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AMong the vast number of di∣stilled simple Waters, none are more useful, than those four mentioned below, which may serve to answer that intention, which the best of simple Waters are used
for, viz. for Cordial Juleps, and Cordial Potions. What concerns alterative Waters, they contain so weak a vertue (as I said afore in the Introduction) that Decoctions, Infusions, and Juices made, or Spi∣rits drawn from the same altera∣tive Simples, are infinitely more effectual; and therefore when oc∣casion doth require the use of them, may be prescribed, and easily taught you how to prepare them, by your Family-Physician.
The Four Simple Waters are, 1. Baume Water. 2. Black-Cherry Water. 3. Carduus Benedictus Wa∣ter. 4. Red Poppey Water, that is, Water distilled of red Poppey flowers.
The Herbs, namely Baume, and Carduus Benedictus, are to be bought in Newgate-Market, Stocks-Market, Gutter-lane, or Covent-Garden, of the Physical Herb-women, by the
Basket, the Red Poppey Flowers by the Peck, Violet Flowers, and some others are sold by the pint or quart measure. Scurvey-grass is sold by the Basket, also by the Bushel or Peck. For most Herbs, if you buy them by the handful, you must pay a Groat a dozen; or if you have occasion for less than a dozen, a half-penny the handful is the u∣sual rate. The value of twelve Pence in Herbs or Flowers will yield three Pints of Water, or more; in some Herbs it may yield two Quarts or five Pints: or if you have not the convenience of distilling them, you may buy them from the Apothecaries, at a Shilling the Pint; or if you are onely mindful to buy them, when your occasions require, you need pay but a Penny for the Ounce, being the common price of almost all distilled Waters. The common
price of most English Roots a∣mong the Herb-women is a Groat for a Pound.
Put as many of those Herbs (being separated from the greater Stalks) or Flowers (pull'd from their Husks) as will only fill two Thirds, or at most three Fourth parts of the body of a Pewter Alembick, or a Copper Alembick with a Bucket head, without ad∣ding any Water to the Herbs, (which too many Apothecaries do) and having closed the head to the body, by pasting slips of Paper, of the breadth of an Inch, or a little more, round about the jun∣cture, with Starch or Yest; kindle your fire gradually, and continue it to a heat so gentle, that your
hand may endure it on any part of the Head; and so you will di∣still your Waters without smelling of being burned, provided you have put ashes to the thickness of an Inch and half between the plate and the body or bottom of your Pewter Alembick.
If you make use of a Copper Alembick, you must fill the bucket with cold Water, and assoon as you finde the Water to be hot in the said bucket head, you must tap it off, and fill it up again with cold Water.
The reason why you are not to fill the body of the Alembick with Herbs, is, because should you fill it up, the bottome of the cake of the Herbs will be dried and burnt, before the top is half dry or di∣stilled off.
TAke of the juice of green Walnut-peel a pint, of the juice of Rue three quarters of a pint, of the juices of Marigold-leaves, Baume, and of Carduus Benedictus, of each half a pint, Butterbur-roots four ounces and a half, Burdock-roots a quarter of a pound, Master-wort and Angelica-roots, of each two ounces, Water-Germander-leaves one handful, Venice Treacle and Mithri∣date of each two ounces, Canary-Wine three pints, sharp French Vinegar a pint and an half, juice of Limons half a pint.
The Walnut-peel, Rue, Mari∣gold-leaves, Baume and Carduus Benedictus must be each severally bruised into a sappy mass in a stone Mortar, or a Lignum vitae Mortar, and pressed through a fine Canvas cloath in a small Press. The fine Canvas cloath for strain∣ers you buy at the Linnen Drapers at ten pence the yard. The small Presses you may buy at the Turn∣ers at Hosier-lane end, next to Smithfield, from three shillings to six or seven, according to their bigness; or possibly you may buy one at second hand big enough for your use, at the same Shops, for eighteen pence or less.
The reason why you are to bruise the Walnut-peel, Rue, and
the other Herbs severally, is, be∣cause you are to have an exact measure of each of their Juices; For should you bruise Marigold-leaves, Baume, and Carduus, of each the same quantity together, yet you would not have the same measure of Juices from them, in regard one Herb yields far more Juice than another; though at the same time I know several Apothe∣caries, to save trouble, do bruise the foresaid Herbs together, which notwithstanding must be imputed an error in the exactness of pre∣paring Treacle-Water.
Observe, that Apothecaries com∣monly take the green Walnuts whole, that is, Nuts and Peel a∣bout them, before they are quite ripe, and bruise them in a stone-Mortar together, in order to the expressing of the Juice out of them. Moreover note, that about
fifty Walnuts will go near to yield a Pint of Juice.
2. The Butter-bur, Burdock, Masterwort, and Angelica-roots must be fresh taken out of the ground, and may be bruised to∣gether into a mash; the Water-Germander-leaves must be dryed, stript from their stalks, and beaten in a Mortar into a course powder; or they may be used green, and beaten in a Mortar to a mash, or shred small with a knife.
3. Put all these together with the Treacle and Mithridate into a glass Body, and pour on them the several juices, and the Canary Wine, mix∣ing them well by shaking them gently together, and fasten a blind head to the said glass Body, by applying round the juncture (or the place where they are joined) a Hogs Bladder cut into long slips, the breadth of two fingers, and
dipt in Whites of Eggs, beaten thin into a Water: or put all those Ingredients into a Glass Retort Receiver, the mouth whereof stop with a piece of Cork fitted to it, and fasten a piece of Bladder over that. About the said Receiver tye two or three pieces of Brick, to make it sink into a Kettle of Wa∣ter, hanging over a gentle Fire, wherein let it stand some twelve, or four and twenty hours at long∣est. Then empty the Receiver into a glass Body, which being covered with its glass Head or Alembick, and closed about the Juncture with slips of Paper and Starch, or a Hogs Bladder dipt into Whites of Eggs, put into a Sand-pan, hanging in a portable Furnace, there being the breadth of two fingers of Sand under the Glass, fill the Pan with Sand, kindle the Fire gradually under it, and so let it
distil off, until the Ingredients are almost dry.
Note, That those Bodies that are called quart Bodies, always are to contain two quarts, if they were filled to the top. Likewise a Pottle Body is to hold a Gallon, and a Gallon Body two Gallons. Likewise a quart Receiver is to hold a Pottle; and the others proportionably the double.
2. Observe, That the Apotheca∣ries commonly (without other di∣gestion than letting it stand three or four days in their Shops in a great glass) distil this and other compound Waters in a small Copper Still with a Bucket Head; but then those Waters shall not be so full of vertue, nor so pure, as the Waters distilled in a Glass.
So that for seven Shillings and ten Pence you may expect near four Quarts of excellent Treacle-Water, which is about ten pence three farthings the pint, and scarce three farthings the ounce, compu∣ting according to the content of their retail measure, sixteen ounces
to the Pint, which according to Physical measure, ought to contain twelve Ounces.
The Apothecaries prices of Trea∣cle Water by the pint, is three shil∣lings six pence; some will not sell it for less than four shillings: by the ounce, four pence; others will sell for three pence. Some few Apothecaries in stead of Canary put in a decayed Malaga or Brandy: and for juyce of Limons put in Lime juice, and make use of their worst sort of Treacle and Mithri∣date; wherefore they sell Treacle-Water somewhat cheaper than the ordinary price.
TAke of the roots of Tormentil, Angelica, Peony M. Liquo∣rish,
Elicampane, of each half an Ounce; of the Leaves of Sage, the greater Celandine, Rue, the tops of Rosemary, Wormwood, Sundew, Mugwort, Burnet, Dragons, Scabious, Agrimony, Baume, Carduus Bene∣dictus, Betony, the lesser Centaury, of the leaves and flowers of Marigolds, of each a handful; steep them four days in four quarts of the best White-wine, and distil them in ashes in a glass Alembick.
