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. LXXIII. Of BALSAMS.

1. Our Wound-Balsam.

℞ OIL of Ben, or of Olives, lbiij. Strasburg-Tur∣pentine lbij. Wax lbj. Balsam of Peru, Tolu, or Chili, Frank∣incense,

a. ℥ viij. Chymical Oil of Lavender ℥ iij. mix, and make a Balsam according to Art.

It is a great thing among those which Chirurgians use as Sarcoticks or Flesh-breeders; it is emollient and digestive, breeds Flesh, takes away the Putrifaction; and safely, speedi∣ly, easily, and perfectly cures Wounds, be they of what kind soever, and in what part of the Body soever.

2. Our Anodyn-Balsam.

℞ Balsam of Peru, Tolu, or Chili; Frankincense, a. lbj. Camphir, Opium, (extracted with Water, to the consistence of Honey) a. ℥ ix. Saccharum Saturni ℥ iv. Spirit of Wine, a sufficient quantity; ••ix, and digest in Sand for ten days.

It wonderfully eases Arthri∣tick, Convulsive and Colick pains, rags being dipt therein, and applied to the parts af∣fected, renewing the applica∣tion every fourth or fifth hour, till the pain wholly ceases. In∣wardly, it is given à gr. viij, ad x. and by Clysters, in a Colick, à ℈ j, ad ℈ ss. as also in Bloody-fluxes, Lienteries, and other Fluxes of the Belly.

3. Our Balsam of Gum-Elemi.

℞ Gum Elemi, Venice-Tur∣pentine, a. lbij. Bees-wax, or Wax of Myrtle-berries lbj ss. Oil of Ben, or of Hypericon lbj. Balsam of Peru, liquid Storax, a. lbss. mix, and make a Balsam.

It powerfully resists Putrifa∣ction,

and easily cures Wounds of the Head; it makes contu∣macious Ulcers and Fistula's easy to heal, by cleansing them; it gently drys, breeds Flesh in Ulcers, and heals them. This Balsam is inferior to no other, for filling Wounds with Flesh, and agglutinating their lips for healing: it also strengtheneth the Nerves, comforts the heat of the Part, and is extreamly good for external affects of the Head.

4. Honey with Soap.

℞ Castil-Soap, best Honey, a. lbj. Oil of Tartar per deli∣quium ℥ iv. mix them.

It helps the Gout, and all sorts of Pains of the Joints, and parts adjacent.

5. Balsam of Soap.

℞ Castil-Soap, Oil of Ben, or of Olives, a. lbj. Strasburg-Turpentine, Oil of Juniper-berries, a. ℥ iv. flowers of Sulphur ℥ iij. mix them.

It is good for weakned Nerves, Tremblings, Palsies, Gouts, and chiefly for all sorts of external Pains and Diseases: it restores the native Heat, strengthens weak parts, and removes the cause of that weakness.

6. Our Friendly Balsam.

℞ Strasburgh-Turpentine, Bal••∣sam of Capivi, Gum Elemi, a. ℥ xij. Frankincense, Rosin, Wax, a. ℥ x. liquid Styrax, li∣quid Amber, pure Oil of Peter, a. ℥ viij. Balsams of Peru, of Tolu, Oil of Nutmegs by expres∣sion, a. ℥ vj. Mastich, Myrrh, Olibanum, resinous Scammony, all in subtil pouder, a. ℥ iv. Oil

of Hypericon ℥ xl. in the Oil dissolve the Rosin, Wax, Gums, Balsams, and aromatick Oils; afterwards, but whil'st yet hot, sprinkle in the Pouders, stirring the whole for a good while, and without intermission, and conclude the Balsam.

It removes cold Diseases of the Nerves, and Pains afflict∣ing them; it admirably heals Wounds; and is good for Ul∣cers and Fistula's, because it digests, purifies, cleanses, drys, and consolidates, and produces the Cicatrice, without the least sense of acrimony or sharpness. It powerfully digests and re∣solves, strengthens the Nerves, and preserves them from Dis∣eases coming of cold.

7. Our Gout-Balsam.

℞ Oil-olive lbiv. Opium, (extracted with Water, to the thickness of Honey) Strasburgh-Turpentine, Frankincense, Castil-Soap, a. lbij. Camphir, clear Oil of Peter, Wax, Saccharum Saturni, a. lbj. mix, and make a Balsam.

It is very good against the Gout and Sciatica; it allays all sorts of Inflammations, eases Pains, stupifies the Senses, is good against the Head-ach and Phrensy; and by anointing thereon, allays the heat of the Reins, strengthens loose and weak Joints, discusses Contu∣sions, and is successfully used in all Pains of the Joints.

VIII. Our Balsam of many Virtues.

℞ Oil of Ben, Strasburgh-Turpentine, a. lbij. liquid Sto∣rax, liquid Amber, Oil of Peter,

Wax, a. lbj. Camphir, Chymical Oils of Aniseeds, Juniper, Laven∣der, Limons, Rosemary, Sassafras, Amber, a. ℥ iij. mix, and make a Balsam.

It comforts Nature, and as it were, the Soul it self; but its chief uses are, to strengthen the Nervous System, to remove their cold intemperature, to stir up and revive the native heat of the Parts, and fortifie the strength of the Members. It is of admirable use against Numb∣ness and the Palsy, being an∣ointed all along the Back-bone. It takes away Pains proceeding from cold causes, and is power∣fully good against the debility of the Parts. It warms and drys, and by its essence and subtilty, it opens, penetrates, digests, and resolves all excrementitious Matter; and is good against Diseases of the Head and Nerves, as the Lethargy, Verti∣go, Trembling, and many others of like kind.

9. Our Eye-Balsam.

℞ Of the best Honey ℥ xxiv. Ox-gall ℥ xij. Strasburgh-Turpen∣tine, Saccharum Saturni, a. ℥ vj. Mastich, Myrrh, Olibanum, Sanguis Draconis, Sarcocolla, Scammony, a. ℥ iij. Aurum Vitae ℥ ij. mix them.

It is a powerful Balsam, not only to take off Films from the Eyes, but to remove Spots, Pearls, and all other Affects of the same. It is good against dimness of Sight, darkness, weakness of the Sight, and defects of the same, redness and watering of the Eyes. It is a most powerful Medicament to strengthen their Tunicles, and cure Ulcers therein.