I love to have Men Studious; Negligent People make Wooden Physicians.

 

Simple Oils made by Expression.

Oil of Sweet Almonds - Mesue.

Take as many Sweet Almonds as you will, that are dry and not sour. Beat them very well, and press out the oil in a press without fire. 

It helps roughness and soreness of the throat and stomach, helps pleurisies, increases seed, eases coughs and hectic fevers. By injection it helps such whose water scalds them, ulcers in the bladder, reins and matrix. 

You may either take half an ounce of it by itself, or mix it with half an ounce of it by itself, or mix it with half an ounce of syrup of Violets, and so take a spoonful at a time, still shaking them together when you take them. Only take notice of this: if you take it inwardly, let it be new drawn, for it will be sour in three or four days.

Oil of Bitter Almonds - Mesue.

It is made in the same manner as Oil of Sweet Almonds.

It opens stoppings, helps such as are deaf, being dropped into their ears. It helps the hardness of the nerves, and takes away spots in the face. 

It is seldom or never taken inwardly.

Oil of Hazelnuts - Mesue.

Take a sufficient quantity of Hazelnuts and cleanse them, then bruise them well. Place them in a warm bath five or six hours, then press the oil in a press.

You must put them in a vessel (viz. a glass, or some such like thing), and stop them close, that the water come not to them when you put them into the bath.

The oil is good for cold afflictions of the nerves, the gout in the joints, etc. 

After the same manner is made Oil of Been, called Oleum Balanium; of Mace, Indian Nuts, Nutmegs, Walnuts; of the kernels of Cherries, Apricots, Pears, Pine Nuts, Prunes, Fistick Nuts; of the seeds of Oranges, Hemp, Carthamus or Bastard Saffron (and is called Oleum Cnicinum), Citrons, Cucumbers, Gourds, Citruls, Dwarf Elder or Wall Wort, Henbane, Lettuce, Flax, Melons, Poppies, Parsley, Radishes, Turnips, Palma Christi (and is called Oleum de Cherva), Cicinum and Recinium, Sefami, Mustard Seed, and of the stones of Grapes. (It is not requisite to set Pine Nuts twice, as the College did.)

Because most of these oils are out of use, I took not the pains to quote the virtues of them; if any list to make them, let them look the Simples and there they may have them. If the Simples be not to be found in the book, there are other plentiful medicines conducing to the cure of all usual diseases which are.

Oil of Bays - Mesue.

Take of Bay berries fresh and ripe, so many as you please. Bruise them sufficiently, then boil them in a sufficient quantity of water till the oil swim at top, which separate from the water and keep for your use. 

It helps the cholic, and is a sovereign remedy for any diseases in any part of the body coming either of wind or cold. For the cholic, you may take a few drops inwardly in any compound appropriated to the cholic. 

The Table of Diseases will direct you. I love to have men studious; negligent people make wooden physicians. 

Common Oil of Olives.

Is pressed out of ripe Olives.

Oil of Olives Omphacine.

Is pressed out of unripe Olives.

Oil of the Yolk of Eggs - Mesue.

Take of the Yolks of Eggs boiled hard, warm them well with a gentle fire in a glazed vessel, but have a care you burn them not, then press out the oil with a press; and if whilst they are warming, you sprinkle them with a little Wine, the oil will come out better. 

It is profitable in fistulas and malignant ulcers. It causes hair to grow, it clears the skin and takes away the deformities thereof, viz. tettars, ringworms, morphew, scabs. I suppose none is so simple to take it inwardly to clear their skin, nor to anoint their feet to take away the deformity of their face.

Simple Oils by Infusion or Decoction.

Oil of Roses Omphacine.

Take of Oil Omphacine, one pound, in which infuse Red Rose buds bruised, four ounces. Put them in a glass or stone pot glazed, stop them close, and set them in the sun seven days, shaking them every day; then, boil them gently in a double vessel, and casting away those Roses (viz. having strained them out), put in fresh Roses. Set it in the sun seven days more, then boil it again, cast away those also and infuse fresh again; cast away those also and infuse fresh Roses, and when they have also been digested in the sun seven days, and gently boiled according to art, strain the oil from them, and keep it for your use. 

