I hope I need not tell my Countrymen that Ointments were not made to be eaten.

 

Ointments.

Ointments More Simple.

I hope I need not tell my countrymen that ointments were not made to be eaten. 

Unguentum Album - Rhasis.

Take of Oil of Roses, nine ounces; good Cerus in Rosewater, three ounces; White Wax, two ounces. Make them into an ointment according to art.

And if you add two drachms of Camphire, then will it be camphorated.

Some hold it impossible to make it into an ointment this way; others hold it not convenient, but instead of Oil of Roses, they add so much Hog's Grease, and leaving out the White Wax, they make it into an ointment without the help of the fire. 

It is a fine cooling, drying ointment, eases pains, and itching in wounds and ulcers, and is an hundred times better with Camphire than without it. 

Unguentum Aegytiacum - Mesue.

Take of Vert de Greece, five drachms; Honey, fourteen drachms; sharp Vinegar, seven drachms. Boil them altogether till they come to be a thick ointment of a reddish colour.

It cleanses filthy ulcers and fistulas forcibly, and not without pain; it takes away dead and proud flesh, and dries.

The surgeons of our days use it commonly instead of Apostolorum to cleanse wounds; it cleanses more potently indeed, and therefore may be fitter in sanious ulcers, but it strengthens not so much.

Unguentum Anodinum.

Take of Oil of White Lilies, six ounces; Oil of Dill and Chamomel, of each two ounces; Sweet Almonds, an ounce; Duck's Grease and Hen's Grease, of each two ounces; White Wax, three ounces. Mix them together according to art. 

I take the Augustan physicians to be authors of this, for there is to be found verbatim, only they prescribe no certain quantity of wax. Its use is to assuage pains in any part of the body, especially such as come by inflammations, whether in wounds or tumours, and for that it is admirable.

Unguentum, sive Linimentum - Arceus.

Take of Gum Elemne, Turpentine of the Fir Tree, of each an ounce and a half; Sheep's Suet tried, two ounces; Hog's Grease tried, two ounces. Mix them together, and make them into an ointment according to art. 

Although our surgeons usually use this only for wounds and ulcers in the head, yet he that makes trial shall find it excellent for ulcers, if not too sanious, in any part of the body, though in the feet, and they are at the greatest distance from the head. It gently cleanses and fills up an ulcer with flesh, it being of a mild nature and friendly to the body.

Unguentum Areum - Mesue.

Take of Yellow Wax, half a pound; Oil, two pound and a half; Turpentine, two ounces; Rosin of the Pine Tree, commonly called Per-rosin, Colophonia, of each an ounce and a half; Frankincense, Mastic, of each an ounce; Saffron a drachm. Make them up according to art.

If you remember, the College commends this ointment to engender flesh in the beginning of the Compounds, and indeed it does so; but if you please to take counsel of Dr. EXPERIENCE, he will tell you that the former is worth two of this for that use. 

Unguentum Basilicon Majus - Mes.

Take of White Wax Per-rosin, Heifer's Suet, Greek Pitch, Turpentine, Olibanum, Myrrh, of each an ounce; Oil, a pound, or else a sufficient quantity to make it up into an ointment. 

Unguentum Basilicomminus, or Tetrapharmacum - Mes.

Take of Yellow Wax, Rosin, Greek Pitch, of each half a pound; Oil, two pound and four ounces. Only melt them that so they may be mixed together into the consistence of an ointment. 

Both this and the former heat, moisten and digest, procure matter in wounds (I mean, bring the flith or corrupted blood from green wounds). They cleanse and ease pain.

Ointment of Bdellium - Mes.

Take of Bdellium, six drachms; Euphorbium, Sagapenum, of each four drachms; Castorium, three drachms; Wax, fifteen drachms; Oil of Elder or Wall Flowers, ten drams. The Bdellium and Sagapenum being dissolved in the Water of Wild Rue, let the rest be united with warm water, and made into an ointment according to art. 

I confess Mesue appoints it to be made up in the same manner. I do not well know whether it be possible or not; if not, it may be done with the Oil.

It is exceeding good against palsies and wry mouths, falling sickness and other cold afflictions of the nerves. 

Unguentum de Calce - Foesius.

Take of Lime at least seven times washed, half a pound; Oil of Roses, a pound. Stir them about well in a leaden mortar, then add to them three ounces of wax. 

It is exceeding good in burnings and scaldings.

Ointment of Marshmallows Simple - Nicholaus.

Take of Marshmallow roots fresh and bruised, two pound; Linseed (Linseed and Flax Seed is all one) and Fenugreek seed bruised, of each one pound. Steep them in eight pound of Water, then boil them a little gently, and press out their mussilage, of which take two pound, and Oil, four pound; boil them together till the mussilage be consumed, then add Wax, a pound; Rosin, half a pound; Turpentine, two ounces. Boil them into the consistence of an ointment. 

Ointment of Marshmallow Compound - Nich.

