈ ss make of these a Powder The COMMENTARY This Powder hath its name and basis from Tragacanthum which in its composition is most prepollent It receives many Bechical viscid refrigerative and lenitive simples whereunto Myrepsus its Author addes Nettle-seed as very accommodate for the attenuation and expurgation of crass humours which because it makes the compound both in colour and sapour ingrateful is by Neotericks omitted others supplying its faculty better It is kept either in form of a Powder as the rest or of a tabulated Electuary each ounce of Powder admitting of a pound of Sugar It helps all hot affections of the lungs and breast Vires conduces much to such as are macilent or consumed it cures the Pleurisie asperity of the tongue and jaws and cocts and expectorates spittle CHAP. 19. Pulvis Diapendit sine speciebus or The Powder of Penidees without species D.N. Myreps ℞ of Penidees ℥ ij Pine-nuts sweet Almonds decorticated white Poppy-seed of eachʒ iij. the Juyce of Liquorice Gum Thraganth Arabick the four greater cool seeds Starch of eachʒ j. ss Camphyr gr viij make of them all a Powder The COMMENTARY Diapenidion is made either without species as in this form or with them when Cinamon Cloves and Ginger are added thereto as Myrepsus its Author describes it and the said species Almonds Poppy-seed and Liquorice-juyce are put in equal weight It is kept either in form of a Powder or of a solid Electuary which by the Authors advice may be thus made Three ounces of Violers must be macerated and cocted in a pound of water till the water be of a violaceous colour one pound of Sugar must be cocted in the colature to the consistence of a solid Electuary wherewith whilst hot the Penidees and other levigated simples must be so mixed and subacted that the mass may acquire a solid form whereof tabels or Rhombodies may be concinnated and reposed for use All with one consent confect Penidees thus but few agree in the proportion of the simples for each one changes their weight this we have delivered is the most usual form This Powder conduces very much to those that are infested with a cough Vires pleurisie difficulty of breathing asperity of jaws hoarseness and many vices of the lungs If it be made with the species besides the enumerated effects it also incides attenuates and cocts viscid crass and cold humours preparing them for expectoration CHAP. 20. Confectio de Rebecha ℞ of the Powder of Diaireos cold Diatraganth of eachʒ ij Powder of Liquorice ℥ ss Sugar-candyʒ iij. and with Gum Thraganth dissolved in
faculties for both are sarcotical filling Ulcers with flesh and perducing them to sanity CHAP. 17. Unguentum Enulatum cum Mercurio or The Oyntment of Enula with Mercury ℞ of the root of Enula boyled in Vinegar and pulped lb j. Hogs-suet ℥ iij. new Wax ℥ j. Quicksilver killed clear Turpentine of each ℥ ij common Salt ℥ ss make it into an Unguent of a just consistence The COMMENTARY Praepositus discerpted this description from Myrepsus who hath such an Unguent in the end of his third Section who that he might seem the first Author added Oyl Wax Salt and Turpentine and made it more efficacious yet before this adjection Myrepsus because of its admirable faculties called it The wonderful Unguent Pharmacopolists make it most usually after the greater description as more secure then the simple one though both of them are averse to Nature because of the Quicksilver yet its extinction by spittle or the succe of Lemmons may excuss all fear from their mindes Moreover Turpentine and Swines-grease are added thereto which would obscure its ferity if any remained Some put Sulphur in stead of Quicksilver others the succe of Fumatory or Lemmons some to the confection of this Unguent onely bray the root of Enula in Vinegar and traject it through a sieve but it is better to coct it to putrelage in two pounds of Vinegar and two pounds of water rather then in Vinegar onely for so it is too acrimonious Let the grease therefore be added to the wax melted in Oyl and afterwards adde the pulp of Enula then the Quicksilver Salt and Turpentine which mix together agitate and subact into an Unguent It is very efficacious in curing the dry and moist Scab from what cause soever and other foedities of the skin Vires CHAP. 18. Unguentum ad Vermes or An Unguent against Worms ℞ of the lesser Centaury Wormwood flower of Lupines of eachʒ j. Pulp of Coloquintida macerated in Vinegar and dryed ℈ ij Oyl of bitter Almonds lb ss Wax ℥ j. ss make it into an Unguent of a just consistence The COMMENTARY Worms are generated in many parts of the body especially in such where there is any