Musk ʒi. Mix all according to Amt, to the just consistence of a Balsam.
“Salmon. The Oil of Nutmegs is that made by expression, all the rest are Chymical. Horstius saith, that in the whole Republick of Medicine, there is scarcely found an Apoplectick Balsam more illustrious for Fame, more noble for Virtue, more worthy for Honour, more ready for Help, and more ſragrant for smell, than this. It chears and comforts all the spirits, natural, vital, and animal, by anointing the extremities of the Nostrils and the Pulses. It cures Convulsions, Palsics, Numbness, and other Diseases proceeding of cold.”
The modern physician may think this Balsam “apoplectick” in a sense never dreamt of by its author ; nevertheless he must also sigh for the faith that believed all those wonders.
Here is another from the same source for “the strengthening of memory” :
“Balsamum Maemonicus (sic) Sennerti. Balsam for the loss of Memory.
“℞ of the juices of Bawm, Basil, flowers of Sage, Lillies, Primroses, Rosemary, Lavender, Borrage, Broom, A. ℥ii.; Aqua Vitae, Water-lillies, Roses, Violets, A. ℥i.; Cubebs, Cardamoms, Grains of Paradise, yellow Sanders, Corpo balsamum, Orrice, Saffron, Savory, Peony, Tyme, A. ℥ƒ; Storax liquid and Calamita, Opopanax, Bdellium, Galbanum, Gum of Ivy, Labdamum, A. ʒvi. ; Roots of Peony, long Birthwort, Oils of Turpentine, Spike, Costus, Juniper, Bays, Mastick, Baben, Lavender, A. ʒv. Pouder them that are to bepoudered, then mix and distil in an Alembich, with a gradual fire; separate the Balsam from the Water.
“Salmon. In this we have put flowers of Sage instead of Mynica or Tamarisk : otherwise it is verbatim. It is a truly noble Cephalick, and it is reported to cause a perpetual memory, both Water and Balsom are excellent good against all cold Diseases: you may anoint the hinder part of the
