The Hartlib Papers

Title:Prescription, Tomson'S Water For A Fistula
Dating:undated
Ref:14/5/6A-6B: 6B BLANK
[14/5/6A]

     Tomsons water for a Fistula [&?] <H: and> all manner of wounds & Swellings, or old vlcers[altered], Cankers, Tetters, Boyles, or scabbs in any place[altered] <or> green wounds.
Take of Bole Armeniacke iiij [ounces] of Camphor j [ounce] of white vitrioll ijij [ounces] boyle[altered] the camphor [et?] <H: and> vitrioll to-gether in[altered] a little blacke earthen pot till they become thin, stirringe them <left margin, H: together till they become hard in setling. Then> bruise[,?] them in a mortar to powder, & beate the Bole Armeniacke it selfe to powder, and then mingle them to-gether and keepe the[altered] powder in a bladder, till such time you use it then take a pottle of running water <H: and> set it on the[H alters] fire till it begin to seeth, then take it from the fire [&?] <H: and> put in 3. good spoone fulls of the powder into that water while it is hot, <left margin, H: and> [&?] affter put the water [H: with] the powder into a glasse and shake it twice a day for a fort-night to make the water strong: but before you use it let[altered] it be well setled <H: and> [&?] very cleare[H alters], & <H: and> apply it as hot as the patient can well suffer/it, and lay a cleane linnen cloth[H alters] foure double to the [sor?] <H: sore> it being wet in that water, & <H: and> bind it fast with a rowler to keepe it warme: doe it morning & euening till it[altered] be whole. This Water[altered] must be put in an Oyster[altered] shell not in a sawcer when you dresse[altered] the sore[H alters], for the pewter will sucke it up. Remember[H capitalises] you put 3. good spoone fulls of the powder as you can presse into the spoone: take heed noe one drinke of this water, for it is poyson, to make it stronger beate an [H: Ounce] of Allom to powder & mingle with the other powders.
    Take of bole [Armonicke? altered] [js?] [drachmas?] of white[H alters] vitrioll j [ounce], a qvater of an ounce of Camphyr & <H: and> make them all into powder. Then take a Pottle of Smiths water <H: and> & as much spring water, [&?] <H: and> mingling them set them upon the fire as soone as it begins to seeth, put in the powder very softly stirring it all the while, as soone as the powder is in, take it off the fire, and[H alters] dresse the wound with it twice a day, laying a cloth folded 4 times & wetted in the water it being very hot and[H alters] soe applyd to the wound[altered].
                            For a Fistula or wound: