Page:Chronicles of pharmacy (Volume 2).djvu/163

 In some dictionaries Mindererus is credited with the invention of the word, but incorrectly. He uses it, but expressly attributes it to Paracelsus. In his "Medicina Militaris," for example, he advises the army doctor to "be provided with a good plaister for wounds made by thrusting (spear-wounds) such as are the opodeldoc of Theophrastus." Schröder, another medical author of about the same date (1600) also refers to the "oppodeldoch plaister of Paracelsus." Paracelsus only uses the term opodeldoc for plasters, and for these he does not give a specific formula. One of his annotators, Felix Wurtz, however, states that the following was the method of preparing the great opodeldoch plaster which Paracelsus was in the habit of using. Its formula was as follows:—

Galbanum, opoponax, of each 3 oz.; ammoniacum, bdellium, of each 1 oz. Macerate for eight days in distilled vinegar and slowly evaporate the solution to the consistence of honey. Then boil together, litharge in fine powder, 1/2 lb., with 1-1/2 lb. of oil, stirring until the compound acquires the colour of bay. Add 1 lb. of wax, and when melted mix with the solution the gums above mentioned, and soon after add 3 oz. of oil of laurinus. Stir all these diligently until they are perfectly mixed, then remove from the fire and work in the following powders, all finely powdered:—

Crocus martial, mummy, prepared magnet, magistery of white coral, and magistery of red coral, of each 1/2 oz.; calamine, myrrh, frankincense, mastich, aristolochia root, of each 2 oz. Stir these gradually with the liquefied plaster.

Separately mix 1 drachm of powdered amber, 1 drachm of oil of laurinus, and 1/2 oz. of turpentine, and add to them 1 drachm of camphor and 1/2 drachm of saffron. Add this mixture to the plaster, and when perfectly blended form into magdaleons (rolls). These may be slightly softened with oil of St. John's wort.

The author explains that this plaster will heal all wounds and all ordinary ulcers without the formation of pus; but for rodent ulcers he recommends the addition