Note, Instead of putting Sand in∣to the Sand pan of your portable Furnace, you must put in ashes, or rather Saw-dust, for to set the glass Alembick in to distil.
You must bruise the Roots in a Stone, or Lignum Vitae Mortar; shred the leaves, and bruise them
also in a Mortar, and put them into such a glass stopt close, and fixt in warm Water, as was exprest in the Preparation of the foregoing Water.
The Pint of this Plague Water costs you seven pence; in regard the whole Distillation will yield somewhat more than eight Pints, the Ounce will come to less than three farthings, computing Physi∣cally
twelve ounces onely to the Pint.
By the Pint three Shillings six Pence, and some sell it at four Shillings.
By the Ounce three Pence, and some four Pence.
TAke of Cloves, Galangal, Cu∣bebs, Mace, Cardamoms, Nut∣megs, Ginger, of each a dram; juice of Celandine half a pint; Spirits of Wine one pint; Whitewine three pints. Steep them four and twenty hours, and then distil them in ashes in a glass Alembick.
The manner of steeping and di∣stilling
of this Water, is the same with the foregoing. Most Apothe∣caries and Distillers draw this Wa∣ter off in a Copper Still with a Bucket Head, or with one that goeth with a Worm.
The Spices before mentioned must be beaten to a course pow∣der only; for if you endeavour to bring them into a fine powder, their principal vertue is apt to fly away in powdering.
By Spirits of Wine is here meant the best Nants Brandy.
Observe, You are to distil this Water only half off, and leave the other half in the Still; because the first half will contain all the Spirits and vertue of the Ingredients; where∣as the other remaining half is found to be flat, and sit for no other use, than to wash your hands; though it is to be feared, that such as are greedy of gain, distil it almost quite off.
The Pint comes to seventeen or eighteen pence.
The Ounce comes to five far∣things, or a little less.
By the pint three shillings six pence, and some four shillings.
By the ounce three pence, and some four pence.
TAke a quarter of a Pound of Cinnamon, steep it four and twenty hours in three Quarts of Brandy, then distil it in ashes in a glass Alembick, which renders a pu∣rer Water by much than a copper Still.
Observe, You are to bruise the Cinnamon gross, and into every Pint of the distilled Water you must dissolve two Ounces of the best white Sugar.
Here is a great deal of hot burn∣ing Brandy to a little Cinnamon, wherefore you will do better in preparing it thus.
Take three quarters of a pound
of Cinnamon bruised, steep it eight and forty hours in a quart of Rose-Water, and a pint of Whitewine; then distil it, as long as it drops milkie, in a glass Alembick in Bal∣neo; that is, in Water poured into your Sand-pan, instead of Sand or Ashes; but if your Pan be not large enough to contain a sufficient quantity of Water, you may make use of Saw-dust instead of the Water, and keep a very moderate fire in the Furnace.
What this Water will stand you in, you may easily compute your self.
TAke of Garden and Sea-Scur∣vey-grass leaves, of each three pound, press the juice out of them;
and thereunto mix of the juices of Water-cresses and Brooklime, three quarters of a pint; the best White-wine two quarts; Limons cut into small slices, six in number; Briony roots newly taken out of the ground two pound; Hors-radishes one pound; Winters bark a quarter of a pound; Nutmegs two ounces: steep them three days, and distil them in Ashes in a glass Alembick, or copper Still with a Bucket Head.
The Briony and Horse-radish Roots must be bruised together in a stone Mortar, the Winters bark and the Nutmegs are to be beaten to a gross powder in a brass Mortar. The juices are to be pressed out of the said Herbs, in the same manner as was told you in the preparation of Treacle-water.
Put the Ing••••dients into a glass Receiver, and pour the Juices on them; stop the Glass very close with a Cork and a Bladder, and place it in a cool Cellar for two or three days.
Observe, 1. If you should let those Ingredients stand in steep in hot Ashes, Sand, or warm Water, that would certainly diminish the vertue of those light flying Salts and Spirits.
2. The juice of Limons mortify∣ing the said light flying Salts and Spirits, may be more conveniently left out than added.
3. When this Water hath been kept a month or two, though never so close stopt, you may be certain it hath lost very much of its vertue.
4. This Water being distilled, as exactly as may be, yet is not half so effectual as some Spirits, which are published in my last Treatise of the Scurvie.
Upon the valuation of the Herbs, Roots, and Bark, according to the Rates I have already informed you before, you shall finde, that this Water may be prepared at six or eight pence the pint, and at a half penny the ounce.
The Apothecaries commonly sell this Water at three shillings six pence the Pint, and three pence the Ounce.
TAke of the Iuice of Briony-roots one pint, of the leaves of Rue and Mugwort, of each half a pound; Savin dryed, a little less than a handful; Fetherfew, Nip, Penny-royal,
Basil, of each half a handful; of the outside of fresh Orange-peel one ounce; Myrrhe half an ounce; Castor a quarter of an ounce; Canary-wine three pints: steep them four days in a Glass well stopt, and then distil them off in a glass Alembick in Balneo, or warm water.
The dryed Herbs, which are the Savin and Penny-royal, may be beaten together to a gross pow∣der.
The other Herbs, which must be green and fresh, are to be shred small, or beaten to mash in a wooden or stone Mortar.
The Myrrhe must be poudered by it self, and the Castor cut into small thin slices: mix all these to∣gether, and pour on them the Wine and Briony-juice.
This Water, when it is distilled as it ought to be, is not good e∣nough to wash your hands, and consequently of little vertue to be taken inwardly; for not a quarter of the strength of the In∣gredients doth come over the Helm; Wherefore let me advise you rather to prepare this Water against Fits, thus:
Instead of the Juice of Briony, Take dried Briony-roots, beaten to a gross powder, two ounces; the rest of the Herbs being all dried, and the other Ingredients poudered gross, and in the same quantity as they are set down before. Instead of three pints of Canary, take a quart of the best Nants Brandy. Put them into a Glass, and let them steep six days in warm Ashes, then strain the liquor off, and keep it in a glass Bottle cork'd up for your use.
An half ounce of this Liquor
doth contain more vertue, than half a pint of the other distilled Water.
What this Liquor or Water will stand you in, is not difficult to compute, by what is informed you before; therefore I shall spare the pains of summing it up here.
The Apothecaries prices are three shillings six pence, or four shillings the pint; and three pence or four pence the ounce.
THis compound Water is so ridiculous, that I am asha∣med to see it in any Dispensatory; for the chief thing aimed at is, through the cool, clammy, and glutinous substance of the liquor of Snails, 1. To cool the heat of the
Hectick Fever. 2. To repair the parts consumed. 3. To facilitate Expectoration, that is, to make the matter come up easie by Cough, through its lenifying quality, whereby it sweeteneth the humors, by allaying those gnawing Salts that prey on the Lungs. Now in distilling of the Snails, there is no part of their unctuous or glutinous Liquor passeth the Alembick, but a meer Elementary Water. The same may be said also of the Hogs Blood. For this and other reasons I do commend to you this following Liquor of Snails.
Take of Garden-snails, especially those off a Vine, with their shells, a pound; first wash them well with water and a little salt, then wash them once or twice more with fair water, to wash off the salt; bruise them with their shells in a stone Mor∣tar
to a mash; adde to them Ground-Ivie, Speedwell, Lungwort, Scabious, Burnet, Coltsfoot, and Nettle-tops, of each a handful; English Liquoris, half an ounce; Dates stoned, twelve in number; of the four greater cold Seeds, and Marshmallow seeds, of each one dram and half; Saffron a scruple. Put them into a new glazed Pipkin, and pour on them a quart of Spring-water; fasten the Cover close to the Pipkin, by pasting it round with Dough. Let it stand twelve hours up∣on hot Cinders, or rather in a Kettle of hot water over the fire; then strain and press out the Liquor, dis∣solving into it, while it's warm, a quarter of a pound of clarified Ho∣ney; put it into a Glass, and keep it in the Cellar.
