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. LXXVI. OF CERE-CLOTHS.

I. The White Cere-cloth.

℞ WHITE Wax ℥ viij. Oil of Ben, or of bitter Almonds ℥ x. fine Sperma-Ceti

℥ ij. Ceruss washed ℥ iij. Camphir ℥ j. mix them.

Anointed on the marks of the Small-Pox, it causes them to fill up; it softens, resolves, and is Anodyn; it is also a delicate Cosmetick.

2. The Green Cere-cloth.

℞ Juice of Tobacco lbvj. new Wax lbiv. Rosin lbiij. Strasburgh-Turpentine lbij. Oil-olive a sufficient quantity; mix, and make a Cerate. Or thus: Take Rosin lbvj. new Wax lbiij. Sheeps-suet lbij. Strasburgh-Turpentine lbj. Oil-olive a suffi∣cient quantity; mix, and make a Cerate.

It cures green Wounds, and produces a cicatrice. But if you would rather have it for the cleansing of Ulcers, to every pound of the Cerate, you may add ʒ ij. of purified Verdigrise; but then it will be made very green.

3. The Galbanum-Cerate.

℞ Gum Ammoniack and Gal∣banum, (dissolved in Vinegar) Wax, a. lbiij. Strasburgh-Turpentine lbij. Juice of Tobacco lbj. mix, and make a Cerate.

It is of great virtue in soft∣ning and resolving; for it digests, softens, and resolves even hard and scirrhous Tu∣mors, Tophs, Nodes, and Scro∣phula's of the Joints and prin∣cipal Members, and eases their vehement pains; as also the pains of the Brest, Shoulders, Duggs, Hypochonders, Sides,

Stomach, Liver, Spleen, Reins, Womb, and Joints; proceeding from cold Defluxions, crude Humors, Flatulency, or other cold indispositions of the Parts. It is said to take away Warts and Corns, in a short time. But above all, it is powerful against the Kings-evil, whether new, or of long continuance; for that it softens the Tumors, gives ease, concocts, digests, incides, and dissolves them. Applied to the place pained, in the Megrim, it eases it; it strengthens the Nerves and Womb. It is good against Convulsions, and cures the bitings of mad Dogs; as also the stingings or woundings of Scorpions, and other poi∣sonous Creatures.

4. The Cerate of Gum Elemi.

℞ Gum Elemi lbiv. Frank∣incense, Gum Ammoniack, Galba∣num, Sagapenum, Wax, Extract of Tobacco, a. lbij. Strasburgh-Turpentine lbij ss. mix, and make a Cerate.

It is commended for the cure of all such Wounds as pierce either Head, or Brest; as also for very old Ulcers, and such as are difficult to heal. It pre∣serves green Wounds from Inflammations, conjoins their gaping lips; and if inflamed, removes the Inflammation, and cures them; Ulcers that are not deep, it presently heals. It is powerful in resolving and di∣gesting the hardness of any part whatsoever. It dissipates a Scir∣rhus of the Liver and Spleen, dissolves also Struma's and inve∣terate Abscesses: and is a con∣stant remedy at all times, for

such as are afflicted with the Gout.

5. The Black Cerecloth.

℞ Red-lead, Wine-vinegar, a. lbj. Oil-olive lbiij. mix, and boil (continually stirring it, without intermission) till it grows black. If you please, you may add at the end of the boiling, a pound of Frankincense.

It is Anodyn; and therefore (universals being premised) is found to be of exceeding good use against the Gout, in what place soever, and happening in what time soever; for it gently cools, and after an admirable manner eases all manner of pains and torments; and with∣all, it powerfully allays, and extinguishes the great heat and vehemency of Inflammations.

6. The Soft Cerecloth.

℞ Oil-olive lbiv. Wine-vinegar, Litharge, a. lbij. mix, and boil over a gentle fire, (continually stirring it, even without ceasing) till it comes to the consistency of a soft Cerecloth.

It softens, eases Pain, dissolves Abscesses, as also hot and hard Tumors, digests and ripens Phle∣gmons or Inflammations; and is specifically good against the Gout.

7. The Cooling Cerecloth.

℞ White Wax lbj. Oil-olive lbiij. Saccharum Saturni (dis∣solved in Vinegar) ℥ viij. mix, and with a gentle fire boil to a consistency. Or thus: Melt the Wax and Oil in a double Vessel; which being cooled, add thereto by little and little, in a Mortar, the Solution of the Saccharum Saturni, and cold

Water, so much as it will drink up, continually stirring and beating them together. The Water must be put upon it cold, and it will be mixed by a continual stirring or beating together; then more cold Water is again to be put in, and in like manner beaten together, even so long, till it will receive no more.

It is good against Phlegmons, or Inflammations, Erysipela's, Herpes, Carbuncles, Inflamma∣tions or Tumors of the Glan∣dules, and every intemperature proceeding from heat. And if it is applied to the Hypochon∣ders, it is very good for such as are Feverish, or apt to be trou∣bled with Fevers.

8. A Cerecloth of Sperma Ceti.

℞ White Wax lbiv. Sperma Ceti lbij. Galbanum dissolved in Vinegar lbj. Oil of Ben, a sufficient quantity; mix, and make a Cerecloth.

It cures Scrophula's, Struma's, and hard and scirrhous Tumors. It is also good to apply to Womens Breasts after delivery, who give not Milk; it eases the pain occasioned by the Milk, and abates the tumor or swelling: for it dissolves the coagulated or concreted Milk, and hinders its increase.

9. A Cerecloth against hard Bunchings-out.

℞ Quick-silver killed with Spittle or Juice of Limons, Pou∣der of Tobacco, a. lbj. Cerat of Galbanum lbiv. Oil of Ben ℥ ix. Oil of Juniper-berries ℥ v. mix, and make a Cerat.

It is commended for the cure of hard Tumors, Tophs, and Nodes; and easing Nocturnal

pains, chiefly such as proceeded from, or are caused by the French Disease. It is also good against the Kings-evil, and other like Swellings of that kind.