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. XV. Of the Forms of Internal artificial Medicines.

1. OF the Forms of Chy∣mical Medicaments. § 1. We have al∣ready delivered the Forms of Chymical Medicaments in Our Pharmacopaeia lib. 6. cap. 16. and that in a very parti∣cular manner; yet, besides what we have there deliver∣ed, these few following things may be observed. § 2. In distilled Waters, if you coho∣bate the matter distilled of∣ten, it will be much the stron∣ger and better: and if you impregnate the Water with the Salt of the Ashes, it will make the Water not only more virtuous, but more du∣rable. § 3. In making of Spi∣rits from Juyces; if the Juyce be strained from fer∣mented matter, and be fer∣mented again with fresh Herbs, there will be a great∣er plenty of Spirits. § 4. In making of distilled Oyls from Vegetables; they ought

first to be putrified; and then from that putrified mat∣ter you may draw off the Oyl (with some Spirits and a water) in a Vesica, which by a glass Funnel, with a small Orifice, you may sepa∣rate. Moreover, dry Herbs yield more Oyl than green; but Peels of Oranges, Li∣mons, &c. not dry, are best. § 5. Tinctures are made with S. V. simple, or tartarized, or acuated with Spirits of Vinegar, Sulphur, Vitriol or Salt; to lb 1. of which, put of the matter of which you would make the Tin∣cture, being dry, or rasped, or grossly beaten, ℥j. ij. or iij. to wit, so much as may yield Tincture enough to fill the body of the Menstruum; di∣gest in a warm place, till the Liquor will no more augment it's Color or Tast; then de∣cant it off, and filter it; or, which is better, purifie it by long Digestion. Mineral Tinctures are extracted with Spirits of Vinegar, of Honey, of Sugar, of Salt, Vitriol, or Sulphur: but an admirable Menstruum (whether for Ve∣getables, Minerals, or Ani∣mals) is the Spiritus Vini Philosophicus Kirkringii, and that of Basil Valentine, as al∣so, Aqua Calcis. § 6. Ex∣tracts are but only Tinctures inspissated; for while the Menstruum remains unsepara∣ted, it has the Title of Tin∣cture: after Separation, it is called an Extract. These are most commonly made of Purgatives, more seldom of Alteratives: and sometimes the Menstruum is fermented Spirit of Mault, Honey, Su∣gar, &c. § 7. In making of Magisteries, it is to be obser∣ved, that if the matter, be very hard, as Stones, and such like, that it will be best to be first calcined. § 8. Salts are to be confidered in a twofold Respect; viz. as volatile or fixed. The Vola∣tile are raised by many Co∣hobations of the Spirit or Li∣quor distilled upon the Faeces or Caput mortuum, as we have taught in Our Pharm. Lond. lib. 4. cap. 5. Sect. 1.9.29. & 32. The more that there is raised of this Vola∣tile Salt, so much the less will you find of the fixed, which is made by Incinera∣tion.

You may also have the Essential Salt another way, according to that which we have taught in making the Essential Salt of Sorrel, lib. 2. cap. 10. Sect. 5. And here both volatile and fixed are conjoyned. Fixed Salts if they be made very pure, by many Incinerations, Dis∣solutions, &c. ought then to be given in a larger dose: moreover, that the lixiviate Tast may be taken away, you ought to mix them with an equal quantity of Sulphur, and then set them on fire; so will they be not only more pleasant, but also much better resist the Penetration of the Air: these fixed Salts distilled as common Salt (as some Chymists affirm) will yield a most picrcing Spi∣rit.

All artificial Medicaments have a twofold method of Pre∣paration, as we have hinted in Our Synopsis Medicinae, lib. 3. cap. 1. Sect. 17. to wit, ei∣ther Galenical or Chymical; and each method hath its seve∣ral mode or manner of perfect∣ing the thing designed; from which modes or ways of prepa∣ring arise various forms of Me∣dicines, which are either fluid, soft only, or solid; according to the Constitution and matter of which they are made: and from which form and matter arises their Division, Ʋse, and Application, both to Internal and External Purposes and Affects.

