[p. 258]
An Hydropic Lavament.
Take rectified Spirit of Wine 3 ounces; Spirit of Lavender 1 ounce; Pil Cochiae the greater half an ounce; Crude Opium 2 drams, mix.
It may be used alone, or (which is better) with an equal quantity of Oil of Elder Flowers by infusion, and is to be well rubbed upon the Parts, at the Fire, twice a day.
This was communicated to me as an efficacious Remedy against watery Tumours, Childrens great Bellies, and Hydropical swelled Feet. Neither is there any fear of a Gangrene from its use; for (by reason of its spirituous Particles) it cherishes native Heat, open the Pores of the Parts, and causes the viscous stagnating Lympha, either to evaporate, or be sucked into the circulating Blood.
An Hysteric Laudanum.
Take London Laudanum, Asa Foetida, each 2 grains; Oil of Amber 1 drop, make 2 Pills for one Dose.
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A Liniment with Alum.
Take crude and burnt Alum, each 2 drams; Bole, Japanic Earth, each 1 dram; Oil of Sassafras 6 drops; Honey of Roses as much as suffices, mix.
It's for scorbutic, putrid, spongey, loose, bleeding Gums, that scarce cover or stick to the Teeth. Powdered Gum Lac may be added.
A Cephalic Liniment.
Take Oil of Nutmeg by Expression, and Palm Oil, each 1 dram and half; Chymical Oil of Cloves, Rosemary and Sage, each 1 scruple, mix.
It's used externally, for Debility, Pain, Dulness, Phlegmatic, and Catarrhous Affections of the Head.
Now whether outward Applications affect the Meninges and Brain, or not, truly I doubt; for those are so closely and securely shut up in the Cranium (as 'twere in a Bone-Box) that I suspect they can scarce have any Communication with the Pericranium.
But be that as it will. there may yet be sundry Cases, where the Pericranium it self being primarily affected, permits and requires the use of Externals. And tho' the Matter of a Catarrh do not really flow down out of the Brain, yet the Original of Defluxions is commonly from the Sinciput and Vertex,
[p. 260]
where the Humour is collected on the outside of the Cranium, and under the Skin, and thence distilling through the Pericranium, into the adhering Membrane, falls down into the Eyes, Ears, Cheeks, Neck, Teeth, Uvula, &c.
Neither is it strange, that these thin Humours should be able to descend thus, since there are Passages open enough for the Blood it self (tho' much thicker) when thereabouts suffused into the Parts, by Reason of a Contusion and Rupture of the Vessels. For thus saith Meekren (in his Epistle to Barbette) when we opened the Cranium of P. James, we found Tulpius his Opinion true, That wounds of the Head, the Blood which commonly is seen to run out at the Ear, descends from the upper part of the Head, between the Cranium and Pericranium; and so entering the space that is between the Os Parietale and Petrosum, goes on and strains it self (as through a Sieve) into the Auditory Passage.
A Frontale Liniment.
Take Oinment of Alabaster 2 drams; Oil of Roses 6 drams; Opium 16 grains; Camphire 8 grains; Oil of Nutmeg 4 drops, mix.
Let it be used to the Forehead and Temples, to procure Sleep, and ease the Headach. But it hath place, not when the Cause is in the Brain it self, but in the outward
[p. 261]
Parts only: And that we may be surely satisfied of, if the Forehead be extreamly hot to feel to, the Pain be Pulsing, and the Eye-Balls do not ake.
An Haemorrhoidal Liniment.
Take Poplar Ointment 2 drams; Oil of Eggs 6 drams; Sugar of Lead 2 scruples; Opium 8 grains; Oil of Amber 16 drops, mix.
The blind Piles are caused by reason of mucous, thick, stagnating Matter obstructing the Vessels, and hindring Circulation, and so necessarily exciting Tumour, Tension, Inflammation and Pain. And this Liniment is therefore very profitable, because it attenuates, discusses, quiets Pain, abates Inflammation, and by contracting the vaircous Vessels, reduces them to their due Tenor and Size.
Joel's Liniment.
Take Verdigrise 1 dram; Honey of Roses 1 ounce; Vineger half an ounce; boil to the Consumption of the Vineger, and when it's cold, add powdered burnt Alum 2 scruples; Mastick, Frankincense, and Myrrh, each 1 scruple.
It's for ulcerous, putrid Gums. Let a Rag dipped in it be often applied, after washing with a proper Gargle.
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A Liniment with Gum Lac.
Take Gum Lac 1 dram and half; burnt Alum 1 scruple; Salt 15 grains; Honey of Roses 6 drams, mix.
