7th. They wrought in the morning, and I did keep my bed, and my pain continued on me mightily that I kept within all day in great pain, and could break no wind nor have any stool after my physic had done working. So in the evening I took coach and to Mr. Holliard’s, but he was not at home, and so home again, and whether the coach did me good or no I know not . . . . So to bed and lay in good ease all night, and . . . . pretty well to the morning . . . . .
[Pepys’s prescription for the colic:
“Balsom of Sulphur,
3 or 4 drops in a spoonfull of Syrrup of Colts
foote, not eating or
drinking two hours before or after.
“The making of this Balsom:
“2/3ds of fine
Oyle, and 1/3d of fine Brimstone, sett 13 or 14
houres upon yt fire,
simpring till a thicke Stufte lyes at ye
Bottome, and ye Balsom
at ye topp. Take this off &c.
“Sir Rob. Parkhurst for ye Collique.”—M. B.]
8th. So, keeping myself warm, to the office, and at noon home to dinner, my pain coming again by breaking no wind nor having any stool. So to Mr. Holliard, and by his direction, he assuring me that it is nothing of the stone, but only my constitution being costive, and that, and cold from without, breeding and keeping the wind, I took some powder that he did give me in white wine, and sat late up, till past eleven at night, with my wife in my chamber till it had done working, which was so weakly that I could hardly tell whether it did work or no. My mayds being at this time in great dirt towards getting of all my house clean, and weary and having a great deal of work to do therein to-morrow and next day, were gone to bed before my wife and I, who also do lie in our room more like beasts than Christians, but that is only in order to having of the house shortly in a cleaner, or rather very clean condition. Some ease I had so long as this did keep my body loose, and I slept well.