be of the family of Wood-binds from its effigies its seed is mucagineous black hard and angulous its faculty is hydragogous and it much conduces to the hydroptical assument And though it be an enemy to the stomack yet duely administred and mixed with other Medicaments it roborates the intrals educes watry humours without violence and is a good ingredient for that eximious Hydragogal Medicament we have heretofore described Our Land is nobilitated with many more purgative Simples as the Aller tree Rhamnus which we call Buck-thorn which I will not here congest because they are either seldome used or that they do not ingrede our compositions SECTION III. Of Exotical Calefactives The Preface THE all-seeing providence of God hath thought good to bless the remotest part of the East India with better Medicaments than Physicians Plants of such rare worth and admirable virtue that Medicks of a more polish life and conversation of greater learning and experience than those rude Barbarians have to their perpetual renown demonstrated their virtues and operations and by long use and observation have found them fortunately successfull in many desperate distempers What shall we say do we not daily receive multifarious and innumerable Plants from divers parts of the East and West Sweet-swelling-Aromaticks heart-reviving-Cardiacks and body-warming-Calefactives to which our Microcosm is perpetually obliged of which we are about now to treat And we intend to fix our discourse first upon those that are calefactive in the highest degree afterwards handle such as are less and lastly speak to those that have a middle quality or moderation between both CHAP. I. Of Ginger GINGER is a Plant so called Ginger which we borrow of the Barbarians like our water Flower-de-luce but its leaves are blacker its root extends it self with internodian genicles which emits arundinaceous leaves From whence the best Ginger comes twice or thrice repeated each year It grows in many parts of India whether sown or planted That we count best that comes from Malavar where it is most frequent and diligently cultivated else it is not good When it is effoded they leave an internodium thereof in the hole for the perennity of the Plant for the piece occluded will germinate the next year producing new roots and leaves This root while tender cut into small pieces will eat pleasantly with vinegar oil and salt but it comes not to us till it be dry or condited for it is too efferous for our soyl We shall hereafter declare what difference there is among Ginger Zerumbet and Zedoaria Ginger calefies in the third degree it helps concoction and roborates the weak ventricle but its use is now more rare than it hath been formerly for it is scarce admixed to any Condiments onely used in the castigation of some Medicaments CHAP. II. Of Zerumbet ZErumbet or Zumbert Zedoaria and Ginger are peregrine Plants of near cognation but not all known to all men For the Arabian Serapio c. 172. l. de simpl from the assertion of Isaac saith that Zerumbet and Zedoaria are one Afterwards he asserts that Zerumbet are round roots like Aristolochy of the colour and sapour of Ginger And in another place c. 271. ejusd libri he writes that it is a great tree in the Mountains of the East-Indies Avicenna l. 2. tract 2. c. 247. saith that Zerumbet is a wood like Cypress Some think it is Arnabo Arnabo quid whereof Paulus Aeginus makes mention c. 3. l. 6. but they mistake for it is the opinion of many that Arnabo is a tall tree that is suaveolent or as others think that Arnabo is the name of a Plant that is now known by some other name But Zerumbet is a graminaceous Plant either sative How it differs from Ginger that grows in the Province of Malavar or spontaneous which grows in some woody places of that Countrey and is there called wild Ginger Garcias Because its form and root hath much affinity with Ginger But all in Zerumbet are larger for its leaves are longer and broader its roots more crass which after their effossion are cut and dryed and so conveyed to Arabia afterwards into Europe Round Zedoaria may justly be substituted in stead of Zerumbet for it is probable that both Plants are of the same name nature and genus and differ no more than long and round Cyperus Zerumbet is much commended against Poysons Vires it exhilarates the heart roborates and conserves the intrals CHAP. III. Of Zedoaria or Set-wall BY the names Zador Set wall Zeduar Geiduar and Zadura we are to understand the vulgar Zedoaria which Mesue saith is a round root resembling Ginger but more odorate and withall bitter and not so sharp and hot as Ginger It is brought from the Countrey of Sina and the extreams of India it is related to Zerumbet but more vulgar and notorious but neither Plant have been seen whole by any almost in Europe Avicenna saith Zedoaria is like Cyperus others say it is like Costus of which hereafter but all Aromatical Simples are more similar in virtue and power than in form and effigies Zedoaria is hot and dry in the second degree Vires it discusses flatuosity cures the bitings of poysonous Animals helps the colical dolour kills maw-worms and is a good ingredient in Actidotes CHAP. IV. Of Galangal THere are two sorts of Galangal the greater and the lesser both growing in the same soyl but the lesser which is more odoriferous fruticates more plenteously in the Region of Sina Major the greater in Javar and Malabar and it is two cubits high and higher if sown in fat ground Its leaves are almost two cubits long more green above than below its caul is circumvested with the convolution of the leaves its flower is white and inodorate its seed small its root about the head crass bulbous and nodous like that of reeds in other parts it is very like Ginger and it is propagated in like manner to wit by root and not by seed though it thrives very well that is sown it seems to be very like * Orris Flower-de-luce in root leaves and form The lesser Galangal is about two hands high Minor with leaves like Myrtle its root nodous for the most part spontaneous Some simply confound it with sweet Cane and Acorus The Chyneans and Malabareans use it oftner in Condiments than Medicaments It is hot and dry in the third degree it roborates the ventricle cures the colical dolour discusses flatuosity and helps all frigid distempers The lesser must be taken for the better CHAP. V. Of Acorus or Water-flag ACorus is an odorate Plant geniculated like our Orris but its leaves are longer and narrower its caul more tenuious and longer and its roots also more slender which obliquely prostrate themselves along the superficies of the earth which are whitish within and without and of an acroamare sapour They erre shamefully who say that Acorus The errour of many both the
about the exortion of the leafs Pennyroyal is suaveolent especially when it is coronated with flowers its water distilled duly in a glasse vessel will keep its odour and as the true Pulegium or Pennyroyal differs little from the second sort of Calamint so neither doth the wild differ from Serpil it growes best in dry saxous and mountanous places whence it is called mountain Pulegium which many say is Clynopodium fresh Pulegium incended will kill gnats Many odorate Herbs are referred to Pulegium in the designation whereof Authors agree not It calefies in the third degree it exsiccates attenuates moves flowers and secondines digests pectorall phlegm helps concoction eases convulsions in wine it cures Serpents stings cures the spleenatick by admotion and is good against the affections of the Podagry and Epilepsie CHAP. XXXII Of Polium THe little tomentaceous and whitish head of Polium coacted into the Species of an hirsute berry represents the hoary head of an old man whence its denomination is desumed it hath from one root numerous slender hard lignous round surcles of half a hands height its leafs are long crisped and rigid like Germander but more angust and better harnessed the tops of its branches are coronated with small flowers circumvested with white down many whereof are coacted together into one head its seed is small black and long The whole Plant is hollow growing most abundantly in squalid montanous places whence Pharmacopolists call it Mountain-Polium which Dioscorides calls Teuthrio it is graveolent and yet not injucund but useful in Medicine There is another sort of Polium not so potent in odour nor firm in power whose surcles are also rigid and round leafs shorter and more angust flowers many congested together and hoary with white down Remb. Dodonaeus recenseates yet two sorts more Pena four Which I leave to their investigation who undertake to describe the universal History of plants Polium calefies in the second degree ficcates in the third it cures the Dropsie Jaundice and affections of the Spleen it moves urine and flours it drives away Serpents either by substraction or fumigation it drawes wounds to skars CHAP. XXXIII Of Basill BAsill or Ozymam being a most odorate plant doth justly challenge this name lest posterity should confound it with Ocymum which Varro saith is a kind of Pabulum made up of green segetives for Oxen For the same fragrancy it is called Basill as though it were worthy a basilical or regal house Many think it is called Ocymum from the celerity of its growth for it erupts the third day after its sature and often sooner and some superstitiously or rather ridiculously believe that it will make a more abundant provent if it be sowen with maledictions but its signification challenges z instead of c. from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to smell because me whole plant smells sweetly it is admirable that Amber should expell the dry furcles of Basil and yet attract the small stalks of all other segetives Holerius a Physician of Paris tells us a story worth our notice A Story of a certain Italian who frequently smelling to basil had a Scorpion generated in his brains which caused long and vehement dolours and at last his death yet the Libyans aver that who ever eats Basil he shall not that day fear to be hurt by a Scorpion There are four sorts of Basil three sative and one wild which is called Acinos two of the satives are latifolious one angustifolious which we call the lesser Basil The vulgar and latifolious is surculous with round branches leafs like Mercury of a cubital altitude with white flowers and sometimes purpureous black and small seed which D. Fern usurps to the Syrup of Arthemifia It is manifestly hot dissolves flatuosity moves urine Vires helps against fadnesse invected by melancholy exhilarates and animates yet Chrysippus disallowes of its use as inducing madnesse and hurting the sanity of the eyes CHAP. XXXIV Of Origanum THere are four sorts of Origanum the first is called Origanum Heracleoticum or Cunila the second Onitis the third Sylvestrian the fourth Tragorian which also is of two sorts which I will not describe at large The true Origanum is like the great Marjoram in leafs and branches it bears umbels on its summities not circinated but armed with small prickles variously congested it begins to grow in the middle of Summer and as it is like Marjoram in form so also in odour but it is more patient of Cold for it lives in the middle of Winter it is averse to Colworts and to all kinds of Serpents wherefore when Snailes are about to dimicate with Serpents they arm themselves with Origanum which is very prevalent against cold poysons It calefies Vires siccates incides attenuates moves urine and flours and is good for such as are troubled with Coughs or difficulty of breathing if it be taken in honey eclegmatically CHAP. XXXV Of Mint THough Mint be well known to every one for being most vivacious it germinates in every place yet its Species are not all exactly described but Mint Menthastrum Sisymbrium Calamintha all confusedly designed which are thus distinguished Mint is either garden domestick and true or wild which is called Menthastrum Prima menthae species now there are four Species of Mint The first hath quadrangular cauls obscurely red somewhat pilous with round leafs and subrubrous flowers growing orbicularly about the Cauls its root is Serpentine which puts forth ever and anon new Turiones The second in root leaf Odour and magnitude aemulates the first but its colour is more obscurely red and the flowers in the summities of its branches are spicated The third hath longer leafs and flowers in its ear The fourth hath long and sharp leafs with subpurpureous flowers geniculately circumvesting the internodia of the cauls like the first Besides these which the perite Herbalists enumerate Matthiolus adjoyns another which the Goritians call Greek-Mint Val. Cordus Sarracenica some St. Maries herb some Roman Sage some Lassulata and most herbe du coque after the French It growes in most Gardens its leafs are like the greater Sage or Betony of a greenly white colour and crisped its Cauls are cubital or longer whose summities emit coryambaceous flowers of a yellowish colour like Tansey flowers its sapour is amare it and all mints are graveolent yet not ingrateful There be also two sorts of Menthastrum or wild-Mint the first growes about any old wall or ditch with more large and rufous leafs easily incided whose flower is spicated the other Meadow-Mint which growes in water brinks whose leafs are hispid hoary and subrotund and flowers spicated as the former both are graveolent yet grateful Mint is useful to cibaries Vires which being young is a very grateful fallet herb but more adult it is more ingrateful and hard it is of a hot nature and very stomachical for its quality is to augment the heat of the ventricle it confirms roboration