Note, That the Herbs must be shred, the Seeds bruised, and the Liquoris cut small.
What concerns the other compound Waters described in the Dispensato∣ry, they either agreeing in vertue with some of these forementioned, or being not very aptly composed, or other Medicines being at hand, that instead of them may immedi∣ately, according to the Prescription of your Family-Physician, be pre∣pared with far greater profit and benefit to the Patient; for those reasons I have omitted setting down any more of the said Dispensatory-Waters.
TAke Marshmallow-roots, two ounces; Grass-roots, Aspara∣gus-roots,
Liquoris raspt, and Rai∣sins stoned, of each half an ounce; red Cicers, one ounce; the tops of Marsh∣mallows, Mallows, Pellitory, Burnet, Plantane, Wall-rue, and Maidenhair, of each one handful; the four greater cold Seeds, and the four lesser cold Seeds, of each three drams. Boil them in three quarts of fair water unto two quarts; strain the Liquor into your Syrup-pan, and dissolve into it three pounds and half of good Bahi Sugar, which will go as far as four pounds of Barbadoes, and preserve the Syrup much better.
The Marshmallow-roots, by scra∣ping with a knife, must be freed from those strings that hang about them; likewise their hard cordy substance must be taken away from them; then wash them well,
and bruise them in the Mortar. Also wash the Grass-roots and A∣sparagus-roots, and bruise them; scrape off the black outside from the Liquoris, and bruise it into strings, or rasp it; wash the Herbs clean, for cleanliness in preparing of Medicines is wholsome, and no less commendable than it is in Cookery.
First then put into your Pipkin (being placed on a clear fire, and containing three quarts of water) the Marshmallow, Asparagus, and Grass-roots, because they require longest boiling; a while after put in the Cicers, and not long after that put in the Herbs, being shred; the next you must put in, are the Seeds, Liquoris, and Raisins: be∣ing sufficiently boil'd, strain and press the Liquor out, and then clarifie it. The manner how to clarifie Decoctions and Apozemes,
you shall be informed of at the end of this Chapter.
Having dissolved your Sugar to the Decoction, boil it gently, until it comes to the due thickness of a Syrup.
Note, The four greater cold Seeds are these: 1. Pompion. 2. Cucum∣ber. 3. Gourge. 4. Melon-seeds.
The four lesser cold Seeds are, 1. Succory. 2. Endive. 3. Lettice. 4. Purslain-seeds.
For which you have five pints, eight ounces, allowing the fourth
part waste, which evaporates in the boiling it up to a Syrup: so that it will stand you in about three far∣things the ounce.
By the pint, two shillings.
By the ounce, three pence.
TAke fragrant Gilli flowers, cut off from their white strings, one pound; pour on them a quart of Spring-water, and let them stand all night. Then strain the Liquor, and being gently warmed, dissolve there∣in four pound of the whitest Sugar, without boiling it.
1. Buy the most fragrant Gilli∣flowers, that are newly gathered, at ten or twelve pence the peck.
2. Put them into a large pewter Flagon, or a new earthen glased Pipkin, and pour the Water, be∣ing warmed, upon them; then stop your Flagon, or earthen Vessel very close, and place it all night in the Cellar.
3. Strain off your tinctured liquor, without much pressing the Strainer, in regard you are not to clarifie it, as other Liquors are for Syrups; for that would occasion a great loss of those fragrant Cordial Spirits.
4. Place your Syrup-pan over a very gentle Charcoal-fire burn∣ing clear without the least smoak, and let your liquor be only luke∣warm;
then put in the Sugar, be∣ing powdered and sifted gradually, stirring it about very gently with a long Steel Spatula, or slice (which you may buy big enough for your turn for ten pence at the Rasor∣makers.) As soon as you finde the Sugar all dissolved, take it off immediately, without letting it boil or be hot.
TAke Red Poppy-flowers newly gathered, two pound; steep them one day and night in two quarts of warm water; strain and press out the liquor, which you must not clarifie, but adde to it three pound and half of good Bahi-sugar, and boil it gently to a Syrup.
The better way to make this
Syrup is thus: Take two pints of the Iuice of Red Poppy-flowers, cla∣rifie it after the same manner as shall be taught you at the latter end of this Chapter; put to it a pound and three quarters of Bahi-sugar, and boil it gently to a Syrup.
It will come to three farthings the ounce.
By the ounce three pence;
Which is the common price of most Syrups, excepting Laxative Syrups, and Syrup of the juice of Pomgranates, which are sold at six pence the ounce.
By the Instructions set down here in this Chapter, you may easily at∣tempt the making any Syrup, and therefore I shall adde no more.
In the preparation of the Syrup of Marshmallows, the manner of clarifying Decoctions was referred to the latter end of this Chapter, which is thus: Having strained your Decoction (being only warm, not hot) through a canvas or woollen Strainer, pour about a pint thereof into a Bafon, wherein you have put before two whites of Eggs, beaten with a Rod of small twigs, and their shells crusht with your hands: mix them well together by stirring them with a spoon, or rather beating them into a froth with the foresaid Rod of twigs; then put in another pint of the Decoction, and mix it as before. This done, set it over the fire, and let it boil a little until you see a scum a top; then take it off, and let it cool a little, and then strain it, and let it run through without squeezing or pressing it.
Note, That two Whites of Eggs, with their Shells, are sufficient for clarifying a quart or three pints of Decoction.
The manner of clarifying Apo∣zems is only thus: Having clarified the Decoction as before is set down, you heat it again, and when it beginneth to boil, mix the Syrup with it, and let it continue on the fire until it casts up a scum, then strain it twice or thrice, being half grown cold.
The manner of clarifying Honey or Sugar will be inserted in another Chapter below.
TAke a pound of red Rose-flow∣ers, gathered in a dry season, before they are quite spread; and their yellow bottoms clipt from them with a pair of Sissers, bruise them well in a stone Mortar into an even smooth Mass like a Pulp; adde to it two pound of white Sugar, mixing it by degrees with the Roses, by grinding them together with a wooden Pestle until all the Sugar be thorowly incor∣porated with the Roses. Then put the Conserve into a stone pot, covering it only with a paper, and let it stand a fortnight or three weeks in the Sun, stirring it about once or twice a week with a steel Slice or Spatula.
TAke of the tops only of common Wormwood, freed from its stalks, half a pound; beat them in a stone or marble Mortar to an exact pulp, mixing with it a pound and half of the best white Sugar, in the same manner as was directed in making Conserve of red Roses.
Most Conserves are made the same way, adding a double quantity of Sugar to the pulp of what Flow∣ers or Herbs you intend to conserve, excepting onely some sower and bitter Herbs and Flowers, which require somewhat more Sugar.
The price of Conserves at the A∣pothecaries is two pence the ounce, and two shillings eight pence the pound; excepting some few, as Con∣serve
of Rosemary-flowers (which is six pence the ounce) and suchlike.
If you prepare the Conserves your self, you will save above two Thirds in the price, and probably may prove much better; for usually Apothecaries put up their Conserves crude or raw, without digesting them by the heat of the Sun; for which defect they neither keep so long, nor are they so safe to be used.
TAke of the best white Sugar, half a pound; white Sugar∣candy, and Penide Sugar, of each two
ounces; Florence Orris-root, half an ounce; Liquoris, six drams; of the finest Flour, or Starch-flour, six drams; with the mucilage of Gum∣dragant extracted in Rose-water, make them up into small Lozenges.
1. The white Sugar, the Sugar∣candy, and Penide Sugar, must be pounded and sifted.
2. Penide Sugar is prepared thus: Dissolve the best Bahi Sugar in water over a gentle fire; then clarifie it with Whites of Eggs, in manner as hath been told you; next strain it through a cloath, and let it stand again over a gentle fire, and boil away, until it comes to such a bodie that it will stick to your Teeth; then being almost cooled, pour it on a Marble Stone, being a little anoint∣ed
over with Oyl of sweet Al∣monds, keeping it together in a bodie as near as you can with your fingers, being dusted over with a little Starch-flour. When it is grown almost quite cold, and ropie, take it up with a steel fork, to make it hang in ropes, which with your hand, being dusted with fine flour, you may twine into what shape you please. This being so prepared, is called Penide Sugar.
