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Consideration being had to this our brief Method, and our original Pur∣pose and Intent, which was to emit things needless, seldom used, useless or unprofitable, and only to represent what is re∣ally the more effectual and pow∣erful to destroy, extirpate, and root out diseases; We out of the intricate Labrinth of Au∣thors, and great Variety of
Forms, have only chosen these eight; viz. 1. Lotions. 2. Oyls 3. Balsams. 4. Oyntments. 5. Cerates. 6. Emplasters. 7. Cataplasms. 8. Clysters; as being sufficient enough to ex∣hibit the Vertues of any Medica∣ment whatsoever, according to any Intention or purpose.
1. To make or prepare Lo∣tions.
§ 1. Lotion is a general name given to all kind of Liquors for External use; but in their particular Appli∣cations, they have as many various Names as Intenti∣ons. § 2. First, what is de∣signed to beautifie the Skin is called Cosmetica. 2. If for the Eyes, Ophthalmica. 3. If for the nose Errhinum. 4. If for Application by Spunge, Cloath, or Stuph, Epithema. 5. If for the Mouth, Diaclys∣ma. 6. If for the Throat, Gargarisms. 7. If for Wash∣ings, Lixivium. 8. If for bath∣ing, Balneum. § 3. The Ground of all these is gene∣rally Waters, Vinegar, Wine, Milk, Whey, Mead, Juyce, or Lye: in which, the medi∣cinal matters are either infu∣sed, boyled, or dissolved; and then filtered, or strained, or not; according to the nature and intention of the matter, for which it is made.
2. To make or prepare Oyls.
§ 1. If it be from hot Herbs, dry them, and infuse them twenty, forty, sixty, or a hundred days in good Oyl of Turpentine, or Amber; then strain and press them out, repeating the Infusion if you please, two or three times; lastly, mix this strain∣ing with double quantity of Oyl Olive, and keep it for use. § 2. But if from cold Herbs, take their expressed Juyce, and boyl it in an equal quantity of Oyl Olive, to the Consumption of the Humidity, then strain, and keep it for use. § 3. But it will be much better, if you boil the herb and all being first bruised, till it is crisp, then strain and press out; for by this means, the Oyl will be stronger, and of a green colour, which last it would otherwise want. § 4. Some, before boyling, inso∣late for forty days in a ho•• Sun.
3. To make or prepare Bal∣sams.
§ 1. These are made of Oyl, Butter, Fat, Suet, Tur∣pentine, Wax, Gums, Ro∣sins, and other things, which will mix or melt. § 2. Take Oyl or Fat, and make it thick by mixture only, or melting, with the things which you would have made into the form of a Balsam; mixing with every ounce of Oyl ʒij. of Sheep or Beef Su∣et. § 3. But here you must note, that if Juyces be added, they must be boyled to the Consumption of their humi∣dity, which is thus known; let a drop fall on fire Coals, and if it makes no Noise, it is enough. § 4. This also note, that let the other In∣gredients be what they will, if Oyl, Turpentine, and Wax, be wanting, it can be no proper Balsam.
4. To make or prepare Oynt∣ments.
§ 1. If you make them of hot herbs, dry, and infuse them into Oyl of Turpentine, as we have taught above at Sect. 2. Then mix that Oyl with Sheeps Suet, Hogs Lard, or other Fat; and so much Wax as (being well melted) may make it of the Consi∣stence of an Oyntment. § 2. If the Herbs be cold, then take their expressed Juyce, and boyl it in the aforesaid Lard, or fresh Butter, if you so please, to the Consumpti∣on of the Humidity, adding at last, the Wax. § 3. How∣ever, it will be much the bet∣ter, if you boyl the Herbs and all, being first bruised, but not juyced, till they are crisp, then strain and press out, so will your Oyntment be not only stronger, but of a deli∣cate green Colour. § 4. Some, having bruised the Herbs, beat the Lard with them, then insolate for for∣ty days; and after, boyl as aforesaid. § 5. Lastly, here note, that if it be made up without Wax or Rosin, it is called a Liniment.
5. To make or prepare Ce∣rates, or Cere-cloaths.
§ 1. This form takes it's name from the Wax that is in it, being a very soft stick∣ing kind of Medicament, stif∣fer much than an Oyntment, and yet nothing near so hard
as an Emplaster: But now in our days, all soft kinds of Emplaster bear that name, al∣though they have not the least Wax in them. § 2. Take those Ingredients you design to make your Cerate of, (reducing them, if they be things that will not dis∣solve, into a subtle Pouder put them into their equal weight of Oyl Olive, or other Oyl; to which, add Turpentine, Rosin, A.p1 3. Wax enough to give in the Con∣sistence of a Cerate, or such a Thickness, that it may ea∣sily spread, being cold. § 3. For ordinary Uses you may spread the Cloath here with but on one side; but for the first Intentions, for which they were invented, the Cloath ought to be dip'd in on both sides, while the Me∣dicine is scalding hot. § 4. If instead of the Wax, you put in Pitch, or if you put in Pitch also with your Wax, it is then called Dropax. § 5. You may make it of what Colour your please; (if you avoid the Pitch) as Green by adding Verdigrise: red, by adding Minium; yellow, by adding Oaker: blew, by ad∣ding Bice, or Smalt.