Take of Marshmallow roots, two pound; the seeds of Flax and Fenugreek, of each one pound; pulp of Sqills, half a pound; Oil, four pound; Wax, one pound; Turpentine, Gum of Ivy, Galbanum, of each two ounces; Colophonia, Rosin, of each half a pound.

Let the roots be well washed and bruised, as also the Linseed, Fenugreek seed and Sqills, then steep them three days in eight pints of Water; the fourth day, boil them a little upon the fire, and draw out the mussilage, of which take two pound and boil it with the Oil to the consumption of the juice. Afterwards, add the Wax, Rosin and Colophonia; when they are melted, add the Turpentine, afterwards the Galbanum and Gum of Ivy, dissolved in vinegar. Boil them a little, and having removed them from the fire, stir them till they are cold, that so they may be well incorporated. 

They both (viz. this and the former) heat and moisten; the latter helps pains of the breast coming of cold and pleurisies. 

Unguentum Emulatum.

Take of Elicampane roots while they are soft, bruised and boiled in vinegar (and drawn through a pulping sieve), one pound; Hog's Grease without salt, one pound; Common Oil, four ounces; Quicksilver killed either with fasting, spittle or juice of Lemons, Turpentine washed with the decoction the Elicampane roots were boiled in, of each two ounces.

Let the grease and wax be melted in the oil, then add the pulp of Elicampane and Salt, being finely powdered; last of all, add the Quicksilver killed, laboured much in a mortar with the Turpentine and a little grease. Make them into an ointment according to art. Also, it ought to be prepared without Quicksilver. 

My opinion of this ointment is (briefly) this: it was invented for the itch; without Quicksilver it will do no good, with Quicksilver it may do harm.

Unguentum Diapompholigos Nihili - Nicholaus.

Take of Oil of Roses, sixteen ounces; juice of Nightshade, six ounces. Let them boil to the consumption of the juice, then add White Wax, five ounces; Cerus washed, two ounces; Lead burnt and washed, Pompholix prepared, pure Frankincense, of each an ounce. Let them be brought into the form of an ointment according to art. 

It cools and binds, dries and stays fluxes either of blood or humours in wounds and fills hollow ulcers with flesh.

Unguentum Refrigerans - Galenus. 
It is also called a Cerecloth.

Take of White Wax, four ounces, Oil of Roses Omphacine, a pound. Melt it in a double vessel, then pour it out into another, stirring it till it be white. Last of all, wash it in Rosewater, adding a little Rosewater and Rose Vinegar. 

It is a fine cooling thing (for what denomination to give it I scarce know), and exceeding good, yea, super excellent to cure inflammations in wounds or tumours.

Unguentum de Minio, or Rubrum Camphoratum.

Take of Oil of Roses, a pound and an ounce; Red Lead, three ounces; Litharge, two ounces; Ceruss, an ounce and a half; Tutty, three drachms; Camphire, two drams; Wax in Summer, two ounces, in Winter, one ounce. Make them into an ointment in a leaden mortar with a leaden mortar, the wax being first melted in the oil over a gentle fire, then the rest added in fine powder.

This ointment is as drying as a man shall usually read of one, and withal cooling, therefore good for sores, and such as are troubled with defluctions. I remember once Dr. Alexander Read applied it to my mother's breast when she had a cancer; before it brake long time, but to as much purpose as though he had applied a rotten apple, yet in the foregoing infirmities I believe it seldom fails. 

Ointment of Tobacco - Joubertus.

Take of Tobacco leaves, two pound; fresh Hog's Grease diligently washed, one pound. Let the herb, being bruised be infused a whole night in Red Wine; in the morning, let it boil with a gentle fire to the consumption of the wine, strain it and add to the ointment of the juice of Tobacco clarified, half a pound; Rosin, four ounces. Boil it to the consumption of the juice, adding towards the end Round Birthwort roots in powder, two ounces; new Wax, so much as is sufficient to make it into an ointment. 

It would ask a whole summer's day to write the particular virtues of this ointment, and my poor genius is too weak to give it the hundreth part of its due praise. It cures tumours, aposthumes, wounds, ulcers, gunshot, botches, scabs, itch, stinging with nettles, bees, wasps, hornets, venomous beasts, wounds made with poisoned arrows, etc. 

Tush! This is nothing, paulo major a canamus. It helps scaldings, though made with oil, burnings though with lightning, and that without any scar. It helps nasty, rotten, stinking, putrified ulcers, though in the legs, whether the humours are most subject to resort; in fistulas, though the bone be afflicted, it shall scale it without any instrument and bring up the flesh from the very bottom. 