It's for the Scurvy in the Gums.
A Lateral Liniment.
Take Ointment of Marshmallows 6 drams; Oil of Lilies and Bricks, each 3 drams; Camphire half a dram, mix.
It smooths, lubricates, and composes into order the Fibrillae, which by dolorific Spasms being torn and racked, strained and stiff, tangled in their Series, and confusedly corrugated, deprave the internal Channels, by distorting them, and shut up the cutaneous Vents, by pursing them up. Also it liquifies, exagitates, and discusses the gelatinous Lympha, which by stuffing up the minute Passages of the Parts, and hindring the Course of the Blood, occasioned the Inflammation. And by these means, namely composing the Fibrillae into Order, opening the Pores, restoring Circulation, taking down Inflammation, and quieting Pain; it must needs conduce very much in Pains of the Side, especially when the Muscles and outward Parts are affected.
But in a true, internal, membranous Pleurisie, or Peripneumony, I don't remember, that I ever yet saw it do the least good at all;
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and 'tis probable it cannot penetrate so far, as to touch upon the Part.
Anoint an Issue-Paper with it, lay it warm on the Place, cover it with a piece of Flannel, and repeat it twice a day.
Just before we use Liniments and Inunctions, it were good to foment the grieved part with a Flannel or Spunge dipped in attenuating and discussing Decoctions, actually hot, that the Unguents may be penetrate deeper; and the Matter being attenuated, and actuated by the both actual and potential Heat, may either be dissipated and returned again into the Blood, or brought out of the Body by Evaporation.
A Paralytic Liniment.
Take Ointment called Martiatum 2 ounces; Oil of Spike, petroleum, each 3 drams; powdered Euphorbium 1 scruple; Oil of Amber 1 dram and half; Oil of Rosemary half a dram, mix.
Let the relaxed Member be rubbed strongly with this Liniment two or three times a day; namely, to remove Dams and obstacles in the Nerves, stopped up with viscid Juice, redintegrate the wonted Irradiation of the Spirits, bring the slack Fibres into order, and recover their Tonic Tension, exagitate the Blood, and give it a rapid Motion through the part, and so resuscitate natural Heat, Sense and Motion.
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But here it's to be heedfully observed, that sometime the paralytic Part, by the ill use of Externals, too intensly hot, shrinks up and withers, to the irretrievable Damage of the Patient. And this happens mostly (as I conceive) when the Temperament is hot, and the cause of the Resolution not in the relaxed part itself, but in the Brain, or some Member at Distance, whence the part, which is found enough of itself, and rightly conformed, suffers by way of Eclipse, being deprived of the Rays of the Spirits: For in that case, if such heating and drying Things be administered, as are immoderate, and beyond what the Temper of the part can bear; then they scorch, dry, and shrink up the Fibrae Motrices dissipate their indwelling Spirits, and occasion an incurable Contraction: For these Fibrae Motrices are not fit to perform the Function of Motion, unless, they remain soft, flexible, moist and slippery.
A Spinale Liniment.
Take Urine of a healthy Person, Tent Wine, Neatsfoot Oil, each 2 ounces; Sperma Ceti 2 drams; Mace 1 dram; boil to 4 ounces and strain.
A certain Physician kept this as a Secret for the Rickets, and was wont to use it on the Spine of the Back, beginning first at the Neck, and so rubbing downwards.
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Since this Malady ariseth from the Obstruction of the Medulla Spinalis, and Debility of the Members, such Ointments as are Aperient and Corroborant, must needs be useful. And since it seizeth none but tender Infants, whose flesh is limber and flaggy, things that are over-hot must not be applied.
A Litus for the Face.
Take Ox Galls 3, rectify'd Spirit of Wine 3 pints; having extracted a Tincture, and exhaled to the consistence of Honey; dissolve it in Juice of Lemons 2 ounces; and add powder'd Calomel 3 drams; Salt of Vitriol 2 drams; Venetian Borace 1 dram; Faeculae of Cuckow pint 1 dram and half, digest in the Sun 4 days, strain and evaporate to a mellaginous Consistence.
For Sun-burning, Freckles, Spots, Pushes, Pimples, Redness, Gutta Rosacea, and all blemishes in the Face whatsoever. Strike it over the part thrice a day.
An Hydropic Lixivium.
Take sifted Ashes of Broom and Bean stalks, each 2 ounces; Juice of Parsley 4 ounces; white Wine 2 quarts; make a Lixivium, to which (when strain'd and clear) add Salt of Tartar 1 dram; Sassaphras 1 ounce; Bay and Juniper berries, Seeds of Daucus, Mustard, Cummin and Anise (all bruis'd) each half an ounce; infuse cold 2 days; then strain and add compound Radish water 4 ounces.
