CHAP. XXIV.
Of Compound Piony Water.
The Piony, from whence this Compound Water takes its Name, is a Plant divided into Male and Female; but the former is the Sort intended to be used in this Composition. The Male and Female Plants are distinguished both by their Roots and Leaves. The Male has a shining blackish Leaf, from which the Female differs by being lighter coloured. The Root of the Male kind is more bulbous, shorter, and branched than that of the Female, whose Shoots are much longer and thinner.
Recipe for making ten Gallons of compound Piony Water.
Take of the Roots of Male Piony, twelve Ounces; of those wild of Valerian, nine Ounces; and of those of white Dittany six Ounces; of Piony-seed four Ounces and a Half; of the fresh Flowers of Lilly of the Valley, one Pound and a Half; of those of Lavender, Arabian Stæchus, and Rosemary, of each nine Ounces; of the Tops of Betony, Marjoram, Rue and Sage, of each six Ounces; slice and bruise the Ingredients, and digest them four Days in ten Gallons of Proof Spirit and two Gallons of Water; after which draw off ten Gallons.
Or,
Take of the Flowers of Lillies of the Valley fresh gathered, and Male Piony-root, of each two Pounds; of Cinnamon and Cubebs, of each eight Ounces; of Rosemary and Lavender Flowers, of each two Handfuls; of damask Rose Water two Gallons. Digest these four Days in ten Gallons of Proof Spirit, and draw off ten Gallons as before.
This is an excellent Cordial, and can be exceeded by nothing in all Nervous Cases, both in Children and grown Persons.
CHAP. XXV.
Of Nutmeg Water.
The Nutmeg is a Kernel of a large Fruit not unlike the Peach, and is separated from that and its investient Coat the Mace, before it is sent over to us; except when the whole Fruit is sent over in Preserve, by way of Sweet-meat, or as a Curiosity. There are two Kinds of Nutmegs, the one called by Authors the Male, and the other the Female. The Female is the Kind in common use, and is of the Shape of an Olive: The Male is long and cylindric, and has less of the fine aromatic Flavour than the other, so that it is much less esteemed, and People who trade largely in Nutmegs will seldom buy it. Besides this oblong kind of Nutmeg we sometimes meet with others of very irregular Figures; but these are mere Lusus Naturæ, being produced by the same Tree. The long or Male Nutmeg, as we term it, is, by the Dutch, called the wild Nutmeg. It is always distinguishable from the others as well by its want of Fragrancy as by its Shape: It is very subject to be worm-eaten, and is strictly forbid by the Dutch to be packed up among the other, because it will be the means of their being worm-eaten also by the Insects getting from it into them, and breeding in all Parts of the Parcel. The largest, heaviest, and most unctuous of the Nutmegs are to be chosen, such as are of the Shape of an Olive, and of the most fragrant Smell.