circumcinge their surcles their flowers are of a purpureous caerulcous colour sometimes whitish sometimes altogether white erupting out of boxes which dehisceing for maturity look downwards a small long and black seed is included in these the seed of the wild ones is round and brown Horminum and Orvalla have so much affinity with each other that very grave men and perite Herbalists constitute no difference betwixt them but they are without distinction as Matthiolus hath noted Horminum comes from the verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it drawes its usurpers to venery Some call it Sage of Rome but Orvall is commonly called All good sometimes Gallitriche by some Cockles center by others Sclarea and by some Scarlea whose four varieties Dodon delivers which here particularly to recenseate would be beyond mine institution Clary is manifestly hot its seed drunk in Wine excites venery Vires takes away the white spot in ones eyes it being demerged in some convenient liquor cructates a certain mucage which wonderfully helps the affections of the eyes the Sylvestrian is more efficacious CHAP. XLVII Of Scordium SCordium is so called from the odour of Allium which it refers it is a surculous plant procumbent on the ground with two leafs issuing out of each genicle which Leafs are long like Germander but greater incided in their circuits soft hirsute and white red flowers erupt out of the wings of the surcles very like the flowers of dead nettle or archangel but lesser that which growes in Crete is not onely laudable but also that which growes in other Regions It is almost miraculous that grave men especially Galen C. 24. L. de Antiq. write of Scordium to wit that those bodies of dead men lying upon the ground without Sepulture which fell upon Scrodium putrified much slower then others and those parts of the carkasses that touched the herb were totally vindicated from putretude wherefore Galen was perswaded that Scordium is averse to the poyson of all reptiles and all noxious medicaments which cause putrefaction it growes copiously in many Fennes beside ditches and other concave and humid places it is found also in many uliginous and fatter Mountains It calefies and siccates Vires preserves from putretude and resists poysons it cures the pestilence and many contagious diseases It is most usefully profitable in a potion against lethall poysons and bitings it purges the intralls and moves flowers and urine CHAP. XLVIII Of Rue RUe is enumerated amongst the graveolent herbs whether it be domestical whereof there is but one sort well known to all or Sylvestrian whereof there are more varieties Rue is a suffrutitious bicubital ramous surculous folious and continually green plant which bears luteous flowers upon whose occase a quadrangular head emerges divided with so many closets and continents as it hath angles wherein is contained that seed which ingredes the composition of the syrrup of Stoechas Rue in Greek is Péganon because its extraordinary dry spirit and calour exsiccate the genital sperme yet it is indued with many other eximious faculties which greatly commend its use Mithridates also set a good estimate upon it who used it in that pcculiar Autidote wherewith he defended himself from many poysons Which he constituted of two hundred Rue Leafs two figs Antidotus Mithrid quibus Constiterit two dry Wallnuts all contrited with a grain of salt The Sylvestrian Rue affords two differences especially the one whereof in leafs odour and effigies is very like the Garden Rue and is called Mountain Rue because it fruitcates on mountains the other being most rare and variously denominated hath exercised many wits in its designation Dioscorides C. 53. L. 3. seems to call it Moly yet in the next Chapter describing Moly he makes its leafs graminous and roots bulbous which can in no wise accord with Rue The Cappadocians have also designed it with this name the Syrians call it Besasan the Arabians Harmel Harmala which name many Shopmen give to common Rue which may rightly be substituted in defect of the true Harmala which is the second sort of Sylvestrian Rue This Harmala emits many caulicles of Nine Inches heighth without any root its leafs are angust small and long its flowers white and quinquefolious its seed is contained in heads like them of the domestick Rue but they are onely triangular it is graveolent it growes in Cappadocia and in many incultivated places in Spain It is hot and dry in the third degree it attenuates incides Vires digests crasse humours and extinguishes Sperm We shall not now treat of Goat-rue improperly so called though we may speak of it in a more proper place CHAP. XLIX Of Litho Sperm or Gromell THis herb is called Lithosperm from the durity of its seed its leafs are like Olive-leafs but longer hispid sharper and of a sad green its surcles are streight slender ligneous sharp and hirsute its flowers white issuing out of the wings of its leafs and depending upon short pedicls A small rotund hard and splendent seed which glisters in the Sun followes upon the occase of its flowers whence it is probable the Shopmen call it Sun-millet There are two sorts thereof Vires which in form and faculties aae alike in magnitude onely dissident besides which two others are found which are either uselesse or not experienced Lithosperm is hot and dry in the second degree it moves urine breaks and expels stones liberates from obstructions opens the passages and helps against Strangury CHAP. L. Of Saxifrage MAny and different plants from their faculty in breaking the stone are called Saxifrages thus Betony by Galen and another ferulaceous herb like Epithyme by Dioscorides Pimpinell also and other Lithontriptical plants are thus nuncupated as also other plants which desume this name not from comminution or contrition of stones in the reins or bladder but from their exortion in rocks as Empetrum or Cristina marinv which as it were dividing the rocks issues out of their rimes and fruticates there long and vivaciously The vulgar Saxifrage especially the greater is very like Pimpinel its leafs are variously descided and serrated in their circuit its caul is cubital angulous and striated its umbels whitish its seed like Garden smalledge acrimonious and fervent to the gust The lesser differs from the former in little save magnitude Many say that Pimpinel differs from Saxifrage onely in hirsutenesse for Pimpinel is pilous the other smooth and glabre Other two plants are referred to the family of Saxifrages the one whereof is called white Saxifrage because it bears a white flower the other aureous because it bears a golden flower the seed of the greater Saxifrage should be selected to the confection of Benedicta Laxativa It is evidently hot and dry Vires it attenuates incides digests expurges takes away obstructions moves flowers educes glutinous humours out of the breast moves urine and breaks and expells stones CHAP. LI. Of Aristolochy or Birthwort ARistolochy is so called
known in France many Apothecaries What Apothecaries are to be looked on as Deceivers amongst whom I found some bold Attempters in the practick part of Physick who with flattery and large promises of great wonders did deceive the richer sort of women whom they did not onely deprive of their money but by exhibiting incongruous Medicines operating contra naturaus without method or due observation left their bodyes more diseased than in statu quo prius And others also who by their cunning sophistry did circumvent certain men of knowledge and repute even the Senators themselves Plin. c. 1. lib. 29. by stiling themselves Phyficians Learned men and the like they would feel the Pulse look upon the Urine and discourse of the Causes Symptomes Prognosticks and Cure of Diseases pretend to great things promise far greater and so assert many ridiculous things and prescribe Medicines that rather augment than abate of the we he mency of the distomper and this they impiously thrust their Sickle into the Physicians harvest and most unjustly exercise Pharmacy to the great prejudice of many by confiding in a bare Recipe without either giving cause or reason why it ought to be administred for we ought not to rest and rely upon the judgement of antient Sciolists who assert meerly upon their bare testimony and single apprehension certain Medicines which may prove benign and agreeable to Constitution at some certain time and thereupon presume to be safely exhibited at all times without advice As for instance [o] Lactucae medicamentum esse potest Alimentum venenum Lettice unseasonably and in too great a quantity administred may as easily kill as Hemlock it is both nutriment and poyson accordingly as 't is used Doth not daily experience manifest that more perish by surfeting than any other distemper Doth not Wine though most agreeable to our nature destroy more than War For though it be very cordial and as it were the succus sanguis senectutis as it were old mens milk and restorative to life yet taken at an unfit season and immoderately proves noxious and destructive The office therefore of an Apothecary is onely to exercise or compose certain Ingredients to a medicinal form The duty of an Apothecary and to adhibit them in a decent manner to salutiferous use according to the prescript of some skilfull Physician which that he may with good success accomplish and answer the expectation of the Physician he ought first to select his Ingredients secondly to prepare them and thirdly to compound them of which we intend to speak in order But before we treat of the first let us enquire what a Medicament is CHAP. III. What a Medicament is and what an Aliment and what a Medium between both THE whole Man is a whole Disease saith Hippocrates Epist ad Damog for such is he when he proceeds into the world from the inquination of the wombe that he is ready for the Physician by reason of his imperfections and diseases which he is liable to either as a consequent from the dissent of the four qualities or from the ill use of such things which Nature appointed for nutriment but through the abuse thereof causes innumerable Diseases in the Body which the medicinal Art out of a due observation thereof doth infallibly either prevent or cure either by the prescript of a wholsome Diet or by Medicaments either internally assumed or externally applyed as Hippocrates describes Lib. de diata Gal. de sanis And these are either simple which for the most part Hippocrates used or compounded according to Art they are called Simples which remain and are as Nature produced them as Cassia Rhabarb Polipody Colocynth with many others which have onely obtained their natural composition of the four Elements But they are called Compounds which consist of many Simples of divers virtues noited together by Art and Industry Now a Medicament differs from Aliment Medicamentum quid thus for that is called a Medicament which being either internally assumed or externally applyed can work an alteration in our bodyes as Pepper Euphorbium Pelitory c. And that is called Aliment Alimentum quid which internally assumed doth nourish and augment the body as Bread Wine the flesh of all flying and four footed Creatures except ravenous and rapacious for those Creatures that live by rape are of an evil humour and engender ill blood and are to be rejected as unclean And therefore in Divine Writ the Israelites were forbidden to eat either Eagle Vulture Griffon Raven Hawk or the like and we according to this Sacred Decree do prudently abstain from the flesh of Foxes Wolves Lyons and such rapacious Creatures Now the medium between both Alimentum medicamentosum is a medicinal Aliment which sympathetically partakes of both natures for it partly nourisheth and partly altereth the body as Lettice Radish root Gourd Garlick and many such like As there is betwixt Aliment and Medicament a certain medium so also is there betwixt Nutriment and Poyson for the one preserveth refresheth and augmenteth the other destroyes kils and corrupts betwixt both there is a Medicament which doth effect neither CHAP. IV Of the antient use of Simples alone and of their admirable proprieties GAlen observes out of Hippocrates Lib. de Elem. that a man could never be sick if he consisted onely of one Element for then every mans Nature would be one the Effect one the Cause of his return to his natural station one But now the absurdity lyes in this that whereas the species of diseases are infinite so also the remedies both simple and compound that are to be appropriated thereunto are almost influmerable Those Medicaments that are compounded and yet fearmed simple are but comparatively and improperly so stiled in as much as they are referred to others more compound as Oximel simplex Diaprunum simplex and the like but the Rose Endive Psantain Mine Wormwood and all kinde of Vegetables that are created which have received no composition or mixture by Art are properly called Simples by Physicians which they sometimes use alone as the juice of Plantain for astringent Lotions the juice of Water Lillies ad Erysipileta or St. Anthonies fire the juice of Betony the Canker with which it hath an admirable sympathy the juice of Vine-tendress by Galens advice against the Shingles the fresh or meat of Quinces applyed plaisterwise to the region of the stomack against choler and assumed against the bloody flux the body being first purged as also Betony against Cephalalgia as almost all Plants to the expelling of most Diseases That which is recorded of many Plants exceeds credit which produce admirable effects for the root of Peony applyed to the head or hung about the neck doth cure the Epilepsy Mint put into milk hinders its coagulation and condensation into Cheese as it hath been proved by men of good credit The herb AEthiopis if Fliny speaks true cap. 4. lib. 26. Herba Ethlopidis
