The universal body of physick in five books; comprehending the several treatises of nature, of diseases and their causes, of symptomes, of the preservation of health, and of cures. Written in Latine by that famous and learned doctor Laz. Riverius, counsellour and physician to the present King of France, and professor in the Vniversity of Montpelier. Exactly translated into English by VVilliam Carr practitioner in physick.

CHAP. XII. Of sudorifick Decoctions.

SUdorifick Decoctions are commonly composed of the four principal Sudori∣ficks, Guaiacum, Sassafras, China roots, Sarsaparilla, of which as well sudori∣fick as simple diets are composed.

The quantity of sudorificks is prescribed to iiij. or vj. and that of one or more according to the disposition of the sick party: with this observation, that Guaiacum is fitter for cold, China root for hot dispositions.

Afterwards they are infused in a sufficient quantity of fountain water, that for every ounce of sudorifick there should be so many lb of water; but infusion is made for 24 hours upon the hot cinders, and lastly they are boyled to the con∣sumption of half.

The dose of the decoction is ℥ viij. in the morning, covering the body a little more then ordinary, to provoke sweat more easily.

The form of prescribing them may be thus, ℞. Of the shavings of Guaiacum ℥ iiij. bark of the same, ℥ ij. infuse them 24 hours in lb vj. of fountain-water, upon hot cinders, boyl them in a double vessel with a gentle fire, and without smoke, to the con∣sumption of the half, strain them through Hippocrates sleeve, and let the Colature be kept in a glasse vessel; of this take ℥ viij. every day in the morning, covering the body more then ordinary, to provoke sweat the better, continuing for the space of 20 or 30 daies.

Sometimes persons that are more delicate, sweeten them with ℥ iij. or iiij. of Sugar, and ʒ ij. of Cinamon.

All that time that the sick person uses this sudorifical decoction is called a diet, because then an exact diet is to be observed, attenuating and drying; and for ordi∣nary drink, the second decoction is prescribed, prepared out of the remnants of the first, which is called Bochetum.

The remaining part is taken either alone, or that it may be the more efficacious, add to it ℥ j of new sudorifick. It is infused for 8 hours in lb xij. of fountain∣water; it is boyled to the consumption of the fourth part; it is sweetned and aro∣matized in this manner, ℞. the remaining part of the foresaid decoction, infuse it in lb xij of fountain water, upon hot cinders for the space of 8 hours, boil it to the consumption of the fourth part, strain it through Hippocrates sleeve, adding of Su∣gar and Cinamon q. s. to make it pleasant. Make a Bochet, to be used for ordinary drink all the time of dieting, using in the mean while Bisket with Anise seeds, meat rosted and not boyled, Mountain-birds stuck with Cloves, or Cinamon, Raisins, Al∣monds, and Pine-kernels parched.

If a simple order of diet be to be gone through, wherein sudorifick po∣tions are not to be exhibited, but only a drying diet with the use of a Bochet;

Then the Bochet is to be made of ℥ ij. of sudorifick infused and boyled in lb xij. of fountain water, ordering the rest as in the second decoction, in this form: ℞. of the root of China cut into chips ℥ ij. infuse them in lb xij. &c. for twelve hours, and make a Bochet to be used for ordinary drink for the space of twenty or thirty daies, using Biscot in the same time.

And sometimes a second decoction is prepared in the same manner out of ℥ ij. of new sudorifick, casting away the residence of the former decoction, the vertue whereof is almost lost.

In every sudorifick diet, this is to be observed, that the belly is for the most part part bound, which is to be loosened every fourth day with an emollient Clyster. And furthermore, because by sweat the more thin matter is evacuated, and the thicker part remains, therefore it is best to give a purging medicament every eighth day, abstaining then from the use of the sudorifick Potion.