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Let a quarter of a pint be drank twice a day, with 30 drops of Spirit of Scurvy grass, in each Dose.
An Apophlegmatic Lohoch.
Take Syrup of Hyssop 2 ounces and a half; Oil of sweet Almonds 1 ounce; Oil of Anniseed 2 drops; Tincture of Myrrh 1 dram; powder'd Orris root 4 scruples; Flower of Benjamin half a scruple; Tobacco 4 grains, mix.
By pricking the Parts, drawing the limpid Saliva, inciding thick Phlegm exonerating the Glands, and lubricating the Passages. It brings viscid Phlegm up out of the Throat, and is useful whensoever the Uvula, Parotides, and internal Parts of the Gula are swell'd, and oppress'd with mucous Filth: And when the Secretion is to be provok'd, and a failing Cough to be recover'd.
An Asthmatic Lohoch.
Take Syrup of Ground Ivy, Horehound, each 1 ounce and half; Oxymel simple 1 ounce; Powder of Arum compound, of Orris and Gum Ammoniac (dissolv'd in Cinnamon Water, and strain'd) each 1 dram; Elixir Proprietatis (prepared with Oil of Sulphur by the Bell) half a dram; Flower of Benjamin 12 grains, mix.
It's eminent for the same Virtues with the Lohoch of Garlic (after describ'd) namely, it powerfully incides, provokes a Cough, and Expectorates. But hath this furthur
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Privilege, that it neither accuates, nor accends the mass of Blood; and therefore is more proper for such as are of an hot Constitution, or actually Feverish, as Phthifical People generally are.
A Balsamic Lohoch.
Take Balsam of Tolu (powder'd, searced and subacted with Yolk of an Egg) half an ounce; Lohoch Sanans 1 ounce; Balsam of Peru 4 drops; Syrup of Coltsfoot flowers, as much as needs, mix.
It entirely possesses all the Virtues that are after to be rehearsed, of the Balsamic Electuary, but with this advantage, that being much more grateful to the Palate; it may be more commodiously offer'd to the Nice and Nauseous, that abhor the Oiley bitterness of Capive.
A Bechic Lohoch.
Take powdered and searced black Bechic Troches 2 drams; Lohoch Sanans half an ounce; Syrup of Jujubes as much as sufficient, mix.
It obtunds Acrimony, appeases Irritation, coats over, lubricates, incrassates and maturates. It's then especially useful, when acrid, salt, thin Serum, dropping out of the Glands, continually tickles the Larynx, and cruelly fatigues the Patient, with a perpetual returning Cough.
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A common Lohoch.
Take powder'd white Bechic Troches 3 drams; Oil of sweet Almonds, Syrup of Marsh Mallows, each 1 ounce and half, mix.
It refrigerates, humects and lubricates the Gullet, and parts of the Throat, when burnt up, parch'd and rough, more than the Bechic preceeding: But it coats over, incrassates and maturates something less. Its prescrib'd (to a very good Purpose) in Fevers with asperity of the Throat, difficulty of Swallowing and Hoarsness: As also in such a Cough as is caus'd by matter of a midling Consistence, between thick and thin.
A Lohoch with Elecampane.
Take powdered Elecampane, Orris, Liquorice, Japanic Earth, each 2 drams; Oil of Aniseed 2 drops; Syrup of Meconium 3 ounces, or as much as sufficient to mix.
It operates after a mixt manner, viz. First it attenuates, and brings away Matter gather'd in the Throat; and then quiets Irritation, and stops the farther extillation of sharp Serum. And is then principally indicated, when Catarrhous Matter flows slowly, and the Cough is excited rather by aggestion, than acrimony; such as that Cough is, that makes it returns mostly in the Morning, and is troublesome a while, 'till the load of Phlegm be Coughed up, and entirely clear'd
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off, but then yields to a Truce for all day; and is scarce at all Vexatious, 'till a new flow of Filth rise up to a Turgescence, and provoke it again.
A Lohoch with Garlic.
Take Lohoch Sanans 1 ounce and half; Garlic candy'd (as in Pharmac. Bat.) half an onnce; Gum Ammoniac (dissolv'd in white Wine, and strain'd) 1 dram; powder of Arum Compound, Myrrh, each half a dram, mix.
It powerfully incides thick Matter impacted in the Tubes of the Bronchia, and even the uttermost Vesicles of the Trachea. And by pricking the Fibre Motrices, and provoking a Cough, causes it to be forcibly cast out.