and then the oyl to be pressed out for the commixtion of the other ingredients Ginger with other hard roots green Almonds with other fruits are to be macerated so long till they the wax soft or loose their unprofitable or ungratefull quality In the making of syrup of Poppyes Syrupus de papavere the heads of the Poppyes are to be macerated in water for a day or two or sometimes three till they wax tender and their quality transmitted into the water Lignum Pali sancti and that Peregrine root Guaiacum Radix Chinae which the Easterne Indians calls Lampatan will scarce emit their vertues without a long maceration before their coction The same method must be observed with other woods and roots which ought to be macerated in some or other convenient liquor answerable to their propertyes that their vertues of what kind soever they be may be transmitted into the water or decoction Dates must be macerated three whole dayes in vinegar according to the prescript of Mesue before they be pulped Dates for the composition of Diaphaenicon Tamarinds and Mirabolans also must be macerated in whey made of Goates milk that according to the opinion of the same Author their bad and Nocumentall qualities may be amended and that they may no wayes offend the stomack Tincture or infection is neere a kin to humectation and maceration Tincture of Insection for those that are to be infected must be immerged into some certain juice yet not alwayes for the colour or tincture only but that it may acquire a more excellent quality As Sericum Crudum tinctured in Succo Cocci Baphicae Cochaneel or with a decoction of Kermes Berries before it go into the composition of Confectio Alkermes that it may more increase its Cardiack quality and give it a more delightfull tincture Digestion also may be reduced to Maceration by which Medicaments are occluded in some convenient vessell or other close shut as meat in the stomach and so macerated adding thereunto Wine Vineger Oyle or some other convenient juice Chymists make a more ample discussion of digestion but nihil attinet ad nos under which they comprehend rectification insolation and sometimes nutrition CHAP. IX Of Triture WHen Medicaments of themselves hard and solid cannot conveniently be assumed or applied therefore they are prepared and changed by Apothecaries with such Art that they may easily and wholesomely be assumed for they breake and pulverize them and that either grosse or fine as the occasion requires Now this breaking of Medicaments is chiefly for three ends The reasons of pulverization First That they may be exactly mixed with others Secondly That they may acquire a new faculty Thirdly That their malignity may be corrected The manner of breaking of Medicaments The divers manner of wayes of Triture is different and various for many are brayed in a stone morter as in Marble others in Metall morters as Iron Brass Lead and sometimes glasse others in a Wooden morter as of Box or Guajaicum with pestells usually of the same matter for an Iron pestell is most apt for an Iron morter a Wooden one for a Wooden morter a Leaden for a Leaden morter and a glasse pestell for a glasse morter Some cannot nor will not be so exactly pulverated by beating as by grinding and rubbing and that upon a smooth marble made hollow for that purpose where instead of a pestell we use a little marble stone called a Mannipulus which we hold in our hand and circumduce it this way and that way round the stone Gemms so that we leave no part of the Medicamet unrubbed and after this manner Gemmes and pretious stones are made into powder till we can perceive no knobbs with our fingers which powder so brayed the vulgar call marbled dust after which manner also those powders ought to be attenuated which go to the making up of Ophthalmick unguents Some are brayed and ground with turning stones as Wheat and Barly in a Mill and so a great quantity of hard seeds may easily and speedily be bruised and grinded to powder Those Medicaments we prepare onely for coction need but little bruising and those also that are of a thin substance whose vertue is dissipable need but little bruising also as almost all flowers And those require much bruising that are hard thick solid nervous and not easy to be broken as also such as partake of a malignant quality as Colocinth the grosser part whereof assumed being not well powdered inheres in the turning of the Intestines and exulcerates the part causing the bloody flux Those that confist of a meane substance as many odoriferous simples must be bruised moderately least their more subtill and odoriferous parts should exhale and be dissipated yet they must be beaten very small when they go to the confection of any electuary and when we would have them to search and penetrate to the remotest parts then must they be beaten very fine when we would have them to stay long in the body then they must be courser provided they be not indued with any maligne quality some must be beaten very fine and small that they may sooner performe their operation and manifest their power Roots and hearbs are sometimes beaten green and sometimes dry sometimes raw sometimes boyled for their different ends and uses but those must alwayes but be bruised mode rately that are to be boyled for alwayes observe Note that a greater Triture is requisit for roots than leaves lesser for fruits and a meane for seeds For seeds require but a contusion betwixt roots and hearbs So likewise many Medicaments can scarce be redacted to powder unless something be mixed with them The husks of Silkwormes As Coloquintido fericum crudum Camphire and many more which onely dilate by beating them alone unlesse there be some unctious or liquid matter superadded sometime we use to sprinkle some with wine other with water some with oyl and vineger that they may not only sooner be brought into powder but also better serve our intention The harder part of Animalls as bones hornes clawes nailes may be more easily pulverated if they be first filed or burned in a Crucible There are some who also burn Sericum Crudum Sericum must not be burned wooll and the haires of severall Animalls before they powder them but thereby they loose their former vertues and acquire new ones and therefore it is better to cut them small and dry them in an oven and so beat them strongly till they returne into powder some unctious seeds as the four great coole-seeds are to be excortiated before they be powdered because they clog and sticke to the pestell many gumms dropps and juices conveighed to us from far Countryes are full of tender fibres and as it were covered with a coare which are so hard to be broken and dissolved the innermost not dry of it self that they cannot be beaten to powder alone but must first be
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—â—â—ar and others Heraclea The lesser grows in a slimy watty soyl on slender stalks about three 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 place where it grows another there is of a cruent colour another yellow 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 much 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 net they do not retain the same virtues and qualities that the other have but come far short and therefore it is that they are rejected and the forreign which are brought from India and Arabia used Notwithstanding our Soyl is not altogether so ungratefull but the it affords many excellent purging Simples as we shall here demonstrait in this Section CHAP. I. Of Rhabarb MAny of the Antients put no difference
crass and frigid humours CHAP. IX Of Polypody POlypody is so tearmed because many knots and tubercles like the Fishes called Polypi grow on its roots It is also called Dentropteris or tree fern because it grows on trees and sometimes on umbrous stones mossy walls and such humid places It is an herb without stalk flower and seed consisting onely of a root and leaves like masculine fern but lesser and maculated on the under side with yellow spots It s root is hirsute and long about the crassitude of a little finger extending it self obliquely and exasperated with many lumps within it is porraceous and virid like a Pastick nut its sapour is very sweet subamare austere and somewhat aromatical but it doth not much affect the tongue It doth not calefy in the third degree as Mesue thought but it 's probable that it exsiccates in the second it deterges digests and ficcates crass and viscid humours educes melancholick and viscid flegm and that even from the articles if it be copiously assumed It sustains much coction and is seldome given alone but mixed with other purgatives which may adauge its imbecil purgative faculty The broth of an old Cock the decoction of Bete or Mallows much augment its purgative faculty It helps also some affections when it is externally applyed Diosc c. 188. l. 4. CHAP. X. Of Carthamus Bastard or Spanish Saffron AS the nomenclature of Cartham denotes this herb to be purgative so doth Enicus shew it spinous For Cartham is a Plant which as to its faculty is subductive and to its cognation of the sorts of Carduus It assurges on a stalk two cubits high and more which is strait hard ligneous and towards the top ramous Its leaves are long broad from the middle to the stalk acuminated towards the top and aculeated in their ambient The extremities of the branches produce some round heads about the magnitude of Olives obduced with many spinous skins which emit Saffron-colour'd flowers so like them of Crocus that most perspicacious eyes may be deceived in them hence the Vulgar call it the wild Crocus To these succeed long smooth white angulous and splendent seeds effigiated like them of Heliotrope whose cortex is hard and medulla or pith white fat and sweet Cartham is by the Seplasiaries called wild Crocus by the Medicks Cnicum whereof there are two sorts the one sative or vulgar the other wild whereof Theophrastus makes two sorts also the one with a strait caul which women use for distaffs which according to Ruellius c. 155. l. 3. is a kinde of thistle and wild Cartham the other lower grosser and more hirsute which they call Carduus Benedictus of which elsewhere Carthamus seed is purgative Vires for its very pith solely assumed is flegmagogous and mixed with other Medicaments expurges lent and frigid humours but that it calefies not in the third degree sense demonstrates contrary to Galen's opinion CHAP. XI Of Wallwort or Dwarf-Elder WAllwort and Elder are so similar Ebulus that they seem to differ solely in magnitude whence Dioscorides calls them both Elders the one the Arboreous Elder the other the Dwarf-Elder Elder grows into a tall tree sometimes whose boughs and bole are hollow medullous and round like reeds first green then cineritious ligneous and hard Sambucus its leaves are like them of a Wallnut tree but graveolent and in their ambient frequently incided Its flowers are many small white and elegantly composed into heads whose consequents are turgent berries of a sanguineous colour The Elder germinates first of wild trees and is last denudated of its leaves But Wall-wort or Dwarf-Elder is more herbaceous and low whose stalk is neither ligneous nor perpetual but annually tabefying and dying It grows best in moyst and fat soyls especially if they be incultivated Its leaves are ample and incided about Its flowers composed into heads are numerous white odorate not fetid Its fruits like Elders are small round black and pregnant with juice and seed Its roots are crass long and carnous out of its fruits in Autumn they get small seeds which they keep in their Pharmacopolies Both its roots and seeds are hydragogous and very apertive and therefore usefull in hydroptical and watry diseases CHAP. XII Of Esula or Devils milk THere are seven sorts of Tithymals enumerated amongst the lacteous Plants whereunto Esulae are congenerate Esula for they are all lacteous and purge flegm with griping and molestation yet Esula is by the Rusticks taken for Rhabarb and so frequently used to the valitude of many and the death of more It is called Esula or Caula by the Arabians Alsebran by Diascorides Peplus by the Shopmen Esula rotunda because its small leaves are orbiculated It grows in vineyards hedge sides and many incultivated places Another Plant which Dioscorides calls Peplion and Peplis and some water Plantain hath much cognation and the same virtues with this Esula The round and lesser Esula is better than the greater which hath leaves like Tithymal Esula is hot Vires sharp and ulcerative violently educing flegm its substance being tenuious is igneous sharp incisive tenuative fusive apertive and siccative Besides flegm it draws also choler from the junctures It s ferity is castigated by infusion in vinegar as we have shewed in Officina c. 8. l. 2. or by admistion of some cordials or roberatives CHAP. XIII Of Hermodactyls HErmodactyls Hermodactylus and Colchian Ephemora are bulbous Plants similar in form in faculties dissimilar for * Quick-fading flower Ephemerum is strangulative in one day suffocating the assumer and no way subducing the belly in purging whereas Hermodactyls are no way perilous and yet expurge orderly flegm from the junctures There is also indigenous Ephemerum which some call wild Leeks or meadow Cracus whose leaves are but three or four long broad smooth The difference between Hermodactyls and Ephemerum and fat ones whose flowers are in colour and form like them of Crocus issuing out at the same time to wit in Autumn It s root is like an Onion it grows in meadows and moyst places it is by some erroneously usurped for Hermodactyle for this being exsiccated is flaccid feeble and not at all purgative nor yet pernicious as the Colchian Ephemerum which is strangulative whereas Hermodactyle is exotical and not flaccid as this but hard compact and easily pulverable which educes humours from the remote parts and junctures of the assumer Now one sort of Ephemerum is lethal and strangulative to wit the Colchian another not strangulative to wit our indigenous one a third purgative and safe to wit the Syrian which in Pharmacopolies is called Hermodactyla Hermodactyle calefies and siccates in the beginning of the second degree Vires yet with such excrementitious flatulent and nauseative humidity that it makes the ventricle aversant to it especially then when the commoved humours with one conflux come upon it It draws flegm and other viscid humours even from the
articles and therefore conduces much to the Chiragry Podagry and other dolours in the junctures proceeding from pituitous humours CHAP. XIV Of Turbith THE enarration of no Plant is so much controverted as that of Turbith Mesue calls it a Lactary and a ferulaceous Herb Serapio thinks it is the root of Tripoly Acluarius one while sayes it is the root of Pityussa another while Dioscorides his Alypum and the more because it is whitish Some think it 's the root of Tapsia others of Scammony but Garcias will have it a Plant different from all these For saith he it is a plant whose root is neither great nor long whose caul of about a fingers crassitude and two palms longitude is extended along the earth like Ivy. Its leaves are like them of Althea as also its flowers which are whitish or red not changing their colour thrice in a day like Tripoly as fome have foolishly credited Now all Turbith is not gummous but onely that part of the caul that is next the root which part is also most usefull the rest being too gracile and comous to be used It purges onely flegm not choler as Alypum doth which some call Herba terribilis for its flowers leaves and seeds move terrible purgations Perhaps this Herb is called Turbith from the like faculty as Turbith because turbative which the Arabians call Terbeth which name they also give to their more valid flegmagogous Simples Turbith then according to Garcias is neither the root of Alypum nor of Tripoly nor of Scammony nor of Tapsia nor yet any lacteous or ferulaceous Plant neither is the gummous or domestick the best according to Mesue however there is no Shop wherein good Turbith may not be found noted with those ensigns which Mesue gives it Whereunto also that same that Garcias depinges in other lineaments which the Arabians call Caritamion responds in faculties But which is the true Turbith is yet ancipitous That is most approved of which is some what white and cineritious easily frangible and fresh for the inveterate is imbecil and conturbates the bowels It is hot in the third degree purges by moderate traction Vires and if it be corrected educes crass viscid and putrid flegm from the ventricle breast remote parts and junctures CHAP. XV. Of Scammony BY Scammony we understand not onely the concrete juice of a certain Plant but also the Plant it self