Complete Medico-Chemical Works

IX. Extract of Colocynth. Also known as Bitter Apple, a powerful and harsh laxative.
X. Scammony A resin from the root of Convolvulus scammonia. prepared together with vinegar, or an Extract of Scammony made simply by itself with vinegar. Dose from 8 to 12 grains.
(Extract of COLOCYNTH & SCAMMONY in those who are drunkards or of a phlegmatic temperament excites immense griping pains, on account of the tartar fixed in their bodies: add to this, that it opens the mouths of the veins referring to the risk of intestinal bleeding: therefore it is not to be administered to them.)
XI. To this place should be referred the Golden Spirit of Life of Ruland Martin Ruland the Elder (1522–1602), a famous physician., which is nothing other than the essence of Alhandal troches Pills made from colocynth. extracted with Spirit of Malmsey Wine A sweet, fortified wine., that is, distilled Malmsey. Dose from 1/2 drachm to 1 drachm.
XII. The Purgative Specific of Paracelsi. See the notes on Croll. Oswald Croll, a major figure in "Chymistry."
(In the Purgative Specific of Paracelsus, the harmony of the universe is concentrated, on account of Mercury [☿] and Salt [🜔]. It is therefore effective in all diseases, whereas others act only selectively.)
(XIII. Purgative vegetable tincture. Take 1 ounce of Resin or Magistery of Jalap A Mexican climbing plant used as a purgative.; pour over it the best Tartarized Spirit of Wine. Let it stand in a warm place until the resin is dissolved; filter the solution and keep for use. Dose from 1 scruple to 1/2 scruple at most in Brandy original: "Aqua vitae", which should not exceed 1/2 scruple; for delicate patients 1 drachm of Rose Julep may be added, and it provides a very suitable medicine for those to whom other purgatives are difficult to administer. But if this tincture is not at hand, the following Draught may be substituted:)

The Tincture is indeed more pleasant and better; it is given with spirit of wine because resins in water are immediately precipitated and turn milky.
Add selected laxative pills, which move the bowels very gently:
Take the best purified Aloes, 1/2 drachm
Gum Ammoniac
Galbanum, 1 drachm of each
Storax Calamita A fragrant resin., 1 scruple
Dissolve in Vinegar [🜗] of Squills, add afterwards 1/2 drachm of Vitriolated Tartar. Let a mass be made, from which small pills are to be formed, of which the dose is 2, 3, or 5, more or less according to the condition of the patient, three hours before a meal.)

ELECTUARY OF SENNA LEAVES.

Take 6 drachms of choice Cinnamon, 1/2 ounce of Oriental Senna leaves. Make an infusion in 4 pounds of generous wine for two days in a warm place. Then let them boil lightly and be pressed out. With the strained liquid, extract 9 pounds of the pulp of raisins cooked in water. Add 6 drachms of cassia pulp, and if you desire a stronger Lenitive Electuary A mild laxative paste., 2 pounds. Add 1/2 drachm of oil of nutmeg made by expression. Make an Electuary. Dose: 6 to 8 or 10 drachms by itself, or with 1/2 drachm to 1 scruple of Diatartar A compound powder of tartar..

THE VEGETABLE PANCHYMAGOGON. From Greek, "the drawer of all humors." A general-purpose strong purgative.

Take 6 drachms of aged Colocynth, cleaned of its husks and seeds; 4 drachms of Oriental Senna leaves without stalks; 1/2 drachm of Rhubarb; 1.5 drachms of Dwarf Elder seeds; 1 drachm each of prepared Black Hellebore root and Agaric troches. 2 drachms each of Cinnamon and Cloves. Let the crushed ingredients be infused in unrectified spirit of wine to the height of 3 fingers. Digest in a well-closed flask for 16 days in a warm place so that the spirit may be tinted. Pour off the tincture and pour on more until it is no longer colored. Then take 2 drachms of Elaterium A sediment from the juice of the squirting cucumber. and 1 drachm of Socotrine Aloes; infuse in good spirit of wine, adding a few drops of Spirit of Vitriol or Oil of Sulphur distilled by the Bell [per Campanam]. Let it stand for days in a warm place in a flask exactly closed. Then let the matter be passed through a filter, pressed with the fingers, and thickened with slow heat, and joined with the extract made above. [🜔] Also take as much of the best Scammony as you wish, grind it very finely on a marble, and soak it with spirit of vitriol, adding a few drops of oil of anise (for example, to 1 drachm of scammony is added 1/2 scruple of spirit of vitriol or oil of sulphur, and 6 drops of oil of anise). Diligently work it into a mass like