Oil of Roses Complete - Mesue.

It is made in the same manner with the former, only with sweet oil, not Omphacine, and Red Roses full blown boiled twice as the former was; only the third time that the Roses are put in, let it stand forty days in the sun, and then, if you please, you may keep the oil and roses in it, and not press them out at all. 

After the same manner is made Oil of Wormwood of the tops of Wormwood, six ounces, oil three pound, repeating the infusion three times, adding at the last juice of Wormwood, four ounces. Boil it gently till the juice be consumed. 

Also Oil of Dill, of one pound of oil, and four ounces of the leaves of the flowers of Dill, infused three times.

Oil of Castorium, of one ounce of Castorium, one pound of oil; Wine, so much as is sufficient (the College might have taken the pains to have set down how much that is), boil it to the consumption of the Wine.

Oil of Chamomel. Of oil and the flowers of Chamomel, let them be set in the sun forty days.

In the same manner is Oil of Melior prepared.

Oil of Winter Gillyflowers (or Wall Flowers, as we call them in Sussex) is made as Oil of Dill is. 

Oil of Quinces is made of unripe Quinces, peel and all, and juice of Quinces, of each six ounces; Oil Omphacine, three pound. Let them stand in the sun in a glass fifteen days, then boil them in a double vessel four hours; afterwards, change the Quinces and the juice (viz. put in fresh, having strained out the former). At last (viz. having boiled it to the consumption of the juice), strain it and keep it for your use. 

Oil of Elicampane is made of the roots of Elicampane bruised and of the juice of them, and Oil of Almonds, of each half a pound, Sweet Wine, three ounces. Boiled to the consumption of the Wine. 

Oil of Euphorbium is made of Euphorbium, half an ounce; Oil of Winter Gillyflowers, Wine, of each five ounces, boiled to the consumption of the Wine.

Oil of Emmats (some countries call them Ants, some Pismires, and some Pisants; we in Sussex, Emments) is made of winged Emmats, two ounces, oil, eight ounces. Set in the sun for forty days, and so kept for your use. 

Oil of St John's Wort.

Take of the tops of St. John's Wort, four ounces. Steep them in a pound of old Oil Olive and six ounces of Wine for three days either in the sun or in the heat of a bath; then, strain them out. Renew the infusion with fresh tops of St John's Wort the second and third time; the last time let it be boiled almost to the consumption of the Wine, strain it out, and add to the oil three ounces of Turpentine, one scruple of Saffron; boil it a little, and so keep it for your use. 

Oil of Jasmine is made of the flowers and clear oil, as Oil of Roses is.

Oil of Orris.

Take of the roots of Orris Florentine, a pound; the flowers of White Lilies, half a pound; water in which other roots of Orris Florentine have been boiled, so much as is sufficient; sweet oil, six pound. Boil them in a double vessel, then put in fresh roots and flowers, the former being cast away as in Oil of Roses.

Oil of Earthworms.

Take of Earthworms, half a pound. Wash them well in Wine, then add Oil of Olives, two pound; Wine, eight ounces. Boil them in a double vessel to the consumption of the Wine. 

Oil of Marjoram Simple is made of four ounces of the herb, infused in six ounces of Wine and a pound of Oil, with insolation and two other infusions (as in Oil of Roses). Evaporate away the Wine in a bath.

Oil of Mastic.

Take of Oil of Roses Omphacine, a pound; Mastic, three ounces; Wine, four pound. Boil them in a double vessel to the consumption of the Wine. 

Oil of Mint is made of the herb and Oil Omphacine, as Oil of Roses. 

