CHAP. XXXIV. of Collyria.
A Collyrium is a medicine proper for the eyes, made of powder fine∣ly * 1.1 levigated and ground into the forme of Alcohol, as the Arabi∣ans and our Alchymists terme it: yet the word in a more generall acception is used for any liquide medicine, made with liquors and powders, and applied or used to any part. Wherefore collyria * 1.2 are of three kindes, some are moist or liquid, which are properly called collyria; others dry, which are of the same consistence with Trochisces; others have the consistence of hony, or a liniment. The liquid serve for * 1.3 the greater and lesser corners of the eyes; those of the consistence of hony are meet for the apple of the eye; but the dry are to be made into powder, and so blowne in∣to the eyes: also sometimes they are to be dissolved in some juice, or other conveni∣ent liquor, that so they may be made into moist collyria.
Therefore collyria have divers uses, and are applied to severall parts according to the intention and counsell of the Physitian: for liquid collyria put into the corners of the eyes doe more readily mitigate the heate of their inflammation, by reason they enter more easily by the tenuity of their substance, such things as have a more firme consistence adhere more tenaciously, and worke more certainely. Moist colly∣ria are made of juices, mucilages, waters of herbes, flowers, seeds, metalline bodies, * 1.4 galles, and other such like medicines, which are repercussives, resolvers, detergents, anodines, and the like, according to the nature of the present disease.
Sometimes they are made of juices and distilled waters onely, otherwhiles pow∣ders,