viscous pitch. This tincture corrects Scammony in the best way. For since it possesses an excessive heating power which depends on Mercury and Volatile Salt, by this method the biting Salt is blunted and reduced to a beneficial operation through the "mortification" chemical neutralization arising from the contrary action of the spirit of vitriol and oil of anise. Evaporate the said mass to dryness with an extract of Rose or Marjoram water. [🜔] Now keep the above Extract in powdered form, add the Extract of Scammony, and preserve for use. Dose: from 13 grains to 1 scruple or 1/2 drachm in the form of pills inside prunes or raisins or a cooked apple. The Extract of Scammony can also be administered alone from 12 to 20 grains with soluble Syrup of Roses, reduced into pills. It purges gently and without distress. The same Extract can also take the place of colocynth for incorporating Mercury prepared in any manner.

EXTRACT OR RESIN OF Scammonii.

Take 1 drachm of the best Scammony in a mortar; reduce it to powder with a pestle smeared with oil of sweet almonds. Place it in a flask, pouring over it Endive or Rose water to the height of 3 fingers. Let the vessel be placed in a warm place for 3 days, well closed. Decant the water, tinted with a dark color, from the dregs; filter it, and in a very gentle heat or a Water Bath [MB], draw off the liquid so that the Extract of Scammony remains in the form of a powder. Give 4, 5, or 6 grains of this with 1 scruple of vitriolated tartar, or what is better:
Vitriolated tartar impregnated with tincture of scammony.

Vitriolated tartar impregnated with tincture of scammony. Recipe: after you have filtered the tincture of scammony, join it with 2 drachms of vitriolated tartar; place the mixture in a Water Bath [B.] and draw off the liquid until it is dry.
It purges through the lower parts and removes all obstructions if it be mixed with a Cathartic (for example, the Panchymagogon) or offered in soluble syrup of roses, or of violets, or soluble honey of roses. As in: Take 1 scruple of vitriolated tartar, 1 drachm of soluble honey of roses, 2 drachms of Elecampane wine. Mix.
In dropsy edema, for purging thick and serous humors; in Melancholic fevers it is conveniently given with oxymel of hellebore and water or a decoction of bugloss. In Quartan fever malaria, after general remedies have been given, the following pills are useful:
Pills for quartan fever.

Take Extract of Germander
Lesser Centaury, 1/2 drachm each
Black Pepper, 4 grains
Oil of Anise, 3 grains
Cinnamon, 2 drops.
Mix; take one or another in the morning hours.
Cream of Tartar is taken in suitable broths, or in those in which fennel or parsley roots have been boiled, from 1/2 drachm to 1 drachm, or even 2 drachms. A stimulus can be added from scammony original: "falegem." which is a variation for scammonium/diagridium or gamboge. For example: Take 1 drachm Cream of Tartar, 3 grains of scammony. Mix in broth and let it be given 3 hours before food. Or: Take 6 grains of Gamboge, 1 drachm Cream of Tartar. Mix.
In Hypochondriacal Melancholy, nothing is more successful: For, if for several days 1/2 drachm or 2 scruples of it are given in broth with a decoction of Capers, and externally to the left hypochondrium the area over the spleen a plaster made of Gum Ammoniac in squill vinegar is applied, it is of great benefit, especially to the elderly and those who have obstructed bowels.
In obstructions [🜔]: 1/2 drachm Cream of Tartar, 1/2 drachm Vitriolated Tartar. Or 4 drachms Cream of Tartar, 1 drachm Salt of Wormwood. Make a powder.
It becomes an excellent Cathartic if to 1/2 drachm of Cream of Tartar and 1 scruple of Vitriolated Tartar there be added 8 or 10 grains of Extract of Scammony for drawing out bile; given in broth or wine, it not only draws out all impurities by loosening the belly, but is also a supreme "aperitive" a medicine that opens the pores or vessels, wherefore it can be given in place of a digestive or de-obstruent in any obstructions before the use of stronger Cathartics. The method of administration is thus: Take 1/2 drachm to 1 drachm of Cream of Tartar, 1 scruple to 1/2 drachm of Vitriolated Tartar. Let it be given in broth; if you wish to use these as an aperitive or digestive, let them be given twice a day at 1 drachm, three hours before a meal with broth or 2 drachms of Electuary of Senna, or with Syrup of Cinnamon or any other.