yet dilute but alike in all parts which besides its sweetness participates of the acrimonious sapour of Thyme but no perceptible part thereof in odour according to Oribasius c. 62. l. 2. collect And as Honey by long coction so by long keeping i will grow bitter for Galen saith c. 11. l. 1. de antidot that he kept Athenian Honey which we account the best so long as in amaritude it resembled that which the Bees collect in Pontus It were supervacaneous to treat any more of Honey since we have abundantly spoken thereof in the third Chapter of the third Book of our Institutions CHAP. VII Of Manna MAnna is the most excellent and divine gift of Nature and not onely that which God preternaturally bestowed on the Israelites but this also which like Honey or Sugar-dew distills upon leaves and daily offers it self for our use For our vulgar Husbandmen do no less admire their small Manna than the Israelites did their Sugar-hail whil'st exulting they sing Jupiter rains Honey down whence it is called Areomel by the Arabians Terenjabin and in the sacred Scriptures Manna with which our Manna or Manna Thuris accords onely in name which is produced by the elision of two bundles one against another for therby certain small fragrancies are congested which is collected for Manna Thuris There is also another kinde they call Manna Larigna collected of the broken boughs of the Larix tree but both these too licentiously usurp this title for Manna properly so called which is used by Physicians for I do not speak of the Man-hâ— or Manna of the Hebrews is celestial dew sweet and gratefull delabing about the day-spring upon the boughs and leaves of trees and herbs which speedily concretes into the consistency of a gum That is best which is collected of leaves and is called Manna de folio and that worst which is called Manna de terra Now the Calabrian Manna especially that which comes out of a certain part of Oenotria is thought the best where it descends every Summer and is gather'd of all Brassavel in exam fimpl Brassavelus tels us Historia how the Neopolitan Kings once occluded this place that none might assume it without toll or tribute but the Manna thereupon ceased to descend the tribute being taken off and the hindrances removed the Manna again descended the place being again occluded it ceased the inclosure or hedge being again taken away it descended so that the Kings were glad to leave it free and permit any to collect it that would The same is storied of the Tragasaan of Salt in Epirus up 〈◊〉 which when Lysimachus imposed a tribute there was none to be found when the tribute was contra-decreed the Salt redounded c. 12. l. 9. Rhod. Cal. But that I may not further rove there is a kâ—â—de of Manna in France commonly called Manna Briansonnensis which Medicks sometimes use for want of Calabriensis but it is not near so good There is another kinde round called Manna Mastichina Manna mâ—sichina which beaten from the boughs and leaves of trees by the impetuousness of the winde which delabes like hail but neither from Heaven nor from the Air which is improperly called Manna being the tears of trees or their juice concreted Manna is moderately hot it lenifies the throat asper-artery and breast it benignly moves the belly and purges watry humours especially the small Manna as that which comes from Calabria not Terenjabin which the Arabians say is like Honey which we use not because we want it CHAP. VIII Of Cordial Flowers and first of Violets A Violet which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grows in opake and rough places at the foundations of walls or margins of gardens and sometimes in meadows it is green all the year long and flourishes sometimes in February most frequently in March whence it is called Mars his Flower and sometimes in Autumn if it be cultivated it leaves are like Ivy leaves but less and thinner of a short stalk in the end whereof grows a Flower of a ceruleous purple colour and odour like Flower de luce It brings forth a small seed in little round leaves about the end of Summer Now Violets are multifarious and different in colours for some are white some blew and other in a mean betwixt both There are some also which stand upon longer and harder stalks whose flowers are like a purple colour others which are tricolorous and grow upon quadrate slender succulent and reptile stalks in dry places whose leaves are more angust long and lascivious than others from its three-fold colour some call it the herb Trinity others the flammeous Violet and the vulgar Frenchmen the Minute pensea Other small stocks of Violets have got names which because Phyficians seldome use we omit But the martial Violets are wholly used for their flowers being endued with an exhilarating faculty Vires are mixed with Cordials their seeds and leaves being malactical ingrede the decoction of Glysters and confection of Cataplasms All men conclude that their Flowers are refrigerative yet that acrimony they leave in the mouth by mastication speaks them to participate of some calour But because that calour is fugitive being overcome by their exuberant frigidity the Medicks judge them to be frigid CHAP. IX Of the Flowers of Bugloss BUgloss so tearmed from its similitude to an Oxes tongue because it is eximious in inducing hilarity is by Dioscorides and Pliny called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it hath long broad rough leaves like Cumfrey but straiter shorter and not of so obscure a green Its stalks are bicubital brachiate rough its flowers replenished with spots like stars ceruleous shining in the bottome whereof is a long obscure pithy seed It s root is long crass black without white within succubent sweet it grows in gardens in fandy and also in plain places There is no variety neither in nature nor shape amongst the Hortensian Buglosses onely the flowers of some are white of others purpureous and vulgarly ceruleous But the wild ones differ much for some are alwayes green which will like in any region others are very sharp whose leaves are rigid with prominent pricks which by some are mistaken for Anchusa so named from the blood wherewith its root infects the tangent Bugloss is of a hot and moyst or rather a middle temperature whence it is reckoned amongst the exhilarative Plants which Galen was not ignorant of when c. 80. l. 6. de simpl med he wrote that Bugloss immerged in Wine would cause joy and hilarity CHAP. X. Of Borrage flowers BOrrage is an herb notorious enough its leaves and faculties bear an affinity with Bugloss for both their leaves are long resembling a Neats tongue but Borrage leaves are shorter and broader which the rigour of the winter soon corrupts and kills but Bugloss bears it out and grows but especially its root and those leaves that are next ground flourish It bears broad ceruleous flowers and sometimes white larger
