Leanness of body, costiveness, hollow
eyes, anger without a cause, a testy disposition,
yellowness of the skin, bitterness in
the throat, pricking pains in the head, the
pulse swifter and stronger than ordinary,
the urine higher coloured, thinner and brighter,
troublesome sleeps, much dreaming of
fire, lightning, anger, and fighting.
Signs of blood abounding.
The veins are bigger (or at least they
seem so) and fuller then ordinary; the skin
is red, and as it were swollen; pricking
pains in the sides, and about the temples,
shortness of breath, head-ache, the pulse
great and full, urine high coloured and
thick, dreams of blood, &c.
Signs of melancholy abounding.
Fearfulness without a cause, fearful and
foolish imaginations, the skin rough and
swarthy, leanness, want of sleep, frightful
dreams, sourness in the throat, the pulse
very weak, solitariness, thin clear urine,
often sighing, &c.
Signs of flegm abounding.
Sleepiness, dulness, slowness, heaviness,
cowardliness, forgetfulness, much spitting,
much superfluities at the nose, little appetite
to meat and as bad digestion, the skin
whiter, colder and smoother than it was
want to be; the pulse slow and deep: the
urine thick and low coloured: dreams of
rain, floods, and water, &c.
These things thus premised, I come to
the matter.
The first the College presents you with,
is
Spiritus et Aqua Absinthis minus Composita.
Or, Spirit and water of Wormwood, the
lesser composition.
College.] Take of the leaves of dryed
Wormwood two pounds, Annis seeds, half
a pound: steep them in six gallons of small
wine twenty four hours, then distil them
in an Alembick, adding to every pound of
the distilled water two ounces of the best
Sugar.
Let the two first pound you draw out be
called Spirit of Wormwood, those which
follow, Wormwood water the lesser composition.
Culpeper.] I like this distinction of the
College very well, because what is first
stilled out, is far stronger than the rest,
and therefore very fitting to be kept by
itself: you may take which you please,
according as the temperature of your body,
either to heat or cold, and the season of
year requires.
It hath the same virtues Wormwood
hath, only fitter to be used by such whose
bodies are chilled by age, and whose
natural heat abates. You may search the
herbs for the virtues, it heats the stomach,
and helps digestion.
The College.] After the same manner
(only omitting the Annis seeds) is distilled
spirit and water of Angelica, both Herb
and Root, Bawm, Mints, Sage, &c. the
Flowers of Rosemary, Clary, Clove-gilliflowers,
&c. the seeds of Caraway, &c.
Juniper-berries, Orange Pills, Lemons,
Citrons, &c. Cinnamon, Nutmegs, &c.
Or spirit and water of Wormwood, the
greater composition.
The College.] Take of common and
Roman Wormwood, of each a pound;
Sage, Mints, Bawm, of each two handfuls;
the Roots of Galanga, Ginger, Calamus,
Aromaticus, Elecampane, of each three
drachms; Liquorice, an ounce, Raisins of
the Sun stoned, three ounces, Annis seeds,
and sweet Fennel seeds, of each three
drachms; Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmegs, of
each two drachms; Cardamoms, Cubebs,
of each one drachm: let the things be
cut that are to be cut, and the things
be bruised that are to be bruised, all of
them infused in twenty four pints of
Spanish wine, for twenty four hours, then,
distilled in an Alembick, adding two
ounces of white sugar to every pint of
distilled water.
Let the first pint be called Spirit of
Wormwood the greater composition.
Culpeper.] The opinion of Authors is,
That it heats the stomach, and strengthens
it and the lungs, expels wind, and helps
digestion in ancient people.
Or Spirit and water of Angelica, the
greater composition.
The College.] Take of the leaves of
Angelica eight ounces, of Carduus Benedictus
six ounces, of Bawm and Sage, of
each four ounces, Angelica seeds six
ounces; sweet Fennel seeds nine ounces.
