The Hartlib Papers

     Extracts out of My Lady Ranalaughs letter from Lismore.

               11.^th September. 1658

The One of these enclosed receipts I haue experienced for sharpe hott humors, the other was giuen me by Sir Kenelme Digby, with most Extraordinary Commendation from his owne experience against festers & inflammation. The other was also recommended to me, & is a probable one against that kind of fire, that possibly may bee his inflammation.

[another hand]    Sir Kenelme Digbyes secret

Take one pound of good vnslaked lime & on it pouer 3 or 4 quarts of spring water[H alters from watter], let it [settle? altered] on the lime for 2 or 3 days (vnless there be need of dispatching for then 2 or 3 houers will serue) pouer of this water[H alters from watter] & filter it, then take 48 ounces of this aqua Calcis or lime water[H alters from watter] & a dram & a halfe of sublimate, grind the sublimate with spring-water (not with lime water[H alters from watter]) shacke these 2 well together, till the sublimate & lime water[H alters from watter] turne to a muddy liquour, which must be suffered to stand 3 days (vnless need require[H alters from requier] hast) in a large bolt head or long glass much inclined to one side that it may be the easyer pouered out, then it must be decanted or pouered off & kept for vse, which is in old vlcers & festered soares they are to be wett twice or thrice a day with it at first (but not soe often afterwards) dipping rags in it & applying them till the Inflamation be taken away & also brought into a better condition & then it may be healed with other remedyes, it likewise[H alters from likewayes] powerfully apeaseth the Inflamation of wounds & festered sores & stops gangrenes halfe a spoonefull at a time may allso be succesfully taken Inwardly in wound drinks [Approued? H alters from aproued?]

                    A Cold poltis

Take one or more yolks[H alters from yeolkes?] of egges acording as you haue occasion by the bignes of the part you are to poltis & take of Hony[H alters from honny] an equall quantety to the yolkes[H alters from yoolkes] of egges & mingle with them both as much wheate flouer as will thicken it fit to spread & soe lay it cold to the hart it is excelent to smoth & take away dry scurffes to cure fyery breakings out & hot waterish humours in them /

                      For St Anthonys Fire[H alters from fier]

Take wood soote & put it into creame & add[H alters from ade] to it some Vnguentum[H capitalises] Album Camfirated, anoynt the place often with it