DBook III OF SVPHILIS 281

tion, in whom the substance of the disease is more sluggish and
highly viscous and lodged in the remoter parts of the body, can.
drink it more safely; for in their case it will be advisable to add
what will bring out the virtues of the wood, and also subtilize
it and be agreeable to the organs. Hence many doctors add
honey, many others add wine, not during the process of decoc—
tion, but later, because when decocted it makes a very harsh
and disagreeable drink.

'"The wood is prepared in the following way. Make a powder
(scrapings) from it, with a file, but do not bruise or cut it; 1 Ib.
of the powder to 12 Ibs. of water infused for 24 hours in a pot
holding 16 Ibs.; cook it over a slow fire; take off the froth care—
fully and keep it for use as I shall describe. Do this till it is
half the original amount. Strain this first decoction and let it
stand, then decoct a second time, by adding to the powder that
is left in the pot an equal number of Ibs. of water, (i.e. 12 Ibs.).
It will be sufficient if this is decocted till it is reduced by one
fourth of the amount.  'This second decoction should be adminis—
tered instead of wine, but the first decoction I administer as &
drug. Some prefer to add senna or hermodactyls or the like,
when making the first decoction; others add these only every
five or six days. 'The patient is given 7 or 8 oz. of the first
decoction in the early morning, in a warm room so arranged that
there is no ventilation.'*' Do not let him rise from his bed
for three hours, but wait till he sweats. Five hours after the
draught, he may have his first meal. Six hours after that, give
him 5 oz. of the same decoction again, that is if he can stand it,
and four hours later he may dine. Formerly the patient was
never allowed to leave his room for a whole month, but now
greater liberty is permitted. Also he was then allowed only
just enough nourishment to keep him alive, i. e. 3 oz. of bread,
or 4 oz. at most, 2 oz. of chicken meat, and 1 oz. of raisins.  Wine
was not allowed, and instead they gave the patient the second
decoction, either unflavored or with honey added. But now—
adays the whole treatment is far less strict; he is allowed to go
out of doors, and is given a more abundant diet. However,
those who consent to undergo with patience the whole treat—
ment can be more safely cured and with less risk of relapse.
8ome doctors prescribe biscuit (toast?), I suppose because they
think it drying. But in my opinion this sort of dryness is not
the kind that we desire to effect. We are not trying to achieve