A TREATISE O N Foreign Vegetables. Containing An Account of fuch as are now com- monly ufed in *he Pra&ice of P h y s i c k. WITH THEIR Defcriptions, chymical Amlyfss , Virtues, Dofes, and various Effects. Chiefly taken from the MATERIA MEDICA O F STEPH. FRAN. GEOFFROY, M.D. Profefibr of Chymiftry at P a r i s, Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences , and Fellow of the Royal Society , London. By RALPH THICKNESSE, M.D, LONDON: Printed for J. C l a r k e, under the Royal-Exchange , C. Da v 1 s in Holbourn> J. Whiston in Fleet- ftreety and S.Baker in RuJJel-ftreet near Covent Garden . Mdccxlix. r»f ft , ( fyt / L. ) h *• k • 1 . „ V ■ M •■ .. . ... ■ * . . Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 : vi- . i, .. . https://archive.org/details/treatiseonforeig1749geof ' U'f, / ' [ iii ] THE PREFACE. IN the following Abftrad from Geoffrey $ Treatife on the Materia Medica, I have given, an Account of fuch Exoticks or foreign Vegetables as are contained in the new Catalogue of the College, and ufually preferibed in Medicines. Among foreign Vegetables I have ranked, not only thofe that are im- ported to us from Abroad, but fome alfo that are produced in great Plenty in England ; which notwithftanding, as they grow in other Countries fpon- tameoufly, and here by Culture only, are not to be accounted Natives of this Climate. In treating of thefe the Order ob- ferved is conformable to the Plan laid down at the Beginning of the Book ; A 2 whereby IV PREFACE. whereby they are divided into feparate Chapters, with refpedt to their Parts ufed in Medicines. The Chapters are fubdivided into Articles : Wherein I have fet down, i . The different Names, ancient and modern, of each Drug ; 2. A Defcription of it; 3. The Marks dire&ing how to choofe it ; 4. The fy- nonymous Names, and native Soil of the Plant to which it belongs, if yet afcertained ; 5. Its chymical Analyfis , when judged requilite ; 6. Its Virtues, Dofes, with fometimes its bad Quali- ties, and Reafonings upon the Manner in which it operates ; and, in the laft Place, are commonly fubjoined fome Forms, according to which it may be conveniently adminiftred. In fhort, I have tranflated whatever appeared to me in my Author necef- fary to be known by Gentlemen who are engaged in the Study, or Pra&ice of Phyfick ; and believe, or at lead: hope, that nothing, that might prove of real Advantage to them, is omitted. I have PREFACE. v I have added, by way of Supplement, a few Plants upon which my Author has been lilent ; and have likewife ad- joined the Hiftory of others, with us properly reckoned Exoticks, which he has treated of as domeftick Plants ; be- caufe, to furnifh a more uniform Ac- count of them, I have been obliged to alter his Method, and to borrow from other Writers on Botany. Moreover, the Editor of the Latin Copy of this Treatife has made many Addi- tions to it under the Direction of M. Bernard de JeuJfteu^ a curious Natural- ift; and thefe Additions being fome- times very pertinent to the Subject of our Inquiry, feveral of them are in- ferted in the following Sheets, and, to diftinguifh them, are included between Crochets, as in the Original. Having now premifed a fummary View of what is done ; it may perhaps be expe&ed that fomething fhould like- wife be faid, before we conclude, relat- ing to the learned Phylician from whole A 3 Writings VI PREFACE. Writings the Work is taken : But I fup- pofe it needlefs to mention any thing more than his Name ; fince his Merits have been published in an Elogium by the ingenious M. de Eontenelle *, and his Character, as an Author, is well known. I ihall therefore only add, that I have endeavoured to make an ufeful Branch of his Knowledge of more ge- neral Benefit; and if my Endeavours anfwer this End, by conducing to the Improvement of the Englijh Reader, it will be a Satisfa&ion to me that I have fo employ’d them. • ffijfoirs de l' Academic Roy ale des Sciences, Amu 1731. An [ vii ] An Explanation of Authors Names abridged in this Treatise. A. AC TU A R. Adtuarius. Aet. Aetius Amidenus. Androm. Andromachus, de Medicamentis compo- fitis ad affe&us externos. Apud Galenum. Avicen. Avicenna. B. Bellon. Obferv. Bellonii Obfervationes. Bont. de Med. Ind . Bontius de Medicina Indorum. Breyn . Cent. Breynii Centurise. Breyn Prodr . Ejufdem Prodromi duo. Burnt. Thef. Zeyl. Burmanni Thefaurus Zeylanicus, exhibens Plantas in Infula Zeylana nafcentes. C C and Gre - and is much cultivated in England. The Root, which in the Shops is called Glycyr- rhiza , Liquirifa or Radix, is long and di- vided into Branches, fometimes as thick as one’s Finger, being of a brown or afhy Colour on the cutfide, but within yellow, and full of a fweet Juice. It tempers Salt and fharp Humours, incraffates the Blood, and cures Coughs and other Diftempers of the Breaft. It is alfo lerviceable in the Stone of the Bladder or Kidneys, affwaging the Violence of the Pain. Wherefore Simon Paulli extols it greatly in thefe Affections, being given in Powder with the Pulp of Cajjia or boiled Turpentine. It is fo much in Efteem with Phyficians, that there is fcarce a Ptifan preferibed without it », whether it be defgned to calm the inordinate Heat of the Humours, or to foften and obtund their Acri- mony. It is likewife joined with other Medicines, M well to moderate their Force, as to render them more agreeable. Take of whole Barley well cleanfed M. j. Boil in ifeiv. of Water to a Confiimption of the fourth Part. Then add of Liquorice feraped, bruifed, and divided into Shreads si. after- wards Foreign Vegetables. 23 wards boil them till the Liquor is depurated ed; and let the ftrained Ptifan be ufed for common Drink. Note, that a Ptifan made of dried Liquorice, arid boiled to Deipumation, is much more agreeable, than when prepared from the frefh Root. Take the Roots of Dog-Grafs and Strawberry a §j. Liquorice fcraped and bruifed 3ij. Boil them in fbiv. of Water to ihiij. for an opening Apozem. The Juice of Liquorice is prepared feveral Ways ; whence we have many different Sorts of it. One Sort is brought from Spain in black hard Cakes or Rolls, and covered with Bay Leaves. It is extra#- ed from the Root by boiling it in Water, and eva^ porating the Decodtion to a due Confidence. The other Sorts are prepared in the Shops. Thefe are the white and black Juices, and that of JBlois. The white Liquorice-Juice, termed by fome Csmfeciio Rabecha , is made thus. Take the Roots of Liquorice and Florentine Or- ris in Powder a gvj. Starch §ij. white pow- dered Sugar £j. Make thefe into a fliff Pafte with q. s. of the Mucilage of Gum Traga- canth in Orange- Flower Water, and then fondl- ing the Pafte into flender Rolls or Tablets lay them in the Shade to dry. The black Juice thus. Take the Extra# of Liquorice-Root and pow- dered Sugar a ftij. Gum Arabick diffolved 3]. Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth made inOrange- C 4 Flower •24 Treatise ok Flower Water- Jifs?' Mix them together, and form'Tablets or Rolls to be dried as the former. The Liquorice Juice of Blots is prepared thus. Take of Gum Arabick grofly prounded ifciv. Sugar ifeiij. Liquorice dried, fcraped and bruifed ifeij. Infufe the Liquorice for twenty- iour Hours in ifexxx. of Water. Divide the {trained Liqour into three Parts, in two of which diffolve the Gum Arabick over a flow Fire, and pafs it through an Hair-Sieve *, then boil it with the remaining Part of the Liquor to the Confidence of a Plaifter, adding the Sugar towards the End, and ftirring it con- tinually to make it white. Artic. X. Of Hellebore. vel Taa^opov, vel *E WeQogocs, Gr C. B. P. which ¥ our ne fort ranks under the Gems of Racmciflus or Crow-foot , by the Name of Ranunculus fceniculactis foliisy Hellebori nigri radice , H. R. Monfpel. Inft. R. H. and both he and Dodonceus have obferved, that the Roots of this are not purgative. Where- fore, inftead of the true black Hellebore, we ought rather to fubftitute the Helleborus niger horten/is> flore viridi, C> B. P. or the Helleborus niger fee tidus^ C. B. P. which are the Sorts that are ufually brought to Paris from the Mountains of Auvergne. But in order todifeover whether the Roots, which are fold for black Hellebore, have their proper medicinal Virtues, M. lournefort propofes to in- fufe them in a fufficient Quanity of Spring Wa- ter, and afterwards to diftil them in an Alembick ; for if the Water coming over be inlipid, thofe Roots are to be rejedted, as void of Efficacy ; but if the Water have a confiderable Acrimony, they are fit for Ufe. ; From the Roots of white Hellebore, in a chymi- cal Treatment, is obtained, firft a Spirit of a very acrid Foreion Vegetables, 27 acrid Tafte, which coagulates a Solution of Subli- mate; afterwards an acid corrofive Liquor, and then a volatile concreted Salt and Oil. But the Quantity of Earth remaining is equal in Weight £0 a third Part of the Roots. Moreover, by the Juice of white Hellebore the Colour of blue Paper is rendered more lively, in the fame Manner as when the Paper is dipped in Lime-Water. Five Pounds of the Fibres of black Hellebcre- Root yielded eight Ounces of greenilh Liquor of a very acrid Tafte ; but it produced no Change in the Tin&ure of Turnfole, or the Solution of Sublimate. After this came over into the Receiver two Pounds, twelves Ounces, and fix Drachms of Liquor, which by Degrees loft its green Colour and became more limpid ; and was like wife depriv- ed of its acrid Tafte, acquiring one that was acid and ftyptick. This Liquor turned the Tin&ure of Turnfole not only purple, but even to the Colour of Fire. The laft four Ounces which came pver, raifed an EfFervefcence with Spirit of Salt, and pre- cipitated the Solution of Sublimate, The foetid Oil weighed an Ounce and half, and the Caput mortuum ten Ounces ; in which were fix Drachms of fixt Salt, and two Ounces, one Drachm, of terra damnata. Further, blue Paper, by being dip- ped in an Infulion pf this Root, is not rendered more lively in its Colour, but on the contrary more obfcure, inclining to the Colour of a Violet. Hence it appears, that an alkaline Salt prevails in the Root of white Hellebore; which, on the other Hand, in the Root of (alack Hellebore, i$ fubdued by an Acid, Moreover it appears, that the Root of black Hellebore contains a Kind of fa- lino-fulphureous Spirit, fuch as is produced by mixing re&ified Spirit of Wine with volatile Spirit of Sal Ammoniac. This Spirit arifes the fiFft in Dif- tillation; 26 A Treatise on dilation; and though it be volatile, and alka- line, yet it is fo involved in Sulphur, that it produces no Change, either in the TinCture of Turnfole, or the Solution of Sublimate. Laftly, if the Diftillation be urged at the Beginning by a flronge Fire, there arifes, inftead of the acrid Spi- rit, a coagulated Compound confifting of the fame Principles. But the purgative Quality of Hellebore is not to be attributed either to the acid or alkaline Salt alone, or to the Sulphur, but to all thefe together as they naturally exift in the mixt Body : For as much as an Extract from the Roots with Spirit of Wine is not in the leaft Degree cathartick : neither is a fecond Extra# made with Rain-Water from the Refiduum of the former. Whereas an Extra#, which is drawn out firft with Water, polfelfes all the Vir- tues of the Root ; for the Water diflolves both the alkaline and tartarous Salts, and afterwards, by the Affiftance of thofe Salt, divides and takes up the fulphureous Parts. White Hellebore is cathartick and emetick, but extremely violent in its Operation, producing great Uneaknefs and Anxiety ; and is therefore never given inwardly in the prefent Practice. Even the Powder being only put into Ifiues purges the Belly with great Vehemence. The Ancients fometimes ventured to give it, though never but in defperate Cafes, when they found all other Medicines inef- fectual. Externally it is accounted good in the Itch and other cutaneous FoulnefTes, and is a pow- erful Sternutatory in ileepy Affe&ions. Black Hellebore was very commonly ufed as a Cathartick among the Ancients. They reckoned it an efficacious Medicine in Madnefs and Melan- choly, as alfo in Epilepfies, Apoplexies, Palfies, the Gout, Elephant iafiS) quartan Fevers, and in alj Difeafes • Foreign Vegetables. 32 Difeafes arifing from black Choler. However, its Roughnefs obliged them to be very cautious how they ufed it ; the Patient being always prepared for feven Days, before they ventured to give it, by gentle Phyfick and a proper Regimen. They like wife tried feveral Ways to corredt it. Hippocrates , on the Diet in a cute Difeafes , orders it to be mixed with Cum- min, Anife, and other warm and fragrant Subftances; and Pliny mentions a Method of boiling it in Ra- dices, and giving either the Liquor, the Radiffies, or the Root itfelf. But after all, being unreason- ably given, or in too large a Dofe, it often brought on a Train of direful Symptoms, which Sometimes terminated in the Death of the Patient. The Hel- lebore growing in the Hands of Anticyree was account- ed the bell ; infomuch that it was cuftomary for Peo- ple to go thither, that they might be fure of having the right Sort. Hence naviga Anticyras became a Proverb, being as much as to fay. Go purge off your Madnefs . But M. bourne fort , who feveral Times gave an Extradt of this Hellebore, found the Dan- ger attending its Operation fo great, that he was obliged to forbear the Ufe of it. On Account of this dangerous Quality Hellebore is feldom given at prefent, efpccially fince the emetick and cathar- tick Preparations of Antimony have been in Ufe 5 which, in my Opinion, are much fafer, and no lefs efficacious. However, as the Hellebore which we have in Prance , is not near fo rough as that employed by the Ancients, it may be given in Subftance from gr. xv. to 9ij. in Deco&ion from 5]. to gij. and in Extradt, prepared with Rain- Water, from gr. xij. to 9j. and we muft obferve, that Cream of Tartar, Sal Prunel, Tamarinds, Oxy- mel, and the Juice of Quinces, are better Correc- tors of it than Aromaticks. Take 30 Treatise Take of the Fibres of black Hellebore cutfmali gfs. Pour upon them gvj. of boiling Milk. Boil them gently, and then leaving them all Night in Infufion, give the {trained Liquor in the Morning. Take of the Fibres of black Hellebore jj. boil in §iv. of Rain-Water to a third Part. To the {trained Decodtion add §ij. of Honey well clarified. The Dofe is a Spoonful every other Day, for Madnefs. Take of the Extract of black Hellebore gr. xv. dulcified Mercury Sublimate and prepared Amber a gr. xij. Cream of Tartar 9j. mix and make a Bolus with q. s. of the Pulp of Caffia frdh drawn. Take of the Extradl of black Hellebore 9j. Cream of Tartar gfs. Quince-Marmalade q. s. Make a Bolus. Some Phyficians commend this Root as an ex^ cellent Alterative, and fuppofe that it conduces more towards the Cure of Melancholy, by dififolving the Vifcidity of the Humours, than by purging. It is reckoned externally a good Detergent in the Shingles, Scab, and leprous Sores ^ and Galen ex- tols it for removing the Callofity of Fiftulas *. * By the Account above given it is evident, that not only the black Hellebore of the Ancients, but alfo what the French make ufe of, is vaftly different from ours. For the black Hellebore of the Englijh Shops purges very little, but powerfully divides and attenuates the Humours ; and in plethorick CozilHtutions, feldom fails to promote the Menfes . Moreover, according to Dr. Freind in his Hiftory of Phyfick, vol. z. p. 105. it fome- timcs proves a molt efficacious Diuretick in the Droply. A R T c Foreign Vegetables, 31 A r t 1 c. XI. Of Jalap. Jalapa , Jalapium , et Mechoacanna nigra Off. Jalap is an oblong Root, in Figure fomething refembling a Top or Turnip, thick, denfe, heavy, and cut tranfverfly into Pieces, of a dark Colour without, and brown or afh-coloured within, r.efinous, hard to be broken, and in Tafte fomewhat acrid and nau- feous. The belt is denfe, of a brown Colour, hard to be broken, refinous, and inflammable. It was a Stranger to the Greeks and Arabians , be- ing brought into Europe with the other Riches of America . It took its Name from Xalapa^ a Town of New-Spain , from whence it was fit ft imported to us. Authors have hitherto been undetermined con- cerning the Plant to which it belongs ; foitie fup- poling it to be the Bryonia , Mechoacanna nigricans , C. B. P. Some the Solanum Mexicanum magno fore , C. B. P. and others the Convolvulus Americanus Ja- lapium dittus, Raii Hift . The celebrated Tournefort , after Father Plumier and Ligonius , afferts that the Plant, whofe Root is the officinal Jalap, is like the Jalapa offcinarum fruftu rugofo , Infi. R. H. which is a Species of the Mirabilis Peruviana or Marvel of Peru. [But this is a Miftake ; for Mr. Ploufton , who brought the Jalap-Plant over with him from A~ meric a, fhewed it to M. Bernard de Juffieu , refid- ing at that Time in London , who difcovered it to be a true Species of the Convolvulus .] The Root of Jalap contains a large Quantity of alkaline Salt, with a frnall Proportion of acidy joined with fome Sulphur and Earth. Thefe Principks being mixed together conftitute a Gum and a Refin*, whicare both obtainable in great Plenty from the dry Root. For twelves Ounces of Jalap in 32 ^Treatise cn in Powder yielded three Ounces of Refin, with four Ounces of a gummous Extract : and two Pounds of the Root in Diflillation gave up nine Ounces of Oil, a very large Quantity of alkaline Phlegm, and a lefs Portion of acid Phlegm, wherein the Acidity difcover’d itfelf only in an obfcure Manner : Furthermore, an Infufion of Jalap in clear Water renders the Colour of blue Paper more lively. This is an excellent cathartick Medicine and of very familiar ule with the common People ; who prefer it to other Medicine, becaufe it has no Smell, is agreeable enough to take, and anfwers their Expectations in a fmall Dofe. It is faid to purge off all noxious Humours, but more efpe- cially a redundant Serum, without Pain or Uneafi- nefs. But Simon Pauli denies that it is fo gentle as fome would perfuade us, afferting it to be much of the fame Nature with Scammony. IVepfer like- wife affures us that it occafions Inflammation in the Stomach and Inteftines ; which he endeavours to prove by the following Experiment. He gave to a Whelp a Month old half a Scruple of the Refin of Jalap and to another fix Months old he gave a Scru- ple. This lafl was feized with a violent Hickup ; and the other with Pains in the Belly, and a Stag- gering in his Gait as if he were drunk. Some Hours after, when neither of them had voided any Thing by Stool, he opened them alive, and found manifeft Signs of Inflammation both in their Sto- machs and Inteftines; However, we muff ingenu- ouily confefs that the Dofe of the Refrn was too Itrong, it being a much more churlifh Medicine than the Root in Subfiance. Hence, therefore, it does not follow that there is any Thing to be fufpeCled in Jalap, but what it has in common with other acrimonious and flrong Cathar- Foreign Vegetables* 33 Catharticks : for the Operation of all thefe depends, both upon the Addon and Vellication of their ful- phureous and acrid faline Parts upon the Membranes of the Inteftines, whereby they ftrongly irritate the Glands to fqueeze out tfheir Contents and alfo upon the Mixture of their Particles with the Mafs of Blood, where they diffolve and melt down the Humours. Whence it appears, that a Medicine in order to purge mud neceffarily produce an Irritati- on of the Inteftines, which will be greater or lefs in Proportion to the Strength or Dofe of it. This Drug then, among the ftronger Hydra- gogues, may be conftdered as mild and gentle : Nor can it be otherwife hurtful than by Accident. Caf- par Bauhine extends the Dofe to gj. but Simon Pauili , C'afpar Hoffman, and the beft Phyficians, confine it to gr. xxiv. And accordingly it is found, in Subftance, to purge very well and without Un- eafinefs from gr. xij. to xxiv. But in Relation to Jalap we mud obferve, that in acute Fevers it is very improper ; as alfo in hot and dry Conftitutions. For in thefe, like all other acrimonious and irritating Purgatives, it raifes an intenfe, and oftentimes inflammatory Heat in ths Bowels, and promotes a very fparing Evacuation ; nay, frequently none. It is of Service chiefly to Perfons of cold Temperaments, who abound with ferous Humours and are of a moid Habit of Body i and is particularly efficacious in a Dropfy, An afar c a , and Cachexy. However, we mud be very careful in didinguifhing what is properly meant by a moid Habit-, fince Bodies which in Reality are dry, have oftentimes a Redundancy of Serum . Thus, in Perfons fubjefl to melancholick, fcorbutick and atrabilious Affe&ions, whofe Bowels are over heated by the immoderate Incalefcence of the Bile or whofe Blood, being rendered acrimonious by ex- D celEva 34 if Treatise ceffive Heat, has the fibrous Part clofely compar- ed, whilft the other is difTolved into Serum: in thefe, I fay, and in Perfons under the like In- difpofitions, the Body feems to be overftocked with ferous Humours ; infomuch that they fpit often, and difcover other Signs of a Superfluity of fuch Humours. Yet thefe Temperaments are not to