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 ...

A special Topick Oyl.

Some greatly commend in the Pleague this oyl.

Take the flowers of the Elder, fill therewith a Cucurbit, or a more am∣ple Glass, to the middle; strew upon them Marsh Mallows, and tops of Hy∣pericon, of each so much as only the fourth part of the Glass shall remain empty; powre thereon so much sweet clear Oyl-Olive as will cover the flowers; close exactly the mouth of the Glass sigillo hermetico, or lute it; and through all Summer or for three months set it in the Sun, that the heat of the Sun may draw the vertues out of the flowers into the oyl; then having strongly pressed the flowers, strain the oyl, and being purified by

setling, reserve it in a well closed ves∣sel; unto each ounce of which, before you use it, add a scruple of Sal Ni∣tre.

Some prepare it suddenly thus, They take the oyl of infused Elder-flowers, as much as is necessary, in it they im∣merge the flowers of the Marsh Mal∣lows and Hypericon, and boil them together in Bal. Mar. for some hours; afterwards they express strongly the flowers, and strain it; in the strained oyl they immerge recent flowers, boil them, press them, and strain them; and afterward add Nitre.

The way of using it is this; The whole body of the infected person within 24 hours is to be anointed with this oyl warm, and being wrapt in warm sheets, he is to be laid in a warmed bed to sweat; for they af∣firm that it is proved, that by this on∣ly remedy many have safely escaped the fierceness of this poison: which unction, as it is not disapproved, seeing it openeth the pores of the skin, and

by them draws out and dissipates the pestilential infection and malignity, and by consequence is used commodi∣ously, not only in the plague and pesti∣lential fevers, but also in other malig∣nant and chiefly spotted fevers: So we are to be very wary, lest in this sharp and dangerous disease, we ne∣glect to use the internal Bezoarticks & Alexiterix already mentioned; but rather ought to join them with these, that with united forces both ways, in∣ternally and externally, they may vanquish the malignity.

It seems this hath come from the Egyptians, of whom Alpinus in his 4 Book and 15 Chapter relates, that they use this medicine in pestilential fevers, in which the spots are either begun to appear, with great profit, at least once a day using this hot lina∣ment, after which, without delay, they cover the feverish with many cloths, endeavouring to draw the poi∣sonous humor from the bowels to the skin.