3. The Orris-roots must be pow∣dered and sifted; likewise the Li∣quoris powdered in this manner. Take dried Liquoris, scrape off the brown with a knife, round about; then cut it into small bits with a knife that is made of the same Me∣tal which Shoemakers knives are made of. These put into a brass Mortar, and beat into powder.
Observe, It being very trouble∣some to beat Liquoris into powder,
you may buy it ready poudered at the Druggists at a very small rate, which you may read in the Catalogue of Prices belonging to this Treatise.
4. The Starch-flour must be gently rubbed into a powder in a Mortar; and then mix all of them together in the same Mortar, by stirring the Pestil round about; then pour to it as much mucilage of Gum-dragant as will suffice to bring the Powders into a Paste, and beat it well together. The Paste being rol∣led into long round Bodies, or little Columns, of the bigness of your little finger, cut them into small round pieces, like Parsenips are cut, when they are to be eaten buttered.
5. The mucilage of Gum-dra∣gant is made only by steeping a little of the said Gum in Rose-water so long, until it become thickish; which it will do in twelve or eigh∣teen hours.
What this Composition will a∣mount unto, you may easily com∣pute by perusing the Catalogue of Prices.
The Apothecaries sell these white Lozenges at three pence the ounce.
TAke juice of Liquoris, and of the best white Sugar, of each one ounce and quarter; Gum-dra∣gant and sweet Almonds blanched, of each six drams, or three quarters of an ounce; make them up into Lozenges with the mucilage of Quince-seeds.
The Instructions given you for the preparing the foregoing Lozen∣ges, will sufficiently guide you in the Preparation of these; only I must adde the manner of poudering the Gum-dragant.
Your Gum-dragant being well dried, put into a brass Mortar, whose bottom hath been heated somewhat hotter than your hand can endure, by setting it upon the fire, or put∣ting hot burning coals into it; and after it is well heated, put out the coals, and wipe it clean with a linnen cloath: Moreover, you must also heat the end of the Iron Pestle very well. Then covering the Mortar with a cover that hath a hole through it for the Pestle to pass, beat the Gum to powder, and sift it; what is unsifted put into the Mortar again, which if it be not hot enough, you must heat again in manner as hath been told you. Lastly observe, that you must put in a fourth part more into the Mortar, than is set down in the Prescription; because at least a fourth part will waste in the powdering.
TAke prepar'd Pearl, Crabs Eyes, red Coral, white Am∣ber, Harts-horn, Oriental Bezoar-Stone, of each a quarter of an ounce; of the black tops of Crabs claws, one ounce and half; beat them all into powder, and mix them. The mixt Powdery ou may make into Balls, by incorporating it with Gelly of Harts∣horn, or thin mucilage of Gum-ara∣bick extracted with Carduus-water.
The Preparation of Pearl, Crabs eyes, red Coral, Bezoar, and Crabs claws, is only thus: You must first reduce them into a fine powder, and sift them. Afterwards grinde them into a most subtil and smooth powder or dust upon a Marble, or Porphyr stone, with a Muller, dropping now and then a few drops of Rose-water into the powder, to keep it from dispersing or flying up. The Harts-horn must be grated, and afterwards beaten in a brass Mortar into a fine powder, and sifted. The white Amber, that is, the lightest yellow, must be beaten and ground with a Pestle into a subtil powder, and sifted by it self. After∣wards mix all the powders well in the Mortar, by stirring and moving them together with the Pestle.
For which expence you may expect two ounces and five drams, allowing two drams or something more for waste.
The ounce will stand you in something less than five shillings.
The dram at seven pence half∣peny.
You may take notice, that this Powder may be prepared at a far lower rate, for the poorer sort; and
for what I know, may prove more effectual: thus, Instead of Oriental Pearl, take Occidental; and pro∣bably the finest sort of Mother of Pearl doth exceed either; that is, if prepared as it ought to be. In lieu of Oriental Bezoar, take Occi∣dental; which being much chea∣per, doth not so much encourage fraudulent people to counterfeit them: and therefore in my opi∣nion, certain Occidental Bezoar may justly be preferred before the uncertain Oriental. But what if the Bezoar be wholly left out, and double the proportion of Pearl that's put in, where is the damage? So that the dram of Gascons Pow∣der will come under three half∣pence.
The ounce at forty shillings.
The dram at five shillings.
The grain at one penny.
TAke the marrow of Cartha∣mum-seeds, and of the best Turbith, of each half an ounce; the purest Scammony, Hermodactyls, and Liquoris, of each two drams; Gin∣ger, Cinnamon, Gum-dragant, of each one dram; beat them all to a powder, and mix them.
Observe, Though this Powder is not in the London-Dispensatory, yet is of great use, and therefore I have inserted it here.
1. With a knife gently scrape off the hard dust that's dried about the Hermodactyls, then grate them upon a fine Grater into a powder.
2. The Turbith, Ginger, and Liquoris, powder together, adding two or three sweet Almonds, which being powdered with the others, will hinder them from wasting, or flying up into dust. Being pow∣dered, sift them.
3. The Gum-dragant is to be powdered as was expressed in the Preparation of the common black Lozenges.
4. The Scammony must be pow∣dered by it self, anointing the in∣side bottom of the Mortar, and the end of the Pestle, with a little Oyl of sweet Almonds, to hinder the Scammony from clotting, or sticking to the bottom of the Mortar, and the end of the Pestle. The Scammony being powdered, needs not be sifted.
5. All the Ingredients being powdered in manner before said, you must mix together in a Mortar,
and then put them up into a Species Glass, tying it over with a Hogs Bladder and Leather.
For which you shall have, allow∣ing waste and garbles, fourteen drams, or sometimes more, according to the purity of the Ingredients.
The dram will come to no more than two farthings and a half.
If the Apothecaries did prepare this Powder, they might afford it by the ounce at eighteen pence.
By the dram at two pence.
TAke Cinnamon, Lignum Aloës, Asarabacca-roots, Spikenard, Mastich, Saffron, of each three drams; Aloës six ounces and a quarter: beat them into powder.
1. The Cinnamon, Asarabacca∣roots, Spikenard, and Saffron, may be powdered together, and sifted.
2. The Mastich must be pow∣dered by it self, wetting the bot∣tom of the Mortar, and end of the Pestle with a little Rose-water, or any other distill'd water.
3. To powder the Aloës, you must anoint the bottom of the Mortar, and end of the Pestle, with a little Oyl of sweet Almonds, to hinder it from sticking.
4. At last mix all the Powders together in a Mortar.
For which you have (allowing waste) a little more than seven ounces.
By the ounce two shillings.
By the dram three pence, or as much as they can get.
TAke Cinnamon, Cassia Lignea, of each a quarter of an ounce; Scordium, or Water Germander, half an ounce; Dictamnum Creticum, or Dictander of Candia, Gentian, Tor∣mentil, Bistort, Galbanum, Gum∣arabick, of each two drams; of the best Opium, two scruples and five grains; Storax, two drams and fif∣teen grains; Sorrel-seeds, two
scruples, and five grains; Bole-ar¦mene, six drams; Terra Lemniae, two drams; clarified Honey, one pound and a quarter; Sugar of Ro∣ses, or rather Conserve of red Roses, half a pound; Canary-wine, a quar∣ter of a pint. Make them up into a soft Electuary.
Notwithstanding I have with good reason left out the Ginger and Pepper, yet the Composition seems to me very confused; but be it as it is, I will shew you how to prepare it.
