A physicall directory, or, A translation of the London dispensatory made by the Colledge of Physicians in London ... by Nich. Culpeper, Gent.

SYRVPS BOTH SIMPLE AND COMPOVND WHICH ARE IN USE.

Syrup of Vineger Simple, of London.

TAke of white Sugar five pound, White-Wine-Vineger a quart, melt them into a Syrup according to art.

A. That is, Only melt the Sugar with the Vineger over the fire, scum it, but boyle it not.

Syrup of Vineger Simple, of Mesue.

Take of White Sugar five pound, Cleer Water sour pints, boyl it. into a Syrup, scumming it well, then put a quart of Vineger to it, and boyl it again to a Syrup.

A. Of these two Syrups let every one use which he finds by experience to be best; the difference is but little, I hold the last to be the best of the two, and would give my reasons for it, but that I fear the Book will swell too big: They both of them cut flegm, as also tough, hard, viscous humours in the stomach; they cool the body, quench thirst, provoke urine, and prepare the stomach before the taking of a vomit.

Syrup of Vineger Compound, Mesue.

Take of the roots of Smallage, Fennel, and Endive, of each three ounces; the seeds of Smallage, Fennel, & Annis, of each one ounce, Endive seeds half an ounce, Clear Water six pints;

boyl them in a vessel well glazed over a gentle fire, till half the water be consumed, then strain it, and ad toa it, three pound of Sugar, clarify it, and then ad a pint and an half of white-wine-Vinegar to it, and boyl it to a syrup.

A. This in my opinion is a gallant syrup for such whose bodees are stuffed either with flegm or tough 〈◊〉〈◊〉, for it opens obstructions or stoppings both of the stomach, liver, spleen, and reins, it cuts and brings away tough flegm and choller, and is therefore a special remedy for such as have a stuffing at their stomach.

Syrup of the juyce of Citrons. Mesue.

Take of the juyce of Citrons strained without expression, and clarified, a pint, Sugar two pound and an half, melt it into a syrup over the fire.

A. It prevails against all diseases proceeding from choller or heat of blood, feavers, both pestilential and not pestilen∣tial, it resisteth poyson, cools the blood, quencheth thirst, cureth the vertigo or dissines in the head.

After the same manner is made, syrup ofo sour Grapes, Cherries, Quinces, Pomegranates, Lemmons, Wood-Sorrel, Sorrel;p English Currance, and other sour juyces clarified.

A. If you look the Simples you may see the vertues of them they all cool and comfort the heart and strengthen the sto∣mach, syrup of Quinces staies vomiting, so doth also syrup of Grapes.

Syrup of Betony Simple.

Take of the juyce of Betony clarified three pound, white Sugar three pound, boyl them to a Syrup.

After the same manner is made syrup of the juyces of Bor∣rage, Bugloss, Carduns benedictus, Chamomel, Endive, Suc∣cory, Strawberries, Fumitory, Alehoof, St. Johns Wort, Hops, Mercury, Plantane, Apples, Scabious, Coltsfoot, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or Pauls Bettony.

• A. Reader, before we passe any further I thought good to advertise thee of these few things, which indeed I had inser∣ted

• at the beginning of the surups, had I not forgotten it.
• A. 1. A syrup is a Medicine of a liquid body, compounded of decoction, infusion or juyce, with Sugar or hony, and brought by the heat of the fire, into the thicknesse of hony.
• A. 2. Because all hony is not of a thicknesse, understand new hony which of all other is thinnest.
• A. 3. The reason why decoctions, infusions, and juyces are thus used is, because thereby,
• ...
  • 1. They will keep the longer.
  • 2. They will tast the better.
• A. 4 In boyling syrups have a great care of their just con∣sistence, for if you boyl them too much, they will candy, if too little they will sour.
• A. 5. All Simple syrups have the vertues of the simples they are made of, and are far more convenient for weak peo∣ple, and queazy stomachs.

Syrup of Bettony compound.