bark but somwhat rough especially when inveterate its wood is white soft and meoullous its leafes ample quinquefariously disterminated quinqueangular rough hard and obscurely green its fruits which are at first small and green afterwards greater and either white or red with a turbinated figure erupt about the exortion of its leafes without any praevious flowers and as some Figgs are more forward and sweeter then others so are some whiter some redder some blacker then others all are soft medullous and gravidated with small graines while they are immature if they be vulnerated with the stalks or ends of leafes they will emitt a lacteous acrimonious and amare humour There is another low Fig-Tree very like the former excepting procerity which growes in a prique places and somtimes in Septentrionall regions Another wild and infaecund one responds to these in effigies which is celebrated for no medicinall use There is also an Indian Fig-Tree which some think is that same that Pliny calls Opuntia which is a Plant without boughs without Caules consisting onely of leafes which hath not yet been experienced in medicinall uses The best Figges come from Massilia which may be substituted in defect of Dactyls Vires they calefy moderately nourish lubricate the belly but do not generate very laudable blood they attenuate leviate maturefy concoct and profit the asper artery the reins Lungs and Bladder a dry Figge is called Carica by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by which word Matthiolus designes Apias Figg-Tree leafes move baemorrhoids if the Fundament be rubbed therewith the so much celebrated Antidote Mythridate is made of Figgs Rue and Nutts whose composition we have described in the History of Rue Figgs are of much more utility which for brevity sake I will not recenseate See Dioscorides C. 183. and 184. Lib. 1. CHAP. XIX Of Dactyls or Dates DActyls are the fruits of Palmes growing in Aegypt Crete and Judaea which attaining maturity are by Galen called Phaenicobalani the best come from Judaea they are great flave somwhat rugous soft but carnous subdure within white towards the Kernell red towards the cortex of a vinous sapour they sound little or nothing when concussed the flaccid hard and macilent are worse Now there is no small difference in Palmes Galen himself being Judge for some are dry and astrictive as the Aegyptian ones others soft humid and sweet as those we call Chariotae but the best grow in Syria Palestine and many Eastern regions where they suppeditate both meat and drink to the incolists The Trunk of a Palme is crasse round and high rough with dense and gradate notches by the adjument of whose inaequality the orientall incolists can easily ascend their summityes its leafes are Arundinaceous long and acuminated many proceeding out of one exortion according to the longitude of the boughs it beares much fruit on its summity as it were racemously cohaereing but their pedicles are more prolix whereof there are many sorts but the sweet and succulent ones such as grow in Judaea Syria and Palestine are best they are of a yellow or luteous colour neither great nor yet small the green insuave and juicelesse are naught Galen's judgement of the qualityes of the Palme and its fruits is this All the parts of the Palme-Tree saith he participate of an astrictive faculty for the austere succe of its boughs consists of an aqueous tepid terrene and frigid substance But it s sweet fruits have much of calidity they profit the stomack and breast Vires suggest laudable nutriment and are meat for many Nations CHAP. XX. Of Olives THat Olives and their fat juice called oyle appertain to esculents each one knowes for Olives nobilitate rich mens Tables to excite appetite and their oyle is usurped not only in confecting acetaryes frying fishes and praepareing other meats but also in confecting unguents and salves Now Olives are the fruit of a Tree of a moderate magnitude which the French call Olivetum the Latines Olea which especially the sative assurges with a long Caule for the wild one is lower with many oblong boughs laterally diffused hard and pallidly virid like willow boughs with white racemous flowers whereunto oblong carnous succulent berryes called Olives at first green after black with hard stones within succeed the fruit derives its name from the Tree and the succe from the fruit This Tree delights in dry places and hot regions as in Spain Italy and France for it willingly amplects a hot squalid air it either growes not at all or else is sterile and tabid in the Septentrionall regions The Greeks call Olives drawing to maturity and blacknesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the French Drupae when they are condited with salt the Greeks call them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oyle simply so called is extracted from them when they are mature Omphacinum when immature but let herbalists be sought for larger treatises hereabout Immature Olives are astrictive mature are temperate when condited they recrate the palate excite appetite resiccate and roborate the too humid ventricle nourish little and yet not very laudable blood we have else where treated largely of oyle and its facultyes CHAP. XXI Of Acerb Grapes and Raisons VIne is a name put upon many Plants which agrees only properly to the viniferous ones for they call Viburn the blessed Virgins Sigill and other tall Plants by this name whereas the viniferous domestick is properly so denominated whereof there are many differences desumed from their sapour magnitude colour and state of the Heavens In a generall acception all Vines are either white or black but many are now variegated of a mixed colour which are neither white nor black but rather subrubrous or flave whose Wines are neither absolutely white nor red nor black but mixed flave yellow and obscure according to the various colours of the Grapes from which they are expressed And as all mature Grapes are sweet so all immature ones are acerb and insuave whence Omphacium may be had out of any immature Grapes though it be most usually expressed out of such as are acid and more insuave when mature whose branches are crasser and longer which are deduced commonly to arbour which beare crasse and acerb Grapes whose succe goes to the confection of Omphacium and syrup of Agresta Raisons are the mature fruits of the viniferous Vine so called because they have indured exsiccatory calour they may also derive that name from their sweetnesse as well as calour As passum vinum or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. sweet so all sorts of Raisons are sweet except these of our Countrey which dryed in an Oven are dulcoacid All of them are temperately hot in the first degree and very astrictive if they be eaten with their stones and so they help the dysenterian acerb Grapes refrigerate and astringe CHAP. XXII Of the Curran-Bush and Gooseberry-Tree THe Curran-Tree is a fronticose Plant scarce aculeated with any spines emitting many tortuous not
