The surgeons mate or Military & domestique surgery Discouering faithfully & plainly ye method and order of ye surgeons chest, ye uses of the instruments, the vertues and operations of ye medicines, with ye exact cures of wounds made by gunshott, and otherwise as namely: wounds, apos fumes, ulcers, fistula's, fractures, dislocations, with ye most easie & safest wayes of amputation or dismembring. The cures of the scuruey, of ye fluxes of ye belly, of ye collicke and iliaca passio, of tenasmus and exitus ani, and of the calenture, with A treatise of ye cure of ye plague. Published for the service of his Ma. tie and of the com:wealth. By John Woodall Mr. in chyrurgerie.

Of Laudanum, Opiat Paracelsi, and the Vertues thereof.

THere are many diseases which can hardly be cured without Anodine medicines, therefore in the Cure of such diseases, I mean where want of rest through extream pain or other, the great disquiet of nature doth foretel an imminent danger of death, if rest be not speedily procured, in all such cases Anodine me∣dicines may doubtless with great reason and good warrant be inward∣ly given. To procure therefore safe and quiet rest, sheweth great skill in the Artist, and to the Patient is more precious in his grievous infir∣mitie then much treasure, but in no one infirmitie have such medi∣cine more shewed their admirable vertues, then that noble medicine called Laudanum Opiat Paracelsi hath done in the cure of that lamen∣table disease called Dysenterie, or the bloudy Fluxe, as witnesseth di∣vers of our Nation coming from the East Indies upon good proofe, as also being no lesse approved of, not onely by ancient and modern Writers, but by every expert Chirurgion coming from those countries of their own, too many experiences thereof have been made.

The vertues of this precious Anodine to be, I mean here recited, as they are noted and set down very learnedly by that famous Writer Oswaldus Crollius, late Physitian to Matthias the third Emperour of Germany in his book called Bazilica Chymica, and not by him onely, but also by divers good Authors of credit, which have written of the same medicine before, which vertues being very many, may seem almost incredible, though many of them my self am witness of to be true, out of my daily practise onely; they are meant by the true composition, according as Theophrastus Paracelsus hath prescribed it, and is the same composition which the said Writer mentioneth.

Touching the virtues of the Medicine.

THis Laudable medicine (saith Ozwaldus Crollius) deserveth rightly his name, although thou call it Laudanum, for in all sharp pains whatsoever hot or cold within the body or without the body, yea, even when through extreamitie of pain, the parties are at deaths doore, or almost mad with the vehemencie of the same, this preci∣ous medicine giveth ease presently, yea and quiet sleep, and that safely, but much better the body being first soluble, either by nature

or Art, and you may give it safely, provoking first onely one stool•• by a suppositorie, or a glister were better: in the collick with Mint∣water, it easeth the gripings forthwith. In the pains and gravel of the kidnies, likewise it giveth present ease. In the plurisie it presently and safely giveth ease. In pains of the joints it is verie good. In the staying of rheumes, as tooth-ache and other like defluxions in the beginnings, it is a singular good medicine, as namely in the tooth∣ache, dissolve foure graines thereof in Plantane water, and put it into the eare on the aking side, and take three grains into the body, and lie to rest, it is a sure help. In all fluxes of the belly, whether they proceed of sharp or slipperie humours, or whatsoever else offend∣ing cause taken with mastick, Terra Sigillata, fine Bole, or with any other appropriate good medicine, it is exceeding sure, for it fortifieth the other medicines, and doubleth their forces, adding his own also thereto. In extream watchings and want of rest, either inwardly or outwardly taken, it is profitable if outwardly you would use it, take foure or six grains, with three drops of oyl of Nutmeggs, which is pressed out mixed together, and binde it in two little clouts, and put it into the nostrils, it will marvellously asswage pains in the head, and cause quiet rest. In the extream bleedings of the nose called He∣moragie, it is an approved secret, that sixteen grains thereof divided into two pils, and thrust up into the nostrils, into each nostril one part, helpeth the same. In all kinds of Fevers it is good to be given with water of Worm-wood, or pill-wise alone, and if the heat remain af∣ter sixe houres, you may give it the second time, and after that again in like time safely, not exceeding the dose: yet let your own experi∣ence lead you, that where you see three grains will not cause rest, in the next potion you give one grain more, and so increase paulatim, but increase not but upon good deliberation.

In burning Fevers it asswageth thirst, and provoketh sleep chiefly in those Fevers, in which the partie seemeth to have some shew of rest, with tedious dreams and slumbrings mixed.

In the disease called Asthma, and in the Tysick, if it be used in wa∣ter of Hyssope, it will preserve the diseased Patient a long time.

It conserveth the natural heat, strengthneth the spirits, repaireth strength lost: It is also effectual to be given to melancholy people which are void of reason, and are troubled with the passions of the heart. It is likewise used with good effect against vomiting, and the Hickcock proceeding of wind, faintnesse, or debilitie of the Ven∣tricle.