Let the herbs, being dryed, and the seeds
be grossly bruised, to which add of the
species called Aromaticum Rosarum; and
of the species called Diamoschu Dulce, of
each an ounce and a half, infuse them
two days in thirty two pints of Spanish
Wine, then distil them with a gentle fire,
and with every pound mix two ounces of
sugar dissolved in Rose-water.
Let the three first pounds be called by the
name of Spirit, the rest by the name of water.
Culpeper.] The chief end of composing
this medicine, was to strengthen the heart
and resist infection, and therefore is very
wholesome in pestilential times, and for
such as walk in stinking air.
I shall now quote you their former
receipt in their former dispensatory.
The College.] Take of Angelica two
pounds, Annis seed half a pound, Coriander
and Caraway seeds, of each four ounces,
Zedoary bruised, three ounces: steep them
twenty four hours in six gallons of small
wine, then draw out the spirit, and sweeten
it with sugar.
Culpeper.] It comforts the heart,
cherishes the vital spirits, resists the pestilence,
and all corrupt airs, which indeed
are the natural causes of epidemical diseases,
the sick may take a spoonful of it in
any convenient cordial, and such as are in
health, and have bodies either cold by
nature, or cooled by age, may take as much
either in the morning fasting, or a little
before meat.
The College.] Take of Lavender flowers
one gallon, to which pour three gallons of
the best spirits of wine, let them stand
together in the sun six days, then distil
them with an Alembick with this refrigeratory.
Take of the flowers of Sage, Rosemary,
and Bettony, of each one handful; the
flowers of Borrage, Bugloss, Lilies of the
Valley, Cowslips, of each two handfuls:
let the flowers be newly and seasonably
gathered, being infused in one gallon of
the best spirits of wine, and mingled with
the foregoing spirit of Lavender flowers,
adding the leaves of Bawm, Feather-few,
and Orange tree fresh gathered; the flowers
of Stœchas and Orange tree, Bay berries,
of each one ounce. After convenient digestion
distil it again, after which add Citron
pills the outward bark, Peony seed husked,
of each six drams, cinnamon, Mace,
Nutmegs, Cardamoms, Cubebs, yellow
Sanders, of each half an ounce, Wood of
Aloes one dram, the best Jujubes, the stones
being taken out, half a pound, digest them
six weeks, then strain it and filter it, and
add to it prepared Pearls two drams,
Emeralds prepared a scruple, Ambergrease,
Musk, Saffron, of each half a scruple,
red Roses dryed, red Sanders, of each half
an ounce, yellow Sanders, Citron Pills,
dryed, of each one dram. Let the species
being tyed up in a rag, be hung into the
aforementioned spirit.
Culpeper.] I could wish the Apothecaries
would desire to be certified by the College.
1. Whether the gallon of Lavender
flowers must be filled by heap, or by strike.
2. Next, whether the flowers must be
pressed down in the measure or not. 3.
How much must be drawn off in the first
distillation. 4. Where they should get
Orange leaves and flowers fresh gathered.
5. What they mean by convenient digestion.
6. Where you shall find Borrage,
Bugloss, and Cowslips, flowering together,
that so you may have them all fresh according
to their prescript, the one flowering
in the latter end of April, and beginning of
May, the other in the end of June, and
beginning of July. 7. If they can make a
shift to make it, how, or which way the
virtues of it will countervail the one half of
the charge and cost, to leave the pains and
trouble out.
The College.] Take of fresh Castoreum
four ounces, Lavender flower an ounce,
the tops of Sage and Rosemary, of each
half an ounce, Cinnamon six drams, Mace,
Cloves, of each two drachms, spirits of
Wine rectified, six pounds, digest them
in a phial filled only to the third part, close
stopped with cork and bladder in warm
ashes for two days, then distilled in Balneo
Mariæ, and the distilled water kept close
stopped.