Anise but longer and sharper There are other Plants like this which are taken for it Thus Theophrastus calls Carret Daucus Thus wild Pastinaca and Caucalis borrow the denomination of Daucus It s seed Vires which is frequently used in Medicine calefies siccates opens incides moves flowers and urine and discusses flatuosity We have before treated of Smallage whose seed is reckoned amongst the lesser Calefactives CHAP. XXXVIII Of some eximious Flowers from which most efficacious Waters and Oils are extracted and first of Roses ROse is so common spontaneously growing in every hedge that it cannot but be known There are two sorts hereof one wild which is called Cynorrhodon or Dog-rose the other Garden-rose which we call Rose absolutely whereof there are many sorts to wit red white pale incarnate luteous ceruleous which grows in many places in Italy and the mosellate Rose which flourishes in Autumn Other varieties may be educed out of these by art and mangony but three onely are used in Medicine to wit white red and damask waters are distilled out of the white Honey of Roses Conserve Oil and Unguent of the red and Syrup laxative are made of the damask There are many parts in Roses to wit the flower the stalk capillaments granules little flowers the calix the seed the daun Some call those little flowers that adhere to the capillaments Anthera but Anthera properly is a compound Medicament used to the affections of the mouth as it appears by Actuarius c 7. l. 6. meth med by Celsus c. 11. l. 6. by Oribasius and Marcellus All Roses have not the same faculty for the pale relax the red astringe both roborate as also the common white and sweet Roses for all sweet odours recreate and refresh the spirits as also those vital and animal parts that hold the principality CHAP. XXXIX Of Nymphea or Water-Lilly THis Nymphea which the Poets feign to have sprung from a dead Nymph that was jealous of Hercules is the most used of all water-plants in Medicine whereof Pharmacopolists make two sorts one greater which bea rt white flowers the other less which bears luteous flowers Both grow in standing waters and fens The greater hath ample round and green leaves gracile long smooth and round stalks white flowers in candour and magnitude resembling Lillyes and yellow in the middle a black nodous and long root some call it Water Lilly some Neâ—â—ybar and others Heraclea The lesser grows in a slimy watty soyl on slender stalks about 〈◊〉 cubits long whereon a yellow shining flower grows like a Rose its root is white nodous sharp and sweet Nymphea refrigerates exceedingly asswages salacity Vires retains the immoderate flux of the seed and being drunk and exhibited by way of liniment it quite extinguishes the seed it conciliates sleep and wholly takes away Venery if its decoction or conserve or syrup made of its flowers be long used CHAP. XL. Of Lilly Lilly is by some of the Greeks called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by others who believe that it was produced by Juno her milk it is called Juno's Rose in Garlands it is placed next to the Rose for its eximious candour suaveolence and elegant form illustrate its dignity This Plant is very fecund for one root will produce and nourish fifty heads It consists commonly of one stalk two cubits high and sometimes higher comous with leaves like Ragwort but something longer twined and green with a flower in form of a basket whole labra constitute a circle out of which bottom issue shining tufts like yellow yearn and whose extremity is tuberous This broad and elegant flower adhering to a small slender and languid peduncle and another to a crass and rigid branch encompassed with leaves which withers about the end of Summer and buds again at the beginning of Autumn There are many sorts of Lillyes for besides the white and common which is so called absolutely there is another they call the white Byzantian Lilly which hath got its distinction from the 〈◊〉 where it grows another there is of a cruent colour another yeâ—â—w another light red There is also a small Lilly they call the Lilly of the Valley and there is a great one they call the Persian Lilly or more commonly the Imperial Crown which the Barbarians of Tusat whereunto we may adde the Day-Lilly Chalcedony Byrantine and such like whereof now to treat were beyond our institution The root of white Lilly is malactical and anodynous and of 〈◊〉 use in decocting glysters and confecting emollitive and matter moving Cataplasms An Oil also may be extracted out of the flowers infused for the same purposes Their water also distilled will take wrinkles out of ones face and make it of a very white colour CHAP. XLI Of Crocus or Saffron WE referr to the order of these eximious flowers Saffron the golden coloured red flower of a bulbous Plant which the Physicians call Crocus the French men following the idiome of the Mauritanians Saffron But it is a bulbous Plant lively and carnous whose leaf is narrow and gramineous whose flower is like meadow Hermodactyle with filaments of a purple and golden colour and whose odour is intense with some sharpness It grows best about fountains and high-wayes rejoycing to be torn and trod upon which as they say comes better on by being killed But the best of all grows in Corycus a Mountain of Cilicia for its odour is more fragrant and its colour more aureous It is green in the Spring it dilates it self all Summer in Autumn are its flowers gathered which are not usurped for medicinary and culinary uses solely but many more when any aureous colour is desired Now Crocus is either domestick whereof Dioscorides enumerates many sorts or sylvestrian whereof Dodonaeus describes more all which for brevities sake I omit It is hot in the second degree dry in the first Vires if moderately used it helps the brain refocillates the senses excites sleep and torpour by recreating the heart it begets joyfulness draws the humours to concoction and much profits him that knows how to use it with prudence Mesue makes an Oil thereof which ingredes the confection of the Emplaster made of Frogs It goes also to other compositions as to the Syrup of King Sabor and to the Oxycrocean Emplaster whereunto it gives not onely colour but also eximious faculties SECTION II. Of Purgative Simples The Preface OUR former Section being finished wherein we have clearly unfolded and explained such common Simples as are as it were Preparatives and occur every where to the composition of Medicaments we will proceed therefore in the next place to describe such Catharticks as purge humours by subdacing the belly and they are such as are given sometimes by themselves alone or mingled with such Compositions as are prescribed in our Shop And these are for the most part exetical and forreign conveyed to us dry from savage and barbarous Regions Yet some we have growing with us especially in hot Regions
