On the 18th of this month Adriaan de Puit, the third watch from Goes, came to me. He complained about pain in his side and in his stomach. I gave him a sudorific mixture (prescription 2) and a bloodletting. He was young and healthy, but it was to no advantage and the pain remained. I noticed then that he was badly infected with worms. I gave him a purgative: three drachmae of pulverized mirabilis jalapa roots, as well as a emetic: three drachmae of pulverized vomit root. He lost a worm of considerable length: around three or four 1 fathom = 6 feet (170 cm)fathoms. It had been broken off. He was relieved of pain to some extent. But it came back, so I gave him a purgative like the one mentioned before, after which he lost another worm. Then I gave him an infusion (prescription 11) of which he had to take a small glass in the morning and in the evening. He also used the wormwood elixir and lost another worm. I gave him another purgative as earlier prescribed after which he took a laxative as an infusion.

Prescription 2

R/ Misce fac mixtura sudorificans [mix and make a sudorific mixture] , every two hours a spoonful against fever

• Cornu cervi usti [burnt cornu-cervi]: ℥ ß
• 69
• Sal tartari vitriolati [potassium carbonate; against fever]: ana
• Sijrupus [de] limonibus [lemon juice]: ℥ ß
• Aqua cinamoni [cinnamon tea]: ʒ II
• [Aqua] cardui benedicti [tea with an extract of a blessed thisle]: ℥ III
• [Aqua] melissethee [melissa tea]: ℥II

Prescription 11

R/ Vinum album [white wine] 3 pints of which to drink half a romer [type of wine glass, approximately 45 g]

• Absinthium vulgare [regular absynthe]: manupulum unam
• Dulcamare [bittersweet; blood-cleansing]: ℥ II
• Flores centaureae minoris [avens flowers]: ℥ I
• Radix gentian [gentian root]
• [Radix] rhei [rhubarb root]: ana ℥ I
• [Radix] angelica [angelica; used to treat tapeworms]: ℥ ß
• Semen anisi [anise seeds]
• [Semen] cumini [cumin seeds]: ℥ ß

• ℈ 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
• romer = 1½ ounce, so approximately 45 g