Medicinal experiments, or, A collection of choice and safe remedies for the most part simple and easily prepared, useful in families, and very serviceable to country people / by R. Boyle ; to which is annexed a catalogue of his theological and philosophical books and tracts.

DECAD VI.

I. A parable Medicine for the Stone.

TAke of the Seed of Flix∣weed,* 1.1 and give of it about as much as will lie upon a Shilling, either whole or grosly bruis`d, in any convenient Vehicle.

II. For Fits of the Mother.

DIssolve store of Sea-Salt in* 1.2 the best Wine Vinegar, and in this dip a soft Linnen Cloth, which being folded so as to make 3 or 4 Doubles, is to be applied somewhat warm to the Soles of the Patient's Feet, and kept on till the Fit be over.

III. A Choice Plaister to Streng∣then the Joynts after the Gout, and hasten the going off of the Pain.

TAke of Paracelsus and Dia∣palma* 1.3 ana, melt them and incorporate them exactly to∣gether,

and spread the mixture ve∣ry thin upon fine Leather, to be us'd as a Plaister to the Part affe∣cted.

IV. A very good Drink in con∣tinual Fevers.

MAke a Decoction of the* 1.4 Leaves of Rue in fair Wa∣ter, till the Liquor tast pretty strong of the Plant: This, being strain'd, is to be made somewhat Palatable with Liquorice, or a little Sugar, or Aromatic Body: To half a Pint of this add about 10 Drops of Spirit (not Oyl)) of Vitriol: Let the Patient use this for his ordinary Drink.

V. A good Drink to be fre∣quently used in Fevers, espe∣cially continual Ones.

GIve, in half a Pint of some* 1.5 small convenient Drink, half an Ounce of Harts-horn, burnt to great whiteness; which is to be a little boyled in the Liquor; and this, thus alter'd, is to be given from time to time.

VI. An easie Medicine for a fresh Strain.

MAke up the Clay, with* 1.6 which the Bungs of Bar∣rels are wont to be stopp'd; with as much Vinegar as will bring it to

the Consistence of an indifferently stiff Cataplasm: Then warm it a little, and apply it to the Part affected.

VII. A Remedy much used for Chilblains.

TAke a Turnep, roast it well* 1.7 under the Embers, and beat it to a Poultice; then apply it very hot to the Part affected; and keep it on (if need be,) for 3 or 4 days, in that time shifting it twice or thrice, if occasion re∣quire.

VIII. A Simple Antimonial Re∣medy, that has often done much Good even in the Le∣prosie, and all continual Fe∣vers.

TAke Crude Antimony, well* 1.8 chosen and pouder'd; of this give about one, two, or three Scruples Morning and Evening, according to the Age of the Pati∣ent, in a little Syrup of Clove-Gilly-Flowers, or any such Vehicle, or else mix'd with fine Sugar, enough to make it somewhat Palatable. This may be continued for 4 or 5 Months, if need require; and if the first Dose prove Beneficial to the Patient, in Cases not urgent, a Scruple or half a Dram may

serve the Turn, nor need the Ex∣hibition be continued for so long a time.

IX. For the Cholick, and divers other Distempers.

TAke four or five Balls of* 1.9 fresh Stone-horse Dung, and let them steep for about a quarter of an Hour (or less,) in a Pint of White-wine, in a Vessel well stopp'd that the Liquor may be richly im∣pregnated with the more volatile and subtil Parts of the Dung; strain this, and give of it from a quarter to half a Pint, or some Ounces more at a time; the Patient having a Care not to take Cold after it.

X. An often Experimented An∣timonial Infusion.

TAke one Ounce of pouder'd* 1.10 Antimony; tied up in a lit∣tle Bag of clean Linnen, and hang it in a Gallon of Beer or Ale that is brought from the Brew-house, and is yet scarce fit to be drawn out, much less to be drank. Of this Liquor, when 'tis ripe, let the Pa∣tient make use for his ordinary Drink; only having a Care, that if by Age or Accident it be perceiv∣ed to grow sour, that Vessel then be left off, for fear, lest the Acidi∣ty of the Liquor, corroding the An∣timony, might make it vomitive.

DECAD VII.

I. An easie Medicine to cleanse the Womb, especially after Child-bearing.

TAke a large white Onyon, of* 1.11 about four Ounces in weight, if you can get so big a one, and boyl it in about a Pint of Wa∣ter, with any thing fit to make a ve∣ry thin Broth, till a third part or more of the Liquor be consumed: Of this Broth, which may be made a little palatable with Nutmeg, &c. the Patient is to take six or eight Ounces twice or thrice a day.