hinder the eruption of Pimples if childrens faces be anointed therewith CHAP. 4. Some Oyls that are seldome made and their faculties AS all men follow not one Law and Rule in Life so neither are all taken with one course of Medicaments for as the old Verse hath it Utitur ingenio patria quaeque suo Some admit of a Medicament others reject it some approve of none but new inventions others of none but old ones and though both this and that troop be my friends yet Reason is my nearest friend which I have in writing and acting made my Rule I adore Mesue in most things yet in some I leave him to those he wrote to leaving some of his Medicaments to such as he left them to as appears by the Catalogue of Medicaments contained in this our Shop He describes some Oyls which are not used yet he will not omit them because their faculties are above contempt whereof we shall treat in brief Mesue saith that the Oyl of Filberds allayes the dolours of the nerves and articles it is made as the Oyl of Almonds A Filberd is a small Nut in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sometimes called the Pontian or Praenestine Nut from the places where the Plant grows copiously whose oleous humidity is adonynous discusses humours and is thence fit for the said affections The Oyl of Apricot-stones mitigates the dolour of the fundament and the Haemorrhoids and digests the tumours of those parts and Ulcers It is made after the same manner with the former These stones are taken out of some Apples which from the place where they are are called Armeniacks from their colour Golden Apples and from their speedy maturity Praecocks Their carnosity is very sapid and sweet but their kernels sharp bitter and ingrateful The Oyl of Peaches kills worms removes obstructions allayes the dolours of the ears benefits the tumid and dolourous Haemorrhoids Furthermore it calefies attenuates resolves and effects the same with Oyl of bitter Almonds for the stones of Peaches whereof it is made are bitter calefactive and diaphoretical The Oyl of Kerva or great Spurge discusses crass flatulency attenuates viscid phlegm cures the dolours of the belly and intestines proceeding from that humour and helps the Hydroptical whether it be assumed or applyed Avicenna recenseates more of its utilities but it is very seldome made The Oyl of wild Saffron incides and deterges thence it cures the Jaundice the dolour of the breast lungs and ventricle from a cold cause But this is not oft made The Oyl of Pistack-Nuts and Pine-Apples leniates the asperity of the throat mitigates the dolour of the breast cures the Cough fattens the macilent and tabid and augments Sperm but they are better for esure And that I may in brief speak of many things Oyls may at any time be confected of Cherry-stones Unguentary Acorn Orange and Lemmon-seeds and the four cold seeds and the like which will have the same faculties that their fruits seeds and stones whereof they are confected have CHAP. 5. Oleum de nuce Moschata or The Oyl of Nutmeg THe Oyl of Nutmeg is stomachical aromatical and sweet for it roborates the weak stomack cherishes its faint heat moves appetite helps coction cocts cold humours resolves hot ones dissipates flatulency it is made of Nutmegs brayed calefied and pressed which emit Oyl which at first is liquid and concretes afterwards into the solidity of an Unguent But because Nutmegs are very precious and their Oyl is better new then old it should be confected but in small quantity and as exigence calls for it iterated This simple Oyl differs much from that Moschatelline Oyl confected of many simples by maceration which hath Musk and Nutmeg for its Basis CHAP. 6. Oleum Ovorum or Oyl of Egges THe Oyl of Egges is made of their Yolks indurated by coction which broken in ones hands are fryed in a Frying-pan continually moved with a spoon or the like till they exude some pinguetude which while they are hot must be involved in a Canvas bag and committed to the press that their Oyl may be expressed and kept There may also an Oyl be extracted from these by coction triture and expression without frixion like that of Almonds and so the Oyl will be more pure sweet and less ruddy but in less quantity and not so efficacious in deleating cutaneous vices whereunto it is prescribed about twenty or thirty new Egges should be taken their Whites separated from their Yolks which by pressure will emit Oyl It takes away the foedity of the skin deleates scars or at least lessens them cures burnings and Tetters helps all cutaneous affections and very much benefits the malign Ulcers of the feet fundament and hands CHAP. 7. Oleum Laurinum or Oyl of Bayes FOr the confection of this Oyl new and mature Laurel-berries must be selected brayed in a Morter cocted in a Kettle without water and expressed out of a hollow not plain Press into a subdititious vessel wherein the Oyl that swims above the water may be collected The mass may be again brayed and moistened with water and pressed in a hollow Torcular that more oleous fatness may be elicited Dioscorides confects it a little otherwise for he elixates the mature berries in water which exude their fatness through their skins which he subacts with his hands and puts in a shell but the former way is more usual yet Apothecaries make it not but buy it thus ready made of such as congesting a great quantity of berries together make it their work to elicite Oyl Some bray the fresh and mature berries without other mistion and express their Oyl out of them in a Torcular Oyls may be thus extracted out of the berries of Lentisks Turpentine-trees Ivy Junipers and the like which bear odorate berries The Oyl of Laurel-berries is calefactive mollitive apertive and discussive and hence it cures all cold distempers whether simple or mixed with phlegm and flatulency as also the cholical dolour arising hence if it be injected into the intestines with some convenient decoction it presently cures all cold affections of the brain nerves articles and loyns it takes away lassitude opens the spiracles of the veins cures the Palsey and Trembling if the Back-bone be anointed therewith CHAP. 8. Oleum Balfami or The Oyl of Balm THe next of this kinde is Oyl of Balm which flows from a peregrine Tree which is low of stature and not elegant of a subcineritious colour with a luteous flower like Jasmins its leaves fall off about the end of Autumn and grow again in Spring It fruticates copiously in the Arabian Aegyptian and the Babylonish tract it is scarcely cicurable in colder Regions They sometimes cut off its tender succles whereunto they annex Canes oblited with wax that their fat succe may flow into them Sometimes they vulnerate its crasser boughs out of which wounds that precious Lachryma which is so much celebrated distils Some drops of this Oyl exhibited on a jejune stomack help