In the superfluous defluxions of the excremental or menstrual bloud, it is an excellent remedy with Crocus Martis, or red coral.

In phrensies and madnesse, both in wardly and outwardly it is good mixed with Aqua vitae, and the temples anointed therewith.

In the falling sicknesse with spirit of Vitriol, or the quintessence of Camphire, with also oyle of Almonds, it is usually taken. The dose of this opiate medicine, is two, or three, or foure grains, if there be loos∣nesse of the belly, as is rehearsed, it worketh much the better. Note

that in some parts of the world this medicine in the mentioned dose will doe no ease, wherefore when you finde that by experience, in the next Patient give more, but not to the same Patient without great reason. It is best given in any occasion accompanied with waters or other medicines which are most appropriate to the diseases, land parts diseased, and yet may very well be given alone in a pill, which I willingly do, for that the Patient then is least troubled with the taste thereof.

But beware you use not this medicine to any, which are feeble through a great cough being oppressed with tough phlegme and shortnesse of breath, for there it is not good: if the disease be violent, as I have said, one dose may be given after another, with six houres at the least distance, very safely, but Ozwaldus Crollius saith, within foure houres, as is said in the Cure of Dysentery.

In a word this Laudanum passeth all other medicines in the cure of Dysentery, for which cause I have published it to the benefit of the younger fort of Chirurgions, which adventure their lives toward the East Indies; I know it is presumption in my self and deserves blame, that I should handle medicines of this nature so copiously, for which I crave pardon from that grave and learned Societie of Physitians of London, whom of right I ought to reverence and doe: excusing my self that I have done it merely for the benefit of young Sea-Chirur∣gions in the remote parts of the world, where they otherwise have used Opium in common, without understanding the danger or dose thereof, to the losse of many mens lives. It behoveth young men to be carefull to carry with them such ballance, as the beam will turn at one half of a grain, with weights and grains fitting, and to keep them warily and alwayes ready at hand for all occasions, for he is an un∣worthy Chirurgion, which is at any▪time unready with such needfull instruments. This Laudanum I esteem so sufficient a medicine truely prepared in all causes, where an ••piat medicine is required, that if I were upon my life to morrow to undertake a Voyage to the East-In∣dies in any great Ship, I would renounce all other compositions of that kind whatsoever, rather then misse it: yet am I not ignorant of divers other good compositions of Opiat medicines in dayly use, as namely Philonium Persicum Romanum, nit. & mes Roman sen Tarcenci, Athana∣sicamagna, Aurea ••lexandrina, Trifera magna nic. Diacodion, Diascordion and many more: before all which I onely would take the true Lau∣danum Opiat Paracelsi, for when the rest had fully fermented at Sea, and were void of all their supposed vertues, which their preparers had challenged them to have had, yea and had been turnd to crawling A∣nimals▪ even then and twentie years after their deaths, may any man r••lie upon the foresaid Laudanum, as a true medicine, which medi∣cine notwithstanding, I know it is unpossible for the Chirurgions Mate to prepare at Sea, yet for that he should be the better satisfied, when he hath occasion to use it, I thought it not a misse to set down the ingredients, with also the true form of the preparation thereof, his verbis out of Ozwaldus Crollius being one of the best I ever found or read.

Laudanum Paracelsi Laudatissimum, and the true preparation thereof.

• ℞. Opii Thebaici uncias i••es.
• Succi Hyoscyami debito tempore collecti, & in Sole prius inspissati unci∣am unam & sem specierum Diambrae & Diamos••hi, fideliter dispensatarum ana uncias duaes cum dimidio mummiae transmarinae & selectae unciam sem.
• Salis perlarum.
• Gorallorum ana drachm. iij.
• Liquoris Succini Albi per Alcohol Vini extracti.
• Ossis de corde Cervi ana drachmam j.
• Lapidis B••zoartici.
• Unicorni animalis vel mineralis drachmam unam.
• Moschi.
• Ambrae ana scrupulum J.
• In defectu genuini auri potabilis nullis corrosivis inquinati addantur, Oleorum
  • Anisi.
  • Carui.
  • Arantiorum.
  • Citrorum.
  • Nu••istae.
  • Cariophyllorum.
  • Cinamomi.
  • Succini ana guttae 12.
• Fiat ex his secundum artem Chymicam, massa, sen extractum, ex que a•• necessarios usus, possint pillulae efformari.

Observations in the preparation of this Medicine.

℞ The roots and rindes of the younger Hemlock, casting away the inward woody part thereof: the time of the gathering thereof is the Summer, the Moone being in the signe Aries or Libra, and before the full of the Moon, and if it might be done it were best to be gathe∣red in the very houre the Moon is entred into one of the said signes: this observed, let the juyce thereof be pressed out, and filtered, and coagulated, then set in the Sunne to harden, which done, extract the tincture thereof per spiritum vini: the Opium ought o be purged in some distilled water, as of Hyssope or the like, as Aloes is used to be purged, and after, the tincture thereof to be extracted per spiritum vini, the tincture of the Species Diambrae is to be extracted also per spiritum vini.

