The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 3 (of 3)

by Aegineta Paulus

SECT. XVII.—ON PLASTERS, AND THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ADDED TO THE BOILING OF THEM, FROM THE WORKS OF ANTYLUS, AND,

On the proportion of wax to oil. Of those medicines which are the ingredients of plasters, some are terrene, as the metals, and some are kinds of stones and earth, as lees, ashes, and shells; some are oily, some tears, some soluble, some inspissated juices, some liquid juices; also a few admit seeds, herbs, and roots. Of plasters themselves, some are vulnerary, and are called bloody, agglutinative, and plasters for fractures, which must be composed of desiccants, not in the extreme, but in the second order complete, and the commencement of the third. Such are willow, oak, cypress, the barks of pine and pitch-tree, myrrh, rosemary, bitumen, aloes, birthwort, the ashes of the wood of vine, ceruse, litharge, and the most of the metals. They are boiled until they do not stain. The cicatrizing plasters are also composed of desiccants, but more so than the agglutinants. Such are, burnt copper, the squama æris and ferri, verdigris, chalcitis, the flower of burnt copper, alum, gall, molybdæna, calamine, pumice-stone, and the shells. The discutient are formed from the calefacient and moderately desiccative, such as birthwort, thapsia, old oil, and the oil of radishes, honey, opobalsam, pitch, turpentine, galbanum, burnt salts, and the flower of salt. The emollient are formed from litharge, fats, marrow, old oil, bee-glue, ammoniac, storax, galbanum, bdellium, mastich, turpentine, the root of marsh-mallows, and of the wild cucumber. The desiccative are made of sulphur, natron, salts, ashes, bitumen. The epispastic are formed from salts, natron, bee-glue, verdigris, leaven, dung, sulphur, turpentine. The digestive are composed of wax, ladanum, dried grape, amomum, saffron, frankincense, pitch, Egyptian mastich, storax, myrrh, galbanum, butter, œsypum, fats, verdigris. The suppurative are formed from water and oil, pollen, wheaten bread, chondrus, butter, the fat of swine and of calves, frankincense, pitch, rosin. The paregoric are made of litharge, ceruse, oil, dill, camomile, starch, white wax. The bloody-plasters (as they are called) are to be applied when the wounds and fractures are recent, and to co-operate with them, sponges soaked in oxycrate are to be bound on, above the pledgets, and are to be loosened on the third day, and the same pledgets and not others, again applied. The emollient, epispastic, discutient, and suppurative are applied after the use of cataplasms and cerates. But the suppurative agree best at the commencement and in cases of extreme pain. Of the boiling of them we will speak afterwards.

The plaster tetrapharmacon, basilicon. Of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of pitch, of bull’s suet, equal parts.

The plaster from the juice of linseed for discussing and breaking. Of old oil, lb. ij; of wax, oz. xx; of Colophonian rosin, of axunge, of each, lb. iss; of litharge, lb. j; of ceruse, oz. vj; of the juice of linseed, oz. vj; of pollen, oz. j; of frankincense, oz. iv.

The plaster from honey. Of litharge, of wax, of oil, of each, lb. iv; of turpentine, lb. ij; of honey, of axunge, of each, lb. j. Another. Of litharge, lb. vj; of oil, lb. vss; of Colophonian rosin, lb. viiss; of wax, lb. iiiss; of honey, lb. iij.

The diachylon, or plaster from juices. Of litharge, lb. vj; of oil, in summer, lb. vij, but in winter, lb. ix; of fenugreek, sext. ss; of linseed, sext. ss; of marsh-mallows, lb. iij. Boil the marsh-mallows and seeds in sext. xx of water, until but a little be left, and of it, mix lb. iv to the oil, and boil until the bubbles cease; then sprinkle with the litharge finely levigated, and boil at a gentle fire until it no longer stain.

The plaster from pollen. Of fine flour, of ammoniac perfume, of each, lb. j; of pine-rosin, of wax, of axunge, of each, lb. iij; of the juice of linseed, q. s.

The botanicon, or plaster from herbs. Of dock, of sordid oil, of the anchusa called the Chærospelethos (it is the Onoclean), of the plantain which has seven fibres (Plantago major?), of each, oz. iij; of oil, lb. vj; of axunge, lb. vj. The herbs, being boiled in the oil, are thrown away, but the other things are melted in the oil.

The plaster from king’s-spears. Of the juice of the root of asphodel, lb. j; of oil of roses, of oil of camomile, of the fat of geese, of each, oz. ij; of axunge, oz. iij; of wax, oz. iv.

The leaven-plaster for breaking abscesses. Of leaven, of axunge, of each, oz. vj; of salts, oz. iv; of pine-rosin, oz. iij; of wax, oz. iv; of aphronitrum, oz. j; of ammoniac perfume, oz. ij; of honey, oz. vj; of soap, oz. ij.

The dothiene, or plaster for furunculus. Of ammoniac perfume, lb. j; of Alexandrian natron, oz. vj; of aphronitrum, oz. vj; of swine’s seam, lb. ij; of wax, lb. ij; of turpentine, lb. j; of old oil, oz. j; of vinegar, q. s.

The plaster from soapwort for discussing strumous swellings. Of litharge, of soapwort, of birthwort, of each, oz. iv; of galbanum, of squama æris, of aloes, of each, oz. j; of manna, oz. ij; of ammoniac perfume, oz. vj; of pine-rosin, oz. xvj; of vinegar of squills, sext. iv; for the trituration of the powders.