We here intend to shew the principal Forms of Galenical Preparations, which are in Number fourteen, viz. 1. Es∣sences. 2. Wines. 3. Vine∣gars. 4. Infusions. 5. Deco∣ctions. 6. Syrups. 7. Quid∣donies. 8. Lohochs, 9. Pre∣serves. 10. Sugars, 11. Pou∣ders. 12. Electuaries. 13. Pills, 14. Troches. There are ma∣ny other Titles of Forms, but they are particular, as being derived either from some part of the Body, or some singular formality of the Preparation; or, from the manner of their Operation; or, lastly, from the manner of their Exhibition; all which, are comprehended under some of those we have already named.

2. To make or prepare Essen∣ces.

§ 1. Essences are made of the Juyces of Green herbs, pressed out with Spirit of Wine, and digested in B. M. where they receive their Co∣lor, separated by Inclination, and with a little Sugar redu∣ced almost into the form of a Syrup. § 2. The former way is good: But some, and they no mean Artists, make all vegetable Essences only by Putrefaction; the Herb being bruised and putrified, the Juyce is separated while it stinks abominably; this is kept, and in one Revoluti∣on it suffers a Change, the Internal Spirit or Agent re∣vives, and the Seminal Idea has a Resuscitation, Corrup∣tion puts on Incorruption, and a new body appears in it's Purity (and Immortality, as in a Sense it may be said) having the same natural Odour or Smell, and Tast, with that growing in the Fields, or Garden; but much more pure, clear, perspicuous, powerful, strong, and plea∣sant; containing in it self, all the natural Principles of which mix'd Bodies are com∣posed, but separated from their Putrefaction and Filth. § 3. From hence appears how close the Spirit and Souls of things, adhere to their own matter; that although the external form is destroyed, and the matter it self bruised, broken, and as it were mor∣tified; yet the Internal ener∣getick power, Life, or Idea, can suffer no Hurt, Diminu∣tion, Loss, or Change, but remains eternally unalterable in it's pristine Estate, being at most, but only clouded by the Alteration of the said external form. I could speak almost infinitely about this Subject, and give Demon∣strations not to be refuted: but I am confined here to be short. § 4. The Essences of Minerals are not to be prepa∣red without great Difficul∣ties, because their bodies must also be brought to a perfect Mortification and Putrefacti∣on; but of this we shall say nothing here, referring it to another place.

3. To make or prepare Wines medicate.

The ground of medicate Wines is commonly Rhenish, Sherry, or Canary; and they

are medicated by Digestion (in a gentle heat) of the de∣signed Medicament. To eve∣ry Gallon of Wine, if you use dryed herbs, you may put M. iv. If Juyces, lb ij. If of Spices or Aromaticks, ℥viij. If of Catharticks, ℥xij. If of Emeticks, chiefly, Antimoni∣al, ℥iv. But if you design the Aromatick or Spicy Wine to drink for pleasure, ℥ij. of the Spices will be sufficient, add∣ing a little treble refined Su∣gar.

4. To make or prepare medi∣cate Vinegars.

The Foundation of these kinds of Vinegars, is pure Spirit of the best or sharpest Wine Vinegar; of which, you may take one Gallon, and put thereto, of dryed Herbs Flowers, or Seeds, ℥xvj. or better. If of Spices or Aro∣maticks, ℥viij. If of Alexi∣pharmicks, ℥xx. If of Vege∣table Emeticks, ℥xiv. or xviij. put all into a glass Vessel, stop it close, and digest in the Sun for forty days, or else in a gentle Sand heat, then de∣cant, strain, and keep it for use.

5. To make or prepare Infu∣sions.

§. Let the Simples be cut, stamped, or rasped, then in∣fuse them in Water, Whey, or Mead, which agrees best with your Intention; set them in the heat of Ashes, Sand, Sun, or naked Fire, for a day, two, or three, ac∣cording to the Quality of the things to be infused: The quantity of the Liquor is to cover the Ingredients three or four Inches above them. §. 2. Some instead of the former Liquors use a Lixivi∣um of Salt of Tartar; but then it is not properly what we call an Infusion. Others use Aqua Calcis, or water of Quicklime, which is an ad∣mirable Vehicle. § 3. Infu∣sions are chiefly used for purging Potions, upon pre∣sent occasions: but if the things be infused in S. V. or other strong Menstruum, it is called Tincture, not Infusion.