Would you be fair? Your face being anointed with this, soon will the redness, pimples, sunburning vanish. A wound dressed with this will never putrify; a wound made with so small a weapon that no tent will follow, anoint but with this and you need fear no danger. If your head ache, anoint your temples with this and you shall have ease; the stomach being anointed with it, no infirmity dares harbour there, no, not asthmas nor consumptions of the lungs. The belly being anointed with it helps the cholic and iliac passion, the worms, and what not. It helps the haemorrhoids or piles, and is the best ointment that is for gouts of all sorts. Finally, there may be as universal a medicine made for all diseases, of Tobacco as of anything in the world, the Philospher's Stone excepted. 

O Joubertus! Thou shall never want praise for inventing this medicine by those that use it, so long as the Sun and Moon endure. 

Unguentum Nutricum or Crudum, or of Litharge or Tripharmacum - Mesue.

Take of Litharge Gold beaten into very fine powder, half a pound; Oil of Roses, a pound; Vinegar, four ounces. Put in sometimes oil and sometimes vinegar, stirring it about in a mortar so long till the Litharge has drunk up all the liquor and be made in the form of a whitish ointment. 

It is of a cooling, drying nature, good for itching of wounds, itch and scabs, and such like deformities of the skin as tettars, ringworms, etc. 

Unguentum Ophthalmicum - Renodaeus.

Take of Bole Armenick washed in Rosewater, an ounce; Lapis Calaminaris washed in Eyebright Water, Tutty prepared, of each two drachms; Pearls beaten into fine powder, half a drachm; Camphire, half a scruple; Opium, five grains; Ointment of Roses, fifteen ounces; Oil of Roses, so much as is sufficient to make it into an ointment according to art.

It is exceeding good to stop hot rheums that fall down into the eyes, the eyelids being but anointed with it.

Gulielmus Placentinus, his Liniment Simple.

Take of washed Ceruss, eight ounces; White Wax, seven ounces; Litharge washed, juice of Nightshade, of each five ounces; Frankincense in powder, ten drachms; Oil of Roses often washed in common water, two pound. Make of them a liniment according to art.

It is cooling and also drying. If you cast an eye to some of the former ointments of that name, you may see its use. 

Ointment of Lead - Foesius.

Take of Lead burnt with Brimstone, Litharge, of each two ounces; Ceruss, Antimony, of each one ounce; Oil of Roses, so much as is sufficient to make it into an ointment. 

Let the Lead, being filed to dust, be burned in a pot with Brimstone. 

Pomatum.

Take of the suet of a Stag, or else of a Kid, two ounces; the fat of a Sow, a pound and a half; Apples, being cut and pared, by number eight. 

Let the fats, being cleansed from their skins, be washed in White Wine. Then, put them into an earthen vessel glazed which is half full of Rosewater; let it boil gently till almost all the water be consumed. Strain it into another earthen vessel sprinkled with Rosewater, and add to it Oil of Sweet Almonds, six ounces; White Wax, four ounces. Melt it again by the fire, and having strained it and washed it with Rosewater, keep it for your use. 

I have seen many other receipts to make Pomatum, and all better than this, which is very difficult if not impossible to be gotten in many places of this nation, but I have not that latitude given me to quote any receipts that are not in the Dispensatory. Only take notice that its general use is to soften and supple the roughness of the skin, and take away the chops of the lips, hands, face or other parts. 

Unguentum Potabile - Foesius.

Take of fresh Butter without salt, a pound and a half; Madder, Castorium, Spermaceti, Tormentil roots, of each half an ounce. Let them boil in a sufficient quantity of Wine, till the Wine be consumed and so made into an ointment.

An Ointment against Scabs and Itch - Renodaeus.

Take of Sow's Grease often washed in juice of Scabious, half a pound; the roots of sharp-pointed Dock, boiled very soft in vinegar and pulped through a sieve, Brimstone washed in the juice of Lemons, of each an ounce and a half; Unguentum Populeon washed in juice of Elicampane, half an ounce. Mix them altogether in a mortar unto an ointment according to art. 

It is a wholesome though troublesome medicine for what the title specifies. 

Ointment of Roses - Mesue.

Take of Hog's Grease well cleansed from the skins, a pound. Wash it nine times (be sure you miss not one of them) in warm water, then as often in cold water; fresh Red Roses, a pound. Mix them together, and so let them stand seven days, then boil them over a gentle fire, and strain out the Roses, then mix with the ointment the like quantity of fresh Red Roses, and then let them stand together as many days, then strain them out, having first boiled them. At the last, add juice of Red Roses, six ounces; boil them over a gentle fire till the juice be consumed, then strain it, and make of it an ointment according to art. 

You need do no more than let it stand till it is cold, and you shall see it is ointment alone without any further making. 

It is a fine cooling nature, exceeding useful in all gaulings of the skin, and frettings accompanied with choleric humours, angry pushes, tettars, ringworms. It mitigates diseases in the head coming of heat, as also the intemperate heat of the stomach and liver.

Unguentum Rubrum Desiccativum - Nicholaus.