The plaster smilium for abscesses. Of old oil, lb. iss; of litharge, of red natron, of sal ammoniac, of the lye of figs called protostacton, of rosin, of each, lb. j; of galbanum, of ammoniac perfume, of each, oz. iij; of copperas, oz. iv; of wax, oz. vj; of verdigris, of opoponax, of each, oz. j; of vinegar, q. s. Boil the litharge and the verdigris in the oil until it cease to stain, and then add the other things.

The plaster from garlic for breaking abscesses. Of wax, oz. vj; of Colophonian rosin, oz. iv; of pine-rosin, oz. iij; of bull’s suet, oz. iv; of yellow natron, oz. iss; the heads of garlic cleansed, xx; of oil, sext. ss. Having boiled the garlic in the oil, throw it away, and mix the other things.

The discutient plaster from apyranon. Of the fat of geese and of pheasants, of each, oz. iij; of old oil, oz. xxvj; of fleawort, oz. iij; of nettle-seed, of the green root of apyranum, of each, lb. j; of white wax, oz. x; of diachylon plaster, oz. ij; of turpentine, oz. j. Having divided the root into small pieces, macerate in the oil with the fleawort and nettle-seed a night and a day; and then having boiled, throw them away, and mixing the soluble substances with the oil, dissolve.

The wheat-plaster for hardness and scirrhous swellings. Of marsh-mallows, of palm-nuts, or of Nicolan dates, of each, lb. ij; of fenugreek, of linseed, of each, sext. ss; of camomile, of melilot, of the bark of palms, of each, oz. vj; of Aminæan wine, sext. vj; of litharge, lb. j; of ceruse, of Colophonian rosin, of each, lb. ij; of wax, of turpentine, of each, lb. j; of old oil, lb. v; of water, lb. ij; of dried bread broken down and sifted, lb. v. The juice of the herbs is extracted by boiling in wine, and the bread is soaked in it; on the day following, the litharge and ceruse are triturated in the water, and afterwards the oil is added and boiled until it ceases to stain; and then the other things are added. Being removed from the fire, the bread is added and stirred strongly. To these are then added, of scraped verdigris, of the flower of salt, of each, oz. vj; of iris, of birthwort, of each, oz. vj; of turpentine, lb. j.

The plaster Pelarion, from the dross of silver, for excoriations and the like. Of wax, of the fat of bulls, of each, oz. v; of the dross of silver, oz. vj; of Colophonian rosin, oz. iv; of pitch, of oil, of each, oz. ij; the dry dross is triturated in wine or the juice of fenugreek. When the dross is not at hand we may use molybdæna.

The plaster from marshmallows, in gouty cases and other indurations. Of the juices of fenugreek, linseed, and marshmallows, of each, lb. iij; of oil, lb. ij; having boiled it until the juice be consumed, add of Colophonian rosin, lb. j; of turpentine, lb. j; of the tear of ivy, oz. iij. When dissolved, having taken it from the fire, add of wax, lb. j, of galbanum, oz. iv, both pounded together, and having dissolved, stir with a spatula.

The plaster kissinon, or ivy plaster, for wounded nerves and punctures, especially chronic. Of red squama, oz. ivss; of frankincense, oz. j; of misy, oz. iss; of chalcitis, dr. iv; of vinegar, vj. Triturate in the summer sun until consumed, when having dissolved, of wax, oz. viij; of oil, oz. xviij (“deest aliquid”); mix. But if a nerve be divided and laid bare, instead of the galbanum, add of turpentine, oz. ij.

The melanchlorus, for the same purposes, and for bleeding wounds. Of pomegranate rind, of burnt copper, of galls, of round birthwort, of sal ammoniac, of squama æris, of fissile and liquid alum (but some instead of the liquid use the round), of iris, of misy, of copperas, of chalcitis, of scraped verdigris, of calamine, of aloes, of myrrh, of frankincense, of the root of all-heal, of litharge, of ceruse, equal parts. All of which are triturated in the sun during the season of summer, with vinegar for a sufficient number of days, and formed into trochisks. It is made into a plaster thus: of the medicine, oz. ij; of wax, oz. vj; of oil, oz. viij; when for wounded nerves the oil is to be old, but otherwise the common.

The plaster from groundsel. Of the juice of groundsel, lb. ij; of old oil, lb. iss; of oil of privet, oz. iv; of old axunge, lb. j; of turpentine, oz. j; of galbanum, oz. ss; of pine rosin, oz. vj; of verdigris, of frankincense, of the medicine œsypum, of each, oz. j; of squama æris, scr. viij; of wax, oz. x; of the old pitch of ships, oz. xiv. Boil the oil with the juice to the consistence of the sordes of the oil in baths, with swine’s seam, and triturate the powders with oil of privet; beat the galbanum with the wax, and put it into a pot. And if the pitch of the ships be dry, having triturated and strained it, weigh and sprinkle it. If it cannot be triturated let it be strained, with part of the oil dissolved, and then let all the things be mixed.

The discutient plaster of Mnasæus. Of wax, of axunge, of each, lb. j; of Colophonian rosin, oz. vj; of litharge, lb. ij; of fine wax, lb. iv.

The Ariobarzanian plaster, for the same affections. Of litharge, oz. iss; of ceruse, lb. j, oz. v; of sea-water, oz. xxv; of old oil, lb. iss; of buccina burnt, oz. viiss; of yellow wax, oz. ix; of turpentine, oz. vj; of frankincense, oz. iij, scr. iiiss.

The plaster from dracunculus, or dragon-herb. Of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of dried pitch, of axunge, of rosin, of each, lb. iv; of ammoniac perfume, lb. ij; of the root of dracunculus, lb. v. The root being dried and triturated is sprinkled, with the other things dissolved.