Take of Betony three handfuls, Marjoram a handful and an half, Time, Roses, of each a handful, Violets, Staechas, Sage, of each half a handful, the seeds of Fennel, Annis1 Bi∣shopsweed of each half an ouuce, the roots of Peony, Polipo∣dium, and Fennel, of each five drachms, boyl them in six pints of water, till half be consumed, strain it, and ad to the decoction, Juyce of Bettony, a quart, Sugar, three pound and an half, boyl them into a syrup according to art.

A. It helps diseases coming of cold, both in the head and stomach, as also such as come of wind, vertigoes, madness, it concocts melancholly, it provokes the terms in women, and so doth the Simple syrup more than the Compound.

A. This composition was borrowed word for word from the Augustan Physitians, though our Physitians absconded it, contrary to their promise in the epistle to the reader.

Syrupus Bizantinus Simple. Mesue

Take of the juyce of Endive and Smallage, of each a quart,

Juyce of Hops and Buglosse, of each a pint, boyl them and clarifie them then to four pound of Juyces remaining, ad four pound of the best Sugar, boyling it to a syrup, over agentle fire.

Syrupus Bizantinus Compound. Mesue.

In four pound of the same Juyces as they are set down in the Simple syrup, boyl red Rose leaves two ounces, Liquoris half an ounce, the seeds of Annis, Fennel, Smallage, of each three drachms, Spicknard two drachms, strain it, and ad to the decoction a quart of Vineger, Sugar four pound, boyl it to a syrup according to art.

A. They both of them (viz. both Simple and Compound) opens stopping in the stomach, cuts and brings away tough flegm, and helps the yellow Jaundice, Mesue saith the Com∣pound syrup is of more effect than the Simple for the same uses.

Syrup of Quinces. Mesue.

Take of the Juyce of Quinces six pound, boyl it over a gentle fire till half be consumed, scumming it well, then add to it three pints of red Wines, four pound of Sugar, boyl it again to the consistence of a syrup, into which put a drachm and an half of Cinnamon, Cloves and Ginger of each two scruples, tied up in a fine linnen cloath, and hung into the syrup.

A. It strengthens the stomach, and retains the food in it, It staies vomiting, it stops the loosness of the belly, and helps the bloody flux, it stoppeth the immoderate flux of the terms in women, and is a gallant astringent medicine, no lesse plea∣sant then profitable.

Syrup of Fumitory the Compund. Fernelius.

Take of Endive, Roman Wormwood, Hops, z Dodder, Harts tongue, of each a handful, Epithimum or Dodder of Time, an ounce and an half, boyl them in four pints of water,

till half be a consumed, to the liquor being strained out, ad of the juyce of Fumitory clarified, a pint and an half, of the juyce of both sorts of Buglosse, of each half a pint, white Su∣gar four pound, boyl it into a syrup, according to art.

A. The recept is a pretty concocter of melancholly, and therefore a rational help for diseases 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thence, both in∣ternal and external, It helps diseases of the skin, as Leprosies, Cancers, Warts, Corns, Itch, Tetters, Ringworms, Scabs, &c. and it is the better to be liked because of its gentleness, for in my experience, I could never find a violent medicine do good, but ever harm in a b melancholly disease. It also strengthens the sto∣mach, and liver, opens obstructions, and is a soveraign reme∣dy for Hypochondriack melancholly.

Syrup of Purslain. Mesue.

Take of the seeds of Purslain grosly bruised, half a pound, of the juyce of Endive boyled and clarified two pound, Su∣gar two pound, Vinegar nine ounces, infuse the seeds, in the juyce of Endive twenty four hours, afterwards, boyl it half a∣way with a gentle fire, then strain it and boyl it with the Su∣gar to the consistence of a syrnp, adding the Vineger, towards the latter end of the decoction.

A. It is a pretty cooling syrup, fit for any hot diseases, in∣cident to the stomach, reins, bladder, matrix, or liver, it thickens flegm, cools the blood and provokes sleep.

Compound Syrup of Coltsfoot. Renodaeus.

Take six handfuls of green Coltsfoot, two handfuls of Maiden-hair, one handful of Hysop, and two ounces of Li∣quoris, boyl them in four pints, either of o rain or spring water, till the fourth part be consumed, then strain it and clarifie it, to which ad three pound of white Sugar, boyl it to the perfect consistence of a syrup.