which we do not use save in small quantity or intermixed with such things as temper their heat for Odoraments objected to the nose in great quantity are graveolent and hurtfull to the brain which recreate it in small quantity because their graveolency is tempered with the ambient air Maleolentia ingrata sacultatibus noâ—ia or with the mixtion of other things But maleolent things though tempered with the ambient air are averse to the brain both in quality and substance according to Galen cap. 10. lib. de instrum odorat which Aristotle also confirms whil'st cap. 24. lib. 8. de Hist Anim. he sayes that Women may become abortive at the smell of an extinguished Candle Seeing then that suaveolent Odours are consocial to the spirits and their familiar Pabulum the Physician will not onely acquire praise of the Vulgar by being perfumed but he will be better able to prescribe Odoraments both to roborate the spirits and defend sanity Now they are either described in form of an Unguent or of a Pomander or of Trochisks or of Powder An Odorament in forâ— of Powder is thus confected â„ž Calamus AromaticusÊ’ iij. Orris FlorentineÊ’ ij Storax Benioin anaÊ’ j. Roses ℈ ij ClovesÊ’ ss Mosch Amber anaÊ’ ss make of these a Powder Our later Physicians extoll an Odorament they call the * * * Damask Powder Cyprian Odour or the Violet Odour which being variously described every one calls a suaveolent or fragrant Powder or the Cyprian or Violet Powder An Odorament in form of an Unguent may be easily made if you put the above described Powder in Oil Amber and Wax that it may acquire a fit consistency Or thus â„ž Yellow Saenders Calamus Aromaticus Squinant Cinnamon anaÊ’ j. Storax Benioin Mace anaÊ’ ss WaxÊ’ iij. Ol. Moschelini q. s fiat unguento Or thus â„ž Mace Cinnamon anaÊ’ ss Benioin ℈ ij Civet Mosch Amber ana ℈ ss Camphor gr 5. with Oil of Almonds make it up into an Unguent An Odorate mass also may be made of select Aromataes whereof Pomanders or Trochisks may be formed whose suaveolence is of great esteem as â„ž Citron pill dry Cinnamon Labdanum anaÊ’ j. StoraxÊ’ ij Mace Cloves Lignum Aloes Orris anaÊ’ ss Camphor ℈ j. Mosch Civet Amber ana ℈ ss with musilidge of Gum Traganth make it into a mass of which make Pomanders or Trochisks CHAP. XXVII Of Perfumes and Suffumigatories ALL sweet Odours exhilarate the spirits but many will not communicate their scent save by fire and therefore such are set over burning coals or otherwise so calefied that they emit their odours plentiously Thus did the first Adorers of a Deity make their Incense Sacrifice thus do Physicians confect their Perfumes for sanity and thus do the Courtiers confect theirs for pleasure Yet the matter of Perfumes is not alwayes injected upon coals but sometimes put into a brasen or silver pot which the Vulgar call a Cassolet Corula Cassoleta together with water of Roses or Oranges laying quick coals under it that it may boyl and with its vapour fill and perfume the whole house A Perfume is either humid or dry and both either for pleasure or sanity the humid may easily be made and is very familiar to delicate women who being sick or taking purgative Medicaments perfume their Cubicles with the pills of Oranges Lemmons Cloves Cinnamon and Rose water mixed together and put in a Cassolet over the fire The dry ones are more frequently confected by Apothecaries at the Phyficians precept either for pleasure or profit Those who through epicurism and voluptuousness profusely spend their Fathers means most accustome delicious Perfumes Those whose spirits want refection brains roboration hearts exhilaration and bodies vindication from some extrinsecal malignity require sanitiferous Perfumes Now Perfumes help the lungs stuffed with abundance of flegm Suffitus quibus affectionibus conveniat and yet they are not convenient to all diseases and affections about the breast for Aetius cap. 144. tetr ser 3. saith that they do harm such as spit blood by opening the vessels neither yet are they convenient for those who have some dry disease about their breasts but they eximiously conduce to such as are pursy orthopnoical and whose breasts are infested with many crude humours as also to such as labour under the French disease Lues Indica suffitu nonnunquam curatur if they be duely confected of idoneous Medicaments which will abject the poyson of that distemper by frequent salivation and be exhibited after the body hath been vacuated by universal remedies And they are most frequently used in form of a pretty crass Powder as thus to roborate and siccate the brain â„ž Storax Benioin anaÊ’ j. ss Gum of Juniper Frankincense anaÊ’ j. Cloves Cinnamon ana ℈ iij. the leaves of Bayes Sage Rosemary anaÊ’ ss make of all these a gross Powder and then put a part thereof upon burning coals that the diseased may expire the suffigated fume This Perfume will stop the humour that delabes from the brain to the lungs â„ž Cypress nuts Balaustians Ladanum anaÊ’ j. RosesÊ’ ij Mirtle berries and Mastich anaÊ’ j. ss make gross Powder for Fumigation This Fumigation made after this manner doth wonderfully roborate the heart and resartiate the spirits â„ž A Cordial Fume Calamus Aromaticus Xyloaloes Squinant Cinnamon anaÊ’ j. Storax Benioin anaÊ’ j. ss Mace Cloves anaÊ’ ss Roses Marjoran ana ℈ ij Aliptae MoschataeÊ’ ij pulverize them for a fume A mass may be confected of these Powders with some dust of small coals and a fit liquor which may be formed into Pastills or Birds or Cloves which we commonly call Cyprian Birds which take fire without flame and exhale a suaveolent fume and they are thus confected â„ž Benioin â„¥ j. Storax â„¥ ij Ladanum â„¥ ss Aliptae MoschataeÊ’ iij. small Coal â„¥ ij beat all these into a fine Powder and with Gum Traganth dissolved in Rose water make them up into a paste of which form little Birds Cloves or what you please Hippocrates lib. de nat mulicb advises women whose flowers stay twice every day to receive the fume of a Suffiment through a tunnel pipe into their privities and it will move flowers To which end such must first be elected as calefy in the first or at most in the second degree afterwards more vehement may be used yet with this caveat that too sharp ones be not exhibited lest the head be burthened or the neck of the uterus ulcerated Hip. lib. de superfoetatione Perfumes are destined to deduce the vessels and to draw the uterus towards the orifice that the blood may easily profluate But seeing the cunctation of flowers proceeds from the durity and siccity of the uterus the matter of Perfumes must be received in some idoneous liquor whereby the uterus may be humectated as in Wax simple or odorate Oil Turpentine Ladanum or Gum of Tragacanthum that Pastills may be formed thereof which when use requires may be injected upon burning coals or rather
