294 THF. COMPLETE HERBAL 



six drains, Turbith half an ounce, Whey | Decoctum Tnimaticum. 



made with Goat's milk, or Heifer's milk four? College.'] Take of Agrimony, Mugwort 

 pounds, let them all boil to two pounds, j wild Angelica, St. John's Wort, Mousear, 

 the Epithimum excepted, which boil bull of each two handfuls, Wormwood half a 

 u second or two, then take it from the fire, ] handful, Southernwood, Bettony, Bugloss, 

 and add black Hellebore one dram andComfrey the greater and lesser, roots and 

 an half, Agerick half a dram, Sal. Gern. ; all, Avens, both sorts of Plantain, Sanicle, 

 one dram and an half, steep them ten hours, j Tormentil with the roots, the buds of Bar- 

 then press it strongly out. j berries and Oak, of each a handful, all 



Culpeper.~] It purges melancholy, as \ these being gathered in May and June 



also choler, it resists madness, and all | and diligently dried, let them be cut and 



diseases coming of melancholy, and there- \ put up in skins or papers against the time 



fore let melancholy people esteem it as a 5 of use, then take of the forenamed herbs 



jewel. | three handfuls, boil them in four pounds of 



Decoctum Senna Gereonis. \ conduit water and two pounds of white 



Or a Decoction of Senna. i Wine gently till half be consumed^ strain it, 



College.'] Take of Senna two ounces, i and a pound of Honey being added to it, 

 Pollipodium half an ounce, Ganger one let it be scummed and kept for use. 

 dram, Raisins of the sun stoned twoj Culpeper."] If sight of a medicine will 

 ounces, Sebestens, Prunes, of each twelve, j do you good, this is as like to do it as any 

 the flowers of Borrage, Violets, Roses, and \ I know. 

 Rosemary, of each two drams, boil them in \ 

 four pounds of water till half be consumed, j 



Culpeper.] It is a common Decoction i 

 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. I ALTERING SYRUPS 



Decoctum Pectorale. 

 Or a Pectoral Decoction. j Culpeper.'} READER, before we begin 



College^] Take of Raisins of the sun ' with the particular Syrups, I think good to 

 stoned, an ounce, Sebestens, Jujubes, of: advertise thee of these few things, which 

 each fifteen, Dates six, Figs four, Frencli I concern thenature,making,anduseofSyrups 

 Barley one ounce, Liquorice half an ounce, : in general. 1. A Syrup is a medicine of 

 Maiden-hair, Hyssop, Scabious, Colt's-foot, j a liquid body, compounded of Decoction, 

 of each one handful, boil them in three ; Infusion, or Juice, with Sugar or Honey, 

 pounds of water till two remain. ; and brought by the heat of the fire, into 



Culpeper.] The medicine is chiefly ap- j the thickness of Honey. 2. Because all 

 propriated to the lungs, and therefore Honey is not of a thickness, understand 

 causes a clear voice, a long wind, resists j new Honey, which of all other is thinnest, 

 coughs, hoarseness, asthmas, &c. You \ 3. The reason why Decoctions, Infusions, 

 may drink a quarter of a pint of it every : Juices, are thus used, is, Because thereby, 

 morning, without keeping to any diet, for! First, They will keep the longer. Secondly, 

 it purges not. I They will taste the better. 4 In boilin 



I shall quote some Syrups fitting to be i Syrups have a great care of their just COD 

 mixed with it, when I come to the Syrups. Uistence, for if you boil them too much 



