THE PEARL OF PRACTICE. 239 



an independent fortune to be able to compound many of the 

 remedies ; no drug-store would carry such expensive materials. 

 " Amber-greece," pearls, coral, and gold were in as common use 

 then as quinine has been during the recent reign of la grippe. 



The following powder comes in the list of " Choice Physical 

 and Chirurgical Receipts." We are not told in what disease or 

 diseases it is warranted to kill or cure. A " universal remedy," 

 mayhap ; should judge it to be powerful : 



" The Bishop of Worcester's admirably curing Powder. Take 

 black tips of Crabs' claws when the Sun enters into Cancer, which 

 is every year on the eleventh day of June ; pick and wash them 

 clean, and beat them into fine powder, which finely searce ; then 

 take Musk and Civet, of each three grains, Amber-greece twelve 

 grains, rub them in the bottom of the Mortar, and then beat them 

 and the powder of the Claws together ; then with a pound of this 

 powder mix one ounce of the magistery of Pearl.* Then take ten 

 skins of Adders, or Snakes, or Slow-worms, cut them in pieces and 

 put them into a pipkin to a pint and a half of Spring-water ; cover 

 it close, and set it on a gentle fire to simmer only, not to boyl, for 

 ten or twelve hours, in which time it will be turned into Jelly, 

 and therewith make the said powder into balls. 



" If such skins are not to be gotten, then take six ounces of 

 shaved Harts-hqrn, and boyl it to a jelly, and therewith make the 

 said powder into balls ; the horn must be of a red Deer killed in 

 August, when the Moon is in Leo, for that is best. 



" The Dose is seven or eight grains in beer or wine." 



There are many references to " the Plague," from " an excellent 

 perfume against the Plague," to strange drinks and medicines to 

 be used both before and after " infection." We will give the old- 

 est receipt first : 



"A Drink for the Plague or Pestilent Fever, proved by the 

 Countess of Arundel, in the Year 1603. Take a pint of Malmsey, 

 and burn it, and put thereto a spoonful of grains, being bruised, 

 and take four spoonfuls of the same in a Porringer, and put 

 therein a spoonful of Jean Treacle, and give the Patient to drink 

 as hot as he can suffer it, and let him drink a draught of the 

 Malmsey after it, and so sweat : if he be vehemently infected he 

 will bring the Medicine up again ; but you must apply the same 

 very often day and night till he brook it, for so long as he doth 



* "To make true Magistery of Pearl. Dissolve two or three ounces of fine seed Pearl 

 in distilled Vinegar, and when it is perfectly dissolved, and all taken up, pour the Vinegar 

 into a clean glass bason ; then drop some few drops of Oyl of Tartar upon it, and it will 

 cast down the Pearl into fine powder, then pour the Vinegar clean off softly, then put to 

 the Pearl clear Conduit or Spring water; pour that off and do so often until the taste of 

 the Vinegar and Tartar be clean gone, then dry the powder of Pearl upon warm embers 

 and keep it for your use." 



