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 ...

Emeticks and Catharticks.

The purified Oyl expressed out of the kernels of the berries, is com∣mended in strong and lusty bodies, 1 dra. or a drac. and half thereof, being taken in the broth of flesh; for it gently moveth vomit, and loosneth the belly, not without a singular good temper of the body.

For the same use, the juice expres∣sed out of the bark of the roots, are commended, being taken in the same, or a greater quantity. Bernhard Gor∣don in his Treatise of preserving mans life, biddeth us take so much, as the

half of an egg shell will contain.

Concerning the Wine made of the infusion of the bark of Elder roots, which provoketh vomit, and empti∣eth the belly of corrupt humors, read the 28 Chapter.

The Oyl made of the infus'd flowers and bark of the Elder, being drank from one ounce to three, pro∣voketh vomit, and purgeth the belly; the same alone, or in a decoction, may be given in a Clyster.

The Polych••est powder of Elder buds, doth not only purge both the biles, but also phlegm and serous hu∣mors; whereof drink in hot and ter∣tian feavers, in whey; but in cold and quartanes; in Wine a scruple, or a drachm or 4 scrules, as the strength of the diseased will admit.

Or let pils of Tragachanth be fo∣mented with this, or some syrup or musilage, so that above them the mentioned liquor be drank.

In young ones, the syrup of the juice of the berries, of the buds or bark, &c. suffice.

The commons praise this, Take a cup full of Goats milk whey, which holds about four ounces, macerate therein half an ounce of the middle bark of the Elder dried in the shadow; being strongly prest out, drink it warm in the morning,

In which a few things are to be ob∣served: That the commons are fully perswaded, and call experience to wit∣ness, that if those middle barks be pulled downward from the Tree, it emptieth the body of evil humors by purge; if they be pulled upward, it worketh by vomit.

The truth of which, as I dare not call in question seeing I know the same thing is asserted of Assarum by some Physicians; if notwithstanding it be free for me to give my opinion with∣out prejudice to others, and the truth, I believe we ought rather to ascribe the effect to the constitution and pe∣culiar property of the receivers, or to the nature of present humor. I will say nothing now of the imagina∣tion,

whereby the receivers perswade themselves, the Medicine will work downward or upward, which they endevour to help by sundry waies, by motion, compression of the belly, suppositors, thrusting their fingers in their throats, and so forth.

Nevertheless I will not deny that the bark, and whole Elder also, hath divers vertues in purging the noxi∣ous matter, by divers places; neverthe∣less I doubt that these are rather to be ascribed to the divers pulling it off the Tree, then to these causes menti∣oned, and other more weighty, which I leave to the serious consideration of the learned, and proceed.

That the stalks and leaves of the hearbs, being boyled, doth purge phlegm, is manifest out of Dioscori∣des; to which nevertheless the sprigs or sprouts are preferred, if in the Spring time, in which they are to be found, they be macerated a little in hot water, and prepared with oyl and vinegar, and be eaten sparingly

before supper, in place of a sallet; for they gently loose the belly, unlock the obstructions of the Mesentery, and being frequently eaten, deliver and preserve from contumacious feavers.

Instead of these the Conserve of buds, mixed with the Conserve of the flowers, is profitable; of which take daily an ounce, half an hour before supper, in the water of the bark.