The English physitian, or An astrologo-physical discourse of the vulgar herbs of this nation being a compleat method of physick, whereby a man may preserve his body in health, or cure himself being sick for three pence charge, with such things only as grow in England ... / by Nich. Culpeper.

Chap. 10. Of Oyntments.

• 1. VArious are the waies of making Oynt∣ments which Authors have left to po∣steritie, which I shall omit and quote one which is easiest to be made, and therefore most beneficial to people that are ignorant in Physick, for whose sakes I write this; It is thus done,

  Bruise those Herbs, Flowers, or Roots you would make an Oyntment of, and to two handfuls of your bruised Herbs ad a pound of Hogs Grease tryed, or clensed from the skins, beat them very well together in a stone Mor∣tar with a wooden Pestle, then put it in a stone Pot (the Herbs and Grease I mean, not the Mortar) cover it with a paper, and set it either in the Sun or some other warm place three, four, or fivs daies, that it may melt, then take it out and boyl it a little, then whilst it is hot, strain it out, pressing it out very hard in a Press, to this Grease ad as many more Herbs bruised as before, let them stand in like man∣ner

• ...

  as long, then boyl them as you did the former, if you think your Oyntment be not strong enough you may do it the third and fourth time; yet this I tell you, the fuller of Juyce your Herbs are, the sooner will your Oyntment be strong, the last time you boyl it, boyl it so long till your Herbs be crisp and the Juyce consumed, then strain it, pressing it hard in a press, and to every pound of Oyntment, ad two ounces of Turpentine, and as much Wax, because Grease is offensive to Wounds as well as Oyl,

• 2. Oyntments are vulgarly known to be kept in Pots, and will last above a yeer, above two yeer.