The art of curing diseases by expectation with remarks on a supposed great case of apoplectick fits : also most useful observations on coughs, consumptions, stone, dropsies, fevers, and small pox : with a confutation of dispensatories, and other various discourses in physick / by Gideon Harvey ...

CHAP. XVIII.

Of the Medicinal Syrups, and Conserves.

1. WAter vyeth with the Earth for the lower most Seat, but in the Physick-shop it possesseth the highest next the Cieling, and the Region immediate to this is the Dominion of the Wasps and Flies, haunting the Syrup-pots, the chief Ornament and Note of Distinction of the Trade. Next give me leave to inquire into their inside and contents; not of all of them, for that would more fit an Atlas; but of such as are most in use, and equally senseless. The intent of converting Simples into Syrups, is to preserve them the Winter over, when they are not to be had green; or to render them more grateful; or for the sake of their ready form to be dissolved in

any Potion, Decoction, or Julep. In relation to the first, most useful Herbs or Roots may be had in the hardest Season, if not in their great∣est vigor, yet in their greatest decay they do yield more powerful ver∣tues to a Decoction, than what can be supposed in a Syrup, which is nothing but a decoction or expressi∣on of Juyces, whose most energic Particles are boil'd or evaporated away to a sediment and slyme, which then is to be inspissated by a further Ebullition, through the addition of a sufficient proportion of Sugar, into a Syrup. Herewith the Stomach is to be clog'd, inju∣red, and diseased, by its turning foure and corrosive, as all Sugars and sugar'd Medicines, be they Syrups, Lohochs, Lozenges, or the like, generally do. Moreover, many Vegetables being preserved dry, some are thereby exalted in vertue, and others not much de∣based. As to the matter of grate∣fulness, such as retain a fragran••y

in their scent, seem most proper for Syrups, to be prepared without Ebullition; namely, Roses, Gilli∣flowers, Violets, &c. The last in∣timating the readiness for Solution, a sufficient reason for asserting the necessity of Syrups, may be admit∣ted in Syrupus de meconio or diaco∣dium, some Purgative Syrups, (appropriated to Children, and such whose Palats must be courted by the sweetness of Sugar) and a smoothing lenifying Syrup, as of Mashmallows; in fine, eight or ten Syrups may be sufficiently capable to satisfie all necessary intents and purposes. Moreover, that in ma∣ny Syrups, Honey being indued with healing, balsamic, gently de∣tersive, and diuretic Faculties, ought to be preferred before Sugar, needs no further Arguments to pro∣cure the ascent of any rational Physician.

2. Leaving generals, I ought to descend to the examination of Par∣ticulars, where beginning with the letter A seems most methodical.

Syrupus de Agno ca••••o, or Syrup of Chastity, intended questionless in disfavour of Nuns and Fryers, to abate the carreer of their galoping Lust; but as by wonderful Provi∣dence we are delivered of their vitious Company, so the descrip∣tion of this Syrup ought to be razed by their Physickships out of their Pharmaceutic Records. How∣ever, I may be positive, though the Ephesian Doctor had used pounds of it in his Porridg, it would have as little hinder••d the operation of his sympathetick purge, in some Constitutions, as a few grains of Cantharides in others, which is quite contrary. That Endive, Lettuce and Porcelain should be Co-partners with agnu•• castus in the mischief of suppressing the propagation of mankind, is oppositely attested by most Germans and French, who throughout the whole year graze abundantly upon it, and neverthe∣less attain to a numerous Issue. Hempseed, another ingredient, by

affording a copious strong juyce to Pidgeons, occasions them to breed more frequently than otherwise. The broaths of Lentils and Cori∣ander-seeds, the basis of all the rest, is beyond all dispute a strong pro∣vocative. Since their attempt in this kind proves so ridiculous, I will offer to 'em a most infallible Remedy against Petulancy. Let the Patient exercise at the Spade in a tough piece of ground from mor∣ning untill night, then give him a half pint of thin Water-gruel with a few crumbs of bread for Supper, this Method continued for eight of ten days, I do warrant will per∣form an absolute cure, without the least drop of their Syrup of Chasti∣ty.

3. Syrups are very frustraneously multiplyed, that are filled almost with the same Ingredients, and yet intended for divers purposes; as Syrup of Mugwood, and Syrup of ground Pine, the former offering at the provoking of the Menstrua in

Women, the latter at the curing the Gout, and all other Arthritick Distempers in Men; as if the cause of the suppression of the Catemenia were the same, that causes the Gout; can any thing be more senseless? But these Syrups consist of a strong brigade of simples as ill rank'd and fil'd as ever I yet beheld. If no∣thing will satisfie besides a Syrup, one made of Elicampane roots, Pennyroyal and Myrrh, shall ex∣ceed the former a thousand degrees, with the twentieth part only of the trouble and charge.

4. To what purpose shall the decoction in the preparation of Syrup of Mashmallows be clog'd with Pellitory, Mallows, Plantain, Maidenhair, Sparagus, Grass roots, Raisins, and all the eight sorts of cold Seeds, that shall choak and hinder the main operation of the Mashmallow roots and Cicers, which is to widen, relax, render slippery, and gently throw off. In lieu of all this Garbage make a

strong decoction of Mashmallow roots, red Cicers, and English Li∣quorish, boyl them into a Syrup with the best Honey. But if you add to the Liquor in the boiling a hundred or two of Sows or Mille∣••edes tyed up in a rag, you will have a Syrup, that in a fresh Scent, Tast, and Vertues shall surpass all the Syrups of that kind, that ever were invented. And having this Syrup, what occasion is there for Syrup of Liquorish, Isop, Jujubees, Mucilages, or other pectoral Sy∣rups, when it is in your power to advise ex tempore and pro re nata a pulmonic decoction of inciding, and abstersive Vegetables, or such as answer your Indication, and edulcorate it with the foresaid Sy∣rup, if necessary. Likewise all Loho••hs are needless, since they can easily be otherwise supplyed. To insert Syrups de Rosis Si••••is, Myrti∣nus, and de consolida is super vaca∣neous, where one of them will suffice in a decoction, that you shall

order for your purpose; unless his Physick Hogship by a tautology of Compounds intends to puzzle the Apothecary, and impose on his Opinion, there is a mystery in com∣position, which shall limit his at∣tempt of imitating the Physician, and so secure the Practice of Phy∣sick to himself.

5. If Syrup of Rhubarb is design∣ed for nice Palats, and Children, the Rhubarb ought to be left out, than which nothing is more un∣grateful, especially where the Sto∣mach is foul. Is it not a superero∣gatory folly to add Violet Flow∣ers, as if that in clogging the Men∣struum were not detrimental? But to command the infusion to be made in Betony, Cichory, and Bugloss Waters, where good spring Water acuated with Salt of Tartar is infinitely more proper, and less chargeable, is want of Judgment. Here Cinamon may well be omit∣ted, where the Ginger will much better supply its place.

6. Touching Conserves, and Candids, the twentieth part of those set down in the Augustan Dispens. will overdo, the Reasons are the same I have already gi∣ven you, in the Discourse touch∣ing Syrups and Sugar.