N. 22

A male slave died on the 27th of the same month after having had diarrhea for two months. I often purged him with the powder of a burned root and after that I gave him a syrupy drink (prescription 7) together with the decoction (prescription 8) and a glass of wine. Often I gave him a piece of hard bread until he seemed sufficiently recovered. But on the 26th, while he was eating, he started puking very badly. I decided to purge him again using the mentioned powder. But on the previously mentioned day, the 27th, while I was giving him a glass of wine, he fainted and had diarrhea. He did not wake up again.

Prescription 7: In case of dysentery

R/ Misce fac conditum [mix and make a viscous potion] in the morning and evening ʒ I

• Conserva rosarum rubrarum [rose hip conserve; against scurvy]: ℥ I
• Diascordium Fracastorii [diascord, is a kind of electuary, or opiate, first described by Fracastorius, and denominated from the dried leaves of scordium, which is an ingredient therein]: ℥ß
• Balzamum copaivae [copaiba is a certain Surinam type of wood; used in case of syphilis]: ʒ VI
• Sanguis draconis [dragon’s blood; a bright red resin that is obtained from different species of a number of distinct plant genera: Croton, Dracaena, Daemonorops, Calamus rotang and Pterocarpus; styptic]
• Pulvis cornu cervi usti [powder of burnt cornu-cervi]: ana ʒ III
• Laudanum opiatum [opium drops, analgetic]: gr: VIII
• Oleum menthae [mint oil]: gutta, plural guttaedropguttae X

• ℈ scruple = 20 grain, so approximately 1,3 g
• ʒ drachma = 3 scruple, so approximately 4 g
• ℥ uncia = ounce = 8 drachmae, so approximately 31 g
• ß = ½ of the given amount
• āā en ān: and ānn = ana (Gr.) take an equal amount of all

Prescription 8: to drink in cases of heavy thirst, hot fevers and of all burning diseases

R/ Fiat decoctum [liquid]

• Herba altheae [agrimony]
• [Herba] menthae [peppermint]
• Cornu cervi rasparati [grated cornu-cervi]: manupulum unam
• Radix liquiritiae [liquorice]: ℥ I
• Aqua communis [normal water]: quantum sufficit
• Spiritus nitri dulcis [spiritus aetheris nitrox, ethyl nitrite]: guttae XXXX

• ℥ uncia = ounce = 8 drachmae, so approximately 31 g
• āā en ān: and ānn = ana (Gr.) take an equal amount of all
• man: = manupulus = a handful