For Garlic is endu'd with such Acrid, Volatile wonderfully penetrating, all searching and stimulating Particles, that we find (saith Bennet) upon eating it, Issues will plainly smell of it, and grow sore and painful. And (Lower observes) if bruis'd Garlick be laid to the Feet, the Breath will stink of it.
But this Medicine is in no wise convenient, where there's a thin, acrid Defluxion, Haemoptosis, estuation of the Blood, or Praecordia and hot Constitution of Body.
A Green Lohcoch.
Take fine Venice Soap scraped thin 2 scruples; Oil of sweet Almonds, Syrup of Violets, each 1 ounce, mix.
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It recovers a Cough by irritating the Larynx. And the whole Republic of Medicine can scarcely produce a more effectual thing, to lubricate the Passages, and render Excreation facile, prompt and expedite.
Haly's Lohoch.
Take Haly's Powder, fresh made up half an ounce; Diacodium 1 ounce and half; or as much as is sufficient, mix
It most potently incrassates, obtunds Acrimony, gratifies the Parts, quiets a tickling Cough, and is precisely appropriated to a thin Catarrh. It's good for Consumptive People. I don't deny; but 'tis so only secondarily, namely as it appeaseth a guttural Cough, which, by continual Succussation, useth to agitate the Lungs, and pump out acrid Serum into them; but it does not primarily affect the Lungs, into which it cannot descend. For the Asperia Arteria (by the wise and careful Providence of Nature) is lin'd with a Nervous Membrane, of so exquisite a Sense, that it cannot admit of any thing to enter it, but meer Air, not one drop of clear Water, no so much as Spittle it self (though a Liquor so near a kin to what the Glands spew into it) without grievous Offence, and resistance, and Coughing violently, and Struggling , and almost Strangling, 'till its thrown out again.
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Let it be then an establish'd Article, that no Eclegme, or any other Medicine (except Vapours and Fumes) can be sent directly and immediately into the Lungs. And whatsoever the Remedy be that affects them most (as Balsamics and Volatiles) its convey'd mediately only, by the Curricle of the Blood, into the Tracheal Ducts; and Nature never knew any other way.
A Japanic Lohoch.
Take powder'd and searced Japanic Earth 2 drams; white of Egg beaten 6 drams; Syrup of Comfrey sufficient to give it due Consistence, mix.
It's a good serviceable thing against a Haemoptoe, for it refrigerates and incrassates the Blood, stops a Catarrhous Cough, that strains and tears the Lungs, and shuts and seals up the gaping Mouths of the ruptur'd Vessels.
A Incrassating Lohoch.
Take powder'd Marsh Mallow root 3 drams; Flower of Sulphur 1 dram; Gum Arabick half a dram; white of Eggs beaten up 1 ounce; Syrup of Marsh Mallows as much as wants to mix it into due Consistence.
Its egregiously advantageous, in all hot, thin, sharp, salt Rheums, falling from the exterior parts of the Head, upon the Larynx, and hindring Sleep by incessant Coughing.
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A Levigating Lohoch.
Take Syrup of Marsh Mallows, white of Eggs beaten to Water, each 1 ounce; Sugar Penids half an ounce, mix. < In Fevers its a singular help and comfort, against Heat, Siccity, Roughness, Hardness, Excoriation, Soreness and Smart of the Tongue, Mouth and Throat, caused by either Deficiency or Depravation of the Saliva.
A Lohoch with Linseed Oil.
Take Linseed Oil new drawn, white Sugar Candy powder'd and searced, Syrup of Ground Ivy, each half an ounce; powder'd Orris 1 dram; Flower of Sulphur half a dram; Tincture of Gum Ammoniac 12 drops; Oil of Aniseed 4 drops; Salt of Harts-horn (or Volatile Salt of Salt Armoniac, or flowers of Benjamin) 6 grains, mix.
It incides and expectorates thick Phlegm, and is of excellent service against a Pleurisy and straitness of Breath.
Lucatellus's Lohoch.
Take conserve of red Roses 2 ounces; conserve of Hips 1 ounce; Lucatellus's Balsam (made with Dragons Blood instead of Sanders) 3 drams; Syrup of Comfrey sufficient to give it a due Body, mix.
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Though I have (in Haly's Lohoch) utterly denied the immediate descent of Lambatives into the Lungs, yet I positively assert their Admission into them, by the Mediation of the Blood.