Romans the Ploughes remora because its long and fibrous roots remorate the Oxen in ploughing it is also called Acutella because with hard and acure pricks it punges its attingents it is a most notorious plant growing in the middle or margins of fields especially in fat and glutinous soyles and most vivacious of plants For happening upon an accommodate foyl it propagates much emitting every year new surcles which spread themselves over the vicine land so it be cultivated and fat its furcles are short rigid and spinous coronated with leafes like Rue leafes disposed Garland-wise its heads are circinnared its leafs hirsure and suadveolent its flower like Pease blooms but lesser unicolorate and purpureous It s root calefies and extenuates moving Urine breaking and expelling the stone removing obstructions expelling flours and blood and curing the Jaundice CHAP. XVII Of Eryngium or Sea Holly ERyngium is either marine Species which germinating plenteously in maritimous places puts forth broad and angulous leafs circumsepted with hard pricks or campestrian and vulgar whereof there are many varieties some being called the Spanish Pannonian and Alpine Eryngium besides many spurious names The leafs of the vulgar is sected into many acuminated spinous particles its caul is cubital and ramous in whose summity certain globular heads circumcincted with pricks radiate like Stars out of the middles of which heads so horrid with spines issue caeruleous and sometimes flave flowers its root is crasse and long black extrinsecally white intrinsecally succulent sweet and odorate From the indefinite number of its heads many call it centum-caput the rusticks hare thistle and flying thistle for the whole plant withering is evelled by the force of the winds which rolling up and down the fields eminously represents a running hare they mistake that think this is Secacul for Serapio treats of these two in several Chapters and gives them distinct descriptions The Arabians call Eryngium Astaraticon not Scacul or Scekakul yet their faculties being alike as the learned Writers do assert vulgar Eryngium may well be substituted for ignote secacul Eryngiums root is calefactive it deduces the passages Vires moves Urine and flours expels sand out of the reins and bladder and excites venery CHAP. XVIII Of Common grasse SEeing grasse comprehends all plants which bear leafes Species graminis quot or a segetive Idea it is no wonder if perite Herbalists enumerate fourty six differences thereof Yet of all these the dogge-grasse is onely medicative the rest rather affording aliments for beasts then medicaments for man And as dogge-grasse is unknown to none so is it infensive to all Agricolists who with their hands and rakes purge their corn of it which being very feracious would otherwise surrept all aliment from their wheat or vicine plants for it creeps along with numerous genicusated and vivacious radicls which attract to themselves all the fatnesse of the earth Its leafes are hard as broad as them of a small reed tenuious and acuminated whence women call it needle-grasse and dogs-tooth This grasse liberates the reins and other intrals from obstructions Vires and kills the intestines worms the root is more excellent then any other part of the plant CHAP. XIX Of Liqucrice THe whole plant is denominated from the sweetnesse of the root for Glycyrrhiza which Pharmacopolists call Liquorice denotes a sweet root some call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because retained in the mouth it quenches thirst It s root is long numerous spread along the ground which emits a caul of three Cubits high with leaves like Lentisks dense fatt gluminous and gummeous to the touch with purpureous and somtimes white flowers In the Moneth of July or sooner it beares Cods about the bignesse of Vetches or Cicers Theophrastus C. 3. L. 9. calls it Scythica because the Scythians useing a little Liquorice would tolerate thirst eleaven or twelve dayes Children delight herein for which end they demerge small peices of Liquorice in water in a glasse bottle which when it is flave with Liquorice-juice they drink off and put more water thereunto Spanish-Juice which they agitate for more potions The Cappadocians and Spaniards bring us every yeare Liquorice-Juice condensed into Pastills They say it is temperate as to all qualities but accedes nearer to calour Vires it leniates the asperities of the Artery and Ulcers of the Bladder it helpes the Cough moves expectoration and is very good against all diseases in the Lungs and Breast CHAP. XX. Of Cyclamen or Sowe-Bread VArious and many are the nomenclatures of this Sowe-bread for the Barbarians call it Arthanita the Shopmen Hogs-Bread some the Earth-Corke others the Earth-Aple and some Cissophyllon It growes in shady places under Trees in bryars and thick Woods it flourishes in Autumne it bears Leafes like Ivy which are angular crisped about of a greenly purpureous colour maculated with white spots on both sides There is another sort of Cyclamen which hath broad Leaves but scarcely any whit angular but rather round and obscurely maculated And a third sort also which hath lesser roots more purpureous flowers and more suaveolent which some think is that which Pliny calls Chamaecisson Cyclamen is indued with many eximious qualities for it incides potently opens moves floures expells conception though dead cures the Jaundice expells stones it is efficacious against impostumes emends all spots is averse to Poisons either by potion or application drawes menstruous blood and young ones They say if a woman with Child go over the root of Cyclamen she will become abortive Vires but light conjectures oft beguile the credulous The later writers mention two more different from the former in form and magnitude of leaves as also in colour and inversion of their flowers and besides some flourish in the Spring others in Autumn others in the midle time CHAP. XXI Of Scilla or Sea Onyon THat Scilla 〈◊〉 caepacious and delights in hot sandy and maritimous places and growes spontaneously is unknown to few for it is of late called the Sea Onjon And he that hath anatomized an Onyon and a Scilla hath found no difference in their i◠ernals nor yet in their cores yet in leafe flowers and seed they are much dissident When the leaves of Scilla are marcid its Caule assurges to the height of a Cubit with white flowers issuing out of its midle like strawberry-flowers which from thence pullulate to its very summity short triangular and compressed huskes follow these gravidated with black and full seed The stalk is very long and florid because of the threefold emersion of flowers the first wherof which are like them of Bulbus expand themselves for a long season then the second Garland of flowers performes its course and then the last And it is most remarkeable that the Caule and the Leaves never flourish at once for not till the Caule withers will the leaves erupt nor till the leaves become marcid will the Caule assurge contrary to the nature of
