Nine books of physick and chirurgery written by that great and learned physitian, Dr Sennertus. The first five being his Institutions of the whole body of physick: the other four of fevers and agues: with their differences, signs, and cures.

CHAP. XXX. Of Medicines put into the Nose, and to provoke snee∣zing.

ERrhines, * 1.1 as the name shews, are medicines which are put into the nostrills, which is done for severall ends; either for calling out Excrements from the braine, and to provoke sneezing, those that performe which in particular, are called Ptarmica, * 1.2 or such as cause sneezing; or to open the obstructions of the passages, or to heale an Ulcer, or stench blood; whence the matter of Errhines, is not all∣wayes the same but various according to the various inten∣tions, which is shewne before in the faculties of medicines.

They are prepared also in severall formes; * 1.3 for some are moist, and Liquid, others hard and dry; againe, the Liquid are twofold, either they are powred into the nost∣rills, or the nostrills are anointed with them only expressed juices are powred into the nostrills, and are drawne in by and clarified them.

2. Or distilled waters are added to the clarified juices, Wine, Oyle, Honey, somewhat lesse then double, or some∣what lesse then foure times the weight, according as thicker, or more fluid Errhines are required, or conveni∣ent powders may be added, about a drachm in weight.

3. Or decoctions are prepared which are mixt with some∣what lesse then double, or somewhat lesse then foure times so much Honey, and are put into the nostrills.

But those things wherewith the nostrills are anointed, are most conveniently made of Oyles and Powders, to which belongs Balsoms, which the Nostrills are anointed with.

Besides these, to the moist there seemes to belong, those things which are put into the Nostrills in the forme of a tent.

But dry Errhines are made first of convenient Rootes, * 1.4 or Staulkes, as of Beetes, Flowre-deluce, Sow-bread, which are fashioned in the forme of a Pyramid, and afterwards macerated in the water of sweet Marjerom, or some other

a fit water, or Oyle, a thred being first tyed about them, they ••re put in.

2. Moreover dry Errhines are made when simple medi∣cines are reduced into a thin powder, and a graine or two or two of them is blowne into the Nostrils, and so they use to call Errhines in particular Ptarmaca, or Sternutatories.

3. Thirdly, Errhines and Sneezings may be made of the same powders, if with a linnen or woollen cloath, or a Linnen bagg, that is round, they are wrapt up in it, and either with juice, or convenient distilled waters; for exam∣ple of Marjerom, the Sternutatorie powder be dipt in it or sprinkled with it, and put into the Nostrills.

4. Fourthly, medicines for the nose being reduced into a powder, are taken in a Muscellage, or Gumm, or Turpen∣tine, or Oyle and wax, and diligently mixt, are made up into Pessaries, in the forme of a Pyramid, as it were in that big∣nesse that they may be put into the Nose, to the end whereof a thred is tyed, that it may be drawne out at pleasure.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Errhines.
• * 1.2

  Ptarmica.
• * 1.3

  Way to make them.
• * 1.4

  Dry Er∣rhiaes.