The Cinnamon, Cassia Lignea, Dictamnum Creticum, Tormentil, Bistort, and Sorrel-seeds, may be powdered and sifted together. The Germander-leaves dried, and stript from their stalks, must be powdered, and sifted by it self.
The Bole-armene, and Terra Lemnia, must be powdered, and rubbed, or grownd with a Pestle into a very smooth powder, wet∣ting the bottom of the Mortar and end of the Pestle with a little Rose-water, or other distill'd wa∣ter. The Gum-arabick must be powder'd in the same manner as Gum-dragant is powder'd in the preparation of the black Lozenges, or else you may dissolve it into a Mucilage in the Canary-wine, that is to be added to the Composi∣tion. The Storax must be pow∣der'd by it self, rubbing the bot∣tom of the Mortar, and end of the Pestle, with a slit Almond. The Opium cut into thin slices, and thorowly dry in the Sun, or over the Fire, so that it may crumble between your fingers; then pow∣der and sift it. The Sugar of Roses must also be powdered and
sifted. Mix all these powders well in a Mortar, in that manner as hath been said before. Then adde the clarified Honey to it by degrees, incorporating it thorowly with the powder, by stirring the Pestle a∣bout. In the same manner put in gradually your Canary-wine, of which put in so much as will bring it into a body of a soft Electuary.
The Ingredients of the whole Composition, weighing almost two pounds, will stand you in three shillings and six pence, which is near two and twenty pence the pound.
By the ounce four pence or six pence, or as much as they can get.
By the pound five shillings and four pence, or six shillings.
TAke Polypody of the Oak, new Currans pickt from their stalks, Sena, of each two ounces; common Mercury-leaves, one hand∣ful and half; Iujubes and Sebestens, of each twenty in number; Mai∣denhair, Violets, and Perl-Barley, of each half a handful; Damask-Prunes stoned, Tamarinds, of each six drams; Liquoris half an ounce; boil them in two quarts of water, un∣til a third part be boil'd away; strain the Liquor, and therein dissolve of the pulp of Cassia, Tamarinds, new Prunes, and Sugar of Violets, of each six ounces; of the best Sugar, two pound. At last add to them, of Sena powder'd, one ounce and half; and to every pound of Electuary, two drams of Anniseeds powdered; and so after∣wards
bring them into the body of an Electuary.
1. The Polypody-roots being wash'd clean, must be bruised in a Mortar, or cleft with a Knife into four parts, and afterwards cut into small pieces like as Sar∣saparil is cut: These with the Perl∣barley must be put in somewhat longer than a quarter of an hour before the other Ingredients; next put in the Mercury-leaves, and Maidenhair, being washt clean from sand or dirt, and shred; a little after put in the Jujubes sto∣ned, Sebestens, Currans, Prunes, Tamarinds and Liquoris bruised in the Mortar; at last put in the Sena; and so let them boil in six quarts of water, until one quart be boil'd away. Then strain the
Liquor, while it is warm, into a glased earthen Pan, or copper tin∣ned Preserving-pan; dissolve in it the white Sugar, and the Sugar of Violets; or instead thereof put in the same quantity of white Sugar, and boil it gently to the thick∣ness of a Syrup. This done, put the pulps of Cassia, and the other pulps, into a brass Mortar, and adde to them about the third part of your powder of Sena and Anni∣seeds, and pour on them about the third part of the foremention∣ed Syrup, while it is yet warm, and mix them very well together with a steel Slice (or Spatula) or a Pestle; then adde another third part of the powders of Sena and Anniseeds, mixing them well to∣gether; and so at last put in the remaining third part of Powders and Syrup; which being also well mixt toghether, makes up your
Lenitive Electuary. This put up into a stone Electuary-pot.
2. I must shew you how to extract the pulp of Cassia. Take a pound and half of the best Cassia in Canes, crush them into pieces, that you may take out all the in∣side, together with the Grains, which put into a hair Sieve, and hold it over the steem of warm water, wherein a few Anniseeds have been boil'd, or over the De∣coction (being warm) which was prepared for the Lenitive Electu∣ary, so that the steem thereof pas∣sing through the Sieve, may moisten and dissolve the marrow of the Cassia. While this is doing, you must with the back of a spoon stir and press the said marrow through the Sieve, and gently with the hollow of your spoon take it off on the other side; and so con∣tinue to do, until all the marrow
is passed through. Moreover, if your Cassia be very dry, you may moisten it a little with the warm Decoction, that it may pass the easier. On the other hand, if the pulp of the Cassia be too moist or liquid when it is passed, you must put it on a Tin Plate, or a flat earthen glased Pan, and set it over a Chafing-dish to dry the superflu∣ous moisture from it, until it come to the thickness of an Electuary. About a quarter of a pound of good Cassia, or somewhat more, in Canes, is usually found to yield an ounce of pulp.
3. You are to know the man∣ner of extracting the pulp of Ta∣marinds. Put a sufficient propor∣tion of Tamarinds into a Mortar, and pour to it as much warm wa∣ter as will but just soften it, and a little dissolve it; for otherwise they being sticking and glewie,
the pulp will not pass through the Sieve. Then with the Pestle gent∣ly move and stir the Tamarinds about, that the warm water may incorporate with them. This so done, put the Mass into a Sieve, and press the pulp through in the same manner as hath been taught you in the extracting of the pulp of Cassia.
4. The manner of extracting the pulp of Prunes. Boil the Prunes in water, until they are pretty soft, then put them into a Sieve, and press through the pulp.
5. The manner of preparing Su∣gar of Violets. Take two ounces of the juice of Violets, and as much Violet-water, therein dissolve one pound of white Sugar. Boil them in a Preserving-pan over a Chafing-dish of Charcoal, until they come to a just thickness; which you shall know by these several trials: 1. By
dropping a drop off the point of a Knife, or steel Slice on a Plate, and let it grow cold: if it prove hard enough, so that you may take it off the Plate without sticking, it is boil'd enough. 2. By taking some of it on the point of a knife, and let it drop into the Pan again; which if it be enough, it will drop a top of the surface, and conti∣nue raised on it like a knob. 3. By letting a little cool on the point of a knife, and then see whether it be hard enough.
Lastly observe, while the Violet-juice, Water, and Sugar are boiling, you must oft stir it with a steel Slice, or long-handled spoon or knife, to prevent it from burning at the bottom.
Because of the Affinity of this Preparation with the foregoing, and that a little father information will serve, I thought fit to set down the manner of preparing Sugar of Roses.
Dissolve a pound of the best white Sugar, being powdered and sifted, into four ounces of red Rose-water, or into two ounces of red Rose-water, and as much of the juice of red Roses; boil it to a just body, mixing it with one ounce of red Rose-leaves, dried in the Sun and powdered, a little before it be ready to be taken off from the fire.
When your Sugar of Roses or Violets is taken off from the Fire, and hath stood a little for to cool, put it on a clean smooth Marble∣stone, whereon you must have dusted a little fine Flour, by tying it up in a fine rag; and then beating the said rag all over the stone (this being done, to prevent the sticking of the Lozenges to the Stone) afterwards take a small Rolling-pin, such as is used for Paste, and dust it likewise over with fine Flour: with this Rolling-pin smooth the top of the Sugar, being almost grown cold; then with a Knife cut it into Lozenges of such shape and bigness you fancie best.
For which you shall have five pounds, and somewhat more, of Electuary Lenitive; so that it will not stand you in above sixteen pence farthing the pound; and the ounce will come but to one penny.
The pound four shillings.
The ounce four pence.
