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 ...

APPENDIX. II. Concerning Viper Wine and Hyppocras.

39. To make or prepare Viper Wine.

℞ choise Canary lbviij: live Vipers N^o. vj, or more, according to their bigness: s••ffocate the Adders in the Wine; then let the Wine pass a gentle fermentation, and when it grows fine or clear, let it be drawn for use. Or thus. ℞ Canary lbviij: live Vipers N^o. vj: suffocate the Vipers in the Wine, then take them out, cut off their Heads, Skin them, and Ʋnbowel them, and then put them into the said Wine as before. Or thus. ℞ Canary lbviij: Fat Vipers N^o. vj: cut off their Heads, take off their Skins, and Ʋnbowel them, then put them into the Sack: let them stand three, six, nine or twelve months, and draw off the Wine as you drink it. Of these three ways, the first is by many accounted the best; but every one may use that which pleases them best, or best agrees with their Fan∣tasy.

I chose to put the Viper-Wine

(and that following) here, rather than in the Chapter of Wines, or under the Considerations of that Animal; for as much as it is a Liquor chiefly used to drink for Pleasure, or to Pamper the Lustful desires of debauched persons in this extreamly profane Age. It provokes very much to Ve∣nery, cures Consumptions, and eradicates the Leprosy, and all other Corruptions of the Blood. Dose ab ℥j ad ℥ij or ijss, once or twice a day, as Morning and Night.

40. To make the Common Hypocras of the Shops.

℞ Canary, White Wine or Claret lbxl: or gal. v: Musk, Mallow seed ℥iij ʒj: Cinna∣mon ℥ijss: Ginger ʒx: Cloves, Nutmegs, A. ʒv: Mace ℈v: White Pepper, Carda∣mums, A. ℈ijss: let all be bruised and put into a Bag, with a Stone in it to make it sink, then put it into the Wine aforesaid, where let all infuse a quarter of a year, then draw it off, and bottle it up.

Here is to be noted, That some boyl the Spices in the Wine, which they then swee∣ten with white Sugar, and then let run through a Hyp∣pocras bag, bottling it up afterwards: but if you would have this or any other Liquor to be very clear, you must use the Tripple Hyppocras Bag (made of white Cotton or Flanel;) so what faeces passes the first Bag will stay in the second, and what passes in the second, will stay in the third and last; you must so order them, that the point or corner of the one may hang in the Mouth of the other, and the point or corner of the third and last, in the Mouth of the Cup or Vessel to re∣ceive the Liquor.

41. To make excellent Hyppocras in an Instant.

℞ of the best rectified S.V. lbj: Cinnamon ℥ijss: Nut∣megs, Mace, Ginger, A. ʒ v: Cloves ʒijss: White Pepper ℈j: mix, and digest ten or twelve days shaking the Vessel twice a day in a cold place, in a Glass very close stopt, then press out the Tincture very hard. To the Magma or faeces affuse fresh S. V. lbss: mix, digest, and shake as

aforesaid for ten or twelve days more, then press out the Tincture very hard: Put this latter to the former: let them settle for four or five days, then decant the clear, which keep and reserve for use. Of this Liquor or Tin∣cture you may take about a spoonfur or somwhat more, and mix with a pint of your intended Wine, and it will be∣come as good Hyppocras as any whatsoever in a Mo∣ment.

Here is to be noted, both in this and in the former, That if the Wine be of it self Harsh, it ought to be sweet∣ned with Sugar (for thereby it is made far the more grateful;) and then stand ••ill it is pure and fine before it is Bottled up. Both these are very Cordial; they strengthen and fortify the Head, Heart and Stomach, dry up Humidities, recreate the Spirits, and refresh the Body over-wearied with too much labor. They cause Appetite, are good against Fainting and Swooning sits, and mightily expel Wind, whether in the Stomach or Bowels.