be accounted moift ; but, on the contrary, the Fibres within are hot, dry, and rigid. For being velli- cated and fhrivelled up by the Acrimony of the Humours, they exert not their Ofcillations with fufhcient Force to carry on the due Circulation of the Fluids. Hence they ftagnate in all Parts of the Body, and tran fuding through the Vefiels, pro- duce Cachexies, cedematous Tumours, Leucophleg- macies, Dropfies, and other Affections, which ne- ver yield to Hydragogue Medicines of this Sort. By a moift Habit of Body we are then to under- hand, an Habit replete with foft, mucilaginous, chylous, or recrementitious Juices-, in which the Moifture is not owing to a diffolving Salt, or a Stagnation of the Fluids, but to a Redundancy of nutritious juices, to Crudity, or over Feeding. In- fants may ferve as Inftances of this Temperament, who living upon Milk and Pap, with the like humec- ting Aliment, eafily bear purging. Again, Gluttons, who having their Blood overcharged with Fat, Chyle, or Serum, fupport the Operation of a Cathartick without Injury. For this keafon Jalap is very ufe- ful in the Difeafes of Infants becaufe all its Acri- mony is blunted by the foft, milky or chylous Quality of their Fluids: but, on the other Hand, the Blood of Adult?, being bilious or too elaftick, by a cathartick Medicine like this, is immediately thrown into Fermentation. Upon the fame Ac- count alfo Purges are more fuccefsful in the acute Fevers Foreign Vegetables; 34 Fevers of Infants, and may likewife be ventured upon fooner to them than to grown up People. Many pretend to correCl fome noxious Quality which they imagine to be in Jalap, by mixing it fometimes with alkaline Salts, as with Salt of Tartar, of Wormwood, or the like : Sometimes with Acids, as with Cream of Tartar, Juice of Lemons, and Spirit of Sulphur or Vitriol ; by which its Parts are concentrated, and in a Manner fixed : and fometimes with Oils, or Aromaticks, fuch as Cinnamon, Cloves, Ginger, or Mace •, where- by they propofe to reftore the nervous Fibres of the Stomach and Inteflines, when they are weaken- ed by the ACtion of the Purgative. But to rti& it feems altogether ufelefs to give a Purge, and to invalidate at the fame Time its Force ; it appearing more reafonabie not to give it at all. Acids indeed effectually diminifh and temper the Force of a Cathartick; but the fame may be done by only leffening its Dofe. As to Aromaticks and aroma- tick Oils, I look upon them to be very bad Cor- rectors : For they produce a ftronger Irritation in the Bowels than the Medicine itfelf, and render it ineffectual •, fince they frequently raife an Inflamma- tion, and fo hinder the Difcharge of Flumours. Alkaline Salts feem much fitter to correCt rejinous Catharticks ; becaufe by dividing their tenacious or refinous Parts, they prevent their adhering to the Membranes of the Inteflines, which otherwife they art apt to do. Neverthelefs thefe Salts abate not their Acrimony, bur, on the other Hand, increafc it. Therefore, to the End that a purgative Medicine may fucceed well, let it be fbrted to the Difeafe and Temperament of the Patient, and he given neither in too fmall nor too large a Dofe; and then it will require no Correction. Or, if it be neceffary any D 2 Way 3 6 A Treatise on Way to qualify its Force, let it be diluted with a fufficient Quantity of Liquor. And this may be underftood of Purgatives in general. As to Jalap, it wants no Corrector, fince its faline and fulphu- reous Parts are extended by a fufficient Quantity of Earth ; infomuch that no Preparation thereof is better than the Root in Powder. A Refin is got from it with Spirit of Wine, and a gummous Ex- trad with Water. However, the Refin purges no more, but, on the contrary, fometimes, lefs than the Root, and always occafions Pains and Gripings of the Bowels. And again, the gummous Extrad is very weak, and therefore operates but (lowly. The Powder of Jalap is fometimes ordered to be drank with Liquors, but is more commonly given in a Bolus. Take of Jalap in Powder 3j. Infufe it a Night in 3vj. of white Wine. Let the Infufion with the Powder ffiook up together be taken in the Morning. Take of powdered Jalap gr. xxiv. of the Syrup of Peach-Blofiomsq. f. to make a Bolus. Take of the Powder of Jalap gr. xviij. the Duke of Helping Salt ^fs. Confer ve of Orange- Flowers. q. f. to make a Bolus. Take of Rhubarb powdered gr. xxiv. Jalap gr. xij. dulcified Sublimate gr. x. make them into a Bolus with q. f. of any proper Syrup. A r t i c. XII. Of Ipecacuanha. T his excellent anti-dyfenterick Medicine was difeovered in the New World about the Middle of the Iaft Age, and deferibed by William Pifo in his Hidory of the Indies •, by whom, and alfo by Mark - .grave, it was brought from Brafile into Europe. How- Foreign Vegetables. 37 However, it remained in Obfcurity, and altogether unknown in France , till about the Year 1672. when M. Legrasy a Phyfician who thrice had travelled over many Parts of America , brought it with him to Paris . But notwithstanding, its Virtues being not fufficiently known, it was ftill negledted for a long Time. Till at length one Garnery a foreign Merchant, brought it again to Francey and greatly extolling its Virtues, M. Adrian Helvetiusy a Phy- fician of the Faculty of RheimSy ventured to ufe it : and his Succefs was fo extraordinary, that Lewis XIV. purchafed the Secret of him, and made it publick. In regard of the Places from whence this Root is brought there are two Sorts, ( viz.) the Peruvian and the Brajilian ; but in refpedf of its Colour, three; which are the grayy the hr own y and the white . 1. Ipecacuanha cinerea ; Ipecacuanha Peruviana^ Off. The gray or Peruvian Ipecacuanhay which is called by the Spaniards Bexuguillo and Rais de Oro , and is perhaps the Ipecacuanha alba of Pifiy is a tortuous Root, two or three Lines thick, and encompaffed, as it were, with’ rough Rings or Circles, being of a light brown or afhy Colour, denfe, hard, brittle, and refinous, with a fmall String running through the Middle, having a fubacrid bitter Tafte, and a faint Smell. It grows about the Gold Mines in PerUy and is imported every Year by the Spaniards at Cadiz. The Plant of which this Sort is the Root is not known, unlefs it be the Ipecacuanha alba of Pifo . 2. Ipecacuanha fufca \ Ipecacuanha Brajilianay et Radix Brafilienfis , Off The brown, or Brajilian Ipecacuanhay or Brajile- Root, which is produced from the Ipecacuanha altera feu fufca y Pifon. Oura - gogay Lin. gen . 934, is tortuous and encompaffed D 3 with 38 ^ Treatise with Rings like the former, but is rougher and alfo thinner, being but about a Line in Thicknefs, of a brown Colour or blackifh on the outfide, and white within, having a gentle Bitternefs in itsTafte. This is brought from Brafile to Lifbon. 3. Ipecacuanha alba , feu potius Ipecacuanha adul- terina . White, or rather Ipecacuanha is a thin woody Root, without Wrinkles, void of Bit- ternefs, and of a yellowifh white Colour. Some affert this to be the Ipecacuanha alba of Pifo, which I queftion very much ; becaufe the Root which Pifo deicribes under that Name, both vomits and purges ; whereas this does neither. It therefore feems moft likely, that the Merchants mix this with Ipecacuanha, rather through Avarice, than upon Account of any Affinity between the two Roots ; for the Ipecacuanha alba of Pifo is proba- bly the fame with the Ipecacuanha Peruviana , or the Bexuguillo of the Spaniards , as we have before obferved. The gray and brown Ipecacuanha are emetick and cathartick. Pifo likewife commends their alexi- terial Quality j and affierts, that their Virtues are not only extraordinary in Dyfenteries and inveterate Fluxes of the Belly, but in many Diforders alfo arifing from long and obflinate Obffirudtions. The Peruvain or gray Sort is preferred, as being much milder in its Operation. It is made Choice of well preferved, full of Juice, and not too old. How- ever, according to Pifo , when it is old it has fome Efficacy remaining ; for though it lofes its eme- tick Quality, yet it .retains its iudorifick and alexi- terial Virtues for many Years. Both Sorts are much ufed at prefent in Fluxes of the Belly •, but are chiefly fuccefsful in curing a confirmed Dy- fentery *, for they frequently conquer the Difeafe in the Space of one Day, like a Charm. Foreign Vegetables. 39 They are fo vifcid and acrimonious, that a Per- fon by reducing a Pound or two of either Sort in- to Powder, and not faking Care to avoid the finer Parts that are raifed out of the Mortar, is efredted in a fhort Time with a difficult Refpiration, Bleed- ing at the Nofe, fpitting of Blood, Inflammation and Swelling ot the Eyes, Face, or fometimes of the Throat, with the like Symptoms; which either of their own Accord, or by opening a Vein, difappear in a few Days. Further, being boiled in Water they give out a large Quantity of Mucilage, which is fo thick and tenacious, that a ftrong Expreffion is required to drain it through Linen. By Spirit of Wine, from eight Ounces of gray or Peruvain Ipecacuanha, were got ten Drajjrhms of Refin. From the fame Quantity of the Root, by common Water, were obtained three Ounces and a Half of a gum mous Extradl. The Powder re- maining, after the Gum and Refin had been ex- tradled from eight Ounces of the Root, weighed four Ounces. From eight Ounces of brown or Brafilian Ipeca- cuanha were got fix Drachms of Refin : and the fame Quantity of the Root yielded one Ounce and three Drachms of Gum. The Powder remaining, after the Gum and Refin had been extradled from eight Ounces of the Root, weighed fix Ounces. Hence it appears that the Quantity of adtive Principles, that is, of Refin and Gum, is greater in the gray Sort than in the brown. The refinous Extract is ftrongly emetick. The gummous Extradl likewife vomits, though but very little ; yet it fometimes cures Dyfenteries, whilft the Refin, on the other Hand, does not. The Pow- der remaining after the Ext radii on of the Gum and Refi n is altogether inert ; fince it neither vomits, D 4 nor 40 ^ Treatise ^ nor purges, nor cures Dyfenteries. Hence there- fore we may conclude, that the principal Virtues of Ipecacuanha in curing this Difeafe, are owing to its Gum : For the Membranes of the Inteftines, being deprived of their MuCus, are befmeared with the mucilaginous Parts of the Medicine, and their Ulcerations .are dried and healed. * It is true, the Refin alfo, by its emetick Quality, may be conducive in fome Meafure to the Removal of the Difeafe, by dividing and evacuating the mor- bifick Matter which lurks in the Glands of the Stomach and Inteftines. However, it muft be al- lowed that thefe Subftances, as they are naturally combined in the Root, cure Dyfenteries with much greater Certainty, than in a feparate State. Pifo propoles s;j. of the Root in Powder for a Dofe, and gij in Decodlion or Infufion. He fays the Inhabitants of Brafile chufe to make ufe of it diluted with Liquors, rather than in Subftance; becaufe by letting it Hand a Night in Maceration in the open Air, or by boiling it in Water, they are able to obtain a confiderable Share of its Virtues \ and afterwards the Refiduum being again treated in the fame Manner, the {trained Liquor is admini- fired as the firft, being now lefs cathartick and eme- tick, but more aftringent. For we muft obferve that this Root not only makes a Revulfion of the vifcid morbifick Matter from the Part affedled, and difcharges it by Vomit, but by its Aftringency alfo reftores the Tone of the Bowels. With us it is more commonly ufed in Sub- ftance, than in DecoClion or Infufion \ being gene- rally taken on an empty Stomach in the Morning from 3fs. to ^fs in Wine, Broth, or WTafers. The firft Dofe often cures a Dy fentery : if not, we muft have a Recourfe to a fecond *, and fo to a third. Some, for fear of a Relapfe, prefcri.be a ftomachick and Foreign Vegetables. 41 and anodyne Draught for the Patient to take the fame Day in the Evening. Thus, Take of Ipecacuanha in Powder 9j. or gfs. Syrup of Quinces q f. Make a Bolus and give it in the Morning in a Wafer, with a Draught of Broth, or Wine and Water after it. Take of the Confedlion of Hyacinth 3J. Syrup of white Poppies 3VJ*. diffolve them in §iij. of Plantain- Water, for a Draught to be taken when going to Bed. Or, Take Diaphoretick Mineral, red Coral and fealed Earth, a gr. xv. Cinnamon and leffer Galan- gal a gr. x. Opium gr. Is. Syrup of Quinces q. f. Mix and make a Bolus. I have found by Experience, that fix Grains of Ipecacuanha vomit very well, and that ten Grains operate as ftrongly as one or two Scruples. Where- fore I think a larger Dofe than fix or ten Grains entirely needlefs. As it is obferved that this Drug muft be fre- quently repeated in order to prevent Relapfes, there- fore, after the Patient has been fufficiently purged both upwards and downwards by a confiderable Quantity, I order a few Grains to be taken at fe- veral Times in the Day ; that fo, without occafion- ing any Evacuation, it may a£t as an Aftringent ; and by fpreading the Coats of the Inteftines over with its Mucilage, may deterge and dry up the Ulcers. By this Method the Patient is freed both from the Difeafe and the Danger of a Relapfe. Therefore, when a Perfon labours under a fimple Dyfentery, let him be duly prepared, Hrft by Bleeding if there be a Plethory or Fever *, and after- wards by proper Cly iters and a fuitable Diet. Then let 42 i Treatise let an Evacuation be made by the following or the like Forms of Medicines. Take of Calabrian Manna §j. didolve it in §vj. of Plantain- Water. To the {trained Liquor add of the univerfal Eledtuary with a double Quantity of Rhubarb |fs. of the Powder of Ipecacuanha gr. vj. Make a Draught to be taken in the Morning. Or, Take of Rhubarb powdered pj. Jalap gr. xij. Brafile-Root g. vj. Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb q. f. Make a Bolus. When the fird Pafiages by thefe Medicines have been well evacuated both by Vomit and Stool, give the following adringent and {Lengthening Elec- tuary. Take Conferve of red Rofes and Hips a%j. Venice-Treacle gij. Powder of Ipecacuanha gr, xviij. Syrup of Quinces q. f. Mix and make an Eledtuary. The Dofe is 3J. in the Morn- ing fading, and the fame four Hours after Din- ner, till the Difeafe is perfedtly cured. The great bourne fort has obferved, that this Spe- cifick is lefs fuccefsful in Camps than in private Families * either becaufe the Strength of the Sol- diers is generally exhauded by Toil and Hard- ihip, and their Bowels are too much injured ; or becaufe the Air which they breathe is unwholfome and full of noxious Vapours. And what he has afferted in regard to Soldiers, I have alfo experi- enced amongd the Poor } efpecially when the Dy- fentery has been epidemical, and owing to fome malignant Exhalation, which either the Aliment or the Air have introduced into the Mafs of Blood. For Foreign Vegetables. 43 | For when the Difeafe is of this Nature, it is to no Purpofe to give Ipecacuanha , unlefs the Ufe of it be continued for fome Time, with the Affiftance of cordial and alexipharmack Medicines. For Inftance, in an epidemical and malignant Dyfentery, Take of the univerfal Eledtuary with a double Quantity of Rhubarb giij. Powder of Ipeca- cuanha gr. x. Make a Bolus. In Cafe of great Weaknefs, it will be proper to order the following cordinal and anti-dyfenterick Mixture immediately after the Evacuation. Take the Confedlion of Hyacinth and Diafcor- dium a gj. Powder of Ipecacuanha gr. x. Syrup of Quinces ij. Cinnamon- Water gfs. Plantain and Baum-Water a ^iij. Mix and let a Spoonful be taken every Hour. The Day following. Take of Diafcordium gj. Brqfile- Root gr. j. Make a Bolus, to be repeated Morning and Evening till the Patient is quite recovered. Although the Virtues of this Root render it a Specifick in the Dyfentery, yet its Efficacy is not fo certain againft other Fluxes of the Belly ; and it is even more fuccefsful in a confirmed Dyfen- tery, than during the firft Stage of it. For in the Beginning, the Heat of the Blood is too immo- derate, and the morbid Ferment too impetuous and unruly for the Medicine to take Effedt: But when the Difeafe Is confirmed, or in its Decline, the mor- bi'fick Matter, which is then feparated from the Blood* 44 Treatise ^ Blood, harbouring chiefly in the Inteftines, is more eafily evacuated. In fine, this Remedy, if it be duly adminiftred, very feldom fails. That it fometimes anfwers not our Expe&ation is generally owing either to fome incurable Affection of the Bowels, or a total De- pravation of the Humours. However, though it has not the defired Succefs, yet the Patient is not worfe for ufing it ; for which reafon, it may be de- fervedly called the fafeft and the beft of Medicines *. A r t i c. XIII. Of Florentine Orris. Iris Florentine* , Off. fyg ’Iaau^x*, Diofc. et Grcecor. Afmeni inni Jive Aierfa Arab . The Root of Flo- rentine Orris comes to us in oblong tuberous Pieces, fomewhat flat and as thick as one’s Thumb, or fometimes twice as thick, having its Bark, which is of a reddifh yellow Colour, pared off with its Fibres, and then it appears white and fpotted. It has a fragrant Smell, fomething like a Violet, and a bitter acrid Tafle. It ought to be made Choice of well preferved, white, fragrant, and free from Wrinkles. The Plant is called Iris alba Florentina , C. B. P. White Florentine Orris, or Flower-de-luce of Flo- rence. Iris Flore alba , J. B. Both the Ancients and Moderns have attributed many Virtues to this Root. Being given from 9j. to 3]. it attenuates and incides infpilfated Lymph in the Lungs, and fo helps Expe&oration : Whence it is ufeful in Ajlhmas , Difficulty of Breathing, and * This Root is very rarely made ufe of in France , except in the Cafes above mentioned ; for in others emetick Tartar is preferred. .But in England it is given not only in Dyfenteries and Diarrhoeas , but likewife in Fevers, and almoft all other Difternpers that require Vomiting. Coughs. Foreign Vegetables. 45 Coughs. It is likewife ferviceable to Children in the Gripes ; and externally applied is reckoned farcotick. Moreover, it is mixed with other In- gredients in the Intention of a Sternutatory, Er- rhine, of Apophlegmatifm. C. Hoffman fays it caufes Sleep ; though not by Virtue of a narcotick Quality, but by a certain vaporous Subftance, of the fame Nature with that which compofes Saffron, Myrrh, Nutmegs, &c. But he tells us, that it has this Effedt only in Perfons who are of cold and moift Temperaments. Take the Root of Florentine Orris, Liquorice, Anifeed, native Sulphur, q. v. Syrup of white Horebound q. f. Make an Eledtuary. The Dofe is >y. feveral Times a Day for an 4ft ®ma or Cough. Take Florentine Orris and male Piony a Saffron giij. Fennel Sugar- candy §iij. Make a fine Powder, of which give gj. or 9ij. to Children, in the Mother’s or Cow’s Milk, or in Pap, to appeafe the Gripes and difcufs Wind in the Bowels. Take of Florentine Orris ^iij. Leaves of Betony and Marjoram a 5j*. Mix them for a fneezing Powder. Take of Florentine Orris ^ij. the Seed of Muf- tard and Staves-aker a 5fs. Being grofsly bruifed and tied in a Nobule, let them be held in the Mouth and chewed for half an Hour fading, holding down the Head to dis- charge the Spittle. A r t 1 c. XIV. 0/ Pellitory of Spain. Pyrethrum, Off. Of this there are two Sorts. The one is about as long and thick as one’s Finger, 2 of 46 ^ Treatise of a dark yellowifh Colour on the outfide and whitifh within, having fome Fibres growing to it, and an extremely acrid and burning Tafte, but void of Smell. It is brought from Tunis y Spain , Italy y and other warm Climates. The other Sort is thinner and lefs acrid. The Plant which produces the firft is called Chamtemelum fpeciofo flore , radice longd , fervida , Shaw Catal. No. 138. p. 39. Pyrethrum vulgo et veteribus Arabibus , Guntufs . ejufd. Buphthalmum creticum , Cotuloe facie , flore luteo et albo, Breyn. Cent. 1. p. 150. Tom. 75. Buphthalmum caulibus fmpliciflimiS'i mifloris , folds pinnato multifidis , £/». /£ Cliff. p. 414. The latter is the Root of the Leucanthemum Ca - mrienfe, fo Ts . Chryfanthami , Pyrethri fapcre , Ind, R. H. Chryfanthamum fruticofum , foliis line or i bus y dent at 0 trifidisy Lin. H. Cliff. 417. Chamamelum Ca - narienfe ceratophyllum fruticojius glaaco folio crafflorey fapcre fervidoy Magala ab Incolis norhinatiimy Mar . Hift. Oxon. Part. 3. p. 35. • Pellitory being held in the Mouth opens the fa- lival Du6ts and draws forth abundance of Spittle *, which renders it a Specifick in the Tooth-ache, particularly when the Pain proceeds from Obftru&i- ons or a Catarrh. By its Acrimony and Pungency it alfo vellicates the Nervts, and refolves their Ob- ftrudtions, and is therefore very ufeful to be held in the Mouth and chewed in fleepy Difeafes, or Palfy of the Tongue. Take of the Root of Pellitory q. v. fteep it in Vinegar all Night, and let it be chewed in the Morning. Take the Root of Pellitory and Ginger a 33. black Pepper gis. Reduce them to Powder and make a Nodule to be held betwixt the 2 Teeth ; Foreign Vegetables.' 