Who dares affirm that our Collegiates are no Astrologers.

 

A powder against the biting of mad dogs.

Take of the leaves of Vervain, Rue, Sage, Plantain, Polypodium, Common Wormwood, Mint, Mugwort, Bawm, Bettony, St John's Wort, Centaury, of equal parts. 

Let all be gathered at what time they are in their greatest strength, which is usually about the Full Moon in June*. Then, let them be dried severally in brown papers in such a place where neither Sun** nor rain comes; and when you have dried them, then keep them for the use above said, but upon this condition, that you renew them every year. 

* Who dares affirm that our Collegiates are no Astrologers. 
** Learnedly written. 

When you have need to use them, beat an equal weight of them into powder.

A drachm of this powder is sufficient to take every morning. 

Pleres Arconticon - Nich.

Take of Cinnamon, Cloves, Galaga, wood of Aloes, Indian Spikenard, Nutmeg, Ginger, Spodium, Schoenanthus, Cyperus, Roses*, Violets, of each one drachm; Indian Leaf or Mace, Liquoris, Mastic, Styrax Calamitis, Marjoram, Costmary or Water Mint, Basil, Cardamom, Long and White Pepper, Myrtle-berries and Citron peel, of each half a drachm and six grains; Pearls, Been White and Red, or if they be wanting take the roots of Avens and Tormentil in their steads, Red Coral, torrefied Silk, of each eighteen grains; Musk, six grains; Camphire, four grains.

* Red Roses out of question, yet it seems the College either did not know, or did not care which.

Beat them into powder according to art, and with ten times their weight of sugar dissolved in Bawm Water you may make them into an electuary.

It is exceedingly good for sad, melancholy, lumpish, pensive, grieving, vexing, pining, sighing, sobbing, fearful, careful spirits; it strengthens weak stomachs exceedingly, and helps such as are prone to faintings and swoonings. It strengthens such as are weakened by violence of sickness; it helps bad memories, quickens all the senses, strengthens the brain and animal spirit, helps the falling sickness, and succours such as are troubled with asthmas, or other cold afflictions of the lungs. 

It will keep best in an electuary, of which you may take a drachm in the morning, or more as age and strength require. 

A preservative powder against the pestilence - Montagnan.

Take of all the Sanders*, the seeds of Basil, of each an ounce and a half; Bole Armenick, Cinnamon, of each an ounce; the roots of Dittany, Gentian and Tormentil, of each two drachms and a half; the seeds of Citron and Sorrel, of each two drachms; Pearls, Sapphire, Bone of a Stag's Heart, of each one drachm.

* White, Red and Yellow.

Beat them into powder according to art.

The title tells you the virtues of it. Besides, it cheers the vital spirit and strengthens the heart. You may take half a drachm every morning, either by itself or mixed with any other convenient composition, whether syrup or electuary. 

Species electuarii rosatae novellae - Nicholaus. 

Take of Roses*, Sugar, Liquoris, of each one ounce, one drachm, two scruples and a half; Cinnamon** two drachms, two scruples and two grains; Cloves, Galanga, Indian Spikenard, Ginger, Nutmeg, Zedoary, Styrax, Cardamoms, Smallage, of each one scruple and eight grains; Sugar so much as is sufficient. 

* Red Roses. Where was the College's care?
** Excellently pen'd. 

Make it first of all into a powder, then into an electuary according to art. 

Sure, it was Dr Oblivion* and not the College that was the author of such a sleepy business, to set sugar twice in one receipt. 

* Forgetfulness.

It quenches thirst and stays vomiting, and the author says it helps hot and dry stomachs, as also heat and dryness of the heart, liver and lungs, yet is the powder itself hot; it strengthens the vital spirit, takes away heart qualms, provokes sweat, and strengthens such as have laboured long under chronical diseases. You may take a drachm of the electuary every morning.

A powder to stop blood - Galen.

Take of Frankincense one drachm; Aloes, half a drachm.

Beat them into powder, and when you have occasion to use it, mix so much of it with the white of an egg*, as will make the thickness of honey; then, dip the wool of a hare in it, and apply it to the sore or part that bleeds, binding it on.

