Trochisci Viperini
Troches of Vipers,
also called Viperine Pastils,
or Theriacal Pastils

Troches of Vipers was regarded as the best way of keeping Vipers, so was the preferred method of use. It was also an easier way to trade Viper as a medicine.

It was prepared in ancient times by boiling in water with Dill, but later physicians believed this led to a loss of much of the vertues, so the above method was used.

Viper flesh has been important in most Traditions since ancient times. It is regarded as being able to penetrate the finest vessels and channels, clear Wind and Damp and renovate the body. It has a long association with longevity, and an equally long history of use against chronic and obstinate diseases such as Rheumatism and Leprosy.

Salmon said “the constant use of them for some time changes the Natural State, and as it were renovates or renews the whole man to a wonder … they quicken the Sight, cause a good Color, and are Pectoral”.

“These are called Viperine or Theriacal Pastils; for whose confection, the Vipers must be taken about the end of the Spring, or beginning of Summer, when they have been recreated with their wonted meat and air: The Female should be rather selected then the Male, but not while pregnant; but agile, with a long neck, a fiery aspect, rutilous and red eyes, a broad compressed head, a snout reflected upwards, an ample belly, a tail not involved, growing more gracile by little and little, void of flesh, a firm, but slow pace. The Males tail grows sensibly more gracile, and is not destitute of flesh; the trunk of its body is smaller, its neck thicker, its head more angust, with only two canine teeth; the Female hath four. Such as inhabit salt and maritimous places, are not selegible; those that are taken new, are better then the old, But that they may be rightly prepared, they should be killed with Rods; for their anger being thereby incensed, they will spit out their poison. Their head and tai] must be abscinded from them when beaten, each of them to the measure of four fingers, which is enough in greater Vipers: those, which after this amputation, move no longer, nor effuse any more blood, but lye still; and are exanguous, must be rejected as useless: The useful must be excoriated, eviscerated, and purged from all their fatness, washed well three or four times in clearwater, and then cocted in a fit pot, with sufficient of water, with a little Salt, and more or less of green Dill, as the number of the Vipers is, in the prudent Apothecaries judgement; as, one handful and a half, or two, for four or five Vipers: which number will make, up. three ounces of Trochisks, requisite for the confection of the Theriack. They must be cofted on a luculent, but not a violent fire, without smoke, that their flesh may be easily detracted from their spina; then the separated flesh must be brayed in a stone Mortar, with a wooden-Pestel, exactly: whereunto, in pulveration, a third or fourth part of dry pulverated white bread Must be adjected, that six dragms, or one ounce of bread, may respond to four ounces of flesh; He that adds more bread, makes the Pastiles more imbecile; and he that adds less, more efficacious.

The flesh and bread thus mixed by triture, and subacted into Paste, must be made into Pastils or Orbicles. They act perperously, who inject any of the broth, wherein this flesh was decocted, into the triture; for so it becomes too humid, the Trochisks thereof too
rancid, contacting filth, and not easy to be exsiccated [dried]: they must be small, and composed with hands anointed: with the Oyl of Balm, Cloves, or Nutmeg; they must be reposed, dryed, and kept; daily in a dry, but not. an aprique place.

They are indued with much vertue against the bitings of veneate Animals: from them the Theriack mutuates its so profitable a faculty, and all other things that help the Leprosy, and bitings of mad Dogs”. (A Medicinal Dispensatory, Renou, 1657)