Introductory Book

Apply the white of an egg to the [eyes] with a fine cloth, such as silk. This point is noted as a substitute for [the treatment] of a discolored brow, acute pain, or pricking in the eyes, [and for] abrading the eyelids. Use your original [recipe] of rose water, infused with rainwater, and if it is applied to the eyes, it is useful. ¶ In [cases of] tears, the male [flower] of the [plant] is harmful; use rose water infused with the herb arlicis possibly garlic or a specific astringent herb through a distillation. It is useful that [the patient] abstain completely from [drinking] wine; if anyone is [intending] to do this, use a clear scent so that it may be made white [and] clear to the light.

Concerning tears of the eyes

Let [the patient] beware, and if tears flow voluntarily from the eyes due to any abundance [of moisture], let the head be purged with a linen cloth; the eyes must be washed with water from a decoction of apples or tepid rainwater. Let the writing [recipe] be made of mastic and aloe; beware of smoke, fire, dust, and wine.

Concerning cloudiness and albugo of the eyes

To remove the cloudiness of an odor, use linen and aloe; it overcomes and removes the cloudiness. For the same, use hare's bile mixed with honey to remove cloudiness and albugo. Use the juice of the herb celidonia celandine with its root; grind it in old wine and honey, adding white pepper, and [apply] into the eyes. It is most precious and removes albugo. Again, a decoction of the flowers of vervain, rose, archidoma possibly a variant of a medicinal herb, and rue, let a water be made which restores sight sharply.

Concerning spots on the eyes

For spots on the eyes, gather green celidonia celandine, squeeze the juice in the shade, and drip it into the eyes, and it removes the spots. Take a red tortoise, divide it flat, and place it upon the tearful eyes [mixed] with juice and added honey, and [apply] to the eyes [in appropriate] weights, and the mixed ointment [is for] eyes that ache greatly.

Concerning a struck eye

To heal a struck eye, take the leaves of agrimony with taysa vesana a specific medicinal mixture and the white of an egg, grind them, place them on top, and if it [the injury] was almost cast out, it heals. If it has suddenly become red, draw blood from the sweat of the placenta, and then shear [the hair], take the white of an egg, and apply it bound on top, and soon it heals; or use [the previously mentioned] mixture, and the one applied afterward heals. If furuncles quiet the eyes, let southernwood and bertheria possibly a specific herb be cooked until sweet, and place it upon wool of cloths and bind it upon the eyes. [For] painful furuncles, cool [them] after, [then] grind with a portion of wine to make a collyrium, and [apply to] the eyes. To receive the art of the matter, use the water of the mixture, which works in the most free way. To improve the eyes: Take two parts of white pepper, crocus, and balsam; two parts of calf's bile; two parts of sharp honey; two parts of old wine; and a similar amount of fine wine vinegar. You must grind the pepper and crocus most subtly, then add the wine and the juice of the plant, dividing the parts, and whatever is left, add [it] underneath, always keeping the powder and pouring the liquid little by little until it is made very hard. Thus, distributed and smoothed in the manner of a collyrium, place it in a copper box.