47 Teeth ; or let them be made up with Wax in- to Balls of the Size of an Hafel-nut, and be ufed as a Mafticatory. It is feldom given inwardly, except by Way of Clyfter in Apoplexies and other fleepy Affe&ions. Take of Pellitory Root boil it in ifcj. of the common Deco&ion for Clyfters ^ and in the {trained Liquor diffolve gfs. of Sal Gem for a Clyfter. Artic. XV. Of Rhubarb. Some Botanifts confound the Rhubard of the Moderns with the Rhapontick of the Ancient Greeks ; but from the Defcription of Rhapontick given by Diofcorides under the Name of CP<£ or 'P?ov, their Difference is evident *, this appearing to have been the fame with the Rhapontick of Profper Alpinus. Rhabarb arum , Off. Rhabarbarum verum , feu Si - nenfe. The officinal or true C^i«^-Rhubard is brought to us in thick Pieces of unequal Mag- nitudes, being fometimes four, five, or fix Inches long, and three or four Inches thick, of a yellow or brownifh Colour on the outfide, but marbled, or variegated like a Nutmeg within with Saffron- Colour and yellow, and of* a light, fungous Tex- ture. The Tafte is fubacrid, bitterifh, and a little aftringent *, and its Smell is aromatick, though fomewhat unpleafant. When it is ufed in Phyfick it ought to-be frefh, found, and of a good Colour, giving a Tin&ure to aqueous Menftruums like Saffron, and leaving no Sliminefs upon the Tongue. It comes to us from the Eafl- Indies, Turkey, and Mufccvy. (.Of 48 " ^Treatise [Of what Species the Plant is which produces Rhubarb is not very eafy to determine ; no Author having yet given any certain Account of it. Mm - tingius indeed has publifhed a Figure and De- fcription thereof, taken from Matthiolus , under the Name of Rhabarbarum lanuginofum , Jive Lapathum Chinenfe longifolium : But it is plain neither he nor Matthiolus had ever feen it; becaufe no Plant hi- therto known Correfponds to their Deicription. It is very likely, therefore, that both the Defcripti- on and Figure were formed meerly from the Rela- tions of Merchants who brought the Root from China. However not long Tince, M. Anthony and M. Bernard de JuJfieu , Profeffors of Botany in the Royal Garden at Paris , had a Plant fent to them from Muf- covy9 called Rhabarbarum folio oblongo , drifpo , un- dulato , Jlabellis Sparjis , which is the fame that had been fent before from that Country to Mr. J Rand, Dire&or of the Phyfick-Garden at Chelfeay for true China Rhubarb, under the Name of Lapathum Bar dan a folio , undulato , glabro. And this undoubt- edly is the true China- Rhubarb ; not only as it was fent for fuch, but becaufe its Seeds agree with thofe of the true Rhubarb which were transmitted from China to M. Vandermonde , Phyfician of the Faculty of Paris . The Root, moreover, has exadtly the Figure and Appearance of Rhubarb, and its Colour, Smell, and Tafte alfo are the fame. This Plant is now cultivated in the Royal Garden at Paris , where it fiourifhes and bears the coldeft Winters.] Rhubarb contains a large Quantity of Sulphur and fixt Salt, joined with a little acid Salt and a large Stock of Earth. From thefe Principles mixed together arifes a gummous Compound, whereof the Gum and Earth are eafily feparated, and in no fmall Foreign Vegetables. 49 {mall Quantity : For from two Ounces of Rhu- barb, by common Water, were got one Ounce and twelve Grains of a gum mous Extract. The Proportion of Refin is very fmall, and That di- vided by a great deal of alkaline Salt *, infomuch that three Drachms of a falino-refinous Extrad: is as much as can well be obtained from two Ounces of the Root. Moreover, this Extradl, by reafon of the large Portion of Salt, eafily diffolves in common Water : And on the fame Account, the Tindture of Rhubarb made with Spirit of Wine does not turn milky in Water like other refinous Tindlures. All Phyficians allow two different Qualities in Rhubarb ; the one purgative, the other gently reftringent. It is efpecially reckoned an. excellent Chologogue •, and fome, by Reafon of its Efficacy in refolving Obftrudlions of the Liver, have dig- nified it with the Titles of Anima , Vita, and The- riaca Hepatis . It is ferviceable in the Jaundice, Loofeneffes, Gonorrhoeas, and the Fluor alhus » and aifo kills Worms. It is fometimes given with an Intention to evacuate Bile, and fometimes as an Alterative ; and is certainly an excellent Medicine, being accounted fafe not only to Children, Adults, and old People, but likewife to Women during their Pregnancy and Lying-in. But notwithstanding fo many Encomiums, we mud not fuppofe it entirely free from Inconveni- ences •, for it leaves the Inteftines dry, and is fome- times offenfive to the Kidneys,, Bladder, and Brain ; and is therefore improper when the Bowels or the Blood are over heated, or the Humours in a ftrong febrile Effervefcdnce. It is of great Service in the Jaundice, when a Vifcidity or Infpiffation of the Bile, obftru&ing the fecretory Du6ts of the Liver, is the Caufe of the Difeafe : But when it proceeds, E on 50 ^ Treatise 0/2 on the contrary, from a too exalted, volatile, and incalefcent State of the Bile, ditfufing itfelf en- tirely over the whole Habit, Experience teaches us that Rhubarb is prejudicial, or at leaft that it does no good. Fallopius blames it, as being hurtful in Affections of the Kidneys and Bladder •, in which Parts it occafions Heat. And Simon Paulli obferves a long and frequent Ufe of it to have brought on a Vertigo or Giddinefs. Hence then v/e may' con- clude, that Rhubarb ought not to be ufed without Caution. It is prefcribed in Subftance, fometimes to be chewed and fwallowed before Meals, to help Con- coction, to ftrengthen the Tone of the Stomach, Inteftines, and other Parts, and to remove Gbftruc- tions of the Liver, Spleen, and Mefentery. In Cachexies of Children it is ordered in Infufion, to deftroy Worms and carry off the verminous Mat- ter. The Dofe in Subftance is from 9fs. to gj. and in Infufion to 3ij. Some order it to be toafted, with a Defign of leffening its purgative Quality, and increafing its Aftringency : But in my Opinion fuch Management is needlefs •, becaufe we are furnifhed with a fufficient Number of af- tringent Medicines, which may either be mixed with it, or given when it has done purging. An ExtraCt is ufually prepared from it in the Shops, thus. Take of Rhubarb bruifed and cut finall ftj. pour upon it ifciv. of Succory- Water. Let them ftand together in Maceration in a gentle Heat for twelve Hours, and then ftrain the Infufi- on through Linen. Upon the remaining Mafs pour fbj. of Spirit of Wine, and macerate for fix Hours more. Afterwards evaporate the TinCture, decanted clear and mixed with the Infufion, Foreign Vegetables. 5 1 Infufion, to the Confidence of an Extract, which may be given from 3fs. to ^j. in the Form of a Bolus or Pills. But it is to be obferved, that Rhubarb purges much better in Subftance, than either in Decobtion, Infufion, or Extract, though given in a double Quantity. Take Rhubarb and foluble Tartar a 3]. Inf life them a Night in jvj. of Succory- Water. In the Infufion diiTolve 5ifs. of Calabrian Manna, and give the {trained Liquor to purge off the Bile. Take of the Pulp of Caffia frefh drawn 3vj, Rhubarb and vitriolated Tartar a 3 Is. Mix and make a Bolus, which may be divided into three or four Parts, and fo taken. Take of Rhubarb powdered gr. xxiv. Jalap gr. xij. Ipecacuanha gr. x> Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb q. f. Make a purging Bolus for a Dyfentery Take of Rhubarb gr. xxiv. Jalap gr. xij. dulci- fied Sublimate gr. x. lenitive Eledtuary gj. Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb q. f. Make a purging Bolus. Take of Rhubarb bruifed and cut fmall 9iv. Infufe it in ifeij . of Spring Water ; then infufe in §vj. of ftrong white Wine, §j. of the Filings of Iron, and macerate for fix Hours. After wards {train the two Infufions and mix them. The Dofe is four or five Spoonfuls a Day when the Stomach is moft empty. This is proper to open Obftrudtions of the Liver and Spleen, or to cure the finer albns , the Patient having been duly prepared. E 2 Take i Treatise on Take of Rhubarb in Powder giij. the mercurial ' Panacea gj. Balfam of Capivi gifs. Mix them into an Eledtuary, and give gj. Morning and Evening in a Gonorrhoea, the Patient being purged every third or fourth Day with mer- curial Pills. Artic. XVI. Of Sarsaparil. Sarfa-pdrilla , et Sal fa-par ilia ^ Off. Under this Name in the Shops we meet with Roots or rather Flagella or long Switches, of the Thicknefs of a large Ruffi or Goofe-Quill, tough, flexible, and marked with Furrows quite along, with a thin Bark of • a brown or alhy Colour, under which is a white farinaceous Subftance, coarfe, foft, and eafy to be rubbed to Powder by the Fingers, being al- mofl: like Agaric, in Tafte fomewhat glutinous and bitterifh, though not unpleafant •, and a woody, fmooth Pith, or tough String, runs through the Middle. A great Number of thefe Switches or Twigs defcend from one Head or a fquammous Root as thick as one’s Thumb. It comes from New Spain , Peru , and Brafile. The beft Twigs are full, pithy, denfe, found, of a white Colour within, and about as thick as a Goofe-Quill, and like Twigs of Willow are eaflly pulled afunder in- to Shreads through their whole Length. When their Colour appears blackifh, or they are rotten, fo as to let fall much Dull or mealy Powder in Splitting, or when they are too thick, fuch as are brought from that Part of Brafile which is called Maranhaon , they are not fit to be ufed in Phyfick. The Roots of diverfe Plants are imported from America under the Name of Sarfaparil, bearing all a Refemblance or Affinity to the Smilax afpera . Of thefe Hernandez mentions four Species which grow in Foreign Vegetables. 53 in Mexico and New Spain (viz.) Mecapatli feu Zar- faparilla prima. Quauhmetail feu Zarfa-parilla fe- cunda , et tertia ; and Shiauhmecapatli altera feu Zarfa quarta. From four Pounds and a Half of Sarfaparil, diflilled in a Retort, were obtained two Ounces of infipid Phlegm ; eight Ounces of fubacid Phlegm ; fifteen Ounces of acid Spirit; fourteen Ounces of Spirit impregnated both with urinous and acid Salt ; and fix Ounces of thick Oil. There remained in the Retort twenty-three Ounces of Caput mortuum . This being perfectly calcined weighed five Ounces, feven Drachms and a Half; from which were extracted one Ounce, two Drachms and twenty- fix Grains of fixt Salt. Whence it ap- pears, that the Effedts of this Root are owing to an eflential acid Salt, enveloped with a thick Oil and a large Quantity of Earth. This Drug was quite a Stranger both to the Greeks and Arabians , being firfl brought into Eu- rope by the Spaniards from Peru. It provokes Sweat, and divides and attenuates vifcid and tenacious Humours. In the Pox, Gout, catarrhous Affedtions and the Palfy, it is reckoned a Specifick ; as alfo in chronical and inveterate Diftempers which proceed from thick and vifcid Humours ; for refolving obftinate preternatural Tumours ; and againft Ulcers, Tetters, and all other Difeafes of the Skin. When it was much in Vogue for the venereal Difeafe, the Method of giving it was this. Four Ounces were macerated for twenty-four Hours in twelve Pints of Water, which was afterwards boiled away to half. The Decodtion was then flrained through Linen and kept for Ufe. Of this the Patient, after a due Preparation, drank eight Ounces warm Morning and Evening, eating no- E 3 thing. 54 ^Treatise ok thing for four Hours after, and lying in Bed well covered with Clothes to fweat. Sometimes a little of the Root in Powder was mixed with each Glafsful of the Decodtion. And thus it was con- tinued for thirty, and in ftubborn Cafes, for forty Days, with a Purge every tenth Day, and a very fparing Diet *, nothing being allowed but Bifcuit and Raifins. By this Method the Spaniards , and Inhabitants of the fouthern Parts of America , were wont to cure the venereal Difeafe ; but in our Climate, which is much colder, it has been at- tended with no great Succefs. This may be at- tributed to two Caufes : As firit, to the Denfity of the Skin in People of thefe Climates, they being on that Account lefs difpofed to fweat ; and fe- condly, to an improper Diet, the Patients here not obferving fo exa<5t and low a Regimen as both the Remedy and the Difeafe require. For, if we may credit Monardus , the Indians are fo very itridt in this Point, that they ilarve and emaciate fuch as labour under a venereal Infection to the laft Extre- mity, allowing them nothing to eat or drink for three Days, except a warm vifeid Liquor which they obtain by Deco&ion from Sarfaparil. This Root is fuppofed to confiit of finer Parts than either China or Guaidcum , and therefore to be more fudorifick. It is given from 3fs. to 314 in Su bilance, and to §fs. in Decodtion. Monardus cautions us to abilain from it in Fevers and acute Diflempers. It is made ufe of chiefly in drying and fweating Ptifans and Apozems. Take of Sarfaparil cut fmall §iij. Guaiacum ^ij. boil them in ffrx. of Spring- Water to a Confumption of Half ; then itrain the De- coction, and give a Glafsful now and then. Take Foreign Vegetables. 55 Take of Sarfaparil gij. put them into the Belly of a drawn Pullet, and boil them in jfcvj. of common Water to ffciv. for four alterative Broths, to be taken one every fourth Hour in the Rheumatifm. Take Sarfaparil and China a gij. of the Bark and Wood of Guaiacum together 5j. Saffa- fras gfs. Quickfdver confined in a Nodule fb fs. . boil them in ihvj. of Water to fbiv. and make an Apozem for the venereal Difeafe, Catarrhs and the Pally . Take Sarfaparil, the Tops of leffer Centory, and the Roots of round Birthwort a gifs, the Leaves of Germander and Ground-Pine, and the Seed of St. Johtfs^Nort a gij. the Root of Angeli- ca gfs. Cinnamon jfs. Saffron 3j. Cloves 9fs. Let them all be powdered and mixed with Honey q. f. The Dofe is ^ifs. every Morning on an empty Stomach for a whole Year, in arthritick Diforders or the Rheumatifm from a cold Caufe. A R T I C. XVII. Of S N A K E-R O O T. Serpent aria Virginiana ; Colubrina Virginiana , Off. Radix Snagroel nova Anglia , Cor nut. This is a thin, light and fibrous Root, of a brown Colour with- out and yellowifh within, having a fragrant aro- matick Smell fomething like Zedoary, and a fub- acrid, bitterifh Tafte. It is brought from Vir- ginia., and ought to be made Choice of frefh, aro- matick, and free from the Mixture of other Roots. Plukenett , in his Phytography, mentions three Plants, whofe Roots are brought from Virginia for Snake-Root. The firft is called Ariftolochia polyrrhizos auriculatis foliis , Virginiana , which is the Serpentaria altera , Virginiana vulgo. Rail Hift. E 4 T. 3. 56 i Treatise ^ T. 3. p. 393. The fecond, Ariftolochia Viola fru- ticofte foliis , Virginiana , cujus radix Serpentaria di- ettur. And the third, which is a true Species of Snake-Root, is diftinguilhed Ariftolochia , Piftolo- chia caule nodofo , ^ Serpentaria Virginiana D. Ba- nifter , Pluk. Phyt . Snake-Root, in a chymical Treatment, gives up a large Quantity of acid Spirit, with both a thick and thin Oil *, a moderate Quantity of Caput mor- tuum remaining in the Retort, full of fixt alkaline Salt. Moreover, from the Root, either by Water, or by Spirit of Wine, may be drawn a falino-re- finous Extract, though not a pure Refin. Hence we may conclude that its Virtues are owing to an acid Spirit, an Oil, and a fixt alkaline Salt, mixed together. It is accounted diuretick, diaphoretick, and alexipharmack. It refills Poifons and Putrefacti- on, and is extolled as a certain and fpeedy Remedy for the deadly Bite of the Rattle-Snake, being therefore called Snake-Root. They who have been bit immediately fall to chewing this Plant, and fiwallow the Spittle, applying at the fame Time fome of the Leaves bruifed to the Wound. It is reported alfo to cure the Bite of a mad Dog; and to prevent an Hydrophobia. It deflroys Worms and the verminous PutrefaClion *, and has likewife a febrifugous and anti-hyflerical Virtue aferibed to it. In Powder it is ordered from gr. x. to ^fs. and in Infufion to gij. Take of Snake-Root gr. xij. Crabs Claws p. p. 3j. Syrup of Clove- July-Flowers q. f. Make a Bolus to provoke Sweat and remove Putre- faction in malignant Fevers. Or, Take Snake-Root powdered gr. xx. Vemce-Trza- cle gfs, or q. f. to make a Bolus. Take Foreign Vegetable?. 57 Take Snake-Root cut fmall and bruifed ^vj. Boil in ^xij. of Spring-Water to Half; add- ing towards the End gr. xij. of Cochineal. In the {trained Liquor diffolve 2jj. of Honey, and add to the Solution when it is cold §fs. of Treacle- Water. Let two or three Spoon- fuls be given every third Hour to promote a Diaphorefis or Sweat in malignant or putrid Fevers, or to prevent a Coagulation of the Blood from cold Poifons, and to expel the deleterious Particles. Take Snake-Root, Contrayerva, and Viper’s Flefh powdered a ^fs. Mix. This Powder is commended in malignant Fevers, againft cold Poifons, and in intermitting Fevers to be given in the Beginning of the Paroxyfm. Artic. XVIII. Of Spikenard. Diofcorides and other Writers mention feveral Species of this Plant, but no more than two are to be met with in the Shops at this Time, viz. the Indian and the Celtic. 1. Nardus Indie a ; Spica, Spica Nardi , et Spicci lndica , Off. ’lv See. but the College have now expunged it, and ordered in its Stead an additional Quantity of Cinnamon. The Foreign Vegetables. The Greeks likewife make Mention of many Kinds of Cinnamon differing not greatly from each other ; as, i . MoVuAo*, the Mofylitic Cinnamon, which was the beft. It was of a dark or vinous Colour inclining to gray, fmooth, and in (lender Sprigs or Branches encompaffed in many Places with Knots, of a fharp, biting, hot and fomewhat faline Tafte. 2. ogEivov, the Mountain Cinnamon. 3. the black. 4. U7 to juppov, the yellowifh ; to which they add the Xylo-Cinnamomum and Pfeudo-Cinnamomum . Whatever Diftindlion the ancient Greeks would make between Cinnamon and Caftia is found to confift altogether in this (viz.) that Cinnamon had a grateful, fweet, aromatick Smell and Tafte, far excelling Caftia. And indeed Galen obferves, that the beft Caftia differed very little from the worft Cinnamon, and was fubftituted inftead of Cinnamon, but in a double Quantity. Now, whether the Cinnamon and Caftia of the Ancients were one and the fame Thing, and the fame with our Cinnamon, or no, is a Point of much Difpute among Authors. Many of them, among whom is Mattbiolus , fuppofe the Caftia of Diofcorides to be our Cinnamon, and the Cinnamon of the Ancients to be entirely unknown to us. Others, with Dodon Joann . Andrea Stifferi : China China falfa et Cortex Eleterii , Bale Pharm. Eleutheria , Lin . Hort. Cliff \ 48 6. and in Englifh is termed Cafcaril. It is a Bark convoluted into Tubes, as broad as one’s Finger or Thumb, and two, three, or four Inches long, a Line or two thick, outwardly of a whitifh affiy Colour, and within like the Ruff of Iron \ of a bitter aromatick Tafle, and very fragrant aroma- tick Smell, when it is burnt, fomething like the Smell of Amber. It comes to us from fome of the fouthern Parts of America , particularly from Paraguay. The firft who made Mention of this Bark was J. And. St iff eras , Dodtor of Phyfick and Profeffor in the Univerfity of Juliers *, who in his Specimen Aft or. labor atorii chymici anno ido . publifhed at H 2 Helmftat soo ^ Treatise on Helmjlat 1693. relates, that he had fome of it given him by a Perfon of Diftindtion, at that Time juft returned from England , who told him that it was then the Cuftom in England to mix it with Tobac- co, in order to render it mote agreeable for fmok- ing. He likewife tells us, that a while after he procured fome of the fame Bark from John de Breyn , a wealthy Merchant of Amjierdam and an ingenious Yirtuofo : But all he could learn from him in Regard of its Qualities, was, that being mixed and fmoked with Tobacco, it corredted in fome Meafure the Difagreeablenefs of its Smell ; and that if it were put in too large a Proportion with the Tobacco, it occafioned Drunkennefs. Some Years afterwards, the Merchants fold it in the pub- lick Markets in Brunfwick for the Peruvian Bark ; and fo it became known in Germany as a Febrifuge. The Tree which bears this Bark is hitherto a Stranger to us. Moreover, StiJJerus feems to be the firft who brought it into Ufe. He fpeaks of it thus. 44 Though 44 the Cortex Eleuterii (fays he ) have no extraor- 44 dinary antifebrile Virtue, its Ufe is not therefore 44 to be wholly rejedted, fince it is replete with 44 refmous and balfamick Particles which are not 44 unfriendly to our Bodies.” He prepared a Tincture of it with Salt of Tar- tar and Spirit of Wine, which he ufed with Suc- cefs in the Stone, Afthma, Confumption, Scurvy, Gout and other Affedtions, and found by Experi- ence that it poffeffed a carminative and diuretick Virtue. He likewife prepared another Tindture with the volatile Salt of Hartfhorn and Spirit of Wine, which was nothing inferior to the former, though of a lefs faturated Colour. He prefcribed both thefe Tindtures to gut, xx, orxxx. to be taken in a Morning Foreign Vegetables. ioi Morning on an empty Stomach, or an Hour be- fore Meals, in warm Tea or Coffee ; and Perfons • afflicted with the Gout, Scurvy, and calculous Af- feCtions found Benefit from them. They who took the TinCture prepared with