6. To make or prepare De∣coctions.

Take Spring or Rain wa∣ter, Whey, Beer, Metheglin, or Wine, in which, put ei∣ther Weeds, Barks, Roots,

Seeds, Leaves, Spices, or Flowers, being cut, rasped or ••bruised; a pound of In∣gredients, more or less (ac∣cording to their Strength) to a Gallon of Liquor, boyl them in a glased earthen Ves∣sel, or a Copper Vesica tin'd within (commonly called a Dyet-Pot) close covered, to the Consumption of a third or forth part of the Liquor; then clarifie it with whites of Eggs (if you so please, or it be not thin and clear enough) sweeten it a little, and aro∣matize it with a few grains of Musk, or Tincture of Am∣bergrise: if it be for Wo∣men, you may do it with Cinnamon. Decoctions are chiefly used in Diets for af∣fects of the Belly, Reins, and Womb; as also in Distempers of the universal habit of the Body, as Scorbuts, Dropsies, Consumptions, &c. and in all manner of Obstructions of the Breast, Stomach, Liver, Spleen, and Womb, whatso∣ever.

7. To make or prepare Sy∣rups.

§ 1. The ordinary way. If the things be green, take their expressed Juyce; if dry, a strong Infusion or Decoction of them: This Juyce, Infu∣sion, or Decoction, clarifie with whites of Eggs, or otherwise; and to every Pint put lbij. of good white Su∣gar, boyl them together to the Thickness of new Honey, taking off the Skum if any arises; then strain it, being hot, through a Flannel bag, and keep the Syrup for use. § 2. After this manner, are made the Syrups of all cold, moist, and juycy Herbs. § 3. But if you make your Syrup of hot and spicy or Aroma∣tick things, dry them and in∣fuse them in S. V. (simple or tartarized, or acuated with Oyls of Sulphur, Vitriol, or Salt) ℥ij. more or less, (as the Ingredients are in strength) to a Pint: Digest in a very gentle Balneo or Sand heat; close stop'd, for ten, twenty, thirty, or for∣ty days, as the matter is in hardness; shaking or stirring it twice every day; then be∣ing settled, decant off the clear Tincture, and with most pure Sugar, or clarified Ho∣ney, a pound to a pound, both

being put into a Pelican, let them circulate for a month upon a gentle Heat; then pour it forth, and keep it in a glased Vessel for use. § 4. Zwelfer has another way of making Syrups, by distillati∣on in M. B. which is a very excellent way; you may see it in our Pharmacopaeia Londi∣nensis, lib. 4. cap. 16. Sect. 9. at large. § 5. Faber a most excellent and learned man, has also another way of pre∣paring Syrups, no way in∣feriour to the former, only it is more troublesom to do: you may see it in our said Pharmacop. lib. 4. cap. 16. Sect. 100. To which I refer the Reader.

8. To make or prepare Quid∣donies.

§ 1. Quiddony is the same thing which we call Rob or Sapa: It may be made of the Juyce of any Herb, Plant, or Fruit; but it is for the most part, made of the Juy∣ces of Fruit in this manner. § 2. Take the Juyce you in∣tend to make a Quiddony of, boyl it gently, to the Con∣sumption of a third part; then add to what remains, half it's quantity or weight of White Sugar, and by re∣peating the boyling to a just Thickness, make Quiddony. § 3. Marmalades or Gellyes, are made after the same man∣ner, the Difference only be∣ing, that these latter are made of the Pulp.

9. To make or prepare Lo∣hochs.

§ 1. Take any Infusion, Decoction, Tincture or Juyce, of which, make a Syrup ac∣cording to Art; or take the Pulp of any fruit brought to a good Softness: To this Sy∣rup or Pulp lbj. add impal∣pable Powders of the things you design to make your Lohoch of, ℥ij. viz. a sixth part; mix and make a Lo∣hoch, according to Art. § 2. This is a needless Title a∣mong the forms of Medica∣ments; for although, it be thicker than a Syrup, and thiner than an Electuary, yet it is, in Truth, nothing more or less, than a soft Electua∣ry.

10. To make or prepare Pre∣serves or Conserves.

The way of making or preparing of Preserves and

Conserves, whether of Roots, Stalks, Barks, Flowers, Fruits, and Pulps; and those either with Sugar, or Pickle, we have so largely and plainly taught in Our Pharmacop. lib. 4. cap. 19. that nothing more need be said here.