Oil of Myrtle is made of the berries of Myrtles bruised (and sprinkled with Red Wine), a pound; Oil Omphacine, three pound. Let them be set in the sun eight days, then boiled; infuse fresh ones, and repeat both the infusion and insolation three times, then boil them in a double vessel, and keep the oil for your use. 

Oil of Myrrh.

Take certain new-laid Eggs, and boil them till they be hard, then cut them through the middle, the longest way. Take out the yolks, and fill the hollow place half full of Myrrh, then join the whites together again and bind them gently with a string, Then, place them between two dishes, a small grate being between that they fall not to the bottom, then place them in a wine cellar, or some other cool place under the ground. So will the melted liquor of the Myrrh distil down into the inferior dish.

Oil of Daffadils is made of the flowers and oil, as Oil of Roses.

Nard Oil Simple is made of Spikenard, three ounces; Sweet Oil, and pound and a half; Wine and Water, of each two ounces and a half. Boil them in a double vessel, till the wine and water be consumed. 

Oil of Water Lily flowers is made of Oil Omphhacine, a pound; White Water Lily flowers, four ounces. Three times repeated, as in Oil of Roses. 

Oil of Poppies is made of the heads, flowers and leaves of Poppies and Oil Omphacine, as Oil of Dill.

Oil of Rue Simple, of Rue boiled, and Sweet Oil, as Oil of Roses. 

Oil of Savin is made as Oil of Roses.

So also is Oil of Elder flowers.

Oil of Scorpions: of Scorpions by number thirty; Oil of Bitter Almonds, two pound. Let them be infused for forty days in a warm place in a glass, then strained out, and the oil kept for your use. 

Oleaum Cicyonium: of wild Cucumber roots and their juice, of each six ounces; oil of ripe Olives, a pound. Boil them in a double vessel to the consumption of the juice. 

Oil of Nightshade is made of the ripe berries of Nightshade, four ounces, boiled in a pint of oil. 

Oil of Styrax is made of a pound of Oil Olive, and three ounces of Strax, Wine so much as is sufficient. Boil them after a sufficient maceration to the consumption of the wine. 

Oil of Vervain is made of the herb and oil, as Oil of Mint is.

Oil of Violets: of the flowers of Violets and Oil Omphacine, as Oil of Roses. 

That most of these oils, if not all of them, are used only externally is certain, and as certain that they retain the virtues of the Simples where of they are made. Therefore, the ingenious might help themselves.

But because we live in a frigid age, I shall vouchsafe to quote the virtues of the chiefest of them.

Oil of Roses, the stomach being anointed with it, strengthens it, cools the heat of it, thickens, takes away inflammations, abates swellings.

Oil of Wormwood does moderately heat and strengthen the stomach, being anointed with it; it procures appetite, opens obstructions, furthers digestion, and kills worms. 

Oil of Dill does moderately digest, assuage the pains of the head and nerves, and procures sleep.

Oil of Castorium helps cold diseases of the nerves; deafness, being dropped into the ears, and noise there.

Oil of Chamomel strengthens the sinews, greatly assuages pain, and breaks the stone. 

Oil of Meliot has the same effects.

Oil of Wall Flowers assuages pains in the breast and reins, sinews, joints and bladder. 

Oil of Quinces cools, binds and strengthens, stops vomiting, looseness and sweating.

Oil of Euphorbium has the same effects with that of Castorium, but works more forcibly; being snuffed up the nose, it purges the head or phlegm. 

Oil of Emmats, the privities being anointed with it provokes lust.

Oil of St John's Wort is as good a thing in green wounds as a man can use.

Oil of Orris does concoct and dissolve, assuage pain of the womb, liver and joints; also, it strengthens the breast.

Oil of Earthworms mollifies heat and assuages pain, and is special good for such as have been bruised or hurt in their joints.

Oil of Marjoram helps weariness, cold diseases of the brain, noise in the ears, being dropped into them, the bitings of venomous beats, and provokes the terms in women. 

Oil of Mastic strengthens the brain, stomach and liver, and sinews, and veins; stays vomiting and fluxes.