Salt of Tartar, dropt into Wine or Beer whilfl they were at Dinner, or immediately after, were fenfi- ble of a flight Kind of Drunkennefs from it, though without any further Inconvenience. J. Ludovicus Apinus , a Phyfician of Herfpruch , greatly extols this Bark, as pofTefling an antifebrile cardiack and alexipharmack Virtue, in an hiftori- cal Account, which he publifhed at Nurenburg in the Year 1697 of an epidemical Fever which reigned in the Years 1694 and 1695, at Herfpruch , a Town in the Territory of Nurenburg, and in the neighbouring Country, and at length was changed into a fpotted Fever. This epidemical Fever (the Caufe whereof he fuppofes to have been the frequent Rains, which falling in great Abundance in the Month of Auguft in the Year 1694 continued to the December fol- lowing) was at firft of a milder Difpofition, put- ting on the Type of a tertian intermitting Fever, or a double tertian ; and attacked only Children, pregnant Women, and the poorer Sort of People. But in the Beginning of the Year 1695, he tells us this epidemical Contagion increafed, and Spots made their Appearance in the Skin. Thefe he afcribes to a Change in the Temper ies of the Air, and to a chilling Frofl which unexpectedly came on ; whereby the Perfpiration was fuddenly ob- ftruCted, and the ferous Humours infpiffated. In the Summer, when the Heat of the Sun was more intenfe, this fpotted Fever feemed to have with- drawn itfelf, a Dyfentery fucceeding in its Place: But the Heat being fomewhat abated, it fhewed H 3 itfelf 102 i Treatise on itfelf again under the fame Form ; though was not fo rife as before : And at length, an eaftern Wind blowing in Autumn, it entirely difappeared. At firft he attempted to fubdue thefe intermit- ting Fevers by giving Alexiphar macks and Sudo- rificks, having previoufly purged the Stomach and Inteftines both upwards and downwards : But find- ing the febrile Ferment too ftubborn for thefe Me- dicines, he mixed with them a proper Quantity of Cafcaril, either in Powder or Extra# ; and dis- covered, from a fuccefsful Experience, that it had a fovereign Efficacy in conquering the Fevers and all their Symptoms. He likewife afferts, that with the fame Medicine in larger Dofes, he forrte- times cured even the fpotted Fevers, and procured Relief in the Dyfenteries which fucceeded them. He gave ^j. of Cafcaril for a Dofe, to be re- peated twice, and fometimes thrice or four Times in a Day, and it often provoked a falutary Sweat. He prepared an Extra# of it with Water, which he greatly extols for fubduing thefe Fevers, and therefore gave it the Name of Specificum Lexipy re- turn (aVo T« Xyyuv from its putting an End to Fevers. His ufual Method of giving his Extra# was this. Having ordered a Vomit, when neceffary, in the next Place he gave this Bark in Subfiance ; or omitting the Bark, he gave five or fix Grains, more or lefs, of the Extra# in Pills, or diffolved in Liquors, repeating it every fixth Hour ; or at lead, in flighter Cafes, Morning and Evening. This Method was feldom continued above three Days, but the Difeafe was evidently changed for the better. Many were cured by the fecond or third Dofe; or were fo far advanced that Nature herfelf might eafily perform the reft, all the griev- ous and direful Symptoms being removed. Moft Foreign Vegetables. 103 who took the Bark, either in Subftance or Extradt, fweated plentifully without Inconvenience or Lofs of Strength. Befides this manifeft Operation by Sweat, the Belly was preferved free and open ; and where the Patient was difficult to fweat, it fometimes operated three or four Times by Stool {cum Euphoria ) without Irkfomnefs, in the fame Manner as if a gentle Cathartick had been given. In Women it reftored the menftrual Difcharges which had been fuppreffed in the Beginning of the Fever, as alfo the haemorrhoidal Flux when it was obftruCted. In Germany this Bark is oftentimes ufed for the true Peruvian Bark. The Phyficians afcribe to it a refolvent, and fomewhat diaphoretick, tonic, and lenient Virtue. Thefe Qualities arife from its conftituent Principles ; which are not only fulphu- reous, vaporous and fubtile, but alfo refinous, terreftrial and fomewhat aftringent, as is demonftra- ble from its Smell, Tafte, and chymical Analyfis. The celebrated Stably in particular, tells us, that he has found this Bark to be an excellent Medi- cine in Diftempers of the Breaft, wherein it has a lenient, difcutient, and calming Property : That in a Peripneumony, Pleurify, and efpecially in a Diarrhoea attending acute Fevers, and a Dyfente- ry, it more effectually mitigates (as he is pleafed to fpeak) than any other Remedy whatfoever. [In the Beginning he prefcribed the TinCture of Cafcaril, mixed with that of Pimpinella alba , from gutt. xxx. to xl. but in the Increafe and State he ordered the compound refolving Powder which follows, to be taken Morning and Evening from 9fs. to 9j. and about the Decline he gave the Bark itfelf reduced to a fine Powder ; but the Dofe of this was lefs (viz.) from gr. x. to xv. and not fo often repeated. The 104 -d? Treatise on The compound refolving Powder of Stahl. Take of the refolving Powder, made of equal Parts of Shells prepared without Fire, dia- phoretick Antimony and depurated Nitre, §ifs. Extradt of Cafcaril made with Water ^fs. Mix and make a Powder. The Powder of Cafcaril with the balfamick Pills is likewife commended in the inflammatory Fever of the Inteftines which arifes from the Mefentery, or dyfenterick Aflfedtions.] J. Junker , a Phyflcian of Halle , in his Confpec- tus fherapeite generalise fays, that the Virtue of Cafcaril, fo much extolled by Apinus in malig- nant and contagious Fevers, anfwers not the Ex- peditions of the Phyflcian. He allures us that he has given it to greater Advantage in intermitting Fevers, which it often cures fuccefsfully when mix- ed with other fuitable Medicines ; and that herein it is fometimes preferable to the Peruvian Bark, which being powerfully aftringent, may be preju- dicial in many Cafes, if not given with Caution. We fhall here take the Liberty to obferve in palling, that the fpotted Fevers, in which Apinus gave this Bark with fo much Succefs, though ma- lignant, were yet of the Tribe of Intermittents, as Tertians, double Tertians, &c. which, we have obferved after MGrton , this Bark fpecificially cures, provided it be not given too late. Wherefore thofe malignant Fevers in which it is proper, are carefully to be difbinguiflied from thofe wherein it is ufelefs. Now we conclude from the Obfervations of Apinus and Junker , that it is proper in all in- termitting Fevers, whether malignant or not, but rarely in other continual malignant and contagious Fevers, Junker Foreign Vegetables. 105 Junker moreover afferts, that this Bark is good in all Inflammations, except the Quinfey, where it is fomewhat too acrid •, that it is of Service alfo in Pains, hypochondriack and hyfterick Spafms, Excefs of the menftrual and hasmorrhoidal Fluxes, internal Haemorrhages, Vomiting of Blood, Flood- ing, and Spitting of Blood •, likewife in an Hemi- crania , Debility of the Stomach remaining after Difeafes, exceflive Vomiting, all Fluxes of the Belly and others. And though it does not always pro- duce its Effedt immediately, yet by its tonic and gently anodyne Quality it affords fome Relief to the Patient, and is fafer, at lead, and more conve- nient than Opiates. In Regard of its Ufe, we need only be cautious to give it in a convenient Time and proper Me- thod ; and not to be over liberal in the Quantity, becaufe it is heating. When Cafcaril is burnt it emits a Fume of a pleafant Smell, though difagreeing with many Per- sons, being obferved to affedt the Plead. As to the reft, the Germans ufe it in Powder, Tindture, Extradf, and Infuflon. The Powder is prefcribed in thefe Affedtions from gr. vj. to 9fs. or 9j. the Infuflon from ^fs. to 3J. in a proper Li- quor, the Tindture prepared with Spirit of Wine, from gut. x. to xx. and the Extradt from gr. iij. to vj. or viij. Michael Albert us ^ Profeffor of Phyflck at Halle , in his Introduction to Phyfick , gives the fame Ac- count of this Bark. He likewife adds, that it has no fuch fpecifick Virtue in curing epidemical Fe- vers, as Apinus afcribes to it ; but that it is of fome Service, after due Evacuations, in fubduing the milder intermitting Fevers. C H A P. 106 ^ Treatise on CHAP. III. Of Woods. Artic. I. Of R h o d i an Wood. LIGNUM Rhodium , Off. This is a yellowifh pale coloured Wood, with Age turning red- difh, thick, hard, folid, tortuous, marked with fat and refinous Knots, and fmelling like Rofes. It is called Rhodian Wood from its native Soil, being formerly brought from the Hand of Rhodes ; and fometimes RofeW/ooa^ from its agreeable Scent of Rofes. It is alfo termed Cyprian Wood , becaufe it is got in the Hand of Cyrus. Some fuppofe it to be the Afpalathus of the Ancients •, but it is evi- dent, From the Defcriptions which Diofcorides and Galen have given of Afpalathus , that we have no fuch Drug at this Time in the Shops. What Tree this Wood is produced from, in Rhodes and Cyprus , is quite uncertain. Matthiolus and Anguillara will have it to be a Species of wild Olive. But Honorius Belli contradicts them, af- firming it to be the Cytifus verus of Marantha , that is, the Cytifus incanus Jiliqua falcatd , C. B. which however is improbable, becaufe it has no pleafant Smell. Paul Herman , in his manufcript Treatife, tells us it is the Root of a Cytifus which grows in the Ca- naries^ but gives no Defcription of the Plant. And indeed Rhodian Wood is imported from the Cana- ries ; as alfo from the Antilles , and fome oriental Countries •, and is got from certain Trees which grow there. A Species of Rhodian Wood is alfo found in Ja- maica, and the learned Naturalift Sir Hans Sloane has Foreign Vegetables. 107 has defcribed the Tree thus, Lauro affinis, Terebin- thi folio alato , ligno odorato , candido , Gzta/. P/. 7^. It grows in rocky and mountainous Woods. The Inhabitants take it for Rhodian Wood ; and it fmells pretty much like it, though upon a curious Examination is found to differ. The Smoke of it when burning is extremely fragrant and agree- able. The Dutch draw a very fweet fcented effential Oil from Rhodian Wood by Diftillation, which is often ufed for the effential Oil of Rofes, in apo- ple&ick, cephalick and cardiack Balfams. A Vir- tue of fortifying the Heart and Brain is attributed both to the Wood and its effential Oil. Artic. II. O/Guaiacum. Guaiacum Off. Lignum fanffum , Lignum Indicum , Lignum Vita, et Palus fanffus, Quorum d. This is a folid, denfe, ponderous, and refinous Wood ; whereof the internal Part, which is called the Ma- trix, Pith, or Heart, is of a blackifh green Colour, or variegated with pale, green, brown, and black. The external Part, which is the Alburnum , or Sap, is of a Colour like Box or a pale Yellow, with a bitterifh and fomewhat aromatick Tafte, affedling the Palate and Jaws with a gentle Acrimony, and of a fragrant, agreeable Smell, when it is heated or burnt. This is covered with a woody, thin, denfe, fhining, fmooth, and fomewhat refinous Bark, compofed, as it were, of many very fine Lamella or Scales, of an afhy colour on the out- fide, inclining to green, or black, or diverfified with Spots more or lefs green, which are inter- mingled with a livid or leaden Colour, and pale within * having an acrid, bitter, and difagreeable Tafte. Guaiacum io8 ^ Treatise on Guaiacum was formerly in the Shops diHinguifb- ed into many Kinds. L. Oviedo calls one Kind Guai- acum vulgar e , and another Lignum fanlfum. Cafpar . Bauhine reckons three Kinds, i . Guaiacum magnd watrice , C. B. P. Guaiacan , Lignum Indicum ex In- fuld S. Dominici, Monard. 2. Guaiacum propemodum Jme matrice. C. B. P. Guaiacan gems alter urn ^ quod lignum fan 51 urn , illo praftantius^ et ex in fuld S. Jo- annis de portu divite afferiur , quo maxime utuntur , Monard. Of this many Species have been taken Notice of, which differ in nothing but Colour, Size, and Weight, being all taken from the fame Tree ; only that the Wood is whiter the younger the Tree is, becoming darker and heavier as the Tree grows old. 3. Guaiacum foliis Lentifci , C. B. P. Clufius , in his Notes upon Monardus , has given the Figure of a Branch of this laH with the Flowers and Fruit upon it. But thefe feveral Trees feern to make one Genus only, which we may diflinguifh indeed into many Species from the Di- verfity of their Fruit ; but whatever Difference befides may be obferved, it will be found too tri- vial to conffitute a di Hindi Genus. At leaft Father Plumier , De novis plantarum Americanarum generi- bus , makes one Genus of Guaiacum and no more, which he defines thus. It is (fays he) a Kind of Plant (or rather Tree) with a Flower like a Rofe, that is, confiding of many Petala Handing in a round Compafs. From the Calyx arifes a PiHil, which changes afterwards into a fiefliy, roundifh Fruit, containing a Stone or Stones of an oval Figure, and covered with a foft Pulp. He reck- ons two Species of it, which he defcribes in his ma- nufcript Hiftory of American Plants. 1. Guaiacum flore cceruleo^ frullu fubrotundo , Plum, nov. gen. 39. Guaiacum tetraphyllum fruftu fingulari , Ejufdem hift. MS. 86. Pruno vel Evonymo ajjinis ar-r bory Foreign Vegetables. 109 bor9 folio alato , buxeo, fubrotundo ; for 2 pentepetalo , cceruleo , racemofo , frudlu aceris cordato : cujus cortex luteus , corrugatus , uni cum 9 majufculum , ?72£n- K 2 mediately 132 ^Treatise on mediately upon coming to the Air grows hard like a Stone. But this is a Miftake *, for it is equally hard whether it be within or out of the Sea. In- deed the Bark, as long as the Coral is in the Wa- ter, is fofter, and by lying in the Air to dry be- comes fomething harder, though never fo hard as Stone. The Liquor wherewith the Canals, papillary Pro- tuberances, and Cells of the Bark are filled, when the Coral is firft got out of the Ocean, is milky and glutinous, of an acrid Tafte with fome Aftringen- cy, approaching, as we have faid, to the Tafte of Pepper and Chefnut ; which is very perceptible in freih Coral, but as the Liquor dries the pipperine Tafte is loft, the Aftringency only remaining. The Liquor, after being about fix Hours in the Air, turns yellow, is infpiffated, and at length changes into an hard and friable Subftance of a Saffron Colour. It is the Juice which is fubfervient to the Nutrition and Increafe of the Plant. What is contained in the round Capful cok, Greecor. recent. Xyol- vavQos, Aftuar. Juncus odoratus , Plin. Juncus rotun- das, C. Celf. Adher feu Adcher , Arab. Palea de Me - cbd9 P aft us et Fcenum Camelorum , quorumd . This is a dry, rigid, cylindrical, fhining, geniculated Grafs * * brought from Arabia , with the Leaves and fome- times the Flowers upon it, about a Foot long, full of a fungous Pith, of a pale Colour towards the * Though it is commonly called a Rullv, yet it is not one, but a Species of Grafs, whofe Leaves grow thick together, in- clofing or incompaffing one another, having a fmall fibrous Root j they are long and narrow, &c. Miller. Botan. Offic. Root, 138 A Treatise o?z Root, or yellowifh, and green or purplifh near the Top ; having an hot, fubacrid, bitterilh, and plea- fant aromatick Tafte, like pennyroyal, but much Wronger, and a very fragrant Smell, between Pen- ny-royal and Rofes. Many Blades of it fpring up from one Root* Some Writers on the Materia Medica difpute whether our Scoenanth be the fame with the Juntas odoratus of the Ancients *, but this Matlhio - hts and the two Bauhines have clearly demonftrated. Dio fior ides and Galen called it vy/im or J uncus limply, by Way of Eminence. Celjus , lib. iii. c. 2 1. mentions it by the Name of J uncus rotundus or the round Rufh, to diftinguifh it from the J uncus qua - drains or fquare Rufh, which the Greeks called Cy- ferus . It was anciently named among the Greeks eyym* (viz.) Junci flos, which Galen, in his Notes upon the Theriaca , admires at, becaufe no Flowers were then brought with it. Whence he concludes, that the old Greeks , by this Appellation, meant the Plant itfelf and not its Flower. They might fo term it, perhaps, on Account of its Ex- cellency above other Rufhes ; for the Word denotes not only a Flower, but, as Salmqfius ob- serves, fomething excellent. Neverthelefs, it is fur- prizing that Galen fhould aflert he never law the Flowers of this Plant, or that in his Time none were brought with it ♦, when Diofcorides , among the Marks whereby he directs the Choice of it, re- quires that it fhould have Flowers *, and at prefent the Blades frequently come to us with Flowers up- on them. The Plant is called Schoenanthos five juncus odo- ratus, J. B. T. 2. 515. Juncus rotundus aromaticus , <» C. B. Ph. Botan. 163. Gramen Daftylon aromaticum multiplici paniculd , Spicis brevibus t omenta candic anti- ins ex eodem pediculo bints, Pluk . photograph. T. 191. Foreign Vegetables. 139 Fig. 1. It grows in fuch Plenty in fome Parts of Arabia, that it is the common Fodder for Camels. Formerly all the Parts of Scoenanth were em- ployed .in Phyfick (viz.) the Blade, Flower and Root, Biof cor ides having made Mention of them. Some commend only the Leaves, afferting that they are preferable to the Flowers : But all the Parts are odoriferous, and not void of Efficacy. The Leaves vellicate the Tongue with a pleafant aromatick Acri- mony. The Root has an hot aromatick Tafte. The freffi Flowers alfo are gently aromatick *, but being kept a Year they have no longer this Quali- ty, and after two years are quite ufelefs. More- over, to thefe Parts are afcribed different Proper- ties. The Root is more aftringent than the Flower, and the Flower, as confifting of more fubtile Parts, is hotter than the Leaf. Therefore Scoenanth ought to be made Choice of for medicinal Compofitions, freffi, with Flowers upon it, odoriferous, aroma- tick, and hot upon the Tongue. It abounds with an effential aromatick Oil, which is obtained by Diftillation ; but it is feldom ufed in the Shops. Diofcorides and Galen attribute to Scoenanth a Virtue of provoking Urine and the Menfes , and of curing Inflations of the Liver, Stomach and Belly, being either applied by Way of Fomentation, or drank in Decodtion. Among the Moderns it is chiefly ufed againft Obftrudtions of the Bowels, par- ticularly of the Womb, Liver, ^nd Spleen; as al- fo in the Hickup, Vomiting, Difficulty of Urine, and Inflation of the Stomach, The Dofe in Pow- der is 3j. and in Decodtion in Wine or Water to jij. Externally, included in Sacks, or boiled in Loti- ons, it ftrengthens the Head, Stomach, and the other Bowels. Simon Paulli relates, that Meibomtus gave Scoenanth, mixed with the Root of Cyperus , as a Specifick in Ulcers of the Bladder. Ar tic. 140 A Treatise on Artic. II. 0/ Indian Leaf. Malabathrum et Folium Indum , Off. MaAa£a- G^ou (puAAov. MaAa£aQca, Diofc. et Gal. M &Ac&- ^aG^ov ’Tehxoi/, ejufdem Gal. (puAAov TAxoV, Affluar* Malabathrum , Plin. Sadegi , Avicen. Famalapatra , Gtfrz. This Leaf is like that of the Cinnamon- Tree, from which it only differs in Tafte and Smell, being oblong, pointed, denfe and fmooth, with three Nerves running its whole Length from the Pedicle to the Point, and of a pleafant aroma- tick Smell, fomething like Cloves. It ought to be cholen frefh, of a thick firm Texture, large and entire, and not eafy to be broken into Bits. Concerning the Malabathrum of the Ancients Au- thors are of different Opinions, nor can we .be ab- solutely certain that our Indian Leaf is the fame. Diofcorides tells us Malabathrum floats upon Waters like the Lens paluftris , without Root *, but he has either tranfmitted Fables to us from Hearfay, or we are now entirely unacquainted with the Plant he fpeaks of. Pliny affeits that it is the Leaf of Nard,. which Notion Diofcorides had already reject- ed. Garcias , among the various Sentiments upon this Head, infers from the Similitude of Names, that the Indian Leaf of the Moderns and Malaba- thrum of the Ancients are one and the fame Thing : For by the Indians it is called Famalapatra *, whence he fuppofes MaA agaGgov is derived. And we are of his Opinion. The Tree which bears it is the Canella Sylveftris Malabariea , Raii lift. 1562. Katou-Karua , Hort. Malab. P. 5. 105. Canella arbor Sylvefiris , Mun- tingii : Tamalapatrum five Folium , C. B. P. 409. It grows in the mountainous Parts of Malabar . The Foreign Vegetables. 