Ars chirurgica a compendium of the theory and practice of chirurgery in seven books ... shewing the names, causes, signs, differences, prognosticks, and various intentions of curing all kinds of chirurgick diseases ... : to which is added Pharmacopoeia chirurgica, or, The medical store, Latin and English ... / by William Salmon ...

CHAP. LXVII. OF SYRUPS.

1. The Simple, or Uncom∣pounded Syrup.

℞ FAir Water or Juice of An∣gelica lbiij. Spirit of Wine lbj. treble-refined Sugar lbvj. mix, and with the heat of a Bath make a Syrup.

It is chiefly used as a Vehi∣cle, and in Diseases of the Brest, as Coughs, Asthma's, Obstructions of the Lungs, it is exceeding helpful. Dose, ab ℥ ss, ad ℥ j. or according as the nature of the thing requires.

2. The Volatil Syrup.

℞ Alcohol of Wine, or the best Tincture of Angelica, treble-refined Sugar, ana lbij. mix, and dis∣solve the Sugar in a gentle Bath.

It is used for a Vehicle, as the former; but is Cordial and Pectoral, and is very profitable in Pinings, Hecticks, Consum∣ptions, and Ulcers of the Lungs, as also for such as have tedious Coughs and Asthma's. Dose, (being mixt with some proper Water) is, à ʒ iij, ad ℥ j. It is a good thing, chiefly for ancient People.

3. Syrup of Limons, &c.

℞ Filtred juice of Limons, or of Citrons; or in place there∣of, the best Wine-vinegar lbiij.

S.V. rectified lbj. treble-refined Sugar lbvj. mix, and dissolve.

It cuts and attenuates thick Humors in the Brest, cleanses the Stomach from thick and tough Phlegm; takes away Loathing of Food, and the weakness of the Ferment of the Ventricle: it powerfully allays the great heat of burning Fevers, by cooling and moistning of Choler and Melancholy; it quenches vehement Thirst, resists Putrifa∣ction, kills Worms, comforts the Heart, and restores its strength. It is most effectual in Diseases proceeding from Heat and Cho∣ler, in the Plague, and in Diseases arising from Putrifaction, or Mixt humors. Dose, ab ℥ ss, ad ℥ j. more or less.

4. The Syrup against Fevers.

℞ Fair Water lbviij. Nitre ℥ xviij. treble-refined Sugar lbviij. S.V. lbij. mix, and with a gentle heat make a Syrup.

It opens Obstructions of the Bowels, recruits the Vital Spirits, and is good against the vehe∣ment Heat of the whole Body; it wasts the Stone, provokes Urine, and expels Sand and Tar∣tarous Humors from the Reins, it is profitable in the Dropsy, and wonderfully brings forth the watery Humor by the Ureters and Urinary Passages: it is powerful in opening Obstructions pro∣ceeding from thick, viscous, and glutinous Humors: it is a singu∣lar thing, and of great force in burning, cholerick, malign, and pestilential Fevers: but it is then given in the Fit, or time of the burning heat, in some fit Vehicle. Dose, ab ʒ j, ad ℥ ij.

5. The Purging Syrup.

℞ White Port-wine lbiv. de∣purated juice of Damask-Roses lbij. Alcohel of Wine lbj ss. best Sena lbj. Rhubarb ℥ iv. Li∣quorice bruised ℥ ij. digest in Bal∣neo Mariae, for twenty four hours; then strain out, and with the best white Sugar-candy lbvj. make a Syrup.

It sufficiently and powerfully purges Choler, Phlegm, and Melancholy: it is a Medicine of general use, which is proper to many praeternatural Affects of the Body, and expels all Hu∣mors; it is powerful against various Diseases of the Head, Stomach, Liver, and Disaffections of the other Bowels, and is given in the Morning fasting; ab ℥ j, ad ij, vel iij.

6. Syrup of Poppies, or Diacodium.

℞ Fresh heads of Poppies with their seed, white and black, of a middle size, neither too green, nor too ripe, ana ℥ viij. rain or foun∣tain Water lbviij. digest for twenty four hours, and then boil till lbiij. only remain: express out, and add thereto white Sugar ℥ xxiv. Spirit of Wine ℥ x. mix, and with a gentle heat make a Syrup.