The stomach being anointed with Oil of Mint stays the weakness of it, heats and strengthens it, stays vomiting, helps digestion and provokes appetite. 

Oil of Myrtles has the same effects with Quinces.

Oil of Myrrh preserves anything from putrifying that is anointed with it; makes the face fair and youthful.

Nard Oil does heat, digest and strengthen, resists all cold and windy diseases throughout the body.

Oil of Water Lilies cools and assuages the violent heat, especially of the head, reins and bladder, thereby mitigating frenzies, procuring sleep, and is a good preservative against the stone; and helps such women (their backs being anointed with it) as are subject to miscarry through heat of their reins, which they may easily know by continual pain in their backs, and swelling of their legs. Also, Oil of Poppies has the same virtues.

Oil of Rue heats and makes thin gross humours, expels wind, helps palsies, cramps, coldness of the womb and bladder.

Oil of Violets cools inflammations, eases the pleurisy, and pains of the breast.

Oil of Nightshade has the same effects with that of Water Lilies. 

Then remember that these oils must not be given inwardly as men take drink, but outwardly applied or cast in through injections or clysters.

Compound Oils.

Oleum Aparicii Benedictum - Hier. Fab. ab Aq.

Take of old Oil, three ounces; pure Turpentine, eight ounces; pure Wheat Flour, an ounce and a half; of the flowers of St John's Wort, two ounces; the roots of Carduus Benedictus and Valerian, of each an ounce; Frankincense in powder, two ounces. Let the roots and herbs be grossly bruised and put into a pot, and so much White Wine put into them that it may cover them all. 

Let them stand in infusion three days, then add the Oil and the Flour; boil them all to the consumption of the Wine, then, having strongly strained it out, add the Turpentine and Frankincense. Let it boil a little, and so keep it in a glass for your use.

It is appropriated to cleanse and consolidate wounds, especially in the head.

Oil of Capers.

Take of the bark of Caper roots, an ounce; the bark of Tamaris, the leaves of Tamaris, the seeds of Agnus Castus, Ceterach, Cyperus roots, of each two drachms; Rue, one drachm; Oil of ripe Olives, one pound; strong Wine Vinegar and White Wine, of each two ounces. 

The things to be bruised being bruised, let them be altogether infused a while, then boiled in a double vessel to the consumption of the Wine and Vinegar, then strained, pressed out and kept for your use.

The oil is opening and heating, absolutely appropriated to the spleen, hardness and pains thereof, and diseases coming of stoppings there, as hypochondriac melancholy, the rickets, etc.

Bath the breast and afflicted side with it hot by the fire, and if you please to add its like weight of ointment of the opening juices to it, it will be the better. Then, if you apply a Virginia Tobacco leaf to the place, you shall find it an incomparable remedy.

Oil of Castorium - Jacobus de Monliis.

Take of Castorium, Styrax, Calamitis, Galbanum, Euphorbium, Cassia, Lignea, Saffron, Opopanax, Carpobalsamum or Chebs, Spikenard, Cstus, of each two drachms; Cyperus, Schnoenanthus, Pepper Long and Black, Savin, Pellitory of Spain, of each two drams and a half; Oil, three pound; Spanish Wine, two pound. 

Let the Galbanum and Opopanax be dissolved by themselves in the Wine, then let all the rest, being bruised, be boiled with the Oil and Wine and strained. Then, the Opopanax and Galbanum, dissolved in Oil and strained, let them be mixed with the Oil and boiled again, often stirring it, that the Opopanax and Galbanum, which is subject to settle to the bottom, may be mixed with the Oil. Let the Styrax be dissolved by itself in Wine; afterwards, add a dram and a half of Turpentine, that so the Styrax may the better mingle with the Oil. 

The virtues are the same with the Simple, only it is held to be more effectual in the premises.

Oleum Costinum - Mesue.