corrupt excrementitious matter as in the Intestines out of which three kindes of Worms are rejected out of the superiour Intestines round and long ones out of the Colon broad ones and out of the straight gut ascarides or short grubs all are killed by sharp salt acid and amare Medicaments introsumed as by Aloes Southernwood and Rhabarb or externally adhibited as by the Unguent we have here described for whose preparation Coloquintida must be first brayed and macerated in Vinegar then dryed by insolation or the heat of ashes afterwards it must be mixed with wax melted in Oyl with the other simples redacted to powder then all must be agitated and accurately united into an Unguent It kills Worms Vires if the umbilical region be anointed therewith or the whole belly or if a part thereof be injected into the belly like a Glyster up the Fundament CHAP. 19. Unguentum ad Achoras vulgo Tineam or An Oyntment against Moth. D. Gordion ℞ of white and black Hellebore living Brimstone Auripigmentum Lithargie Lime-stone not quenched Alome Galls Soot of each ℥ ss Quicksilver killed Verdigrease of eachʒ ij make of these a Powder which boyl upon a gentle fire in the Juyces of Borrage Scabious Fumatory Sorrel and Vinegar of each ℥ iij. and when the Juyces are consumed adde old Oyl lb j. liquid Pitch ℥ ss Wax a little to make it up into an Unguent The COMMENTARY Gordonius is perhibited the first Author of this Unguent though Johannes de Concoregio mentions one who dissents from the dosis of the Hellebores limited by him as also Guido Cauliacus who detracts much from the quantity of Quicksilver and Verdigrease whose castigation we follow The Quicksilver may be extinguished after many manners but the most usual way is by jejune spittle or succe of Lemmons or sometimes of Henbane the rest are easie to prepare and the form is plain Gordonius saith that this Unguent is of such eximious vertue that it will without doubt after purgation of the body cure all infections curable by humane knowledge as the Moth Scab Vires Malid Mortuum Morphews and all other infections wherefore as he saith it should be had in much honour and reverence CHAP. 20. Unguentum Apostolorum or The Oyntment of the Apostles D. Avic ℞ of common Oyl lb ij Wax Turpentine Rosine Ammoniacum of eachʒ xiiij Lithargie of Goldʒ ix round Birthwort Olibanum Bdellium of eachʒ vj. Myrrhe Galbanum of each ℥ ss Opoponax Verdigrease of eachʒ ij make it into an Unguent The COMMENTARY They say Avicenna both invented and denominated this Unguent and yet he neither knew the number of the Apostles nor worshipped God in that way for such as follow Gods Laws and know him truly know thus much for certain that the Apostles cured the diseased by words and the very shadow of their vestures and not by Unguents Whence I easily believe that the Interpreters of the Arabian Tongue erred in rendring this Unguent which Avicenna calls Alhauarim The Apostles Unguent But whoever imposed this Nomenclature I will not disallow of it for it designs a Compound of so many Simples as there were Apostles which is thus made First the Gummes are macerated twelve hours in Vinegar then strained and cocted on a slow fire to the spissitude of Honey wherein whilst hot Turpentine should be diluted in the mean-while the Lithargie should be levigated in Oyl and nutrited on a slow fire in which the Wax and Rosine must be melted with which after ablation from the fire the Gummes duly prepared must be injected then Aristolochy Myrrhe and Frankincense and at length Rust whose dofis many imperitely augment that they may make the Unguent more green but it acquires more vehement acrimony together with its colour and thence becomes too mordacious and noxious It expurges wounds and contumacious Ulcers by detersion absumes dead flesh and accelerates the restitution of new flesh The Unguent of Chalk seven or ten times washed in common water and then in Rosewater and excepted into a sufficient quantity of Oyl and redacted to the crassitude of an Unguent doth very much agree with this in quality for it efficaciously exterges corruption from Ulcers absumes humidity and heals them There is another more composititious Unguent of this sort made whereunto they adde Ceruse Pompholyx Lithargie Calves-fat and the Unguent of Roses but it is seldome in use CHAP. 21. Unguentum Aegyptiacum or The Aegyptian Unguent ℞ Verdigrease ℥ v. Honey ℥ xiiij strong Vinegar ℥ vij boyl them upon a fire till they be brought into the form of an Unguent The COMMENTARY That all Aegyptians were Medicks is now a Proverb and that the first Laws of curing and many Medicaments were deduced from them their ancient Writings and Monuments attest But the Greeks alwayes covetous of glory have so craftily