The plaster called Psittacion. Of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of swine’s seam, of the tender leaves of henbane, or the juice of them, equal parts. But in Alexandria, of wax, lb. iiss; of henbane, lb. ij; of axunge, lb. iiss; of Colophonian rosin, lb. x. This is more discutient.

The myrtle plaster, or emplastrum myrsinatum. Of litharge, of ceruse, of sandyx, of lead, burnt and washed, of each, oz. j; of wax, oz. vj; of myrtle oil, lb. j; of wine, q. s.

The plaster from ceruse, or from eggs. Of white wax, oz. vj; of rose oil, lb. iss; of litharge, oz. ij; of ceruse, oz. ij; of starch, oz. iij; the whites of v eggs.

The plaster Parygron, of Oribasius. Of litharge, oz. iss; of ceruse, oz. iss; of wax, oz. iv; of swine’s seam, oz. vij; of Colophonian rosin, oz. ix; of the juice of linseed, of oil, of each, oz. x. It answers admirably for fissures of the heels. But, says he, it must be kept from ulcers, for it becomes fetid.

The epulotic plaster from calamine. Of burnt chalcitis, oz. ij; of calamine, of manna, of each, oz. j; of wax, of colophony, of myrtle oil, of each, lb. j; of wine, q. s.

The palm plaster, or emplastrum palmulatum. Of old axunge, lb. ij; of old oil, lb. iij; of litharge, lb. iij; of crude chalcitis, oz. vj. First the chalcitis is to be levigated in a proper vessel, or in the sun. After it has become of the consistence of the lees of the oil in baths, add the litharge, previously triturated, and afterwards the suet. After they are properly triturated, boil with a gentle fire until it cease to stain, stirring with palm branches.

The plaster from alkanet, for burns. Of white wax, oz. ix; of rose oil, oz. xviij; let these be melted, and sprinkle upon them of the dried root of the purple alkanet, finely levigated, oz. iv. Another. Of the green root of alkanet, of the hair of horehound, of each, oz. iij. Boil in oz. ix of oil, and throw away. Add to the oil v oz. of white wax and dissolve.

The plaster called pompholygeron. Of pompholyx, oz. ij; of litharge, oz. iij; to be triturated with the juice of linseed, and then to be added when dissolved and cooled; of wax, oz. vj; of the grease of geese or domestic fowls, oz. ij; of chamomile, oz. vj.

The anodyne plaster phycotyche, for the fundament. Of frankincense, oz. xvij; of myrrh, oz. vij; of opium, dr. iv; of fissile alum, dr. ij; of butter, dr. iv; the yelks of iv eggs roasted; of calamine, burnt and washed, dr. iv; of pompholyx, dr. vj; of Tuscan wax, oz. viij; of the grease of geese, dr. xvj; of stag’s marrow, dr. xj; of lead, burnt and washed, dr. viij; of bloodstone, dr. j; of liquid œsypum, dr. iv. Triturate the powders with Italian wine, and mix the soluble substances.

The plaster of Amythaon, for distorted and torn joints. It is also epispastic. Of ammoniac, of wax, of bdellium, of each, dr. viij; of turpentine, of Illyrian iris, of galbanum, of each, dr. xx.

The Aristophanian emollient plaster. Of pitch, lb. iv; of the pitch of ships, lb. ij; of wax, lb. j; of opoponax, oz. j; of vinegar, hemin. j.

The plaster from molybdæna, for hot affections. Of molybdæna, oz. iv; of litharge, oz. ij; of ceruse, oz. ij; of wax, oz. viij; of myrtle oil, lb. ij. Triturate the dry things with wine.

The plaster coracon from oxymel, for the pudendum and spreading sores. Of galls, oz. ij; of squama æris, oz. iss; of chalcitis, of frankincense, of each, oz. j. Triturate with vinegar for a sufficient number of days; then mix of honey, oz. v. But having made separately a cerate from oz. ij of myrtle or rose oil, and of the seam of bulls, oz. viij; of wax, oz. iv; of turpentine, oz. j; having mixed, triturate together, and use like that from paper, both by means of an instrument for extracting pus and by a pledget.

The plaster from vinegar and oil. Of litharge, p. j; of oil, of vinegar, of each, p. ij, some make it iij.

The plaster from agate, being discutient and emollient. Of agate stone, half burnt, oz. iss; of wax, oz. v; of roasted rosin, oz. iij; of oil, oz. j.

The plaster Isis, for bloody wounds, being agglutinative, incarnative, and cathartic. Of squama æris, of burnt copper, of round birthwort, of each, dr. viij; of fissile alum, dr. vj; of ammoniac salts, dr. viij; of frankincense, dr. viij; of ammoniac perfume, dr. viij; of myrrh, dr. xij; of aloes, dr. xij; of galbanum, dr. xij; of the juice of the root of dracunculus, dr. viij; of wax, lb. j; of Colophonian rosin, lb. ij; of old oil, oz. iij; of vinegar, q. s.

The plaster Athena, for foul ulcers, infarctions, and wounded nerves. Of pomegranate rind, of burnt copper, of galls, of round and long birthwort, of sal ammoniac, of ammoniac perfume; of squama æris, of fissile alum and of round, of iris, of misy, of copperas, of chalcitis, of scraped verdigris, of calamine, of aloes, of myrrh, of frankincense, of bee glue, of galbanum, of each, oz. j; of wax, dr. cc; of pitch, dr. cc; of Colophonian rosin, dr. c; of oil, oz. vj; of vinegar, q. s.