some disallow of because the syrupe is confected for purgation and the Rose-water is astrictive to whose opinion Joubertus subscribing substitutes the water of the infusion of Roses as less astrictive but this water is therefore commixed that the syrupe may thereby participate of an astrictive quality and assumed in the beginnings of diseases stay the fluent humours and coct such as have delabed The infusion may be desumed for want of the water but not as less astrictive This syrupe consists not onely of simple but compound Medicaments to wit of Penidees which are made of Barly Water and Sugar cocted in such proportion and Art that a very solid mass arises thence so tractable that it adheres not to ones fingers but may be drawn into small long crass short or intorted threads alwayes white and hence its name is Alphenicum It stayes the humours flowing from the brain Vires cocts such as are fallen helps the cough and causes the expectoration of cocted humours CHAP. 6. Syrupus Jujubinar or Syrupe of Jujubees D.M. â„ž of Jujubees n. lx Violets the feeds of Mallows of eachÊ’ v. Liquorice scraped and bruised Maiden-hair Barley of each â„¥ j. the seeds of Quinces white Poppies Melons Lettice Gumme Thraganth of eachÊ’ iij. boyl them in lb iiij of Fountain-water to the Colature adde of sugar lb ij to bring it into the consistency of a Syrupe The COMMENTARY In confecting this syrupe the cleansed Barly must first be cocted then the Jujubs added then the Liquorice afterwards Maidens-hair and the seeds of Melons Lettice and Poppy at length violet-Violet-flowers and Tragacanthum in the end lest by longer coction it become fume It should be included with Mallowes and Quinces-seed in a linen cloth and then cocted with the rest in four or five pounds of water to the absumption of the third part and elixated with the said quantity of sugar into the consistency of a syrupe the coction should not be to the half unless the weight of sugar be abated It conduces to hoarseness cough pleurisy it cocts Vires moves and educes spittle and that of Violets and is a mean betwixt the syrupe of Poppy it cohibits all fluxions and cocts the defluxed humours CHAP. 7. Syrupus de Hyssopo or Syrupe of Hyssop D. Mes â„ž of dryed Hyssop the roots of Smallage Fennel Liquorice of eachÊ’ x. Barley â„¥ ss the seeds of Mallows and Quinces Gumme Thraganth of eachÊ’ iij. Maiden-hairÊ’ vj. Jujubees Sebestens of each n. xxx Raisins stoned â„¥ j. ss dryed Figs fat Dates of each n. x. boyl them in a sufficient quantity of water to lb iiij to the Colature adde Penidees lb ij make it up into a Syrupe The COMMENTARY This syrupe is cognominated from Hyssop its Basis in the confection whereof its Author Mesue is so far from defining a quantity of water that he mentions no water at all but they should take eight pounds wherein they should coct the Barly half an hour then inject the incided roots to be elixated a quarter of an hour then all the fruits at length the seeds bound in a linen cloth with Tragacanthum and at last pretty dry Hyssop true Maidens-hair or in its stead vulgar Maidens-hair Penidees made without starch must be added to the Colature by coction reducted to three pounds and clarified some had rather put in sincere sugar others the water of sape and sugar but it is best to confect it according to Mesue's description The same Author describes more preparations of this same syrupe but this we have transcribed is the most usual and best This syrupe conduces much to difficulty of breathing Vires pectoral dolours from a cold cause it takes away obstructions moves flours and deterges sand from the reins and bladder CHAP. 8. Syrupus de Aretemisia or Syrupe of Mugwort D. Fern. â„ž the leaves of Mugwort m. ij the roots of Orris Enula-campane Madder Piony Lovage Fennel of each â„¥ ss the leaves of Peny-royal Origanum Calamint Nep Balm Basil Carrets Savin Marjoran Hyssop Horehound Germander Groundpine St. Johns-wort Feverfew and Betony of each m. j. the seeds of Anis Petroseline Fennel Rue Gith of eachÊ’ iij. bruise those that are to be bruised and macerate them 24 hours in Hydromel lb viij boyl them to lb v. and with lb v. of Sugar coct it into a Syrupe The COMMENTARY This syrupe of Mugwort first described by Matthaeus containing a mass of Medicaments perperously congested was rightly castigated by Fernelius who substracting such things as were not known inconvenient and supervacancous left onely such as were usesul as Plantius well observed for when it is in vain to adde more where the thing may be better done by fewer what need had we of so much cost and time in seeking and congesting many Simples when much fewer were better yet no cost or pains must be spared when the sanity of a man lies at the stake so that the labour be not lost nor cost frustraneous A great and solemn composition whose bonity many ages have found and experience sufficiently proved must neither admit of mutation nor mutilation but such as are described without ground or reason must be either omitted or castigated This syrupe is denominated from Mugwort which is its Basis its preparation is clear enough in the description Yet it may be more Simply easily and as efficaciously made thus â„ž of the roots of Rest-harrow Madder Grass Butchers-Broom of eachÊ’ vj. the seeds of Carret and Roman-Gith of eachÊ’ j. Syr. de Artemisia simpliciter Mugwort m. ij Savin Marjoran Nep Hyssop of each m. ss boyl them in lb v. of water to the Colature adde lb i. ss of sugar and lb ss of Honey to bring it into the consistence of a syrupe This syrupe potently moves suppressed or staying fluors Vires and allayes the strangulation and subversion of the Uterus CHAP. 9. Syrupus resumptivus or The resumptive Syrupe â„ž of the flesh of Snails â„¥ iiij Barley whole â„¥ ij the pulp of Dates â„¥ j. Raisins Kiquorce of eachÊ’ vj. Sebestens Jujubees of each n. xij Cotton-seed Melon Cucumer and Gourd-seeds of each â„¥ ss The seeds of Lettice and * * * White Uagula Calalinae Poppy of each Ê’ ij Coltsfoot Lungwort of each m.j. the flowers of Violets and white Lillies of each â„¥ ss boyl them in a sufficient quantity of water to lb iiij of Colature to which ad de lb ij of the whitest Sugar Sugar of Roses and Diatraganthum frigidum of each lb ss coct it to a Syrupe The COMMENTARY The resumptive syrupes in a general acception may be referred to all analepticall and restorative ones wherein Medicks adhibit Snails flesh after the example of that whereof Joannes Tornamyra is Authour by assent though I could neither see it in him nor any other Antidotariographer in my life and that which is now made by Medicks is made after as many different manners as there are different Shops wherein it is made yea all the descriptions