A. The composition is apropriated to the lungues, and therefore helps the infirmities, weaknesses, or failings thereof, as want of voyce, difficulty of breathing, coughs, hoarsness, cathars &c.

Julep of Alexandria.

Take of red Rose water four pints, Sugar two pound, make a Julep of them according to art.

Julep of Roses. Mesue

Ad three pound of Rose water to three pound of Sugar and boyl them to a Julep according to art.

Julep of Violets is made after the same manner.

A, It is confessed both Arabian and Graecian Physitians have written of these Juleps, they are fine cooling drinks in the heat of Summer, for such as are rich and have nothing else to do with their mony.

Oxysaxccharum symplex. Nicholaus.

Take of white Sugar a pound, of the juyce of Pomegra∣nates eight ounces, white wine Vineger four ounces, boyl them into a syrup with a gentle fire.

A. Whether it were Nicholaus Monardus, or Nicholaus My∣repsus that wrote this recept, or any other Nicholas, I know not neither have I time to look, but if you would know the vertues of it, look the vertues of Pomegranates, amongst the Simples and you have it.

Syrup of Maiden-hair. Mesue.

Take of Liquoris two ounces, Maiden-hair five ounces, in∣fuse them in four pints of spring water, boyl them gently, strain the decoction strongly, and with a pound and an half of white Sugar, boyl it unto a syrup according to art.

A. It opens stoppings of the stomach, strengthens the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and helps the infirmities of them.

Syrup of Cinnamon.

Take of Cinnamon grosly bruised, four ounces, infuse it in a pint of white wine, for three daies, in a glasse, by a a gen∣tle heat, then having strained out the Cinnamon ad to it, a pound and an half of white sugar, boyl it gently to a syrup.

A. It hath the same vertues with Cinnamon water, and being not so hot, must needs be far better for hot bodies.

After the same manner may be made syrup of Annis seeds, sweet Fennel seeds, Ginger, Cloves, Nutmegs &c.

A. If any will be so nice to make such, 'tis but veiwing the Simples and there you have the vertues of them.

Syrup of Corrall Simple.

Take of Red Corral finely poudered as much as you will, dissolve it in a glasse, in Balneo Mariae in such a quantity of the clarified juyce of Barberries, that the juyce may swim above it the breath of four fingers, stopping the glasse cloose, with cork or wax, when it hath stood in the glasse three daies, pour off what is dissolved, and pour in fresh juyce of Barber∣ries clarified, set it in the bath again till all the b Correl be dissolved, Then to one pound of this juyce, ad one pound of Sugar, and boyl it to the consistence of a syrup: but in the Preparation of this Syrup it requireth a great deal of skill and dexterity, lest you er.

Syrup of Corral Compound.

Take of Red Corral six ounces, bring it into a a pouder by b grinding it upon a marble with a little rose water, Then add to it, Juyce of Lemmons clarified from the flegm in Balneo Mariae, sixteen ounces, juyce of Barberries clarified, eight ounces, sharp wine Vineger, juyce of wood Sorrel clarified, of each six ounces, digest them in a bath or else in horsedung eight daies, in a large glasse, stopped close with cork and bladder, shaking it every day then let it c run through a

brown paper, of which take a pound and an half: juyce of Quinces half a pound, Sugar of Roses twelve ounces, mix them all together, and with the gentle heat of a bath, draw off the superfluous liquor, till it be left of the consistence of a Syrup, to which ad Syrup of Clove-Gilliflowers sixteen oun∣ces, together with half a drachm of Amber greece, and four grains of Musk, tied up in a cloath and hung into the glasse by a string.

A. Syrup of Corral, both Simple and compound restore such as are in consumptions, are of a gallant cooling nature especially the last, and very cordial, special good for Hectick feavers, it stops fluxes, the running of the reins and the whites in women, helps such as spit blood, and such as have the fal∣ling sicknesse, it staies the terms in women, and indeed it had need be good for something, for it is exceeding costly.

Syrup of the Infusion of Clove-Gilliflowers.

