C H A P. IV.
Of Cataplasms or Pultisses.
Cataplasms are usually prepar'd to asswage Pain; as also to dissolve and dissipate recent Tumours, and are made thus:
Take four Ounces and a half of white Bread, one Pint of new Milk, three Yolks of Eggs, one Ounce of Oil of Roses, one Dram of Saffron, and two Drams of the Extract of Opium.
The Crum is to be taken out of the inside of a white Loaf newly drawn out of the Oven, and to be boil'd with the Milk in a Skillet over a little Fire, stirring it from time to time with a Spatula, till it be reduc'd to a thick Pap. After having taken the Vessel off from the Fire, the three Yolks of Eggs beaten are to be put into it, and the Dram of Saffron pulveriz'd; to these Ingredients may be added two Drams of the Extract of Opium somewhat liquid, if the Pain be great.
Here is another Cataplasm proper to mollifie and to bring to Suppuration when it is necessary.
Take White-Lilly-Roots, and Marsh-Mallow-Roots, of each four Ounces; the Leaves of common Mallows, Marsh-Mallows, Groundsel, Violet-Plants, Brank-Ursin, of every one of these Herbs one handful; the Meal of Line, Fenugreek, and Oil of Lillies, of each three Ounces.
The Roots when wash'd and slic'd, are to be boil'd in Water, and the Leaves being added some time after, the Boiling is to be continu'd till the whole Mass becomes perfectly tender and soft; at which time having strain'd the Decoction, beat the remaining gross Substance in a Stone-Mortar, with a Wooden Pestle, and pass the Pulp thro' a Hair-Sieve turn'd upside-down: Then let the Decoction and Pulp so strain'd be put into a Skillet, and having intermixt the Meal of Line, Fenugreek,
and Oil of Lillies; let 'em be boil'd together over a gentle Fire, stirring about the Ingredients from time to time, till they be all sufficiently thicken'd. These two Cataplasms may serve as a Model for the making of many others.