Take of Oil of Roses Omphacine, a pound and a half; White Wax, five ounces. Melt them together and put them into a leaden mortar, then put to them Earth of Lemnos, or else Bole Armenick, Lapis Calaminaris exquisitely beaten into powder, of each four ounces; Litharge of Gold, Ceruss, of each two ounces; Camphire, a drachm. Make them into an ointment according to art. 

It binds and restrains fluxes of humours, and is as gallant an ointment to skin a sore as any is in the Dispensatory. 

Common Ointment of Tutty.

Take of Tutty prepared, two ounces; Lapis Calaminaris, often heat red hot and as often quenched in Plantain Water, an ounce. Let them be beaten into very fine powder, and with Hog's Grease often washed in Rosewater, a pound and a half. Let it be made into an ointment according to art. 

Also, you may prepare it with Ointment of Roses instead of Hog's Grease. 

It is a cooling, drying ointment appropriated to the eyes, to dry up salt humours that flow down thither, the eye-lips being anointed with it. 

Ointments More Compound.

A Binding Ointment - Fernel.

Take of Oil of Roses oftentimes washed in Alum Water, a pound and a half; White Wax, four ounces; Unripe Galls, Cypress Nuts, Myrtle Berries, Balaustins, Pomegranate Peel, Acorn Cups, Acacia, Sumach, Mastic, of each an ounce. 

Let all of them, being exactly beaten into powder, be steeped in the juice of Unripe Medlars and Services (in Sussex called Checkers), for four days, then dried with a gentle fire. So, with the Oil and Wax let them be made into an ointment according to art.

Methinks these are but wooden directions. You had best (as I suppose), after they have been infused, to boil the Oil and Juices till the Juices be consumed, then put in the Wax. 

It binds, and brings together the open parts of the wound, and compacts the pores. It stops fluxes, stays issues of blood, the falling out of the womb and fundament.

Unguentum Aggripae - Nichol.

Take of Briony roots, two pound; Wild Cucumber roots, one pound; Squills, half a pound; fresh Orris roots, three ounces; male Fern roots, Dwarf Elder, Water Caltrop or Aron, of each two ounces. 

Let all of them, being bruised, be infused for six or eight days in four pound of Sweet Oil, then boiled over a gentle fire till the roots begin to crisp, then pressed out, and in the Oil melt fifteen ounces of White Wax, and so bring it into the form of an ointment. 

It purges exceedingly, and is good to anoint the bellies of such as have dropsies; and if there be any humour of phlegm in any part of the body that you know not how to remove (provided the part be not too tender), you may anoint it with this.

Unguentum de Alabastro - Ben. Vict. Favent.

Take of the juice of Chamomel, four ounces; the juice of Red Roses, two ounces; the juice of Rue and Betony, of each an ounce and a half; the juice of Marshmallow roots, two ounces; Oil of Roses Omphacine, a pound and a half; pure Alabaster beaten into fine powder, three ounces.

Infuse them all night, then boil them to the consumption of the juices, and with six ounces of White Wax, make it into an ointment according to art.

Unguentum Apostolorum - Avicenna.

Take of Turpentine, Rosin, White Wax, Ammoniacum, of each fourteen drachms; Long Birthwort roots, Olibanum, Bdellium, of each six drachms; Myrrh, Galbanum, of each half an ounce; Opopanax, Vert de Greece, of each two drachms; Litharge, nine drachms; Oil, if in summertime, two pound, if in winter, three pound (but what if it be in the spring or autumn?); Vinegar, so much as is sufficient to dissolve the Ammoniacum, Opopanax, and Galbanum. 

Make it up into an ointment according to art.

It consumes corrupt and dead flesh, and makes flesh soft which is hard. It cleanses wounds, ulcers and fistulas, and restores flesh where it is wanting.

This (forsooth) is called an Ointment of the Apostles because it consists of twelve ingredients; 'tis a wonder they do not call themselves Apostles. I am sure they take more state upon them than ever the Apostles did, and yet cannot perform such strange cures as the Apostles did. Every boy that has read the Bible knows the Apostles performed their cures without ointments.

Unguentum Aregon Adjutorum - Nicholaus.

Take of Rosemary, Marjoram, Mother of Thyme, Rue, Aron roots, the roots of Wild Cucumbers, of each four ounces and a half; the leaves of Bay, Sage, Savin, the roots of Briony, Fleabane the Greater and Lesser (or in defect of the Lesser take the double quantity of the Greater), of each four ounces; Laurel, nine ounces; the leaves of Wild Cucumbers and Nepp, of each half a pound.

All of them being gathered in the month of May, let them be beaten when they are green, and steeped seven days in six pound of the best Oil, and one pound of Aqua Vitae, then boiled till the Water be consumed. Let the Oil be strained, in which melt sixteen ounces of Wax, Bear's Grease and Oil of Bay, of each three ounces; Oleum Muschelinum, half an ounce; Petroleum, an ounce; Butter, four ounces. 

