Pharmacopœia Londinensis, or, The London dispensatory further adorned by the studies and collections of the Fellows, now living of the said colledg ... / by Nich. Culpeper, Gent.

Unguentum de Artanita. Page 162. in Lat. Book. Or, Oyntment of Sow-bread.

The Colledg] Take of the Juyce of Sowbread, or for want of it, a strong decoction of the roots, three pound, juyce of wild Cücumers, Heifers Butter, of each a pound, Oyl of Orris two pound, Pulp of Colo∣quintida, four ounces, Polypodium six ounces, Eu∣phorbium half an ounce: the things to be bruised being bruised, let them be steeped in a glazed vessel close shut eight daies, afterwards boyled in a double vessel till the Juyce be almost consumed, then press it out and dissolve in the Liquor yellow Wax five ounces: whilst it is warm mix with it Sagapen. dissolved in Vineger, Bulls gall boyled in a bath to the thickness of Honey, of each an ounce, then put in these things fol∣lowing in Pouder; Scammony, Turbith, Coloquinti∣da, berries or leaves of Mezereon, Aloes, of each se∣ven drachms; Sal. Gem. half an ounce; Euphorbium long Pepper, Mirrh, Ginger, Chamomel flowers, of each three drachms, make them into an oyntment ac∣cording to art.

Culpeper] A. The stomach being anointed with it, it purgeth by vomit; the Belly anoynted with it, it purgeth by stool: the truth is, it is a desperate kind of purge, yet I hold it as fitting as can be to anoint the bellies of such as have dropsies, because I conceive it especially purgeth water, and the water in dropsies lie neer the skin. They have altered it a little, and to as little purpose. I fancy not such violent Reme∣dies, sometimes they kill, and sometimes they cure.