And here I am willing to subjoin, that our true Pulmonics consist of such Particles, as being brought into the Blood, cannot be digested, subdued, and assimulated by it; and because they are immiscible, are presently (as Circulation brings them to the Place) thrown out of the Pneumonic Arteries, and so penetrating into the Tracheal Ducts, have there, according to the diversity of their Nature, a respective different Operation. Thus Volatiles incide, open, stimulate. And Balsamics discuss Tubercles, ease Distensions, and heal Ruptures.
But to speak particularly and briefly of this Balsamic Linctus, it stoppeth a guttural Cough, violently exagitating and rending the Lungs: and it detergeth and healeth the tumid tense, broken and injured Tracheal Vessels.
A Mucilaginous Lohoch.
Take Seeds of Fleabane and Quinces, each 1 dram and half; decoct in a due quantity of Rosewater to the Extraction of the Mucilage: to 4 ounces of which strained, add one White of Egg beaten, and white Sugar candy powdered and searced, 5 drams, mix.
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This for Efficacy equals, and it may be, excells the foresaid Levigating Lohoch.
A Lohoch of Myrrh.
Take Myrrh well powdered 2 drams; Saffron half a scruple; Nutmeg half a dram; Honey 2 ounces, mix.
This trusty Thoracic has the Privilege to be readily admitted (the Blood introducing it) into the inmost Penetralia of the Lungs, there to dissolve thick impacted Matter, deterge the Canals and Vesicles, dissipate Tubercles, heal Excoriations and little Breaches, imbue the whole Body of the Lungs with Balsam, impart Tone and Strengh to its Fibres. In short, it's truly a most desirable and gallant Medicine for such a Consumption as is not yet gone beyond its first Stade.
An Oleous Lohoch.
Take Oil of Sweet Almonds, Syrup of Maiden Hair, each 1 ounce and half; white Sugar candy powdered and searced 1 ounce; powdered Liquorice half an ounce, mix.
A Lohoch with Olibanum.
Take powdered Olibanum 1 dram; Balaustines 1 scruple; Honey of Roses 2 ounces; Spirit of Vitriol, enough to give it a convenient Acidity, mix.
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It serves very commodiously for the healing of Excoriations in the Mouth and Throat.
A Peruvian Lohoch.
Take Lohoch Sanans 1 ounce and half; Balsam of Peru 1 dram and half; Yolk of Egg half an ounce, mix.
See Lucatellus's Lohoch.
A Pleuritic Lohoch.
Take Syrup of erratic Poppies, Linseed Oil, each 2 ounces; Oil of Aniseed 2 drops; white Sugar 2 drams, mix.
It's convenient in a true Pleurisie and Peripneumonie, accompanied with difficulty of Breathing and Spitting of Blood; asswages Pain, opens, maturates, lubricates the Passages, and expectorates.
A Red Lohoch.
Take Conserve of Hips half an ounce; Syrup of Elder Berries, Oil of Sweet Almonds, each 1 ounce, mix.
This fine coloured and pleasant tasted Lohoch, anoints as 'twere, with a grateful Mucous, and imbues with a lenifying Oleosity the Mouth and Throat, when parched, rough, hard, contracted, scorched up, chap'd, crack'd, and excoriated; takes away ill Tasts in the Mouth, corrects the Acrimony of the Saliva, palliates Thirst, makes the parts
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smooth, slippery, and flexible, and so facilitates Deglutition.
I remember one in the Small Pox, who lying miserably bad, rather devoured than took this Linctus, and clamoured, and even roared out for it, saying he could not live without his Golden Medicine, as he call'd it.
And I knew another, a Child of about a Year old, that was presently and perfectly cured by it of a most violent Cough, that was like to kill him.
A Lohoch with Sperma Ceti.
Take white Bechic Troches, Sperma Ceti, each 1 dram and half; Oil of Sweet Almonds, Syrup of Balsam, each one ounce and half; Conserve of Hips 6 drams, mix.
It's given, with happy Success, for a Ferine, Catarrhous Cough, that makes the Breast cruel tender, sore, and excoriated; for it obtunds Acrimony, lubricates the Parts, and wonderfully heals.
A Styptic Lohoch.
Take Syrup of Comfry, Linseed Oil, each 1 ounce; Astringent Crocus of Steel 4 scruples; Sugar of Lead 1 scruple; powdered white Sugar candy 1 dram and half, mix.
It's extraordinarily useful in Vomiting and Spitting of Blood. But be cautious concerning Astringents in Haemoptysis. See in the Infusion of Roses compound.
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And here, for a Conclusion to the Lambatives, I freely communicate two or three Notes concerning Pectorals, which perhaps are not clearly and distinctly understood by every one, and may possibly be worth taking notice of by young Practicioners.