6. To make or prepare Em∣plasters.
§ 1. They are made of sat things, Oyls, Suet, Grease, Marrow, Turpentine, Wax, Rosin, Gums, thus: Melt some of the aforesaid things, as Wax and Oyl, then add the Rosins (if there be any) and lastly, put in your pou∣ders, if you design them; stir them well from the Fire, till they are almost cold; then putting all into cold water, work it well with your hands, and make it up into Rolls. § 2. If you add Litharge, you must boyl it first in Oyl. § 3. If Gums be put in, they must be first cleansed and dissolved in Vi∣gar, or other Liquor. § 4. If any Decoction, Juyce, or Mucilage, be put in, they must be first boyled with the Oyl, till their Humidity is exhaled. § 5. Sometimes, instead of Wax, there is add∣ed Labdanum, or other Gums, § 6. The Proportions of each Ingredient cannot be exactly set down; yet they are commonly an ounce of
dry things to three ounces of Oyl, Fat, or Honey: an ounce of Wax, to four of Oyl: an ounce of Rosin to six or eight ounces of Oyl or Grease.
7. To make or prepare Cata∣plasms.
§. 1. A Cataplasme or Pultise is commonly made of Herbs dry or green, Roots, Flowers, Seeds, Oyls, Fats, Grease, Fruits, Bran, Oat∣meal, crums of Bread, &c. being beaten by themselves or with other things into a Pulp; or by beating the dry things into a Powder, and making them into a Body with the moist. § 2. It is done either without or with fire. § 3. Without fire a Pultise is made of green herbs stampt, or of their juices, to which other Muci∣laginous things are added. § 4. With fire, the Ingredi∣ents being fitted and mixed, are boyled in a convenient Liquor, as Water, Wine, Milk, Honey, Oyl, &c. to their just thickness. § 5. Some Seeds as of Faenigreek, Lin, Mallows, Flebane, &c. are made into a Mucilage by boiling first in Water. § 6. Juicy Fruits are boiled in wa∣ter to be softned, and their pulse drawn out by a Sieve, and then other things mixed therewith to the due thick∣ness. § 7. Green things ought first to be well stampt, and then boiled to a Muci∣lage. § 8. Lastly, Cata∣plasms are commonly laid on pretty warm: but Anacolle∣mata, which are Pultises for the Forhead; and Sinapisms, which are to make the Flesh red, are laid on cold. § 9. A Sinapisme, ℞ Leven, Ho∣ney, Soap, or pulp of Figs boiled in Vinegar, ℥ij. Mu∣stard-Seed well beaten ℥j. mix them.
8. To make or prepare Cly∣sters.
§ 1. A Clyster is a thin or Liquid Body impregnated with the properties of Medi∣cinal things, and cast into the Guts by a Pipe. § 2. The Liquor is the Infusion or decoction of Herbs, Plants, Seeds, Flowers, Pease, Flesh, &c. in Water, Milk, Whey, Beer, Ale, Wine, Urine, Oyl, &c. § 3. The proper∣ties are either purging or al∣tering;
the altering are ei∣ther Emollient, cleansing., binding, Nephritick, Car∣minative, or Anodyne, &c. § 4. The purging Clysters are the more usual; they are made by boiling or infusing of the Purgative matter (in double or treble dose to what you give by the mouth) in the intended Liquor. § 5. Altering Clysters are made by boiling in every pint of Liquor, of the Medicinal In∣gredients bruised from half an ounce to ℥ij. ss. according as the Medicaments are in strength; then straining and dissolving therein about ʒj. of common salt, or sal Gem. § 6. If they be Emollient Clysters, you may mix with them Oyl ℥iiij. v. vj or vij. § 7. In purgative Clysters, if they be powders, you need only mix them; of Electuaries or Extracts, only dissolve them in your proposed Li∣quor, adding as aforesaid ʒj. of sal Gem. § 8. The quantity is for a Child ab ℥iij. ad vj. for a man ad ℥xij. ad ℥xvj. § 9. To Clysters add Suppositories and Pessa∣nies: A Suppository must be hardish, smooth, long, and fit to put up in to the Funda∣ment, having in it all the medicinal properties of Cly∣sters, as Purging and Altera∣tive: The Purging are ei∣ther gentle, strong, or strong∣est: Gentle, are such as are made of Bacon; of a Fig turned; of Goats, Ox, or Sheeps Suet; of a Candles end; of Stalks and Roots, of Beets, Blites, Cabbage, Mercury, Parsly, &c. Strong are such as have a little sharp∣ness, as Alum cut and form∣ed; Honey boiled thick; Soap boiled; Turpentine; to which add Mustard, Salt, Sugar: strongest are such as are made of Agarick, Aloes, Hellebor, Scammony, Hiera Picra, Confectio Hamech, Gutta Gamba. § 10. The way to make Suppositories. Boil Honey gently to a thick∣ness, so that you may handle it, which you may try by droping it upon a cold Ear∣then dish; then pour it up∣on a Plate anointed with Oil: if you will add any thing, do it in powder be∣fore melting; otherwise make Rouls, and cover them there∣with.
The proportion of Honey is ℥j. of gentle purg∣ers ʒj. of strong purgers, common Salt, or Sal Gem, from ℈ss. ad ℈ij. or ʒj. § 11. Pessaries are made for the Womb, in the same man∣ner as Suppositories (but of other Medicaments) being like in shape, but longer and thicker. They are also put into a long Linnen Bag, or tozed Wool; or may be made of Roots of Madder, Cypress, Orrice.