The agglutinative plaster from dittany, for the bites of dogs and all sorts of ulcers. Of litharge, lb. ij; of squama æris, oz. iss; of old oil, sext. ij; of diphryges, oz. iij; of gentian, oz. iss; of birthwort, of scraped verdigris, of each, oz. iss; of dittany, of burnt copper, oz. iss; of Colophonian rosin, lb. j; of manna, of galbanum, of aloes, oz. iij; of ammoniac perfume, oz. vj; of bee glue, oz. ij; of common wax, oz. viss. The oil must first be boiled with the litharge, until it cease to stain. Then taking it off the fire, we are to add the verdigris and squama, and again boil until it cease to stain; and again taking it off the fire, add the rosin, the ammoniac sifted, and stir until it cease boiling; and place it at the fire, and when it boils but a little add the copper and diphryges and boil again until it thicken; then add the common wax, and boiling until it cease to stain, put in the bee glue, and after a little the aloes, manna, dittany, birthwort, and gentian, are to be sprinkled finely levigated when but a little cooled.

The Barbaric plaster, for bloody sores, and for promoting the formation of callus in fractures. Of Judæan asphaltos, of dried pitch, of wax, of rosin, of each, lb. j; of turpentine, oz. ij; of litharge, oz. j; of ceruse, oz. iss; of manna, oz. ij; of opoponax, oz. ij; of myrrh, oz. ij; of oil, oz. iij; of vinegar, q. s.

The agglutinative plaster from willows, for hæmoptysis and empyema when applied to the chest. Of misy, of chalcitis, of verdigris, of ceruse, of galls, of fissile alum and of round, of melanteria, of each, oz. vj; of wax, lb. ij; of pine-rosin, lb. ij; of pitch, lb. ij; of pomegranate rind, oz. vj; of asphaltos, lb. ij; of willow-leaves, lb. ij; of the oil of roses, oz. iv; of copperas, oz. vj; of vinegar, q. s. Some add also of turpentine, oz. ix.

The plaster of Nicolaus, for bloody wounds and an agglutinant of sinuses. Of squama æris, oz. iv; of scraped verdigris, oz. iss; of litharge, oz. iss; of long and of round birthwort, of each, oz. j; of fissile and of round alum, of copperas, of each, oz. j; of sulphur vivum, oz. j; of the gall omphacitis, oz. iv; of ammoniac salts, oz. j; of misy, oz. j; of marjoram, oz. j; of chamæleon, oz. j; of the calamine called racemosa, oz. j; of white hellebore, oz. j; of hog’s-fennel, oz. iij; of parsley-seed, oz. ij; of the root of comfrey, oz. iss; of ceruse, oz. iss; of the juice of mandragora, oz. ss; of chalcitis, oz. iss; of Samian aster, oz. j; of male frankincense, oz. j; of aloes, oz. j; of bdellium, oz. ij; of Thebaic opium, oz. ij; of troglodytic myrrh, oz. ss; of ammoniac perfume, oz. j; of fenugreek, oz. vj; of the juice of perdicias, oz. vj; of yellow wax, lb. iij; of Colophonian rosin, lb. ij; of pine-rosin, lb. j; of bitumen, lb. j; of mastich, oz. vj; of black pitch, lb. ij; of old oil, lb. j; of storax, oz. j; of opoponax, oz. iss; of vinegar, q. s.

The Icesian plaster, for strumæ, abscesses, the spleen, joints, and ischiatic disease. Of litharge, dr. cxx; of old oil, sext. ij; of vinegar, sext. j; of verdigris, dr. iss; of the bark of the pine, dr. viij; of chamæleon, with the root, dr. xvj; of euphorbium, dr. xvj; of the juice of hypocistis, dr. xvj; of bee-glue, dr. xvj; of myrrh, dr. xvj; of elicampane, dr. xvj; of pellitory, dr. xvj; of wax, lb. iij.

The plaster of Nero, for blows and all pains of fleshy parts. Of old oil, lb. iss; of litharge, lb. j; of ammoniac perfume, oz. j; of ceruse, oz. iv; of galbanum, of manna, of myrrh, of frankincense, of each, oz. j.

The much-used emplastrum oxyrum. Of dried pitch, dr. ij; of wax, lb. j; of ammoniac perfume, oz. j; of turpentine, lb. ss; of galbanum, oz. ij; of manna, oz. ij; of vinegar, sext. iss.

The agglutinative plaster without wax, or emplastrum aceratum of Galen. It is digestive and promotes the suppuration of ulcers, with oleum ricini and old oil, when spread upon a pledget. Of litharge, lb. iij; of oil of ricinus, or old oil, lb. iv; of the most acrid vinegar, lb. ij; of the black squama æris, of chalcitis, of verdigris, of each, oz. ij. Boil the litharge with the oil to the consistence of the lees in baths; then add the metallic substances, triturated for many days with vinegar.

The plaster from metals. Of chalcitis, oz. j; of misy, oz. ij; of squama æris, oz. iij; of frankincense, oz. iij; of Colophonian rosin, oz. ij; of galbanum, oz. iss; of wax, lb. j; of oil, oz. xv; of vinegar, q. s.

The plaster harmonia, for fractures. Of chalcitis, oz. iv; of squama æris, oz. iiss; of burnt copper, oz. j; of frankincense, oz. ij; of oil, lb. j; of vinegar, lb. j. Boil the metals in the oil until it cease to stain, then add the frankincense.

