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Simple Waters, are thofc procur'd from Tome one Vege- table Body. Sec Veoetable.
A Simple Water, is not fuppofed to be the mere Water or 1 hlegm ol the Body it is drawn from, as is evident from the Talle and Smell thereof.— The Intention of makin: luch Water, is to draw out the Virtues of the Herb Seed Flower, Root, or the like, fo as it may be more conveniently given in that form than any other. But the Phlegm, or ma- tey Farts of any Medicinal Simple, is no better than com- . mo " , , a ' er undiftill'd : So that all thofc Ingredients, which in Diftillation raife nothing but Phlegm, as may be difco- yer d from the Scent and Tafle of what comes over, are not fit for the Still.— On this Principle, a great part of the Wa- ters retained in the Difpenfatorics will appear good for no- thing, at Ieaft not worth diftilling.
The Means whereby this Separation is effeaed, are ei- ther Evaporation, Infufion, tDccoSion, or tDifiillation
The firft is perform'd by expofing the Vegetable in a cold Still to a gentle Heat, like that of a Summer's Sun • and catching the Effluvia which exhale from it. See Heat' Evaporation, ($c.
WAT
1 he Effea of this Operation, is a Water, or fluid Matter which is the moft volatile, fragrant, and aromatick Part of the Plant ; and that wherein its fpecifick Virtue rcfided.
And thus is it that the aromatick or odoriferous Waters of Vegetables are procured. See Aromatick, and Odori- ferous.
The fecond Means, viz. Infufion, is perform'd by putting the Vegetable in hot Rain-Water, below the degree of boil- ing ; keeping it to this degree by an equable heat, for the fpace ot halt an Hour; and then flraining or pouring it off. See Infusion.
The only Waters procured this way in much ufe in the modern lraflice, are thofc of Frog-fpawn, and Oak-buds.
The third Means, vis. Hecotlion, only differs from the fecond in this, that the Water is kept to the degree of boil- ing. See Decoction.
The fourth Means, viz. Zfiftillation, is perform'd by in- fufing the Subjefl in an Alembick, by a gentle warmth, for fome time, and then increafing the Heat fo as to make it boil ; and laftly, catching and condenfing the Steam or Va- pour arifing therefrom. See Distillation.
This Procefs furnifhes what we call the 2>ijlill'd Waters, of fo much ufe in Medicine, (3c.
The Vegetable Subjefts beft fitted for it, are the fapid and odorous, or thofc of the aromatick Tribe ; as Angelica, Ani- feed, Baum, Carraway, Coriander, Cumin, Dittany, Fennel Hyffop, Marjoram, Mint, Rob, Rofcmary, Saffron, Sage' Scurvygrafs, Thyme, Cinnamon, Citron, Juniper, Lime, Myrtle, Orange, Peach, &c.
The Medicinal Virtues of Waters prepared after this man- ner, are the fame as thofc of the refpeflive Plants, &c. they are drawn from.— Thus, the diftilfd Water of Mint is Stomachic ; that of Wormwood, Vermifugous, (3c.
The Materia Medica, it may be obferv'd, affords no Re- medies in this way, but for the Intentions either of Cordi- als, Diurcticks, or Diaphoreticks. — Were it praflicabie to raife a Balfamick, Cathartick, or Opiate in this way, yet would thofc Properties be much more conveniently brought forth by other Proccffes ; fo that nothing is to be look'd for in a diftill'd Water, but fuch fubtile and light Parts of a Medicinal Simple, as may fall in with the forcmention'd Intentions : Indeed, very little comes over under that Divi- sion, weighty enough to affect even the urinary Secretions.
The Simple Waters of chief Virtue are the following ones, viz. ViW-Water, Aqua Ancthi ; Baum-Water, Aqua Me- tifff ; Angeiicn-Water, Aqua Angelica; Mint-Water, Aqua Minth£ 5 Rofemnry-Water, Aqua Antbos ; OrangeFIower- Water, Aqua Naphf ; Black-Cheny-Water, Aqua Cerafor. nig. I Padly-Water, Aqua Tctrofelini ; Camomile, Chamom. Pennyroyal, 'Pulegii ; Fennel-Water, Aqua Funiculi ; Da- ma fk-Rofc-,T«to", Aqua Rofanm dam. ; HySon-Watcr, A- qtia Hyffopi ; Rue-Water, Aqua Rut £ h Jumper-Water, A- i/ua Juuiperi bac. ; Eldar- Water, Aqua Samlmci for. ; Lo- v&ge-Water, Aqua Levijlici ; Crnninzuve-Water, Aqua Carminativa, &c.
It may be here proper to note, That whatever Properties any Simple has from the Groffnefs or Solidity of its Parts, which make it aft as an Emctick, Cathartick, or Aftrin- gent ; the Refidue left after Diftillation will remain in full poffeilion thereof.— Thus, the purging Syrup of Rofcs is as well made after the Damalk-Rofe-j?«*tT is drawn off' as if the Flowers were juiced, or put into Infufion ; becaufc no- thing of a Cathartick Quality rifes with the Water.
