On the 28th of this month, as we were lying before the fortress of Chama, our captain Jan Minkenveld came to me. He complained bout pain in all of his limbs and about vomiting. I found that he had a fever intermittens, sporadic fever. He asked for a doses of laxative pills as he had an aversion to taking powders.
I gave him five pills (prescription 12) of the kind that I had given him often before, and he said that they were easy on him. Afterwards, as the vomiting and fever got worse, I prescribed another mixture (prescription 13). I could not get him to take an emetic on my request.
Since he strongly complained about pain in his head, which in my view was caused by the fever, I also laid two bandages on his head. During the fever attacks he was delirious. I boiled a barley drink (prescription 14) for him, of which I let him drink to his satisfaction.
R/ Misce fac pillulae n. quinque [mix and make five pills], in case of gonnorhea take it in the evening when one goes to bed.
- Extractum catholicum [panacea, general medicine]: gr. XII
- Resina jalappae [resin from jalappa tree]
- Mercurius dulcis [calmomel; sweet mercury]: gr. VI ana
- Oleum anisi [anise oil]: guttae II
- ℈ 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 13
R/ Misce fac mixtura cardialga [mix and make a mixture against the heavy pains in the abdominal area], when vomitting, every 3 hours a tea cup full.
- Aqua melissae [melisse tea]
- [Aqua] menthae [mint tea]: ℥ III
- [Aqua] prophilactica: ℥ I
- Diascordium Fracastorii [opium containing mixture of herbs to lick according to or Hieronymus Fracastoriusa doctor in Trente, 15th/16th centuryGirolamo Fracastoro]: ℥ I
- Oculi cancri [gastro stones of the crayfish]
- Corallum rubrum [red coral; antipyretic]: ana ℥ I
- Sal prunellae [prunella salt, melted saltpeter]: ℈ II
- Spiritus nitri dulcis [spiritus aetheris nitrox, ethyl nitrite]: gutta, mv guttaedruppelguttae XX
- ℈ 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 14
R/ Misce fac phitisana [mix and make a barley drink], in case of fevers used against thirst]
- Aqua hordei [barley water]: uncias quatuor
- Cornu cervi rasparati [grated burnt cornu-cervi]: pugillos duos
- Radix liquiritiae [radix liquiritiae; liquorice]: ℥ I
- Coque quantum satis aquae communis [boil as much as needed in normal water]
- Spiritus nitri dulcis [spiritus aetheris nitrox, ethyl nitrite]: guttae XXX
- ℈ 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
- pug: = pugillus, plural: pugilli = between thumb and index finger