These being stirred together, sprinkle these powders: Mastic, Olibanum, of each seven drams; Pellitory of Spain, Ginger, Euphorbium, Pepper, of each an ounce. Bring them all into the form of an ointment according to art. 

It mightily digests and makes thin, and that not without some purging quality, and is very commodious against cold afflictions of the body, but especially of the sinews, convulsions, falling sickness, pains of the joints, and great guts.

Unguentum e Succis Aperitivis Primum - Foesius.

Take of the huice of Smallage, Endive, Mint, Wormwood, Common Parsley, Valerian, of each three ounces; Oil of Wormwood and Mint, of each half a pound; Yellow Wax, three ounces. 

Mix them together over the fire, and make of them an ointment. Sometimes is added also the powders of Calamus, Aromaticus, Spikenard, of each one drachm; a little Oil of Capers. 

It opens stoppages of the stomach and spleen, eases the rickets, the breast and sides being anointed with it. 

Unguentum Aperitivum Secundum Foesius.

Take of the juice of Dwarf Elder or Wall Wort, eight ounces; the juices of Parsley and Smallage, of each four ounces; the juices of Wormwood and Orris, of each five ounces; Common Oil, half a pound; Oil of White Lilies, ten ounces; Oil of Wormwood and Chamomel, of each six ounces; the fat of Ducks and Hens, of each two ounces.

Boil them altogether to the consumption of the juices; afterwards, strain them, and with seven ounces of White Wax and a little Vinegar make it into an ointment according to art.

Unguentum de Artanita Majus - Mesue.

Take of the juice of Artanita or Sowbread, or for want of it a strong decoction of the roots, three pound; the juice of Wild Cucumbers, Butter, of each one pound; Oil of Orris, two pound; pulp of Colocynthis, four ounces; Polypodium, six ounces; Euphorbium, half an ounce.

Let the things to be bruised be bruised, and infused in the juices and oil for eight days in a glazed vessel, well stopped; then, boiled in a double vessel almost to the consumption of the juices, strain them and add to the liquor Wax, two ounces, Bull's Gall, seven drams and a half. Let them boil together till the Wax be melted, then add Sagapenum, seven drachms and a half, Myrrh, three drams; being dissolved in Vinegar, stir them together till they are almost cold, then sprinkle in by degrees the powders of these following Simples, being well mixed together: Scammony, Aloes, Colocynthis, the leaves of Mezereon (Widow Wail, or Spurge Olive) or the berries thereof, Turbith, of each seven drachms and a half; Euphorbium, Long Pepper, Ginger, Chamomel, of each three drachms. 

Mix them together, and make of them an ointment according to art. 

The stomach being anointed with it, it purges by vomit; the belly anointed with it, it purges by stool. The truth is, it is a desperate kind of purge, yet I hold it as fitting as can be to anoint the bellies of such as have dropsies, because I conceive  it especially purges water, and the water in dropsies lies near the skin. 

Unguentum Catapsoras.

Take of Ceruss washed first in Purslain Water, then in Vinegar mixed with the Juice of Wild Radishes, and the strained; Lapis Calaminaris, Chalcitis, of each six drams; Litharge of Lead, two ounces; Burnt Lead, Goat's Blood, of each two ounces; Mercury Sublimate, an ounce; the juices of Sengreen or Houseleek, Nightshade, Plantain, of each two ounces; Hog's Grease cleansed from the skins, two pound; Oil of Violets, Poppies and Mandrakes, of each an ounce.

First, let the Sublimatum and Hog's Grease be well mingled and incorporated, then add the oil and juices, and last of all the powders, and of all of them mixed make an ointment according to art.

The title shows it to be invented against scabs and itch.

Unguentum Citrinum - Nichol.

Take of Borax, an ounce; Camphire, a dram; White Coral, half an ounce; Plaster of a Wall, an ounce (I know not how better to translate the word 'Gipsom'); Umbelicus Marinus, Gum Tragacanth, White Starch, of each three frams; Crystal, Entalis Dentalis (two seashells), Olibanum, Salt Nitre, White Marble, of each two drachms; Gersa Serpentaria, an ounce; Common Ceruss, six ounces; fresh Hog's Grease cleansed, a pound and a half; Hen's Grease, two ounces and a half.

Let the things to be powdered be brought into very fine powder according to art; many of them will be best beaten by themselves. Then, make up the ointment thus: put the Hog's Grease and Hen's Grease into an earthen pot that is glazed, into which put two Citrons of a middle bigness, together with the pulp and juice, cut in bits. Stop the vessel, and place it in a warm bath for seven days, then strain out the Citrons and cast them away; then, the Goat's Grease being melted with the other, sprinkle in the powders by degrees (but let the Camphire and Borax be put in last), always stirring it till it come into the form of an ointment.

It takes away pimples, redness, freckles and other deformities of the face, scabs in any part of the body. It takes away the redness of the eyes, and makes a rough skin smooth. 

Unguentum Comitissa - Varignon.