Take a pound of Clove-Gilliflowers, the white being cut off, infuse them at a 3. times in three pints of spring water al night, afterwards with two pound of Sugar, boyl it into a Syrup according to art.

A. Which if you do, it will be scarce worth your labour, but will lose both colour and tast, and by consequence ver∣tue in boyling, and then the Colledg themselves would say 'tis naught: for in all syrups which you would have keep co∣lour, of which this is one, add two pound of Sugar, to each pint of insusion, and only melt it over the fire, in a peuter vessel, and I assure you if in prescribing this and many other medicines, the Colledg did make use of the ablest Apotheca∣ries for the manner of composition of the medicines, either the ablest were very weak or very negligent, but enough of this.

A. The Syrup is a fine temperate syrup, it strengthens the heart, liver, and stomach, it refresheth the vital spirits, and is a good cordial in feavers.

Syrup of Citron pills. Mesue.

Take of the thin outward pills of Citrons, dried, five oun∣ces, of the berries of Kermes or the o juyce of them brought o∣ver from beyond sea, two drachms, spring water four pints, set them in infufiou all night, and the next morning boyl it till half be consumed, strain it and add to the decoction, two pound and an half of very good sugar, boyl it into a syrup according to art, which perfume, with six grains of the best Musk, wrapped up in fine linnen and hung into the syrup by a string.

A. It strengthens the stomach, resists poyson, strengthens the heart, and refists the passions thereof, palpitation, fain∣tings, swoonings, It strengthens the vital spirit, restores such as are in consumptions and hectick feavers, and strengthens nature much.

Syrup of Water-Lillie-flowers Simple. Nicholaus.

Take of the whitest part of White-water-Lilly-flowers a pound, infuse them for seven hours in three pound of warm water, then boyl it a little, and strain it, and add the like quantity of fresh flowers, use them in like manner as you did the former; repeat this infusion three times, then clarifie the infusion, and having added the like quantity of sugar to it, boyl it into a syrup according to art.

Syrup of Water-lillie-flowers, the Compound. Fernelius.

Take of Water-lillie-flowers half a pound, the flowers of Violets two ounces, Lettice two handfuls, the seeds of Let∣tice, Purslain, and Gourds, of each half an ounce; boyl all these in four pints of water, to the consumption of one pint, and having strained it, ad to the decoction, Red Rose Water half a pint, White Sugar four pound, boyl it to a Syrup ac∣cording to art.

A. They both are fine cooling Syrups, they allay the heat

of choller, and provoke sleep, they cool the body, both head, heart, liver, reins, and matrix, and therefore are profitable for hot diseases in either.

Syrup of Meconium. Mesue.

A. Meconium: The blush of which this Receipt carries in its frontispice, is nothing else but the juyce of English Pop∣pies boyled til it be thick; as I am of opinion that Opium is nothing else but the juyce of d Poppies growing in hotter countries (and therefore in al reason is colder in quality) and therefore (I speak purely of Meconium and Opium, not of these Syrups) though they be no edge-tools, yet tis ill jesting with them.

Take of the heads of white Poppies meanly ripe and green eight ounces; of the heads of black Poppies meanly ripe and green, six ounces, e Rain-water four pints, boyl them in the water til half of it be consumed, then strain it, and witha fix∣teen ounces of Sugar, boyl it into a Syrup according to art, and when you have done so, you may use it (if you please) for Diacodium.

Syrup of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the lesser Composition

Take the heads of white Poppies and black, when both of them are green, of each six ounces; the seeds of Lettice, the flowers of Violets, of each one ounce, boyl them in eight pints of water, till the vertue is out of the heads, then strain them, and with four pound of Sugar boyl the liquor to a Syrup.

Syrup of Popplyes, the greater Composition. Mesue.

Take of the heads of both white and black Poppies, seeds and all, of each 50. drachms, Maiden-hair 15. drachms, Li∣quoris 5. drachms, Jujubies 30. by number, Lettice seeds 40. drachms; of the seeds of Mallows and Quinces (tied up in a thin linnen cloath) of each a drachm and an an half; boyl these in eight pints of water til five pints be consumed; when you have strained out the three pints remaining, add to them, Penidies and White Sugar of each a pound, boyl them into a Syrup according to art.

