294 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
Decoctum Epythimi. 
Or a Decoction of Epithimum. 
College.| Take of Myrobalans, Chebs, 
and Inds, of each half an ounce, Steechas, 
Raisins of the sun stoned, Epithimum, 
Senna, of each one ounce, Fumitory half an 
ounce, Maudlin five drams, Polipodium six 
drams, Turbith half an ounce, Whey made 
with Goat’s milk, or Heifer’s milk four 
pounds, let them all boil to two pounds, the 
Epithimum excepted, which boil but a sec- 
ond or two, then take it from the fire, and 
add black Hellebore one dram and an half, 
Agerick half a dram, Sal. Gem. one dram 
and an half, steep them ten hours, then 
press it strongly out. 
Culpeper.] It purges melancholy, as 
also choler, it resists madness, and all dis- 
eases coming of melancholy, and therefore 
_ let melancholy people esteem it as a jewel. 
Decoctum Senne Gereonis. 
Or a Decoction of Senna. 
College.| Take of Senna two ounces, 
Pollipodium half an ounce, Ginger one 
dram, Raisins of the sun stoned two 
ounces, Sebestens, Prunes, of each twelve, 
the flowers of Borrage, Violets, Roses, and 
Rosemary, of each two drams, boil them in 
four pounds of water till half be consumed. 
Culpeper.] It is a common Decoction 
for any purge, by adding other simples or 
compounds to it, according to the quality 
of the humour you would have purged, yet, 
in itself, it chiefly purges melancholy. 
Decoctum Pectorale. 
Or a Pectoral Decoction. 
College.| Take of Raisins of the sun 
stoned, an ounce, Sebestens, Jujubes, of 
each fifteen, Dates six, Figs four, French 
Barley one ounce, Liquorice half an ounce, 
_ Maiden-hair, Hyssop, Scabious, Colt’s- 
= foot, of each one handful, boil them in three 
pounds of water till two remain. 
Culpeper.] The medicine is chiefly ap- 
pria ted to the. F Aeneas and therefore 
coughs, hoarseness, asthmas, &c. You may 
drink a quarter of a pint of it every morn- 
ing, without keeping to ony diet, for it 
purges not. 
I shall quote some Syrups fitting to be 
mixed with it, when I come to the Syrups. 
Decoctum Trumaticum. 
College.| Take of Agrimony, Mugwort, 
wild Angelica, St. John’s Wort, Mousear, 
of each two handfuls, Wormwood half a 
handful, Southernwood, Bettony, Bugloss, 
Comfrey the greater and lesser, roots and 
all, Avens, both sorts of Plantain, Sanicle, 
Tormentil with the roots, the buds of Bar- 
berries and Oak, of each a handful, all 
these being gathered in May and June and 
diligently dried, let them be cut and put 
up in skins or papers against the time of 
use, then take of the forenamed herbs three 
handfuls, boil them in four pounds of con- 
duit water and two pounds of white Wine 
gently till half be consumed, strain it, and 
a pound of Honey being added to it, let it 
be scummed and kept for use. 
Culpeper.] If sight of a medicine will 
do you good, this is as like to do it as any 
I know. 
SYRUPS. 
ares mas anemd 
ALTERING SYRUPS. 
Culpeper.| Reaper, before we begin 
with the particular Syrups, I think good to 
advertise thee of these few things, which 
concern the nature, making, and use of 
Syrups in general. 1. A Syrup is a medi- 
cine of a liquid body, compounded of De- 
coction, Infusion, or Juice, with Sugar oF 
Honey, and brought by the heat of the fire, 
into the thickness of Honey. 2. Because all 
Honey is not of a thickness, understand 
‘new Honey, which of all other is thinnest. 
AS: Phs seem shy. Decoctions) Inte 