Take of the middle bark of Acorns, Chestnuts, Oak and Beans, Mytle Berries, Horsetail (viz. the herb so-called), Galls, the Stones of Grapes, unripe Services (or Checkers) dried, unripe Medlars dried, the leaves of Sloe Tree, the roots of Bistort and Tormentil, of each an ounce and a half.

Let them be grossly bruised, and boiled in eight pints of Plantain Water, till half be consumed, strain it. Then, take of Yellow Wax, eight ounces and a half, dissolve it with Simple Oil of Myrtles, two pound and a half, then wash it nine times with the foregoing decoction, putting in fresh decoction so often as you wash it. Afterwards, sprinkle in these following Simple being beaten into fine powder: take os the middle bark of Acorns, Chestnuts and Oak Galls, of each an ounce; Juice of Hypocistis, ashes of the bones of an Ox leg, Myrtle Berries, the stones of unripe Grapes, Services or Checkers dried, of each half an ounce; Trochisci de Carabe, two ounces. Mix them with the aforesaid Wax and Oil of Myrtles, being washed, adding Oil of Matic not washed, so much as is sufficient to bring it into the form of an ointment according to art. 

It seems to my eyes a gallant binding ointment, composed neatly by a judicious brain. The belly and reins being anointed with it; it stays abortion or miscarriage in women, though already begun. It strengthens weak backs exceedingly, and stops the immoderate flowing of the terms and haemorrhoids, falling out of the fundament and womb. Finally, for every occasion that requires binding.

I would, if I were eloquent, commend it in the superlative degree. 

Unguentum ad Hemorrhoidas - Norimberg.

Take of White Starch, Ceruss washed, Litharge prepared, Lead burnt, Gum Tragacanth, of each a drachm and a half; Thebane, Opium, Camphire, of each a scruple; the White of an Egg; Oil of Roses and Violets, of each an ounce and a half; Wax so much as is sufficient to make it into an ointment.

It is appropriated to the haemorrhoids, as the title shows.

Unguentum Hemorrhoidale - Saxionae.

Take of mussilage of the seeds of Fleawort (Psyllium) and Quinces drawn in the Water of Nightshade, of each an ounce; Oil of Roses complete, an ounce; the Yolk of an Egg. 

Let them be stirred together in a leaden mortar with a leaden pestle, adding a little melted Wax; mix them together, and make of them an ointment according to art.

Its use is the same with the former. 

Common Ointment of Bay.

Take of Bay leaves, a pound; Bay Berries, half a pound; Cabbage leaves, four ounces; Neat's Foot Oil, five pound; Bullock's Suet, two pound.

The leaves and berries being bruised and boiled with the oil and suet till their juice be consumed. Let it be strained and kept. 

It heats and expels wind; is profitable for old aches and sprains, but what good it should do in the itch (for which simple people buy it), I cannot imagine.

Unguentum Martiatum - Nich.

Take of the leaves of Bay and Rosemary, of each eight ounces; Rue, seven ounces; Tamaris, six ounces; the leaves of Dawrf Elder, Marjoram, Savin, Costmary or else Water Mint, Sage, Basil, Poley Mountain Calaminth, Mugwort, Elicampane, Betony, Anemone or Wind Flower, or for want of it Pellitory of the Wall, Burnet, Agrimony, Wormwood, Couslips, Garden Costus, Elders, Orphine the Greater, Houseleek the Greater and Lesser, Yarrow, Germander, Centaury the Less, Plantain, Strawberries, Tetrahit (called also Syderites and Ironwort, because of its excellency to cure wounds) or for want of it Golden Rod, Cynfoyl, of each four ounces and a half; the roots of Marshmallows, the seeds of Cumin, Myrrh, of each three ounces; Fenugreek, an ounce and a half; the seeds of the Greater Nettles, of Violets, Red or Erratic Poppies commonly called Corn Roses, Garden Mint, Sorrel, Wild Mint, Maidenhair, Carduus Benedictus, Woodbine or Honeysuckle, Valerian the Greater, Sweet Cranebill or Moschata, Woodsorrel, Hart's Tongue, Ox Eye (which in London cannot be, because it grows almost in every ditch), Southern Wood, Marrow of a Stag, Styrax, Calamintys, of each half an ounce; Butter, ten drachms; Bear's and Hen's Grease, Mastic, Frankincense, of each one ounce; Nard Oil, two ounces; Wax, two pound.

Let the herbs, being green, be cut and infused in eight pounds of Oil with Wine for seven days; on the eighth day, let them be boiled almost to the consumption of the Wine. Then, being removed fro the fire, let it be strained, and the Oil put into the pan again, to which (being warmed) add the Butter, Marrow Fat, Nard Oil and Wax, then the Styrax dissolved in Wine and mixed with a little Turpentine; but let the Mastic, Myrrh and Frankincense, being beaten into powder, be put in last of all, and when they are all well mixed together, keep the ointment in a vessel. 