The emplastrum melinum of Serapion. Of litharge, lb. j; of wax, oz. vij; of ammoniac perfume, oz. iiiss; of galbanum, of verdigris, of each, dr. ix; of Colophonian rosin, oz. vij; of myrrh, dr. j: of oil, hemin. iss. Boil the litharge with the oil until it cease to stain, then add the other things.

The emplastrum anicetum, being agglutinative, discutient, removing scales, and answering with distortions. Of bay-berries, of dried iris, of frankincense, of each, dr. lx; of burnt copper, dr. xx; of natron, of sal ammoniac, dr. xx; of pellitory, of stavesacre, of the seed of rosemary, of the granum Cnidium, of mustard, of pigeon’s dung, of birthwort, of cumin, of verdigris, of cyperus, of the seed of rocket, of each, dr. viij; of vinegar, hemin. xii. Triturate during the heat of the dog-days until the vinegar is consumed, then add, of the thickest decoction of dried figs, oz. ix; and having mixed, form trochisks and dry. In using it, triturate of the trochisks, oz. ij, with vinegar, and mix, of rosin, oz. iij; of Tuscan wax, oz. ij; of oil, oz. ij.

The plaster from darnel. Of pitch, lb. ij; of pine-rosin, oz. ix; of Tuscan wax, oz. v; of oil, oz. iij; of strained bitumen, oz. ij; of the flour of darnel, sext. j; of vinegar, q. s.

The plaster from the juice of mulberry-tree. Of litharge, of dried pitch, of bull’s-seam, of each, oz. viij; of turpentine, oz. iij; of wax, oz. v; of scraped verdigris, of opoponax, of galbanum, of each, oz. j; of the oleum ricininum, oleum susinum, or very old oil, hemin. j; of liquid pitch, hemin. j; of the juice of the mulberry, the fruit of which is called sycomora, hemin. j.

The double-coloured plaster, or dichromos. Of burnt copper, of fissile alum, of ammoniac perfume, of each, oz. j; of wax, lb. j; of Colophonian rosin, lb. j; of swine’s seam, lb. j; of vinegar, q. s.

The Indian agglutinative plaster, for spreading ulcers and hæmoptysis. Of wax, of roasted rosin, of dried pitch, of the liquid Zacynthian bitumen, of each, lb. j; of ceruse, of chalcitis, of misy, of melanteria, of fissile and of round alum, of the gall omphacitis, of the rind of the pomegranate, of each, oz. vj; of vinegar, q. s.

The plaster from the ashes of asps, for discussing strumæ and gout. Of turpentine, of Asian stone, of Judæan bitumen, of each, dr. ccclx; of wax, of bay-berries, of ammoniac perfume, of aphronitrum, of the fat of calves, of each, dr. cccxl; of the lapis pyrites, of quicklime, of each, dr. cxl; of the ashes of asps, dr. cxl; of old oil, hemin. ij. Sprinkle the ashes upon the medicine when cooled. It is prepared also without the ashes, because some have an aversion to them, and it is no less efficacious.

The desiccative and discutient plaster, called leæna or lioness. Of ammoniac perfume, of plumbago, of each, dr. c; of mustard, dr. viij; of the root of chamæleon, dr. xvj; of Colophonian rosin, dr. c; of squama æris, of the root of soapwort, of euphorbium, of verdigris, of each, dr. viij; of birthwort, dr. xvj; of pellitory, dr. viij; of old oil, hemin. j; and of the oil of radishes, q. s.—Another. The leæna for altering and evacuating humours. Of copperas, oz. ij; of arsenic, oz. j; of black hellebore, of cantharides’ breasts, of each, dr. iss; of sandarach, oz. iij; of wax, lb. iss; of roasted rosin, lb. j; of oil, hemin. ij.

The Macedonian plaster. Of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of pitch, of the suet of bulls, of rosemary, equal parts. Having melted and removed them from the fire, sprinkle the frankincense.

The plaster sphærion, for febrile complaints. Of ceruse, of litharge, of quicklime, of each, oz. iij; of wax, oz. iss; of Berenicarian natron, of rose oil, of each, oz. j. Pour the melted things upon the dry and form small balls. In using, melt, of oil, oz. vj, with oz. ij of wax, and add, of the medicine, oz. j, and stir with a spatula. When cooled, bruize with oz. ix of water; add also of rose-oil, oz. iij.

The anti-inflammatory plaster from ochre, both for those cases of inflammation which occur spontaneously, and those occasioned by judicial torture. Of Attic ochre, lb. ij; of chalk, lb. j; of litharge, oz. viij. Triturate with wine, of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of pitch, of pine rosin, of each, lb. j; of turpentine, oz. viij; of oil, lb. ij. It is dissolved thus: of wax, lb. j; of old oil, lb. iij; of the medicine, lb. j. Bruise with wine.

The plaster from cedria, being agglutinative, discutient, and detergent. Of wax, of dried pitch, of each, lb. j; of Colophonian rosin, oz. viij; of cedar rosin (gum juniper?), oz. vj. Having melted them together, boil until they cease to stain.

Another emollient plaster. Of wax, of pitch, of each, oz. viij; of Colophonian rosin, dr. xxv; of bee-glue, dr. xvij; of cedar rosin, dr. xx.

The cicatrizing plaster from pumice-stone. Of myrtle oil, lb. ij; of wax, lb. j; of pumice burnt and extinguished in wine, dr. vj; of the squama stomomatis, dr. vj; of burnt copper, of Cimolian earth, of each, dr. v. It is put upon a pledget, and a sponge out of water is applied above.

The plaster called Paula or Rest, for strumæ and buboes. Of wax, of Colophonian rosin, of natron, of each, lb. j.