And it is a lacteous volvulous scansory and smooth Plant in leaf flower and form very like Similax in root somewhat different which in Similax is slender in Scammony crass long candid within graveolent and pregnant with juice out of which slender and viticulous branches issue which climbe up the adjoyning bushes amplexing and implicating them Its leaves are broad and acuminated like Arisaron but lesser its flowers are albid and cave like a scale it grows plenteously in fat soyl chiefly in Antioch and Syria The liquor commonly called Scammony is collected out of its roots after several manners as first the head of the root is resected then excavated with a knife that the juice may run in the concamerated passage till it be brought to fit receptacles or vessels supposited Secondly the earth about the root is effoded and the root left in a concamerated hole whereunto the juice is profunded upon Wallnut tree leaves therein subjected which after concretion is extracted Thirdly the root evelled is incided and the juice issuing from it is exsicced formed into lumps and preserved Fourthly juice is extracted from its leaves and caul by triture which exsiccated coacted and kept But Scammony so educed is either black or of a sal green which is the worst that is best which exudes out of the root by incision especially that which comes from Antioch that which comes out of Armenia is next out of Europe bad enough The best is nitid splendid clear like gum somewhat white rate fungous spongious easily liquescible tender friable not ponderous nor very graveolent nor yet suaveolent but like taurine glew And by how much any recedes more from these notes by so much it is worse All Scammony purges validly Vires moving the belly with labour and molestation it expurges flegm and watry thin and sharp humours and if it be too largely assumed it abrades the intestines hurts the bowels opens and crodes the orifices of the veins draws blood downwards excites the dysentery conturbates the heart liver and other intrals and subverts the ventricle it is hot and dry in the third degree It s efferous faculty may be castigated by the admistion of Aloes The correction of Scammony but better if it be decocted in a Quince excavated and roasted upon coals or in an oven with some seeds of Smallage Fennel and Dancus but the most usual correction is by the admistion of the juice of Quince or Roses Scammony thus castigated Cur Diacrydium cictum is by the Pharmacopolists called Diacrydium which they corruptly term Diagredium When it is too new it is efferous when antiquated imbecil and torminous for it moves but emoves not good diet CHAP. XVI Of Hellebor or Bears-foot ELlebore or Hellebore is either white or black There be two sorts of white the greater and the lesser the greater bears leaves like Plantain or rather Gentian but larger more veinous skrewed and complicated It s caul is strait and long emitting many branches out of which white flowers emerge It s root is cepous crass and white whereunto many fibres adhere It calefies and siccates in the third degree it educes many but chiefly pituitous humours but not without molestation it excites vomit in the Assumer and its powder adhibited at the nostrils moves sternutation Elleborine is very like that same the Pharmacopolists keep Black Hellebore is quadruple the first sort is the true Hellebore Species nigri the second Garden Pseudo-ellebore the third Dioscorides his Hellebore or Bears foot the fourth is wild Pseudo-ellebore Some adde black ferulaceous Hellebore and the great Elleboraster The true black Hellebore emits broad full smooth hard leaves Elleborus niger verus like Laurel whose ambient is incided its flowers are broad patulous first albid then purpureous in whose middle when they are ready to decide grow short husks pregnant with small seeds It s root is manifold disterminated into many black fibres and radicles It flourishes in the winter solstice and deep snows This sort of Hellebore is most usual among Medicks and should be usurped when Hellebore is put absolutely and simply which the Latines call Veratrum the Arabians Cherabachen It purges Melancholy and profits such as are mad frantick Vires hypochondriacal splenical epileptical elephantical and infested with a quartane feaver conducing much to all diseases proceeding from choler and melancholy but it is perilous to the sane imbecil and young CHAP. XVII Of Coloquintida THis Plant is a certain sylvestrian Cucurbite by the Greeks and Latines called Colocynthis by the Arabians Landbel
sorts of Galangal and Ginger differ not at all And they are not excusable who usurp * Calamus Aromaticus sweet Cane and Acorus indistinctly for they differ very much as appears by their several descriptions Moreover Europe brings forth Acorus onely seldome or never any sweet Cane India produces sweet Cane never Acorus Acorus according to Galen is hot and dry in the third degree CHAP. VI. Of Calamus Aromaticus or the Aromatical Reed CAlamus Aromaticus is an Indian arundinaceous Plant whose caul is hollow like a quil easily frangible into splinters It differs much from Acorus and is not enumerated amongst the Roots but ligneous Plants which are concave and geniculated It is white within like a reed flave without its odour is most fragrant its sapour acrimoniously bitter and it is glutinous in chewing It is brought from India onely instead of whose root another aromatical one is sold in many Shops Myrepsicus which Hippocrates calls Myrepsicum that is unguentary from its suavity Some call it Babylonian Cyperus which by the more perite Herbalists is named Shop-Cane which Johannes Robinus the Kings Herbalist hath by his industry and labour transplanted in the Physicians Garden at Paris But this is not the Antients Calamus Aromaticus for this is hotter and more acrimonious having more strict and junceous leaves which are triangular the vulgar Calamus hath broader leaves But since they are similar both in form and faculty our vulgar Calamus may be rightly substituted for the rare and exotical It is hot and dry in the second degree Vires it astringes gently hath a little acrimony by the tenuity of its parts opens the passages moves flowers recreates the spirits and helps the native colour CHAP. VII Of Costus COstus is a peregrine Plant celebrated by the Antients but not accurately noted and described so that its true dignotion is not apparent to the recent All indeed say it is a root but none yet indubitably asserted of what plant or whether of one or more Yet if we believe the Antients Species as of necessity we must in such things whereof they have had perfect knowledge and which they have often used and approved there are three sorts of Costus the Arabian Indian and Syrian The Arabian is white Amarus dulcis light and suaveolent above the rest while it is fresh and new it is abundantly full and dense not carious The Indian is indeed light but black and amare the Syrian is flave tuberous to the gust acrimonious to the olfact fragrant The Arabians constitute onely two sorts thereof the amare and the sweet And Clusius thinks there is but one kinde of Costus and that it is onely called sweet in reference to the more amare and acrimonious Such a difference as this in sapour we daily experience in Plants which while fresh and new are more sweet and suave when inveterate croded with worms and corrupted more amare acrimonious and insuave The Costus now in use amongst Physicians Costus vulgaris is a root almost like Ginger within white smooth light without palely flave somewhat amare very fragrant and often so suaveolent while new that it importunately affects the head It grows in many places in India as in Guzarat and about Amadabar the most famous City of that Countrey The Greeks and Latins retain the Arabian nomenclature all calling it Cost or Gostus In Pharmacopolies some usurp a root of a certain vulgar aromatical Plant instead of Costus The errour of some Apothecaries which seems to be desumed from the sorts of Seseleon it hath some affinity with that which Matthiolus calls Ethiopicum in root leaves caul magnitude form and faculties which by some is called Pseudo-costus by others Belgian Costus and by others Shop-Costus If any one fear to substitute this for the true Costus Suecidanium let him take Angelica root in its stead Costus being subamare is somewhat astrictive being acrimonious is exceedingly calefactive and being suaveolent is refective and exhilarative CHAP. VIII Of both Beens BEn or Been Rhas par 135. de nomin Arab. is an Arabick word denoting a certain tree growing in Ethiopia like our Tamarisk whose fruit is called Abelban out of which emanates an Oil they call Muscelline which name they also give to the Plant it self as Rhasis hath it but neither he nor Avicenna do further dilucidate the Plant onely Avicenna saith The opinion of Avicen it is a ligneous lump or root which by exsiccation hath contracted wrinkles and lineations whereof there are two sorts the one white the other red both hot and dry in the second degree Elsewhere he saith that both the Beens are dry in the first degree and the red hotter than the white but we see the contrary in those two roots we celebrate in the Shops for Been for the white is sensibly calid the red more languid and ignave Serapio is no whit clearer in describing both the Plants Serapio's opinion There be saith he two sorts of Ben both about the magnitude of the root of the lesser Pastinaca and tortuous they are brought from Armenia their odour is good and both are viscid calid and humid Since then the Antients agree onely about the name of this their indigenous Plant no wonder if our Writers be silent or else enunciate few and most probable of its properties There is no Pharmacopolist but he knows the white and red roots that are celebrated for Beens but that dignotion is onely superficial and none yet have learned their true effigies The Arabians say that Ben corroborates impinguates the body Vires augments seed conduces to the palsey and performs many more commodities which we finde not in our white root and therefore Sylvius substitutes in its stead the root of Eringium I preferr ours Succidanium or the Spanish Angelica before it as more cordial Some think that Polemony is white Ben and Bistort red but that conjecture is not worth the improbation CHAP. IX Of Scecachul SCecachul I finde diversly called by the Arabians as Lochachium Lichimum and Alithimum whose seed or rather grain they call Culcul its leaf is like Albena or Julben which words Serapio confounds and uses them both for Scecachul which is a Plant by their description short stalked of a veinous and nodous root out of each of whose genicles emerge leaves like them of Balsam It emits violaceous flowers at the beginning of the Spring out of its summity to which black grains of the magnitude of Pepple follow full of sweet humidity which the Barbarians call Culcul but Rhasis saith Kilkil is more consonant to their idiom who l. 23. reconseates their qualities and saith they are hot and moyst in the second degree Serapio saith onely in the first degree Both contend that they very much excite venery for it increases sperm erects the uterus and incites to copulation Scecachul grows in umbrous places and about tree roots But
and extinguishes the venereous poyson The Indians use its juice to cure the venereous disease which to them is natural and endemial CHAP. XXVI Of Chyna root I May not omit this other Antidote against the Indian disease to wit that excellent Root which as also the whole Plant hath its name from Chyna but in its native foyl retains its Countryes name to wit Lompatau It grows in the vast region of Chyna which terminates upon the East-Indies and Scythia not in mountainous and dry ground as some have conjectured but in fens and moyst places like a reed as about the sea-shore or head of some fountain It s root is crass and nodous as red 〈◊〉 hard also and tuberous like the Brambles root and rubeous and tortuous like Bistorts root Slender and imbecil cauls crupt out of its root which are circumcinged with very rare leaves which though low require fulciments that they may be strait This root is now vulgar which the Antients either knew not or oscitantly pretermitted but now it is so notorions that no Barber or young Apprentice but he will talk thereof The Indians use this Medicament as panpharmacal to all diseases and especially to such as cannot be cured by other remedies It is very prevalent in curing the Indian Pox Vires it helps the Vertigo cures the pain of the stomack helps the hydroptical cures the colical colour and affections of the uterus removes obstructions opens the passages moves urine causes sudour helps in convulsions and palsey and eases the dolour of the articles for Charles the fifth Emperour of that name found no ease from other Medicaments but much from Chyna against the Gout which handled him very ill Some say that it is good for such as are tabid but I think too hot to cure the consumption to emend a dry distemper and resarciate it Garcias used it against the heat of the liver so long that his body was almost wholly inflamed It s use is now more rare than formerly it hath been SECTION IV. Of Indigenous Calefactives The Preface WE have many hot Plants which will not grow in forreign Countryes of which we intend to speak distinctly in this fourth Section And they are such as either grow spontaneously in the Fields or by culture in Gardens Wherein we shall observe this method first touch upon those that are hottest then such as are hotter and lastly those that are moderately hot all which we shall run over with brevity yet not so but that their qualities may be distinctly known And therefore we shall begin with such as have a fiery kinde of quality as CHAP. I. Of Bartram or Pellitory BArtram or Pyrethrum is so called from that igneous quality which its chewed root leaves in the gustative organ the Vulgar call it Alexander's foot the Latines from the abundance of spittle it causes in the mouth call it Herba salinaris It is an herb of a cubits height or more in its caul and leaves emulating the wild Daucus or vulgar Carret are multifariously divided and sected into small capillaments like Fennel its flower that erupts out of the summities of its surcles is fair broad and patulous like a Marigold but larger subluteous in its orb and circumdated with little angust long leaves supernally whitish and on the contrary fide of a purple colour in the middle of its orb and between the leaves issues a small long and odorate seed It s root is crass long and of a blackish red colour It grows in many places of Italy and Spain and fruticates flourishes and perfects its seed when it is sown in Gardens in Holland but it grows more