12. Balm: This is an excellent herb on many occasions; it is cooling, and there is not a tea I have more to recommend to sea-faring people, let their ailment be what it will; it is of a balsamic and healing nature, and will not easily pall on the stomach, except where there is an universal weakness in the system; where then what is more warming to the body than balm, may with propriety be added.
13. Sage: This is an herb of a more hot nature; and in fevers should be used with caution, unless where a transpiration is required. It promotes urine and perspiration, in many cases it may be used with the balm, and then makes a very good tea, both for the sick as well as those in health.
14. Sassafras: This is one of the warming and balsamic woods, which, if it is mixed with lignum vitæ chips, makes an excellent decoction for all rheumatic complaints, and where the blood wants to be diluted or purified.
15. Oatmeal: This article cannot strictly be deemed a medicine, yet, as water gruel is frequently wanted, that of oatmeal I think the best; besides, it is excellent for making poultices, being of a softening and rich quality. But if it should be wanting, pounded biscuit will answer the purposes. In regard to diet, I shall say more in its proper place.
16. cinamon: This is a necessary article at sea, as it is of a gentle astringent nature, together being very warming, and is undoubtedly the best of all the spices, where the bowels are weak. Its peculiar uses I shall speak more of hereafter, when I come to treat on loosenesses and fluxes, and such diseases where it is useful.
17. Allum: This astringent medicine is very useful for gargles, for scurvy gums, and various other uses. Burned allum (which may be done by exposing a piece on a fire shovel over the fire till it is bubbled up and become of a white cake) is an excellent medicine, for gently checking proud flesh in ulcers; besides which, it makes an excellent tooth powder.
18. Chalk, is as necessary an article as any medicine, and so useful is it in long voyages, that a ship should be well stored with it; for it is not only an excellent absorbent, and will stop fluxes, when made use of in decoctions for that purpose, but, makes also a great purifier of water, and thereby contributes greatly to the preservation of health; as I shall hereafter further take under a stricter consideration.
19. Salts: Glauber’s purging salts, is a medicine which has had many virtues ascribed to it; as a cooling purge it is very well, but further I cannot recommend it: An ounce, or an ounce and an half is the dose; and it will be best to dissolve it in a tea cup of water over night, so that it may be taken early in the morning, and worked off with drinking gradually some tea after every motion.
20. Diachylon plaister:
Take lytharge fine prepared one pound, oil of olive one quart, boil them over a gentle fire, putting into the pan a little water, stir it all the while, and take care it does not burn; continue boiling, till it becomes of a consistency of a plaister, and make it into rolls; which, according to art, is best done before it is quite cold, upon a wet marble slab, and wet hands, and then put up in paper, previously rubbed over with some soap, to prevent it from sticking.