CHAP. X. Of the choice preparation and mixing of Hydrargyrum.
HYdrargyrum which is cleer, thin, white and fluid, is the best: on the contrary, that which is livid, and not so fluid, is thought to be adulterated, by the admixture of some lead. That it may be the purer, strain it through some sheeps-leather, for by pressing it, when it is bound up, it passeth through by its subtilty, and leaves the filth and leaden d••oss behind it on the inside: Then it may be boild in vinegar with sage, rosemary, thyme, camomile, melilo••e, and strain∣ed again, that so many waies cleansed, it may enter into ointmen••s and plasters:* 1.1 To kill it more sure∣ly, it shall be long wrought, and as it were ground in a mortar, that it may be broken and separated into most small particles, that by this means it may not be able to gather it self into the former bo∣dy: to which purpose you may also add some sulpher, or sublimate, as we shall shew hereafter. It is most usually mixed with hogs-grease, adding thereto some oil of turpentine, nutmegs, cloves, sage, and Galens treacle. If a Leucophlegmatia together with the Lues Venerea affect the body, then hot,* 1.2 attenuating, cutting and dying things shall be added to the medicine, which shall be provided for unction; the same shall be done when as we would have it to enter into the substance of the bones. But if the patient be of a cholerick temper, & his blood easie to be inflamed, you shal make choice of less hot attractive and discussing things; As when the body shall be replenished with knotty and scirrhous tumors, or squalid by excessive driness then shall emollient and humecting things mixed therewith: But that such ointments may have a better consistence, I use to add to each a pound thereof, four, five, or six yolks of hard eggs. Therefore this shall be the form of the ointment called Vigoes. ℞. axung. porci, lbi. olei chamaem aneth. mastich. & laurini. an. ℥i. styrac. liquid. ʒx. rad enulae cam.* 1.3 parum tritae, & ebuli. an. ℥iii. pul. euphorb. ℥ss. vini odorif. lbi. bulliant omnia simul usque ad consumptio∣nem vini, deinde colentur; colaturae adde lythargyri auri. ℥vi. thuris, mastich. an. ʒvi. res. pini, ℥iss. tereb. ve∣tet. ℥i. argenti vivi, ℥iv. cerae albae, ℥iss. liquefactis oleis, cum cera incorporentur omnia simul, fiat linimen∣tum ad usum. Or else, ℞. argenti vivi praeparati, ℥vi sublimati, ʒ ss. sulphuris vivi, ℥ ss. axung.* 1.4 porci salis expertis, lbi. vitellos ovorum sub cineribus coctorum, nu.iii. olei terebinth. & laurini, an. ℥ii theriac. vet. & mithridat. ℥ ss. fiat linimentum ut artis est. You shall compose it thus,* 1.5 first the sublimatum and sulphur shall be finely powdred, then some part of the Argentum vivum and hogsgrease put to them, then presently after, some of the hard yolks of eggs, continually and diligently stirring and mixing them all together. All these being well incorporate, add some more Argentum vivum, hogs-grease, and yolks of eggs, and incorporate them with the former; at the last add the oils, then treacle, and mi∣thridate, and so let them be all beaten together for a whole daies space, and thus you shall make an ointment of a good consistence, which I have often used with good success.* 1.6 Yet the hogs-grease shall be first boiled with the hot herbs good for the sinews, as sage, rosemary, thyme, marjerom, la∣vander and others which the season affords. For so the axungia acquires a more attenuating faculty, and consolidating of those parts which the Lues Venerea afflicts. Besides, when unguents are made for this purpose, that such virulency may be drawn from within outwards, by sweats and transpiration through the pores of the skin, no man need doubt, but that they ought to be furnished with relaxing and rarifying, and attractive faculties. But axungia, besides that it is very fit to kill the Argentum vi∣vum, it also relaxeth and mollifieth. Now Oleum laurinum, de spicâ, rutaceum, rarifie, digest and as∣swage pain. Turpentine also extinguisheth and bridleth the Argentum vivum, moderately heats re∣solvs