prave and plumbeous colours black and turgid veins towards their Spleens inflation of feet and lying on the left side is grievous to them This Unguent adhibited to the regions of their Spleens after general Praesidies will much profit for it is malactical or mollitive resolvative apertive roborative and splenetical whence it hath that name It should not therefore be omitted but seeing its use is salubrious should be kept in Pharmacopolies For its preparation let the Oyls and Butter boyl on a slow fire with the succes till the succes be dissipated then mix dissolved Ammoniack with them then the Powders afterwards the Wax and make an Unguent whereunto adde some Oyl of Spike which by its tenuity will cause better permeation for the rest and emend the Unguents odour CHAP. 27. Unguentum Neapolitanum or The Neapolitan Unguent ℞ of Hogs-suet washed in the Juyce of Sage lb j. Quicksilver killed ℥ iiij Oyl of Bayes Chamomile and Worms of each ℥ ij of Spike ℥ j. ss Aqua-vitae ℥ j. yellow Wax ℥ ij Turpentine washed in the Juyce of Enula-campane ℥ iij. Powder of Ground-pine and Sage of each ℈ ij mingle them The COMMENTARY I wish that Medicks would speak of the venereous disease and its cure without injury to any Nation For many ignorant of its original cause and nature referre it to such from whom they received it whether justly or injustly Hence some call it the Spanish others the Italian and others the French disease But the French being men that will not put up an injury hearing the disease imposed on them which they had rightly called the Indian or Venereous Pox they called both the disease and its remedy Italian because the Italians had wronged them first and sometimes the Indian for the Spaniards brought it first out of India into Italy whence the French taking Neapolis brought home this Neapolitan fruit But to my purpose This Indian Unguent may serve in stead of very many of that name which are unduly confected of Swines-fat and Quicksilver and sometimes a few simples unduly united and kept in many Pharmacopolies whereby the diseased in stead of help gets the Palsey Stupour and Trembling But this we have described consists of many things that hinder such affections that roborate the Nerves extinguish the malign and peccant quality of the humours and resolve the humours propelling many by sputation Some adde Petreol and Euphorbium which being exceeding hot and tenuious may help cold natures but they much harm the bilious and temperate Some also adde Mithridate and the Theriack but we omit them as not alexiterial to this disease but Quicksilver is very efficacious if duly prepared as we have elsewhere demonstrated For the preparation of this Unguent the wax must first be melted on a moderate fire with the Oyls then Aqua-vitae added to them which must be agitated and calefied till the water be exhaled then incorporate them with Quicksilver Fat and Turpentine whereunto adde the Powders and subact all into an Unguent That the Quicksilver may be duly prepared it should first be trajected through a woollen cloth that its plumbago may be segregated then extinguished with jejune and sound spittle for being thus tamed it is fitter for this confection then when extinct in the succe of Henbane and Lemmons though the Grease and Turpentine take away much of its ferity It s malign quality may be very well castigated in the Oyl of Turpentine duly prepared It cures the flux of the mouth or the exputation of virulent humours through the mouth if after purgation the parts be twice or thrice anointed therewith We have neglected many Unguents described in vulgar Antidotaries because their use is either not approved of or disallowed of or their faculties respondent to and contained in these we have described For he that hath the Styptical Unguent or Aregon of Fernelius needs not the Unguent of Comitissa and Arthanita SECT II. Of Cerecloths AS Cerecloths are in the middle betwixt Unguents and Salves so we describe them in the middle They are called Cerata because they admit of Wax as also Ceronea which are now made of such solidity that they differ not from Salves but are taken indiscriminately by Chirurgeons who call such as repose broken or disjoynted bones Ceroneous Salves But Cerata in a more angust acceptation denote an external Medicament aggregated of Oyl Wax the parts of Plants Animals Metals and Minerals to a middle consistence betwixt Unguents and Salves for they admit of more Wax then Unguents and less then Salves Now the proportion of Wax to