1. Sweet, Mucaginous, Incrassating Things though they may help Excreation out of the Throat it self, may render the Blood softer, and dispose the Humours for Maturation and Evacuation: Yet nevertheless (to speak properly) it is not their Talent to fetch up any thing that lies deep in the Chest. And therefore, when the Blood and Habit of the Body is foul, and a Load of thick Phlegm is to be brought out of the Lungs, such things as these are very wrongly and noxiously prescribed, for they will further polllute the Blood, with a mucous heavy Chyle, and stuff up the Lungs with a greater Colluvies of Recrements.
2. Brisk, acrious, stimulating Things, which do not really descend into the Lungs, but only by tickling, pricking, and irritating the Fibres, excite a Cough, and by means of it, exagitate the Lungs, and shake the Humours out of them; and so do it not primarily, but secondarily. These, I say, pump out of the Pneumatic Pipes, only such Matter as lies loose and fluid. And therefore are in vain attempted, when a great Mass of tough Phlegm is deposited, and sticks fast
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in the Bronchia, and inmost Vesicles. Yea, oftentimes their use is not only in vain, but hurtful also; because they raise a Cough, and tire out of the Lungs to no purpose, and weaken their Tone to no Advantage.
3. There are no such Things as Expectorators, properly so called, except Volatiles and Balsamics: And these do not slip down directly by the Trachea, but being first conveyed into the Circulating Blood, are thence suffused into the Pneumonic Vessels, and their inmost Recesses. And it's such only that have the power to remove and cast clammy Phlegm, purulent and gypseous Matter out of the Bronchia, Vesicles, and crude Tubercles. And so, when a Physician conjectures the Foundations of a true Consumption are laid in the Lungs, all other insignificant Pectorals, and little Cough Medicines set aside; let him in good earnest insist on these primarily and chiefly, and he that doth not, shall be convinced at last of his Miscarriage, by sad and mortal Experience.
A Camphorated Lotion.
Take Camphire cut into thin slices 2 drams; grind it in a Glass Mortar, pouring into it (by little and little) Juice of Lemons 1 ounce; when it's dissolved, add White Wine 1 pint, strain; and having tied the remaining part of the Camphire (that would not quite dissolve) up in a Rag, hang it into the Bottle.
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It's to clear the Face of Spots, Redness and other Blemishes.
A Cephalic Lotion.
Take Bay leaves, Betony, Vervain, Marjoram, Rosemary, Lavender, each 2 handfuls; boil in Lixivium of Wood Ashes 3 quarts to two quarts, adding at last powdered Cloves and Nutmeg, each 2 drams, strain.
It's Vertues may be seen under the Cephalic Liniment, but it discusses more powerfully than it, and evacuates by Diaphoresis. I have been told of stammering in Children, cured with such an Application, whereby the Organs of Speech were strengthened.
Let the Head be shaved and fomented a Mornings (for a quarter of an hour at a time) with a Spunge dipt into this Liquor hot, and squeezed out again. But let there be great care taken against catching cold from the use of it.
A Lotion for the Face.
Take Litharge of Silver powdered, half an ounce; Vinegar 4 ounces; boil to the Evaporation of a third part. And in another Vessel boil Alum and Salt, each half an ounce, in Rosewater half a pint, till it be despumated, and then mix both Liquors together. Litharge of Gold and Silver are the same thing, only the yellow sort hath undergone a greater degree of Fire than the White,
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and perhaps may be a little more drying and restrictive. Both are but a Spume blown off in the refining of Silver from Lead, and perhaps meer burnt Lead; for they may be reduced again into Lead by melting with Charcoal. And that which Vinegar takes out of Litharge, is scarce at all different from Sacharum Saturni.
It washeth away Spots, destroys foul cutaneous Ferment, repels and drives in the Matter, and then shuts the Pores, that it break not out again. Let the Face be washed, and gently rubbed with it, twice a day, suffering it to dry in of it self.
A Lotion for the Feet.
Take White Poppy heads (bruised together with their Seed) 4 ounces; Willow leaves, Lettuce, Mallows, and Violet leaves, each 2 handfuls; boil in Water and Milk, each 5 pints, to a Gallon; strain and dissolve in the Liquor Nitre 4 ounces, and put it into a convenient Wash Pot.
Let the Patient sit with his Feet in it (as hot as can be endured) for half an Hour, and so go to Bed, and compose himself for Rest, and try to sleep. Joel would have, that after the Lotion, the Soles of the Feet should be rubbed hard with Salt and Vinegar; and then, that the Patient should stand on an Oaken Board, heated very hot; for this (he says) will wonderfully draw down Rheums from the Head.
