On the 16th of this month Otto Wesman, a sailor from Stockholm, came to me. He complained about not being well, and he had palpito cordi, or heart palpitations, he also had a fever. A few days later he was coughing and had chest pains as well. He told me many times that he had lost his ship in the North Sea on the previous journey, and that he had since then felt anxious and uneasy. I found out that he had hypochondria so I did a bloodletting of eight ounces. I gave him an elixir against hysteria (prescription 4) to take in the morning and evening. Furthermore I gave him an extract (prescription 7) and, after some days, a pulverized anti-fever (prescription 5). He recovered on the 8th of November and took his shift again.

Prescription 4

R/ Misce fac anthijsterica [mix and make against hysteria], in the morning and evening 30 drops in hypochondria

• Elixer proprietatis Paracelsi [alcoholic extraction of saffron, aloe and myrhh according to Paracelsus, amongst others used against scurvy]: ℥ I
• Tinctura castoreum [tincture with castoreum as a base]
• [Tinctura] succini [tincture with amber as a base]: ana ℈ II
• Spiritus salis armoneaci [salty liquorice]: ℈ I

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

Prescription 7

R/ Misce fac aposema, cum satis quantum aquae pluvialis [mix and make as much as needed]

• Herba tussilago [butterbur herb]
• [Herba] agrimonia[e]  [agrimony]: ana manipulum unam
• [Herba] althea [common marshmallow herb]
• [Herba] hijsopi [hyssop herb]
• [Herba] cardui benedicti  [herb of a blessed thistle]: pugillos duos

• āā en ān: and ānn = ana (Gr.) take an equal amount of all
• man: = manupulus = a handful
• pug: = pugillus, plural: pugilli = between thumb and index finger

Prescription 5

R/ Misce fac pulvis antefebrilis doses [mix and make a powder against fever]: ℈ II.

• Antimonium diaphoreticum [diaphoretic antimony]
• Cornu cervi usti [burnt cornu-cervi]
• Corallum rubrum [red coral; antipyretic]
• Oculi cancri [gastro stones of the crayfish]: ana: ℥ I
• Contrajervae [dorstenia contrajerva, 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 extract of a blessed thisle]
• [Sal] nitri [saltpetre]: ana ʒ II
• Flores croci [saffron flowers]: 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