II. An Experienced Wash that quickly cures the Itch.

TAke strong Quicklime one* 1.12 Pound, and put to a Gal∣lon of Spring-Water, let them lie together for some hours, and then warily pour off the clear, filter the rest, and take two Ounces of Quick-Silver, ty'd up in a Linnen Bag, and hang it in the Liquor, and boil it for half an hour or more; then pour off the cleer Liquor once more, and wash the Hands only with it twice, or at most thrice, a day.

III. A Remedy often us'd, with Success, in Fluxes, and even Dysenteries.

TAke fresh Roots of Bistort,* 1.13 cut them into thin Slices, and moisten them well with fair Water and Wine, to make them more soft and Succulent; then press out the Juice as strongly as you can. And of this give about three or four Spoonfuls, mingled with half a Dozen Spoonfuls, or somewhat more, of Red Wine, or some other convenient Liquor.

IV. A good Medicine for a sore Throat.

TAke the White of a New-laid* 1.14 Egg, and by beating it, re∣duce it into Water; and with this Water mix diligently so much Con∣serve of Red Roses as will reduce it to a soft Mass; Whereof the Pati∣ent is to let a little Bit at a time melt leisurely in his Mouth.

V. A choice Medicine for a sore Throat.

TAke a piece of greasie Lin∣nen* 1.15 Cloth, of such a big∣ness, as that, being doubled, it may make a Bag in form of a Stay,

to reach from one side of the Throat to the other, and contain as much Matter, as may make it of the thickness of an Inch or more: This Bag being fill'd with common Salt is to be heated throughly, and apply'd to the Part affected as warm as the Patient can conveni∣ently indure; and within 2 hours after, or when it begins to grow too cold; another like it and well heated, is to be substituted in its room; and whil'st this is cooling, the other may be heated and made ready for use: So that the Part af∣fected may be always kept in a con∣siderable degree of warmth, for about 48 hours, if the Remedy be so long needed.

VI. An often experienc'd Medicine for the Cholick, especially produced by sharp Humors.

TAke a Quart of Claret, and* 1.16 put into the Vessel about two Ounces of Nettle-seeds, stop the Bottle, and keep it in boiling Wa∣ter, till the Water has made three or four walms, to assist the Wines Impregnation with the finer part of the Seeds: Of this Liquor let the Patient take a small Draught once or twice a day.

VII. To appease the Pain of the Haemorrhoids, whether In∣ternal or External.

TAke two Parts of Flowers of* 1.17 Sulphur, and one part of Sugar very finely pouder'd, mix them exactly together, and make them up with a sufficient Quantity of a Mucilage of Gum Tragacarth into Lozenges, of about a Dram a piece: Of which you may give one at a time, thrice in a day, or if need be, 4 or 5 times.

VIII. To make an excellent Drink for the Scurvy.

TAke two handfuls of Water* 1.18 Trefoil, and let it work in about 8 Gallons of Wort, instead of Hops, or of Small Ale or Wort, made for it: And let the Patient use it for all, or for a great part of his ordinary Drink.

IX. To make an easie Diuretick.

PEel off the Inner Skin of an* 1.19 Egg-shell, then beat the Shell to a very fine Pouder: Give about a Scruple of it at a time in any convenient Vehicle.

X. A Powerful Application to prevent and check the Apo∣plexy.

MAke an Issue at the Meet∣ing* 1.20 of the Sutures, and keep it open for a good while; but if the Case will not admit delay, clap on a good Cupping-Glass, with∣out Scarification, or with it, as need shall require, upon the same Con∣course of the Sutures.

DECAD VIII▪

I. A Choice Medicine for a sore Throat.

TAke Housleek, and having* 1.21 lightly beaten it in a Glass or Stone Mortar, press out the Juice hard between two Plates; to this Juice put almost an equal Quantity of Virgin-Honey, mix them well, and add to the mixture a little Burnt Allum, as much as is requisite to give it a discernable Alluminous Taste: Let the Patient

take this from time to time, with a Liquorish Stick, or some such Thing.

II. An Approv'd Medicine for a Cancer not broken.

TAke Dulcify'd Colcothar, and* 1.22 with Cream, or Whites of Eggs beaten to a Water, bring it to the Consistence of a Cataplasm; which ought to be made large, and spread about the thickness of half a Crown, and applied warm to the part affected▪ shifting it at least once a day.

III. To make a very good Syrup for thin Rheums.

TAke Syrup of Jujubes, Syrup* 1.23 of Dryed Roses, and Syrup of Corn Poppy Flowers, of each alike quantity, mix and use them as the necessity of the Sick requires.

IV. For the Dysentery and Pleurisie.

GRate to fine Pouder the* 1.24 dry'd Pizzel of a Stagg, and give of it as much as will lie upon a Shilling, or thereabouts, once or twice a day, in any conve∣nient Vehicle.