The plaster from natron, for carbuncles. Of roasted natron, oz. iij; of wax, of oil, of Colophonian rosin, of each, dr. iss; of Cyrenaic or Median juice, dr. x. It is applied, diluted, upon a pledget.

The plaster from anemone. Of anemone stripped of its nails (“the white parts of its flowers”), oz. ij; of wax, oz. v; of oil, oz. iv; of rosin, oz. vss; of Colophonian rosin, lb. iiss.

The green plaster of Machærion for ischiatic diseases, infarctions of the joints, and abscesses. Of opoponax, of galbanum, of verdigris, of myrrh, of iris, of ammoniac perfume, of birthwort, of each, oz. j; of turpentine, of wax, of the oil of unripe olives, of each, oz. vij.

Another simple green plaster. Of rosin, lb. iij; of wax, lb. j; of scraped verdigris, lb. ss; of frankincense, dr. xxv; of vinegar, q. s.

Another green plaster for humid and fungous ulcers. Of Colophonian rosin, oz. vj; of scraped verdigris, oz. iss; of wax, oz. ij; of Cappadocian salts, oz. j; of rose oil, oz. ij; of vinegar, q. s.

The plaster from rue, for pleuritic cases. Of green rue, lb. j; of butter, lb. iss; of turpentine, oz. xv; of the medicine œsypum, oz. xv; of opoponax, oz. iij; of galbanum, oz. iij; of oil of dill, lb. j.

The plaster from lye, for ischiatic, arthritic, and œdematous complaints. Of wax, of old oil, of protostacton (“a mixture of lime with some other sort of lixivial ashes”), of each, lb. j; of roasted rosin, of Alexandrian natron, of white natron, of turpentine, of each, oz. vj. Triturate the natron with the ashes.

The plaster from natron, for abscesses and scirrhous swellings. Of old oil, of wax, of aphronitrum, of soap, of ashes, of each, lb. j; of turpentine, oz. vj; of galbanum, of bee-glue, of ammoniac perfume, of each, oz. j. Prepare like the former.

The plaster from salts. Of wax, oz. iv; of oil, lb. j; of common salts, oz. iv; of aphronitrum, oz. iv; of ceruse, oz. viij; of vinegar, oz. ij, for the trituration.—Otherwise. Of common salts, of natron, of each, oz. iv; of wax, of old oil, of each, oz. vj; of sea-water, q. s.

The plaster from bacon, for dissolving tophi. Of the fat of old swine’s bacon, of ammoniac perfume, of the old cheese of cow’s or goat’s milk, of bull’s fat, of the pitch of ships, of each, lb. j; of the marrow of stags, oz. viij; of the cerate of œsypum, oz. iij; of the oil of privet, oz. vj: of Egyptian wine, q. s.

The plaster from dragon’s blood (cinnabaris), for tophi and all other scirrhous swellings. It is called pampathes. Of litharge, lb. j; of old oil, sext. j; of squama æris, oz. j; of burnt copper, oz. j; of sanguis draconis, scr. xviij; of a living magnet, oz. j; of Phrygian stone, dr. vj; of the stone pyrites, of calamine, of scraped verdigris, of frankincense, of each, oz. j; of diphryges, oz. ij; of aloes, oz. iss; of galbanum, oz. iss; of the Scythian stone onites, scr. xviij; of the bloodstone, oz. j; of bee-glue, lb. j, scr. xxviij; of wax, oz. xvij; of the stone perdicites (another edition has perdiciaton), oz. j; of betony, oz. j, scr. viij; of gentian, oz. j; of long and of round birthworth, dr. iv; of the black chamæleon, oz. j; of dittany, scr. xij; of dried rosin, lb. j; of the fat of the ostrich, lb. j. Triturate the stones with the litharge, adding of the flower of salt, lb. ij, gradually until the whole be consumed.

The plaster from filberts, of tried efficacy, for tophi of the joints. Of protostacton (“a mixture of lime with some lixivial ashes”), oz. vj; of the inner part of filberts, oz. ij; of aphronitrum, oz. vj; of old oil, lb. j; of gallic soap, oz. iv; of honey, oz. viij; the whites of six eggs; of wax. oz. x; of turpentine, oz. ij. Triturate with the protostacton.

An admirable anodyne cerate from the torpedo, for gout. On the fifth day of the month of March, put into a pot under ground of common oil, sext. ij, boil with the wood of vine, and when it boils, add of the sea-fish torpedo, lb. j; and of the blood of the mole, which some call madaniuda, oz. iv, and boil until the flesh of the fish be dissolved or toasted; then, having strained, add of oil and of wax what will be sufficient to give it consistence, so that the cerate may be very tender, which, having spread upon a linen rag, apply.

The plaster from the urine of a mule, for gout. Of the urine of a male mule, sext. iv; of litharge, lb. ij; of old oil, one mina. Having triturated all the things for a long time until they become of the consistence of the lees of baths, boil till it cease to stain.

The plaster from the flower of Asian stone, of Philagrius, for scirrhus. Of the root of hog’s fennel, of the flower of Asian stone, or, if it is not at hand, of salts, of ammoniac perfume, of unscoured wool burnt, of each, oz. j; of round birthwort, of pumice-stone, of dog’s dung, of scraped verdigris, of squama æris, of misy, of each, scr. xviij; of castor, scr. xviij; of myrrh, oz. iij; of the most acrid vinegar, oz. iij; of wax, oz. xiiss; of pine rosin, of Brutian pitch, oz. xviiiss, scr. vj; of old oil, and of the most acrid vinegar, q. s.