than Bugloss in the midst whereof as in its center is defixed a certain dusky crown whose end is acuminated It grows in any ground but it is more florid in humid and fat soyl It is fresh all Summer and also all Autumn if it be sown later its seed is black in all other things it responds to Bugloss Its flowers put into broth give a special taste and subduce the belly and taken in Wine they cause great joy and pleasure according to that old saying Ego Borrago gaudia semper ago Its flowers in Condiments recreate the eyes and jaws and in Medicaments augment their cordial faculties There is another Plant very like this Borrago semper virens which they sometimes call Bugloss sometimes Borrage alwayes green for it resembles both their form and nature and is thought to prepoll in the same faculties It grows in Plains and is sown and kept in Gardens by such as delight in variety of Simples CHAP. XI Of the four common Emollitives and first of Mallows THere are four common emollitive Herbs Mallows Marsh-mallows black Violet and Bears-breech or brank Ursine whereunto other four less famous are adjoyned to wit Mercury Pelitory of the wall Sicla commonly called Bete and Arach whose use is celebrated in making the decoctions of mollitive Glysters and Cataplasms Now Mallows is so denominated from its mollifying quality Malva unde dicta and it is either Hortensian which by culture and mangony will grow to a tree and acquire great procerity or Sylvestrian which is well enough known to all for it abounds every where with thick cireinated and angulous leaves it puts forth flowers all Summer long of a pale purple colour its roots are small long and lignous its seed small smooth and orbicular There are many sorts of Mallows Malvarum differentiae The first of that name is that which importunely germinates in every way side or court The second is not so copious which is smaller with lesser boughs growing about rude and incultivated places near Villages with flowers of a pale purple colour The third is called the Mallow tree Arborescens which like a shrub sprouts up to the height of six or eight cubits The fourth is called Althea by the Latines Bis-malva and Ibiscus because of the multiplicity of its faculties for it hath malvaceous smooth long hoary and somewhat clipped whiter flowers and seeds like other wilde Mallows Its roots are crass long round divaricated into many circles and pregnant with much juice its sprigs that grow besides it put forth malvaceous long hoary and tomentaceous leaves white flowers and small plain and round seeds like other Mallows It calefies in the first degree it hath a digestive and laxative faculty and will coct mucaginous excrements The fifth is called Alcea Alcea which is like Mallows in its original and stalk but deeper cut out of its root proceeds abundance of shrubs half a cubite long adorned with red flowers which fallen off we may see a round seed like other Mallows The sixth is called Transmarina Transmarina and Rosacea from the elegancy of its flower like a Rose It is known in all parts for it is sown and cultivated almost in every Garden it puts forth its branches at the beginning of the Spring Some sorts of Ibiscaes are referred to the kinds of Mallows to wit the Althea that grows like a tree the Althea that grows like a fen and the Althea of Theophrastus which bears yellow flowers There are also as many sorts of Alcea to wit the common forreign and shrubby which is Cinquefoil All Mallows is mollitive Vires and thence it is denominated and its leaves decocted are good for the shingles and it is good against poysonous stings and the dolours excited by Bees or Wasps CHAP. XII Of Acanthus or brank Vrsine THE name Acanthus is not onely referred to such Plants 〈◊〉 are spinous as Carduus but also to such as prick not as to the Artichoke and brank Ursine which the Shopmen call Acantha many Marmoraria because its leaves are engraven in marble Chapiters Dioscorides saith it grows in Gardens and moyst places and puts forth long broad smooth fat blackish leaves cut like a nettle its stalk is of two cubits length smooth about the thickness of a finger and on every side from the middle upwards involved with little long leaves accuminated like nucaments but not spinous out of which a white flower proceeds its seed is long and dusky its top is like the top of a sprig Its roots are juicy long red and glutinous which are of little or no use in Physick though made into a Liniment they are good for burnings and drunk move urine and conduce to the good of such as are tabid for their leaves onely are desumed to the decoction of Glysters and Cataplasms to which use solely the whole Plant is destinated and got by Apothecaries Some say it is called brank Ursine because its leaves resemble the fore feet of Bears We finde it also called Paederota and Melaniplyllâ—m We have abundantly before treated of Violets which are also reckoned among the mollitive Plants in the first degree and shall not need to superadde any more CHAP. XIII Of other Mollitives and first of Mercury THis Herb derives its name from Mercury its Inventor whence the Greeks call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but more frequently Linozostis There are two kinds of it the first is called the masculine the second the feminine Mercury the branches of both are round light rough with some genicles a cubite high brachiate there are many long leaves cut about like a Saw like sweet Basil all about the stem In the leaves of the masculine there are two seeds joyned together which cohere with little feet like Goose-grass Small ears come out of the feminine with mossy flowers thereon which if they wither no seed follows It is green all Summer dead in Winter springs again in the Spring its faculty is chiefly to exonerate the belly And there is a Honey made of its juice they call the Mercurial Honey which will excite the drowsy expulsive faculty and deterge the belly There is also a third kinde of Mercury called Cynocrambe or wilde masculine Mercury which grows all over by high wayes and humid places which because it hath much affinity with the masculine it hath pleased learned Authors to denote it by that name CHAP. XIV Of Pelitory of the Wall THE many names that Pelitory of the wall hath put upon it hath caused learned men to doubt which is the true Herb or it due name It is most frequently by Apothecaries called Helxine of which name Dioscorides describes two Plants The first is firnamed Cissampelos and it is a kinde of convolvulus which grows in hedges and circumeats the vicine Plants the other in walls and maceries whence it is called Parietaria or mural Herb as also Helxine because it adheres to ones cloaths it emits small