Or,
Take of the Leaves of Garden and Sea Scurvy-grass fresh gathered in the Spring, of each seven Pounds; Brook-lime, Water-cresses, and Horse-radish-root of each ten Pounds; of Winter’s Bark and Nutmegs of each ten Ounces; of the outer Peel of Lemons one Pound; of Arum-root fresh gathered two Pounds; Proof Spirit ten Gallons, Water two Gallons. Bruise and slice the Ingredients; digest the whole, and draw off ten Gallons as before.
Either of the above Recipes will produce an excellent Water, against all Obstructions of the Kidnies and other Viscera. It is also of great Service in the Jaundice, Cachexies and Dropsies; and in all Scorbutic Cases, it is equal to any Medicine; as it opens the minute Passages, promotes Transpiration, and cleanses the Skin, and other small Glands, which are filled with gross Particles to the Detriment of their proper Offices.
CHAP. XXI.
Of Treacle Water.
This Water is made in a very different Manner, by different Persons; but the following Recipes are the best for this Purpose.
Recipe for making ten Gallons of Treacle Water.
Take of the fresh and green Husks of Walnuts four Pounds and a Half; of the Roots of Butter-burr, three Pounds; of Angelica and Masterwort, of each one Pound and a Half; of Zedoary twelve Ounces; of the Leaves of Rue and Scordium of each eighteen Ounces; of Venice Treacle three Pounds; digest them together four Days in twelve Gallons of Proof Spirit, and two Gallons of Water; after which draw off ten Gallons; to which add a Gallon and a Half of distilled Vinegar.
Or,
Take of the Rind of green Walnuts five Pounds; of Rue four Pounds; of Carduus, Marigold, and Balm, of each three Pounds; of fresh gathered Butter-burr-roots two Pounds and a Half; of Burdock-root one Pound and a Half; of green Scordium twelve Handfuls; of Venice Treacle and Mithridate of each two Pounds and a Half; Proof Spirit twelve Gallons; and Water two Gallons. Digest, and draw off ten Gallons, as before; to which add a Gallon and a Half of distilled Vinegar.
Some instead of distilled Vinegar unadvisedly add a proportional Quantity of Spirit of Vitriol, or other Mineral Acid, to their Treacle Water; but this Practice is very pernicious; and intirely alters the Nature of the Medicine. Vinegar is an Acid made by a double Fermentation, and therefore of a different Nature from the acid Juices of Vegetables, whether Oranges, Lemons, Citrons, Limes, Crabs, Barberies, &c. as also from those of Minerals, whether Vitriol, Sulphur, &c. It is indeed, like them, acid on the Tongue; but then it liquifies the Blood, is antipestilential, suddenly cures Drunkenness, Surfeits, the Plague, and does a thousand Things both as a Menstruum and Medicine, which they will not. This is an admirable and sprightly Alexipharmic and Sudorific, to which the Vinegar added, greatly contributes, and therefore good in Fevers, the Small-pox, Measles, and other pestilential Disorders.