V. To Strengthen the Gums, and make the Teeth grow firm.

TAke Catechu, Terra Japonica,* 1.25 or Japonian Earth, and dis∣solve as much as you can of it in a Pint of Claret, or Red Wine; then Decant the Liquor warily from the subsiding Faeces, and let the Patient now and then wash his Mouth with it, especially at Bed time.

VI. For a Hoarsness upon a Cold.

TAke three Ounces of Hyssop* 1.26 Water, sweeten it with

Sugar-Candy; then beat well into it the Yolk of one Egg, and Drink it at a Draught.

VII. A Choice Medicine for the Jaundice in Children.

TAke half an Ounce of* 1.27 choice Rhubarb made into Pouder; incorporate with it ex∣actly by long beating, two Hand∣fuls of well chosen, and cleans'd Currans. Of this Electuary let the Patient take every Morning about the quantity of a Nutmeg, for seve∣ral days together.

VIII. A rare Medicine to take away Gouty, and other Ar∣thritick Pains.

TAke highly rectify'd Spirit of* 1.28 Mans Ʋrine, and anoint the Part with it, the Cold being just taken off, once or twice the first day; and no longer, unless the Pain continue.

IX. For a Prolapsus Uteri.

APply to the Patients Navel* 1.29 a pretty large Cupping-Glass; but let it not stay on too long, not above a quarter of an hour, for fear of injuring the part

it covers, especially the Navel-String.

X. To allay heat in the Eyes, proceeding from sharp Hu∣mours.

BEat the White of an Egg* 1.30 into a Water, in which dissolve a pretty quantity of Re∣fined Loaf-Sugar, and then drop some of it into the Patients Eye.

DECAD IX.

I. An Experienc'd Medicine for Strengthening a Weak Sight.

TAke of Eye Bright, sweet* 1.31 Fennel Seeds, and fine Su∣gar, all reduc'd to Pouder, of each an Ounce, Nutmeg also pulveriz'd, one Dram▪ (at most;) mix these very well together, and take of the Composition from a Dram to two or more, from time to time.

II. An often try'd Medicine for Tertian Agues.

TAke Crude Allum and Nut∣meg* 1.32 finely scrap'd, of each about half a Dram, mix the Pou∣ders well together, and with about six Grains of Saffron; Give this in two or three Spoonfuls of White-Wine Vinegar at the usual time.

III. For Stuffings of the Lungs, and the Chin Cough.

MAke Syrup of Penny Royal,* 1.33 or of Ground Ivy, mo∣derately Tart with Oil of Vitriol;

and of this let the Patient take very leisurely about a quarter of a Spoon∣ful from time to time.

IV▪ For the Falling Sickness in Children.

TAke half a Dram of choice* 1.34 Amber, finely pouder'd, and give it for six or seven Weeks together, once a day, when the Stomach is empty, in about four Ounces of good White-Wine.

V. An approv'd Medicine to drive the Stone, and cure Suppression of Ʋrine, pro∣ceeding from it.

TAke the Roots of Wild Gar∣lick,* 1.35 (by some Country People called Crow Garlick) wipe them very clean, stamp them very well in a Mortar of Stone or Glass, and strain out the Juice; with which make a moderate Draught of good White-Wine considerably strong, and let the Patient take it once or twice a day.

VI. An Experienc'd Medicine for Sore Throats.

TAke of Scabious Water six* 1.36 Ounces, of Wine Vinegar a small Spoonful, of Mustard Seed beaten, and of Honey, of each a Spoonful; stir and shake them very well together; and then filter the mixture and keep it for Use.

VII. An often experienced Ex∣ternal Remedy in Apoplectick Fits.

FIx a Cupping-Glass (without* 1.37 Scarification) to the Nape of the Neck, and another to each of the Shoulders, and let them stick on, a competent time.

VIII. An easie but approv'd Medicine for the Cholick.

TAke about half a Dram of* 1.38 Mastich, and mix it with the Yolk of a new laid Egg, and give it the Patient once or twice a day.

IX. To appease the heat of Feavers by an External Remedy.

APply to the Soles of the* 1.39 Feet a mixture, or thin Cataplasm made of the Leaves of Tobacco, fit to be cut to fill a Pipe with, beaten up with as much of the Freshest Currans you can get, as will bring the Tobacco to the Con∣sistence of a Poultis.

X. The Medicine that is in such Request in Italy against the Worms in Children.

INfuse one Dram of clean Quick∣silver* 1.40 all Night in about two Ounces of the Water of Goats Rue, distill'd the common way in a cold Still: And afterwards strain and filter it, to sever it from all Dregs that may happen in the making it. This quantity is given for one Dose.