copiously and floridly in hot and Eastern Regions and we enumerate it amongst our indigenous Plants because we have it in Europe and the Western Countryes-pretty plentifull There is another Plant which by its acrimonious odour moves sternutation which Apothecaries call wild Pyrethrum because by its vellicative sapour it moves the gust like Bartram and promotes spittle which grows in mountainous and incultivated places also in meadows and hedges Pyrethrum's root is hot in the fourth degree detained in the mouth it projects flegm copiously and therefore it helps the tooth-ache proceeding from a frigid cause it helps also the diuturnal head-ache the Apoplexy Epilepsy Palsey and all affections arising from flegm congested in the head CHAP. II. Of Mustard MUstard is no Aliment sometimes a Medicament often a Condiment for it is most conveniently admixed to viscid and glutinous dishes especially in winter that their viscidity may be corrected and the ventricle thereby roborated for it admirably helps such as have dull palats and nauseate their meat But because by its acrimony it importunely affects the gust it is not onely grinded with vinegar to mitigate its fervour but mixed with sweet wine to obdulcorate its acrimony and so is made a gratefull Condiment which many for its vulgarity disestimate Mustard is either sative or spontaneous the sative is of two sorts the one hath leaves like Rape but lesser and more sharp with a round hispid sharp stalk of two cubits height or more brachiated with many boughs about which erupt luteous flowers orderly disposed to which long thin and sharp husks succeed wherein a little round seed is included of a yellow colour and mordaceous gust The other sative Mustard is so like the former that they seem onely to dissent in colour of their seeds which in the former is luteous in this a blackish red the leaves of this are somewhat more like Rocket than the other in all other things they are the same The wild grows spontaneously in any dry place and sometimes in humid places brinks and hedges it is less than the former bearing lesser leaves jagged almost like Shepherds-purse but more acute it emits luteous quadrifolious flowers it afterwards puts forth its seed in husks which it varies sometimes bearing white sometimes red seed This Plant denominates a noble Medicament they call Synapismum which is celebrated to many uses as to inveterate Head-achs Epilepsy Vertigo difficulty of breathing distillations and the Gout Mustard is hot and dry in the fourth degree it incides attenuates Vires extracts detained in the mouth it moves flegm brayed and snuffed up the nose it causes sternutation it excites women suffocated with the histerical passion but such as have imbecil and caliginous eyes should altogether eschew it CHAP. III. Of Thlaspi or Treacle-Mustard MUstard and Thlaspi are rightly described in the same series for both agree if not in effigies yet much in qualities so that Thlaspi is commonly called Countrey Species or Treacle-Mustard There are many kinds of Thlaspis whereof three are most noted one greater another lesser and another mean whereunto all the rest of that name are referred The first grows plentifully both in cultivated and incultivated Fields with large long crisped leaves acute towards the end its caul is about half a foot long emitting boughs circumcinged with flowers at
often noted twenty two sorts and varieties which to recenseate were superfluous But two especially are most frequently used in Medicine the one our indigenous flower which is of a ceruleous colour and sweet odour whose root potently educes waters and the Tuscan or Flerentine Iris whose root is white but flower much whiter and both very fragrant which pre-excells the other save in educing serous humours out of the belly All Flower-de-luce hath long leaves like swords and nodous roots except a sew whose roots are bulbous and flowers patulous like Lillyes but with small leaves more reflected three of which lesser sort are interposed amongst the three greater after which two or three husks that are triangular come forth whereon angular seeds are contained The ceruleous Flower-de-luce which some call the Celestial Lilly is most expetible in Pharmacopolies for its root is hydragogous and usefull to the hydroptical and an Oil may be made of its flowers good for many things The Florentinian is best for it is cephalical aromatical cordial incisive and apertive All Flowers-de-luce calefy extenuate cure gripings and expell flowers being according to Dioscorides c. 1. l. 1. universally usefull CHAP. VII Of Helecampane ENulacampane puts forth leaves from its very root which are long late mucronated hispid and numerous its caul is hard of three cubits length or more its flowers are aureous and stellated like Oxe-eye or Flea-bane which turn into knaps the seed which is like Thistle-seed remaining It s root is great crass flave odorate and suaveolent it grows in fat and humid places the best is brought from Helena where the Poets feign that it sprung up from Helena's tears whence it had its name Some say Helena sowed it there to kill Serpents for it is very efficacious against poysons not onely such as infect men but also and chiefly such as harm beasts for given to Sheep in wine and vinegar it keeps them from and cures them in the pestilence whereunto they are obnoxious which the Vulgar call Clavelate Some think that the root of Hellecampane should be desumed instead of the unknown root of Behen to whom I easily assent Succidanium for if Helecampane be not Behen it 's a good substitute Helecampane's ropt is manifestly hot Vires it moves urine and flowers mandicated it confirmates teeth and condited cures the cough Diosc c. 27. l. 1. the decoction of the root epoted cures convulsions orthopnoity pestilence and bitings of Serpents CHAP. VIII Of Cyperus CYperus is a triangular rush growing in moyst and marish places of a cubits or higher procerity whose lower part is white and top black it produces long gracile arundinaceous hard cultellated leaves with panicles depending on its summity amongst which the seed lurk Its roots are round nodous long implicated one amongst another and reptant like grass roots blackish without and subluteously white within which are odorate pleasant and amare The roots are onely usefull the other parts good for little The root excellsses without mordacity Vires potently exsiccating ulcen and perducing them to a skar which for its astrictive faculty is very conducible to the ulcers of the mouth it moves flowers and urine and being drunk helps the stone and dropsy There is another kinde of Cyperus very like this in effigy but its root is more nodous and rotund whence it is called round Cyperus Dioscorides makes mention of a Cyperus in India like Ginger which masticated in the mouth makes the juice of Saffron colour which is amare and acrimonious to the gust and erasive if illited on a place CHAP. IX Of Angelica IT 'S a wonder that the Antients either knew not or spoke not of this noble Plant for whose rare faculties the more recent denominated it Angelica than which Europe produces not a more fragrant and pleasant Plant. It is more than two cubits high with a geniculated skrewed palid cave and ferulaceous caul its leaves are ample soft green and crisped like Alexanders leaves its root is very crass and long sometimes disterminated into many roots most odorate and aromatical out of which an oleous liquor exudes of the same odour with the leaves and branches its seeds are yellowish plain broad and membranous There are three sorts of Angelica Species two domestick and one wild one of the domestick which is above described seems to be a kinde of Laserpitium the other which is lesser is like it in odour form and faculties differing onely in magnitude The wild one is like these in root caul leafs heads odour flower and gust onely its odour and sapour is not so sweet it delights in cold moyst and meadowish places it seems to be that Herb which Dodonaeus and Clusius call Archangelica yet if that name be meet for any Herb it is more proper to the true Angelica It is hot and dry in the second degree Vires it opens attenuates and digests it incides and discusses crass humours it is averse to poysons conduces in pestilentious diseafes moves flowers and recreates the heart and its faculties CHAP. X. Of Libistichum or Ligusticum or Lovage THe affinity in form among Simples causes much ambiguity in discerning their distinct Species for what Laserpitium is how it is differenced from Libisticum how both from Angelica Imperatoria Smyrnium can scarce be collected from the writings of the learned but as much as I can attain by conjecture and reason Ligusticum which in the shops they call Levisticum is a plant in altitude equalising some arboreous shrubs with a geniculated cause hollow within leafes like paludapium but bigger lacinious and as it were disterminated and incided into many parts of a pale green shining colour capitulated with Umbells coronated with small and subluteous flowers shining on every side to which a long round strewed seed succeeds like fennel seed acrimonious to the gust and suaveolent Diosc C. 51. L. 3. It s root is white and odorate like the Hungarian Alheal whence some call it Panacea They erre who think it is Smyrnium or Hiposelinum and they more who contend that it is not onely Silvium or Laserpitium but a succe educed out of that plant and is called Belzoni for this Gumme comes out of a tall tree the Syreniack juice out of Laserpitium which is a ferulaceous plant and out of Libisticum or Lumbrady either no juice is educed or none of it preserved after eduction whether the Syreniack juice be sweet Asa or Belzoin shall be declared in its place Ligusticum growes plenteously in Liguria and in the Mountain Apenninus where it is called Panacea Species because it resembles the Heraclea panax in its root caul and faculties Panacea is fourfold the Syrian the Heraclean the Chironian and the Centaurean which some call the Pharnacean but I leave these to the exact discussers of Simples who write the History of all Herbs and return to my purpose The Roots and Seeds of Ligusticum are calefactive Vires and therefore help
concoction roborate the ventricle dissipate Flatuosity move Urine and flours take away the suffocation of the uterus and cure the bitings of Serpents CHAP. XI Of Seseli or Hartwort MAny Plants dissident in effigies are donated with this name as Massiliense Aethiopicum the herb Aethiopicum the shrub Creticum or Thordylium Peloponnense pratense herbaceum or that which is like hemblock the Massilian Seseli which is most useful in medicine hath a ferulaceous caul of two Cubits heighth Seseli Massiliense geniculated and hard its leases like Fennel but more ample large and crasse with white flowers in Umbells long seeds like Fennel which are very acrimonious and yet grateful whereof Medicks make much use The Aethiopian fruticious Seseli hath lignous Aethiopicum jrutex rigid subrubeous and cubital surcls long leafes which are indifferent broad smooth and a whitish green yellow flowers upon umbells and long seeds like Libisticum The Aethiopian herbaceous Seseli Aethiop Herba hath ferulaceous bicubital cauls broad leafs like paludapium umbells referted with white flowers membranous broad plain paleaceous odorate and grateful seed The Peloponnesian Seseli Peloponeuse hath a geniculated and ferulaceous caul broad leafes variously dissected patulous Umbells subluteous flowers broad long plain seed and a crass root somewhat blackish without white within acrimonious and amare and grievous to the stomach The Cretian Seseli hath a lowe and more obsequious Caul leass incided and crisped in their margine small white flowers in umbells small broad plain odorate and acrimonious seeds which are seldom used in medicine All Seseli seed is hot and dry in the second degree expels urine Vires drawes flowers and the young and educes urine from the reins and bladder the seed of the Massilian is best CHAP. XII Of Gentian GEntian is not underservedly extolled nor yet indignly denominated after Gentius King of Illyrium for it is a most solemn fugatour of pestilence destroyer of putretude and antidote against Poyson its Leafes are like Plantain or rather white Hellebore veinous a foot long very amare and of a redly green colour it s Caul is cubitall or higher out of whose severall genicls issue flowers consisting of six small angust and radiant leafes vertiginously disposed to which broad tenuious seeds succeed which are included in the long Cauls whereon the flowers stood It growes in any place but delights more in montanous so they be opaque the best come from Illyrium where it arrogated the princely name of its inventor its root is of chiefest use Gentian especially in its root comprises so much of vertue that it keeps not onely men Vires but beasts also from the harm of poyson drunk in water it corroborates the stomach kills the worms arceates puttertude tames pestilentious poyson and securely cures the stinging of poysonous animalls Other plants from some similitude acquire the name of Gentian as the lesser Cruciata and Gentianella but their faculties being little or not at all like the true Gentians they seldom ingrede the composition of Antidotes CHAP. XIII Of Tormentill THis plant is called Tormentilla The denomination because it leniates the torment and pain of Odontalgy or tooth-ache and Septafoile by the Greeks Heptaphyllon because it consists of seven leafes it growes in shady wooddy and opaque places it puts forth many slender simbecil and lower branches betwixt every knot it emits seven leafes of inequal magnitude luteous flowers a crasse tuberous short root black without red within whose use is eximious in curing pestilentious diseases It s root calefies moderately dryes exceedingly to wit Vires in the third degree it astringes moderately wonderfully opposes putretude moves sudor and efficaciously sucurres in pestilentious diseases CHAP. XIV Of Poeony POEony is an herb eximious in name flower and faculties it hath many branches of feets length with fair rubeous flowers on their summities ample like Roses whence some call them Saint Maries Roses There are three sorts of Poeony The first is the Masculine Species which hath leafs like Walnut-trees but lesser in circuit and more crasse The second bears leafs divided like Lovage lesser then the former of a dark green colour with shorter surcl's and all things lesse which is the foeminine The third seems to be neuter or promiscuous bearing an Idea of both which is neither absolutely red nor white but pale Some grow now in Gardens altogether white and very fair the most elegant whereof is multiflorous whose flower is not simple like the rest but