OF JOHANN HARTMANN.

Anti-epileptic Spirit for children (see the notes on Croll Oswald Croll (c. 1563–1609), a disciple of Paracelsus and an influential alchemist.). Give 6, 8, or 9 drops of this with anti-epileptic waters of linden flower, peony root, swallow water original: "aq. hirundinum"; a traditional distilled water made from young swallows, believed to cure brain disorders, cherries, and lavender. Also, black cherry water given with Langius’s Anti-epileptic water, administered both during the seizure and after it, wonderfully removes the disease in children, especially if given during the very first seizure.

(I have personally experienced the excellence of the spirit of sal ammoniac ammonium chloride in a small boy of two years—if I recall correctly—who suffered almost continuous convulsive seizures. After other remedies were tried in vain, I administered only 4 grains of this in linden flower water, and the convulsions ceased immediately. After an hour, I repeated the same dose, and the boy recovered excellently and remains healthy to this day. However, the volatile salt of urine is far superior, especially if it is sublimated with "lime of the moon" original: "calce lunae"; silver oxide or a silver-based preparation, which then finally achieves what is otherwise attributed to it. See my Chymiatric Practice, chapter 5, pages 44 and 45 regarding what is called the Mercury of the microcosm original: "Mercurium microcosmi"; a term for chemical substances derived from the human body, particularly urine, viewed as a "miniature universe".)

EPILEPSY IN ADULTS.

I. First, let general Vomits and Purges be administered, especially the specific purge of Paracelsus. Afterward, specific remedies should be given, such as:

(You will find no better purges for epilepsy than Mercurials—for example, Mercurius dulcis Calomel/Mercurous chloride, white precipitate, etc. The formula can be as follows:
$\text{℞}$ Recipe half a scruple of white precipitate mercury,
3 grains of colocynth troches original: "Trochiſc. alhandal" or resin of Jalap,
half a scruple of Crato’s amber pill mass.
With a sufficient quantity of Essence of Castor, make pills.
$\oplus$ The symbol for "Take"
The use of these should be continued for some time.)

II. Croll’s Anti-epileptic.

Anti-epileptic Powder.

III. Anti-epileptic Powder from Cinnabar of Antimony a compound of mercury and sulfur prepared with antimony, which is made thus: $\text{℞}$ Cinnabar of Antimony, magistery a precipitated powder of Coral and pearl, equal parts. Another: $\text{℞}$ half a dram of native cinnabar, transparent and shining, powdered very finely on marble; add 2 scruples each of magistery of Coral and pearl, 1 scruple of Saffron, and gold leaf diligently rubbed on a stone. Reduce to a powder, of which 7 to 18 grains should be drunk in sage water and repeated often. See above regarding sweat-inducing medicines.

Anti-epileptic Powder of great power.

Another Anti-epileptic powder of great power: $\text{℞}$ half a pound of Hungarian Cinnabar, well washed and purified; soak it with 4 drams of spirit of vitriol sulfuric acid. Take half a dram of scrapings from a human skull that was never buried, soak it with spirit of wine ethanol, and leave it in a warm place for 15 days. Afterward, distill the liquor through a retort and save what remains separately. Take 1.5 drams of elk’s hoof shavings original: "Ungulæ alcis"; a traditional remedy for epilepsy, as elks were thought to be prone to the disease and "cured" themselves by scratching their ears with their hooves and half a dram of red Myrrh; dissolve these in spirit of salt hydrochloric acid, separate the solution from the dregs, and save it. Then, extract a tincture from half a dram of saffron with spirit of wine. Mix all these liquids together and soak the previously prepared, washed, and powdered cinnabar in them, always drying it with gentle heat until all the liquid has been absorbed and it has turned into a dry powder. The dose is 2 to 4 grains with noble wine, spirit of wine, or anti-epileptic water, taken before, during, and after the seizure.

Spirit of human brain.