Sometimes, the Subject is fermented by the Addition of Ycaft, Honey, or the like Ferment, to the hot Water be- fore the DHtillation begin : In which Cafe, if the Ferment added were in fufficient quantity to effea a thorough Fermen- tation, the Liquid afterwards exhal'd and drawn off would be thin and inflammable : which makes what we call n e/,;
I > /• I ■ , 1 1 ■ f ■ 1 ...» . »^»i» «* 'JVC IHU lUUIk. 1IUIU 1L I
ret ; otherwife, thick, white, fapid, f$e. and call'd a Water, res. See Aoja R
See i'ERMENTATION, SPIRIT, (Sc.
he Waters procured in this manner, contain the Oil of the 1 ant in great Perfeaion ; which makes 'em of conli- aerable ule m Medicine, further than thofc rais'd without Fermentation ;> befide that they keep better and longer ; mother™ m ^ P reveiUin 8 their corrupting or growing
VbeConippWd Waters, or thofc wherein feveral Ingredi- ents ate ufed, are very numerous, and make a large Article in Commerce j fome prepared by the Apothecaries, accord- ing to the pifpenlatoryPrefcripts, for medicinal Ufcs; others by the Millers to be drank by way of Dram, 4c. and others by the Perfumers, (Sc.
They are diftinguifh'd by different Epithets, taken from the Latin, Greek, Arabick, Englijb, &c. in refpea either of the Ipecifick Virtues of the Waters ; or the Parts of the Bo- dy for the Cure whereof they are intended ; or the Difeafes they are good againft ; or the Ingredients they are com- pounded ot ; or thcit different Ufcs, (3c.
The moft considerable among the Clafs of Comtoimd Wd' ten, we mail here enumerate. — The manner of making em, 'tis true, is not always the fame ; especially thole in- tended for drinking ; for which, every one gives his own Method as the beft.— Thofc we here deliver, are taken from fuch as have the greateft Reputation in preparing thefc things; or from thole who have wrote bed of 'em.
We have only three general Remarks to add, with re- gard to thofc intended for drinking : i°, That fuch wherein any thing is infufed, as broken Fruits, pounded Herbs, or ground Spices, are always pafs'd thro' a Strainer, to make 'em finct and purer.— z", That thofc made with Brandy or Spirit of Wine, are ufually diftill'd after the mixing of their Ingredients ; which renders rhofc Liquors exceeding ftrong and dangerous, and confirms the Proverb ; ¥lurc° occidlt Gula quam Gladius. In erfca, fome of 'em are fo penetra- ting, that they burn the Tongue when taken.— 3 °, That the Waters that take their Name from any particular thing, as Cinnamon, &c. have always fome other Ingredients joined with 'em, according to the Tafte or Smell rcquir'd.
Alexipharmachic, or Alexitcrial Waters, arc Waters that refill Poifons and the Plague— Such are thofc of Ange- lica, Scorzonera, Citron, Orange, Scordium, Rue, (3c. See Alexipharmachic.
Such alfo are Treacle- Water, Vlzgue-Watcr, Milk-Water, Top-py-Water, &c.
Alamn Water, is a vulnerary Water, thus call'd, by reafon the Bafis or principal Ingredient thereof is Alumn. See Alumn, and Vulnerary.
Angelica Water, is ufually prepar'd of Brandy, Ange- lica Roots and Seeds, Carduus, Baum, Fennel-Seed, (3c. the whole beat together in a Mortar ; infufed for a Night, and then diftill'd.— It is reputed a good carminative, and Cordial, as alfo a Cephalic, (3c.
Amfeed-W Am*.— To eight Parts of Effence of Anis-fced diftill'd, put three Parts of Brandy, with one of Water boil'd ; mix the whole together : and if you require it fugar'd, add half a Pint of clarify'd Sugar ; but many prefer it without : and ftrain the whole.
Apricot Water. — To a Quart ofWater put fix or eight Apricots, diced ; boil the whole, to extraa the Tafte j and when cold, add four or five Ounces of Sugar. — When that is diffolved ftrain it.
Aromatick Waters, we have already fpoke of among the Simple Waters.
Arthritic Waters, are Waters good againft the Gout, Palfy, Tremors, Pains in the Joints, (3c— Such ate thofc of Piony, Chamatpctis, Bctony, Rofemary, (Sic. See Arthri- tic.
Bryony Water, is one of the CompoundWaters prefcrib'd in the College Difpenfatory ; prepared from Bryony-Roots, Rue, Mugwort, Savin, Feverfew, Dittany, S?c. — It is a good Hyftetic, opens Menftrual Obllruaions, (3c.
Carduus Water, is made from Carduus BcncdiBus pounded in a Mortar, and put in an Alembick. — Then, a fufficient quantity of the Juice of the fame fort of Plant, dtawn by Expteffion, is pour'd into the Alembick, that the Herbs fwimming in the Juice may be in no danger of flick- ing to the bottom of the Cucurbit in Diftillation. Laftly, fitting on a Capital, .and ludng the Joints, diftil half as much Juice as you put in. — This Water is fudorifick 5 and good againft the Plague, Malignant Fevers, (3c. See Car- duus.
Water of Separation, or ^Depart, is only Aqua fortis 5 thus called, becaufc ferving to fepacate Gold from Silver. See Depart. It is alfo called
Caujlic, Burning, or Strong Water, and is prepared of a Mixtute of Spirits of Nitre and Vitriol, drawn by force of Fire j to which are fometimes added Alumn and Arfenic.
It diffolves all Metals, Gold only excepted. — The Inven- tion of Aqua fortis, is ufually refer'd to the XHIth Century: Tho fome hold it to have been known in the Time of Mo- 'ortis, Aurum 'Potaiile, Sic.
Cepba-