Culpeper.] By reason of its heat it is
no ways fit to be taken alone, but mixed
with other convenient medicines appropriated
to the diseases you would give it
for, it resists poison, and helps such as are
bitten by venomous beasts: it causes
speedy delivery to women in travail, and
casteth out the Placenta: it helps the fits of
the mother, lethargies and convulsions, being
mixed with white wine, and dropped into
the ears, it helps deafness; if stopping be
the cause of it, the dose to be given inwardly
is between one dram, and half a
dram, according to the strength and age of
the patient.
The College.] Take of the fresh roots
of Butter-bur bruised, one pound and a
half, the roots of Angelica and Masterwort,
of each half a pound, steep them in ten
pints of strong Ale, then distil them till
the change of the taste gives a testimony
that the strength is drawn out.
Culpeper.] This water is very effectual
being mixed with other convenient cordials,
for such as have pestilential fevers:
also a spoonful taken in the morning, may
prove a good preservative in pestilential
times: it helps the fits of the mother, and
such as are short winded, and being taken
inwardly, dries up the moisture of such
sores as are hard to be cured.
The College.] Take of the leaves of both
sorts of Scurvy-grass, of each six pound,
having bruised them, press the juice out of
them, with which mix of the juice of brooklime,
and Water-cresses, of each one pound
and a half, of the best white wine, eight
pounds, twelve whole Lemons, pills and all,
fresh Briony roots four pound, the roots of wild
Radishes two pound, Captain Winter’s Cinnamon
half a pound, Nutmegs four ounces,
steep them altogether, and then distil them.
Culpeper.] I fancy it not, and so I leave
it; I suppose they intended it for purgation
of women in child-bed.
The College.] Take of the flowers of
Lilies of the Valley, one pound: infuse
them in four gallons of Spanish wine so long
till the following flowers may be had fresh.
Take of the fore-named flowers half a
pound, Peony flowers four ounces: steep
them together fourteen days, then distil
them in Balneo Mariæ till they be dry: in
the distilled liquor infuse again male Peony
roots gathered in due time, two ounces and
a half, white Dittany, long Birthwort, of
each half an ounce, the leaves of Misselto
of the Oak, and Rue, of each two handfuls,
Peony seeds husked, ten drams, Rue seeds
three drams and a half, Castoreum two
scruples, Cubebs, Mace, of each two
drachms, Cinnamon an ounce and a half,
Squills prepared, three drachms, Rosemary
flowers six pugils, Arabian Stæchas, Lavender,
of each four pugils, the flowers of
Betony, Clove-gilliflowers, and Cowslips,
of each eight pugils, then adding four
pound of the juice of black Cherries, distil
it in a glass till it be dry.
College.] Take of the leaves of Celandine,
roots and all, three handfuls and a
half, Rue two handfuls, Scordium four
handfuls, Dittany of Crete, Carduus, of
each one handful and a half, Zedoary and
Angelica roots, of each three drams, Citrons
and Lemon pills, of each six drams, Clove-gilliflowers
one ounce and a half, Red
Rose, Centaury the less, of each two drams,
Cinnamon, Cloves, of each three drams,
Venice Treacle three ounces, Mithridates
one ounce and a half, Camphire two
scruples, Troches of Vipers two ounces,
Mace two drams, Wood of Aloes half an
ounce, Yellow Sanders one dram and a
half, Carduus seeds one ounce, Citron seeds
six drams, let them be cut and infused in
spirits of Wine, and Malaga Wine, of each
three pound and a half, Vinegar of Clove-gilliflowers,
Juice of Lemons, of each one
pound, and distilled in a glass still in Balneo
Mariæ, after it is half distilled off, the
residue may be strained through a linen
cloath, and be reduced to the thickness of
Honey, and called the Bezoartic extract.
Culpeper.] Extracts have the same virtues
with the waters they are made from,
only the different form is to please the
palates of such whose fancy loathes any one
particular form.
