THE Hypocistis is a thick Juice made from a kind of a Spring or Bud, that arises from the Root of an Under-shrub, call'd Cistus, very common in Provence and Languedoc, from whence we bring the Hypocistis we sell. Mr. Charas, and after him Mr. Meuve, have well describ'd the Shape and Colour of this young Shoot, as well as the Shrub that bears it; the Figure of which I thought sufficient to give you, as engrav'd from the Original.
Chuse Hypocistis that is boil'd to a good Consistence, like Juice of Liquorice; that is to say, firm, of a shining black, the least burnt, the most astringent to the Taste that may be, and that which is true. I name the true Hypocistis, because Mr. Meuve says, that the Apothecaries, who wou'd deceive the World, generally use the Juice of the Root of Goats-beard dry'd in the Sun. But I can never believe this for three Reasons: First, because the Hypocistis is an Extract that is sold very cheap; as well because the Buds are very common in Provence, as by reason they yield a great deal of Juice. The Second is, because the Extract of the Root of Goat's-beard sells for more than the true Hypocistis. And the third is, because Mr. Charas, from whom Mr. Meuve pretends to copy, makes no mention at all of it.
This Juice is cold and dry, therefore it thickens and binds strongly, and is us'd chiefly to stop all Fluxes of the Belly, Womb, and Stomach. It stops vomiting and spitting of Blood, from Bruises. Acacia is often us'd instead of it, but is not so effectual and good. This Juice is depurated by dissolving it in Water or Wine, and inspissating; it is made up into Rolls or Troches to stop spitting of Blood, and Fluxes, Catarrhs, &c. The Tincture checks a Gonorrhoea, and the Whites; heals a Corrosion of the Bowels, occasioned by the Sharpness of Humours. A Lohoch made of it, with Wine and Honey, is chiefly us'd against Ulcers in the Lungs, Stomach, and Bowels.
Hypocistis, is a Kind of Orobanche, or a Sort of Sprig or Shoot that grows, in Spring-time, upon the Foot or Root of the Cistus, which is very common in hot Countries, as Provence, Languedoc, &c. and bears Leaves that are almost round, hairy, rough, whitish, and the Flowers purple. The Shoot grows about half a Foot high, of an Inch or two's Thickness, and sometimes more, being round, and much larger at Top than at the Bottom; brittle, and of a yellow Colour, full of Juice, having certain Rings or Knots from one Place to the other, like Water Lilly Root. They cut this little Plant towards May, when they bruise and draw from it, by Expression, an acid Juice, which they evaporate over the Fire, to the Consistence of an Extract, that is hard and black as Juice of Liquorice, but in Shape of little Cakes, for the Convenience of Carriage. This is call'd, according to the Plant, Hypocistis, which ought to be fresh, heavy, black, without the Smell of Burning, of an acrid astringent Taste. It contains a great deal of acid essential Salt, intimately mix'd with Earth and Oil. It is proper to stop Looseness and Vomiting, and to put into any strengthening and binding Plaisters.