Take of Bitter Costus, two ounces; Cassia, Lignea, one ounce; the tops of Marjoram, eight ounces. Being bruised, let them be infused two days in a sufficient quantity of Wine, then boil them with two pound of Oil of Olives wash'd in the Wine in a double vessel, to the consumption of the Wine according to art.

It heats, opens obstructions, strengthens the nerves and all nervous parts as muscles, tendons, ligaments, the ventricle; besides these, it strengthens the liver, it keeps the hairs from turning gray, and gives a good colour to the body. 

I pray take notice that this notice that this and the following oils (till I give you warning to the contrary) are not made to eat.

Oleum Crocinum - Mesue.

Take of Saffron, an ounce; pure Myrrh, half an ounce; Cardamoms, nine drachms; Calamus, Aromaticus, as ounce. Let them all be infused in Vinegar (except the Cardamoms) for five days; the sixth day, put in the Cardamoms, and let them stand one day longer. The morning following, add a pound and a half of Oil to them, and boil them with a gentle fire till the Vinegar be consumed according to art. Some put in Wine instead of Vinegar. 

It helps pains in the nerves and strengthens them, mollifies their hardness; helps pains in the matrix, and causes good colour. 

Oil of Euphorbium the Compound - Nicholaus.

Take of Stavesaker, Soapwort, of each half an ounce; Pellitory of Spain, six drams; Mountain Calaminth, dried an ounce and a half; Costus, ten drams; Castorium, five drams. Being bruised and three days steeped in three pound and a half of Wine, let them be boiled with one pound and a half of Oil of Wall Flowers till the Wine be almost consumed; then, put in an ounce of Euphorbium fresh and white in fien powder. Mix them together, and boil it to perfection. 

It has the same virtue, only is something more effectual than the Simple.

Oleum Exestrense, commonly called Oil of Exceter. 

Take of the leaves of Wormwood, Centaury the Less, Empatorium (whether they here mean Maudlin or Agrimony, I know not), Fennel, Hysop, Bay Leaves, Marjoram, Bawm, Nepp, Pennyroyal, Savin, Sage, Thyme, the flowers of Chamomel, Broom, White Lilies, Elders, the seeds of Cumin and Fenugreek, the roots of White and Black Hellebore, the bark of Ash and Lemon Tree, of each four ounces; the leaves of Southern Wood, Bettony, Chamepitys, Lavender, of each six ounces; Rosemary, one pound; Euphorbium, Mustard Seed, Castorium, Pellitory of Spain, of each one ounce; Oil, sixteen pound; Wine, three pound.

The herbs, seeds and Euphorbium being bruised, and the roots, bark and Castorium cut, the Wine and Oil being put to them, let them stand in a warm bath twelve hours, afterwards boiled over a gentle fire to the consumption of the Wine, and humidity of the herbs. Then, strain out the Oil, and keep it for your use.

Many people by catching bruises when they are young, come to feel it when they are old; others by catching cold, catch a lameness in their limbs. To both which I commend this Sovereign Oil to bath their grieved members with. 

Oil of Swallows.

Take sixteen Swallows, whole and alive; Chamomel, Rue, Plantain the Greater and Lesser, the leaves of Bay, Pennyroyal, Dill, Hysop, Rosemary, Sage, St John's Wort, Costmary (some countries call it Alecost; it is a kind of Maudlin), of each a handful; Common Oil, four pound; Spanish Wine, one pound.

Make it up according to art. But if instead of Oil you will put in so much May Butter to it as here is appointed Oil, and boil it with the foregoing Simples, then will it have both the name and consistence of an ointment. 

Both this and the former are appropriated to old bruises and pains thereof coming, as also to sprains. If you please, you may mix them together. 

Oil of St John's Wort Compound, or a Magisterial Balsam - Florent.

