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 ...

Purging Medicines.

First then boil in Wine, in a close vessel, those middle barks of the El∣der, with one or two Jews-ears; swee∣ten the decoction; and for some days give it to the diseased party morning and evening to drink.

Some praise this; Take of the mid∣dle bark subtilly grated, as much as

you will, boiled in a sufficient quanti∣ty of Goats-milk, that being put through a Searse, it may acquire the consistence of a syrup or honey; of which give an ounce, or an ounce and a half, for certain days in white wine. The water of the succulent middle-bark, distilled in the Spring-time, and given with a third part of the syrup made of the juice of the buds, or roots, is used in two or three ounces weight.

Quercetan in the first book and se∣venth chapter of his Dogmatick Phar∣macy commends this purging water of the berries; Take the seeds or ber∣ries of the Elder and Ebulus, perfect∣ly ripe, which is in Autumn; out of these with a press draw out the wine or juice, shaking out the inmost ker∣nels, and mixing them with the rest, distil them.

This water, which is Cohobat thus upon the dregs, hath a notable effica∣cy in purging, & chiefly of serous hu∣mors; let it be aromatized with Cin∣namon,

Coriander prepared with the juice of Lemmons, and such like; it may be given to Hydropick persons from one ounce to two. Thus far Quercetan.

For example, R. Of the water pre∣served ounces two, Syrup or juice of the berries and buds, of each one ounce and half mixed. Of this compo∣sed water you may see more in the cited place of Quercetan.

Of the Wines we have often made mention before, chiefly in the second Section; nevertheless we will set down this of Quercetans, in his first Book and ninth Chapter, because it differs little from others; The seeds are to be prest, and the juice drawn out, which being mixed with a dou∣ble quantity of the Must of the best white wine, is to be put in a Hogshead of convenient bigness, till it be fully digested and fermented.

Note, That it is better if it be done in a close Hogshead, that is, if the Hogshead be not altogether full;

but at least the third part be left emp∣ty, and be well closed that nothing do exhale. Which being done, and the fermentation being in a moneths time finished, the hogshead is to be o∣pened, and to be filled up to the brim with wine, wrought after that man∣ner with the juice of berries in ano∣ther hogshead.

This wine doth purge all serous humors, and much helpeth Hydro∣pick persons; the dose is a cup, less or smaller as the strength of the person is.

Dioscorides writeth, that the root being boiled in wine, and given to Hydropick persons in their meat, doth help them.

Whose juice being pressed out, doth purge upward and downward like Antimony, as Mindererus wit∣nesseth in his Military Medicine, cap. 6. So that we are to use it warily, and only so much in quantity as the half of a Walnut-shell will hold, as he ho∣nestly informs.

He commends there likewise a Sal∣let made of the buds, oyl, salt, and vinegar, which we have set down in the cure of the intestine diseases. Fo∣restus lib. 19. Observat. 44. affirms, That by long experience he had learn∣ed, that the leaves of Elder being put in Hydrogogick decoctions, do ex∣cellently purge water, chiefly in the Hydropsie.

The same Forestus in the same book and 87 Observ. hath this, The bark of the root of the Elder reduced in a Succus, the dose is two ounces, in fragrant Wine. Benedic. Veronensis writes, that some give four drachms of the juice of the bark of Elder-roots. Others give for 9 days together the juice of Elder-bark-roots in a pretty quantity, or an ounce in the waning of the Moon, and so cure Hydropick persons: for it bravely purgeth wa∣ter, as the middle bark of the Elder doth likewise. Nicholas at one time gives six ounces of the decoction of middle Elder-bark: The same man

giveth two or three drachms of the juice of the Elder, and of the juice of Ebulus four drachms to an ounce. Some give the juice of the middle-bark of the Elder with Oximel. Thus far Forestus.

And this I have set down, that all may know there was great difference of the dose amongst the Ancients. Ne∣vertheless let him observe faithfully Mindererus his dose, till he know the vertues exactly of each.

Muller in his Medicinal Mysteries saith, This is the perfect cure of the Hydropsie; R. Of the juice of the re∣cent roots of the white Lilly, and of the juice of the green middle-bark of the Elder, of each one spoonful. Take it in common water or thin O∣ximel ever after three or four days: This purgeth the belly strongly. For the tumors that are left about the knees, feet, &c. lay to them the leaves of the great Bur-docks, for they draw out the water.

The Polychrestick powder of the

buds in a drachm, given in white wine sweetned with Oximel of the Elder, or syrup of the juice of the berries is commended in this disease.

Or,

• Take of the Polychrestick pow∣der of the buds four scruples.
• Of Gum of Peru of Galingale, of each half a scruple.

Make an exact mixt powder, it is to be given in what liquor you please, at two times to a patient that is not yet weak; for it powerfully evacua∣teth serous humors.

If the form of powder displease you, work it with the syrup of hony of Elder in form of Pills, or with the Rob of Elder in form of a Bole.