A Paralytic Mixture.
Take Spirit of Scurvy grass 2 drams; compound Spirit of Lavender, Tincture of Castor, each half a dram; Elixir Proprietatis tartaris'd 1 dram; Oil of Nutmeg 4 drops; Oil of Cinnamon and Cloves, each 2 drops; Spirit of Salt Armoniac 2 drams, mix.
It quickens the flat Ferment of the Stomach, repairs its decay'd Vigour, attenuates the Blood, when polluted with a pituitous Colluvies, prepares pure fine defecated Materia Subtilis out of it for the Brain, recovers the Elasticity of the Spirits, deoppilates the obstructed Nerves, and deterges the Fibra Motrices.
Its most commodious for a weaken'd or relax'd Stomach, occasion'd by reason of the Nerves being somewhere obstructed, or over strain'd, for a Palsy, (especially a scorbutic one;) and in a word, for all sorts of Maladies depending on the failure of the Animal Spirits and imbecillity of the Nerves.
But these high, hot Medicines, that abound with mighty active Particles, are so far from being agreeable to Choleric Paralytics (whose Blood is Acrid and Fervid, without much Serum to temper it) that they often do hurt, whereas they are signally serviceable to the Phlegmatic, whose Blood being colder, holds much Serum, and but little Active Elements.
You may allow 30 drops in a proper Vehicle, thrice a day.
Thomas Fuller
Pharmacopeia Extemporanea 1710