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. XXXVIII. Of Medicines to take away Haire, Salves made of Mustard, Medicines causing Wheales, or Pusties in the body, and Vesicatories, or Medi∣cines that cause Blisters.

A Dropax, or any thing to take away haire, a Syna∣pisme, or a Salve made of Mustard, a Phaenigne, a Medicine to cause Wheales, or Pustles, differ not from the forme of a Cataplasme, yet for some certaine peculiar effects which they produce, Authors have been pleased to separate them from other Cerots, Plaisters, and Cata∣plasmes.

Dropax in Greek, * 1.1 with the Latines Picatio, is a Medi∣cine composed in the forme of a Plaister, or Cataplasme, powerfully sticking to the skin, which heretofore was ex∣hibited to extenuate and relax the Member, to heat and draw more store of blood, as is spoken before, part 2. Sect. 2. Cap. 5. or to dry moister bodies; It is two-fold, the one simple, * 1.2 which consists of Pitch and Oyle melted together, the other compound, which besides Pitch and Oyle, hath in it, Pepper, Castor, Pellitory, Bittony, Gal∣banum, Brimstone, Nitre, or the ashes of Vine-twiggs, and other things which are needfull; out of all which a Plaister is made with Oyle and Pitch, which is put in a peice of Leather, or linnen cloath, and applied to the member, being hot, the haire shaved before hand, and the part well rubbed, and before tis quite cold, is twitched off againe, and put to the fire againe, and applied to the part againe, and that is so often repeated, untill the part growes red, and is somewhat swelled.

Synapismes are Cataplasmes, * 1.3 or Plaisters, principally consisting of Mustard-seed, from whence they have their names, or other things are compounded, which are of the same nature with mustard-seed, and they are two-fold, the

one more mild and gentle, which the Greeks call Phoinig∣mon, because it makes the skin look red, and is to draw out the matter which lies so deep hid in the body, to its superfi∣cies. * 1.4 The other is stronger which also raiseth blisters in the part to which it is applied, which they properly call Vesi catories.

The Ancients made Synapismes of Mustard seed, * 1.5 or sheere-grasse, dry Figgs were macerated in warme water, the next day after Mustard-seed pounded was mixt with that pulpe, and if a stronger Synapisme were required, they would mingle two parts of Mustard with one of Figgs, but if weaker, one part of Mustard-seed, and two parts of Figgs,: If indifferent equall parts, being mixed they were applied to the part affected,, and left there so long, till the skin run down with moisture, and looked red.

Other Medicines also, both making red, * 1.6 and causing Blisters, are mentioned before, part the first, Sect. the first, Cap. 10. and are mingled with honey, Oxymell with Squills, Vinegar with Squills, Melle Anarcardino, Spirit of Wine, Turpentine, Soap, the crum of bread, and G••mme, with sharp things and Plaisters, and Catapla∣smes are made of them, whether to cause the part to look red, and burn onely, or to raise blisters. The principall thing to raise blisters is a medicine compounded of Cantharides, and Leaven. When a blister is raised by a medicine, and is broken, tis not forthwith to be dried, but to be permitted to run, that the humour which we desire to evacuate, revell, or derive, may flow out, and therefore some fat unguent, or a Figg, or the leaves of Coleworts, are to ••e put to it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A Dropax.
• * 1.2

  Its diffe∣rences.
• * 1.3

  A Syna∣pisme.
• * 1.4

  A Vesica∣tory.
• * 1.5

  How to prepare Sy∣napismes.
• * 1.6

  How to make Ve∣sicatories.