℞ domestical and wild Endive, ana M. ij. ss. Chicory and Dendeli∣on ana M. ij Sow-thistle, Hepatick Lettuce, Fumitory and Hops, ana M. i. Barley whole ℥ ij. of eack kind of the Capillaries ana ℥ ij. ℥ ij. Alkakengi, Liquorish, Ceterach, Doddar ana ʒ vi. Fennel Roots, Smalage Asparagus ana ℥ ij. shred the herbs, & roots, & make them boyl in lb xxx. water, to the consumption of one half, then boyl this decoction to a Syrup with lb x. clarified Sugar, and in boyl∣ing add in a knot of clean linnen, ℥ vij. ss. of excellent Rhubarb small shred, and ℈ ij. of Indian Nard; from time to time you must press the knot, and when the Syrup shall be boyled to a sufficient Page  216consistency, and put up in its Pot, hang the same knot therein, with your Rhubarb and Spike, the better to entertain its ver∣tue.

This is the common way of making this Syrup: to which vul∣gar Apothecaries have thought fit to joyn some other Observati∣ons to make it the better, which nevertheless, do not much sur∣pass the other: for, though they imagine in them to have some∣what better mended the matter, they go nevertheless to work but blindly, and grope without being able to find out the true way, because they are not guided by the light of Chymistry. They say then, that the Barley must be macerated 24 hours with the Roots and dry Substances of this Composition, in such a quantity of wa∣ter as is required, and that all the rest may be together boyled to the consumption of the one half. That the decoction must after∣wards be percolated, and a part of it taken, wherein for 12 hours together, at least, must be infused ℥ vij. ss. of Spikenard and Rhubarb, to extract the tincture and vertue thereof; after which, they must boyl a little, then softly be expressed, and that this tin∣cture must not be joyned with the remainder, but when the other part of the decoction shall be boyled to a perfect consistency of Syrup, and to put there also the Rhubarb and Indian Nard in a knot of cloth, that they may communicate their vertue to the re∣mainder of the Syrup; because otherwise it would not be per∣ceived, that the suspension of this same knot in the Syrup might contribute to its vertue, and when all shall be put together, then must the Syrup be thickned by degrees, until it comes to a true and requisite consistency. It seems by this, that great care is taken in reformning the preparation of this Syrup: but it is very coorse∣ly; for, Do they not judge, that this decoction is charged with the body of the Roots, and that of the Herbs, and so can take no more? neither extract well the Rhubarb, which is the basis and foundation of the vertue of this remedy? But yet, had they pre∣scribed before to clarifie this decoction, to devest her from the gross body, which the collature cannot take away; they should have shown some spark of judgment, which yet would be defective in this, that it might indeed thus extract better; but would not preserve the volatile part of the Rhubarb, nor the odour of the Spikenard, because before you can make a true Syrup, lb x. or lb xi. of Page  217water must first be evaporated away: which cannot be done but by the means we shall now prescribe.