Take of the Roots of Masterwort, Gentian, and Snake-root, of each seven Ounces; green Walnuts bruised eighty; Venice-treacle and Mithridate of each three Ounces; Camphire six Drams; of the Roots of Rue and Elecampane, of each three Ounces; Horehound six Ounces; Saffron six Drams; Proof Spirit twelve Gallons; digest, &c. as before.
Or,
Take Dragons, Rosemary, Wormwood, Sage, Scordium, Mugwort, Scabious, Baum, Carduus, Angelica, Marigold-flowers, Centory, Betony, Pimpernel, Celadine, Rue, and Agrimony, of each three Pounds; of the Roots of Gentian, Zedoary, Liquorice, and Elecampane, of each twelve Ounces; twelve Gallons of Spirits; digest, &c. as before.
Or,
Take of green Walnuts, five Pounds; of Angelica-root two Pounds; of the Leaves of Angelica, Rue, Sage, and Scordium, of each ten Handfuls; of Nutmegs, Long Pepper, Ginger, Camphire, and Gentian-root, of each five Ounces; of Snake-root, Contrayerva, Elecampane, Zedoary, and Viper’s Flesh, of each thirteen Ounces; Venice Treacle and Mithridate of each thirteen Ounces; White-wine Vinegar seven Pounds; Proof Spirits twelve Gallons; digest, &c. as before.
You may either dulcify your Plague-water, or not, as you see occasion.
All the above Receipts for making Plague Water are in use; but the first the most elegant, containing nothing but what is proper in the Intention, and at the same time adapted to give its Virtues by Distillation; which cannot be said of any of the rest, several of the Ingredients adding no Virtue at all to the Water. Of this Kind are the Celandine, Carduus, Centory, Gentian, Walnuts, &c.
Plague Water is a noble Alexipharmic, and a high Carminative Cordial in malignant Cases, and of great Use in Lowness of Spirits, and Depressions.
CHAP. XVI.
Of Dr. Stephens’s Water.
This Water has its Name from its Inventor, a Physician of great Learning and Practice.