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.

DECOCTIONS.

Decoctum Commune pro Clystere. Page 47. in Lat B. Or, A common Decoction for a Cylster.

The Colledg] Take of Mallows, Violets, Pellito∣ry, Beets, and Mercury, Chamomel flowers, of each one handful, sweet Fennel seeds half an ounce, Lin∣seeds two drachms, boyl them in a sufficient quantiiy of common water to a pound.

Culpeper] A. This is the common Decoction for all Clysters, according to the quality of the hu∣mor abounding, so you may ad what Simples, or Sy∣rups, or Electuaries you please; only half a score Linseeds, and a handful of Chamomel flowers are ad∣ded.

Decoctum Fpythimi. Page 47. in the Latin Book. Or, A Decoction of Epithimum.

The Colledg] Take of Myrobalans, Chebs, and Inds, of each half an ounce, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Raisons of the Sun stoned, Epithimum, Senna, of each one ounce, Fu∣mitory half an ounce, Mandlin five drachms, Poli∣podium six drachms, Turbith half an ounce, Whey made with Goats milk, or Heisers milk four pound, let them all boyl to two pound, the Epithimum ex∣cepted, which boyl but a walm or two, then take it from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and ad black Hellebore one drachm and an half, Agrick half a drachm, Sal. Gem. one drachm and an half, sleep them ten hours, then press it strong∣ly out.

Culpeper] A. Here is half a drachm of black Hel∣lebore added, and I like the Receipt never the better for that.

A. It purgeth melancholly gallantly, as also addust choller, it resisteth madness, and al diseases coming of melanchelly, and, therefore let melancholly people e∣steem it as a jewel.

A. I cannot but commend it to such of my Countey men as abound with melancholly humors: Let them take a quarrer of a pint of this in the mor∣ning, and keep by the fire side al day; imagine they take it at six of the Clock, then let them drink a draught of posset-drink at eight, and eat a bit of hot Mution at twelve, if their bodies be strong, (for people oppressed with Melancholly, usually go hard∣ly to stool, by reason it is a retentive humor) Let them mix those Syrups (which I shal quote when I come to them) with it, and I dare hazard that small credit I have in Physick, that it shall in a few mor∣nings fetch them out of their Melancholly dumps, which though they may seem pleasing, yet are no way profitable to the body of man, especially if the body be troubled also with [ill tumors] I know not what better word to give [Cacochynna.]

Decoctum Sennae Gereonis. Page 47. in the Lat. Book. Or, A Decoction of Senna.

The Colledg] Take of Senna two ounces, Polli∣podium half an ounce, Ginger one drachm, Raisons of the Sun stoned two ounces, Se bestens, Prunes, of each twelve, the flowers of Borrage, Violets, Roses, and Rosemary, of each two drachms; boyl them in four pound of water till half be consumed.

Culpeper] A. It is a common Decoction for any purge, by adding other Simples or Compounds to it, according to the quality of the humor you would have purged, yet in its self, it chiefly purgeth melancholly. I shal quote it when I come at such Compounds as are fit to mix with it.

Decoctum Pectorale. Page 48. in the Latin Book. Or, A Poctoral Decoction.

The Colledg] Take of Raisons of the Sun stoned, an ounce, Seb oftens, Jujubes, of each fifteen, Dates six, Figs four, french Barly one ounce, Liquoris half an ounce, Maiden-hair, Hysop, Scabious, Colts-foot of each one handful, boyl them in three pound of wa∣ter till two remain.

Culpeper A. The medicine is cheifly apropriated to the Lungues, and therefore causeth a cleer voice, a long wind, resisteeh coughs, hoarceness, Asthmaes

&c. You may drink a quarter of a pint of it every morning, without keeping any diet, for it purgeth not. I shall quote some Syrups fitting to be mixed with it, when I come to the Syrups.

Decoctum Trumaticum. Page 48. in the Latin Book.

The Colledg] Take of Agrimony, Mugwort, * 1.1 wild Angelica, St. Johns wort, Mousear, of each two handfuls; Wormwood half a handful; Sou∣thernwood, Betony, Bugloss, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the greater and lesser, roots and all, Avens, both sorts of Plantane, Sanicle, Tormentil with the roots, the buds of Ras∣berries and Oak, of each a handful: all these being gathered in May or June and dilligently dried, let them be cut and put up in skins or papers against the time of use; then take of the fore named Herbs three handfuls, boyl them in four pound of Conduit water, and two pound of white Wine gently till half be con∣sumed; strain it, and a pound of Honey being added to it, let it be scummed and kept for use.

Culpeper] A. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sight of a Medicine will do you good, this is as like to do it as any I know.

Some they have left out in their new Model, which are these that follow:

A Carminative Decoction.

Colledg] TAke of the c 1.2 seeds of Annis, Carrots, Fennel, Cummin, and Caraway, of each three drachms; Chamomel flowers half a handful; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Sun an ounce and an half: boyl them in two pints of water, till almost half 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sumed.

Culpeper] A. It is commonly used in Clysters, to such whose bodies are molested or oppressed with wind, these seeds being added to the former Deco∣ction.

A Decoction of Flowers and Fruits.

The Colledg] Take five Figs, fifteen Prunes, Ju∣jubes, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, of each twenty, Tamarinds an ounce, the flowers of Roses, Violets, Borrage, Bug∣loss, of each a drachm; Maidenhair, Hops, Endive, of each half an handful, Liquoris two drachms: be∣ing cut and bruised, boyl them in three pints of spring Water to the consumption of the third part.

Culpeper] A. It strengthens the Lungues, and helps Obstruction.

Lac Virgineum.

The Colledg] Take of Allum four ounces, boyl it in a quart of spring Water, to the third part: Af∣terwards,

Take of d 1.3 Litharge half a pound, white Wine Vine∣ger a pint and an half; boyl it to a pint, strain both the waters, then mix them together, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them about till they are white.

Culpeper] A. It takes away Pimples, redness, frec∣kles and sunburning, the face being washed with it.

A Drink for wounded men.

The Colledg] Take of Crabs of the River calcined, and beaten into very fine pouder, two drachms; the roots of round Birthwort, and of Comfry the greater, Self-heal, Bay-berries lightly bruised, of each one drachm; tie them all up in a linnen cloath, and boyl them in three pints of white Wine till the third part be consumed, adding about the middle of the De∣coction, one pugil of h 1.4 Perewinkles, then strain it for your use.

This Decoction must be prepared only for the present, when the Physitian appoints it, as also must almost all the rest of the Decoctions.

Culpeper] A. And therefore left my poor woun∣ded Country man should perish for want of an Angel to fee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 k 1.5 Physitian, or if he have it, before the Phy∣sitian (which in some places is very remote) can come at him: I have taken the pains to write the Receipt in his own Mother tongue; he may get any friend to make it: He may drink half a pint of it in the morning; or if he please to boyl it in smal Ale instead of Wine; he would be well the sooner if he drunk no other drink.

Notes

• * 1.1

  And why wild? I know no reason, nor a horse that hath a bigger head than I. The garden is best.
• c 1.2

  You must bruise the seeds, else the Deco∣ction wil be but lit∣tle the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for them.
• d 1.3

  Beaten into very fine pou∣der.
• h 1.4

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not the fish.
• k 1.5

  Too ma∣ny Physi∣tians in England being like Balaams Asse, they will not speak un∣less they see an An∣gel: yet I accuse not all.