Thesaurus & armamentarium medico-chymicum, or, A treasury of physick with the most secret way of preparing remedies against all diseases : obtained by labour, confirmed by practice, and published out of good will to mankind : being a work of great use for the publick / written originally in Latine by ... Hadrianus à Mynsicht ...; and faithfully rendred into English by John Partridge ...

SECT. XXIV. Of Epithems. (Book 24)

Epithema generale, or a general Epithem

GOod in Melancholy, Madness, Phrensies, im∣moderate Watchings, pain and disorder of the Head in general from any cause.

Take water of wild Poppy, Lettice and Roses, of each four ounces; of our Troches of Radice Rhodia an ounce. Mix them for an Epithem.

Another of the same efficacy.

Take water of Henbane, Sage and Vervain, of each four ounces; our Troches of roots of Rhodia an ounce. Mix them for an Epithem; and when there is a ne∣cessity of using it, wet a double linen Rag therein, and press it gently, and apply it warm to the Tem∣ples and Forehead: and this direction is also to be observed in the following Epithems.

An Epithem for the pain in the Head coming of a cold Cause with or without a Catarrh. Take water of Betony, Rosemary and Vervain, of each four ounces; Peach kernels half an ounce; Cubebs three drams, Nutmegs and Sandarack, of each a dram; roots of Mandrakes half a dram. Mix them, and make an Epithem, and apply it warm.

Another in a hot Cause.

Take water of Chamomil, Sage and Rosemary, of each four ounces; Peach kernels half an ounce, the best Oliba∣num two drams, Cloves, Mace and wood of Aloes, of each a dram; roots of Zedoary half a dram. Mix them for an Epithem.

An Epithem for pains of the Head coming of a ho••

Cause, with or without a Catarrh. Take water of Roses, Violets and common Mallows, of each three oun∣ces; all the Sanders, of each a dram and a half; white Amber prepared a dram, flowers of wild Poppy and Ver∣vain, of each half a dram; Camphire a scruple. Mix them for an Epithem for the Head.

Another in the same Case.

Take water of wild Poppy and Roses, of each three ounces; mans Skull calcined without fire a dram, Orien∣tal Saffron half a dram. Mix them for an Epithem for the Head, which operates wonderfully.

Epithema Hypnoticum, or a Sleep-bringing Epithem.

Take water of Roses and Lettice, of each four oun∣ces; Opium Spagirically prepared a dram, Oriental Saf∣fron half a dram, of the spongy knot growing on wild Ro∣ses a scruple. Mix them and dissolve them faithfully; the mixture being prepared, wet a linen Cloth in it, and apply it warm to the Temples, and moisten the Nostrils with it also, and presently they begin to sleep.

Another to procure Sleep.

Take water of Nutmegs, Lettice and Night shade, of each four ounces; seeds of white Poppy half an ounce, seeds of Henbane and Dill, of each two drams; roots of Hounds-tongue a dram and a half, flowers of Elicam∣pane, yellow water-Lily and Violets, of each a scruple. Bruise the Seeds in a stone Mortar with a wooden Pestle, then mix them and press them, and so make an Epithem for the Head.

An experienced warming Cordial Epithem.

Take water of Cinamon, Balm and Bugloss, of each three ounces, Elks horn Spagirically calcined, Cloves, Nutmegs and Citron peels, of each a dram and a half; wood of Aloes a dram, Pearls prepared, red Coral pre∣pared,

of each half a dram; seeds of Marjoram and Basil, of each a scruple; Oriental Saffron and Rosemary, of each a scruple. Mix them for an Epithem for the Heart.

Another for the same Case.

Take water of Roses, Basil and Clove-gillyflowers, of each three ounces; species of Diamoschu dulce and Di∣ambra, of each a dram and a half; Dianthos and Gems calcined, of each a dram. Mix them, and make an Epithem to be applied to the region of the Heart.

A cooling Epithem in the Syncope and other Affects of the Heart.

Take water of red Roses four ounces, water of Sarrel and water-Lily, of each four ounces; Vinegar violated an ounce, red Coral prepared, all the Sanders, of each a dram; sealed Earth and Bole Armeniack, of each two scruples; of the five precious Stones prepared, bone of a Stags heart, Pearls prepared, Mace, Cinamon, Cam∣phire, of each ten grains. Mix them for an Epithem for the Heart.

A most noble Epithem in the Palpitation of the Heart.

Take water of Marjoram, Basil, Balm, Roses and Malmsey Wine, of each three ounces; Vinegar rosated an ounce, species de Gemmis calid. of Diambra and Dia∣moschu dulce, of each a dram; wood of Aloes and Mace, of each two scruples; Cinamon and Rosemary, of each half a dram; bone of a Stags heart, Pearls and red Coral prepared, Citron peel, of each a scruple; the five precious Stones prepared a scruple. Mix all for an Epi∣them for the Heart.

Another for the Palpitation of the Heart.

Take water of Roses, Sage and Borage, of each three ounces; odoriferous Wine an ounce, Vinegar violated half an ounce, species Diathameron and Diamargariton

frigid. of each a dram and a half; Harts-horn Spagi∣rically calcined, Cassia lignea, yellow Sanders, Carda∣moms the less, of each half a dram; Oriental Saffron, flowers of Cloves and Rosemary, of each a scruple. Mix them for an Epithem to be applied to the Breast.

An Epithem for the Weakness and Inflammation of the Liver.

Take water of Water-Lilies, Wormwood, Endive, Ro∣ses and Succory, of each two ounces; Vinegar rosated an ounce, species Diatrion santalon half an ounce, Crystals of Saturn two drams, Rhubarb a dram and a half, red Coral prepared two scruples, seeds of Purslain and Sor∣rel, of each a scruple; Camphire, Mace and Spike, of each ten grains. Mix them, and make an Epithem according to Art.

Another in the same Case.

Take water of white Epatick flowers, Rasberries, Strawberries, and the lesser Centaury, of each three oun∣ces; Vinegar prepared with Sanders an ounce and a half, species Diarrhodon Abbatis, roots of Scorzonera and Plantane, of each two drams; Salt of Endive and Suc∣cory, of each half a dram; the four greater cold Seeds and the four lesser cold Seeds, of each a scruple. Mix them for an Epithem for the Liver.

Epithema Hepaticum in causa frigida, or an Epithem for the Liver grieved with a cold Distemper.

Take Malmsey Wine four ounces, water of Agrimony, Pauls Betony and Mother of Thyme, of each three oun∣ces; Spirit of Iuniper an ounce and a half, species of Diacurcuma and Diacubeba, of each two drams; Rhu∣barb, sweet Cane, Cane, Cassia lignea, of each a dram; Salt of Pontick Wormwood and Southernwood, of each two scruples; Oriental Saffron, seeds of Cummin and Lavender, of each half a dram; Squinanth, flowers of

yellow Stoechas, of each a scruple. Mix all for an Epi∣them.

Epithema in Inflammatione Renum praesentissimum, or an Epithem for an Inflammation of the Reins.

Take juyce of Plantane and Night shade depurated, of each four ounces; water of Housleek and Purslain, of each three ounces; odoriferous Wine and Wine Vinegar viola∣ted, of each an ounce and a half; Nitre prepared. Mix them, and make an Epithem to be applied to the re∣gion of the Reins, as the manner is. But it is to be noted, If cooling Epithems are to be applied to no∣ble parts, they are not to be applied cold, but warm, except the heat be very intense, and then it may be used cold.