This long receipt of Nich. Mirepsus is held to be profitable against cold afflictions of the brain, nerves and joints, as shaking plasy, dead palsy, convulsions etc. It helps numbness of the joints, the gout, hard tumours of the spleen. 

Mundificativum ex Apio.

Take of the juice of Smallage, a pound; Honey, nine ounces; Wheat Flour, three ounces. 

Boil them over the fire to the thickness of an ointment according to art. 

It is a fine gentle, cleansing ointment.

Unguentum Neapolitanum - Renodaeus.

Take of Sow's Grease (be sure it be not Hog's Grease) washed with Juice of Sage, one pound; Quicksilver strained through a cloth and well killed with fasting spittle, four ounces; Oil of Bay, Chamomel and Earthworms, of each two ounces; Oil of Spike, and ounce and a half; Aqua Vitae, an ounce; Yellow Wax, two ounces; Turpentine washed in juice of Elicampane, three ounces; Powder of Chamepitys and Sage, of each two drachms.

Make them into an ointment according to art.

Unguentum Refinum.

Take of Per-rosin, Turpentine, Yellow Wax, pure Oil, of each equal parts. Mix them together.

It is as pretty a cerecloth for a new sprain as most is, and cheap.

Unguentum Nervinum.

Take of the leaves and flowers of Cowslips, Sage, Chamaepitys, Rosemary, Lavender, Bay with the berries, Chamomel, Rue, Smallage, Meliot with the flowers, Wormwood, of each a handful; Mint, Betony, Pennyroyal, Parsley, Centaury the Less, St John's Wort, of each half a handful; Neat's or Sheep Foot Oil, five pound; Sheep or Ox Suet, or else their Marrow, two pound; Oil of Spike, half an ounce.

Bruise the herbs, and boil them with the oils and suet, and make an ointment of them according to art. 

It is appropriated to the nerves, and helps their infirmities coming of cold (which you may find often enough related; I do not love always to harp upon the same thing), as also old bruises. 

Unguentum Pactorale - Nich.

Take of fresh Butter often washed in Violet Water, six ounces; Oil of Sweet Almonds, four ounces; Oil of Sweet Almonds, four ounces; Oil of Chamomel and Violets, of each three ounces; Orris roots, two drachms; Saffron, half a dram; Whie Wax, three ounces. 

Let the wax and fats be melted together in the oil, then often washed either in Barley or Hyssop Water; add the Orris and Saffron, being brought into fine powder, then bring them into an ointment according to art.

If you let the Butter boil, it will stink; but the College never thought of that, having forgotten the old grammar phrase, Incipient is est, etc.

It strengthens the breat and stomach, eases pains thereof, helps pleurisies and consumptions of the lungs. 

Unguentum Populneum - Nich.

Take of the buds of Poplar fresh gathered, a pound and a half; fresh Hog's Grease, three pound. Let the Poplar buds be beaten and mixed with the grease till these following herbs can be gotten.

Take of the leaves of Black Poppies and Mandrakes, the tender branches of Madder, the leaves of Henbane, Nightshade, Lettuce, Sengreen the Lesser and Greater, Violets, Pennywort or Kidneywort, Burrs, of each each three ounces.

Let all of them, being bruised, be mixed with the grease and Poplar buds. After ten days, put to them a pound of Rosewater and boil them with a gentle fire till the water and all the liquor be consumed; strain it and press it out, and if need be boil it again till it come to the consistence of an ointment.

It is exceeding good in burnings, scaldings and inflammations. It assuages the heat of the head and kidneys. The temples being anointed with it, it provokes sleep. 

Unguentum Resumptivum - Nicholaus.

Take of fresh Hog's Grease, three ounces; Hen's, Goose' and Duck's Grease, of each two ounces; Oesypus, an ounce (you shall be taught what it is, and it is, and how to make it, before the Book be at an end); Oil of Violets, Chamomel and Dill, of each two ounces; fresh Butter, a pound; White Wax, six ounces; Mussilage of Gum Tragacanth, the seeds of Quinces and Linseeds, the roots of Marshmallow and Gum Arabic, of each half an ounce.

Let the mussilages be made in Rosewater, and the rest added, and so made into an ointment according to art.

It mightily mollifies without any manifest heat, and is therefore a fit ointment for such as have agues, asthmas, hectic fevers or consumptions. 

Unguentum Splenicum.

Take of Oil of Capers, an ounce; Oil of Lilies and Chamomel, fesh Butter, juice of Briony and Sowbread, of each half an ounce. 

Let the oil boil to the consumption of the juices, adding Ammoniacum dissolved in Vinegar, two drachms and a half; Hen's Grease, the Marrow of the leg of a Calf, Oesypus, of each half an ounce; the bark of the roots of Tamaris, and Capers, Cetrach, the roots of Fern, of each one drachm; powder of the seeds of Agnus Castus and Broom, of each one scruple; Wax, so much as is sufficient to make it into the form of an ointment. 

