The London practice of physick, or, The whole practical part of Physick contained in the works of Dr. Willis faithfully made English, and printed together for the publick good.

The Kinds and Prescripts of Opiats.

THe safest Narcotick, and which is generally approv'd of by long experience is the Poppy and preparations of it: Where∣fore as often as we endeavour effectually and safely to provoke sleep, the whole stress of the Medicine is Plac'd in Opium or Dia∣codium.

As to the Heads of white Poppies, with the Seeds out of which Diacodium, also Decoctions, Emulsions, and other Hypnotick Confections are made; it plainly appears that these have much less of a Narcotick Sulphur in them, than the concreted Juice of Opium; and what they have of it, is much more pure and inno∣cent: Wherefore we give oftner, and with more safety Medicines

made of these, nor ought we to use Laudanum, but when through the violence of Symptoms, Diacodiats will not serve: Again since these have in them less of virulency, they do not want much preparation, but either a simple Decoction, or Infusion, or Ex∣pression being made of them, they may be apply'd to Physical use. Now Opium is seldom prescrib'd simply, and by it self, but is wont to be corrected and compounded after a various and diversifyed manner of preparation, that it may become a safe A∣nodine.

The wild Poppy has a certain Hypnotick vertue, but much more mild and gentle than that other; wherefore in certain ca∣ses it agrees excellently well, and we may be more secure as to its use. Of this a Syrup and a distill'd water is always ready pre∣par'd in Apothecaries Shops, which in many continual Feavers are often given with good success, and they are judg'd to have a certain specifical virtue in Curing the Pelurisy, because they take away pains, and by putting some stay to the Pulse, abate the Feaverish boiling of the Blood. Moreover a Tincture is made of its Flowers Infus'd in Brandy, which is a famous Medicine a∣mongst Empiricks and good Women, and is averr'd to be good against Surfeits. The reason of which effect seems to be, that the Spirit of Wine frees the Contents of the Stomack from pu∣trefaction, and the Narcotick force of the Flowers prevents the Invasion of the Feaver.

I shall now set down certain Select Forms of Narcoticks; which I shall also digest into certain Classes, according as the O∣piats have for their Basis, either the Syrup or distill'd water of the wild Poppy, or Diacodium, or Laudanum Extractum, or Li∣quidum, or Pilul. de Styrace, or de Cynoglosso, or lastly, Philo∣nium.

Take the water of wild Poppies, and Cowslip water, of each six Oun∣ces, Syrup of red Poppies two Ounces, Sal Prunella half a Dram, mix them: Make a Julape, the Dose is three or four Ounces thrice a day in the Pleurisie, Pains, watching without a Feaver, or any mani∣fest Cause.

Take of Poppy water, from four Ounces to six: Let it be taken now and then by it self twice or thrice a day for the same in∣tent.

Take Diacodium, from half an Ounce to an Ounce, Cowslip water three Ounces, Treacle water three Ounces: Make a Potion.

Take Carduus water three Ounces, Diacodium half an Ounce, Spi∣rit of Hartshorn, from half a Scruple, to a Scruple: Make a draught for procuring sleep and sweat.

Take Diascordium half a Dram, Gascoins Powder a Scruple, Diaco∣dium two Drams, mix them: Let it be taken in a spoon.

Take Diacodium three Ounces, Snail water an Ounce, mix them: Its proper in the Cough and Phthisick: The Dose is a spoonful going to Rest, and if need be, take it again after Midnight.

Take London Laudanum a Grain, Powder of Claws Compound from half a Scruple, to a Scruple, with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Clove-Gillyflowers: Make three Pills to be taken going to Rest.

Take Laudanum a Grain, Stomack Pills with Gumms half a Dram: Make four Pills to be taken going to rest, in the Colick.

Take Laudanum, from a Grain, to a Grain and a half, Diascordium a Scruple: Make a Bolus, instead of Diascordium, you may put the Con∣fection of Alkermes, or of Hyacinth.

Take Laudanum a Grain, dissolve it in a spoonful of Treacle water, add of Cowslip water two Ounces: Make a draught.

Take of our Liquid Laudanum tartariz'd twenty Drops, give it in a spoonful of Aqua Mirabilis, or of Cinnamon water, or of any other fit Vehicle: Its proper in Colick, Nephritick, or Gouty pains.

Take Species of Hiera half a Dram, of the foresaid Laudanum twenty drops: Make four Pills, let them be taken going to rest, for Purging, and easing pains of the Colick at the same time.

Take Liquid Laudanum Cydoniated, from fifteen Drops to twenty: Give it in a spoonful of small Cinnamon water for the Flux.

Take Conserve of red Roses an Ounce, Venice Treacle, Confection of Hyacinth, of each two Drams, Pulvis Pannonici Rubri a Dram, Lau∣danum Cydoniated two Drams, Syrup of Coral what suffices: Make an Electuary, the Dose is a Dram every fourth or fifth hour, in a vio∣lent Bloody Flux with Gripes.

Take Pilul. de Styrace, from five Grains to six, Lac Sulphuris half a Scruple, Oyl of Anniseeds a Drop, Balsam of Peru what suffices: Make three Pills to be taken in the Cough, Asthma, &c.

Take Pilul. de Cynoglosso, from six Grains to eight: Make two Pills to be taken going to rest for the same intents.

Take Philonium Romanum, from one Scruple to two, Conserve of Clove-Gillyflowers half a Dram, mix them: Make a Bolus to be taken going to rest. Its proper for the Colick in a cold temperament.

I shall now say something concerning the Effects of the great Anti-Hypnotick Coffee.

Coffee, though in some cases it be very profitable and Physical, in others it is hurtful and unwholesome; for we see that great Coffee-drinkers become lean, and are very often subject to be Pa∣ralytick, and grow impotent for generation.

Yet as to Affects of the Brain, and the Genus Nervosum, I very often prescribe this Drink for them.

For indeed in very many Cephalick Diseases and Infirmities, viz. in Head-aches, Giddiness, the Lethargy, Catarrhs, and the like, where with a full habit of Body, and a cold temperament, or

one that is not hot, and a watery Blood, there is a moist Brain with a sluggishness and dullness of the Animal Spirits, Coffee has often a very good effect, for being daily drank, it wonderfully clears and enlightens each part of the Soul, and disperses all the Clouds of every function. But on the contrary, those who being thin, and of a Bilious, or Melancholick temperament, have a sharp, or burnt Blood, a hot Brain, and the Animal Spirits too much stirr'd and restless, ought to forbear this Drink altogether, as be∣ing apt to pervert both the Spirits and humours in a greater measure, and to render them wholly unfit, and unable to perform any functions: For I have observ'd many, not having a sufficient plenty of Spirits, and being also subject to the Head-ach, Verti∣go, Palpitation of the Heart, and a trembling or numbness of the Limbs, who presently after drinking Coffee became worse as to those Affects, and suddenly found an unusual Languor in their whole Body.