TAke of the pulp of Colocynth, six drams; Agarick, black Hellebore-root, Scammony, Turbith, of each half an ounce; Aloës Succo∣trine, one ounce; of the powder of Diarrhodon Abbatis, half an ounce. All these (excepting the powder or Species of Diarrhodon Abbatis) must be beaten into a gross pow∣der, and put into a digesting-Glass, viz. a glass Body, and blinde Head, or into a bolt Head with a wide neck, pouring upon them as much Brandy as will cover them, and eight fingers breadth higher;
so let them stand in the Sun to steep for eight days. Afterwards in the same manner infuse the powder of Diarrhodon Abbatis in Brandy for four days: then strain and press the Liquor or Tincture hard from both the Infusions, and mix them, pouring them into a glass Body, covered with a glass Head; and distill off as much of the moisture, until the remainder in the bottom of the glass Body come to the thickness of Honey, whereof make a mass of Pills, and put it up into a stone Pill-pot.
1. Whoever caused this descri∣ption to be inserted into the Dis∣pensatory, discovered himself very much unexperienced in Chymical Pharmacy, by directing the Aloës and Scammony to be infused with
the other Ingredients; for the Aloës and Scammony immediately saturating or clogging the body of the Brandy, hinder its Spirits in attracting the virtue out of the other purgative Ingredients, there being not a third part of their virtue extracted.
2. The Powder of Diarrhodon Abbatis is not only troublesome, but chargeable to be prepared; and when it is prepared, signifies no more to the correcting of those strong Purgatives, than water to the washing a Blackmore white.
Wherefore instead of this Fob∣corrective, rather adde to those Purgatives one dram of Cinnamon, Clove-bark two scruples; both re∣duced to a gross powder, and put in with the other Ingredients. The volatile Salts and Spirits of those Spices being united with the Spirits of the Brandy, do not only render
them more potent to extract the virtue of the other Simples, but also qualifie them through their subtile particles, to maturate and digest the gross impure Sulphurs of those violent Purgatives, whereby they become more milde, and less offen∣sive to Nature, and heightned in their virtues.
1. BReak the Colocynth-Apples, and take out the white soft Marrow, flinging away the grains, or kernels. Then put the said Mar∣row into your brass Mortar, drop∣ping into it a few drops of Oyl of sweet Almonds, or of sweet Salade-oyl, and beat it to powder.
2. The Agarick will not be beaten into powder, but must be grated on a Tin Grater.
3. The black Hellebore and Tur∣bith may be beaten together into a powder.
4. Put all these Ingredients, to∣gether with the Spices beaten to a gross powder, into a digesting-Glass; and then pour the Brandy upon them, having dissolved into it one dram and a half of Salt of Tartar.
When the Liquor is sufficiently tinctured, strain it, and press it hard out into a low glass Body, to which you are then to adde the best Scam∣mony and Succotrine Aloës (which needs no other purification) each by it self grosly powdered, and sifted from the stalks, and other heterogeneous bodies that are usu∣ally incorporated with them. After this, distil off the moisture, until it comes to the thickness of Honey.
Twenty grains of this Prepara∣tion is more safe, and yet not less
effectual than fourty grains of the other.
For which you shall have about two ounces of Pil. Rudii.
The ounce comes to one shilling eleven pence three farthings.
The dram comes to three pence.
The ounce at four shillings.
The dram at six pence.
TAke of the powder of Hiera Picra (the preparation where∣of hath been shewed you before) and Agarick, of each half an ounce; the best Aloës, one ounce; Honey of Roses, as much as will suffice to bring the foresaid powders into a Mass.
1. The Agarick must be grated on a fine Grater.
2. The Aloës being powdered, must be mixt with the Honey of Roses, and afterward dissolved to∣gether over the fire.
3. The foresaid Powders being put into the Mortar, and mixt to∣gether, pour on them a third part of the Honey of Roses, with the Aloës dissolved in it; and mix it well with the Powders, by stirring the Pestle round: then adde to it the other third part, mixing it well together; and so do with the re∣maining third part. Afterwards, when the Honey is incorporated, and the mixture appears in clots, beat it well together with the Pestle until it comes to a Mass.
4. You must know how to pre∣pare Honey of Roses. By the way take notice, there are three sorts of Honey of Roses set down in the Dispensatory, viz. Common Honey of Roses, Honey of Roses clarified, and Honey of Roses laxative. It is the second sort of Honey of Roses is made use of in the incorporating the foresaid Mass of Pills, which is prepared thus.
Take two pound and half of clari∣fied Honey; the Iuice of red Roses newly gathered, a quarter of a pint; new red Rose-leaves, one pound; boil them together, until the Iuice of Ro∣ses be boil'd away; then strain it.
5. You must likewise be infor∣med how to clarifie Honey.
Take what quantity you please of Honey, put it into a new glased Pip∣kin, or a brass tinn'd Preserving-pan, pouring on every pound a pint of wa∣ter; let them boil up twice or thrice, to the end they may be throughly mixt together, and strain this Syrup once or twice through a close Canvas or Flannel Strainer. Then to every quart of Syrup adde the white of an Egg with the shell crush't to pieces, beating the said white of Egg with a Rod made of twigs, or a Spoon, into a froath, mixing with it a small part of the Syrup, while it is beating. Afterwards pour in the rest of the
Syrup, which you must let boil so long, until so much of the moisture is boil'd away that it comes to the thickness of Honey; then take it off the fire, and skim off the froath: but if the Honey be very foul, it's neces∣sary you should skim it while it's boiling.
What the powder of Hiera Pi∣era will stand you in, is set down before; the prices of Agarick and Aloës, you may easily finde among the Rates of Drugs inserted below, so that I need not take the trouble of computing this Composition.
To offer you the description, or manner of preparation of any of the other Masses of Pills that are contained in the Dispensatory, I judge absolutely superfluous, in regard that a Physician by pre∣scribing
the mixture of these two Masses (here described) in such proportions as he shall apprehend necessary, or by mixing one or both with some purgative Pow∣ders set down in one of the preceding Chapters, or by mix∣ing of either or both with some preparation of his own, according to the indication of the Disease or Cause thereof; I say, he may easily answer all those intentions, for which that excessive number of Masses of Pills, described in the Dispensatory, can be supposed ca∣pable to be used.
TAke half a pound or a pound of sweet Almonds, beat them in a stone or marble Mortar to a paste, pouring a spoonful or two of warm water among them while you are beating; put the Paste up close into a piece of Canvas, which press out gradually, so that it may onely drop into a porringer or bason which you have put under it.
One pound of good Almonds will yield about two ounces and a half of pure Oyl; which being drawn, you are to unscrue the
Press, and take out the cake of Al∣monds, and rowl it up again into a round lump; and being put up close into the same piece of fine Canvas, you may press again, and draw about one ounce and half or two ounces more of thick Oyl, which ought onely to serve for ex∣ternal uses. Oyl of bitter Almonds is drawn in the same manner. By the way. I must tell you that few Apothecaries draw Oyl of sweet Almonds themselves, in regard it is somewhat troublesome to draw, and soon turns rank; wherefore most Apothecaries about London buy it ready drawn at several places, but chiefly at the Sun in Cheapside, and at the Swan in Bucklersbury; where they may have it new, and at a cheaper rate than they can draw it themselves, namely, at two pence the ounce.
TAke Marshmallow-roots fresh, and Lin-seeds, of each a quar∣ter of a pound; bruise them in a Mortar singly, and steep them in a pint of water all night; then boil them a little, and press the Muci∣laginous liquor hard out: to a pint of this Mucilage adde a quart of common Oyl, and boil it until all the waterish moisture be dried away; but in the boiling you must be careful to stir it oft, or else it is apt to burn at the bottom.
TAke Verdigriese grown'd very fine, one ounce and a quarter; Honey, three ounces and a half; of the sharpest Vinegar, one ounce and three quarters: boil them on a gentle fire unto the thickness of an Oynt∣ment of a purple-colour.
The Verdigriese must be pow∣dered and grown'd very fine in a brass Mortar, and then passed through a fine linnen Cloath; ob∣serving while you are powdering
and sifting, to hold your head back from the Mortar, and keep your mouth and nose stopped with your Handkerchief, to prevent those venomous steems from getting up into your brain. After you have done using the Mortar, be sure to make it very clean before you use it again.
