Doron medicum, or, A supplement to the new London dispensatory in III books : containing a supplement I. to the materia medica, II. to the internal compound medicaments, III. to the external compound medicaments : compleated with the art of compounding medicines ... / by William Salmon ...

CHAP. XIV. Of the Choice of Medicines.

1. MEdicines are to be chosen, either in re∣spect of their mat∣ter, or in respect of their use, or in respect of their form.

2. First, in respect of their matter. § 1. That it may be powerful in rooting out of Diseases. § 2. That it may be cheap, and so the more ap∣plicable to the poor and nee∣dy. § 3. That it be easie to be made, to prevent Error in Preparation. § 4. That it be small in Composition, to avoid as much as may be Hetrogenity in Nature. § 5. That it be made pleasant as may be, to deceive the Pal∣late, and not become loath∣som to the Stomach. § 6. That it be small in dose, be∣cause large Doses, and great quantities, not only over∣come the Stomach and bur∣then Nature, but also bespeak so much the less Vertue in the Medicament. § 7. Last∣ly, that it may be durable, to retein it's Strength and Vertue through many Ages; and this it can only attain through an exact Purity. And those are the things which

we have been as eareful as might be, to observe, in handling the following parts of this work, and to communicate to the World without deceit.

3. Secondly, in respect of their Ʋse or Intention. First, That they sympathize with the part affected. Secondly, With the Habit and Consti∣tution of the Body. Third∣ly, That they may be Speci∣ficks (if possible) against, and powerful to root out the Disease afflicting. Fourthly, That they may be pleasant and grateful to the Sick.

If one be to cure a Disease of the Head, besure it be with a Cephalick Medicament. Se∣condly, Let it sympathize with the Constitution; so that whether Salt, Sulphur, or Mercury abound, the Medicine may answer in Quality, viz. Be either Saline, Oleaginous or Spirituous. Thirdly, Be sure all this while, it be a proper Specifick against the Disease. Fourthly, Endeavour to make it pleasant to the Pallat and Stomach, and if it be not plea∣sant, give it in a pleasant Ve∣hicle; for, when all is done, if the Stomach loaths and abo∣minates it, it will prove insuc∣oessful, nor will it answer the intended end; for, the Stomach not embracing, but rejecting it, it's Virtues can be communica∣ted to no part of the whole man. By this you may easily perceive, how, out of variety of Medi∣cines (all equally powerful against the same Disease) to chuse that which shall really do the Cure: and without the Knowledge and Observance of which, (although the Medicine be both proper and powerful, absolutely to extirpate the Ma∣lady, yet) you shall wholly miss of the end. Now, the rea∣son is this, if the Medicine be homogenious with Nature, and the Stomach, (which is the Index of Nature) it joyns it self with it, and so easily over∣comes the Disease, there being two against one: but if it be beterogenious with Nature and the Stomach, (although it be a real and powerful Specifick, yet) then it performs nothing, because it has two Enemies to contend with, to wit, Nature and theDisease.

4. Thirdly, in respect of their Form. § 1. According to the Nature and Situation

of the Disease, the Medica∣ment is either to be Internal or External, or both. § 2. If it be Internal, it is either cast in by the Mouth or by the Lower parts, and sometimes both ways: for, sometimes the inferiour parts are so ob∣structed, that the things gi∣ven by the mouth, can do no great matters, till those Ob∣structions be removed. § 3. If the Medicament be external, it ought to have respect to the Part, to the Pain, and to the Disease. In respect of the Part, it ought to be hard or soft, moist or dry. In respect of the Pain, it must be anodyn or narcotick. And in respect to the Disease, it ought to be specifick. §. 4. If both Inter∣nals and Externals be apply∣ed, the Considerations ought to be conjunct, as afore∣said.