14 i The Malabathrum of Biofcorides has the fame Virtues with Nard, but in all Intentions is reckon- ed more efficacious. It is now feldom ufed in Phyfick, except in Venice Treacle and Mithridate. Artic. III. Of Sena. Senna, Sena, et Folium orientate. Off. Xfvx, Ac - tuar. Sene, Arab. Abalfemer Pcrfarum. Under thefe Names in the Shops we meet with fmall, dry, fattifh Leaves, of a firm Texture, and pointed fomething like a Lance, having a green Colour with a Call of yellow, a faint Smell, though not altogether unpieafant, and a fubacrid, bitterifh, naufeous Talle. Two Sorts are ufually brought to us. 1. Senna Alexandria feu Zeidenfis , aut Sidonia, Alexandrian or Sidonian Sena. 2. Senna Tripolitana, Sena of Tri- poli, which is much inferior. The Leaves are broader than the others, of a pleafant green Colour, ending obtufely, and rough to the Touch. Befides thefe, we fometimes have the Senna Mochana , Sena of Mocha , whofe Leaves are narrower, longer and fharper j and likewife the Senna Italica or Italian Sena, which is diftinguiffied from the true Sort by the Largenefs and Broadnefs of its Leaves, which are alfo roundilh at the Extremity, and marked with high Veins. But thefe come to us but feldom. The bed Sort of Sena is the Alexandrian. It ought to be freffi, of a yellowifli green Colour and quick Scent, gentle to the Touch, entire, free from Stalks and Spots, and to give by Infufion a deep Colour to Water. Not only the Leaves, but likewife the Fruit or Follicles, as they are called, are ufed in Phyfick. Thefe are oblong, crooked, fmooth and fiat mem- branous Pods, ol a reddifh or dark green Colour, containing 142 Treatise on containing fiattifh Stones, almoft like Grape-Stones, which are pale- coloured or blackifh. Sena was unknown to the older Greeks and La- tins. Yet Tome doubt whether Die fcor ides and Ga- len were ignorant of it •, becaufe the Interpreters of Mefue , where he fpeaks of a Deco&ion of Sena, quote Galen ; though in Reality it is not to be met with in his Writings. But this is not the only In- ftance wherein the Authority of the Greeks has been falfely alledged by the Arabians . However, Ruel- lius confounds it with the Colutea of Lheophraflus ; but Matthiolus has fufficiently proved his Miftake. And indeed as Averrhoes afierts it to be a new Plant, and a Stranger to the Ancients, we may thence in- fer, that its Ufe was introduced by the Arabians . Serapio firft made Mention of it, and after him Mefue . Among the later Greeks , the firft Menti- on of it occurs in Attuarius , who has given an Account of its Virtues. The Plant is called Senna Alexandria, five foliis acutis , C. B. P. 397. Sena, J.B. 1. 377. Sena orientalis , T dbern . Icon. 517. It is fown in Perfia , Syria and Arabia , from whence it is carried into Egypt and to Alexandria. The Leaves of Sena, being chymically treated in the Quantity of four Pounds and four Ounces, yielded fifteen Ounces of alkaline urinous Liquor, with about nine Ounces of acid Liquor, which came promifeuoufly from the Retort •, fix Ounces, one Drachm and twelve Grains of thick Oil, and one Drachm of volatile urinous Salt. The black Mafs remaining in the Retort weighed eighteen Ounces, feven Drachms and a Half. This being calcined fourteen Hours, continued flaming four Hours, and at laft only four Ounces and a Half of grayifli brown Allies were left \ from which were got by Lixiviation one Ounce and fifty fix Grains of mere alkaline Salt. 3 Four Foreign Vegetables. 143 Four Ounces and five Drachms of the Oil above- mentioned, being rectified by Diftillation, gave up three Drachms of liquid Oil, with three Ounces and five Drachms of thick Oil of the Confidence of Butter ; and three Ounces, eight Grains, of black Earth were left in the Retort. From this Analyfis it appears that Sena contains a twofold Salt, the one ammoniacal, the other tar- tarous, united by a large Quantity of thick Oil. Hence arifes a gummo-refinous Compound, to which its purgative Virtue is owing : For the Ex- tract of Sena made with Water is ftrongly acri- monious, and eafily takes Fire when it is dry. This Drug has an extraordinary cathartick Vir- tue, no Medicine being more frequently ufed as a Purge, or to greater Advantage. Authors have wrote differently concerning its Qualities *, as alfo the Humours which it evacuates. Attmrius afferts that it difcharges Bile and Phlegm, though he has againfl him the Authority of Averrhoes , who fays Phlegm is not purged by this Medicine. Mejtts fays it draws Melancholy and aduft Bile from all the Bowels ; and Sylvius , a Phyfician of Paris , often obferved it to purge Water. In this Difagreement of Opinions, Rolfincius pronounces that Sena eva- cuates That Humour which abounds, and is bur- denfome to Nature. We fhall fcarce find another Medicine which fo effe&ually carries off corrupted, thick, and conftipated Humours, or fo powerful- ly removes old Obftru&ions. In long and flow Difeafes, arifing from Fouinefs, or old Obftru&i- ons of the Bowels, it is, fays Fernelius , a fingular Remedy ; as in (low and inveterate Fevers, Melan- choly, Epilepfy, Scab, Tetters, Vitiligo , Leprofy, and in fhort in all Impurities of the Blood. It often occafions Gripings of the Belly * but this is not to be afcribed to its Flatulency, but to the Humours, 144 Treatise on Humours, which being adhefive, and generally acrimonious, are not to be drawn off without a painful Senfation. However, Phyficians try feveral Means to corredt this Quality, whereby it is at lead abated, though perhaps not totally dedroyed. Some mix it with Subdances which drengthen the Stomach and Intedines ; as Ginger, Cinnamon, or Spikenard : Some, with fuch Things as gently re- lax without griping •, as fat Broths, Prunes, Jujebs, Raifins, Violets, Marfh-Mallows, Polypody, &c. and others, with Medicines which difcufs Wind by inciding the vifcid Humours ; of which Sort are Anife, Fennel, Coriander, Salt of Tartar, of Worm- wood, or the like. Indeed, the purgative Virtue of Sena depending upon a gummo-refinous Sub- dance which exerts its Operation in a twofold Man- ner, (viz.) by dividing the thick and vifcid Hu* mours, and likewife principally by irritating the nervous Fibres of the Intedines to contradt them- felves ; the lefs this Refin is extended, the more it will adhere to the Fibres, and produce the dronger Irritation ; and the more it is extended, the lefs will be its Adhefion, and the lefs alfo its Irritation. Therefore, whatever can extend this refinous Sub- dance, will make it operate with greater gentle- nefs •, as a large Quantity of Liquor •, alkaline Salts, which have a Property of dividing refinous Bo- dies ; or Oils, which eafily didolve them. Thus, a Tindture of Sena, made in a large Draught of Ptifan or Broth, purges excellently, and with lefs Uneafinefs than in a fmall Proportion of Water. Mucilaginous and emollient Subftances, by involv- ing its refinous Parts, render their Adtion more gentle ; but then, as they weaken the purgative Force of the Medicine, its Effedts are not fo much to be depended on. 3 Sena Foreign Vegetables. 145 Sena has been obferved to be highly prejudicial in thofe Difeafes wherein the Humours are in a State of Effervefcence, or the folid Parts inflamed : So that in Hemorrhages, in all Kinds of inflamma* tory Di {tempers, and in Affedions of the Bread we ought to avoid it. Thefe excepted, there is fcarce any Difeafe in which it may not be conveni- ently given, provided that the Rules of Art be duly regarded. Some have darted a Controverfy concerning the Preference of the Leaves, or Follicles. Among the Ancients, Mefue , Aquarius and Serapio , and among the Moderns, Fernelius , Lobelius and Pena^ prefer the Follicles : But Monardus , and mod Phy- ficians of this Age, are of the contrary Opinion. Indeed the Follicles are not fo griping as the Leaves, but are much weaker in their Operation. Sena is given either in Subdance, Infufion, or De- codion. It is prefcribed in Subdance or Powder from 3j. to gj. though feldom •, becaufe the Dofe being too large is inconvenient to take, and like- wile occafions greater Uneafinefs in working. The Infufion and Decodion are more eligible, in Cafe too much Heat be not ufed in preparing them ; for Mefue obferves, that the purgative Virtue of this Drug is eafily extraded, and that it evaporates by long boiling. It is ordered in Infufion or De- codion from £p to §fs. either alone, or with other Catharticks. To corred the naufeous Tade of Sena, fome di- red it with the Leaves of a Plant imported from Brafile , called Iquetaia , which M. Marc band , Fel- low of the Royal Academy of Sciences, has dif- covered to be the Scrophularia aquatica major , C. B. P. Phe great Water-Figwort. Thefe Leaves are infufed with Sena in hot Water, and the Tindure fo obtained is not unpleafant, L Take 146 -^Treatise on Take the Leaves of Sena cleanfed and of the great Water- Figwort a gij. Pour upon them ftj. of hot Water, and let them ftand in In- fufion till the Water is cool. A Draught of this may be taken now and then to relax the Belly. Take of Sena cleared of the Stalks gij. Salt of Wormwood 9j. Infufe them a Night in §vj. of common Water. Let the ftrained Liquor be taken in the Morning on an empty Sto- mach, either alone or mixed with Broth. Take of Sena gij. Calabrian Manna gifs. Rhu- barb cut fmall and foluble Tartar a gj. Pour upon them *xij. of a Decodtion of Prunes or Raihns, and let them ftand fix Hours in warm Infufion i then ftrain the Liquor, and divide it into two Draughts. Take of oriental Sena gij. Sal polychrejlnm gj. Infufe them in of warm Water fix Hours. In the ftrained Liquor diftolve of the folutive Elebtuary of Prunes gij. of the Syrup of Peach- BlofToms Make a purging Potion to be taken in the Morning, fome Broth be- ing drank about two Hours after it. Take of Sena giij. Manna |ij. foluble Tartar gifs. Coriander-Seed gj. Liquorice dried, fhaved and bruifed, gj. To thefe add a Citron cut into Slices, and pour upon them ifcij. of boil- ing Water. Infufe for fix Hours and ftrain the Liquor i whereof a fufficient Quantity is to be taken at feveral Draughts. An Extract is prepared from Sena in the fame Manner as from Rhubarb. It is preferibed from gfs. to 3ij. though rarely *, for it purges but little, and gripes more violently than the Infufion. A r t 1 c. Foreign Vegetables. 147 Artic. IV. Of Dittany of Crete. Diftamnum Creticum et Dittamnus Cretica , Offic . AoJa^tcv, Theophraft. A fdla/AVo;, Diofc. Aid! afxvou, Gal . Diclamnum , Plin. Diftamnus, Virgilii. Thefe Names are afligned to fome Leaves which are ufually found in the Shops. They are fomewhat roundifli, about an Inch long, inclining to a green Colour, covered with a thick white Down, and frequently grow up- on fmall Stalks, on the Tops of which are long fcaly depending Heads of a purplifh Colour. The Leaves have a fragrant, agreeable Smell, and acrid, aromatick, hot Tafte. They are brought from the Hand of Candy , which was anciently called Crete. They ought to be chofen frefh, found, whole, free from Mouldinefs, covered with Down, and of an hot Tafte and good Smell. Diofcorides defcribes three Species of Dittany. 1. Alxlupvos xgilixri, DiElamnum Creticum , feu yxviMv cly^x, Pulegium Sylveftre , £>uorumd. 2. vo?, Diffamnum fpurium. 3. A eteo», Dittamnum Cretenfe alterum , foliis Sifymbrii . Thefe three Species are likewife mentioned by Pliny. The firft is that which occurs in the Shops, notwith- ftanding they aftert it has neither Flower nor Fruit. But we muft believe, that Diofcorides was either led into this Miftake by others, or, as Matthiolus thinks, that his Words have been altered; becaufe one of the French Iflands which are called les lies d’Hieres . In a chymical Analyfis, from two Pounds and three Ounces of the Leaves and flowery Tops of Marum diftilled from a Retort, were drawn, one Pound, eight Ounces, one Drachm and thirty fix Grains of clear Liquor, though fomewhat reddilh towards the End, of a pleafant aromatick Smell and Tafte, at firft obfcurely acid, afterwards by De- grees more manifeftly acid, and more and more agftere j fix Drachms, thirty fix Grains of empy- L 3 reumatick 1 50 ^ Treatise reumatick reddifh Liquor, of a Tafte fomewhat acrid and pungent, very acid and auftere, and alfo faline *, one Ounce and one Drachm of red Liquor, both acid and alkaline urinous, and impregnated with a volatile urinous Salt *, one Ounce and four Drachms of Oil, as well thin or effential, as thick, of the Confiftence of an Extradt. The black Re- fidue weighed four Ounces : Which, being perfect- ly calcined, left one Ounce, one Drachm and twelve Grains of whitifh Afhes ; from which were got, by Lixiviation, three Drachms and twenty four Grains of fixt Salt merely alkaline. The Lofs of Parts in Diftillation was three Ounces and three Drachms : In Calcination, two Ounces, fix Drachms and fixty Grains. The Leaves of Marum turn blue Paper red. Be- ing diftilled when they are dry with a large Pro- portion of Water, like other aromatick Plants, they yield a fubtile and extremely penetrating effential Oil. They contain an effential tartarous Salt *, and befides, a copious, fine, volatile Acid, and a mo- derate Portion of alkaline urinous Salt, joined with a large Quantity of acrid aromatick effential Oil. Whence arifes a Compound not unlike a Mixture confifting of a dulcified acid Spirit and a volatile urinous aromatick Spirit. The Smell of Marum is fo wonderfully agree- able to Cats, that when it is planted in Gardens it allures them from all Quarters of the Neighbour- hood to the Place where it grows, and renders them, as it were, inraged, and adluated by a venereal Fury •, infomuch that they tear and knaw it with their Mouths, roll themfelves about upon it, flabber- ing it all over with their Spittle, and fometimes pol- luting it with their Seed *. Upon this Account it * Mr. Ray, in his Catalog. Cantab, obferves that the Mentha felina, or Catmint, has much the fame furprizing Influence upon thefe Creatures. IS Foreign Vegetables. 351 is very difficult to nurfe it up in Gardens, unlefs an Iron-Cage be put over it as a Defence. Marum is feldom ufed in the Shops though it is by no Means to be ranked in the loweft Clafs of aromatick Plants. Minder erus, in his Aloedarium Marocaftinum , and Wedelius , have each of them honoured it with a particular Dilfertation, and have highly extolled it. Wedelius attributes to it a Vir- tue of inciding, attenuating, opening and digeft- ing, of corredting the Lentor of Phlegm, and an inert State of the Bile, of increafing the Motion of the Blood and Spirits, and a peculiar Efficacy in curing cold and moift Affedtions. He reckons it an extraordinary Diuretick, a powerful Diaphore- tick and Carminative, one of the belt of Antifcor- buticks in a cold Scurvy, a ftrong Emmenagogue, and a molt excellent Cephalick, Pedtoral, Anti- afthmatick, Cardiack and Stomachick ; that it is likewife good in Difeafes of the Liver, Spleen, Womb, and Nerves ; as alfo in Impotency, and Diforders from Worms: In a Word, he efteems it a true Polychreftum. But perhaps this celebrated Phyfician was too eafily induced by its exquifite Smell to be over prolix in his Commendations, and to afcribe to it the whole Catalogue of Virtues which are found in all other Aromaticks. We muft there- fore wait till further Experience lhall demonftrate its Properties. Etmuller lays it is of Service in Head- aches and nervous Affedtions, and that it is an excellent Remedy in Apoplexies and Catarrhs. The Leaves are prefcribed in Powder to gfs. Externally the Powder is reckoned an extraor- dinary Errhine, either alone, or mixed with To- bacco. It is faid to purge and ftrengthen the Brain, and to reftore Lofs of Smelling. John Quincy , a Phyfician of England, in his com- plete Englijh Difyenfatory , prepares from the Leaves L 4 of 1 52 i Treatise on of Marum a Sal volatile oleofum , which is grateful- ly aromatick, and a mod excellent Cephalick. They are an Ingredient in Venice- Treacle. Their effential Oil, which is alfo cephalick, uterine, and antipara- lytick, is greatly coveted by the Butch. ARTIC. VI. Of B A L A U STINES. Balauftia , Off. BxXocvftx, Biofc . Thefe are the large Flowers of the wild Pomegranate-Tree. They are compofed of a clofe Thrum of purplifh Leaves, and a Calyx, which is not oblong, as in the Flowers of the cultivated Pomegranate-Tree, but flat and broad, of a yellowiffi purple Colour, with an hard, woody Texture, and divided into many Sections. The Calyx is ufed in Medicines indifcriminately with the Flower. The Tree from which the officinal Ralauftines are got, is diftinguifhed Punka flore pleno majore , J. R. H. 636. Malus Punica flore pleno, Hort. Reg. Pa - rif. Balauftia Hifpanica , J. B. 1. 82. Balauftium , "Taber n. Icon. 1033. Balauftia flore pleno majore, C. B. P. 438. Malus Punic a Sylveftris major, five Ba- lauftium majus, Parkinfon. J. Rail Hi ft. 1463. It grows in Spain, Italy, Provence, and other Coum tries. Balauftines are drying, incrafiating, and aftrin- gent, yet not quite fo much as the Bark of the Pomegranate. Their Ufe is very common in all Kinds of Fluxes (viz.) in Diarrhoeas, Dyfenteries, uterine Fluxes, and Hemorrhages ; as alfo againft Laxnefs of the Gums, Ruptures, &c. They are prefcribed in Powder to fy and to §fs. in Deco&ion, and are ufed in Eledcuaries, Decodtions, Draughts, or aftringent Injedtions and Lotions ; and likewife in Collyriums to preferve the Eyes in the Small Pox, orMeafles. Take Foreign Vegetables. 153 Take of Balauftines powdered §fs. Armenian Bole, fealed Earth, red Coral and Japan Earth, a 5ij. Syrup of Quinces or dried Rofes, q. f. Mix and make an Eledluary, to be given in Fluxes of the Belly, after due Preparation. The Dofe is gj. two or three Times a Day. Take of Balauftines gij. Pomegranate-Bark, Dra- gon’s Blood, prepared Blood-Stone, and cry- ftalline Allum, a 3]. Conferve of Rofes ^fs. Syrup of Comfrey q. f. Mix and make an Eledtuary. The Dofe is 3j. in Fluxes of the Belly, and Hemorrhages. Take of Plantain- Leaves M.j. Balauftines and red Rofes a M. fs. Boil them in Ifeij. of Smith’s Water to ifej. in the ftrained Decodtion dif- folve of Roch Alum 3fs. Syrup of Pomegra- nates, or Barberries, %y This may be ufed either by Way of Injection, or as a Garga- rifm. Take of Balauftines M. fs. Pomegranate Bark bruifed ppj. Infufe them warm for fome Hours in the diftilled Waters of Rofes and Plantain a 3vj. then boil them gently, and filtre the Decodtion through Cap-Paper •, with which mix well in a Mortar of Saffron powdered very fine gr. vj. Camphore gr. ij. Make a Collyrium, and foment the Eyes with it now" and then in the Small Pox. Art 1 c. VII. O/Stoechas. Stadias, Stcechas Arabic a, et Flores Stcecbados , Off. Diofc. Xto'ixocs, Gal. By thefe Names are denoted the dry flowery Tops of a Plant. They are oblong, fcaly, and purplifti, of a fubacrid, bit- ten fh Tafte, and agreeable fragrant Smell. They are made choice of frefh, odorous, and bitterifh. 1 The *54 A Treatise on The Plant is called Stcechas purpurea , C. B. P. 216. Stcechas Arahica vulgo difta, J. B. 3. 277. Stcechas brevioribus ligulis , Cius. Hifi. 344. It grows plentifully in Languedoc , and in thofe Iflands on the Coaft of Provence which the French call les IJles d'Hyeres . A confiderable Quantity of aromatick effential Oil is obtained from Stoechas by Diftillation, to which its Smell and Virtues are owing. It is chiefly ufed in cold Affe&ions of the Head and Nerves : It moreover provokes Urine and the Menfes , and refills Poifons. Mefue aflferts that the Plant purges Phlegm and black Bile, though very flowly and weakly ; but by the Moderns it is not reckoned among Purgatives. An eflfential Oil is drawn from thefe flowery Tops, as from the Tops of Lavender, and its Virtues are the fame ; but it is feldom ufed in Medicines. Art 1 c. I. Of Raisins and Currants. HESE are the ripe Fruits of manured Vines which have been dried in the Sun. Sometimes they are dried in an Oven ; but by this Manage- ment they are rendered more acid, and are rarely ufed in the Shops. We are then to underftand by the Uva paffa Off. and the rx(p)g of Dio fcor ides, all cultivated Grapes that have fuffered a due Infolation. The ancient Greeks diflinguifhed two Sorts. The one confided of Grapes, which having the Foot-Stalks of their C H A P. VI. Of Fruits and Seeds. Bunches Foreign Vegetables. 155 Bunches cut half through, or bound tight about with Thread, were left to hang a long Time up- on the Tree to dry in the Sun. Thefe they called rfs. of Quick-Lime, and when it has ftood to fettle decant the clear Liquor. The Dofe is ^iij. three or four Times a Day in Catarrhs, Ulcers of the Lungs, and fcrophulous AffeCtions. Take Raifins (toned ^ij. Liquorice (haved and bruifed 3L boil in fciij. to feij. adding towards the Foreign Vegetables. 