Robert Boyle - Medicinal Remedies 1696

[landlubbersanonymous]

I haven't seen this on the forum before and was going to add it to Capt Trueblood's post https://pyracy.com/in...showtopic=18398 but I think this is worthy of a separate thread.

The complete title is... Medicinal Experiments or a Collection of Choice and Safe Remedies, For the Most Part Simple and Easily Prepared: Very Useful in Families and Fitted for the Service of Country People by the Honourable R.Boyle, Esq. Fellow of the Royal Society

It was recently republished but I haven't seen a hard copy in person nor read any reviews regarding quality of reproduction. References ISBN 124084249X, 1171257163 or 978-1171257165, 978-1171393351 etc.

As of writing, there are portions of a third edition viewable on Google books. This edition was published in London in 1696 after Boyle's demise. The current links in the index pages, (which unfortunately don't start until the letter "C") include such things as healing powder burns with cow dung, assorted remedies for cuts and wounds, the French-Pox, gangrene, hemorrhoids, scurvy, etc., etc.

http://books.google....epage&q&f=false

Here's a sample for gout...

"135: A homely but often try'd Medicine to appease the Pains of Scorbutical Running Gouts

Take Earth-worms, cleans'd, and having fill'd an earthen Pot with them, and luted on a cover very well, set it into an Oven with a batch of Bread, and let it stand there till the Oven be cold. Then take out the Pot, and having remov'd the cover, you will find the Matter turned into a gross Liquor ill scented. Strain this with expression, and keep it stopt for use, which is, to rub therewith the Part affected with a warm hand once or twice a day. N.B. If the smell be offensive, you may put to it a few drops of Oyl of Rhodium, or some other Odoriferous one, to Correct it."

Good stuff here. Just like granny used to make before she got roasted at the stake.

Edited December 3, 2011 by landlubbersanonymous

[Red_Dawn]

I checked his recipe for smallpox medicine; it involves white wine and sheep dung.

Where's a disgusted smiley when you need it?

[landlubbersanonymous]

I checked his recipe for smallpox medicine; it involves white wine and sheep dung.

Where's a disgusted smiley when you need it?

Indeed. It's generally accepted that lamb is best enjoyed with a good red.