BUt as for the formes of dry Medecines, * 1.1 Powders, are the plainest way of compounding amongst them, com∣monly called Trageas, without doubt corruptly derived from the word Tragema, which consists of one, or more Medecines compounded, if the tast be ungratefull, an equall part of su∣gar, or half so much sugar is to be added.
But Powders are either thin, and subtile, which if they con∣fist of pure Aromaticks, and Sugar, they are wont to be cal∣led generally Tragemats, or Trageae, or else more thick, and not so subtile; nay sometimes Aromaticks are not pulverised, but onely cut asunder, and seeds hardned with sugar, or candied, called Comfits, are added to them, and Species that are cut, are also called grosse Trageaes.
They are used for severall purposes, according to the vari∣ous nature of the simples whereof they are composed, some of them resist poyson, others purge the belly, others by vomit.
To those that purge, simples which have in them a faculty of purging are taken, and correcters are added, sometimes al∣so a grain of distilled Oyles is mixt with a drachm of Pow∣der,