A medicinal dispensatory, containing the vvhole body of physick discovering the natures, properties, and vertues of vegetables, minerals, & animals: the manner of compounding medicaments, and the way to administer them. Methodically digested in five books of philosophical and pharmaceutical institutions; three books of physical materials galenical and chymical. Together with a most perfect and absolute pharmacopoea or apothecaries shop. Accommodated with three useful tables. Composed by the illustrious Renodæus, chief physician to the monarch of France; and now Englished and revised, by Richard Tomlinson of London, apothecary.

CHAP. XI. Of Electuaries in general.

SUch Medicaments as externally applyed can cure any Poyson, whether within the body, or inflicted on the body by some bite, are by the Greeks called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; and those 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which introsumed help many grievous affections. The Latins do not onely retain and confound both these names, but also denote them by the name of Electuary to us; for the Antients called them Anti∣dotes, the later men Electuaries. Whereof, according to their diffe∣rent

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consistency there be two kinds, the one solid, which Apothe∣caries make into little pieces, which they call Lozenges, the other more liquid made and formed into the consistency of an opiate.

But if according to Galen, the difference of Antidotes, or Electua∣ries be taken from their quality and vertues, some are assumed be∣cause of deadly Medicaments, others are prevalent against venemous beasts, others are prescribed to diseases contracted by ill victualls, and some are accommodated to all these uses, which may not only be wholsomley introsumed, but also, externally applyed, as Triacle Mi∣thridate.

Electuaries according to their different solidity, are called Dry and Tabulated, or Liquid, which have the consistency of an opiate, a mean betwixt an Eclegme and Pills, as all Antidotes, whose powders are subactd with sape, honey, or wine, which put to sugar righly prepared, and agitated with a woodden pestell do acquire the just con∣sistency of a solid Electuary: So that wine, and the same Electuary may be formed liquid or solid according to the adjection of sugar or honey with artificiall mixtion, yet they can scarce be brought to a solid Consistency which admit of the extract of Cassia, and the in∣ner part of fruits.

The proportion of honey to powders in liquid Electuaries should be the same with sugar to them in dry and solid Electuaries, which is that to one pound of honey or sugar should be mixed three ounces of Powder, yet either may be increased or diminished, as the power of the Antidote is requisite to be more valid or more weak, for by how much more sugar or honey is added to the powders, by so much is the Electuary weaker, and by how much the lesse, by so much the stronger.

In purging Lozenges, one dramme of powder should be mixed with an ounce of sugar cocted in water, or some juice, to a consisten∣cy somewhat more solid than a syrup in Cord all Lozenges; two ounces of sugar often go to one dram of powder, the quantity where∣of should be by so much lesser, by how much the quality is stronger, and the sapour more ingratefull.

But Physicians should define a just quantity of sugar or honey, for while they prescribe onely according to their custome, as much as will serve of either indefinitly, they leave the Apothecary doubtfull in ma∣king the Electuary, and they commit the sick persons safety to his judgement; for he may make the strength of the Medicament more weak, or more intense, as he pleases, and you shall scarce find two Apothecaryes who put the same proportion of sugar or honey to the same remedy, when the quantity is not prescribed.

In the Confecture of the liquid Antidote, the honey is washed with a little water, and boyled by little and little on a moderate fire, and despumed, till the water, or other liquor be exhaled, then it is taken off the fire, and before it be absolute cold, three ounces of the mixed powders are sprinkled upon the honey, every pound of honey so pre∣pared

requires three ounces of Powder, and then they are mixed with a woodden postell, till the mixture be equall.

The weight of honey should not be changed, because of the mix∣ture of the pulpe of Cassia, Tamarinds, or Manna, Dactyls, and Al∣monds, or other fruits, for in confecting an Electuary of a Legiti∣mate consistency, the weight of dry powders must be answerable to the sape, honey, or sugar.

A soft Electuary should not be reposed in a box, before it be tho∣roughly cold, least its superiour part be extrinsecally incrusted in a certain Membrane, it is betetr to let it be fermented, and the crassitude equall.

Sugar also must be prepared before it receive powders for it should be dissolved in stillatitious water, or other fit liquour, and then be de∣spumed, and boyled softly on a fire till it be thicker than a syrup, and till a drop thereof will not dilate it self, and after a little refrigeration the severall species must be by little and little added, confounded, and mixed with a Spatula till it have got its whose solidity and equa∣bility, then it must be laid on a marble before it be cold, and with the Spatula dilated and planed, when it is cold, it may be cut into Lo∣zenges square or round, of one, two, or three dramms weight, which after they be brought to the hardness of sugar must be laid in boxes or Chests.

Of what consistency soever the Electuary be; whether solid or soft, it preserves the strength of the simples, well and long. Yet doth the soft preserve it longer than the solid, because its humidity being grea∣ter, it more constraines the faculty of the Medicaments, and hinders them from being dissipated by the air.

By how much an Electuary is more gratefull to the Palate, by so much the sooner doth its energy and faculty decay, for its efficacie will scarce endure a year, bitter; and ingratefull will endure two or three years, and the Antidote against wild beasts bitings, or poy∣sons, sometimes ten years without damage.

Notes

• Electuaria sic∣ca ac tabulata.
• Medicorum error.
• Electuarium liquidum fa∣ciendi modus.
• Electuarium siccum faciendi modus.