A. All these former Syrups of Poppies provoke sleep, but in that, I desire they may be used with a great deal of caution and wariness, such as these are, are not fit to be given in the be∣ginnings of Feavers, nor to such whose bodies are costive; ever re∣mēber my former Motto, Fools are not fit to make Physitians. Yet to such as are troubled w^th hot sharp Rheums, you may safely give them; and note this, the last, which is borrowed from Mesue is apropriated to the Lungus, whose own words (tran∣slation excepted) of it are these, It prevails against dry coughs, Phtisicks, hot and sharp gnawing Rhewms, and provokes sleep.

Syrups of Red, or Erratick Poppies: A. by many called Corn-Roses.

Tak of flowers of red Poppies two pound, infuse them 24. hours in four pints of spring a water, and with three pound of Sugar boyl it into a syrup.

A. Some are of opinion that these Poppies are the coldest of all other: beleeve them that list: I know no danger in this syrup, so it be taken with moderation; and bread immoderat∣ly taken, hurts; the syrup cools the blood, helps surfets, and may safely be given in Frenzies, Feavers and hot agues.

Syrup of Peach flowers.

Take of fresh Peach-flowers a pound, infuse them in three pints of warm water for the space of twelve hours, then let them boyl a little and presse them out, adding the like quan∣tity of Peach-flowers, and use them as the former, do so five times, at last, to three pound of the infusion add two pound and an half of Sugar, boyl it to a syrup.

A. It is a gentle purger of choller and may be given even in feavers to draw away the sharp chollerick humors, according to the opinion of Andernacus whose recept (all things conside∣red) differs little from this.

Syrup of dried Roses. Mesue.

Take four pound of spring water, in which being warm,

infuse a pound of dried red Rose leaves for the space of twen∣four hours, then presse them out, and with two pound of white sugar, boyl the infusion to a syrup.

A. I pray take a caution or two a long with you, concer∣ning this syrup, and there is need enough unlesse it were pen∣ned more wisely than it is.

A. 1. You cannot infuse all the rose leaves at one time be∣cause there will not be water enough to wet them hardly, you must then infuse them at diverse. A man had need have a head as deep as a Colepit to reach their meaning in some of their recepts.

A. 2. If you boyl it, it will lose both color and vertue, and then who but the Colledg would first cry out against such paltry stuff, I am weary with noting this in every receit, there∣fore be pleased to accept of this one general rule, It is not best to boyl any syrup made of infusions, but by adding the double weight of Sugar (viz. two pound of Sugar to each pint of Infusion) melt it over a fire only.

A. Syrup of dried Roses, strengthens the heart, comforts the spirits, bindeth the body, helps fluxes and corrosions, or gnawings of the guts, it strengthens the stomach, and staies vomiting.

Syrup of Roses Solutive. Mesue

Take of the infusions of Rofes made with fresh Damask Roses, let the infusion be repeated nine times, (let it be made in that proportion, that one pound of Rose flowers may be infused in four pints of water, and those being taken out, in∣fuse as many more in the same water, do so nine times) six pound, with four pound of Sugar boyl it into a syrup.

A. It loosneth the belly, and gently bringeth out choller and flegm.

Syrup of Roses with Agrick.

Take of choice Agrick sliced thin, an ounce, Ginger sliced two drachms, Sal gem. one drachm, Polipodium grosly bruised two ounces, sprinkle them with white. Wine, then infuse them two daies in such infusion of damask Roses, as

you were taught to make the former receit, a pound and an half, warm by the fire, then presse it out, and with one pound of Sugar boyl it into a Syrup, according to art.

A. You had better ad twice so much Sugar as is of the in∣fusion, for fear the strength of the Agrick be lost in boy∣ling.

A. It purgeth flegm from the head, releeves the sences op∣pressed by it, it provokes the terms in women, It purgeth the stomach and liver, and provoketh urine.

Syrup of Roses Solutive with Hellebore. Montanus.

