Objective:

To present an 18th century prescription used in the Viceroyalty of New Granada, which describes the treatment of ocular complications of smallpox, specifying the use of linseed (Linum usitatissimum), saffron (Crocus sativus) and mallow of Castilla (Malva sylvestris) in its preparation.

Materials and Methods:

Search in the historical archive of the Octavio Arizmendi Posada Library at the University of La Sabana (Chía, Colombia), where a collection of around a hundred prescriptions of the 18th century is preserved; transcribing one of them entitled “Cocimiento para los ojos”, with a subsequent review of relevant scientific literature.

Conclusions:

This colonial prescription shows its usefulness to relieve ocular symptoms of smallpox, as an emollient effective for external use, as a clear example of the therapy required. In addition, this prescription should also be recognized as a documentary example of the historical evolution of medicine and the work of herbal medicine, from the colonial times of the then overseas territories of the Spanish Crown.

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