159 the End ^iij. of Sena. Let them infufe toge- ther warm for one or two Hours ; then ftrain and give a Glafsful of the Liquor every now and then. This is a gentle purging Medi- cine and not unpleafant to take *. Ar t ^c. II. 0/ Figs. Ficus feu Caries Off. ct Ko^tx&i, Gr to In- flammation. In flatulent Diforders of the Womb, in Pain or Inflation of it after Delivery proceeding From Cold, a Fumigation of Nutmeg is recom- mended as an approved Remedy. It is fometimes toafted to make it more aftringent, and is thus ordered in Loofenefles and Dyfenteries. The Dofe is from 9fs. to gfs. in Subfiance, and to gj. toafted. Mace has the fame Virtues as Nutmeg, only it is lefs aftringent. In too large a Quantity likewife it is attended with equal Danger. Cafp . Hoffman fpeaks of a Girl, who, to provoke her menftrual Difcharges, taking over largely of it, was deliri- ous for fome Hours after. Take of Nutmeg §fs. Cinnamon gij. Cloves gfs. Sugar |j. Mix and make a Powder, of which take gij. in a Draught of Wine after Meals to help Digeftion. Take of Nutmeg toafted gfs. Japan Earth 9j\ Quince-Marmalade q. f. to make a Bolus, to be repeated two or three Times a Day in a Diarrhoea. Take of Nutmeg gj. Venice Treacle gfs. Dia- codium q. f. Make a Bolus, to be given in colick Pains, a Dyfentery, Tene/mus, &c. Take of Mace gfs. Anife and Coriander Seed a 9j. white Sugar gifs. Bruife them grofsly and infufe for fome Hours in a Giafs of P 2 Wine j 2 12 A T R E A T I SE on Wine ; then drain and let the Liquor be drank to remove a flatulent Colick. The Oils by Diftillation and Expreflion, both of Nutmeg and Mace, having the fame Virtues, are made ufe of indifferently. They do good in Gripings of the Belly and nephritick Pains, given inwardly from gutt. j. to iv. Externally they are commended againd nervous Affections, the Palfy, Gout, and Catarrhs. They ftrengthen the Stomach, Hop Vomiting and the Hickup, and help the Con- coCtion of Food, being rubbed upon the Region of the Stomach : Upon the Navel they eafe the Gripes in Children, and upon the Temples have a gentle Quality of procuring Sleep. Mr. Ray re- commends the Oil of Nutmeg to anoint the Breads of young Maids that are too fmall, affuring us, that it makes them grow larger in a fhort Time. The Oils of both are often ufed in cathartick Pills as Correctors, and are frequently mixed with apo- pleCtick, cephalick, and hyderick Balfams. Take of the Oil of Nutmeg by Expreflion 5!]. Balfam ot Peru gfs. the diddled Oils of Mace, Wormwood, Mint, Cinnamon, and Cloves, a gutt. xij. Make a Balfam to be rubbed upon the Region of the Heart and Stomach, in Swooning, Anxiety at the Heart, Hickup, Naufea , Vomiting, bad Digedion, and Weaknefs of the Stomach. CHAP. Foreign Vegetables, 213 CHA'P. VII. Of Liquid and Concreted Juices of Plants, BY the Word Juice , we here underftand, not all the Juices of Plants in general and with- out Diftin&ion, but fuch only as are ufed in Phy- lick, diftilling from their refpedtive Plants either of their own accord, or more frequently by In- cifions ; and which are fometimes termed La - chrymF thicker Oil, near the Confidence of Honey, and of a brown Colour. The Mafs left in the Re- tort weighed three Ounces, of which three Drachms remained, after it had been burnt in a Crucible with a reverberatory Fire. From thefe were got, by Lixiviation, four Grains of fixt neutral Salt. . The Lofs of Parts in Diflillation was two Ounces, one Drachm and twenty fix Grains, and in Calci- nation two Ounces and five Drachms. We may conclude from this Analyfis that Maf- tich confifls of a large Quantity of thick Oil,, and acid Salt, with very little alkaline Salt and Earth ; and that it contains but a fmall Proportion of fine and volatile Parts. The Inhabitants of Chio have this Refin almofl always in their Mouths, which they chew to flrengthen their Teeth and Gums, and to corredl an offenfive Breath •, and they ufually mould and bake it in their Bread to improve its Tafte. It is com- mended for many Purpofes in Phyfick. It is gently aromatick, aflringent, and flomachick. When the Bowels are weak or in a State of Relaxation from too much Moiflure, it greatly conduces to dry and flrengthen them. It obtunds the Acrimo- ny of the Humours, both by involving the Points of the Salts, and by lubricating the Membranes ; is ufeful in fpitting of Blood and old Coughs, from 9fs. to gfs. as alfo to fortify the Stomach and fupprefs Vomiting j but an immoderate Ufe of it occafions Belchings. It cures catarrhous Affedtions, flops Loofeneffes, and weakens the Irritation of Catharticks. Being chewed in the Mouth it con- trails and flrengthens the Gums, and draws forth Abundance of Spittle. Simon Paulli commends it thus againfl Catarrhs and Hard nefs of Hearing; and even prefers it to Pellitory or Tobacco *, be- caufe it more abundantly draws forth Spittle, and 3 withal ' 256 A Treatise on withal has a pleafant Smell and Tafte. He fays it cures Deafnefs by diflodging the peccant Matter within the Cavity of the Ear, and difcharging it on the Palate. Externally upon the Region of the Stomach, it aflwages colick Pains, Naufeas , and Vomiting *, upon the Navel is of Service in Diar- rheas, and Superpurgations, and upon the Tem- ples removes Defluxions and the Tooth-Ache. Take of Maftich |fs. Boil it in ffeiij. of Water to a Confumption of the third Part, and give the ftrained Liquor for common Drink in a Loofenefs. Take of the Conferve of Rofes gj. Maftich gfs. Diacodium q. f. Make a Bolus for Catarrhs and violent Coughs. Take of Maftich gfs. Jalap in Powder gr. x. Elixir Proprietatis , or Balfam of Peru , q. f. to make them into Pills, to be given at Night in a Catarrh. Artic. VI. Of Frankincense. Olibanum , Thus, et Thus Mafculum, Off. A fexvo;, Theoph. et Diofc. A» GzvuUv, Hippoc. Thus vel Tus , Latinor . Ronder, Conder, et Kateth, Arab. This is a refinous Subftance, in pale, yellowiih, pellucid Tears or Drops like Maftich, but larger ; of a fomewhat acrid, bitterifh, and refinous Tafte, though not unpleafant, and of a fragrant Smell. Being put into a Flame it immediately takes Fire, and continues flaming a long Time ; but without running in the Flame like Maftich. It immedi- ately breaks betwixt the Teeth *, but does not af- terwards re-unite like Maftich : Nor can it like That be freely turned about the Mouth, becaufe it fticks Foreign Vegetables. 257 fticks to the Teeth *. The Drops fometimes con- creting two and two together, fo as to refemble the Tedicles of Men, or the Breads of Women, according to their different Magnitudes, have given rife to the Didin&ion thereof into Male and Female Frankincenfe: And fometimes four or five are joined together in Lumps, as large as an Hafel-Nut, or larger, and adhere to a Piece of Bark, belonging to the Tree from whence the Refin is obtained. The fmall Grains which are rubbed off by the Collifion of the Lumps with one an- other is what the Greeks termed Manna of Frankin- cenfe : The bed Frankincenfe is whitifh, pellucid, pure, filming, and dry. It was no Stranger to the remoted Antiquity, having been ufed in all Ages, and almod all Nations, in religious Wor- fiiip. The Place where it is found is not abfolutely determined ; for fome afiert that it is to be met with only in a certain Part of Arabia , and others tell us that it is alfo produced in Ethiopia Of what Species the Tree is from whence it is got, * Hence it may be inferred that Frankincenfe is not a Refin, as moft Writers have hitherto fuppofed, but a Gum Re- lin. This has been obferved by an ingenious Author in a Treatife lately printed, intitled, A new Method for the Improve- ment of the ManufaBure of Drugs in a Treatife on the Elixir ProprietatiSy P. 3. “ Geoff roy. fays he, when he compares OH- “ banum to Majlichy unknowingly, difcovers that it was not a “ Refin, but, what it truly is, an oily Gum, or Gum Relin. His “ Words are, nec accenfa difficulty ut Mafiche. Dentibus ftatim ** comminuitur : verum comminuta non cogitur denuo ut Majlicbet “ neque fcut ea in ore likere volutari potef, cum dentibus adha - “ refcat. The Saliva mixing with it begins to diflolve it, which “ hinders the Re-union of its Parts. Were it a Refin likeMaf- ** tich, the Parts firft divided by chewing, would re-unite by the “ Heat of the Mouth, upon continuing of that Chewing.” *f- We have it imported to us from the Eajl Indies ; whence it feems more probable that it is got in Arabia , and perhaps in fome other Parts of Afia, S we 2j8 A Trie at ise or*' ■we are ftill lefs certain *, for we have no Accounts of it, of fufficient Authority to be depended on, either in ancient or modern Authors. ■ In a chymical Anatsfu , two Pounds of Frank- incenfe yielded feven • Ounces, feven, Drachms and twenty four Grains of acid Phlegm, which was fo.mewhat auftere, odorous, and reddifh . then one Ounce, two Drachms and forty fix Grains of Phlegm, as well acid, as urinous, and of a red Colour *, afterwards one Ounce,, two Drachms and •.twenty four Grains, of tranfparent, fluid, yellow- ifh and fragrant Oil ; five Ounces and three Drachms of thick brown Oil •, with fix Ounces, five Drachms and thirty Grains of thicker Oil of the Confidence of Honey. The black Mafs remaining in the Re* tort weighed five Ounces, fix Drachms and forty three Grains, which being calcined for fifteen Hours in a Crucible, became of a reddifh Colour, and left one Ounce, three Drachms and fix Grains : From thefe were got by Lixiviation twenty two Grains of fixt alkaline Salt. The Lofs of Parts in Didillation was four Ounces, three Drachms and twenty nine Grains •, and in Calcination four . Ounces, four Drachms and thirty feven Grains. Hence it appears that there is a larger Proportion of Earth, and fomewhat more of an ammoniacal Salt in Frankincenfe than in Maftich ; and that the faline and oily Parts are more intimately combined. It is recommended internally for many Difor- ders of the Head and Bread, in Fluxes of the .Womb and Belly ; in Coughs, fpitting of Blood, Loofenefles, and Dyfenteries ; for it foftens and obtunds the Acrimony of the Humours, efpecially the Lymph when overdocked with faline Particles. „ The Dofe is from 9j. to. zj. or gij. It is reckoned a Angular Specifick againd a Pleurify, and in par- ticular when the Difeafe is epidemical. For this End For e i g n Vegeta bl.es. 2$$ . End QuercetantiSy ' in his DifpeiTatory, direfts an Apple to he fcooped hollow,, fo as to contain one Drachm of Frankincenfe in Powder, and then to be flopped up and roafied under Allies : The Patient is to take the Apple with the Frankin- cenfe,v drinking §iij. of the. diddled Water of Car - duns benediffius immediately after, and then to keep himfelf well covered in Bed to fweat. Riveriits in his Obfervations, allures us that he has been " Witnefs to the Succefs of this Remedy in many Perfons, who being reduced to Extremity were relieved in a fhort Time, either by fweating plen- tifully, or by a free Difcharge of Matter ‘ from the Bread. I likewife have had recourfe to this Re- medy, and often, though not always, with good Succefs, the Patient having been twice or thrice let Blood before it was taken. In Cafe the fird Dofe be not fucceeded by Sweat, it ought to be repeated about fix Hours after. Externally it is ufed in Fumigations for the Head in Catarrhs, Giddinefs and Deduxions of Rheum upon the Nodrils, and is ferviceable againd the falling down of the Rettum, being burnt in a Clofe- flool. It is good in Wounds of the Head , and Nerves, and to incarn and cicatrize Ulcers ; which Virtues give it a Place in many vulnerary and heal- ■ ing Plaiders and Ointments. Matihiolus extols it as a fovereign Remedy againd Rednefs of the Eyes, or Ble'arednefs. He orders a Lump of Frankin- cenfe, duck upon an Iron-pin or the like, to be’ fet on Fire in a Wax-Candle, and to be fuddenly quenched in four Ounces of Role- Wafer, and fo alternately for thirty Times. The Water 'after- wards, being drained through a clean linen Rag, is to be applied to the Corners of the Eyes every Night with a Feather. If the Diforder be very painful, an equal Quantity of Woman’s Milk mud S 2 be 260 ^ Treatise on be mixed with the Rofe- Water. A Liquor is got from Frankincenfe per deliquium by putting the Powder into the boiled White of an Egg while.it is hot, and hanging them together in a Cellar. This Liquor is good to obliterate Scars and Spots of the Face. Moreover, the Oil which rifes from Frank- incenfe in Diftillation is by fome Perfons account- ed a very efficacious Remedy in a Confumption. We muft take Notice that Biofcorides looks up- on the immoderate Ufe of Frankincenfe to be dangerous, affierting that in Health it occafions Mad- nefs, or even Death, when drank in a large Quan- tity with* Wine. But Galen and the other Writers in Phyfick have been entirely filent upon this Qua- lity *, and no Inconvenience is obferved from ufing it in common Pra&ice. Take of Frankincenfe in Powder gfs. Flowers of Sulphur gj. candied Ginger or Conferve of Smallage q. f. to make a Bolus for an Afthma. Take of Frankincenfe 3]. Troches of Agarick giv. Make ten Pills with q. f. of the Juice of Hyf- fop. Let one be taken every Night at Bed- time in a Catarrh, or Cough proceeding from a Defluxion of Phlegm. Take Frankincenfe and Maftich a gij. Armenian Bolegj. red Coral prepared and calcined Hartf- horn, a gfs. Blood-ftone 9ij. Mix and make a Powder. The Dofe is gifs, in a Dyfentery. Artic. VII. Of Dragon’s Blood. Sanguis Draconis , Off. K twcctyi?, Biofc . VA ipa fy, Gracor. recent . Alachmen , Arab. This is a dry, friable, refinous Subftance, eafily melting' in the Fire, inflammable, of a dark red Colour, 1 but Foreign Vegetables. 261 but being reduced to Powder of a fine Rednefs refembling Blood, and appearing pellucid when it is fpread into thin Lamina. It is void of Tafte, and Smell alfo, except when it is burnt, and then it difperfes a Smell not much unlike to liquid Sto- rax. In the Shops are two Sorts : The one is in hard Drops, or in Lumps an Inch long, and half an Inch thick, which are wrapped up in Flags or Palm-Leaves. The other Sort is made into Cakes, and impure, having a Mixture of Bark, Wood, Earth, or other heterogeneous Subftances. We fometimes meet with it alfo foft and tenacious, but growing hard in Time like the others. . There is likewife a fidtitious Sort of Dragon’s Blood, very often fold in the Shops, which it is eafy to diftin- guifh from the true, as it is made up into round flat Cakes of a dull Colour. It is compounded of feveral Kinds of Gums, with a certain Proportion of the true Refin, or of jSr^/^-Wood, to give it a Colour. In the Fire it does not take Flame, but rifes up into Bubbles and makes a Crackling •, and in Water it grows vifcid, and diflolves in the fame Manner as a Gum. This is altogether unfit for Ufe. The beft Dragon’s Blood is in pure, fhining Drops covered with Leaves, inflammable, and of a fine crimfon red Colour, when reduced to Pow- der. Dragon’s Blood was known to the ancient Greeks by the Name of Cinnabar * and the Cinnabar of the Moderns was in thofe Ages called Minium. In the Time of Diofcorides fome were of Opinion that this Drug was the indurated Blood of a Dra- gon. Diofcorides indeed rejedts this Notion as falfe, though he does not inform us himfelf what it is. However, it has long fince been difcovered to be the Juice of a Tree. We are told by Monardus that this Tree took the Name of Draco from its S3 having 262 ^ Treatise on having the Figure of a Dragon upon the Fruit;' but the Name of the Tree, I rather think, has given Occafion to fuppofe the Refemblance, which perhaps is no more than imaginary. But leaving this to the Decifion of others, we muft obferve that the Writers in Botany diftinguiffi four Species of Trees, from which the officinal Dragon’s Blood is procured. The firft is the Draco Arbor , Clafii Hift. i. C. B. P. 505. Palma prunifera , foliis Yucca , e qua San- guis Draconis Off.cinarum , Commcl. H. Amftel. It grows in the Canary JJlands , where the Juice in the Dog-Days, flows of itfelf through the Bark which is commonly full of Chinks, and in a ffiort Time grows hard and dry with the Sun. The fecond, Palma Amboinerjis , Sanguinem Dra- conis fundens altera , foliis et caudice undique Spinis longis , acutiffimis, nigris armata , D. Sherard , Dale pharma col. Supplem . Arundo far ll a Indite orient alis Sanguinem Drawnis manans , Hift. Oxon . Palma-Pinus five conifer a, J. B. 1. 398. Arundo Rotang, Bontii : Roitani Dsjerenang , Indorum : Arundo far A a feu Palma conifer a fpinofa , Kaempfer. Arnan. exotic . 552. This Tree grows in Molucca , Java, and other Parts of the Indies , bearing an oval fcaly Fruit, bigger than an Hafel-Nut, from which is obtained the Dragon’s Blood. The Method of procuring it, according to K^mpfcr, is this. They put the Fruit upon a Sort of Hurdle, over a Veflel, which is half full of Water. This Veflel being fet upon a Fire, the Vapour rifing up from the boiling Water renders the Fruit foft and flaccid, by which Means a red juice exudes and lodges upon its Surface. Afterwards it is feraped off with a Stick and in- clofed in Follicles made of Flags or the Leaves of a fort of Reed, which are hung upon Thread Foreign Vegetables. 263 But others make ufe of Deco&ion only. They boil the Fruit, for Inftance, in Water, which acquir- ing thence a red Tincture is evaporated till nothing but a thick Juice remains. This Juice is then put into Follicles like the former, and dried in the fame Manner. The Third is called Ezquahuitl , feu Sanguinis Ar- bor , Hernand 59. It grows in Spain , where the Dragon’s Blood, at certain Seafons, runs from it. The Fourth is the Draco Arbor Indica Jiliquofa, populi folio , Angfana vel Angfava Javanenfibus , Com - mel. Hort. Med. Amftel. rarior. 213. It grows in Java, and the Dragon’s Blood is got from it, by making Incifions in the Trunk and Branches. In the Shops the Juices obtained from the fe- veral Plants abovementioned are not diftinguifhed ; and in what their Difference does confift, if there be any that is material, I am not able to determine. The true Sort of Dragon’s Blood is not foluble in Water, but in Spirit of Wine and oily Bodies only. In burning, the Smoke of it is fubacid like that of Benzoine. It is a Refin compounded of a large Quantity of thick Oil and acid Salt. It contains but a fmall Proportion of volatile oily Parts, as we may conclude from its having neither Smell nor Talte. As to its Virtues, it is drying, infpiffating, and aftringent, very ufeful in Dyfenteries, Hemorrhages, violent Fluxes, and inward Ulcers, being given from gfs. to f). Externally it dries up Ulcers, ag- glutinates Wounds, faftens loofe Teeth, and ftrength- ens the Gums. Take Dragon’s Blood and red Coral a f). Mix and make a Powder for fix Dofes, giving one •• every fourth or every fixth Hour againft Spit- ting of Blood and Hemorrhages. S 4 Takq 264 A Treatise on Take of Dragon’s Blood ?j. Alum Con* ferve of red Rofes §iij. Make an Ele&uary, of which the Dofe is 23. every fourth Hour in violent Hemorrhages. Take Dragon’s Blood, red Coral, Japan Earth and Armenian Bole wafhed, a ^fs. Quince- Marmalade q. f. Make an Eledtuary to be given at proper Intervals in Dyfenteries. Take of Dragon’s Blood 3iij. Camphore gij. Venice Turpentine §ij. Make them into Pills. The Dofe is gfs. for a Gonorrhoea . Artic. VIII. Of S TO RAX. Sty rax Solidus vel Storax , Off. Diofc . et Grc. for otherwife it is converted into Bile, and fupplies as it were Fuel to the hot and dry Cacochymy. Rondeletius and Duretus fuppofe it to be dangerous for Perfons abounding with Bile. Indeed, a Medicine of this Kind ought not to be given to fuch, unlefs there be a Neceffity of purg- ing *, but then no Purge can be more fafe than this, if it be properly qualified with Acids, {viz.) with Tamarinds, Cream of Tartar, and Lemon- Juice, or with purified Nitre, &V. Mefue fays it operates (lowly, and therefore directs it to be mixed with other Purgatives ; which the modern Phyficians have obferved, who prefcribe it with Caffia, Sena, Rhubarb, &c. It has alfo this Inconvenience, that it eafily ferments, or, as Hoffman fpeaks, contains fomething flatulent : Wherefore he advifes to give it in Deco&ion. The Boiling how- ever, as Rolfincius cautions, ought to be gentle, left by an Evaporation of the lighter Parts its Efficacy be deftroyed. Some likewife objedt that it diflolves the Humours, and only evacuates Serum, and that it occafions Drinefs and Thirft •, for which Reafons many Pradlitioners have entertained no very favour- able Opinion of it. But if we examine cathartick Medicines over fcrupuloufiy, we ffiall find no one without its In- conveniences, fince they all feem, as Galen teftifies, to be fomewhat contrary to Nature and this is more particularly to be underftood of Hydragogues, which exert their Adticn not only by vellicating the Membranes of the Inteftines, but alfo efpecially by fermenting and difiolving the Blood and Lymph. However, fince Purgatives, and fometimes even Hydragogues, are neceffiary. Manna ought to be preferred to others j, becaufe it is an efficacious Me- 3 dicine. Foreign Vegetables. 