e
Epithymo. pil. Ind._ Mesue describes in the _Florentine Antidotary_,
_Pilulae sine quibus esse nolo, Pilulae, Cochics, cum Helleboro, Pil.
Arabicae, Faetida, de quinque generibus mirabolanorum_, &c. More proper to
melancholy, not excluding in the meantime, turbith, manna, rhubarb, agaric,
elescophe, &c. which are not so proper to this humour. For, as Montaltus
holds _cap. 30._ and Montanus _cholera etiam purganda, quod atrae, sit
pabulum_, choler is to be purged because it feeds the other: and some are
of an opinion, as Erasistratus and Asclepiades maintained of old, against
whom Galen disputes, [4238]"that no physic doth purge one humour alone, but
all alike or what is next." Most therefore in their receipts and magistrals
which are coined here, make a mixture of several simples and compounds to
purge all humours in general as well as this. Some rather use potions than
pills to purge this humour, because that as Heurnius and Crato observe,
_hic succus a sicco remedio agre trahitur_, this juice is not so easily
drawn by dry remedies, and as Montanus adviseth _25 cons._ "All
[4239]drying medicines are to be repelled, as aloe, hiera," and all pills
whatsoever, because the disease is dry of itself.

I might here insert many receipts of prescribed potions, boles, &c. The
doses of these, but that they are common in every good physician, and that
I am loath to incur the censure of Forestus, _lib. 3. cap. 6. de urinis_,
[4240]"against those that divulge and publish medicines in their
mother-tongue," and lest I should give occasion thereby to some ignorant
reader to practise on himself, without the consent of a good physician.

Such as are not swallowed, but only kept in the mouth, are gargarisms used
commonly after a purge, when the body is soluble and loose. Or
apophlegmatisms, masticatories, to be held and chewed in the mouth, which
are gentle, as hyssop, origan, pennyroyal, thyme, mustard; strong, as
pellitory, pepper, ginger, &c.

Such as are taken into the nostrils, errhina are liquid or dry, juice of
pimpernel, onions, &c., castor, pepper, white hellebore, &c. To these you
may add odoraments, perfumes, and suffumigations, &c.

Taken into the inferior parts are clysters strong or weak, suppositories of
Castilian soap, honey boiled to a consistence; or stronger of scammony,
hellebore, &c.

These are all used, and prescribed to this malady upon several occasions,
as shall be shown in its place.

MEMB. III.
_Chiru