The same, of Galen. Of wax, of turpentine, of each, lb. j; of Asian stone, of manna, of each, oz. iij; of oil of privet, oz. ij; of the bonnet-maker’s water, q. s.

The arthritic plaster from the flower of salt, in the decline of the complaint. Of turpentine, of roasted rosin, of pine rosin, of wax, of each, lb. j; of dried pitch, of fissile alum, of the flower of salt, of each, lb. ss. Boil in a double vessel.

An incarnative plaster for ulcers. Of rose-oil, of turpentine, of honey, of each, oz. ij; of ceruse, of butter, of each, oz. j. Some add also of frankincense, oz. j.

The Italian plaster for cleansing and incarnating foul ulcers. Having boiled the tender bark of the wild fig in oil, throw it away, and having melted in the oil a sufficient quantity of dark yellow wax, use on a pledget.

The erective plaster. Of satyrion, of the testicle of a stag, of the tail of a skink, of each, dr. ij; of the seed of rocket, of pellitory, of the seed of rosemary, of wax, of each, dr. iv; of turpentine, oz. j; three eggs of troglodytic sparrows, (“wrens?”) three swifts, of oil of bay, or of iris, q. s. The swifts are soaked alive in vinegar for forty days, the vessel being buried in dung.

The golden plaster for bloody wounds. Of frankincense, of fissile alum, of each, oz. ij; of Colophonian rosin, of common rosin, of each, lb. j; of oil, oz. iij; of arsenic, oz. ij. Triturate the arsenic in the vinegar.

The plaster for fractures, of Oribasius. Of Brutian pitch, lb. j, oz. iv; of litharge, lb. j, oz. iv; of frankincense, oz. viij; of turpentine, oz. v; of bull’s suet, lb. j, oz. iv; of galbanum, of opoponax, of each, oz. j; of wax, oz. iv; of old oil, lb. j; of vinegar, oz. v.

A plaster for fractures with a wound and without a wound. From Heraclitus. Of dried pitch, mina j; of litharge, mina j; of manna, mina ss; of calves’ suet, mina j; of Tuscan wax, oz. xxvj; of opoponax, dr. viij; of scraped verdigris, of Cyprian copper, of each, the fifth and tenth part of a mina; of turpentine, min. iss; of copper, oz. j; of oleum ricini (castor oil), or old oil, hem. j; of vinegar, hemin. ss.

The preparation of the medicine called the liquid œsypum. Of melilot, oz. iv; of cardamom, oz. ij; of unscoured wool, oz. vj: having macerated in sext. ij of wine for three days, boil until little is left; and having filtrated mix with the wine, oz. iij of oil, and boil until little of the wine remain, and then add of Colophonian rosin, oz. x; of turpentine, oz. x. Some add likewise of wax, oz. x, and of the herb hyssop, oz. j, and boil with the others. Others clean the wool in wine, and having dried the wine with the sordes, which they call pinon, at the time of using, add of it, oz. iij, and the other things as mentioned.

On the mixture of wax to oil. If you wish to prepare ointments like those called Acopa, add four parts of the oil to the wax; but if, as in fractures, you wish to make a soft cerate, make it double. When we wish to give the medicine the form of a plaster, then we mix equal parts of oil with wax, if the atmosphere be of a moderate temperature. But if the wax be old or dry, and the atmosphere cold, then there must be a little more of the oil than of the wax; when the wax is soft and the atmosphere warm, the wax should be a little less than the oil. This little should be the twelfth part on each side of the middle, for in this case you will mix xj or xiij oz. of oil to the pound of wax.

