Take three Pounds of prepar'd Litharge of Gold, three Pints of common Oil, two Pounds of Hogs-Lard, a Quart of the Decoction of Palm-Tree or Oak-Tops; four Ounces of Vitriol calcin'd till it become red, and steept in the said Decoction. Having bruis'd or cut very small two handfuls of Palm-Tree or Oak-Tops, let 'em be boil'd slowly in three Quarts of Water till about half be consum'd; and after the whole Mass hath been well squeez'd, the strain'd Decoction is to be preserv'd. In the mean time the Litharge is to be {328} pounded in a great Brass Mortar, and diluted with two or three Quarts of clear Water; but it will be requisite readily to pour out into another Vessel the muddy Water which is impregnated with the more subtil part of the Litharge, whilst the thicker remains at the bottom of the Mortar; whereupon this part of the Litharge will sink to the bottom of the Water, and the Litharge remaining in the Mortar is to be pounded again. Then having diluted it in the Water of the first Lotion, or in some other fresh Water, the muddy Liquor is to be pour'd by Inclination upon the subtil Litharge that remain'd in the bottom of the Vessel: Afterward you may continue to pound the Litharge, to bruise it in the Water, to pour it off by Inclination, and to let the Powder settle, till there be left only at the bottom a certain impure part of the Litharge, capable of being pulveriz'd, and rais'd amidst the Water. As soon as the Lotions are well settl'd, and care hath been taken to separate by Inclination the Water which swims over the Powder of Litharge; this Powder is to be dry'd, and having weigh'd out the appointed Quantity, it is to be put as yet cold into a Copper-Pan lin'd with Tin, and stirr'd about to mingle it with the Oil, Lard, and Decoction of Palm-Tree-Tops. When these Ingredients have been well incorporated together, a good Charcoal Fire must be kindl'd in a Furnace, over which they are to be boil'd, stirring 'em continually with a great Wooden _Spatula_, and constantly maintaining an equal Degree of Heat during the whole time of their boiling. At last you may add {329} the rubify'd Vitriol dissolv'd in a Portion of the Liquor that hath been reserv'd, if you wou'd have the Plaister tinctur'd with a red Colour; or else white Vitriol melted in the same Decoction, if it shall be thought fit to retain the Whiteness of the Plaister, which may be form'd into Rolls, and wrapt up with Paper. This Plaister is us'd for the cure of Wounds, Ulcers, Tumours, Burns, Contusions, Fractures, and Chilblains, and is also laid upon the Cauteries. If you mingle with it the third or fourth part of its weight of some convenient Oil, it will attain to the Consistence of a Cerate; and this is that which is call'd _Dissolved Diapalma_ or _Cerate of Diapalma_. _The Plaister of simple _Diachylum_._