manifold All have tuberous and multifidous roots but some of them are more glandulous then the rest they have long cauls divided leafs patulous flowers in the summity of their cauls there are husks like Almond husks which dehisceing shew their small red splendent grains like Orenge grains and in the middle some black lucid medullous ones of a medicated sapour acrimonious subastringent with some amaritude I describe these briefly lest my Work should swell into a greater Volume Many things are supersititiously spoken of Poeony which I willingly omit not judging them worthy recital Its roots are commended to the roboration of the Nerves and Brain Vires to exarceate the Epilepsie and cure it as also to roborate the whole Head CHAP. XV. Of Rubia or Madder THis Plant from its rubetude is by the Latines called Rubia by the Greeks Erythrodanum it puts forth quadrangular sharp and geniculated boughes from the very ground with angust long sharp leafes orbicularly digested about the genicls its flowers in the summities of its branches are small and luteous to which a small round seed succeeds which at first is green after red at last black Its roots are very long numerous flexibly dispersed along the ground red within and without wherewith wooll and skins are infected or dyed the Shopmen calls it Dyers Ruby the vulgar Garensa it growes spontaneously in shady and opaque places so that all regions abound therewith its root is amare to the gust accommodated to infect and dye woollen and therefore most used by Dyers Ruby root moves urine and flours Vires cures the jaundice its seed drunk in vinegar absumes the Spleen its root applyed drawes flours seconds and the birth and illited with vinegar it cures the tetter or ringworm CHAP. XVI Of Oinon or Rest-Harrow THis plant is called Onon Resta Bovis Or Oinon from its flower which in colour represents wine the Barbarians call it the Oxens arrest Remora Aratri Acutella or rest the 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 is 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 internals 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 other Plants which first emit leaves then prolong their Caules in Scilla the Caule first erupts then the Leafes Scilla calefies in the second degree and is very incisive Galen saith it is best to take it boiled or rosted for so its vehement quality will be castigated duely praepared it helpes against the frigid affections of the braine and Nerves Galen repurged one cut it small demerged it in a melitery insolated it forty dayes and gave it to a
boy infested with the Epilepsy CHAP. XXII Of Bulbus or the Sea Bulb BUlbus is either Coronative medicative or esculent among the Coronative are enumerated the innumerable varieties of Daffadills Lilionarcisses Tulips and Hyacinths among the medicative Scilla Hermodactylls Pancratium and the vomitory Bulbus and among the esculent which are also desumed to many eximious medicinall uses Leeke the Onyons of Ascalon and such as by a certain antinomasy are called regall Onions as praecelling the rest which excite venery and which come in frequent use among the ancients for meat instead whereof we use common Onions which are the true bulbus and pollicitate the same effects being also alike described with the ancients Bulbi so that when Bulbus seed is praescribed Onion or Scallyons seed may be usurped Bulbus is a certain root corticous short round and tunicated with many membranes the most external whereof is greatest it often growes out of the earth producing some slender radicles like capillaments which keeping in the earth attract convenient succe for the nutriment of the whole Bulbus Its fronts are like them of Onyons round angust inane and mucronated its caulicles of nine inches heighth in whose summity little purpureous flowers emicate to which succeeds seed black without white within All sorts of Bulbus are acrimonious Vires they excalefie excite venery suppeditate Aliment cause inflation and stiffnesse of the yard but two large plenty of them should not be used in meats because they trouble the nerves Of all the Bulbuses I think Satyrium most excites venery the rest are more ignave causing it by their flatuosity CHAP. XXIII Of Satyrion or the True Dogs-stones SOme plants from the effigies of their roots are called Testicls from their effect Satyria because they make men Satyrs-like prone to venery amongst Bulbous roots such as have but one bulb are properly called Satyria that which hath two Cynosorchis that which hath three Triorchis Of every of which there are many differences some desumed from the form of their bulbes How to know the Best others from the number of their leafs others from the colour of their flowers and their positure yet are all alike in facultres and friends to Venus but that is most approved whose root is singular round about the magnitude of an Apple yellow without white within turgid with carnosity sweet to the gust and grateful to the mouth Three leafs emerge out of this root which are depressed towards the ground in figure and colour like Lillies leafs but lesser from which three it is called Trifoile its caul is of a foot heighth its flowers small and white the roots of this praecels the rest for conditure and this I think is the true Satyrium Condited Satyria are analeptical and restaurative they are good for such as are tabid and such as frequently exercise venery for the root of Satyrium is thought so potent in exciting venery that by retension in ones hand it will stimulate them to congresse whence the Greeks design all plants by the nomenclature of Satyrion which excite venery CHAP. XXIV Of Leeks LEeks are sowen in gardens for culinary uses for the plant is rather esculent then medicinal as Cooks well know yet its succe is sometimes usurped in medicinal remedies as in coacting the powders of foetid pills and sometimes in extinguishing or rather educing of Empyreums for though it be calid yet it hath an excellent faculty in attracting and expelling the impressed vestigium of colour Leck is either sative or spontaneous and both are twofold Species the first sort of the sative is called the headed Leek the second the sective Leek the first because it consists of a round root like an Onyon the later because its root is longer and oftner sected one sort of the spontaneous is called Schoen oprasum which bears tenuious leafs like a bulrush the other is called Ampeloprasum which growes spontaneously in vineyards and other places Dioscorides makes mention of one to wit the headed Leek whose head or rather root that it might greatly increase and dilate it self the ancients covered it with a tile or slate and so they obtained their end many other wayes are invented whereby Leeks may acquire a prodigious magnitude but these we leave to Gardners All Leeks calefie extreamly ezsiccate extenuate open incide Vires resolve and help against the bitings of Serpents and Ustions It s seed brayed and drunk in passum or white Wine helps against the difficulty of urine and diduces its passages some write that Leek eaten excites venery and discusses ebriety but its frequent use causes tumultuous sleeps hurts the sight and begets aeruginous bile CHAP. XXV Of Radish root and Rape or wild Navew THere is much affinity betwixt radish root rape root and wild Turnep Radish root is so notorious that it needs not much explication for the vulgar are so delighted therewith that they sustain themselves with this root bread and salt nay all Nations make meat thereof Rephani Species There are three sorts hereof one is the greater which is an enemy to Vines another lesser the third is black radish which some call wild radish the Gardeners Reforum Rape root Rapium unde dicitur Bunias is from its tumescent figure called Bunias from its round figure Gonzylon or rather Strongylon vulgarly Nape its root is very crasse carnous tuberous white and not capillated its leafes long sharp green deeply incided on both sides its Caule bicubitall and ramous its flowers luteous to which Cods succeed praegnant with seeds like Colewort feeds but greater which ingrede the confection of Mithridate whose faculty is eximious in expugning venenate diseases Some suspect that Bunias differs from Nape and that the seed of Bunias and not of Nape ingredes the composition of Mithridate but each may be substituted in defect of the other There are three differences of Napes or Rapes desumed from their Roots the first is orbiculated turbinated and short the second crasse and long the third lesse and vulgar which the vulgarity call Nape Napes or Turneps as they acquire their magnitude so also their bonity from the condition of the Heavens and of the soyl those that grow in the fields about * A Town in France Caen are so sweet and grateful that they are justly preferred before the rest Rapistrum is a certain wild rape root not at all bulbous Rapistrum which germinates in every field with broad green leafs and luteous flowers whose seed the women call Navet There is another sort thereof with leafs like Bank-cresses which is called Lapsana as also a third kind with leafes like rocket and white flowers all of them bear small black round seeds included in Cods Radish roots are eaten raw turneps not without coction all calefie open and move urine CHAP. XXVI Of Anemone or Wind-flower WE have above treated onely of such Calefactives whose Roots were most celebrated save that at the beginning of this Section we described
because it helps childbearing and edures their Lochia Many call it the Earths apple because its fruit is like an apple but this nomenclature is peculiar to the round ones for the fruits of some are turbinated There are five sorts of Aristolochies the long round sarmentitious saracenical and Pistolochia or Polyrhizon all which are so like in cauls leafs and flowers that none but such as are very perspicacious can difference and distinguish them They grow in many places in France about the margines of vineyards of fields in fat and restible soyl the long growes copiously on the Banks of Sequana Dioscorides acknowledges onely three sorts of Aristolochy the round the long and the sarmentarious the long he calls the masculine the round the foeminine which some call Dactylis he attributes eximious faculties to both not onely against venerate animals but also for their potency in extracting the splinters and fractures of bones and darts The round which nigreds the Confection of Hiera Pacchii Vires calefies and dryes potently it is good against poysons difficulty of breathing sighings and Spleen it attracts such things as are left after childbearing whence it is called Aristolochia for removing the remora's it validly educes the Seconds and moves Flowrs CHAP. LII Of Asarum or Asarabacca ASarum is by some called Vulgago by others Perpensa and Baccharis but the Shopmen call it after the Greeks and Latines Afarum its leafs are in colour and magnitude hederaceous yet not acuminated but somewhat rotund constituting an imperfect circle or as the Alchymists say referring the signature of an ear of which herb when the Empirick Rivierius boasted he was demanded by a learned Physician of Paris whether or no the Leafs of Asarum were the best and most determinate cure for the diseases of the Auricles whose ridiculous response demonstrated that he neither knew the herb nor the proper affections of the place its flowers are small lying under its leafs like the flowers of Orenge coloured Henbane but lesser wherein a small angulous and sharp seed is contained its roots are many slender and gracile obliquely diffused and alternately implicated Its roots are hot and dry as also its Leafs Vires but these more imbecilly they move urine and flowers excite vomit and expurge pituitous and crasse humours they are very good against the obstructions and tumours of the Liver and Spleen whence macerated in wine it is good against the Jaundice and Dropsie CHAP. LIII Of Pimpinell or Burnet PImpinel or Pampinell Species which some enumerate amongst the Saxifrages is twofold the one Hortensian which delights in sature and culture the other Sylvestrian which growes in Meadowes and other incultivated places both agree with Saxifrage not onely in form but faculties also some call this plant Peponell others Bipennula others Sanguisorbe and Sanguinary some give it the most composited name of Dionysio-nymphas because conjected into Wine it conciliates a certain grateful suavity in drinking It moves urine and flowers cures wounds and Sciatica conduces against the affections of the nerves calefies siccates toborates the nerves and is a good ingredient to vulneraries Many say that Ascyrum Androsaemum and Hypericum are one but they are different plants and of divers forms CHAP. LVIII Of Androsaemum or Peters-wort ANdrosaeme is so called because its succe resembles mans blood it is a fructiferous and ramous plant its surcles are many slender and red its leafs broad and mucronated like Ivy but more tenuious and florid which bruised emit red succe like red wine it hath many wings expanded on both fides of its summity about which there are small luteous flowers its seed is contained in small cups like Poppy seed its hair contrited emits a resinous odour It growes spontaneously in many Woods of Northmany and other incultivated places whose leafs women collect and successefully adhibite to pustuls and almost all cutaneous affections for they have experienced that if it benefit not it will not hurt any part whereunto it is admoved It calefies Vires siccates agglutinates stayes blood cures burnings helps against the Sciatica cohibits wounds adimpleats Ulcers with flesh and cures them two dragms of its seed brayed and taken deduces the chollerick excrements of the belly by stools CHAP. LIX Of Gith or Nigella THere is no small difference betwixt Melanteria and Melanthium for Melanteria is a mineral like Mysius but Melanthium or Gith is a Plant which they call Nigella which assurges like a shrub with slender boughs leafs minutely incided like Coriander leafs and candid flowers on the tops of its branches many hairy tufts and stalks being interposed like green hair whereunto quadrangular heads succeed armed with prominent and reflected cornicles distinguished with membranous covers and gravidated with black angulous acrimonious and odorate seed There is another sort of sative Gith which from the colour of its seed is called Orenge-coloured Gith it is in all things like the former but in its seed There are as many sorts of wild Gith which grow amongst segetives very like the satives and another which is called Pseudo-Melanthium and is enumerated amongst the caereals The first sort of Gith the Shopmen call Nigella Romana though it be scarce at Rome but plentiful in Germany It calefies and siccates potently kills Worms moves flowers helps the orthopnoical dissipates flatuosity and benefits such as are affected with diseases in their Uterus CHAP. LX. Of Hyssope HYssop well known to all is a fruticous plant of a foots length with leafs like Thyme but longer and broader caeruleous flowers whose branches are vested like Spike with a long and lignous root And it is of two sorts one montanous which fruticates spontaneously in dry places the other sative which is for culinary uses nourished in Gardens for it is grateful and affects broth with a delectable sapour and sweet odour Both sorts are hot and dry in the third degree but the domestick especially that which bears white flowers is lesse hot and dry Their faculties according to Dioscorides Galen and Mesue are perstrictive yet all confesse that they much help in diuturnal Coughs and distillations and benefit the suspirious and orthopnoical CHAP. LXI Of Cranes-Bill DIoscorides makes but two sorts of Cranes-bill Species Matthiolus three borrowing the third from Pliny Fuchsius six Dodonaeus eight besides other two described by Fuchsius which he doth but just mention The first emits very lanuginous surcles red from the root leafs like Anemone cut with many and long incisures red flowers after whose occase little heads emerge out of the summities of its branches of the longitude of a needle well representing the bill of a Stork or Crane whence later Writers one while call it Cranes bill another while Storks bill and another while Shephards Needle The second hath small and pilous surcles of half a foot 's longitude with leafs like Mallowes but whiter purpureous flowers on its summities and with heads like Cranes bills they mistake that call