From the works of Antyllus, on the boiling of those medicines which are the ingredients of plasters.—Litharge. In the boiling of the medicines, the litharge will be boiled with the oil; but the litharge having been previously triturated, is to be triturated again with the oil, so as to become viscid, and then it is to be boiled at a gentle fire, stirring incessantly. At first, then, it swells and bubbles; but when nearly boiled sufficiently, it becomes of a more feculent colour. It has attained its measure of boiling when the swelling subsides, and it no longer stains. The molybdæna is to be boiled in a similar manner to litharge; but the measure of the boiling of it is not only when it ceases to stain, but when it changes from a fiery colour to a yellow and strongly florid. Burnt copper in boiling is not to be put in at the commencement, but when the plaster is half boiled: the measure of the boiling, unless a small quantity only is put in, is when its colour predominates and renders the plaster yellow; sori and diphryges are put in during the boiling. The measure of the boiling of the diphryges, like the squama, is to be when its colour predominates. With regard to the sori, there is no particular measure, except the common one, to make the plaster of such a consistence that it does not stain. The chalcitis is boiled like copper, and the measure of it is the degree to which it renders the plaster of a deeper yellow and more ruddy colour. The flower of copper is like copper, and is regulated by the common measure of boiling. Copperas (blue vitriol?) is added in the middle of the boiling, and when boiled it gives a stronger shade to the colour of the plaster; and if not prevented by other circumstances, it renders the plaster black; misy is added in the end, but there is no particular measure with regard to it; arsenic and sandarach are added at the end of the boiling; burnt lead is put in at the middle of the boiling; ceruse is put into white plasters at the end, for thus it preserves their colour and whitens them still more, but it is added to the black at the commencement, for by being more boiled it becomes blacker; verdigris is added to the green plasters after the boiling; and, in some cases, it is not put into the pot at all, but being triturated with vinegar, and remaining in the mortar, the other things are mixed with it: to those of an apple colour (pale red?) it is added when the preparation is half boiled; for when it undergoes moderate boiling, it puts on the apple colour; but in those which are to have a double appearance, and double colour, we must boil the verdigris immediately after the commencement; when the boiling is persevered in, it first puts on the apple colour, then the double appearance, and at last its colour becomes yellow; alum is added for the most part after the boiling, but there is no measure of its boiling; vermilion is added at the end; calamine and pompholyx are added at the commencement; salts and natron are added at the middle of the boiling; sulphur at the end, the boiling of it blackens the plasters. All earths and stones are added at the end for the most part: pumice-stone, too, at the end. Burnt shells are added at the end. Oil, if added at the commencement to rosin and liquid pitch, prevents the plaster from acquiring consistence. The oil, therefore, is to be added after it has acquired consistence. Other fatty substances which do not contain salt, are to be added at the middle of the boiling. Of ointments, the Irinum bears boiling, the Cyprinum and Rosaceum less; the others, none at all. The ingredients are, therefore, to be added at the end of the boiling. Wax is not boiled alone by itself, for it burns, neither with liquid rosin nor liquid pitch, for it remains disunited. But it is added to pure oil or oily matters boiled with the metals, or to rosin and pitch, previously boiled and thickened with other things which are to be added. Dried rosin is added with wax. The liquid, before all other things, is boiled by itself, unless a very small quantity is used. Pitch is added before all other things. The measure of the boiling of the liquid is its acquiring consistence; but of the dry especially, if boiled with vinegar, when it ceases to bubble and swell. The pitch of ships, when triturated and separated by a sieve from its recrements, is sprinkled upon a plaster when boiled; but if soft, it is dissolved with the oil. The former method is the more correct, because in the second the weight is not preserved. Bitumen (asphaltos) is boiled by being added at the commencement. But it is not to be levigated, because it contains asperities like grains of figs. It is, therefore, to be broken into large pieces and boiled in vinegar, not stirring it lest it bubble. I, says Timocrates, have succeeded by boiling it in oil. Bee-glue (propolis) is to be softened and boiled. For, by the boiling, it is not entirely incorporated. But if the plaster receives, as an ingredient, common wax, the bee-glue, like the galbanum, is to be pounded with the wax and added. Ammoniac is added about the middle of the boiling. But if it can be levigated, it should be sprinkled in the state of a powder, but if not, it may be triturated with some liquid; but if it be a plaster for fresh wounds, it is to be triturated with vinegar or wine; but if for fistulæ or strumæ, by all means with vinegar. If it be a soft plaster (such as those for the fundament), it is to be triturated with water; then, being levigated, it is to be added to the other things when cooled that they may not boil. Opoponax is added much later than ammoniac: it requires but very little boiling; but it must be frequently triturated with wine or vinegar. Galbanum does not bear boiling. But when the plaster has attained such a consistence that it does not stain, it is to be taken off the fire, and it is to be softened and added. Sagapenum is pounded in a mortar, and when it becomes tender it is softened with the plaster after being removed from the fire. Aloe is sprinkled after the boiling. Poppy-juice is macerated for one day in a little water, and is then levigated in a mortar, and in this state the plaster is poured upon it. Thapsia is sprinkled last, or triturated with some fluid. Bdellium being levigated, is sprinkled after the plaster is taken from the fire; but if it is of a fatty nature, and cannot be levigated, it is to be pounded like sagapen, and made into the form of a plaster, and softened with the plaster after the boiling. Frankincense and manna are sprinkled at the end of the boiling, becoming glutinous, with a little honey, vinegar, water, or wine, if the plaster admit a liquid. Myrrh is added when the boiling is over. None of the seeds, roots, and herbs can endure boiling; but when levigated, and while they remain in the mortar, the other things are poured upon them in a state of solution.

Commentary. The following are the general directions given by Celsus for the formation of plasters: “Emplastrum hoc modo fit: arida medicamenta per se teruntur; deinde mixtis his instillatur aut acetum, aut si quis alius non pinguis humor accessurus est, et ea rursus ex eo teruntur; ea vero quæ liquari possunt, ad ignem simul liquantur, et si quid olei misceri debet, tum infunditur: interdum etiam aridum ali quod ex oleo prius coquitur.” He describes the composition of 28 plasters. (v, 19.)

The composition of plasters is treated of by Galen at so great length that it is quite out of the question to attempt even an abstract of his account of them. His accuracy of detail and attention to minutiæ are almost inconceivable. See the first four books of his work (De Med. sec. genera.) Our author, as usual, is much indebted to him.

For further information regarding the emplastra of the ancients, see also Haly Abbas (Pract. x, 18); Mesue (De Unguentis); and Myrepsus (§ x.) Myrepsus, as usual, is most copious: he gives formulæ for 199 plasters.

The diachylon plaster is described by Galen and Mesue, but as the ingredients of theirs are nearly the same as in that of our author, we need not give their formulæ.

The Ægyptiacum, which is still celebrated as a remedy in certain cases is thus described by Mesue: “Take of verdigris, dr. v; of honey, dr. xiv; of very acrid vinegar, dr. vij: boil to a proper consistence. Some also add dr. iiss of triturated frankincense.”

The following is an itch ointment by Mesue: “Take of ceruse, of litharge, of aloes, of saffron, of calamine, of mercury extinguished, equal parts; make into an ointment, with oil of oleander and vinegar, q. s.”

An itch ointment of Myrepsus consists of the fresh leaves of the bay-tree boiled with oil, and having wax and sulphur added to it. We can say, from ample experience, that such an ointment is a most effectual remedy for scabies.

The preparation of the basilicon, as directed by Avicenna, is a nearer approach to the modern ointment of that name than our author’s: “Of rosin, of pitch, and of wax, equal parts, prepare with olive oil.”