Disputatio de melancholia

extracted, with violet oil, chamomile oil, and others, as the matter itself requires, mixed among themselves and duly exhibited.

LXIII.
From these we shall then approach those things which can purge the melancholic humor, which are either simple or compound.

LXIIII.
Of the simples, again, some are lighter, such as dodder, polypody, caper flowers, tamarisk, epithymum, etc., or stronger, such as senna leaves, Indian myrobalans, both hellebores, etc., which, however, we shall not use unless well corrected, and only in the most robust bodies.

LXV.
Compound medicines, which are various and multiple, must be given—having regard both to the region in the body from which they ought to purge, and also to the takers, whose palate must often be gratified—sometimes in the form of pills or powder, sometimes as an electuary or potion, and other forms.

LXVI.
Therefore, for this use, the confection called Hamech will be convenient, Indian pills, pills of blue or Armenian stone, Hiera simplex and Diacolocynthidos, pills without which, and also Troches of capers with Electuary of Manna of Nicolaus, and similar ones, which for the most part are already prepared beforehand.

LXVII.
If the physician deems these less convenient, then he himself, for his own industry, ought to artificially devise various such forms by mixing the aforementioned laxatives and purgatives, or the purgatives themselves among one another; and in the hypochondriac case, he should add those things which can discuss and repress flatulence.

LXVIII.
It must be observed, furthermore, that one must begin with the lighter things: if these have profited nothing as the disease progresses, one must approach the stronger ones.

LXIX.
But if even these have not purged as much as was needed in one turn, the same must be repeated (having applied restoratives at intervals) after the natural