the Hortensian desumed from the various colour density and figure of their flowers thus one is simple another multiflorous then both either white or purpureous or red the sylvestrian also is variously discriminated as the red the black the spumous and the corniculated wild Poppy which is fourfold one common and luteous another violaceous and other two Phaeniceous The sative Poppy erects it selfe upon bicubitall surcles Luteum with long and pallid leafes circually serrated and adhaerent to no pedicle with either white or red flowers according to the variety of the Plant with rotund and long heads in whose cells black seed is contained if the Plant be black white if it be white The erraticall or red Poppy is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or fluid Erraticum because its flower is so deciduous its leafes are incided and sharpe like Rocket leafes its flower red and seed yellow it growes in fields amongst segetives The spumeous was unknown to Matthiolus Spumeum the later writers take it for hedge Hyssop and some for Sopewort The corniculated Poppy hath subalbid leafs Corniculatum serrated about like the red Poppy luteous flowers a small fruit or cod inflected like a horn like the cornicle of fennigreek The multiflorous fimbriated patulous and roseous Poppyes of various colours are studiously sown in cultivated and fat Gardens for the elegancy of their flowers All of them are indued with a refrigerative faculty the red most so that none can use that alone as they may do the sative all of them also participate of an hypnoticall quality but the black most which is infested also with some malignant quality so that he that uses it immoderately will become lethargicall Poppy vulnerated will emit a certain gummeous liquor which the Ancients named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which opium stupifies the senses conciliates sleep and appeases the immanity of any dolour or at least deludes it whereof such as followed the Turkish tents made use that they might be more chearfull to battel and like drunken men praecipitate themselves upon perills It is not yet determined amongst medicks in what degree Opii qualitates Opium participates of the first qualities for whereas excellent writers assent that it is cold above the third degree its very amaritude and acrimony wherewith it disturbs and vellicates the senses gustative demonstrates the contrary which detorted from others the confession of its calidity CHAP. VI. Of Sempervives or House-leeks THe vulgarity call it Sedum Lombarda the Greeks Aizoon House-leek the Romans Sempervivum because it is alwayes green with eternall leafes most patient of cold which withers not with the greatest Rigidity that Winter tempests bring upon the Earth It growes in dry places exposed to the Sun as on Walls and the tops of your Cottages with crasse carnose and mucronated leafes like Artichock succulent and green denser near the root with a pedall caul vested to the top with leafes disposed like scales when it is divided into wings and coronated with green and subrubeous flowers There are many varieties of Sempervives all which I reduce to three generall heads the greater the lesser and the middle sort if we have any respect to the name and effigies of the greater we may referre the hearb Aloes thereunto whose condition challenges cognation with this family to the middle sort we may referr Crassula or the Greeks Telephion which Apothecaryes call the inverted Bean and the vulgarity Orpine as also the militar Aizoides and the water-leeke for both of them are pervivacious perpetually green and relate very much to Houseleek and this is the middle betwixt the greater sempervive and all the other which we shall now describe and this Sedum Aizoon is rather the medium then any other hortensian teretifolious esculent which is mixed in Acetaryes some call it little-leeke others middle-leeke the vulgarity Triquemadame from a small root it emitts many gracile branches onusted with small long round carnose and mucronated leafes and luteous and stellated flowers There are very many lesser Sempervives the least whereof the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the vulgarity Birds-bread which many constitute the third sort of Small-leeke it is a small and pleasant Plant reptant with many branches aureous and stellated flowers it delights in walls and saxous places it is very hot to the gust and exulcerative whence the Germans call it Wall-Pepper The second sort of the lesser Aizoon is by some called the lesser Crassula by the Italians Granellosa by Apothecaryes stone Crop and sometimes Wall-tayle it is a small Plant with round long carnose leafes mucronated like little Wormes all depending on exile and short branches with pallid and sometimes white flowers which ingrede the composition of the martiate unguent these two lesser Sempervives calefy and exulcerate notably The third sort is a greater sort of Houseleeke called summer-Leeke which assurges with greater surcles round and carnose leafes like Stone-Crop but greater it flourishes no where perpetually but withers at the beginning of Winter Many other Plants which are perpetually folious and virid do in effigies and faculties challenge cognation with Sempervives and may justly be referred to their family as Aizoon Hematoides Aizoon Scorpioides a kind of Petrous Montanous and small House-leeke another great and arboreous one and another assurging like a shrub with small and rigid surcles The greater Sempervive refrigerates in the third degree and is thence adapted to the cure of St. Anthonyes fire pimples and inflammations some of the lesser refrigerate in a lesser degree others efficaciously calefye and exulcerate as Stone-Cropp and so all Pepper CHAP. VII Of Cynoglosse or Doggs-tongue CYnoglosse hath molliceous lent long leafes it is somewhat lanuginous but not sharpe to the tact caeruleously green in effigies and softnesse aemulateing a Doggs-tongue Its surcles are round hoary divided into wings and cubitall coronated with puniceous and purpureous flowers four small cohaerent seeds which cleave to mens cloaths like burres succeed each flower its root is crasse in magnitude and colour like Wallwort in odour almost soporiferous whose use is celebrated in sharpe and thin fluxes for it incrassates much and refrigerates manifestly Vires whence women adhibite it to burnings it is cold and dry in the second degree indued with a cohibiting and incrassating faculty and therefore it is the basis of those pills which bear its denomination and are effectually praescribed to all diseases which arise from the fluidity of humours CHAP. VIII Of Plantain PLantain is either aquaticall whereof there are three sorts seldome or never used in Pharmacy or terrestriall whose usurpation in defending sanity Species and profligating diseases is frequent whereof Dioscorides constitutes two differences the greater and the lesser the greater comprehends three varieties the vulgar the hoary and the roseous Plantain The vulgar hath crasse broad and very green leafes like Bete its caul is angulous sometimes cubitall somtimes shorter spicated at
Bechion from that speedy help and utility it affords the Coughers and anhelant Apothecaryes call it Colts-foot because its leafes do a little resemble a horses hoofe the inferiour part whereof is tomentous and white the superiour green It s caule is so short scarce aequalling a palme in length that some thought it grew without a caule its flower is luteous rudiated and aureous like Sow thistles flowers which erupts in February or March before the egression of its leafes which standing a few dayes dehisces into dawn its root is slender white and geniculated delighting in moist places and River brinkes Vires It s faculty hath respect unto cough and anhelations it is also credited that its fume in a Tobacco-Pipe will break an imposthume in the breast CHAP. XVIII Of Hops THere is a scansory Plant which creepes up to the summityes of Trees which we call Hop-Tree It growes spontaneously in Hedges and Meadow sides with sharpe leafes like Cucumber or triangular like Briony wherewith it encompasses shrubs its flowers are subalbid herbaceous compacted of many folicles scale-wise disposed and racemously pendent wherein a small seed is contained the Belgians much estimate this fruit for with this and their fruits they make up their drink as we do our Beer its tender branches in the beginning of the spring cocted may be eaten with butter or oyle and vinegar like Sperage or sallets It refrigerates moderately moves Choller Vires diduces the passages removes obstructions moves urine cures the Jaundice exacts Phlegme and hydropicall humours and allayes the heat of the Stomack CHAP. XIX Of Bistort BIstort is so denominated from its intorted and convolved radicles some take it for Dragon-wort others for wild Bete some say but without ground or reason that it is the Arabian Bean others more tolerably call it Britannica of whose family we constitute it for it differs from it onely in the colour of its root for they are both very like in forme and faculties Britannica doth with a peculiar faculty respect stomacate and sceletyrbe which maladyes much molest the Germanes and Septentrionall incolists the like whereof hapned upon Caesars Souldiers when they came beyond Rhene who there finding a River drunk of the water which within two dayes caused their teeth to fall out and resolved the joynts of their knees but the herb Britannica well help such as are thus infested Bistort doth from its nodose intorted rubescent root emit long broad acuminated and venous leafes green above and somwhat white beneath round cubitall or shorter caules circumvested with little leafes from the middle upwards and adorned with purpueous flowers its seed is small and triangular like that of Sorrell It s root is most used in Pharmacy Vires which is inodorate refrigerative and astrictive it roborates the internalls exarceates putretude resists poyson and cures pestilent diseases CHAP. XX. Of the Strawberry-Bush FRagaria is perpetually green never devoid of leafes it depends upon no Caule onely its radicles emit slender and lanuginous pedicles some whereof bear onely leafes others flowers and fine leafes others like fibres creep along the ground and germinate for where ever they touch ground there they radicate and ministrate a new Plant there are three oblong broad serrated leafes like them of Cinquefoile on each pedicle an herbaceous lump erupts after the occasion of the flowers which augments by little and little and becomes white when it attaines maturity it is red like a Mulberry it is candid soft medullous vinose humid gratefull and sweet to the gust referted with minute grains which we call Strawberries It s root is fibrous capillated and blackish neither it nor the leafes of this Plant are much celebrated for Medicinall uses though it accede the confection of the Martian unguent for the commendable quality of this whole Plant is in its fruit as of Rose-trees in their flowers Mulabathrum in its leafe and Ginger in its root it growes spontaneously in Woods and umbrous places but flourishes more in Gardens and beares greater and sweeter berryes Strawberryes refrigerate Vires quench thirst and nourish the body for a while their water destilled deleates the spots of the face expurges it and makes it fairer CHAP. XXI Of Cinquefoile THis herb is so denominated from the number of its leafes it emitts from one root many pedall festucaceous surcles with luteous and fugaceous flowers on their summityes like them of wild Tansey each pedicle beares five oblong flowers crenated about like a Saw the whole Plant is somwhat hirsute and whitish its root long blackish without and ruddy within it growes spontaneously about the margins of fields There is another sort of Cinquefoile with great crenated leafes green above and white and lanuginous below there is a third also which is reptile whose branches are slender and imbecill leafes smooth and green flowers luteous and roots fibrous and exile another sort growes in stagnant places in leafes and magnitude very like the first with double darkly red flowers which grow upon an head referted with many seeds Cinquefoile whose root is most in use allayes the inflammation of the jawes and asper artery Vires it stayes the belly flux and dysentery in drink it cures the dolours of the hips and junctures cures biles and scabs discusses cowles on the neck cohibites pimples represses watry swellings the succe of its root while young and tender is good against the affections of the Liver and Lungs CHAP. XXII Of Goosse-grasse or Cleavers GOosegrasse hath either soft surcles and leafes and is called Mellugo or sharpe ones and is called Asperugo or Spargula and Asperula for the whole Plant adhaeres to the Cloaths of such as passe by through its tenacious asperity whence the Greeks call it Philanthropon and Philadelphon Pliny Lappago Goosegrasse is a Plant growing besides hedges ditches and amongst thornes adhaereing to vicine shrubs with imbecill obsequious quadrangular surcles of many cubits length with angust leafes decussated like Starres and orbicularly cohaereing to the genicles of its surcles as in Ruby to which it is very like its flower is small and white its seed hard white round concave in forme of a navil whence some call it Omphalocarpon Goosegrasse is moderately extersive and desiccative the succe of the whole Plant drunk in Wine auxiliates against the biteings of Spiders and Vipers the Plant infused therein cures the eares aches Vires its leafes brayed and collected in Wine-Lees discusse swellings in the neck Gallion is very like Spargula or Mollugo which is often put into milke to co-agulate it CHAP. XXIII Of Scabiose SInce this Plant is neither that which Dioscorides calls Scrobe nor that which Aëtius calls Psora we cannot learn from the ancients what it is however it is a Plant which is now for its frequency and excellent effects very well known it beares long broad hirsute and laciniated leafes incided like Rocket its root is simple and long it s Caule halfe a foot
