N. 13

A female slave passed away on the 11th of this month. She had a sporadic fever for a while, for which I gave her a pulverized anti-fever (prescription 6). The fever became continuous after some time, so I gave her a teacup of a mixture (prescription 3) in the morning and in the evening. Because she complained about a severe headache I also gave her head plasters with saffron. She ate very little. She died suddenly on the aforementioned date.

Prescription 6

R/ Misce fac pulvis antifebrilis [mix and make a powder against fever] Den dosis ℈ II

• Antimonium diaphoreticum [diaphoretic antimony], cornu cervi usti [burnt cornu-cervi], corallum rubric [Red coral; antipyretic]
• Oculi cancri [gastro stones of the crayfish]: ana ℥ I
• [Dorstenia] contrajervae [contrajerva; the root and scaly rhizome of various tropical American species of Dorstenia, a South American plant, the aromatic root of which is sometimes used in medicine as a gentle stimulant and tonic]
• Sal cardui benedicti [salt with the extract of a blessed thisle]
• [Sal] nitri [saltpetre]: ana ℥ II
• Croci optimi [saffron]: ana ʒ I

• ℈ scruple = 20 grain, so approximately 1,3 g
• ʒ drachma = 3 scruple, so approximately 4 g
• ℥ uncia = ounce = 8 drachmae, so approximately 31 g
• āā en ān: and ānn = ana (Gr.) take an equal amount of all

Prescription 3

R/ Misce fac mixture [mix and make a mixture]

• Every three hours a tea cup in case of longlasting fevers
• Cornu cervi usti [burnt cornu-cervi]
• Oculi cancri [gastro stones of the crayfish, koortsdempend]
• Sal tartari vitriolati [potassium carbonate; against fever]: ana ʒ ß
• Succus [de] limonibus [lemon juice]: ʒ I
• Aqua menthae [mint tea]: ℥ I
• [Aqua] communis [normal water]: ℥ VII
• Spiritus nitri dulcis [spiritus aetheris nitrox, ethyl nitrite]: gutta, plural guttaedropguttae XX

• ʒ drachma = 3 scruple, so approximately 4 g
• ℥ uncia = ounce = 8 drachmae, so approximately 31 g
• āā en ān: and ānn = ana (Gr.) take an equal amount of all
• ß = ½ of the given amount