A treatise of the nature and use of the bitter purging salt contain'd in Epsom and such other waters by Nehemiah Grew.

CHAP. V. Of the Use of the Purging Salt in Cephalick Diseases: And first in Madness.

VVHere, besides Bleeding and fre∣quent Vomits, Chephalick Unguents, Setons in the Neck, Vesicato∣ries, especially to the Leggs, Catharticks and other Remedies are frequently us'd.

But to quicken the working of all, even the Helleborate Purges, nothing is more proper than the Purging Water, or its Salt, prescrib'd after the following man∣ner:

Take of Bawm and Borrage of each a handful, infuse 'em in four or five Pints of boiling Water, in a Vessel close stopt, for half an Hour. To the Infusion strain'd add of the Bitter Salt ten Drams or less, Syrup of Violets three Ounces; mix and make an Apo∣zem, to be drank by it self; or, in∣stead of Posset-Drink, with any other convenient Purge. Or, take 8 Drams of the Salt in 8 Draughts of the Spaw, or other Chalybeate Water, in a morn∣ing fasting.

In the Intervals of other Catharticks, especially in the Summer, 'tis very bene∣ficial, taken in the preceding Method; for it wonderfully quiets the raging Dis∣orders of the Humours and Perturbations of the Spirits.

In the Head-Ach.

In which Distemper, especially arising from a hot Cause, or in a hot Constitu∣tion, I have never found any thing so ef∣ficacious as the following Method:

In the first place bleed a sufficient quan∣tity, and from such Veins as the Circum∣stances of the Patient do indicate.

This done, give a Vomit, if the strength will permit: After, let the Patient take the following Medicines:

Of Scammony powder'd, Rhubarb pow∣der'd, Mercurius dulcis, each half a Scruple, or 12 Grains, with Syrup of Buckthorn, make five Pills, to be taken at four or five in the Morning, and sleep after 'em: Three hours after drink the following Apozem:

Of Water aromatiz'd with Mace 3 or 4 Pints, of the Purging Salt 6 Drams, or an Ounce, Syrup of Violets two Ounces; mix and take it, keeping your Chamber.

Repeat this Apozem and Pills every 3d or 4th Day, and without the Pills in the intervening Days; and continue this Method for a Fortnight or three Weeks, if the Case require it.

In a Virtigo.

Here also we must begin with Bleeding in the Arms, especially if the Disease be the consequence of too much drinking. Then apply Cupping Glasses with Scari∣fication to the Shoulders and hinder part of the Head. For in this Disease, as well as in the former, and for Inflamations of the Eyes, I do always prescribe 'em to that part rather than another, and with better success.

These things premis'd, take the follow∣ing Pills, &c. Of Mastick Pills two Scru∣ples, Chymical Oil of Marjoram 5 Drops. Take 'em at night going to rest, and next morning the following Apozem.

Of Spring Water aromatiz'd a Quart or three Pints, distill'd Water of Sage four Ounces, of Marjoram two Ounces, of the bitter Purging Salt 6 Drams or an Ounce, mix and make an Apozem, to be taken as afore-mention'd.

Sometimes 'tis good to take before eve∣ry Draught a Spoonful of the following Mixture.

Of Marjoram and Sage of each two Drams, Roots of Gentian, Species of Hiera Picra, of each two Scruples, White-wine four Ounces; digest 12 Hours in a close Vessel, and clarifie the express'd Tincture by settling.