Anatomia sambuci, or, The anatomy of the elder cutting out of it plain, approved, and specific remedies for most and chiefest maladies : confirmed and cleared by reason, experience, and history / collected in Latine by Dr. Martin Blochwich ...

CAP. IV.

Of the Medicines taken from the Leaves, middle Bark, Roots, Pith, and Spunge.

I. The WATER.

Take the fresh leaves of the Elder, and they being grosly beat or cut, fill the half of a Vesica with them, and put a sufficient quantity of warm wa∣ter on them; macerate them therein for a night, and distill them; put the distill'd water on fresh leaves, distill them again. After the same man∣ner, of the green and succulent bark water is prepared.

There are some that of the succu∣lent roots, pith, and spunges by them∣selves, or mixed together, doe distill waters, which they much commend in Hydropsies, which first are to be well shred and macerated a night in∣convenient liquor, that their vertues

may be more easily drawn out of them.

II. The SYRUP.

As of the Juice of the Buds, so from the Juice of the middle bark, or roots, a Syrup may be prepared for the nicer sort, if a sufficient quantity of Suger be put to the juice, well clarified, and on a soft fire boyled to a syrup; and after the same manner aromatised.

These syrups indeed are esteemed less efficacious then the crude juices, seeing in their boyling they lose some∣thing of their Cathartick faculty, which Fernele observed. Neverthe∣less they are more safe, and less noy∣som to the stomach, and the rest of the intrals. Therefore their dose is ac∣cording to their strength to be aug∣mented.

III. OYLES and LINIMENTS.

1. An useful Oyl is prepared of the middle bark, macerated in old clear

let Oyl, and expressed, as was spoken in the Flowers.

2. Of the Bark and Leaves prepare them thus; Take of the middle Bark and Leaves, equal parts, fry them in May Butter and Linsed Oyl, or in a∣ny one of these, with a soft fire; when they are a while fryed, press out the leaves and bark; put in fresh leaves and bark again, fry them, and express; do so the third time.

3. The Liniment or unguent which is set down in Matthiol. super Diosc. l. 4. c. 168. Take of the green bark of the Elder which is next the outward ash coloured rine, being of an hearb colour, lib. 1. of Oyl washed off in the water of Elder flowers lib. 2. let them warm a while together, then strain and press them; to this add of new well smelling wax, of the juice of the twigs of the Elder ounce 4. then suffer them again to boil till the juice be consumed. Take it then from the fire, stirr and mix all together; and at last add of liquid Varnish ounc. 2. of

white Frankincence beat to dust, ounc. 4. likewise add two whites of eggs, first well beat; mix all diligently, and keep it in a clean vessel.

4. Another Liniment wich the most happy Plater. used to prepare. Take of the middle bark of the Elder one ounce and half; of the juice of its more tender leaves one drachme, Linsed Oyl washed in the water of Elder flowers two ounces; of Barrow∣grease so washed onu. 1. of good yellow wax one ounce and half, of Frank∣incence one ounce, boyl them in the water of the flowers of the Elder, in a closed pot and when they; are cold, gather and keep the Oynt∣ment that swims above. Of all these we will speak in burning, and other external affects.

The rest of the Medicines that are prepared of the parts of the Elder, are copiously set down in the places that handle the diseases to which they are appropriate, and there they are to be found.