Unguentum aliud Splenicum. Magistrale. 

Take of the barks of Caper roots, six drachms; Briony roots, Orris, Florentine, Fennel seeds in powder, Ammoniacum dissolved in Vinegar, of each half an ounce; the tops of Wormwood, the flowers of Chamomel, of each one dram; Ung. e Succis Apparitivis, Foesius, viz. the second description, Ointment of Orange Flowers, of each six drams; Oil of Orris and Capers, of each an ounce and a half.

Let the things to be beaten be beaten and sifted, and the rest added. Let it be made into an ointment in a hot mortar. 

There are some that cannot abide ointments, yet can easily bear plasters. Therefore, when occasion is given, you may make up the ointment in form of a plaster by adding a little Wax, Ship Pitch, Cyperus, Turpentine.

Both these ointments are appropriated to the spleen and ease the pains thereof, the sides being anointed with them. 

I fancy not the former. 

Valentia Scabiosa - John Arden of Newark. 

Take of the juice of Scabious in summertime, strained through a linen cloth, and with Hog's Grease cleared from the skins, let them be beaten in a mortar (not ground), always pouring in the juice by little and little, that the grease may drink it in well and be green. Which done, put it in some vessel, and so much juice to it that may cover the grease.

Let it stand so nine days. After the ninth day, take the said grease with the juice and beat it again, and pour off the thin watery substance which has lost its colour, and so let it stand five days. After the fifteh day, take new juice of Scabious, and beat again with the aforesaid juice. Let it stand in some vessel fifteen other days, which being ended, beat it again, and purge it from the watery substance as before, then putting fresh juice to it, let it stand other fifteen days; and if it be green enough after it is well beaten, keep it in an earthen or glazed vessel for your use.

Thus the author. Now come the College's animadversions upon it. 

Of the quantity both of the Hog's Grease and Juice, you need not doubt every apothecary may use what quantity he pleases; let it be done in that proportion, and so often till he sees the ointment look very green. Only, thus much we would warn him of, that so much green it is, so much the more effectual it is; also, if the Scabious be gathered a day or two before it be beaten, that so it may lose some of its wateriness.

Also, let it be set in the sun so many more days than the author appointed, provided that the juice swim above the grease the breadth of two fingers, and the vessel be well stopped. We protest (a learned experience for a boy of a dozen years old) we are taught by experience the ointment will be the greener and the virtues the greater. 

Tapsivalenia - of the same author.

Take of Tapsus Barbatus or Mullen, and with Hog's Suet cleansed from the skins, let it be well beaten in a mortar till the grease be well mixed with the juice which, when you have done, let it stand nine days or more, till the grease look green. Which when it does, let it be beaten with new juices, and when it is well coloured with the juice, pour of the juice which is superfluous, and beat it again with other juice, and keep it for your use in any earthen vessel. 

But you must note, this medicine ought to be beaten once a month, and in beating of it, put in a little Oil of Roses, Violets and Chamomel, that the ointment may drink it in; and if you add a little Populeon, it will be the stronger. 

It is no more than looking to the Simples, viz. Scabious and Mullen, and then you have the virtues of both these ointments. But here follows another strange one of the same author; how true it is, I know not. 

Which is:

Tapsimel.

Take of the juice of Sullondine and Mullen, of each alike; clarified Honey, so much as is of the juices. Let them boil to the consumption of the juice, then take them from the fire and keep them for your use. And when you would use it for the itch, take of it amd mix it with Burnt Vitriol (Copperas) and Burnt Alum in powder, and if there be necessity, boil it till it be thicker, then put a little of it up in your fundament, and certainly the itch will cease in every part of the body.

And this ointment is called Tapsimel, from Tapsus Barbatus and Mell, and is certain a noble ointment.

This is word for word with the old manuscript (quoth the College). Let the apothecary take heed he burn not the Honey in boiling it.

A Stomach Ointment - Norimb.

Take of Oil of Wormwood, Mastic, Spikenard, of each an ounce; Red Roses, Red Coral, Cloves, Cinnamon, wood of Aloes, Mastic, Mint, Schoenanth, of each a drachm; Wax so much as is sufficient to make it into an ointment according to art.

It strengthens the stomach and liver, provokes appetite, and helps digestion.

An Ointment for the Worms - Foesius.

Take of Oil of Rue, Savin, Mint, Wormwood and Bitter Almonds, of each an ounce and a half; juice of the flowers or leaves of Peaches and Wormwood, of each half an ounce; powder of Rue, Mint, Gentian, Centaury the Less, Tormentil, of each one dram; the seeds of Coleworts, the pulp of Colocynthis, of each two drachms; Aloes, Heptick, three drams; Myrrh washed in Grass Water, a drachm and a half; Bull's Gall, an ounce and a half.

With the juice of Lemons, so much as is sufficient, and an ounce and a half of Wax, make it into an ointment according to art.

The belly being anointed with it kills the worms.