This Bezoar water strengthens the heart,
arteries, and vital spirits: It provokes sweat,
and is exceeding good in pestilential fevers,
in health it withstands melancholy and
consumptions, and makes a merry, blithe,
chearful creature. Of the extract you may
take ten grains at a time, or somewhat
more, if your body be not feverish, half
a spoonful of water is sufficient at a time,
and that mixed with other cordials or medicines
appropriated to the disease that troubles
you.
College.] Take of Earthworms well
cleansed, three pound, Snails, with shells
on their backs cleansed, two gallons, beat
them in a mortar, and put them into a convenient
vessel, adding stinging Nettles,
roots and all, six handfuls, wild Angelica,
four handfuls, brank Ursine, seven handfuls,
Agrimony, Bettony, of each three
handfuls, Rue one handful, common Wormwood
two handfuls, Rosemary flowers six
ounces, Dock roots ten ounces, the roots of
Sorrel five ounces, Turmerick, the inner
bark of Barberries, of each four ounces,
Fenugreek seeds two ounces, Cloves three
ounces, Hart’s-horn, Ivory in gross powder,
of each four ounces, Saffron three
drams, small spirits of Wine four gallons
and a half, after twenty-four hours infusion,
distil them in an alembick. Let the four
first pounds be reserved for spirit, the rest
for water.
Culpeper.] ’Tis a mess altogether, it
may be they intended it for an universal
medicine.
College.] Take of Gentain roots sliced,
one pound and a half, the leaves and
flowers of Centaury the less, of each four
ounces, steep them eight days in twelve
pounds of white Wine, then distil them in
an alembick.
Culpeper.] It conduces to preservation
from ill air, and pestilential fevers: it opens
obstructions of the liver, and helps such as
they say are liver-grown; it eases pains in
the stomach, helps digestion, and eases such
as have pains in their bones by ill lodging
abroad in the cold, it provokes appetite,
and is exceeding good for the yellow jaundice,
as also for prickings or stitches in the
sides: it provokes the menses, and expels
both birth and placenta: it is naught for
pregnant women. If there be no fever, you
may take a spoonful by itself; if there be,
you may, if you please, mix it with some
cooler medicine appropriated to the same
use you would give it for.
College.] Take of Scabious, Burnet,
Dragons, Bawm, Angelica, Pimpernel,
with purple flowers, Tormentil, roots and
all, of each two handfuls, let all of them,
being rightly gathered and prepared, be
steeped in four gallons of Canary Wine,
still off three gallons in an alembick, to
which add three ounces of each of the
cordial flowers, Clove-gilliflowers six
ounces, Saffron half an ounce, Turmerick
two ounces, Galanga, Bazil seeds, of each
one dram, Citron pills one ounce, the seed
of Citrons and Carduus, Cloves of each
five ounces, Hart’s-horn four ounces, steep
them twenty four hours and then distil
them in Balneo Mariæ: to the distilled water
add Pearls prepared, an ounce and a half,
red Coral, Crabs eyes, white Amber, of each
two drams, Crabs claws, six drams, Bezoar,
Ambergrease, of each two scruples, steep
them six weeks in the sun, in a vessel well
stopped, often shaking it, then filter it, (you
may keep the powders for Spicord. temp.)
by mixing twelve ounces of Sugar candy,
with six ounces of red Rose-water, and four
ounces of spirit of Cinnamon with it.
Culpeper.] I suppose this was invented
for a cordial to strengthen the heart, to
relieve languishing nature. It is exceeding
dear. I forbear the dose, they that
have money enough to make it themselves,
cannot want time to study both the virtues
and dose: I would have gentlemen to be
studious.
