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Prescripts of Diureticks that have an Alchalisate Salt for their Basis.
TAke Powder of Egg-shells, from half a Dram to a Dram: Give it in a draught of Whitewine, or of Posset drink, or of a Diu∣retick decoction twice a day.
Take Powder of Crabs Claws, or of Crabs Eyes two Drams, Salt of Amber, Sal Nitre, of each a Dram, Nutmegs half a Dram: Make a Powder, the Dose is from half a Dram to two Scruples in a fit Vehicle. Or let the said Powder be mixt with as much Venice Tur∣pentine as will suffice, and make it into small Pills. The Dose is three or four Evening and Morning.
Not only Saline, but likewise some Sulphureous and Spirituous substances justly take place amongst Diureticks, these often pro∣ducing the like effect. Many substances of the Larix Tree, as chiefly Turpentine, and things prepar'd from them; the Oyls drawn by di∣stillation from Juniper, Nutmegs, Wax, and other Pinguous sub∣stances, taken inwardly, move in many persons a large Evacua∣tion by Urine, and this carrying a smell like Violets. I have known that in some Hydropical and Scorbutical Persons, Brandy and Strong waters; nay, and strong Wine freely drank have caus'd a Purging by Urine. The reason of all which is, that when the Blood being weak, or turning sour, or what for want of fermen∣tation, or through the predominancy of an Acid and Coagulative Salt in it, has not so sprightly and continued a Circulation, that it can contain the superfluous Serum within it self, till it delivers it to the Reins: The afovesaid Remedies forasmuch as they pre∣serve the mixture of the Blood entire, or restore it when faultering, conduce to the promoting of that evacuation by Urine.
Take Ivy Berrys, Juniper Berrys, Laurel Berrys fresh gather'd, of each half a pound, wild Carrot-seeds four Ounces, Nutmegs two Oun∣ces, all of them being bruis'd together, put to them in a Glass Retort of Venice Turpentine one pound, Rectified spirit of Wine four pounds, distill all in a sand Furnace, with a moderate heat till it grows dry, carefully avoiding an Epyreuma, and you will have a spirit, and a yel∣low Oyl, both of them egregiously Diuretick. The Dose of the Spirit is from a Dram to two or three Drams, of the Oyl from half a Scruple to a Scruple in a fit Vehicle.
To the remaining faeces in the Retort, pour Tincture of Salt of Tar∣tar one pound; let them digest for many days close luted in the sand Furnace, that a red Tincture may be drawn from it: The Dose of which is from a Scruple to two Scruples or a Dram in a fit Vehicle.