Cache-Control: public, max-age=1024000 Pharmacopoeia Extemporanea: The Warwick Potion

The Warwick Potion.

Take Scammony Sulphurated, Diaphoretic Antimony, Cream Of Tartar, each half a scruple; Succory water 3 ounces; Cinnamon water 2 drams; Syrup of Roses solutive 1 ounce, mix up a white Draught.

Diaphoretic Antimony (as faith Zwelfer) if exploded to the Air, puts on in tract of time a most scurvy and malignant Nature; and being taken into the Body, produces Anguish, Heart-burning, Swooning Vomiting, and the like bad Symptoms; all which may yet be easily avoided, either by making it fresh every two to three Months, or by calcining the old, either ter se, or with the Addition of Nitre; and then (if Nitre be used) washing it and reverberating it a little.

It's a certain thing (faith Hofman), that Antimony Diaphoretic, join's to Purgers, adds to their Purgatives Virtue, and prevents griping. Thus if you take Jalap Root half a scruple, and throw into it 3 or 4 grains of Diaphoretic Antimony, its Energy will equal Dose of a scruple of Jalap.

Some have been fearful of using Diaphoretic Antimony at all, by reason of its uncertain Operation. Riedlin reports, That he gave a Woman, and if caused above twenty Stools. And he gave the very self-same Preparation to a Man, and it provoked Sweat, and not one Stool. He quotes Welschius for it, and tells us, Cornachines Powder was forbid at Rome, upon Pain of being condemned to the Gallies.

This Potion differs little from the Warwick Powder. Among other its Vertues, it's a seldom failing Remedy for Vernal Tertians, if given so as to begin Work just before the invasion of the Fit. Sometimes "twill give a Vomit ot two, when the Stomach is weak or foul.

Thomas Fuller
Pharmacopeia Extemporanea 1710