[81] Plaister of Spinders. Venice Turpentine [dram]iii, melt it; then adde live Spiders No. XXX mix them with a Pestle till the Turpentine be of an Ash colour, and the Spiders appear not; then heat it, and adde of small Spiders No. XL. Stir them again, adding powder of Asphaltum, and white Sal Armoniack, [dram]iii. grinde them till the matter be cold and very black; keep it 14 dayes, then soften it at the fire, and with your hands dipt in oyl, make it up. Make Plaisters thereof, and cover them with leaf-silver or gold, and lay them to the pulses of both wrists an hour before the fit of a Feaver or Ague comes, leave them on nine days, then at the same hour cast them into running water; by this means the Pliaster cures all Feavers or Agues.—Compendium of Physick (Salmon), London, 1671.
Herring in Pickle is often prescribed in a Cataplasm to the Feet in Feavers; because it is reckoned to draw the Humours downward and thereby relieve the Head.—English Dispensatory (Quincy), London, 1742.
[82] Flux of the Belly. Burnt Harts' Horn is reckoned a Sweetner and is much used in Decoction against Diarrhoeas; and Fluxes of the Belly. Shavings of Hartshorn is much more in esteem amongst Family Doctresses, than in the shops; but what most gives it a Title to this Place, is that Jelly which it is easily boiled into in common water, and is accounted very nourishing and strengthening. Shavings of Ivory is much of the same nature as the former, and boils in the same manner into a Jelly.
Goat's Blood. This is in a few Compositions under the same Intention as the former; but it is not at all known in common Prescription; and is deservedly almost forgot.—English Dispensatory (Quincy), London, 1742.
[83] Beaver's cods are much used for wind in the stomach and belly, particularly of pregnant women.—New England's Rarities (Josselyn), London, 1672.
[84] Bleeding at Nose. If the flux be violent, open a vein on the same side, and cause the sick to smell to a dried Toad, or Spiders tyed up in a ragg; ... the fumes of Horns and Hair is very good, and the powder of Toads to be blowed up the Nose; ... in extremity, put teats made of Swines-dung up the nostrils.—Compendium of Physick (Salmon), London, 1671.
Cow's Dung. This seems to be of a hot penetrating Nature; and is experienc'd to do good in Erysipelous Swellings. This Cataplasm is also highly commended by some in the Gout. Pigeon's Dung is sometimes ordered in Cataplasms, to be applied to the soles of the Feet in malignant Fevers and Deliriums. Hog's Dung. Is also used by the Country People to stop Bleeding at the Nose; by being externally applied cold to the Nostrils.—English Dispensatory (Quincy), London, 1742.
[85] Pleurisy. Stone-Horse Dung, seems to owe its present Credit in medicine to the modern Practice. It is certainly of great Efficacy in Pleurisies, Inflammations, and Obstructions of the Breast. In all these Intentions it is now very much prescribed.—English Dispensatory (Quincy), London, 1742.
[86] Goat's Blood is mentioned in the English Dispensatory of 1742 as "deservedly almost forgot."
[87] Quintessence of Vipers. Fat Snakes, Adders or Vipers in June, cast away their heads, bowels and gall, cut them into bits, and dry them in a warm Balneo; then put them into a bolt head with Alcohol of Wine, so much as may overtop them eight fingers breadth; seal the glass Hermetically, and digest for twenty days in Balneo, then decant, etc., etc.