11. To make or prepare Su∣gars, Confects, or Lozenges.

§ 1. Take white Sugar, dissolve it in Rose-water, or their proper Liquor, beat them very well with whites of Eggs, and clarifie it by boyling; strain through a Cloath, boyl again, till the Water is neerly consumed, which done, put in the mat∣ter you would make Lozen∣ges of, and then boyl gently again, till it rises up in great Bubbles, and being chewed, sticks not to your Teeth: then powring the matter up∣on a cold Marble, anointed with Oyl of Almonds, (let∣ting first the bubbles sink af∣ter it's removal from the Fire) there work it with your Fingers; and your hands being rubbed with the pow∣der, of which your Mass is made, forme it into Lozen∣ges, of what Fashion you please. § 2. Here note, that the matter you intend ought to be in a very fine impalpa∣ble powder if it be for Lo∣zenges. § 3. Otherwise, if you take Juyces, and order them in the aforegoing Me∣thod, they are properly call∣ed Sugars. § 4. But if you take the things whole, whe∣ther Roots, Tops of Herbs, Flowers, Fruits, Seeds, Barks, or Peels, and cover them with Sugar, they are then called Confects: it is done thus. Take Liquid Sugar, or Sugar made into a strong Syrup, with water, or Rose water: and putting the things to be confected into a brass Bason or large Copper Vessel, let the melted Sugar drop there∣on from a place above, through a very small hole in a Funnel; then continually move and shake the things over a convenient Fire of Charcole, that the moisture may be consumed, and the Sugar clear, and at length cover it over with a Crust. § 5. Lastly, if you would make Confects crusted with Sugar Candy, it is like that of Candying, only it dif∣fers

in the Thickness of the Liquor.

12. To make or prepare Pou∣ders.

§ 1. These are made of Vegetables, by drying them choicly, and beating them in an Iron Mortar, with an Iron Pestle, adding in the beat∣ing now and then, a few drops of Oyl of Sweet Al∣monds, to facilitate the La∣bour, and this more especi∣ally, if they be Resinous; then searse them by degrees, as they grow small. § 2. Minerals are brought to a powder by first calcining them, and then beating them without Oyl. § 3. Let them be kept alone, but when they are exhibited, adjoyn to them their equal weight of Su∣gar.

13. To make or prepare Ele∣ctuaries.

§ 1. ℞ Clarified Honey, prepared according to Art lbj. or ℥xij. melt it; to which add of the things you would make into an Electuary, (be∣ing first reduced into a very fine or impalpable powder) ℥iv. v. or vj. according as you would have the Electuary in Thickness: mix them well together, stirring them till the Honey is cold. § 2. Put the Electuary either into a Glass, or glased Vessel, to keep; else, it will peirce it. § 3. Fill it not above 2/3 parts full, otherwise by reason of it's Fermentation it will run over. § 4. Tye it over with a Bladder, and a Lea∣ther over that. § 5. Note also, that if the Pouders be mixed with Essences, Li∣quors, or Syrups, they are called Mixtures.

14. To make or prepare Pills.

§ 1. Let your Medicines be brought to a fine Pou∣der, and with any proper clammy Liquor, (as Syrup of Vinegar, Limons, de Spina Cervina, or Honey) beat them well in a Mortar, till they are exactly mixed, and stick well together. § 2. But here note, first, that purging Medicines ought chiefly to be made into Pills. Second∣ly, That a small quantity of Cremor Tartari, or Crystals thereof be added in the Com∣position; for that will make them work more nimbly and

pleasantly. § 3. It is also to be observed, that Extracts and insipate Juyces, are bet∣ter made into Pills with pro∣per Pouders, than by Inspis∣sation only. § 4. At the end, add a few Drops of some Chymical Oyl, as of Anise, Caraways, Cloves, Sassafras, Rhodium, or some such like. § 5. When you form the Mass, or any part of it into Pills, you may (as the pati∣ent pleases) gild them with Leaf gold, by rouling the Pills up in a Leaf, and shaking them in a Box.

15. To make or prepare Tro∣ches.

§ 1. Bring your Medica∣ment into fine Pouder; and with the Dissolution of Gum Tragacanth in Rose water, or Wine (persumed with Tincture of Musk or Amber∣grise, if you so please) make Troches, which dry in the Sun, or a warm Oven. § 2. But here note, first, if you make them long, they are called Rotulae or Rouls; if broad, they have generally a Character impressed upon them, (as a Viper, upon Troches of Vipers) Secondly, if they be of no regular form, but irregular, they they call∣ed Morselli, Morsels. § 3. Those which are made up with fine Sugar, or Sugar Candy, are called Sugars, or Lozenges.