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. XXXVI. Of Cerots, and Emplaisters.

THe name of a Cerat, or Cerot, the Ancients used for a soft medicine, namely for that which consisting of oyle and wax is anointed.

But at this day tis taken for a medicine, like unto a plai∣ster, yet is not so hard as a plaister in consistence, and tis so called from Cera, that is wax, because the greater part of it is wax: And tis compounded at this day of powders, oyles,

Gums, Pitch, Turpentine and Wax, and sometimes Lard, Marrow, and Muscellages are added.

But the proportion of the things that are mixt is various, neither can it easily be defined and comprehended by Rules, and the quantity of Wax to be mixed is left for the most part to the discretion of the Apothecary, who ascends by de∣grees, according to progress from a lesser quantity to a greater; yet for the most part the analogy of mixture useth to be desired, so that when they consist of Oyl, Wax, and Rosin, one part of Oyl is taken, half so much of Rosin, of Wax the third part: But when Pouders are added, the proportion of Oyles to Pouders is eight-fold, to Wax, two three, four or six-fold; and to Rosin, that it may stick the faster, they use to add twelvefold; a Cerot becomes the harder three ways, namely, by defect of Oyl and Grease, by boiling, and store of Pitch, Wax, or Pouders.

1. They are made in this manner, * 1.1 If the Cerot ought to be made of Pouders only, Oyl and Wax; the Oyl and Wax should be dissolved together at the fire, and the Pouders put in by degrees, and exactly mingled.

2. If Lard, Gums, or other things to be melted by the fire are taken, they should be melted with the wax.

3. If Gums are to be dissolved in Vineger or Wine; first they must be dissolved in Oyl, and mingled with Wax, that the Vineger or Wine may be consumed with boiling, afterwards the Pouders may sprinkled in.

4. If you are to add Roots, Fruits, or Seeds, these are first to be boiled, and the Decoction to be boiled again with Oyl to the consumption of the moisture.

Lastly, the things melted and pounded are to be added, and all to be mixt together, and to be kept for use.

But when you may prescribe fresh things for present use, three Ounces and an a half may suffice for a great Cerot, for an indifferent one two Ounces, for a little one, one Ounce, & three or four Drachms of Pouders are sufficient for an in∣different Plaister: and such Cerots use to be put with an Aromatick Pouder sprinkled on them into a piece of Lea∣ther, or to be covered with fine Linnen; the quantity and figure, if it may be, should answer and be conformable to the parts to which they ought to be applied.

Plaisters, * 1.2 from Emplattein, that is, from fashioning, and soft anointing is derived, because they may be extended, and spred on a Linnen cloath, or peice of Leather; they are medicines somewhat harder and more sollid then Cerots, and are compounded of the same things whereof Cerots are, only that metalls, and mineralls, and for the most part, Li∣tharge are added, which makes them of a more sollid con∣sistence.

For the most part this is the manner of compounding them; * 1.3 the wax for the most part is melted in Oyle, if the Litharge be in readinesse, that also should be boyled in Oyle. If Juices of herbs, or decoctions, Musceilages, Vinegar, Wine or any other Liquor be to be mixt, then that also is to be mixed with the rest, and being mixt, are to be boyled so long, untill the aqueous humidity be consumed; afterwards the Rosins, fat, thickned and concreate juices, and Gumms, are to be put in sometimes, dissolved first, and strained, with Wine, Vinegar, and Oyle; lastly Turpentine is to be mixt, and all to be boyled to a due consistence, which when tis done, and taken from the fire, the powders must be put in by little and little, and continually stird about, that they may be brought into one masse, with the rest, of which being cooled, but before it growes hard, are to be fashioned, in the similitude of a Pyramid, or a long Rolle, or Rollers, and be kept for use, of the which when tis necessary, a part may be cut off, and if need be softned somewhat with convenient Oyle, spred on Linnen, and applyed to the skin.

The proportion of mixture, can scarce be defined ex∣actly, and strictly, and if any error be committed, it may easily be corrected by boyling or mingling of more dry, or liquid things; but this proportion for the most part is observed, that to an ounce of dry things, there is taken of Oyle, Fat, or Honey, three Ounces, of Wax a pound, of Rosin eight Ounces: But if boyled, and pounded Herbs are added, a little handfull, requires an Ounce, or an Ounce and halfe of Oyle, or Grease, so that the proportion of Wax to Rosin is six-sold, to Oyle foure-fold, to Powders double: but if the quantity of Rosin be greater, there needs the lesse Wax.

Sometimes before the Emplaistick masse be cooled a Lin∣nen * 1.4

cloath that is worne out by age is dipt in, and when tis bedaubed with the substance of the Plaister, tis taken out, extended, cooled, and kept for use; which kind of Plaisters, they called Emplastick Webbs of cloath, and Spa∣radrapum, and applyed them for cleansing of Ulcers, Glutina∣ting, Cicatrizing, and other uses.

And these are properly called Plaisters, yet some things are referred to Plaisters also, which are prepared without Wax, Pitch, and those Glutinous things, and without fire, and are compounded with Honey, Muscellages, and a cer∣tain thick juice, or Barme, or only with a little Wax, mel∣ted with Oyle; of which kind is the Plaister of Bay-berries and de Grusta panis, and such like, which are as it were in the middle, betwixt Plaisters, and Cataplasmes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  How made.
• * 1.2

  Plaisters.
• * 1.3

  How com∣pounded.
• * 1.4

  Emplastick Web.