289 dicine, and among Hydragogues the leaft prejudi- cial. Its Acrimony may be blunted by boiling it a little with Tamarinds or Caffia. If it require a Stimulus , fome Rhubarb or Sena may be mixed with it ; or, to make it operate ftill more power- fully, a few Grains of emetick Tartar, in the Pro- portion of one Grain to each Dofe. Thus a plen- tiful Evacuation of Bile and ferous Humours may be promoted, without the leaft Pain or Sicknefs. Therefore Manna, provided it be properly given, will prove a fufficiently mild, andaufeful Medicine. Take of Calabrian Manna gij . Cryftal Mineral 3J*. Diffolve them in an alterative Broth, which may be taken to relax the Belly. Take of choice Manna ^ij. Tamarinds g. Boil them in §xij. of Whey. Divide the ftrained Liquor into two Dofes, to be drank at the Diftance of an Hour from each other. Take of Manna §ifs. choice Rhubarb and Cream of Tartar, a gj. Boil them gently in §vj. of a Decodtion of the Roots of Dog’s-Grafs and wild Succory. To the ftrained Liquor add the Juice of an Orange or Citron. Take of the Pulp of Caffia with the Stones Jj* Manna §ifs. Sal Polychreftum gj. Boil them in gvij. of Succoty Water. In the ftrained Decodtion diffolve of the compound Syrup of Apples, or of Peach-Bloffoms, Jj. Make a Po- tion to be given in the Morning on an empty Stomach. Take of the Pulp of Caffia, frefh drawn, with the Stones |iij. Qalabrian Manna ^ij. Boil them in §xij. of a Decodlion of Barley. In the ftrained Liquor diffolve gr. ij. of emetick Tartar, and divide into two Dofes, to be dfank within about four Hours one after the other. Take U 2go i Treatise on Take of the bed Manna or gvj. Cow’s Milk ^iij. Boil them gently, and let the Milk be drained and given to Children. Take of Manna ^ij. common Salt ^fs. Didolve them in §iv. of Spring Water. Pour this So- lution upon bitter Almonds bruifed N°. vi. and add §iv. of Cow’s Milk. Let the Liquor be drained by Expredion, and drank warm. Take of pick’d Sena ^iifs. Cinnamon and Co- riander Seed, a gis. Liquorice fhaved and bruifed ^ij. Cream of Tartar 3j. Let thefe be infufed for fix Hours in §viij. of clear Wa- ter, in which didolve §iifs. of Manna. Clarify the drained Liquor with the White of an Egg, and ^fs. of drong Vinegar, to make a Potion. Take Calabrian Manna and the univerfal Con- fection, a Boil them in 5vj- of Plantain- Water, and give the drained DecoCtion in a Diarrhoea or Dyfentery. Take of Manna jifs. of the univerfal EleCtuary with a double Quantity of Rhubarb ^j. Let them boil a little in §vj. of a DecoCtion of the Roots of Dog’s-Grafs, and add to the drained Liquor Jj. of the Oil of Sweet Almonds. Let this be drank in cdlick Pains, and Inflammation of the Bowels, when purging is required. In fome Compofitions, as purgative Electuaries, &c. Manna may be employed indead of Conferve. Thus, Take of choice Manna gvj. Cornachine’ s Powder 9ij. jalap £j. dulcified Mercury fublimate gr. xx. Syrup of Buckthorn q. f. for an EleCtuary. Take Manna and Saffron of Iron prepared with May-Dew, a §fs. Myrrh, Saffron and dulci- fied Sublimate, a 31). waffled Aloes, Cream of Tartar Foreign Vegetables. 291 Tartar and Gum Ammoniack, a ^iij. Dia - grydium gifs. Mix with q. f. of the Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb, and make a Mafs for Pills f. a. of which gfs. may be taken every Day, or gj. every third or fourth Day. Befides the Sorts of Manna above deferibed, we have another called Manna Brigantiaca , or Laricea , becaufe it flows from Larch-Trees near Brianzon in Daupbiny. It is in fmall white Lumps, fometimes round and as big as Coriander-Seed, fometimes ob- long and larger, of an agreeable fweet Tafte fome- what refinous. This is feldom ufed at Paris , be- caufe the Italian is preferable, being much more purgative. It is the nutritious Juice of the Larix folio deciduo conifer a, J. B. which we have before mentioned in treating of Turpentine. From about the twentieth Day of June till the End of Auguft , it exudes at different Times from the Leaves, provided the Weather be fair ; for in rainy Seafons none appears. It adheres tenacioufly to the Leaves, fo as to be very difficultly feparated from them : The Country People therefore cut down the Trees in the Morn- ing, and pile up the Branches together in Parcels in a fhady Place. By this Means the Juice, which is now too foft to be gathered, in the Space of twenty four Hours is infpiflated and hardened. It is then gathered, and laid in the Sun till it becomes entirely dry •, and afterwards is cleared as much as poffible from the Leaves. Some alfert this Manna to be a Sort of Dew. But Lobelius and Pena relate that Manna has been found, in the Summer, upon Branches of the Larch- Tree which have been carried into a Cellar the Day be- fore, when none was viflble upon them ; from which Experiment it evidently appears to be the Juice of the Tree. u , Another 292 A Treatise on Another Sort of Manna is ufed in the Eafterfl Countries, which is an Exudation from a fmall thorny Shrub, named Alhagi Maurorum , Rauvolf. Hi ft. Ludg. 94. Genifta-Spartium Spinofum , foliis Po- lygon:, C. B. P. 394. It grows plentifully in Egypt , Armenia , Georgia , Perfia , about Mount Ararat , and in fome Iflands of the Archipelago. It is often found twifted about with Dodder. The whole Plant has an aftringent Tafte; and fometimes in Egypt^ ac- cording to Auguftin Lippi , it lets fall a red aftrin- gent Tear, like Dragon’s Blood. Rauvolfius and Tournefort tell us that upon its Leaves, Stalks and Branches, efpecially in Perfia , the People colledt Manna, which they term Trun* fchibin , and the Arabians Tereniabin and Trungibin. In the hotter Months of the Summer it breaks forth in Drops, which harden into reddifh Grains of the Bignefs of Coriander-Seed. Thefe, when gathered, are compared into a large Lump, with a Mixture of Leaves, Thorns, &c. If it were entirely pure, it would be no lefs efficacious than Calabrian Manna : But the Inhabitants give it to Jiij. for a Dofe ; be- caufe it ufually confifts of a greater Proportion of Leaves than Juice. The renowned Tournefort makes no Doubt but that this is the Tereniabin of Serapio and Avicenna , which, according to their Accounts, was a Manna of the fame kind, defcending from the Heavens, like Dew, upon certain thorny Shrubs. Of G u m-R ESINS. Art 1 6. I. Of Gum Ammoniack. Ammoniacum et Gummi Armomacum , Oft. Appo- waxo'v, Diofc. A^ovicoibv Gal. Gutta Ham - moniaca , Latin. Raxacb et Aftacb> Arab . Gum Am- moniack Foreign Vegetables. 293 moniack (as it is called) is a concreted Juice of a middle Nature between a Gum and a Refin. It is fometimes in large Glebes compofed of fmall Grumes, of a brownifh Colour, with white or reddifh Spots interfperfed through its Subftance, fo as to refemble the Mixture in the Benzoinum amygdaloides . Some- times it comes to us in denfe, folid Tears, not un- like Frankincenfe, of a yellowifh or brown Colour on the Outfide, and white or inclining to yellow within, and fhining. It has a fweet Tafte when firft taken into the Mouth, which afterwards becomes bitter, and a penetrating Smell, fomething like Gal- banum, but ftronger. It foftens in the Hands, becomes dudtile under the Teeth, and grows whiter upon chewing. Being thrown upon burning Coals it takes Flame *, and is foluble in Vinegar, or hot Water. It is brought to us from Alexandria in Egypt, For internal Ufe the Tears are preferred to the Glebes. The belt are large, dry, and free from Impurities. The Glebes likewife, when clear and interfperfed with granular Spots, are approved. If they have any Mixture of Filth, they are purified by being diflolved in Vinegar, and then {trained and Lnfpifiated. But by this Preparation the Gum is greatly deprived of its volatile Parts. The pure Ammoniack in Tears Diofcorides calls S^au that they give it the Name of Stercus Diabolic the Devil's Dung. But we mu ft obferve, that *if Silphium was fo much efteemed by the Cyrcneans , Greeks and Latins , it is now no lefs by the Perfeans , and almoft all the People of Afia : For by thefe it is called Cibus Deo - rum^ the Food of the Gods ; and to procure it they undergo the greateft Fatigue, in wandering for many Days together over the Tops of wild Moun- tains, expofed to the moft fcorching Rays of the Sun. Nor was Silphium more grateful to the Palate than Affa Fcetida ; fince the Scent which it difperfed was fo foetid and ftrong, that by fome it was called K dxo Galbaniferum , frutefcens , Anifi folio , Inft. R. H. 319. Ferula Africana , Galbaniferay Liguftici foliis et facie , Paradis . Batav. Anifum Afri- canum frutefcens , folio et caule rore caruleo tinffiis^ Pluk. t. 12. Oreofelinum Anifoides arborefcens , Li - guflici foliis et facie , fore luteo , Capitis-bome-Spei , Breyn. 2. Prodr. It grows in Perfta , and many Parts of Africa , particularly in Barbary. The milky Juice contained in this Plant has all the Marks of the true Galbanum. It fometimes flows fpontaneoufly from the Joints ; but is generally ob- tained by making an Lncifion into the Stalk about three Fingers Breadth above the Root, from which it ififues in Drops, and in a few Hours becomes dry and hard enough to gather. The Ferula Galbanifera of Lobelius , Icon. 779. which Cafpar Bauhine calls Ferulago latiore folio , is quite a different Plant. For this, as Tournefort hath obferved* Foreign Vegetables. 31$ obferved, yields no Galbanum, but another Gum of a deep red Colour, without any ftrong Smell. In a chymical Anolyfisy two rounds of choice Galbanum afforded three Ounces and two Drachms of reddifh Phlegm, which had fome Smell, and was a little acid •, three Ounces, five Drachms, and thirty four Grains of red, acid Liquor ; feven Drachms and thirty fix Grains of brown empyreu- matick Liquor, partly acid, and partly alkaline % one Ounce, feven Drachms, and thirty Grains of fluid brown Oil ; five Ounces, and five Drachms of thicker Oil, of a green Colour tending to brown ; and feven Ounces of Oil of the Confidence of Ho- ney. The black Mafs remaining in the Retort weighed feven Ounces, one Drachm, and thirty fix Grains , which being calcined in a Crucible for twenty Hours left five Drachms and forty eight Grains of Afhes. From thefe were drawn, by Lixiviation, thirteen Grains of fixt Salt merely al- kaline. The Lofs of Parts in Diflillation was two Ounces and four Drachms ; in Calcination, fix Ounces, three Drachms, and fixty Grains. The Oil which was obtained, being purified by repeated Diftillations, appeared of an elegant Sky-blue Co- lour. Galbanum diffolves in Wine and Vinegar, as alfo in warm Water; but noteafily in Oils, or Spirit of Wine. It confifls of a tartarous Salt, and a thick foetid Oil. Galbanum taken inwardly has the fame Virtues with Ammoniack, but is fomething weaker. It diffolves tenacious Phlegm * and for this Reafon is of Service in Afthmas, and old Coughs. It dif- cuffes Wind, and gives Eafe in colick Pains ; opens Obftrudtions of the Womb, promotes the men- ftrual Purgations, expels the Fatus and Secundine, and cleanfes the Womb after Delivery. It relieves 1 hyfterick 3 1 6 i Treatise hyfterick Affections proceeding from Obftruction of the Womb. It is alfo commended againft coagu- lating Poifons. A Fumigation of it is ferviceable in Suffocation of the Womb, and Fits of the Epw lepfy. Externally it incides, draws, foftens, and ripens ; and is therefore an Ingredient in many Plaifters for fuppurating Buboes, or other Swellings, and for refolving fcirrhous Tumours. Applied to the Navel it appeafes hyfterick Diforders ; and al- lays Spafms of the Inteftines, Convulfions of the Limbs, and helps the Paify, being fpread upon Leather, and applied to the Part affeCted. Take Galbanum and Gum Ammoniack, a §ij. Riverius9 s Vitriol of Iron §fs. Diagrydium ^x. Syrup of Buckthorn q. f. Mix and make Pills. The Dofe is from gr. v. to pj. in Suppreflion of the Menfes , and to promote the Purgations after Delivery, when ftopped, provided there be no Inflammation, Take Galbanum, AflfaFcetida, and Myrrh, a sj. Camphore and Salt of Amber, a 9fs. Borax 9ij. Syrup of Mug wort q. f. Mix and make Pills. The Dofe is 9j, in the hyfterick Paffion, and Suppreflion of the Lochia. Take Galbanum, AffaFcetida, and Myrrh, a^fs. Caftorpj. Mix and make Troches, to be ufed by Way of Fumigation in hyfterick Fits. Take of Galbanum q. v. diffolve in Oil of Am- ber and Oil of Spike, a q. f. to make a Lini- ment, with which anoint Parts affeCted with Convulfions, or a Pally. From Galbanum is prepared the Galbanetum Theo - phrajti of Paracelfus , which is accounted an excellent Application in Contractions of the Nerves, fpafrno- dick AffeCtions, and convulfive Colicks, and to rub upon paralytick Limbs. It ought to be made thus. Take Foreign Vegetables. 317 Take of Galbanum fcj. Gum Hedera |iij. Oil of Turpentine fbfs. Oil of Bays and Oil of Laven- der, a Let them (land together in Digef- tion for two or three Days, and then diftil them from a Retort. The Liquor which arifes in the Diftillation is to be put by for Ufe. Artic. V. Of Myrrh. The Ancients have mentioned many Kinds of Myrrh, which they have not exactly defcribed, or diftinguifhed from each other. We likewife find at prefent in Chefls of Myrrh many Glebes differing in Tafle, Smell, and Confiflence. Sometimes they have a Smell of Myrrh, not unpleafant, fometimes ftrong and difagreeable ; fometimes they are in- tenfely bitter and naufeous, and fometimes they have a gentle Bitternefs *, befides that they are often mixed with Glebes of Bdellium, and Gum Arabick. "W hence it is evident that there mufl be fome Diffe- rence between the Tears of Myrrh, according as they flow from different Trees, or from different Parts of the fame Trees, or are gathered at diffe- rent Seafons of the Year, according to the different Culture of the Trees, or as they iflue either fponta- neoufly, or from Incifions. Fuchfius lufpects that the Myrrh of the Shops is not the true Myrrh of the Ancients, but that worfer Sort, which Diofc'orides calls Caucalis and Ergafine . But I am of Opinion that the feveral Sorts of Myrrh enumerated by the ancient Writers are at this Time brought to us mixed together. Brajfavolus and others have regarded our Myrrh as the Bdellium of the Ancients : But they are eafily diflinguifhed ; becaufe Myrrh is not fo vifcous as Bdellium, / 318 \A Treatise oh Bdellium, has a more bitter Tafte, and a Jharper penetrating Smell. Langins and others, rejecting our Myrrh, fubftitute Benzoine for the Myrrh of the Ancients *, but in Benzoine, as Langius himfelf confefTes, the Bitternefs, which Biofcorides requires in Myrrh, is wanting. I therefore think, with J. Bauhine and others, that the true Myrrh is ftill brought to us, though often mixed with Gum. Nor is it any Argument to the contrary that the An- cients reckoned Myrrh among the more agreeable Aromaticks, or that they ufed it to give a Flavour to their molt precious Wines : For, as we have be- fore faid, there is no difputing about Taftes and Smells ; fmce the Inconftancy of Mankind is in no- thing more obfervable than in Refpedt of thefe. Two principal Kinds of Myrrh were diflinguifhed by the Ancients •, the liquid^ called S tafte y and the folid , which was brought to them in Glebes. Of the liquid Myrrh they moreover make two Sorts : The one was native, which either flowed of its own Accord from Trees before they were cut, to which, fays Pliny , none is preferable ; or it was ex- preffed from the frefh Glebes before they were dry, whilft their interior Subftance was liquid and oily. Such Glebes of frefh Myrrh are fometimes to be met with in our Shops, full of an oily Juice, to which alfo the Druggifts give the Name of S tafte. The other Sort was factitious. It was made by pounding frefh Myrrh with a fmall Quantity of Wa- ter, and then draining. This Preparation is now in Difufe, and generally unknown. Some affirm that the liquid Storax of the Shops is the Tear of the Tree which yields Myrrh, and that it was the S tafte of the Ancients. But this Opinion is very falfe : For liquid Storax, as we have made appear *, is quite different from Myrrh, being a Juice ob- tained by Codlion from the Bark of a Tree. * Mater, medic. Tom. II. p. 452. Of Foreign Vegetables. 319 Of folid Myrrh in Glebes the Ancients reckon up many Sorts. Among thefe the Troglodytica , fo called from the Country of the Troglodyte whence it was brought, is by Galen accounted the beft. The next was the Minncea , which was named from a Village belonging to the Minnei. This Sort however Diofcorides feems to difapprove •, unlefs, as fome Authors will have it, the Myrrha Aminea of Diofcorides be different from the Myrrha Minnea of Galen *, which is a Point not eafy to decide. We muff not omit what Galen relates concerning the Opocalpajum or Opocarpafum , which in his Time was often found mixed with Myrrh, and refembled the beft Sort fo nearly, that it could not be eafily diftinguifhed. It was a poifonous Juice, occafion- ing Sleep and fudden Suffocation. Galen tells us that he has feen many Perfons die, from unknow- ingly taking Myrrh in which there was a Mixture of Opocarpafum. Of what Plerb, Plant, or Tree, this Opocarpafum was the Juice, none of the Ancients have informed us, nor have any of the Moderns yet difcovered. Diofcorides fpeaks of a Sort of Myrrh termed Myrrha Bceotica , which was the Root of a certain Tree growing in Bceotia cut into Pieces. This is now an entire Stranger to us. But to return to the Myrrh of the Shops. Myrrha , Off. Diofc. M Hippoc. Ler , Mur, feu Mor , Arab. It is a gummo-refinous Juice, con- creted into brittle Glebes of different Magnitude, fometimes as large as a Filberd, fometimes larger ; of a yellow, reddifh, or ferruginous Colour, fome- what pellucid and fhining, and difcovering, when broken, white femi-circular Veins, or Spots, like thofe on the Nails of the Hand. It has a bitter, fubacrid Tafte, and aromatick, though naufeous ; a ftrong Smell, ftriking the Nofe when it is bruifed, and 320 ^ Treatise on and in burning difperfes an Odour not unpleafant. The belt is friable, light, of an uniform Colour, bitter, acrid, and of a quick Smell. When it is black, heavy, and mixed with Drofs, it is bad. It is brought from that Part of j Ethiopia which was formerly called the Country of the Troglodyte. Of the Tree which produces this Drug we have no certain Knowledge. In a chymical Analyfis , two Pounds of choice Myrrh yielded three Ounces, and four Drachms, of reddifh Phlegm, partaking of the Smell and Tade of Myrrh *, four Ounces, feven Drachms, and thirty four Grains of audere acid Liquor ; one Ounce and five Drachms of Liquor, both acid and urinous *, one Ounce, feven Drachms, and thirty two Grains of red Oil, which was tranfparent and fcented ; three Ounces, fix Drachms, and thirty fix Grains of brown Oil, fomewhat empyreumatick, and of a thicker Confidence, like Syrup. The 4 black Mafs remaining in the Retort weighed nine Ounces, fix Drachms, and fifty four Grains * which being calcined for twenty fix Hours afforded two Ounces, three Drachms, and thirty fix Grains of red Afhes. From thefe were drawn by Lixiviation eighteen Grains of fixt neutral Salt. The Lofs of Parts in Didillation was fix Ounces, two Drachms, and feventy Grains •, and in Calcination feven Ounces, three Drachms, and eighteen Grains. Myrrh takes Flame, like a Refin •, though it does not perfectly diffolve, like Refins, in oily Sub- dances, but partly runs into Grumes : Nor does it freely diffolve, like a Gum, in Water ^ but the greater Part remains undiilblved, appearing like Mud. Rectified Spirit of Wine, by a long Di- geflion, extracts the refinous Part, the Gum only remaining, quite void of Smell and Bitternefs, which is foluble in Water, or at lead foftens, and is con- i verted Foreign Vegetables.' 321 verted into a tough Mucilage. In Spirit of Wine tartarized, or joined with the urinous Spirit of Sal Ammoniack, it diflolves entirely. Therefore Myrrh is compounded of Refin, Tar- tar, and Sal Ammoniack, fo intimately combined, that it is fcarce poflible to feparate them from each other. Galen afcribes to Myrrh a drying and moderately deterfive Quality : Others allow it an extraordinary refolvent Virtue. Indeed it powerfully diflolves thick, vifcid Blood, coagulated Bile, and glutinous, concreted Humours. Hence it is commended, in- ternally, in Obftrudtions of the Womb, and Bowels. It promotes the Menfesy the Purgations of Child- Bed Women, and the Flux of the Hemorrhoids ; expels a dead Foetus , and the Secundine. It dif- cufies Infardtions of the Lungs •, and is advanta- geoufly prefcribed in an Afthma, Cough, or to re- folve Infardtions of the Lungs •, as alfo in the Jaun- dice, in fcorbutick Affedtions, and in Cachexies. It kills Worms, as well by its remarkable Bitter- nefs, as by diflolving and cleanfing away the vifcid Humour which covers the internal Coats of the Stomach and Inteftines, wherein the Eggs of thofe Animals lye concealed. It ftrengthens the Stomach* helps the Concodtion of Food, and difcufles Wind. In malignant, putrid, and peftilential Fevers, in the Small Pox, and Meafles, it does good by re- moving the Putrefadtion, by exciting a gentle Dia~ pborefis , and by accelerating the Eruption upon the Skin. Againft Ulcers, whether internal, or exter- nal, it is commended as a Angular Balfam, corredt- ing their Corruption in all Parts of the Body. For this Reafon it is ufed to Advantage in an Empyema , in Ulcers of the Lungs, Liver, Kidneys, Womb, or other Bowels, and likewife in Dy ferneries. It is given in Subftance, under the Form of a Bolus, or Y Pills, 322 yf Treatise on Pills, from 9fs. to gfs. It is feldom given diffolved on Account of its Bitternefs., Externally, it attenuates, difeu fifes, and is an ex- cellent traumatick. It cleanfes old Wounds, which are changed into Ulcers, and preferves them from verminous Putrefaction. It alio refills Gangrenes and the Corruption of Wounds, proceeding from a Deficiency of Spirits in the Part injured *, and it cures the Caries of Bones, whether mixed with Deceptions, TinCtures, Plaifters, or Unguents. But Myrrh, however, is not always harmlefs ; fince its Smell, as J. Bauhine after Galen obferves,. in fome Perfons occafions the Head-Ach. Be- fides, it does not only provoke the menftrual Eva- cuations of Women, but alfo excites or increafes all Eruptions of Blood whatfoever : Wherefore People who are fubjedt to Spitting of Blood, to bloody Urine, or other Hemorrhages, ought not to ufe it, fince it will probably recal their Diforder. Neither ought it to be given inaifcreetly to pregnant Wo- men, left it fhould caufe Mifcarriage. The Preparations of Myrrh molt in Ufe, are the TinCture, and Oil. The TinClure is drawn by rectified Spirit of Wine, either alone, whereby the refinous Part only Is taken up ; or mixed with the volatile urinous Spi- rit of Sal Ammoniack : And then the whole Sub- ftance of the Myrrh is diffolved. Either Tincture may be given from gutt. v. to gfs. The Oil is got by diftilling Myrrh from a Retort. The Fire muft be very gentle in the Beginning, and then being gradually increafed, a thick Oil is obtain- ed, mixt with an acid Spirit. The Oil feparated from the Spirit, and diftilled again with a large Quantity of Water, becomes limpid, thin, and odorous. Another Liquor, improperly called in the Shops Oil of Myrrh per Deliquium , is procured Foreign Vegetables.' 