College.] Take of the juice of Borrage,
Bugloss, Bawm, Bistort, Tormentil, Scordium,
Vervain, sharp-pointed Dock, Sorrel,
Goat’s Rue, Mirrhis, Blue Bottle great and
small, Roses, Marigolds, Lemon, Citrons,
of each three ounces, white Wine Vinegar
one pound, Purslain seeds two ounces,
Citron and Carduus seeds, of each half an
ounce, Water Lily flowers two ounces,
the flowers of Borrage, Bugloss, Violets,
Clove-gilliflowers, of each one ounce,
Diatrion Sentalon six drams: let all of
them, being rightly prepared, be infused
three days, then distilled in a glass still:
to the distilled Liquor add earth of Lemnos,
Siletia, and Samos, of each one ounce and
an half, Pearls prepared with the juice of
Citrons, three drams, mix them, and keep
them together.
Culpeper.] It mightily cools the blood,
and therefore profitable in fevers, and all
diseases proceeding of heat of blood; it
provokes sleep. You may take half an
ounce at a time, or two drams if the party
be weak.
College.] Take of the juice of green
Walnuts, four pounds, the juice of Rue
three pounds, juice of Carduus, Marigolds,
and Bawm, of each two pounds, green
Petasitis roots one pound and a half, the
roots of Burs one pound, Angelica and
Master-wort, of each half a pound, the
leaves of Scordium four handfuls, old
Venice Treacle, Mithridates, of each eight
ounces, Canary Wine twelve pounds,
Vinegar six pounds, juice of Lemons two
pounds, digest them two days, either in
Horse-dung, or in a bath, the vessel being
close shut, then distil them in sand; in the
distillation you may make a Theriacal extraction.
Culpeper.] This water is exceeding good
in all fevers, especially pestilential; it
expels venomous humours by sweat; it
strengthens the heart and vitals; it is an
admirable counter-poison, special good for
such as have the plague, or are poisoned, or
bitten by venomous beasts, and expels
virulent humours from such as have the
venereal disease. If you desire to know
more virtues of it, see the virtues of Venice
Treacle. The dose is from a spoonful to
an ounce.
College.] Take of the juice of Briony
roots, four pounds, the leaves of Rue and
Mugwort, of each two pounds, dryed Savin
three handfuls, Featherfew, Nep, Pennyroyal,
of each two handfuls, Bazil, Dittany,
of Crete, of each one handful and a half,
Orange pills four ounces, Myrrh two
ounces, Castoreum one ounce, Canary Wine
twelve pounds, digest them four days in a
convenient vessel, then still them in Balneo
Mariæ: About the middle of the distillation
strain it out, and make an Hysterical
extraction of the residue.
Culpeper.] A spoonful of it taken,
eases the fits of the mother in women that
have them; it potently expels the afterbirth,
and clears the body of what a midwife
by heedlessness or accident hath left
behind; it cleanses the womb exceedingly,
and for that I fancy it much, take not above
a tasterful at a time, and then in the morning
fasting, for it is of a purging quality,
and let pregnant women forbear it.
The College.] Take of dried Citron, and
Orange pills, Nutmegs, Cloves, Cinnamon,
of each two ounces, the roots of Cypress,
Orris, Florentine, Calamus Aromaticus,
of each one ounce, Zedoary Galanga,
Ginger, of each half an ounce, the tops of
Lavender and Rosemary, of each two
handfuls, the leaves of Bay, Marjoram,
Bawm, Mints, Sage, Thyme, of each one
handful, the flowers of white and Damask
Roses fresh, of each half a handful, Rose-water
four pounds, white Wine eight pounds,
let all of them be bruised and infused
twenty four hours, then distil them according
to art.
Culpeper.] You must distil it in a bath,
and not in sand: It comforts and strengthens
the heart against faintings and swoonings,
and is held to be a preservative against
consumptions and apoplexies. You may
take half a spoonful at a time.
College.] Take of Cloves, Galanga,
Cubebs, Mace, Cardamoms, Nutmegs,
Ginger, of each one dram, Juice of Celandine
half a pound, spirits of Wine one
pound, white Wine three pounds, infuse
them twenty-four hours, and draw off two
pounds with an alembick.
Culpeper.] The simples also of this,
regard the stomach, and therefore the water
heats cold stomachs, besides authors say it
preserves from apoplexies, and restores
lost speech.