DECAD X.

I. A Choice Medicine for a Whitloe.

TAke Shell Snails, and beat* 1.41 the pulpy part of them very well, with a convenient quan∣tity of fine chopt Parsly, which is to be applied warm to the affected part, and shifted two or three times a day.

II. A Simple but Ʋseful Lime-Water, good for the Kings E∣vil, and divers other Cases.

TAke half a Pound of good* 1.42 Quick-Lime, and put it into one Gallon of Spring-Water, and infuse it for Twenty four Hours; then decant the Liquor, and let the Patient Drink a good Draught of it two or three times a day, or he may use it for his or∣dinary Drink; this Infusion may be coloured with Saffron, or Red Sanders; and if need be to make it stronger, add more Lime, and warm the Water and keep it well stopt.

III. An Excellent Medicine for a fresh Strain.

TAke four Ounces of Bean* 1.43 Flower, two Ounces of Wine Vinegar; of these make a Cataplasm to be applied a little warm to the part affected; but if this should prove something too sharp, (as in some Cases it may) then take two Drams of Litharg, and boil it a little in the Vinegar; before you put it to the Bean-Flower.

IV. For the Pyles.

TAke Balsam of Sulphur made* 1.44 with Oil of Turpentine, Oint∣ment of Tobacco, equal Parts, In∣corporate them well, and Anoint the grieved place therewith.

V. For a Burn.

MIngle Lime Water with* 1.45 Linseed Oyl, by beating them together with a Spoon, and with a Feather dress the Burn seve∣ral times a day.

VI. For a fresh Strain.

BOil Bran in Wine Vinegar to* 1.46 the consistency of a Poul∣tis, apply it warm, and renew the Poultis once in twelve hours, for two or three times.

VII. An experienced Medicine for the Cholick.

TAke good Nitre one Ounce,* 1.47 and rub it well in a clean Mortar of Glass or Stone, then grind with it half a Scruple or more of fine Saffron, and of this mixture give about half a Dram for a Dose in three or four Ounces of Cold Spring Water.

VIII. To make an Issue raw, that begins to heal up.

TAke of Lapis Infernalis one* 1.48 Ounce, of Crown Soap an Ounce and half, Chalk finely pou∣der'd six Drams, mix them all to∣gether carefully, and keep them close stopt, except when you mean to use them.

IX. For a Sore Throat.

MAke a Plaister of Para∣celsus,* 1.49 three or four Fin∣gers broad, and length enough to reach almost from one Ear to the other, and apply it to the part af∣fected, so that it may touch the Throat as much as may be.

X. For heat about the Orifice of the Stomach.

MAke a Syrup with the* 1.50 Juice of House Leek and Sugar, and give about one Spoon∣ful of it from time to time.

A Stomachical Tincture.

TAke Agrimony, two Drams,* 1.51 small Centory Tops one Dram, Coriander Seeds bruised one Scruple, Sassafras Shavings and Bark, one Dram, Gentian Root half a Dram, Zedoary Root ten Grains; pour up∣on these three quarters of a Pint of boiling Spring Water, cover it, and let it steep twelve hours, then Strain it, and put it in a Bottle; then drop a drop of Oil of Cinna∣mon, upon a lump of Sugar, and put it into the Liquor. The Dose is three Spoonfuls twice a day, an hour or two before Meals.

THE END.

Notes

• * 1.1

  B
• * 1.2

  B
• * 1.3

  A
• * 1.4

  A
• * 1.5

  A
• * 1.6

  B
• * 1.7

  C
• * 1.8

  A
• * 1.9

  B
• * 1.10

  B
• * 1.11

  B
• * 1.12

  A
• * 1.13

  B
• * 1.14

  B
• * 1.15

  A
• * 1.16

  A
• * 1.17

  B
• * 1.18

  A
• * 1.19

  C
• * 1.20

  A
• * 1.21

  A
• * 1.22

  B
• * 1.23

  A
• * 1.24

  B
• * 1.25

  B
• * 1.26

  B
• * 1.27

  A
• * 1.28

  A
• * 1.29

  B
• * 1.30

  B
• * 1.31

  B
• * 1.32

  B
• * 1.33

  B
• * 1.34

  B
• * 1.35

  A
• * 1.36

  A
• * 1.37

  A
• * 1.38

  B
• * 1.39

  C
• * 1.40

  B
• * 1.41

  A
• * 1.42

  B
• * 1.43

  A
• * 1.44

  A
• * 1.45

  B
• * 1.46

  A
• * 1.47

  A
• * 1.48

  B
• * 1.49

  A
• * 1.50

  B
• * 1.51

  A