IV. Spirit of human brain, which is made thus: $\text{℞}$ The brain of a healthy young man (an adolescent under 24 years old) of good constitution who died a violent death. Collect it in pieces with all the membranes, arteries, veins, and nerves, along with the entire spinal cord. Mash it in a stone mortar and add it to a large flask or vial of "head waters"—namely linden flower, peony, betony, cherry, and especially lavender. Add enough "diaphoretic in acute cases" to cover it by 4 or 5 finger-widths (more than the other simple waters; some even add spirit of wine). Let the vessel be hermetically sealed and left for some time—1, 2, or 3 years. Afterward, let it be distilled by "cohobation" repeated distillation of a liquid over its own residue in a water bath, so that the entire substance of the brain passes over. Save this water carefully after discarding the dregs. From the dregs, once calcined after six distillations, elicit the salt, which you should then join with the spirit made previously. Save the whole carefully. Dose: 1 to 3 drams in suitable carriers.

NB. If the simple mixture was not added at the beginning due to lack of supply, then afterward—once the phlegm the watery part of the distillate has been gently drawn off in a water bath—add half a part of the simple mixture and proceed as instructed. Dose: 1 to 4 drams.

Preparation of Frog Livers.

V. Frog Livers, which are prepared thus: Collect the livers of 40 green water frogs (not land toads). Remove the livers and place them individually upon the heads of cabbage leaves on the side that faces the ground, so that they touch one another. Afterward, let them be dried over a slow fire in unglazed, new pots (an German: "Irdene Bratpſanne" earthen frying pan) covered at the top, so that they can be ground into a very fine powder once carefully separated from the leaves. Afterward, divide the whole powder into 5 equal parts and save them.

Give one part to the patient on an empty stomach (after general purges) in a small draft of appropriate water or spirit, when the Moon has entered Cancer. In the evening, two hours after dinner, give the second part, and so on the next day: the third in the morning, the fourth in the evening; and the fifth part on the morning of the third day.

However, it must be observed that for 2 hours before and after taking the powder, one must abstain from all food and drink. If the patient, especially an adult, sweats on the forehead and temples after taking this medicine, it is a testimony of its exquisite operation. Therefore, if sweat is provoked after the 3rd, 4th, or 5th administration—either in bed or in a sweating-room for the whole body—the effects hoped for will be even more abundant.

They should guard themselves against all terror, anger, water, fire, and wine, and should not look at other epileptics falling; indeed, the sight of these can cause the disease to return, even if it has been hidden for a long time or already calmed. Furthermore, they should avoid the firing of cannons original: "ejaculacione tormentorum". Especially, they should studiously avoid all vehement motions of the mind and flee from drunkenness as if it were a plague.

Diet and the other "six non-naturals" An ancient medical concept referring to factors that influence health but are not part of the body: air, food/drink, sleep/waking, motion/rest, excretion/retention, and passions of the mind. should be observed in a very suitable manner and measure, so that nothing happens that might offer any impediment to this cure.

NB. 1. Only green frogs and no others are to be taken, and they must be alive. 2. This powder can only be made in the months of May, June, July, and until the middle of August; outside these times, the frogs are useless. 3. When the livers are dried so they can be powdered, the cabbage leaves must be diligently separated and the livers then crushed in a mortar. 4. This powder does not last beyond a year; therefore, it must be prepared anew every year if needed.

It can hardly be said how much benefit comes from this simple medicine. The cure should be instituted in June around the solstice, and if the effect does not correspond in the first year, the cure should be repeated the following year. By this remedy, Frederick IV, Elector Palatine Frederick IV (1574–1610), a prominent Protestant prince and father of the "Winter King.", was restored, having been an epileptic from age 15 to 26.

VI. An amulet made from an elderberry shrub found growing on a willow. 1. It should be diligently observed where an elderberry grows upon willows (especially old ones), which often happens in willow groves where elderberry has been planted near garden fences. Here, indeed, the ripe berries are gathered by birds, especially the woodpecker original: "picus". The woodpecker, after eating the elderberries, deposits its excrement upon the old willow (on which other small plants or shrubs sometimes grow, specifically Bittersweet, nettle, and Celandine), and from there the beginnings of the growing elderberry are fixed. Because the woodpecker itself suffers from epilepsy A common folklore belief of the era, it makes this noble amulet to cure a similar disease. Let the shrub be gathered in any month, but better in September and October when the elderberries are ripe, two days before the full moon, and let it be reserved for use (it can be kept for 12 years). At least the thinner shoots are sufficient.

The use is as follows: cut one thinner shoot into...