Oyl in Unguents is of two dragms and an half to one ounce in Cerata of two dragms and a half to an ounce in Salves twice thrice or four times as much Wax as Oyl which proportion varies according to the different mixtion of other Ingredients and the season they are confected in for where there is required much of Powders there must be more where little there less Oyl in Summer also less Oyl is requisite then in Winter so that it is in the perite Artists power to change augment or lessen the quantity of Wax and Oyl and as Cerone is used for an Emplaister so is Ceratum for an Unguent for their preparation commixtion and spissitude are almost one yea a Ceratum is sometimes more liquid then an Unguent CHAP. 1. Ceratum refrigerans Gal. or The cooling Cerate of Galen ℞ of white Wax ℥ j. Oyl of Roses ℥ iiij melt them together and pour on a little coldwater keeping it continually stirring at the last adding Vinegar ℥ ss make it into a Cerate The COMMENTARY There is not amongst all compound and euporistical Medicaments one more frequent or simple then this described and celebrated by Galen which some call an Unguent some Ceratum Album and some Ceratum refrigerans Galeni You may thus make it Divide the wax into pieces melt it in the Oyl of Roses not perfectly explicated take it from the fire and transfuse it into another vessel and when it is cold and moderately concreted affund cold water upon it and agitate it which iterate till the mixture will take no more whereunto if you adde a little thin white-wine Vinegar it will be more humectative and refrigerative Galen advises when it should be made very refrigerative to put the succes of Lettice Nightshade Sempervive and such refrigerants to it But this needs not be done but when the time of use calls for it these may be added for it is better to have it made in the shops after the most simple form It cures Inflammations S. Anthonies fires Pimples Carbuncles Vires red Swellings and all hot distempers It also much helps the Feverish if it be put upon their Hypochondria CHAP. 2. Ceratum Santalinum or The Cerate of Sanders D. Mes ℞ of Rose-leavesʒ xij red Sandersʒ x. white and yellow of each ℥ vj. Bole-armeniackʒ vij white Wax washedʒ xxx Ivoryʒ vij Camphyrʒ ij Oyl of Roses lb j. make into a Cerate The COMMENTARY
The Pharmacopolist that wants Sugar is not so derisible as he that wants this Ceratum whose continual and happy use sufficiently nobilitate it It is from Wax called Ceratum from Santals Santalinum You may make it thus First pulverate all the Santals together the Roses Bole-armeniack Ivory and Camphyr apart then mix the Wax with the Oyl that they may be liquefied on a slow fire when they are confusedly melted and a little cold wash them thrice or more in Rose-water whereunto adject the said powders yet in such method that the Camphyr be last put in then agitate subact and unite all into the consistence of a Ceratum We have put crude not burnt Ivory for Spodium and why we have so done hath been frequently shewed It allayes the inflammations exustions and hot distempers of the Ventricle Liver and other parts with much efficacy CHAP. 3. Ceratum Stomachicum or A Cerate for the Stomach taken out of Mes â„ž Roses Mastick of eachÊ’ x. dryed WormwoodÊ’ vij ss SpikenardÊ’ v. Wax â„¥ ij Oyl of Roses â„¥ ix make it according to Art into a Cerate The COMMENTARY This Ceratum of Mesue's being more efficacious then those two which Galen describes it is more usual and frequent in shops For its preparation melt the Wax and Oyl when cold wash them oft in rose-Rose-water melt them again and wash them in equal portions of the succe of Quinces and of black austere wine with a little Vinegar which may be well omitted In the mean-while pulverate the Roses and VVormwood together Mastick and Spikenard apart then confusedly mix all the powders with the wax and Oyl duly washed and subact them into a legitimate spissitude Galen to whom Mesue attributes its description gives it otherwise therefore the invention of the description or at least of the better description is due to Mesue It it called Stomachical because it conduces to that part for it foments the heat of the stomack and of the whole Ventricle helps concoction dissipates flatulency cocts crude humours moves appetite and stayes vomiting but it should and must be extended all over the region of the stomack and sometimes the whole Ventricle for it roborates that also and makes it more prompt and apt to perform its office CHAP. 4. Ceratum Oesypatum Gal. tributum D. Mes â„ž Oesypi â„¥ x. Oyl of Camomile Orris of each lb ss Wax â„¥ iiij Mastick Turpentine of each â„¥ j. Rosine â„¥ ss SpikenardÊ’ ij ss SaffronÊ’ j. ss Ammoniacum â„¥ j. Storax â„¥ ss make it into a Cerate according to Art The COMMENTARY Mesue describes three Cerata's whereof we select this one attributed to Galen as most efficacious and usual which yet Rondeletius by the addition of Ammoniack and Storax hath made more effectual for thus confected it performs those effects which the descriptions of Pilagrius and Paulus pollicitate Wherefore he that hath this may be without the others It is called Oesypatum from its Basis Oesypum which you may thus extract Take a fit quantity of wooll evelled from the necks bellies and privities of sheep macerate it eight hours in hot water agitate it all the while with a stick then servefie it on the fire till it depose its fatness into the water extract and violently express the wooll and then transfuse the water from one vessel to another with much force that it may eructate much spume which collect and repose in a vessel apart iterate the transfusion in the hot Sun till all the fat spume be collected which wash and agitate in pure water till its filth be segregated and the last water remain limpid and the fatness leave no acrimony on the tongue then put it in a dense earthen pot and keep it in a cold place It is emollitive resolvative calefactive and anodynous The Ceratum you may thus confect first pulverate the Saffron Mastick Spikenard and Storax apart then mix their powders together macerate Ammoniack in Vinegar melt it and coct it to the consistence of Honey then liquefie the wax in Oyl take them from the fire and put therein Oesypum dissolved Ammoniack and Turpentine together then agitate and subact all the powders together that they may acquire due spissitude It mollifies resolves digests and allayes dolours and thence conduces to the hard tumours of the Liver Spleen Uterus Nerves Articles and other parts Authors describe other external Medicaments under the name of Cerata which being of a harder consistence we shall prosecute in our next Book of Salves Mesue describes some softer then these which are seldome or never made Finis Libri Quinti The Apothecaries Shop OR ANTIDOTARY Of EXTERNAL MEDICAMENTS THE SIXTH BOOK Of Emplaisters THE PREFACE BOth the Matter and Vertue of Unguents and Salves are one their consistence different which in the one is soft and liquid in the other crass and solid which are therefore made into Rolls and Bacils of a fingers length and crassitude and sometimes much more and not reposed in vessels like Unguents but involved in papers and so kept in Pharmacopolies That they may acquire that crassitude they admit of more Wax and less Oyl then Unguents as twice thrice and sometimes four times as much Wax as Oyl which quantity of Wax must be augmented or lessened according to the quantity of Rosines and concrete succes as also the quantity of Oyl as the dosis of Fat 's Grease and Marrow may ingrede the confection Now Salves are confected of the parts of Plants and Animals of Minerals and Metals some whereof give onely the body and consistence without any great vertue as Wax common Oyl Quicksilver and some Rosines others with matter give also vertue and efficacy as Minerals Plants and the other Ingredients All Salves do not admit of Wax and Rosines but receive Ladanum Frankincense and other things for their matter Some also are made without Wax and fire whose materials are Honey viscid Succes Cream and the like concreted to a due spissitude as the Salve of Bread-Crusts and Bayberries and the like This order must be observed in confecting Salves first the Wax must be melted in Oyl then the liquors succes and Mucagines mixed therewith and cocted on a slow fire till the aqueous humidity be exhaled then must the Fat 's 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 cool 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 whereof form Rolls of half or a whole ounce weight It partly mollifies partly cocts and maturates and therefore conduces to the cure of humours preternaturally indurated It is enumerated amongst the mollitive and suppurative Salves and frequent in use CHAP. 4. Emplastrum de Meliloto or Melilot Plaister D. Mes â„ž of Melilot â„¥ vj. Camomile-flowers tops of Wormwood wilde Marjoram Foenugreek Bayberries Marshmallow-roots of eachÊ’ iij. the seeds of Smallage Bishopweed Cardamomes Orris Cypress Lavender Cassia-Lignea of eachÊ’ j. ss AmmoniacumÊ’ x. Storax of each Ê’ iij. Orris round Birthwort of eachÊ’ vj. white Wax Turpentine of each lb ss * Gum-Olei Aethiopiae Gum-Elemni â„¥ ij Rosine of the Pine-tree â„¥ vj. Oyl of the Firre-tree white-wine of each as