Tractatus de simplicium medicamentorum facultatibus. = A treatise of the nature and qualities of such simples as are most frequently used in medicines,: both purging, and others. Methodically handled, for the benefit of those that understand not the Latine tongue. To which is added: many compound medicines for most diseases incident to mankinde: as also two alphabeticall tables, very necessary for the reader. Together with, the explanation of all hard words or termes of art, whereby the vulgar may the better understand it. / By Robert Pemel, practitioner in physick, at Cranebrooke in Kent. Licensed and enterd according to order.

CHAP. XXVIII. De Euphorbio, Of Gum Euphorbium.

EƲphorbium is a Gum of a brown yellowish colour, in small grains like Mastich, and comes from a certain plant growing in Lybia, and in Barbary.

The Names.

It is called in Latine, Euphorbium, from a famous Physitian, whose name was Euphorbius, (Brother to Antonius Musa) who was also Physitian to Juba King of the Mauritanians, or Moors, and first found out the vertue of this Gum. In English 'tis called also Gum Euforbium, or the Gum Thistle; or the Gum of the burning thorny plant.

The temperament.

Euphorbium is hot and dry in the fourth degree.

The best kinde.

The best is the clearest, of a brown yellowish colour, but whi∣ter within, and without filth. That which is pale is to be rejected.

The Duration.

It will keep good four or five years. Some affirme, that it will keep its vertue forty years.

The inward use.

Euphorbium purgeth thick and tough flegme, but chiefly and more strongly watery humours from the Joynts, and remote parts of the body: Therefore it helpeth the Dropsie, and any kind of Gout. It purgeth flegme and water from the Brain and Ner∣vous parts, and also thick flegme from the stomach. It is pro∣fitable in the Apoplexie, Palsly, Lethargie, and in all soporiferous or sleepy Diseases, and cold Diseases of the Brain, and resolution of the Nerves, in Convulsions and tremblings. And because it draweth tough and thick humours from the Joynts, it is used in the French Pox; and by some it is counted available in the Pesti∣lence. Also it is esteemed a present help against Apostumes, and painfull Nodes or Bunches of the Joynts. It speedily helps the Collick proceeding from tough and glassie flegme, especially when

the tunicles of the stomach and bowells have much tough flegme cleaving to them.

The manner of administring it.

It is given in powder, in Pills, and Electuary.

Pills against the Collicke.

Take of the Powder called Diagalanga, Aromaticum rosatum, of each two drams, Castor in powder, halfe a dram, Euphorbium in powder, ten grains, Opium dissolved in Muscadell, thirty grains of Pepper, Saffron, and Myrrhe in powder, of each halfe a scruple; make all into a masse or lump for pils. Of a dram make ten pills, and give of them four or five, if the pain cease not give nine or ten. Rondel. meth. cur. morb. c. 25. fol. 481. But I conceive halfe a dram will be a sufficient Dose, and must be given with caution.

An Electuary against the Collicke.

Take of Opium two drams, Castor, Euphorbium, Storax, Myrrhe, Pepper, long and black, a scruple, of Parsly-seed, and Smallage-seed, Cummin-seed, Cinamon, of each two scruples, with a sufficient quantity of clarified Honey make an Opiat Electuary. It must be kept six moneths before you use it. Rondelet. de med. intern. fol. 1005.

The externall use.

It is outwardly used in all cold Diseases of the Nerves, as in Convulsions, Tremblings, Palsies, and in pains of the Joynts, in the Sciatica, as also in the French Pox, in sleepy Diseases of the Brain, if it be mixed with Oyle of Spike, and the neck anoynted there∣with, it availeth much. Collyries made thereof may be used in suf∣fusions of the eyes, as also to take away the filmes thereof: But in the use of it about the eyes, I advise Practitioners to be very careful and wary, because of its burning faculty. In wounds and contu∣sions of the Nerves, it doth much profit. Mingled with Oyle of Bay, Bears grease, Wolves grease, or such like, it cures the Fox∣mange, and Scurfe of the head. The Nape of the Neck being anoin∣ted with the Oyle of Euphorbium, recovereth the speech of those that have lost it by reason of the Apoplexie, or any other casualty, and takes away the Noise and pain of the ears, being put into them. Euphorbium mingled with Vineger, and applied, takes a∣way the marks and scars of Wounds, and all other foul spots and blemishes of the skin. It helpeth to scale bones that are loose, and that suddenly. It is used with other means to provoke sneezing, as also to draw Blisters.