Take of strong White Wine, three pound; the tops of St John's Wort, being ripe, four handfuls. Bruise the St John's Wort, and infuse it in the Wine, in a glass close stopped, two days; then, boil it in a double vessel a while, strain it strongly, and having cast away the former, add other flowers. Do so the second time as you did the first, and the third time, then strain it out, and to every pound of infusion add four pound of old Oil, Turpentine, six ounces; Oil of Wormwood, three ounces; Dittany, Gentian, Carduus Benedictus, Tormentil or Lady's Thistle or Carline Thistle, Calamus, Aromaticus, of each two drachms; Earthworms often washed in Wine, two ounces.

The things to be bruised being grossly bruised, let them be set in the sun thirty or forty days, and being well strained be kept for your use. 

Besides the virtues of the Simple Oil of St John's Wort, which this performs more effectually, it is an excellent remedy for old bruises, aches and sprains. 

Oil of Orris Compound - Nich. Alex.

Take of Oil, fifteen pound; Water, four pound and a half; the roots of Orris Florentine, three pounds and four ounces; White Lily flowers, fifteen ounces; fresh Cyperus roots, six ounces; Elicampane roots, three ounces; Alkanet roots, two ounces; Cinnamon, Spikenard, Benzoin or Asadulcis (which in some men's opinions are two things), of each an ounce.

Let the roots and the rest of the Simples be bruised and infused in the Oil and Water five days, either in the sun or some warm place; afterwards, boiled in a double vessel till the water be confirmed, then let it cool, strain it out, and keep it for your use. 

The effects are the same with the Simple.

Oil of Marjoram Compound - Actuarius.

Take of the leaves of Marjoram, four handfuls; Mother of Thyme, two handfuls; the flowers of Myrtles, or else their berries, one handful; Southern Wood, Water Mint, of each a handful; Cassia, Lignea, two ounces; Oil Omphacine, three pound.

All them being cut and bruised, and put into a glass and the Oil poured to them and the mouth of the glass stopped, let them be set in the sun or other hot place eight days; then, let them be pressed out, and fresh Simples put to the Oil. Use it in like manner, repeat their infusion three times, then keep it for your use. 

It helps weariness and diseases of the brain and nerves coming of cold; it helps the dead palsy, the back (viz. the region along the backbone) being anointed with it. Being snuffed up the nose, it helps Spasmus Cynicus, which is a wrying the mouth aside. It helps noise in the ears, being dropped into them. It provokes the terms, and helps the bitings of venomous beasts.

Oil of Mandrakes - Nicholaus.

Take of Common Oil, two pound; the juice of Apples of Mandrakes (or if you cannot get them, take the juice of Mandrake leaves), the juice of White Henbane, two ounces; the juice of the heads of Black Poppies, three ounces; the juice of Violets and Hemlock, of each one ounce; Opium, Styrax, Calamis, of each half an ounce. 

Let the juices and Oil be infused ten days in the sun, then boiled in a double vessel to the consumption of the juices; strain them, then let the Opium, being dissolved in some of the juices, and the Styrax being dissolved in a little Turpentine, be well mixed with it according to art.

It is probable the author studied to invent an oil extremely cold, when he invented this. I am of opinion it may be used safely no way but to anoint the temples and noses of such as have a frenzy. If by using this ointment you see they sleep too long, dip a sponge in vinegar and hold it to their noses. It may be a means to awake them. 

Oleum Muschelinum.

Take two Nutmegs; Musk, a drachm; Indian Leaf or Mace, Spikenard, Costus, Mastic, of each six drachms; Styrax, Calamitis, Cassia, Lignea, Myrrh, Saffron, Cinnamon, Cloves, Carpobalsamum or Cubebs, Bdellium, of each two drams; pure Oil, three pound; generous Wine, three ounces.

The things to be beaten being beaten according to art and mixed, let them boil to the consumption of the Wine, and having strained the Oil, keep it for your use. 

It is exceeding good against all diseases of cold, especially those of the stomach. It helps diseases of the sides, they being anointed with it, the strangury, cholic, and vices of the nerves, and afflictions of the reins. 

The receipt was made by Nicholaus Alexandrinus, only the College something altered the quantities, and that not worth speaking of. 