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In violent, hot, raging, estuating Fevers, when the acrid, fervent, boiling Blood gets an head and tumultuously breaks in upon the Brain, and accends the Spirits, and drives them into Distraction and Fury; thereby exciting in the Head, ardor, hissing, humming, crackling, unexplicable Conturbation, frightful Fancies, Terror, Frenzy, Delirium and Watching. I say, in such a Case, a Pedilave that is potentially Cold, and actually Hot, useth to bring great Relief; for as much as it inclines the motion of the Blood downwards into the inferior parts; and at the same time, does not enkindle or flutter it e'er the more, but rather on the contrary, refrigerates and quiets it.
For you must know First, there are two perfectly distinct, great Provincial circles of the Blood. One by the ascending Artery, through the Parts situate above the Heart, and the other by the descending Artery, through the Parts below. Secondly , that by how much the more rapidly, and with greater Stream, the Blood rusheth through the inferiour Province, by so much the more placidly, and less current, of Necessity will it flow through the opposite superior Province, and so on the contrary. And upon this Foundation is grounded the rational Doctrine of universal Revulsion.
But here, its of great Concern to observe, that in such Fevers as are Mali Moris, where the Blood doth not boil, and rage, and rush violently;
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but rather is too sluggish and dead, and scarce irrigates and vivifies the Brain, Nerves and Muscles enough. And also where the poverty, weakness, broken ranks, desertion and dissipation of the Spirits produce Watching, Phrenzy and Twitchings: In such a case (I say) Lotion of the Feet, is found utterly pernicious; because by how much the more it increases the inferior Circle, just so much the more doth it diminish the Superiour, and so consequently defrauds the Brain of Blood and Spirits, which fail'd too much for the want of them before.
A Mercurial Lotion.
Take Mercury sublimate powdered 1 ounce; put it into a pewter Pot with Water 3 pints; let it stand (now and then stirring it with a Stick) 24 hours 'till it look black, and continue so; at last filtre it through Cap Paper, that is may become clear and limpid.
Dr. Harris acquaints us, that the way of knowing true Sublimate from Arsenical is, by rubbing a little of it with Salt of Tartar. For if it then proves yellow, it is true sublimate, but if black, 'tis most certainly an Adulteration with Arsenic.
This Medicament doth signal Service against any sort of Cutaneous Foulness for as much as it fetches out Humours impacted in the Pores and Spaces, be they never so small, dissolves the inveterate and pertinacious
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Combinations of Salts and Sulphurs; and wherever it is applied, rectifies all the ill form'd Meatuses of the Skin, and makes it freely passable. Upon which account it's a useful thing, not only for deterging the Face, and clearing it from Spots, but also for Pushes and Redness; as also for Erysipelatose Affections, black Specks and little Worms that nestle there, and may be squeezed out with ones Fingers.
But nevertheless, it's to be used with great Caution, because it hath sometimes dismal Consequences. For the Particles of the Quick Silver coming at the Face together with the Salts (by which they are divided and actuated) do indeed remove the noxious and defiling Matter residing in the Pores, and drive it back, but then they enter in together with it; and so nimbly insinuating themselves into the Blood and Nerves, grow desperately Mischievous, and break and destroy their Crasis. Yea oftentimes impress an indelible Virulency upon the Brain, Praecordia, Teeth and other Parts.
Hoechstetter (Dec. 3. Cas. 4. pag. 233.) relates, that Rumlerus was wont to use the following Diaphoretic and Dinretic Decoction, to expel the Mercury, when it had been used in Oinment for the French Pox, too freely.
Take roots of Elecampane 2 ounces; of Fennel 1 ounce and half; white Wine 2 pints and half; having let it stand infusing 24 hours,
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boil away to 1 quart, which strain. And let the Patient take half a pint Morning and Evening, and lie in Bed close cover'd, and try to sweat. He saith the Sweat will be yellow; and its use must be continued, 'till that Colour disappear and be no more seen.
And sometimes when the Mercury doth not enter into the Blood, yet it causeth a great Phlogosis and Tumour in the Part, with extream, both Pain and Peril. And when it doth so, it must be very well fomented with warm Milk, or a Decoction of Liquorice and Mallows in Milk, and after that, with the following lukewarm.
Take Lime Water 14 ounces; Brandy 2 ounces; white Troches of Rasis half an ounce, mix.