An Oyntment for the Head-ach, proceeding from a cold cause.

Take Oyle of Dill, Oyle of Camomill Oyle of Marjerome, Oyle of Wallflowers, of each halfe an ounce; Oyle of Nutmeg, two drams, Cloves in powder, halfe a dram, white Pepper in powder, halfe a dram; Euphorbium powdered, ten grains, with a little Wax make an Oyntment, with which annoynt the Temples, and the fore∣part of the head, morning and evening warm. Weichard. thes. pharm. fol. 18.

Or,

Take Oyle of Dill, Oyle of Orris, of each halfe an ounce; white Pepper, wild Time, of each a scuple and a halfe; Castor a scruple, Euphorbium halfe a scruple; powder what is to be powdered, and with a little Wax make an Oyntment, and use it as the former. Piso de morb. cognosc. & curar. l. 1. c. 8. f. 29.

A Liniment for the Palsie.

Take of common Oyle two pound, of Camomill flowers a hand∣full and a halfe; Sage, Betony, Rosemary, of each a handfull, Castor halfe an ounce, Euphorbium two drams, Myrrhe, Bdellium, Gum He∣dera, of each two drams, white Pepper, Mustard-seed, of each a dram, wine of Castor a pint, make those things (that are to be powdered) into a grosse powder, and boyle them together with Cinamon, Mastich, Elecampane, and Acorus root, of each a dram, till the Wine be consumed, then strain it, and add of Oyle of Tur∣pentine, three drams; make a Liniment, with which annoynt the Neck. Johan. Sadler. prax. med. f. 149.

The hurtfull quality with the corrective means.

Euphorbium is of such a hot burning nature, that if it be taken alone it inflames the mouth, and throat, as also the stomach, bow∣ells, Liver, and all the body, therefore with some it is counted a∣mong the venomous-Plants, rather then among Medicines. It brings cold sweats, and causeth many times faintings. It is very dangerous to give it to Women with Child, to Children or weak persons, or to any that have inward inflamations.* 1.1 It is safest to give it only to strong persons, and such as have cold, windy, and temperate bodies, and not to those that have hot and dry bodies. Till it be a year old you may not use it. It is ••ever used alone without some good corrective.

There are diverse wayes and means prescribed to correct the malignity of Euphorbium. Some conceive it the best way to make it into grosse powder, and not into fine powder, and so to give it, for hereby it doth not cleave to the bowels and inward parts. Others make it into a past with Oyle of sweet Almonds, and dry∣ing it in an Oven keep it for their use. Others dissolve the same in Vineger, and so strain it. Others take Euphorbium, Mastich, Traga∣canth, of each a like quantity, with which they make a paist, and dry it as before, and so make pills thereof. Others infuse it in spi∣rit of wine, and so make a kind of extract thereof, which is to add fire to fire. Surely the best means to correct it, are such things as doe allay the heat and acrimony thereof, and such as are lubri∣cious or slippery, viz. Oyle of Roses, Oyle of sweet Almonds. We must not forget the Anteuphorbium, which is an hearb that growes near the Euphorbium, and is somewhat like Purslaine, the juice whereof doth so temper the heat of Euphorbium, that being mixed therewith and given, it seldome or never fails to give ease: But because this is a stranger with us, why may not the paist above mentioned be infused or steeped in the juice of Purslaine, and then boyled to a sufficient height, and Trosses or small round Cakes made thereof? Or else you may mix Euphorbium with the juice of Purslaine, and so give it. Freitagius saith, he hath knowne it given unprepared with Barley-water, and Syrupe of Violets, or with Broth, and that with good successe; and that he hath knowne a scruple (in robustick bodies) hath been given, and that with∣out any danger. This I beleive, for being old it looseth much of its burning and operative faculty. I have kept some, ten or twelve years, and for ought I know it had as much age before I had it, yet it hath operated well, and also been usefull outwardly to draw Blisters, &c.

The Dose.

The Dose is from four grains to ten.

The Compounds following are made of Euphorbium.

1. Extract of Euphorbium. 2. Pills of Euphorbium. 3. Species Hi∣erae logadij. 4. Philonium persicum & Romanum. 5. Emplast••••m de Ra∣nis vigonis. 6. Oyle of Euphorbium simple and compound. 7. Chymicall Oyle of Euphorbium.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Nunqū datur per os, nec cum alijs, nisi raro & pa••ia quantitate. Reno∣daeus. dispensat. fol 566.