* Beat the white of the egg well first. 

In my opinion, this is a pretty medicine, and will stick on till the sore be thoroughly healed, and then will come off of itself. I remember when I was a child, we applied such a medicine - only we left out the Aloes and Frankincense, and used only cony's wool and the white of an egg - to kib'd heels, and always with good success. 

A powder for scabs.

Take of Sulphur Vivum, Nitre, the leaves of Gold, black Hellebore roots, of each one drachm; Burnet, half a drachm. 

Beat them into powder according to art.

I cannot speak much in commendations of it, and I dare not dispraise it, because it comes from the College, therefore will let it alone. 

Pulvis Radulphi Hollandi, commonly known by the name of Holland Powder.

Take of the seeds of Annis, Caraway, Fennel and Cumin, of Spikenard, Cinnamon, Galanga, of each half an ounce; Liquoris, Gromwell, of each one ounce; Senna, the weight of them all.

Beat them all into powder. 

That this receipt is gallantly composed none can deny, and is an excellent purge for such bodies as are troubled with the wind cholic, or stoppage either of the guts or kidneys.

Two drachms taken in White Wine will work sufficiently with any ordinary body. Let weak men and children take less, keeping within doors and warm.

Pulvis Sanctus - Brasavola.

Take of Senna and Cremor Tartar, of each two ounces; Cloves, Cinnamon, Galanga, Bishop's Weed, of each two drams; Diagrydium, half an ounce.

Beat them into powder according to art.

In the want of seeds of Bishop's Weed, of which such as are fresh and good are many times not to be had, you may put in Annis seeds in lieu of them. 

Pulvis Senna

Take of the best Senna, two ounces; Cremor Tartar, half an ounce; Mace, two scruples and a half; Ginger, Cinnamon, of each one drachm and a half; Sal Indi., one drachm.

Beat them into powder according to art.

Both this and the former powder purge melancholy and cleanse the head.

Montagnanus was the author of this latter, only the College something altered the quantities of the Simples. The former powder works something violently by reason of the Scammony that is in it; the latter is more gentle, and may be given without danger, even two drachms at a time to ordinary bodies. 

I would not have the unskillful meddle with the former, neither is it fitting for weak bodies and children; such as are strong may take a drachm, or a drachm and a half, mixing it with White Wine. Let them take it early in the morning after they are up, and not sleep after it for fear of danger; two hours later, let them drink warm posset-drink, and six hours after eat a bit of warm mutton. Let them walk about the chamber often, and not stir out of it that day.

Diaturbith the Greater, without Rhubarb.

Take of the best Turbeth, an ounce; Diagrydium, Ginger, of each half an ounce; Cinnamon, Cloves, of each two drachms; Galaga, Long Pepper, Mace, of each one drachm.

Beat them into powder, and with eight ounces and five drachms of White Sugar dissolved in Succory Water it may be made into an electuary. 

It purges phlegm, being rightly administered by a skilful hand. I fancy it not. 

Diaturbeth with Rhubarb - Montag.

Take of the best Turbith, Hemodactyls, of each an ounce; Rhubarb, ten drachms; Diagrydium, half an ounce; White and Red Sanders, Violets, Ginger, of each a dram and a half; Mastic, Annis seed, Cinnamon, Saffron, of each half a drachm.

Beat them all into powder, and with White Sugar, one pound, two ounces and two drachms* dissolved in Succory Water, you may make it into an electuary according to art.

* This is notable. They should have added two grains and a half, and a half a quarter. 

This also purges phlegm and choler. 

Once more, let me desire such as are unskilful in the rules of Physick not to meddle with purges of this nature unless prescribed by a skilful physician, lest they do themselves more mischief in half an hour than they can claw off in half a year.

A powder for the worms.

Take of Wormseed, four ounces; Senna, one ounce; Coriander seed prepared, Hart's Horn, of each half a drachm; Rhubarb, half an ounce; dried Rue, two drachms.

Beat them into powder.

I like this powder very well. The quantity - or to write more scholastically, the dose - must be regulated according to the age of the patient, even from ten grains to a drachm, and the manner of taking it by their palate. It is something purging.