℞ lb j. of the outward Rind of new Limons, ʒ ij. of grains of Scarlet or Kermes, and lb v. of common Water; boyl all toge∣ther to the consumption of two p. Strain it, and add lb i. of Sugar, which reduce to the just consistency of a Syrup. Which aromatize with iv. grains of Musk. This is their manner of pre∣scribing and operating, altogether unworthy of a true and good Physitian, as we shall make appear by the vertues which they at∣tribute to this Syrup, and by their ingenuous confession, that the good sent is altogether necessary to elevate it, and make it at∣tain to that high degree of vertues which are by them attributed unto it, and are these; to strengthen the Stomack and Heart, to repel and correct putrid and corrupt humors of the Ventricle, to take a∣way ill breath, to resist venomous and pestilential diseases, prevent or remedy the bearing and palpitation of the Heart, and dissipate sadness and melancholy. All these vertues are proper and essen∣tial to the volatile sulphureous Salt of Limon Rind, as most worthily doth witness its odour and pleasant taste.

But let us see, how these pretended Masters imagine they can introduce and preserve this taste and smell in the Syrup which we speak of, or in a Julep of Sugar and Water, boyled together to a consistency of Syrup. They prescribe to put in the one or the other, a judicious quantity of the external Rind of Limon, with∣out saying, whether it shall be done in cold or warmth; since, if they should even have this foresight, it would be to little pur∣pose: for, if the Rind be put in warmth, the smell and volatile Spirit will immediately vanish away, and there shall remain but an odour and taste of Turpentine; if in cold, the viscosity and clamminess of the Syrup, loaded with the bitterness and extract of the Rind, shall not be able to receive, nor be capable to ex∣tract that vertue which is pretended to be introduced in it, though very subtile of it self. They had nevertheless done much bet∣ter, if they had prescribed to the Apothecary, to express with his fingers from the Rind, the oleagineous part hidden in it, Page  201and impregnate therewith a quantity of Sugar very fine and finely powdered; until it begins to melt, and so to end the dissolution of this Sugar with a little juyce of Limons well filtrated; and thus aromatize their Syrup already boyled with this pleasant and odo∣riferous Liquor. But this manner of Preparation is not yet wor∣thy an ingenuous Artist or Chymical Apothecary. He shall then proceed herein after the following manner.