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. III.

Of Melancholy, and chiefly Hypo∣condriack and flatulent.

IN Hypocondriack Melancholy 'tis profitable first of all, if the diseased be prone to vomit, to provoke it by the Oyl of the infusion of the flowers and bark of the Elder; lest by prepa∣ring and purging Medicines, those crude and excrementitious humors, which oft are gathered in the stomach be carried to the more principal parts

of the body, and augment the obstru∣ctions.

Or give of the syrup made of the sap of the buds and berries an ounce, br. 1. s. with some grains of the ex∣tract of Scammonie, and 3 guts of the Oyl of Elder flowers distilled, in the distilled water of the flowers thereof.

Or use the Clyster that is described in the 22 cap. following.

After this, the Wine which is drawn out of the berries and flowers, is not of meanest worth, for it opens obstructions, cuts gross humors, and by little and little thrusts them to the dore Moreover it refresheth the vital and animal spirits. Drink a cup full thereof each morning for a month, taking before a spoonful or two of fresh broth, or a saft egg.

That it may work more safely, you may each week mix with the use of these, once or twice, the manyfold working powder of the buds of the Elder; wich is thus prepared;

• Take of Elder buds dried in the

• shade, half an ounce.
• Of Elder Kernels Trochiscated,
• Of Sennie leaves,
• Of Christallised Elder salt, of each three drachmes,
• Of the extract of Scammonie, two drachmes,
• Of Galengale, of Macer, of each half a drachme,

Being all subtilly pulverised, distill upon them.

• Of the Oyl of Cloves,
• Of Fennicle, of each six drops,
• Of Cinnomon,
• Of Carvi, of each three drops.

Let them be mixt exactly in a Marble Morter for a Powder, whose dose is from a scruple to a drachme.

The Trochiscation, or preparation of the seeds or kernels of Elder is thus; Take one ounce of the lesser Esula, prepared as is known in infusion in Vinegar, and grosly pulverised. In∣fund it in the Spanish Wine of Peter Simons, lib. 5. let them macerate 8 days in the Sun, or in winter in the

chimny corner, the mouth of the glass being well stopped; after strain them through gray paper, and purifie them. Take the clean Arillas of the Elder berries, dry them, pulverise them, and with a sufficient quantity of the in∣fusion of Esula, make them in paste; dry it; being dryed, bedew them with the same infusion, and again work it into paste; of which from your Trochi∣sces; dry them, and keep them for your use.

And because those excrementiti∣ous humours lurking about the sto∣mach, and vicine places, and much troubling both the Physician and Pa∣tient, in all Hypocondriack Diseases, are more easily evacuate by vomit then purge, you may use commodi∣ously the oyl of the kernels of the Elder, prepar'd by bedewing them with the infusion of Antimony, as as hath been shewn in the second Se∣ction; a little after drinking warm water, vomit is pvovoked; and that obstructions may be sooner dissolv'd,

and the matter drawn out of the Meseraick veins into the intestines; besides these internal things, use this fotus.

• Take of the bar; of Elder Roots, ounce 1. s.
• Of well dried Elder flowers, M. 3.

Make a decoction in equal parts of Wine and Water; and that it may penetrate the more, add as much as you think fit of the Vinegar of the Elder; in which fomentation dip a sponge, and therewith foment the whole belly, but chiefly the left Hy∣pochondre.

See the other hereafter in the 23 Chapter of the Misenteries obstru∣ction.

For the altering of the bloud and spirrits in the true, and in the Hypo∣condriac Melancholy; after generals, the syrup of the juice of the berres, and infusion of the flowers of Elder, is praised; of each of which, in the morn∣ing fasting, every day, let the Patient take oun. 1. in the water of the flowers of Burrage.

You are likewise to take a care that the belly be kept open; which is to be done by the Syrup and the Clyster mentioned in the 2 cap.

In the Paroxisme of your Hypocon∣driac Melancholy give a spoonful of the spirit of the flowers of Elder in a draught of Malmsey, for it dissipateth the ascending vapours, and strength∣eneth the spirits.