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TAke white Ashes of Broom cleans'd two Pounds, put them in a Bag, with Raspings of Sassafras three Ounces, Roots of the lesser Galingal an Ounce, Juniper berryer and wild Carrot Seeds of each an Ounce and a half, make a Bag for four Gallons of Ase, after seven or eight Days begin to draw it.
Diaphoreticks often do excellently well in a Leucophlegmatia (which begins or concludes an Anasarca) and they usually a∣gree better in this Disease when confirm'd than in other kinds of the Dropsie: And though at the beginning they are not able to move Sweat because the habit of the Body is invested with a deal of waters, however by exagitating the Blood they are a means that the active Particles implanted in it, which were dull'd before, and almost overwhelm'd, are rais'd up again, and dispos'd to a Fermentation, and that all the dreggy Excre∣ments, especially such as are Aqueous, are put in Motion, so that presently breaking forth of their Receptacles in a plentiful man∣ner, they readily pass off by Seige, or Urin, and often in some measure by transpiration: But after that the waters being well clear'd by Purging, the Morbifick matter is so far diminisht that the bulk of the Body and the swelling of the Members begin to abate, the remainder of the Humour is excellently con∣sum'd by moderate Sweats, and by a constant perspiration.
We have given you before a List and Forms of Hydroticks; but as to our present purpose for the Cure of an Anasarca, those things are most proper which are given in somwhat a large Dose; for as to such as are prescrib'd in a small quantity, their active Particles being immerg'd in the waters are over∣whelm'd before they can be diffus'd in the Blood so as to exert their force; wherefore Spirits whether Armoniack, or Vinous, also Tinctures and Elixirs, nay and Powders, seldom come in use against this Disease; because in a small Dose they do little, and if it be made very large, they often offend the bowels by their excess in operation, therefore let those things rather be made choice of which being taken in a full Draught and warm may be able to pass the whole Blood uncorrupted, as chiefly the Decoctions of Woods and Roots, whose Particles agreeing well enough with the Blood, but being not to be mastered by it, pass through its whole Mass, and exert an Elastick force, putting all the Humours in a Commotion.
Take Raspings of Guaiacum six Ounces, Sassafras two Ounces, all