It is a Vehicle for other things, and of frequent use to re∣strain thin and sharp Defluxions flowing down upon the Brest and Lungs, it stops the Cough, quenches Thirst, induces Sleep, and stays Fluxes of the Belly, and a Bloody-flux; it eases

acute Pains, causes Rest, and alleviates Hysterick Diseases: it mitigates the vehemency of febrile Heats, moistens and cools, Dose, ab ℥ ss, ad ℥ j.

7. Honcy of Roses, or Honey Rosed.

℞ Of the manifold Infusion of red Roses lbiij. clarified Honey lbij ss. mix, and boil, adding in the end rectified S.V. ℥ x. Or thus: Take juice of red Roses lbiij. best clarified Honey lbvj. mix them well, add Alcohol of Wine ℥ xij. and keep it for use.

It strengthens and cleanses the Stomach, helps Concoction, resists Putrifaction, digests crude Humors, removes hoarsness, and gives relief in Swellings pro∣ceeding from Blood, happening in the Mouth, as Inflammations of the Gums and Tonsils; it takes away the Distempers of the Aspera Arteria, Columella, Jaws, and Throat. Dose, being internally taken, à ℥ ss, ad ℥ j.

8. Oxymel of Squills.

℞ A fresh Squill, its outside∣coat being taken off, wrap it up in Bread-dough, and bake it with Bread in an Oven; being taken forth, cut it into slices with a bone or ivory Knife, which put upon a Thred, but so as one piece may not touch another, and hang it in a dry place for forty days, till they are dry; afterwards cut them with an ivory Knife, of which take lbj. Spirit of White-wine-vinegar lbvj. put them into a glass Vessel with a narrow mouth, which stop close, and insolate for forty days, after which strain it out. Take of this Vinegar of

Squills lbvj. clarified Honey lbviij. mix them, and with a little soft boiling, make Oxymel of a due consistency. Otherwise thus: Take of a Squill bak'd in Bread-dough lbj. of the sharpest Vinegar lbvij. mix them, and insolate for forty days; or other∣wise digest in hot Ashes or Sand for three days; afterwards strain, and with Honey, as above, make Oxymel of Squills. Or thus: Take juice of a Squill (taken from a raw one, which is plump and clean; cut into slices with an ivory Knife, and bruised in a stone Mortar) lbij. of the best White-wine-vinegar lbj. of the best Honey lbiij. mix, and boil to the form of a Syrup.

It is good for Hydropick per∣sons, and such as have an Ana∣sarca, one or two spoonfals being taken for a Dose: it powerfully removes contumacious affects of the Brain, Lungs, and Stomach, proceeding from Phlegm or Melancholy; it is used also in a prevailing or stubborn Epile∣psy, and in the Paroxysm it self; as also in Diseases of the Brest and Stomach, and is singularly good in an Asthma coming from thick Phlegm and a viscous humidity. It cuts, attenuates, and prepares the thick matter sonexpulsion, which is contained in the cavity of the Brest; it cures such as have an old Cough, accompanied with difficulty of Breathing: it helps the Asthma, and shortness of Breath, arising from the passages of the Breath being stuft with a great quan∣tity of Phlegm; and readily frees such as are obstructed after

this manner; and it is extremely necessary for Ancient people, who are almost always trou∣bled with Diseases of this kind; it opens also inveterate Ob∣structions of the Veins. Sa∣mius when he began to use this Medicine was fifty years old, and he lived well and in good health, without the appearance of any sickness, till he was an hundred and seven∣teen years of age. Galen saith, that by the use of this Medi∣cine he knew many to be re∣stored to their healths, who laboured under deplorable Phthi∣sicks, or Consumptions of the Lungs. It is effectually good against a long-continued Epi∣lepsy, so as it returns not, ex∣cept after a long space of time; but if the Disease is recent, and in its beginning, it per∣fectly removes it, so as it shall never return any more. It is also admirable against the Gout, and Diseases of the Joints; also the Scirrhus, or hardness of the Liver and Spleen. It makes the Belly perfectly soluble, purges the whole Body, and draws from all the parts of the same, not suffering any filth to remain in the Bones. It suffers no unprofitable thing to rest in the Body; neither Wind, nor Flegm, nor Choler, nor Melancholy, Dung nor Urine; but moves, or purges them with much ease, and casts them forth.