[De epidemia et peste]

that are purgative, one quarter pound of each; half a pound of sorrel juice; one quarter pound of rose water; one ounce of citrus juice or, in its place, one ounce of lemon juice; half a dram of flowers of water lilies and of all the sandalwoods and of camphor; two ounces of white vinegar; one pound of sugar. Make a syrup. Bugloss juice comforts and cleanses the heart. Fifthly, sour milk and goat whey can be given if they have a great thirst. Let cold spring water be given as much as one can take in one draft, because it cools greatly. And it should not be given in a small quantity, because it would inflame, as is evident from a blacksmith blowing on coals with water; and thus water in a small quantity is the cause of greater inflammation. Tyriaca should not be given once they are actually ill, because it is too hot and would increase the fever, unless it is given in a small quantity with lemon juice or the acidity of citrus and the like, or with sorrel or rose water, in which a little camphor is dissolved. Let cooling cordials be given. Let the aforementioned electuary also be given without the spices. Or let such an electuary be made: Take two drams of powder of triasandali three sandalwoods mixture, two drams of powder of diadragagari tragacanth compound, two drams of powder of diapapaueris poppy compound; half an ounce of conserve of bugloss and conserve of rose; one dram of sorrel seed and of citrus or lemon seed; eight leaves of gold; one pound of sugar. Make a mixture in the manner of rose sugar. Filings of gold and silver, pearls, sapphire, jacinth, emerald, bone from a stag's heart, shavings of ivory, white and red coral, behen, and similar cordials can be added. And because the heart should always be defended and comforted within and without, as the prince Aboali Avicenna. says in the fourth [book] of the Canon, first chapter, "The most ancient of the ancients..."; and therefore let such an epithima be made externally so that it may be defended, because the heart will be helped more than any other member. Take: half a pound of sorrel water; one quarter pound of rose water, endive water, and melissa water; of all the sandalwoods, red roses, water lily flowers, lettuce seed, poppy seed, one ounce of each; one quarter pound of the strongest white vinegar. Mix them and let an epithima be made; place it on the region of the heart while it is cold. And when it becomes overheated, let it be removed and another placed on top. Also, let tyriaca be placed between the abscess and the region of the heart near the abscess. It would be good if one troche A small medicinal tablet. of camphor were given to them with one of the aforementioned drinks.