College.] Take of Scordium, Scabius,
Carduus, Goat’s Rue, of each two handfuls,
Citron and Orange pills, of each two ounces,
the seeds of Citrons, Carduus, Hartwort,
Treacle, Mustard, of each one ounce, the
flowers of Marigolds and Rosemary, of
each one handful, cut them, and bruise
them grossly, then infuse them in four
pounds of white Wine, and two pounds of
Carduus water, in a glass, close stopped,
and set it in the sun of bath for a fortnight,
often shaking it, then distil it in Balneo Mariæ.
Let the two first pounds be kept by themselves
for use, and the remainder of the distillation
by itself: Lastly, mix one ounce
of Julep of Alexandria, and a spoonful of
Cinnamon water with each pound.
Culpeper.] Aqua Protheriacalis, signifies
a water for Treacle, so then if you put
Diascoridum to it, it is a water for Diascoridum;
well then, we will take it for a
general water for all physick.
College.] Take a Capon the guts being
pulled out, cut in pieces, the fat being
taken away, boiled in a sufficient quantity
of spring-water in a close vessel, take of
this broth three pounds. Borrage and
Violet-water, of each a pound and a half,
white Wine one pound, red rose leaves two
drams and an half, the flowers of Borrage,
Violets and Bugloss, of each one dram,
pieces of bread, hot out of the oven, half
a pound, Cinnamon bruised, half an ounce,
distil it in a glass still according to art.
Culpeper.] The simples are most of
them appropriated to the heart, and in
truth the composition greatly nourishes and
strengthens such as are in consumptions,
and restores lost strength, either by fevers
or other sickness: It is a sovereign remedy
for hectic fevers, and Marasmos, which
is nothing else but a consumption coming
from them. Let such as are subject to
these diseases, hold it for a jewel.
College.] Take of the juice of Ground
Ivy, Colt’s-foot, Scabious, Lungwort, of
each one pound and a half, the juice of
Purslain, Plantain, Ambrosia, Paul’s Bettony,
of each a pound, Hog’s blood, white
Wine, of each four pounds, Garden Snails,
two pound, dried Tobacco leaves eight,
powder of Liquorice two ounces, of Elecampane
half an ounce, of Orris an ounce,
Cotton seeds an ounce and a half, the
greater cold seeds, Annis seeds of each six
drams, Saffron one dram, the flowers of
red Roses, six pugils, of Violets and Borrage,
of each four pugils, steep them three
days warm, and then distil them in a glass
still, in sand.
Culpeper.] It purges the lungs of flegm
and helps consumptions there. If you
should happen to live where no better nor
readier medicine can be gotten, you may
use this.
College.] Take of the juice of Goat’s
Rue, Sorrel, Scordium, Citrons, of each one
pound, London Treacle, half a pound,
steep it three days, and distil it in sand.
Culpeper.] A tasterful taken in the
morning, preserves from ill airs.
College.] Take of Sugar Candy a pound,
Canary Wine six ounces, Rose Water four
ounces; boil it well into a Syrup, and add
to it Imperial water two pounds, Ambergreese,
Musk, of each eighteen grains,
Saffron fifteen grains, yellow Sanders infused
in Imperial water, two drams; make
a clear water of it.
College.] Take of red Poppies four pounds,
sprinkle them with white Wine two pounds,
then distil them in a common still, let the
distilled water be poured upon fresh flowers
and repeated three times; to which distilled
water add two Nutmegs sliced, red
Poppy flowers a pugil, Sugar two ounces,
set it in the sun to give it a pleasing sharpness;
if the sharpness be more than you
would have it, put some of the same water
to it which was not set in the sun.
College.] Take of green Walnuts a
pound and an half, Radish roots one
pound, green Asarabacca six ounces, Radish
seeds, six ounces. Let all of them, being
bruised, be steeped in three pounds of white
Wine for three days, then distilled in a
leaden still till they be dry.