2. Put the Honey and Vinegar together into a brass pan, or broad brass pipkin placed on the fire; and as soon as it boileth, put in the powdered Verdigriese, and mix it with the Honey by stirring it gently with a Spatula. Boil it, and keep stirring now and then, until the Vinegar is boiled away, and that it come to the thickness of an Oynt∣ment; which you may easily know by letting a drop or two grow cold on the backside of a Plate or Mar∣ble Stone.
For which you shall have four ounces of Vnguent. Aegypt. the ounce comes to almost five far∣things.
The pound four shillings.
The ounce three pence.
In imitation of this Unguent, Felix Wurtz prepared his brown Oyntment, that is so much famed among most forreign Surgeons, thus:
1. Take Ground-Ivie, Speedwell, and Figwort, of each one handful; being bruised in a Mortar, put them into a glass Retort-Receiver, and pour on them as much sharp Vinegar as will cover them, and two inches over; let them stand in digestion in the Sun in the Summer, or in warm water in the Winter, for seven days; then strain and press the Vinegar hard from them.
2. Take of the best green Coppe∣ras two pound, put it into a thick blackish earthen Melting-pipkin, of no greater bigness than will just con∣tain the Vitriol. This place between Bricks laid so as to make a square Tower, about two inches larger than the Pipkin, and two inches higher. Fill this kind of open Furnace with Charcoal up to the top, and kindle it gradually, which in less than half an hour will make the Pipkin red-hot; continue this heat until the Copperas
be calcined, or burned into a deep red. Then take out the Pipkin, and being grown cold, break it, and take out the red Copperas, or Colchothar, which beat to powder, and put into a new Pipkin; pour on it one quart of River or Spring-water, and one pint of Vinegar; boil them until half be consumed away; then after it is setled pour off the tinctured Liquor into a flat earthen pan: This done, pour another quart of Spring-water upon the same red Vitriol; boil it away half, and after it is setled, pour off the tinctured Liquor to the other Li∣quor in the earthen pan; this repeat with fresh water, until the red Cop∣peras will colour the water no longer. Place the earthen pan between two Bricks set edge-wise, and kindle a very moderate fire under it, and let the water evaporate, or dry away, until the red Vitriol that was dissol∣ved in the said water, be left dry in
the bottom of the pan. This red dried Vitriol put into a new Pipkin, and calcine or burn it over again, as you did at first; that put in into ano∣ther Pipkin, and pour fresh water on it, and boil it as you did before, to extract the tincture, or dissolve the purest of the red Vitriol; then pour it off into your earthen pan, and pour more fresh water on the red Vitriol or Copperas in the Pipkin, and boil it to extract more of the tincture: thus continue until all is extracted, throw∣ing away the remaining dregs on the bottom; the tinctured Liquors eva∣porate again to a driness, and then calcine or burn the red Copperas re∣maining on the bottom a third time, and extract and evaporate it over again, in the same manner as before; which done, then the Copperas is prepared.
3. Take Verdigriese one ounce and half, powder it and put it into a glass;
pour on it half a pint of sharp distill'd Vinegar; let it stand in the Sun four or five days, or 24 hours in warm water; then pour off the Vinegar, be∣ing tinctured green, and evaporate it in an earthen pan, until it be dry.
The proportion of these prepa∣red Ingredients for to make the foresaid Brown Oyntment, is as fol∣loweth:
Take of the above-mentioned pre∣pared Copperas powdered, two ounces; of the prepared Verdigriese, one ounce and a quarter; clarified Honey, six ounces; of the Vinegar that was pressed from the Herbs, three ounces; of the Flegm of Vitriol, two ounces: boil them to the thickness of an Oyntment, in the same manner as was told you in the preparation of the Unguentum Aegyptiacum.
This Brown Oyntment, as it is here described, the preparation is
very tedious and troublesome; which you may make shorter, thus: Calcine the Vitriol six hours, then powder it, and extract the tincture with three quarts of water, and one pint of sharp Vinegar; evaporate it, and then it is sufficiently prepared.
The Verdigriese must be prepa∣red as it is set down before.
The Herbs need not be extracted with Vinegar; only press out their juices, and mix them with the Tin∣cture of Verdigriese.
The Honey need not be clarifi∣ed, only take off the scum, as it is boiling with the juices; then put in the other Ingredients, according as you have been informed be∣fore.
But far beyond this, I have for∣merly prescribed an Oyntment, that in malignant or sordid Ulcers, Joynt-waters, Fistula's, and other desperate cases, doth the greatest
Effects imaginable; which I here impart to you.
Take of the Vitriol of Venus, of the Vitriol of Mars, of each half an ounce; Sugar of Lead, two drams; Honey boiled up to a consistency, three ounces and half; Mithridate half an ounce; mix them together in the Mortar, without putting them over the fire. If your Oyntment happen to be too thick, either by over-boiling the Honey, or by driness of the wea∣ther drying the Oyntment after it is made, you may soften it with a little Honey of Roses, or rather Iuice of Celandine.
TAke of the Oyl of Mucilages, (which is described in the foregoing Chapter) one pound;
Wax half a pound; Rosin one ounce and half; Terebinthin six drams; make them up into an Oyntment.
First melt the Wax and Rosin together, afterward put in the Terebinthin and Oyl, and let them boil gently to the thickness of an Oyntment, stirring it oft with your Spatula, until it be ready to be taken off the fire.
It will stand you in something less than three farthings an ounce.
The Apothecaries sell it the ounce at two pence.
The Description of Vnguentum Basilicon I wittingly omit, in re∣gard,
that Tarre and Firre-Terre∣binthin being mixt together in e∣qual proportions, doth digest and ripen far beyond it.
TAke of the fresh Buds of black Poplar, half a pound; Violet-leaves, and Venus Navil, of each three ounces; new unsalted Hogs grease, three pound. Bruise and mix them, and let them steep together in the Hogs grease in the month of May; adde to them of the tops of young Bramble-bush, of the leaves of black Poppey, Mandrake, Henbane, Night-shade, Lettice, of the greater and lesser Housleek, and of the greater Burdock of each three ounces. Bruise them again, and mix them all toge∣ther, letting them stand and ferment ten days; then pour on them a pint
Rose-water, and boil them until all the superfluous moisture be consumed. Strain and press them hard through a Canvas-strainer.
The Poplar-buds, Violet-leaves, and Venus navil, must be bruised together in a stone Mortar in the month of May. The Hogs grease must be freed from its little skins, and wash'd in this manner: Cut it into small pieces, and melt it with a little water over a Charcoal-fire, in a clean flat earthen pan; stirring it oft with a Spatula. Being melted, strain it through a clean piece of Linnen, and pour on it some luke∣warm water; put it over a very gentle fire, stirring it oft with a Spatula for an hour; then letting the grease settle, pour off the water, and pour on again some fresh warm
water, and stir it oft for half an hour; then let it settle, and shift the water again: washing of the said grease thus twice or thrice, is sufficient for this Oyntment; but for the Oyntment of Roses, Vn∣guentum Album, and Vnguentum Pomatum, where whiteness is re∣quired, to make the Oyntment look neat, and very white, you must wash it in the manner afore∣said eight or nine times.
The Hogs grease being wash'd, put it into the Mortar, and mix the aforesaid Herbs with it, by stirring the Pestil oft about; then put them into a clean Pipkin, and let them stand about a month, or so long, until the other Herbs can be got, which then must be also bruised in the Mortar, and mixed with the grease, and Pop∣lar-buds: this done, set them in the Sun for eight or nine days,
stirring them now and then about with a Spatula. At last put them into your Pan, pour the Rose-wa∣ter upon them, and let them boil until the superfluous moisture be boil'd away; then strain and press them hard out, and put them into an Oyntment-pot.
The Apothecaries sell this Oynt∣ment for two pence an ounce.
TAke Oyl of Roses, nine ounces; White Lead, three ounces; Wax, two ounces; Camphor, two drams: make them up into an Oyntment.
