The Natural History of Chocolate/Part III/Medicines
MEDICINES
In whose Composition
OIL or BUTTER
OF
CHOCOLATE
Is made use of.
The Wonderful Plaister for the Curing of all sorts of Ulcers.
Take Oil-Olive a Pound, Venetian Ceruss, in Powder, half a Pound.
Put them in a Copper Pan, or a glazed Earthen one, upon a clear moderate Fire, stirring them continually with a wooden Spatula till the Mixture is become black, and almost of the Consistence of a Plaister, (which you may know by letting fall two or three Drops upon a Pewter Plate; for if they grow cold immediately, and do not stick to the Fingers, when touch'd, it is done enough.) Then must be added,
- Of Bees-Wax cut in little Bits, an Ounce and a half.
- Oil or Butter of Chocolate, an Ounce.
- Balsam Capivi, an Ounce and a half.
When they are all melted and mixed together, the Pan must be taken off the Fire; and stirring constantly with the Spatula, you must add the following Ingredients, reduced into a fine Powder separately, and then well mixed together.
- Lapis Calaminaris, heated in the Fire, and then quenched in
- Lime-Water, and ground upon a Porphyry, one Ounce.
- Myrrh in Drops, }
- Aloes Succotrine, } of each two
- Round Birthwort, } Drams.
- Florentine Orris, }
- Camphire, a Dram.
When they are all well incorporated together, they must cool a little, and then be poured upon a Marble to be made into Rolls, after the ordinary Manner. *** I have seen such surprizing Effects from this Emplaister, that I am almost backward to mention them, lest they should seem incredible. It cures the most stubborn and inveterate Ulcers, provided the Bone is not carious: for in this Case, lest you should lose your Labour, you must begin with the Bone, and then apply the Plaister. The Place must be dress'd Morning and Evening after it is clean'd with Lime Water, and wiped well with a Linnen Cloth.
The same Plaister may serve several Times, provided it be washed with Lime Water, wiped with a Rag, and held to the Fire a Moment before it is apply'd.
I exhort charitable People to make this Plaister and give it to the Poor, especially those that live in the Country; they will draw down a Thousand Blessings in this Life, and the Lord will recompence them hereafter.
An excellent Pomatum for Ringworms, Tettars, Pimples, and other Deformities of the Skin.
Take Flowers of Brimstone,[1] two Drams; Benzoin or Benjamin, a Dram.
Beat the Benjamin and Salt-Petre a good while in a Brass Mortar, till they are reduced into a very fine Powder, then mix the Flower of Brimstone and White Precipitate with them and keep this Powder for Use. *** At Martinico when I had occasion to make use of it, I incorporated it with Butter of Chocolate; but in France, I substitute the best-scented Jessamin Pomatum: This Smell, joined with that of Benjamin, corrects the Smell of the Brimstone, which some Persons abhor.
I cannot sufficiently recommend this Pomatum, which always succeeds well, and I have often found it beneficial when every thing else fail'd.
You must not wonder if on the first, and sometimes the second Day, the Tettar seems more lively, or the Complection more dull; it is a sign that the Malignity is drawn out, and that the Seeds of it are destroy'd: you must therefore take heed of desisting, for the Skin in a little Time will be render'd as even and smooth as you can desire.
FINIS.
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ To wit, those that are made in Holland, if they can be got. Salt Petre purified, of each Half an Ounce; good White Precipitate, To know if the Precipitate be good, you may do thus; Put a little upon a live Coal, if it flies away, it is good; if it stays behind, it is nothing but powder'd Ceruss, or some such thing.