Praxis medicinæ reformata: = or, The practice of physick reformed Being an epitome of the whole art: wherein is briefly shewed, the true causes, signs, prognosticks, and cure, of most diseases. Published for the benefit of all persons. By Robert Johnson, Med. Professor.

Here followeth some Receipts of choice Medi∣cines, which I use in my own Practice.

Pulvis Balsamicus noster, Our Balsamick Pouder.

TAke of Sarsaparilla grosly poudred four Ounces; let it be infused in two Quarts of rectified Spirit of Wine, for two or three Days, then press it out very hard, and add the same quantity of Sar∣saparilla as before; do this for eight or ten times, the ostner the better; add to the Spirit, of the best Gum of Guiacum, in fine Pouder half a Pound; the Balsam of Peru and Tolu, of each two Cunces, mix them all together in a Glass Resort, lute a Receiver to it, and digest it for ten days, then draw off all the Spirit with a gentle heat in Balneo Mariae when it is cold, break the Retort, and take out the Pouder, and keep it for use.

It is an efficacious Medicine against the Rheumatism, Gout, Venereal Pox, and all Chronical Diseases.

The Dose is half a Dram in a Spoonful of Whey or Milk, or any other Vehicle, every Morning fasting; or mix it with an equal quantity of factitious Cinnaber in fine Pouder, and give it every Morning and Evening for some time.

Electuarium Antiscorbuticum nostrum, Our Electuary against the Scurvy, &c.

Take of the Berries of Bays, Ivy and Ju∣niper, of each four Ounces; the Seeds of Dwarf-Elder, Burdock, Ash, Broom, Peo∣ny, Gromwel, the Bark of Elder, of each two Ounces.

Let them be all bruised, and boiled in the Juices of Elder-Berries, and wild Cu∣cumbers, of each one Pound; the Juice of Buckthorn-Berries, four Pound, 'till half of it be boiled away; then press it out very hard, and boil it to the Consi∣stence of a Pulp; to every Pound of it, add an equal quantity of white Sugar, and boil it again, 'till it be almost as thick as an Electuary; then dissolve in it (whilst it is very hot) the same weight of pure Nitre, as there is of Sugar.

To every Pound of the Electuary, add four Ounces of Balm of Gilead, two Oun∣ces of our Balsamick Pouder before men∣tion'd, one Ounce of factitious Cinnaber, in fine Pouder; and two Drams of Oyl of Juniper; mix all together, according to Art.

It is an excellent Cathartick in all Di∣seases which requires Purging, for it po∣tently evacuates all vitious Humours pro∣miscuously out of the Body; it cureth the King's-Evil, Rheumatism, Gout, Dropsie, Scurvy, dry Belly-ach, and all curable Diseases.

The Dose is from two Drams to an Ounce. It may be given in the form of a Bolus, or dissolved in Ale, Whey, or any other liquid Vehicle, and taken in the Mor∣ning fasting.

Sal Chalybis noster, Our Salt of Steel, or Iron.

Take the finest Filings of Iron, or Steel, rectified Oyl of Vitriol, of each one Pound, mix them together in a large Earthen-Pan, well glazed; let it stand for two or three Hours, then pour into it two or three Quarts of fair Water, and it will presently effervesce, and the Salt will stick about the Pan; take it out, and keep it for use.

Tinctura Chalybis, The Tincture of Iron, or Steel.

Take the finest Filings of Iron, or Steel, four Ounces; rectified Spirit of Nitre half a Pound; mix them together in an Ear∣then-Pan, well glazed, when the Efferve∣scency is over, let it cool, and add to it Spirit of Wine rectified, five Pound, mix it well together, then filter it through brown Paper, and keep it for use.

Both of these Medicines are great Aperi∣tives, opens all Obstructions, cures the Rickets, Green-sickness, Stoppage of the Terms, Yellow-Jaundice, &c. they streng∣then the Stomach, kills Worms, and puri∣fies the whole Mass of Blood.

You may give from half a Scruple, to half a Dram of the Salt, in any Vehicle, every Morning.

The Tincture may be taken from ten to forty Drops at a time, in Beer, Ale, or Wine.

Aqua Styptica nostra, Our Stiptick Water.

Take of pure white Vitriol, Roch-Alum, of each four Ounces, let them be poudred, and calcined in a Crucible, 'till it be red-hot, then quench it with Wine-Vinegar, and calcine it again.

Take it out of the Crucible, and dissolve it in a Gallon of Spring-water; add to it two Ounces of Saccharum Saturni; then strain it, and keep it for use.

It cures the Itch, and all other Eruptions, the grieved Parts being wash'd with it three or four times in a day. It likewise cureth hollow Ulcers, and Fistula's, the Gonor∣rhaea in Men, and the Whites in Women.

You may inject it with a Syringe warm, twice in a day.