Nard Oil - Mesue.

Take of Spikenard, three ounces; Marjoram, two ounces; Wood of Aloes, Elicampane, Indian Leaf or Mace, Calamus, Schoenanthus, Cardamoms, of each an ounce and a half. 

Let them be grossly bruised, then infused in Wine and Water, of each fourteen ounces; and Oil of Sesamus or Oil Olive, four pound and a half. For twenty-four hours, then boiled in a double vessel with a gentle fire six hours, continually stirring it. 

It heats, attenuates, digests, and moderately binds, and therefore helps cold and windy afflictions of the brain, stomach, reins, spleen, liver, bladder and womb. Being snuffed up the nose, it purges the head, and gives a good colour and smell to the body. 

Oleum - Nicodemi.

Take of the seeds or tops of St John's Wort, old Turpentine, of each a pound; Litharge, six drachms; Aloes, Hepatick, Tutty of Alexandria, of each three drachms; Saffron, an ounce; of the best White Wine, four pound; old Oil, two pound.

Boil them altogether in a double vessel till the fourth part be consumed, then bury them in sand in the Dog Days, for ten days. Afterwards, strain them through a clean rag, separate the Wine from the Oil, and keep them both apart. 

Both Wine and Oil are exceedingly drying (that the Wine is more cleansing, and the Oil best to skin a sore, your genius - though never so dull - will tell you), and therefore excellent for sores and ulcers that run much, as for scabs, itch, smallpox, swinepox, etc.

Oil of Tobacco.

Take of the juice of Tobacco, Common Oil, of each a pound. Boil them together to the consumption of the juice.

It is a gallant remedy for deep wounds, scab or itch as any is under the Cope of Heaven, and no way prejudicial. See the ointment. 

Oil of Peppers - Mesue.

Take of Long, Black and White Pepper, of each three drachms; Myrobalans, Chebal, Bellerick, Emblick and Indian, of each five drachms; the roots of Smallage and Fennel, of each three drachms and a half; Sagapenum, Opopanax, Ammoniacum, White Henbane, of each two drachms and a half; Turbith, two drachms; Ginger, three drachms; the braches of green Thyme and green Rue, of each one handful.

Infuse them according to art in a sufficient quantity of Aqua Vitae, Oil of Wall Flowers, otherwise called Winter Gilly Flowers, two pound, then boil them to the consumption of the Aqua Vitae.

It helps cold diseases of the nerves as palsies, falling sickness, convulsions, wry mouths, trembling or shaking palsy, likewise cold afflictions of the reins and bladder, yard and womb, gouts and all diseases of the joints. It heats, makes thin and cleanses; therefore, it opens obstructions or stoppings, and breaks the stone.

Oleum Populeum - Nich.

Take of fresh Poplar buds, three pound; Wine, four pound; Common Oil, seven pound, two ounces. Beat the Poplar buds very well, then steep them seven days in the Oyland Wine, then boil them in a double vessel till the Wine be consumed (if you infuse fresh buds once or twice before you boil it, the medicine will be the stronger), then press out the Oil and keep it. 

It is a fine cool oil, but the ointment (Ung Puplean) called by that name which follows hereafter is far better. 

Oil of Foxes - Mesue.

Take a fat Fox of a middle age, wearied with hunting and new killed, the skin and bowels being taken away and the bones broken, cut into many parts. Boil him in White Wine and Conduit Water, of each six pound, till almost half be consumed, scumming it diligently. 

Then, mix with it four pound of old Sweet Oil; Common Salt, three ounces; the flowers of Sage, Thyme, of each a pound. Let it boil till almost all the water be consumed, then add Water (wherein a handful of Dill and Thyme have been boiled), eight pound; boil it again over a gentle fire to the consumption of the Water, then press out the Oil, and if any watery substance remain amongst it, separate it with a funnel and keep the Oil for your use. 

It is exceeding good in pains of the joints, gouts, pains in the back and reins.