Lesson Four:

Lab #1: Cure for Boils

Boil: An infection located in a gland or a hair follicle.

Goggles must be worn at all times (dragonhide gloves are strongly suggested), and if something get's in ones eye, Ephesial’s Eye-Saving Rinse may be used. The Stirring charm may also be useful. The incantation is Halato (“hah-LAH-toh”) and the wand movement is smooth, even circles across the top of the surface. 

Cure for Boils:

Estimated Brewing Time (EBT):

• Pewter cauldron: 45 minutes
• Brass cauldron: 39 minutes
• Copper cauldron: 33 minutes

Ingredients:

• 750 ml of water
• 6 snake fangs
• 4 horned slugs
• 2 porcupine quills
• Flobberworm mucus

Instructions:

1. Add 750 ml of water to your cauldron and bring the temperature to 363 Kelvin (90°C/194°F).
2. Add all 6 snake fangs to your mortar and crush them into a fine and even consistency using your pestle.
3. Take the tablespoon spoon you see beside your mortar and add 4 measures of the fangs to your cauldron.
4. Heat your cauldron to 383 Kelvin (110°C/230°F) for 10 seconds, then turn down the flame to 363 Kelvin (90°C/194°F). 5. Wave your wand once clockwise. At this point your potion should have a pink hue.
5. Depending on your cauldron, your brew times will vary. For the purpose of today’s lesson, you can leave your Pewter Cauldron brewing for 22 minutes. Throughout much of this Potions’ brewing, you will notice that, even as the color of the Potion changes, the smoke remains pinkish in hue. (If you were using a Brass Cauldron, the brew time would be approximately 19 minutes. Copper Cauldrons have a brew time of 16 minutes during this step.)
6.  At this point, all 4 Horned Slugs should be added directly to the cauldron.
7. It is important during this step to take your cauldron completely off the flame before adding your porcupine quills. Failure to do so will result in the Potion emitting a terrible odor and your cauldron melting. When this happens, the compound is known to cause very painful boils.
8. Now that your cauldron is off the flame, add 2 porcupine quills to the Potion and then return it to the heat.
9. Wave your wand 5 times clockwise and ensure that the heat is still at 363 Kelvin (90°C/194°F).
10. Let the Potion finish brewing for 17 minutes. (This would be 15 minutes for a brass cauldron or 12 minutes for copper.)
11. At this point, take your cauldron off the flame entirely. The potion should be sky blue in color, and the Potion will begin to stop steaming as it cools down.
12.  Add Flobberworm Mucus (about 3 measures), and leave to thicken for about 5 minutes.
13. Stir the Potion to ensure it is of a uniform consistency, and then use a funnel to bottle it in a clear glass or crystal phial. Remember to correctly label your phial before storing it.