Cut your Wax into lumps, and melt it together with the Oyl of Roses in a glas'd earthen Pan, or a tinn'd Pan; but not in one of brass, because that will spoil the whiteness of the Oyntment. Being melted, and mixed together with a Spatula, take it off; when it's grown half cold, put in the White Lead (being washed and very finely powdred) gradually mixing it as it's put in, by stirring it about with a wooden Spatula. Being grown almost quite cold, mix in like manner the Camphor, being pow∣dred and grownd into a smooth even powder, dropping a few drops of Oyl of sweet Almonds into the Mortar, to anoint the bottom and end of the Pestle.
Note, Oyl of Roses is prepared, by steeping four ounces of red Roses, before they are quite opened, in a pint of Oyl of Olives, that was pres∣sed out before the Olives were ripe, and setting it in the Sun six or eight days. Then strain and press the Oyl from the Roses, and put fresh red Roses to the Oyl, and steep it again in the Sun; the same do again the third time.
This Oyntment will not stand you in two farthings the ounce.
Apothecaries sell it at two pence the ounce, and some at three pence.
TAke of the Oyl of Mucilages, two pound; Lithargyr of gold, one pound; pouring to them about a pint of water: boil them until they come to the thickness of a Plaister; then adde to them yellow Wax, a quarter of a pound; Gum-ammoniac, Galbanum, Opopanax, Sagapenum, all dissolved in Vinegar, of each two ounces; Therebinthin, a quarter of a pound: make them up into an Emplaster.
The Lithargyr must be powdred very fine and sifted; then put it to the Oyl and Water, and boil them, stirring them continually until they come to the thickness of a Plaister; then put to them the Wax cut into lumps, which being melted, put in also the Gums, which you must first have dissol∣ved over the fire in as much Vi∣negar as will swim a-top two fingers breadth; this strain through a Canvas, and evaporate it un∣til it come to the thickness of Honey. These being well mixt with the Oyl and Wax, adde to them the Therebinthin; which being also well mixt, take them off, and keep constantly stirring gently with your Spatula, until
it is almost grown cold; then make it up into great Rowls between your hands, being anointed with a little Oyl of Roses, or other sweet Oyl.
Observe, That the Gums will not mix so well, unless the Oyl of Mucilages be a little cooled.
TAke Oyl of Olives, six ounces; yellow Wax, one ounce and half; Lithargyr powdered, four oun∣ces and a half; Gum-ammoniac, Bdellium, of each half an ounce; Galbanum, Opopanax, Oyl of Bays, Lapis Calaminaris, of both the sorts of Aristolochia, Myrrhe, Frankin∣cense, of each a quarter of an ounce; Therebinthin, one ounce. The Oyl, Wax, and Lithargyr, must be boil'd
together, until it doth not stick to your fingers. Afterwards, the mass being a little cooled, put the Gums to it, being dissolved in Vinegar, which by boiling let evaporate from it, being strained, and pressed hard through the Strainer; at last put in the Powders, Therebinthin, and Oyl of Bays; so make it up to an Emplaster.
I need not adde any thing for the instructing you in making of the Plaister, since the directions set down in the manner of preparing the Diachylon cum Gummi will sufficiently guide you.
TAke unsalted Hogs grease cleansed from its skins, one pound; Oyl of Olives pressed out be∣fore
the Olives are ripe, Lithargyr of Gold powdered fine and sifted, of each one pound and half; white Vitriol burn'd and powder'd, two ounces: the Lithargyr, Grease, and Oyl must be boil'd together on a gentle fire, pouring to them a little Plantane-water, and stirring them continually with a Spatula, until they come to the body of a Plaister, wherewith being almost cold, you are to mix the Vitriol, and so make it up into a Mass.
Besides the instructions given you before, you are onely to ob∣serve, when this or any other Em∣plaster is boiling, to drop now and then off of the Spatula (wherewith you stir the melted Mass of Em∣plaster) a drop thereof upon the backside of a Plate, and let it cool; and thereby you may judge whe∣ther your Plaister be boil'd e∣nough.
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This Plaister is sold by the A∣pothecaries at two pence the ounce.
Observe, That in defect of the foregoing Paracelsus Plaister, mel∣ting of two thirds of Diachylon, with one third of Diapalma, will very well serve for the same intent and purpose, if not better.
TAke of the best Wax, two pound; Venice Therebinthin, one pound; Genoa Oyl of Olives, three ounces: melt them together, pouring thereunto of the Iuices of Celandine, Oak-leaves, Starwort, and Speedwel, of each one ounce
and half; boil these until all the moisture be consumed; then put to them Gum-ammoniac, Galbanum, Opopanax, dissolved in Vinegar, strained, and evaporated (in the same manner as was directed in preparing the Diachylon) of each six drams; Colophony, one ounce and half; Amber, half an ounce; Ma∣stich, Myrrhe, Frankincense, Sar∣cocolla, of each three drams; pre∣par'd Magnet, one ounce and half; Crocus Martis, two ounces; Crocus Veneris, one ounce; prepared Tuthia, Lapis Calaminaris, of each ten drams; of the red sweet Earth of Vitriol, as much as will make the Plaister red.
Observe, That the Crocus Mar∣tis, and Veneris, Tuthia, Lapis Ca∣laminaris, and Earth of Vitriol,
must be put in last, when the Plai∣ster is almost grown cold.
2. The Magnet is prepared thus: Being powder'd, make it red-hot in a Crucible, and pour to it of well-dulcified Oyl of Mars the same quantity, let them continue over the fire until they be dry.
Take of Allom, one pound; of common Salt, four ounces; distil an Aqua fortis from them in a rever∣beratory Furnace: with this water imbibe the Filings of Steel several times a day, and a rust will stick, which must be washt off clean: let the water evaporate from it to an oyliness, which must be dulcified by evaporating common water from it once or twice.
Powder it very small, and heat it red-hot in a Crucible, and quench it by pouring Vinegar a-top it; this repeat thrice.
The Tuthia is prepared in the same manner; excepting that in∣stead of Vinegar, it must be quenched with Fenil or Celandine-water.
Take Copper beaten into ve∣ry thin Plates, put them into a Crucible in Layes (which is ter∣med among Chymists, Stratum su∣pra stratum) one over the other, strewing some common Salt be∣tween every Lay; then cause them
to be nealed together; which done, cast the Plates and Salt into cold water, and wash them clean from their blackness; then put them again in Lays with Salt as before, neal them, and then cast them into cold water. This nealing and washing repeat three or four times, or oftner: The water wherein the Plates were washed being set∣led, decant or pour off from the setlings on the bottom, which must be sweetned, by oft pouring warm water on them, and letting them settle, and then pouring it off again; repeat the washing so oft, until the aforesaid settlings taste free of the Salt.
Put Filings of Steel into a Cru∣cible, which set in a reveberatory-Furnace for four and twenty hours;
then cast the red-hot Steel into a large earthen Pan that's full of water; stir it well together, and pour it off into another earthen Pan; then evaporate the water, and on the bottom you will finde the Crocus Martis.
Calcine Vitriol in an earthen Pot to a red colour; powder it, and pour water on it, which let stand four and twenty hours to settle, then pour off the water: This repeat so often, until it's sweetned, and all the sharpness is taken off.
These Emplasters are sufficient for all intentions; however, those that desire to make use of some other common Emplasters, they may buy them from the Drug∣gists,
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that keep Journey-men-Apo∣thecaries for the same purpose, at as cheap a rate as they can prepare them themselves, which is far chea∣per than you buy them from the Apothecaries; who oft by keeping them too long in their Shops, or not preparing them exactly, sell Emplasters far worse, and of much less vertue, than those that are sold by the Druggists, who commonly take great care that their Medica∣ments shall be well and exactly pre∣pared.
THe Rates of Emplasters at the Druggists you may see at the end of the ensuing Table of Rates and Prices of Druggs.