The juice of Hioscyami, or Henbane with the extract of Opium min∣gled, together with the spirit of wine, whereinto they are extracted before, is to be evaporated from them ere that they be mixed with

the rest of the ingrediences. Also the opium and juice of Henbane must be digested in Chymical manner for a moneth at the least, that thereby their sulphurous, venemous, and dangerous vapours they have may be well corrected, which vapours have a yellowish froth or scumme seen in the superficial parts of them, and are very obnoxious and dangerous, which I thought not amisse to advise the studious and industrious Chymist of.

Let all the extractions be done in the true spirit of wine well recti∣fied, and then the longer the extract remaineth in the digestion, the better will be your medicine.

He that intendeth any part of this composition for women, must forbeare the musk and amber-greece, and use with it rather foure grains of good castoreum, I mean in that one dose he intends to give the women; but in this I digress from my scope of the Sea practise, where women in long voiages are rare creatures. Wherefore to the business in hand: the feces of the opium hioscyami, specierum ambrae, &c. after their tinctures are extracted from them, are to be calcined and brought into salt, namely by infusion in some fitting liquor, after cal∣cination, with all due filteration, evaporation, and coagulation with Cohobs convenient, and add to the rest of the composition.

And concerning the tinctures mentioned to be extracted in spiritu vini, after one moneth digestions the spiritus vini is by balneum mariae to be evaporated till the residence be almost of the thickness of hony: which done and gathered clean into one convenient glasse, porringer, or the like instrument, then adde the salt corallorum, perlarum Mummia beaten fine, and also the Bezar, and the cornu cervi, muscus and ambra, all in fine powder, and well mixed with the said extracts, then adde the aforelaid salts of the recited feces, and also the former recited oiles, all of them first mixed together with the Liquorice and Succini shaken well together in a glasse-violl with a few drops of spiritus vini, for that the said spirit of wine causeth the recited oiles well to incor∣porate, which done, and that they are mixed all in one and added to the former, the Laudanum is readie, onely if you could forbear your Medicine so long that it might afterwards stand in a small Alimbeck of glasse, with a blinde head one moneth, it would be much the better.

This Medicine though it would put many that professe much knowledge in the Art of the Apothecarie to their trumps truely to prepare it, yet to an artist which is a true preparer of Medicines it is plain and pleasant to be done, and once done, it is for his whole life a sure medicine, and will do the work-master credit that useth it.

I have the rather explained this medicine for that so many grosse and dangerous compositions are daily hatched up, and uttered abroad for currant under the name of Laudanum Paracelsi opiati, to the ex∣tream hazard of the lives of very many, and to the great prejudice of the Common-wealth, from the danger whereof God deliver each honest Christian. And for that the younger sort of Artists should not easily be deceived with false compositions, though I confess it is

not possible to espie some cunning deceits which may passe in farre plainer compositions then this is, yet take these few notes following when you would buy it, for remembrances. First note, that the me∣dicine is fals, if it be uneven, I mean if it have any course or grosse thing in it, so that it will not all clearly dissolve as a juice of Liquorice well made will.

For this is an infallible rule, extracts are the pure parts of things, and will wholly dissolve, or be dissolved. Further note, that if either honie or sugar be found in the medicine, it is false.

Also if it be more liquid then the ordinarie bals of Liquorice made up in London, it is false or foolishly made, and will not keep.

Also if it retain the lothsome smell of Opium, it is not to be trusted.

Also if it be not merely of one colour, so that you see nothing of the ingredients appear at all, it cannot be good.

For assure thy self this composition truely made must be smooth, and well smelling, of such an indifferent hardnesse, that without ad∣ditions you may roule it into pils, and is not greatly ponderous or heavie, but it is of an unpleasant taste, I must tell thee, and therefore I use to give it, as I have said, in a pill, except necessitie by weaknesse of the Patient when he cannot swallow a pill, urge the contrary, or that I use it in outward griefs, as to othache, &c.

Notes

• The chief ver∣tue of Lauda∣num.
• Ozwaldus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Crossi••e 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the vertues of Laudanum.
• Ozwaldus concerning Laudanum.
• Laudanum more effic••ci∣ous if the body be soluble.
• The best way to administer it.
• A caution re∣markable.
• The cause of this descripti∣on of Lauda∣num.
• Not••▪
• Laudanum ex∣celleth all o∣ther Opiats.
• Because of his duration.
• The time of gathering them
• The preparing of the juice ex∣pressed.
• The prepara∣tion of the Spe∣cies Diambrae.
• A special ob∣servation.
• A dig••ession.
• Extraction.
• Calcination.
• Evaperation.
• The ma••ner to fiuish the com∣position.
• To compose this Opiate aright is b••rd to a Bungler.
• Marks to dis∣cern the false from the true Laudanum.
• Notes of the true Lauda∣num.