Chronicles of Pharmacy, Vol. 1 (of 2)Wootton, A. C.
History
Chronicles of Pharmacy, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Wootton, A. C.
Pharmacy -- History
The cordial then consisted of forty roots, seeds, herbs, etc.,
macerated in spirit of wine, and distilled. With the distillate were
combined bezoar stones, pearls, coral, deer’s horn, amber, musk,
antimony, various earths, sugar, and much besides. Vipers’ flesh, with
the heart and liver, and “mineral unicorn” were added later on the
suggestion of Sir Kenelm Digby. The official history of this strange
concoction is appended.
Confectio Raleighana was first official in the London Pharmacopœia of
1721. The formula was--
Rasurae C. Cervi lb. i.
Carnis viperarum c. cordibus et hepatibus, 6 oz.
Flor. Borag., rosmar., calendulae, roris solis, rosarum rub.,
sambuci, ana lb. ss.
Herb. scordii, cardui benedicti, melissæ, dictamni cretici,
menthæ, majoranæ, betonicæ, ana manipules duodecim.
Succi Kermis, Sem. card. maj., cubebarum, Bacc. junip., macis,
nuc. mosch., caryoph., croci, ana 2 oz.
Cinnam. opt., cort. lign. sassaf., cort. flav. malorum
citriorum, aurantiorum, ana 3 oz.
Lign. aloes, sassafras, ana 6 oz.
Rad. angelic., valerian, sylvest., fraxinell, seu dictamni
alb., serpentar. Virginianæ, Zedoariæ, tormentillæ bistort,
Aristoloch. long., Aristoloch. rotund., gentianæ, imperatoriæ,
ana 1½ oz.
These were to be cut up or crushed, and a tincture made from them with
rectified spirit. The tincture was to be evaporated in a sand-bath,
the expressed magma was then to be burned, and the ashes, lixiviated in
water, were to be added to the extract.
Then the following powders were to be added to this liquid to form
a confection:--Bezoar stone, Eastern and western, of each 1½ oz.;
Eastern pearls, 2 oz.; red coral, 3 oz.; Eastern Bole, Terra Sigillata,
calcined hartshorn, ambergris, of each 1 oz.; musk, 1½ drachms;
powdered sugar, 2 lb.
In the P.L. 1746 Confectio Raleighana appears as Confectio Cardiaca.
It is expressly stated that this new name is substituted for the old
one. The formula is simplified, but the resemblance to the original can
be traced. It runs thus:--Summitatum Rorismar, recent., Bacc, Junip.,
ana lb. i; Sem. card., min. decort., Zedoariæ, Croci. ana lb. ss. Make
a tincture with these with about 1½ gallons of diluted spirit, and
afterwards reduce it to 2½ lb. by evaporating at a gentle heat; then
add the following, all in the finest powder:--Compound powder of crabs’
shells, 16 oz. This was prepared powder of crab shells, 1 lb.; pearls
and red coral, of each 3 oz.; cinnamon and nutmegs, of each 2 oz.;
cloves, 1 oz.; sugar, 2 lb. To make a confection.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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