As regards the offensiveness of the medicine: let the medicine be compounded so that when its taste is offensive and when it is not possible to take it or retain it in the stomach a fragrant and savory medicine is mixed with it to destroy its offensiveness. For that reason Hippocrates said to mix wild carrot with black hellebore, and Galen said to mix anise with
To lower high potency of the medicine, let the medicine be compounded when it is too powerful. As for example, opium which is cold in the fourth degree is compounded, so as to reduce its excessive coldness, with castoreum which is hot.