Another Caustick used by Pelagonius, to dry up Swellings, Bladders, Wind-gals and Splents in the legs and joynts.
TAke Virgin Wax one pound, of Rosin two pound and a half, of Galbanum three ounces, of Asphaltum Judaicum two pound, of Mirrhe secondary two pound, of Bitumen one pound, of Armoniack six ounces, of Gostas six ounces. Boyl all these things together in an earthen pot, saving the Asphaltum, Armoniack and Costum, which being first ground like fine flowre, must be added unto the other things, and after that they have been boyled and cooled, and then boiled all together again, and well stirred, so as they may be incorporated together, and made all one substance. These kindes of Emplaisters or Ointments ought in my judgement to be so called, as I said before, rather binding charges, then Caustick medicines, because there be no such extreme Corrosive or burning simples in these, as are before recited. Notwithstanding I refer my judgment to those that be better learned, and so end for being over tedious. For if I would, I could take very good occasion here to speak of divers other medicines, whereof some are called Anodyna, easing pain and grief. Martin calleth them Linoges, which are made of Linseed, Camomile, soft grease and such like things, as are hot in the first degree; some again are called Narcotica, that is to say, astonying or bringing to sleep, as those that are made of Opi〈…〉〈…〉, Mandragora, Poppie, and such like cold and grosse things. And some are called Sarcotica, that is, Breeding flesh, as Barly flowre and Prankincense. And many other kinds of Emplaisters, Ointments, waters and salves, which would occupy a book of no small volum, to be written hereafter by some other perhaps, if not by my self. And in the mean time, let this that I may have already written suffice.