much better them Their first Author was Avicenna who described them with Myrrhe which Mesue omits as Bauderonius observes in his Book where he describes Agarick and Coloquintida without any express preparation But it is best to take them both when made into Trochisks and so bray and mix them The Powder of Galens Hierae Sacra must be taken with Honey white Horehound selected and the Root of that Orris whose flower is caeruleous which Avicenna calls the Celestial Lilly The Purgatives must be pulverated apart the rest partly so partly together and then all mixed together with Sape Pills of Agarick purgeth phlegm potently from all parts Vires conduces to the head and breast and thence cures the sleepy Disease Catarrhs Vertigo and such affections as proceed from cold humours but especially difficult breathing for which end Avicenna invented them CHAP. 10. Pilulae Cochiae D. Rhasis ℞ of the Powder of simple Hieraeʒ x. Coloquintidaʒ iij. ℈ j. Scammony preparedʒ ij ss Turbith Stoechados of eachʒ v. and with Syrupe of Staechados make it up into a mass The COMMENTARY The Pills of Cochia are not so called simply from the grain which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but because they are round and small like Pepper-corns after which manner all Pills were wont to be made and though they be now greater yet we give them the same name as well as the same description Some think them excessively purgative because of the greater quantity of Diagridium And seeing Pharmacopolists should have gentle purges for such as are delicate and valid ones for the stronger I would have made them as Rhasis hath described them for they may be given in such small quantity that they will not over-purge the Belly but educe onely noxious humours Some doubt in their mixtion whether Galens Hiera Picra should be taken or some other made We for many reasons which for brevities sake we omit judge no other Hiera more convenient valid or better but it is safer to admit the Trochisks of Alhandal then Coloquintida unprepared and if Syrupe of Stoechas be not in readiness which indeed few keep then the Powders may be subacted in Honey with the decoction of Stoechas despumed and cocted to the consumption of its a queous humidity They are made as the precedents These Pills purge partly bilious Vires partly pituitous humours not onely from the head because of Stoechas which is more hepatical then cephalical but also from other parts wherein such humours are contained for they potently educe them from any part CHAP. 11. Pilulae de Hermodactylis majore or The greater Pills of Hermodactyls D. Mes ℞ of Hermodacts Aloes yellow Myrabolans Turbith Coloquintida Bdellium Sagapenum of eachʒ vj. Castor Sarcocolla Euphorbium Opoponax the seeds of Rue and Smallage of eachʒ iij. Saffronʒ j. ss with the Juyce of Coleworts make them into a mass The COMMENTARY These Pills which take their names from Hermodactyls are very usual and onely sufficient for the inveterate dolours of the arteries and more efficacious therein then those we call arthetical Pills yea they are more securely sanative then such as are denominated from Sagapenum Opoponax or Sarcocolly so that we shall not need to describe these For their due preparation Sagapenum and Opoponax must be melted in the succe of Coleworts then transmitted through a linen cloth and then a little cocted then must the Powders of other simples be mixed in the succe cocted with Honey and all brayed subacted and handled by hands anointed with oyl together till they acquire a due consistence They may also be rightly subacted with the Eclegm of Cauls Pills of Hermodactyls potently evel crass and serous humours from all extream parts Vires but especially from the articles and conduce to the cold diseases of the head nerves and junctures CHAP. 12. Pilulae Agregativae seu Polychrestae Agregative or Pills of much use D. Mes ℞ of Aloes Turbith of eachʒ vj. of Diagridiumʒ v. of Rhabarb and yellow Myrabolans of eachʒ iiij of the whitest Agarick Troch Alhandal Polypody Chebulan and Indian Myrabolans of eachʒ ij Mastick Rose-leaves Dodder of Thyme Anise-seed Ginger Sal Gem of eachʒʒ j. Juyce of Egrimony and Wormwood of eachʒ ij with the Syrupe of the Juyce of Damask-Roses make it up into a mass to keep The COMMENTARY We hold to the ancient description of Mesue and change onely the order of the Simples and substitute the Syrupe of Roses for the subaction of the composition in stead of the Electuary of Roses Mesue gives three descriptions of Pills of this name the first whereof is most usual and prepared almost in all Shops the other two both greater and lesser agregatives are omitted They are called agregative Pills because of the agregation of many faculties as also Polychrestae and Catholical because they are of much use and expurge all humours The manner of their mixtion is manifest the roots must be first brayed then the fruits and afterwards the seeds onely Rhabarb and Agarick must be prepared apart the Trochisks whereof are better then the simple The succe of Egrimony and Wormwood dryed and brayed must be added thereunto then all being duly pulverated must be subacted into a mass with the Syrupe of pale Roses which must be involved in leather madefied with Oyl of Almonds And it is not unreasonable that the Powders should be received in the Syrupe of pale Roses partly because it accedes nearest the minde of the Author for nothing is liker Roses then Roses and partly because that Electuary of Roses which Mesue mentions is not now made in shops seeing its composition is inept and of no use Agregative Pills are not onely conducible to many affections of the head but also of the Ventricle and Liver Vires for from these parts they detract and purge pituity Bile and Melancholical succe and therefore help in complex and inveterate Fevers and complicated diseases He may be without the Pills of eight things and five kindes of Myrabolambs that hath agregative ones CHAP. 13. Pilulae de Fumaria or Pills of Fumatory D. Avic ℞ of Citrian Chebulan and Indian Myrabolans Scammony preparedʒ v. Aloesʒ vij and with the Juyce of Fumatory make it into a mass which when dryed let it be again beaten up with the same Juyce and the third time with the Syrupe of Fumatory The COMMENTARY These Pills are denominated from Fumatory in whose succe their Powders must be twice or thrice imbuted and then dryed as oft according to their Authors prescript and at length received not into the same succe as many ignorantly conjecture but into honey wherein this succe hath been by longer coction dissipated or rather into the Syrupe of Fumatory which is better and more agreeable to the Authors minde For unless the mass be subacted in the one of these or such a like liquor the powders will soon arefie The manner of their preparation is easie and apparent enough by the
its confection the root of Cynogloss must first be brayed with the seed of Henbane and then the other simples apart the brayed Opium must be first subacted by the Syrupe then the other powders must be mixed and coacted into a mass They conciliate sleep stay Catarrhs distillations of the head Vires the Cough and such succedent affections for they cohibit all distillations whether upon the Breast and Lungs or Teeth or elswhere CHAP. 23. Of Laudanum NOt many years ago there arose a company of Pseudo-Medicks who in stead of the usual Pills of Cynogloss exhibited a certain confection which they called Laudanum whereby they promised not onely to conciliate sleep but abigate all diseases I then saw a Circulator who boasted by his Laudanum to revoke men almost exanimated or half dead and man the Encomium of this Medicine so won upon men that no Empirick so stupid no Medicaster so dull nor Tonsor so plebeious but he was a Laudanister or else not worth flaming I wooed some with prayers some with price to tell me this Medicament but found amongst twenty of its descriptions not one like another yea he that was most ignorant would profess he had the best But I heard some Mountebanks exhibit Pills of Cynogloss for Laudanum extorting for each Pill the weight of half a scruple in gold And thus were the credulous Plebeians drawn with new names and unusual words circumvented by the subtilty of these rafrous Juglers The descriptions of Laudanum given by more perite Alchymists are seldome and hardly made for they consist of the best of Gems Hyacinths and Corals of the essence of Saffron and Opium of the Oyls of Cinamon Cloves Liquor of Margarites Powder of Unicorns-horn of the Bezar-stone Amber-grise and other precious stones and doubtless a confection of these materials must needs be eximious and I approve of the learned rich Alchymists acts who make keep and exhibit this to the diseased but alas the improbous do so impose upon us that we can scarce give the honest and good I saw a certain Laudanum exhibited by a learned Princely Medick which wrought happy effects This sequel one is eximious and easie to be made ℞ of the extract of the Pills of Hounds-tongueʒ ij Laudanum Androm the extract of the Roman Philonium and Treacle of each ℥ j. Amber Mosch of each ℈ ss Bezoar-stone Monoceros born of each gr vj. Saffron ℈ j. and with oy of Cloves make it up into Laudanum There might be innumerable descriptions thereof given for every one though meanly learned strives to adde or detract at pleasure either for the fame or imitation of other opiate Medicaments as of Philonium by which name Crato designed Laudanum which he held to be nothing but a certain Philonium which many Alchymists take for the basis of their Laudanum and by adding magisteries essences and tinctures make an hypnotical Medicament more commendable then the vulgar Philonium But I admire most that every one changes the form of his Medicament and that none can know which is the genuine true and best description thereof which some take from Paracelsus others from Keckius some from Andernacus others from Brunerius and others from others and alwayes change something that they may be thought the first Authors I could here adduce many descriptions but it would be useless labour The Chymists call it Laudanum as though it were the most laudable Medicament which they sometimes call also Nepenthe Of Bechicall Pills CHAP. 24. Pill Bechicae Nigrae or black Bechical Pills D. Mes ℞ of the jayce of Liquorice white Sugar of eachʒ vj. Starch Tragacanth sweet Almonds blanched and beaten of eachʒ iij. and with the the musilidge of Quince seeds made in Rose water make thereof a mass The COMMENTARY This mass is not kept whole after the manner of other pills but divided into particles of a whole or half scruples weight which are after formed at pleasure one while into triangular or multifatious Trochisks another while into round lumps or Pills whence some refer them to Pastils others to Pills But seeing they should be holden under the tongue a sphaerical form is most convenient for them for so they may be abvolved all over and liquefie in all the parts of the mouth For which use other Trochisks may be made as we have shewed in the twentieth Chapter first Section and fifth Book of our Institutions The manner of their confection is easie Decorticated Almonds must first be minutely incided with a Knife then levigated on a Marble then Amylum and Sugar must be taken afterwards the succe of Liquorice must be bray'd in a pretty hot metalline morter then Tragacanthum let all then be made with the Mucago into some paste whereof plain Pills may be made dryed and kept Black Bechical Pills cure dry coughs Vires arising from sharp and calid matter as also asperity and hoarseness and hard excretion of the bea rt as Mesue shews cap. de tussil in sua praxi CHAP. 25. Pil. Bechicaealbae or white Bechical Pills ℞ of the powder of Florentine Orris Starch of each ℥ j. ss Sugar candy Pennidees of each ℥ iiij white Sugar lb j. and with the Musilidge of Gum Thraganth extracted in Rose water make a mass which form into rowles and Troches The COMMENTARY Seeing the Author of these Pills is uncertain every one doth at will change their description by adding or detracting something But we have exhibited the most usual form whereby Pills that are Bechical grateful and white may be made the manner whereof is well known to all They are much commended for leniating the asperity of the jaws Vires outing cough and hoarseness and moving spittle Thus I think I have sufficiently described not onely all forms of purgative Medicaments but purgative necessary in a Pharmacopoly It now remains that in the sequent Book I describe Roboratives and Alteratives Finis Libri Secundi The Apothecaries Shop OR ANTIDOTARY THE THIRD BOOK Of ROBORATIVE MEDICAMENTS Distinct in three SECTIONS The first whereof Treats of more select Cordial Powders THE PREFACE SCarce any Medicament is of a solitary faculty but it either purges or roborates and alters withall but the denomination is desumed from the prepollent faculty and that which roborater more and alters less is called a Roborative that which alters more and roborates less an Alterative We shall treat of both not onely in the same confection consisting of both qualities but apart and in divers Chapters in this Third Book because there is much affinity betwixt these Medicaments both in qualities consistence and manner of preparation The Roman Philoniom and the confection of Hyacinth have the same preparation and consistence and are both described amongst Roboratives yet the former is called an Alterative Now that we may in just order describe all the Roboratives we shall begin with the most select Cordial Powders partly at they are described by famous Medicks partly as established by our invention and