Take of the bark of all the Myrobalans, of each four oun∣ces, bruise them grosly, and infuse them in twelve pints of the infusion of Roses, before prescribed 24. hours, adding of Senna, Epithimum, and Polipodium of the Oak, of each four ounces, Cloves an ounce, Citron seeds, liquoris, of each four ounces, of the f bark of black Hellebore roots, six drachms boyl them all to the consumption of the fourth part, to which ad five pound of white Sugar, choice Rhubarb tied up in a linnen cloath, sixteen drachms, boyl them into a syrup accor∣ding to art.

A. You must not boyl the black Hellebore at al, or but very little, if you do you had as good put none in, me thinks the Colledg should have had either more wit or honesty, than to have left recepts so woodenly penned to posterity, or it may be they wrote as they say only to the learned, or in plain Eng∣lish for their own ends, or to satisfie their covetousness, that a man must needs run to them every time his finger akes.

A. The Syrup rightly used purgeth melancholly, resisteth madnesse.

Syrup of Violets.

Take of pick'd a Violet flowers a pound, Spring water heat hot, a pound and an half, or else a sufficient quantity, infuse the Violets in the water, & let it stand warm and close stopped 24. hours, then presse them very hard out, and to one pound of the expression add two pound of fine Sugar, only

dissolve the Sugar, and so keep the Syrup for your use.

Syrup of the juyce of Violets.

Make it up with just so much juyce of the flowers of violets as will dissolve the Sugar into a Syrup without boyling.

A. Which is two pound of Sugar to one pound of Juyce.

A. This latter Syrup is far more chargable than the for∣mer, and in all reason the better, although I never knew it u∣sed, they both of them cool and moisten, and that very gently, they correct the sharpness of choller, and give ease in hot vi∣ces of the breast, they quench thirst in acute feavers, and resist the heat of the disease, they comfort hot stomachs exceeding∣ly, cool the liver and heart, and resist putrifaction, pestilence and poyson.

Notes

• a

  to the liquor I mean, not to the foeces.
• o

  that is, Grapes not ripe.
• a this is the right ground Ivy, it may be I may some∣times use the word permis∣cuously.
• p

  Ribes.
• a called also Lluellin by some Welch∣man or ano∣ther, and thats. the reason that Welchmen vapor so much of the vertues of this herb, which is a quality most of that gene∣ration are ex∣cellent at.
• 1

  Ammi.
• z

  Cassutha, the Arabick name of Dodder,
• a

  if you boyl the Dodder and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to long, you had as good never put it in, for a very little boi∣ling takes out the vertues of them.
• b

  melancholly is a sad sullen humor, you had as good vex a nest of wasps asvex it
• o

  if I durst spend paper a∣bout it; I cold easily prove spring-water to be the best by far.
• a

  you may do it in warm wa∣ter or a bath.
• o the eross ex∣cepted which wil never dis∣solve while the world 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• b

  you must first beat it in∣to pouder, else you may grind till your heart∣achs, before you ob ain your purpose.
• a

  I know not what fitter term to give that Arabick word Alkool.
• b

  you must first beat it in∣to pouder, else you may grind till your heart∣achs, before you ob ain your purpose.
• c

  make the pa∣per handsom∣ly in form of a sunnel, and so stick it in a sū∣nel, & put the sunnel in ano∣ther glass: this is that they cal filtring.
• a

  whether one one pound at three times, or three pounds at three times might be som question, yet not so great an one but expe∣rience wil de∣cide it: how∣soever let it pass for one of the Colledges misty recepts.
• o

  I rest coufi∣dent that the juyce (if right) is better by 20 parts, and my confidence is built upon the rock of reason, and not upon the sand of tradition.
• d

  for such O∣pium as Au∣thors talk of, comes from Utopia.
• e

  spring water is better.
• a

  in all consci∣ence (especi∣ally as consci∣ence goes now adaies) here is too little sugar by half.
• a

  let the water be warm, else you may hap∣pen to lose your labor.
• in syrups made o. deco∣ctions, the colour is not so material.
• pick the roses.
• f

  take the roots them∣selves, for if the bark be to be had it is very rare.
• a

  blue violets not white.
• which is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pints if your violets be good.