Wepfer (de Cicuta aq. Cap. 20. p. 296.) saith, its a memorable thing which Kunkel delivers viz. that a tender young Child was ordered this Liniment to kill Lice.
Take Mercurius dulcis 1 dram; Mercurius vita 1 scruple; Pomatum 1 ounce, mix.
But an unskillful Apothecary making a vile mistake, put in Sublimate instead of Mercurius dulcis; upon which the Head became so grievously Tumefy'd and Inflam'd that the poor little Innocent must necessarily have perish'd, had not a Physician presently fomented it with a strong Lixivium; by the help of which proper Antidote, it soon recover'd indeed, but yet as to lose all the Hair of its Head.
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Balsamic Lozenges.
Take fine Dragons Blood (in drops) 2 scurples [sic]; Flowers of Benjamin 16 grains; Balm of Gilead 24 grains; fine Sugar searced 4 ounces; Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth as much as requisite, make Lozenges according to Art.
They are good for such as are in danger of a Consumption, to be carried always about, and taken frequently.
Cardiac Lozenges.
Take powder'd Spanish Angelica root, Species called Diambra, each half dram; Oil of Nutmegs 4 drops; Oil of Cinnamon and Cloves, each 2 drops; fine Sugar (dissolved in Aqua Mirabilis) 3 ounces, make it out into Lozenges.
They repair languid and spent Spirits, cure cold Distempers of the Stomach, and help for palpitation, and trembling of the Heart.
Lozenges for a Catarrh.
Take Spanish Juice of Liquorice 2 ounces; white Sugar 4 ounces; Opium 1 dram; beat all exactly well, so as to mix the Opium intimately and with Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth, form the Mass into Lozenges.
A dram of these contains about 1 grain of Opium, but great care must be taken in the well mixing of the Opium, that it lie not in Lumps.
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Cephalic Lozenges.
Take powder called de Gutteta, Native Cinnaber, each 2 scruples; Oil of Rosemary and Nutmeg, each 2 drops; fine Sugar 2 ounces; make all up into Lozenges with Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth.
These are proper in an Idiopathic Cephalalgy, Megrim, Epilepsy, and all manner of Convulsive Affections.
Lozenges of Elder.
Take Juice of Elder berries as much as you please, make it up into a Paste, with powder'd Tormentile roots, bake it in an Oven: Then having powder'd it, wet it with the same Juice, and bake it again, and repeat the same a third time, after which, make it up with the same Juice into Tablets, and dry them.
For a Dysentery and immoderate flux of the Menses and Haemorrhoids, give 1 dram for a Dose.
Haemoptoic Lozenges.
Take Earth from Japan 2 drams; Astringent Saffron of Steel 1 dram; Sugar of Lead, Starch, each half a dram; fine Sugar 4 ounces; Mucilage of Gum Dragacanth, enough to make up Lozenges with.
Hysteric Lozenges.
Take Loaf Sugar 4 ounces; put 2 or 3 spoonfuls of Water to it, boil it up to a Tablet heighth; then add Oil of Amber 8 drops; and so drop it in small Cakes, on a cold pewter Plate.
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Paralytic Lozenges.
Take fine powder'd and searced Sugar 1 ounces; Spirit of Lavender compound 60 drops; Oil of Rosemary 4 drops; make it up with Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth into little Lozenges.
Pectoral Lozenges.
Take powder'd roots of Orris, Liquorice, Elecampane, each half a dram; Flower of Sulphur 1 scruple; Flower of Benjamin half a scruple; Oil of Amber 2 drops; Oil of Aniseed 4 drops; fine powder'd and searced Sugar 4 ounces; make it into Lozenges, with Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth. These are excellent.
Black Pectoral Lozenges.
Take fine powder'd Sugar 1 pound; Spanish Juice of Liquorice 4 ounces; Balsam of Sulphur anisated 1 dram; make it into Lozenges with Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth, extracted in Fennel Water.
Peruvian Antihectic Lozenges.
Take fine powder'd Bark of Peru 1 ounce and half; Balsam of Capive 2 drams ; Sugar of Roses (dissolv'd in compound Wormwood Water) 8 ounces; with Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth make Lozenges, each weighing 2 drams.
The Communicator of these saith, Lozenges are a pretty pleasant sort of Medicine, and fit for delicate nice Persons,
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that must have their Palates complimented, as well as their Distempers cured. These are good in Hectic Fevers, Consumptive Coughs, difficulty of Breathing, and the like Symptoms.
Let the Patient eat one four times a Day and drink after it a draught of Pectoral Decoction, made of Colts-foot, Ground Ivy, Oak Lungs, &c. Bleeding being premised where needful.