Family Herbal - Electric Scotland

INTRODUCTION.
CHAP. III.
Concerning the various methods of preparing
simples for present use.
T
IERE is no form of medicines sent from
T the apothecary, which may not be prepared
from the herbs of our own growth in the same
manner as from foreign drugs. Electuaries may
be made with the powders of these barks,, roots,
and seeds, with conserves of flowers, and of the
tops of fresh herbs ; and syrups, made from their
juices and infusions ; the manner of making
which is very simple, and shall be subjoined to
tins chapter, that all mav be understood before
we enter on the book itself: and in the same
manner their boluses may be made, which are only
some of these powders mixed up with syrup: and
their draughts and juleps, which are made from
the distilled water.; of these herbs, with spirit, or
without these syrups being- added ; and the tinc-
tures of the roots and barks ; the method of
making
maimer.
But beside these several forms of giving them,
there are others much more simple, easy, and
%l}
which shall be also annexed in a familiar
ready, and these are generally
more efficacious.
1 shall arrange these under three kinds, juices, infusions,
and decoctions. These are the forms of
giving the medicines most frequently mentioned
in the course of the work, and there is less trouble
in them than in the others. They
are not in-
deed contrived for shew, nor would they answer
the purpose of the apothecary, for his profits
would be small upon them ; but when the design