323 by enclofmg fome powdered Myrrh in the White of an Egg. boiled hard and fplit, and hanging them up together by a Thread in a Cellar, or other damp Place. The Liquor which drops from them, being catched in a Glafs-Veffel, and evaporated by a gentle Heat to a Diminution of the fourth Part, is put by for Ufe. It is faid to clear the Face from Tan, Freckles, &c. and to obliterate Scars, and other Deformities of the Skin. Take of choice Myrrh gr. xij. the aperient Saf- fron of Iron and Gum Ammoniack, a gr. x. Syrup of Wormwood q. f. Make a Bolus to be taken Morning and Evening in Suppreffion of the Menfes* Take of Myrrh gr. xv. Borax 9j. Cinnamon gr. xviij. Conferve of Wormwood, or of Mary- gold-Flowers, q f. to make a Bolus, which may be given to provoke the Menfes, or the Purgations of Child-Bed Women, and to ex- pel a dead Foetus. Take Myrrh and Frankincenfe, a gr. xv. Saffron powdered gr. vj. Balm of Gilead q. f. Make Pills to be *ufed in the Beginning of a Con- iumption, to refolve crude Tubercles, and to heal fmall Ulcers. Take of choice Myrrh 9fs. diaphoretick Mineral and Virginian Snake-Root, a 9j. Syrup of july-Flowers q. f. Mix and make a Bolus to be given in the Small Pox, Meades, and ma- lignant Fevers. Take the Root of round Birth wort, Florentine Orris, and Euphorbium, a 3]. Myrrh and Aloes, a 3ifs. Make them into a Powder to be fcattered upon a carious Bone. Or extradl a Tindlure from them with Spirit of Wine, which may likewife be ufed to rotton Bones. Y 2 Artic,. A Treatise on 32 4 A R T I c. VI. Of Opopanax. Opopanax et Opopanacum , Of. ’OTroTravag, Gr^r. This is a Gum-Refm in Drops about as big as a Pea, fometimes larger, fometimes fmaller, out- wardly of a reddifh Colour, but inwardly yellow tending to white, of a difagreeable ftrong Smell, an intenfe bitter, acrid Tafte, fomewhat naufeous, and fat, yet fo as to be friable. It fometimes comes to us compared into dirty Glebes, of a blackifh red Colour, mixed with Fragments of Stalks and other Drofs. It ought to be chofen in clear, fat, and friable Tears, of a Saffron Colour on the Out- fide, and whitifh or inclining to Yellow within, of a bitter Tafte, and ftrong unpleafant Smell. When it is black, and mixed with Impurities, it is not fit for Ufe. It is brought from the Eafl. We are entirely ignorant of the Plant from which it exudes ; though it was no Stranger to the Greeks. According to Galen it is drawn from the wounded Root and Stalk of the Panax Heracleus ; but we have no certain Accounts in Authors of the Plant to which this Name was given *. In a chymical Analyfis , two Pounds of the pureft Opopanax yielded four Ounces and four Drachms of limpid, odorous, and fubacid Phlegm ; four Ounces, five Drachms, and twelve Grains of reddilh Liquor, which was acid and empyreumatick ; one Ounce, fix Drachms, and fixty Grains of Liquor, both acid, and urinous ; one Ounce, one Drachm, and fixty fix Grains of Oil, which was tranfparent, thin, light, and reddifh •, four Ounces, one Drachm, * Tt is generally believed to be the Panax Heracleum majus of Gerard , called by Cafpar Baubine Panax Pajiinaccs folio , and by John Baubine Spbondylio Cal. Aurelian. Scammonea et Sachmunia , Arab. This is a concreted Juice con- fitting 348 A Treatise on Ming both of Gum and Refin, but much more of the latter. In the Shops we meet with two Sorts (viz.) the Scammony of Aleppo , and that of Smyrna . Aleppo Scammony is light, rare, friable, of an Afh-Colour tending to Black ^ when broken, fhin- ing, and when rubbed to Powder by the Fingers, of a whitifh or gray Colour. It has a bitterilh Tafte with a certain Acrimony, and an unpleafant Smell. It is collected about Aleppo. Smyrna Scammony is more denfe and ponderous, and of a black Colour. This comes to us from Smyr- na ; but is brought thither from a Town in Galatia called Cute , and from Cogni a Town in Cappadocia not far from Mount Taurus ; where, as I was informed by Dodlor Sherard , who was thirteen Years Englijh Conful at Smyrna , it is gathered in great Abundance. The Aleppo Scammony is preferable to that of Smyrna . The beft is bright, eafily reduced to Pow- der, not violently acrimonious and burning when applied to the Tongue, and when mixed with Spit- tle, or other Liquors, grows white and milky. When it is adult, black, heavy, full of Stones, Sand, or other Drofs, it is unfit for Ufe. The Plant which yields this Juice is called Con- volvulus, Syria cus et Scammonea Syria ca , Morijfon. Hift. Oxon. part. 2. 12. It grows in Syria, and in great Plenty in the fat Soil about Aleppo. bourne fort obferves, that Biofcorides defcribes a Species of the Convolvulus or Scammony -Plant with a rough Leaf, wherein it chiefly differs from the abovementioned. He likewife tells us, that he found this rough-leaved Convolvulus not only in the Plains or Myfia , from whence Biofcorides fays the beft Scammony in his Time was brought, but alfo about Smyrna , and in other Parts of the Eafi. Hence he is inclined to think that the Aleppo Scammony is got from the Convolvulus folio glabro , the fmooth - leaved Foreign Vegetables. 349 leaved Convolvulus , otherwife called Convolvulus Sy- riacus , &cc. as above •, and that the Smyrna Scam- mony is the Scammony of Diofcorides and drawn from the Convolvulus folio hirfuto , the rough-leav- ed Convolvulus . This however he does not af- firm. Upon meeting with the ingenious Rotanift Doctor Sherardy and defiring to be fet right in this Point, he told me, that he himfelf had obferved the rough-leaved Convolvulus growing about Smyrna , but that no Juice is drawn from it ; becaufe the fmooth-leaved Convolvulus is fo common, that it yields more Juice than the Inhabitants have Occafi- 011 for •, and that therefore they draw it only from fuch Plants as grow upon the Declivity of the Hill under the Citadel belonging to the Town. They make an Incifion into the Root, and apply to the Wound a Shell, in which the milky Juice is receiv- ed, and fet to dry. This Scammony in Shells is pellucid, of a whitifh or yellowifh Colour, like Refin or Glue •, but it is feldom or never fent into Europe *, the Scammony, which comes to us in Maffes from Smyrna , being brought thither, as we have before mentioned, from Cute and Cogni \ and the Merchants allure us, that in thofe Places it is got from the Convolvulus folio glahro , the fmooth- leaved Convolvulus . Diofcorides and Mefue have mentioned feveral Me- thods of obtaining this Juice, as well by Incifion as Expreflion ; and it is probable that the Scam- mony of the Shops is now obtained both Ways, which may be the Reafon why we find fo much Dif- ference in the fame Lump. Scammony, in a chymical Analyjis , affords firlt a fmall Portion of thin Liquor, fomewbat acrimo- nious, but giving no Marks either of Acid or Al- kali ; then a large Quantity of acid Liquor *, after- wards fome Liquor, botji acid and urinous ; and at 3j;o ^ Treatise on lad a large Proportion of thick, empyreumatick Oil, with a little Earth and fixt Salt. From thefe Principles arifes a Compound confiding both of Gum and Refin ; yet fo, that from fix Ounces of Scammony may be drawn, by Means of Spirit of Wine, five Ounces of Refin. It difTolves in the greatefl Part in Spirit of Wine, fome faline-earthy mucilaginous Parts remaining. In watery Mendru- ums it difTolves entirely; but, from the Mixture of the refinous Parts with the faline and aqueous, the Solution appears milky. Scammony was ufed both by the Greeks and Ara- bians. Mefue reckons it fo much fnperior to other Evacuants, that he fometimes calls it fimply the Purgative ; and Oribafius regards it as the mod vio- lent of all purging Medicines. Galen, in his Book concerning the Virtues of Jimple Medicines , has not mentioned it, though he often fpeaks of it elfe- where. The Moderns in their Opinion of the Virtues of Scammony agree with the Ancients : Nor do they ufe it lefs frequently to draw forth bilious, and ferous Humours from remote Parts. It is commended in cold and pituitous Temperaments, in intermitting Fevers, and Crudity of the Juices ; more efpeci- ally in robud Bodies, of a fettled Age : But to Chil- dren and weakly People, to Women when pregnant or brought to Bed, in ardent Fevers, and in all hot Difeafes and Conditutions, it is not accounted fo fafe. Nov/, this Medicine feems to me to exert its Ope- ration after a twofold Manner, (viz.) by irritating the Membranes of the Stomach and Intedines to Contraction, by its Parts which are more acrid and fixt, and alfo by vellicating the Nerves, by its oily Parts which are acrid and volatile, and fo expreffing the Juices from the Glands. As to Foreign Vegetables. 351 the reft, it does not diflolve the Blood and vif- cid Lymph fo much as Manna, Jalap, and other Hydragogues •, and therefore promotes not fo large an Evacuation of thin Serum. This Operation of Scammony is accurately defcribed by Fernelius in his Method of Cure , /. 5. c. 9. “ It draws (fays he) Rhodius , Re~ ncdaus , Zacutus Lufitanus , Quer cet anus , Schroder , &cc. Neverthelefs, Diofcorides was not fo much afraid of its Ufe. “ Opium, fays he, taken to the 44 Size of a Vetch produces a Ceffation of Pain, Ci concodts, and procures Sleep ; is ferviceable 4 4 againft Coughing, and the coeliack Flux : But 4C if taken overplentifully it is noxious, fince it 44 brings on a Lethargy, which ends in Death. Be- 44 ing mixed v/ith the Oil of Rofes it is efficacious 44 againft the Head -Ache ; and with the Oil of Al- 44 monds, Myrrh and Saffron, it is dropped into 44 the Ears, when affedled with Pain. It is ufeful 44 in Inflammations of the Eyes, with the roafted 44 Yolk of an Egg. For St. Anthony's Fire, and 44 for Wounds, it is mixed with Vinegar*, and for 44 the Gout, with Woman’s Milk and Saffron. If 44 ufed by Way of Suppofitory it caufes Sleep.’* Among the Moderns Felix Platerus introduced again B b 3 th§ 374 A Treatise on the Ufe of Opium, when it had been a long Time negledted, and, as he fays, almoft trampled under Foot. Sylvius de la Boe followed the Sentiments of Plater us , and declared, that if it were not for Opium he would never pradtife Phyfick ♦, and for this Reafon he was called the opiate Doctor. But in Order more clearly to difcover the Na- ture and Virtues of Opium, we lhall confider what are theEffedts of it when taken in a moderate Dofe, how People are affedted by an over- large Dofe, and laftly, what Symptoms are produced by ufing it too long. It is ufed either externally or internally. Exter- nally it incides, refolves and difculfes Tumours. It foftens and relaxes *, ripens and promotes Suppu- ration. By lying long upon the Skin it takes off the Hair, excites an Itching, and if it be frelh, and the Texture of the Skin be tender, it raifes Vefi- cles. Applied upon the Perineum it fometimes pro- vokes Lull •, and fometimes extinguifhes the fame, by ftupefying the Senfe of the Parts. By an out- ward Application it often procures Sleep, and eafes Pain, though thefe Effedts are very uncertain. Be- ing put upon the Sutures of the Head it fometimes kills : For it relaxes the Nerves, and brings on a Stupor, and Palfy. Internally, the Dofe of Opium feldom exceeds gr. ij. or iij. though fometimes it is extended to 3j\ or more. It is given either in Pills, or dilfolved in fome Liquor. It exerts its Operation in a lhort Time after it is taken •, to wit, in about half an Hour if diflolved, and if taken in a folid Form, in about an Hour and half. When given in a due Dofe it produces a cer- tain pleafing Senfation in the Breaft and Stomach, and difpofes the Mind to Chearfulnefs, like Wine moderately Foreign Vegetables, 375 moderately drank. It diffipates Cares and Sad- nefs, and oftentimes renders the Mind more alert in the Performance of its Offices *, whence, for the mod Part, fucceed Boldnefs, Self-Confidence, For- titude, Magnanimity, and Contempt of Dangers. It is for this Reafon that the Turks take a large Dole of Opium before they engage in Battle. It calms the inordinate Motions of the Blood and Spirits, aflwages Pains, alleviates the Fatigues of the Body, flops Hemorrhages arifing from an Effervefcence of the Blood, and checks, at leafl for a Time, all other Evacuations, except Sweat and infenfible Per- fpiration, which it promotes. It makes the Pulfe great, high, and flow ; occafions Drynefs of the Mouth, and in the Skin rednefs and a flight Itch- ing } increafes the Seed, and dimulates the vene- real Appetite, efpecially if drank in a large Dofe. It takes more Effecd in a warm and moid Seafon, and in Bodies of a lax Texture, as in Women and Children. There are other Effe6ls of Opium in a proper Dofe, which frequently follow, though not con- flantly. Thus, it often caufes Sleep, but not al- ways; for fome after taking it deep lefs. For the moil Part it raifes agreeable Dreams or Imaginati- ons. It quiets Vomiting, and the Hickup, and fometimes excites them ; as alfo Spafms and con- v-ulfive Motions. It retards the Conco<5tion of Food in the Stomach, and lefiens the Appetite ; fome- times promotes the monthly Purgations of Wo- men, and thofe after Delivery, when fupprefied by an Erethifm and Convulfion of the Fibres ; fome- times helps the Exclufion of the Placenta ; is often conducive to the Expulfion of Gravel and Stones ; provokes Sweat *, Hays fome Hemorrhages ; aug- ments the Milk of Nurfes ; and occafions fome- times an Intumefcence of the Breads, Ere&ion of B b 4 the 376 ^ Treatise on the Penis i wanton Dreams, and nofturnal Polluti- ons, Rednefs and Itching of the Skin, and a Flux or fometimes a Suppreflion of Urine. There are befldes other Effefts lefs frequent, namely, flight Palfles of a fliort Duration, efpeci- ally of the Bladder, a Stammering in the Speech, a Relaxation of the lower Jaw, a Suppreflion of Sweat, a Loofenefs, an Evacuation of the Water in Dropfies, (as Willis hath obferved) the Cure of a Numbnefs of the Limbs occafioned by Cold, Suffocations, Anxiety about the Breaft, Hickups, Vomiting, Spafmodick Motions, Swooning, and fometimes Death •, yet this very rarely happens, and never but in Bodies either extremely pletho- rick, or extremely weakened and emaciated : Wherefore, after great Hemorrhages, and all ex- cefiive Evacuations, the Ufe of Opium is danger ous. On the contrary, fome Perfons reduced to Extremity, or (as I may fay) half dead, are ob- ferved to recover Strength furpriflngly by taking it. Moreover, fometimes Opium lies a confider- able Time in the Stomach without Effect, being in- volved in thick Humours. When the Narcotick ceafes to aft, thefe Things commonly follow, (viz.) a Return of the Diforders and Pains which it had quieted, and often worfe than before, unlefs their Caufe have been carried off by Sweat or fome other Means ; a Sweating, though this does not always fucceed ; a frequent making of Water; fometimes a Loofenefs of the Belly, Dejeftion of the Spirits, and Sadnefs ; a languid and deprefled Pulfe, and Itching of the Skin. An ovei -large Dofe of Opium is followed by much the fame Affeftions, as are ufually produced by the fwilling a large Quantity of Wine •, to wit, Chearfulnefs, immoderate Laughter, Relaxation, and Foreign Vegetables. 377 and Debility of the Limbs, Raving, Defedt of Memory, Giddinefs, Dimnefs of the Eyes, Lax- nefs of the corneous Coat, Dilatation of the Pupil, a Faultering in the Speech, and heavy Drowfinefs, with a great and flow Pulfe •, a Rednefs of the Face, Hanging of the Jaw, Intumefcence of the Lips, Difficulty of Breathing, Fury, Heat of the Stomach, and fometimes Oppreffion ; Luff, with a Priapifm •, Heat of the Skin, and Itching ; a Nau- fea , Vomiting, and Hickups *, an unequal Pulfe, fometimes low, fometimes high ; Convulfions, cold Sweats, Swooning, and Death. All thefe Symp- toms do not attack all People, nor with equal Vi- olence, but fome more, fome lefs, according to the different Conftitution of the Body, the different Dofe of the Opium, and other Circum- ftances. They who efcape Death, recover, for the moll: Part, by a very copious Flux of the Belly, or by .plentiful Sweats, Fuelling of Opium, and attended with great Itching of the Skin. It is to be obferved that a Flux of the Belly is the more fecure Means of Recovery *, that they are in molt Danger who have a weak Stomach, and a lax Texture of the Skin ; and that fuch as are furious efcape Death more eafily, than fuch as are ftupid and comatofe. The immoderate and long continued Ufe of Opium produces a Relaxation and Debility of all the Parts, an Indolence, Languor, Sloth, Liftlefs- nefs to Labour, and Sluggiflinefs of the Body, with a Dulnefs or Stupidity of the Mind, fuch as is obfervable in Drunkards, except at the Time when a freffi Quantity of Opium lies digefting in the Stomach. It likewife produces a Want of Appe- tite, a difficult and flow Concodtion, a Dropfy, a Diminution of Senle and Motion, an Incurvation of the Body, a Trembling of the Limbs, an un- timely 378 Treatise on timely old Age, an Acrimony and depraved Crafts of the Blood, a frequent Inclination to make Wa- ter, a Propenfity to venereal Adts, a Priapifm, and frequent Emiflions of the Seed in Sleep. They who have been long accuftomed to an immoderate Ufe of Opium, and leave it off on a Sudden, are affedted with thefe Symptoms, in a greater or leffer Degree, according to the Diffe- rence of Conftitution, or of the Excefs in its Ufe ; to wit, with a deep and infupportable Sadnefs, with Anxiety, Languidnefs, and Faintings •, by which the poor Tick Perfon is miferably tormented, and reduced to Extremity, and even fometimes to Death more defirable to him than Life, unlefs he return to the Ufe of Opium, or of Wine-, though the Force of this is not to be compared to that of Opi- urn. Moreover, with thefe Affedtions the old Com- plaints, which had been palliated by the Narcotick, often return with greater Violence. Having enumerated the chief Effedts of Opium, we fhail now attempt to explain the Manner in which it operates. The abovementioned Effedts then of Opium feem to proceed from its remark- able Adtion in the Blood, which it wonderfully dif- folves, expands, and rarefies. Hence arife fo many different, or oftentimes contrary Phenomena. The Diffolution and Rarefadtion of the Blood are proved by the Pulfe, which is great, high, yet foft and flow ; by the Tumefadtion of the Face with Red- nefs by the Heat diffufed over the whole Body ; and by the Fluidity of the Blood of Perfons who conflantly ufe Opium : For it fcarce concretes when cold. And it hath been obferved, that the Blood of Turks and Indians , who have fallen in Battle, has continued as fluid one or two Days after their Death, as if they had been (lain but the Inftant before. The Foreign Vegetables. 379 The Blood thus expanded, diftends the Arteries of the whole Body *, and the Effedls and Appear- ances are various, according to the different Bowels in which this fudden Rarefadtion is produced. As foon as the Blood circulating through the Brain is rarefied, the fmall Arteries, being diftended and pofTeffing a larger Space, comprefs the nervous Canals interwoven with them, more or lefs, accord- ing to their greater or leffer Dilatation. The Nerves being too much compreffed, a fmaller Quantity of the nervous Juice enters into them and flows to the Parts : Whence the Fundtions of the Body are not fo well performed, the Arteries vibrate more (low- ly, though from the rarefied Blood they are more than ufually diftended *, and therefore the Pulfe is high, but lefs frequent. A preternatural Heat is raifed over the whole Body, becaufe the circulatory or progrefiive Motion of the Blood being diminifh- ed, with an Increafe of Fluidity, its inteftine or fermentative Motion, upon which the Heat depends, is augmented. From the Decreafe of the Afflux of the nervous Juice to the Parts, and of its Re- flux from the Parts to the Brain, proceed a Numb- nefs of the Limbs, a Diminution of Senfe, and of Motion. A Sleep is likewife brought on more or lefs deep, as the Nerves, or the Origins of the Nerves appointed for the Performance of the animal Func- tions, are more or lefs compreffed by the Arteries. Laftly, Death fometimes follows, if from too great and fudden an Intumefcence of the Arteries, moft of the nervous Fibres of the Brain are fo far ftraiten- ed, that their Juice can no longer pafs through them. It is entirely after the fame Manner that Opium eafes Pain : Not that it removes the Caufe of Pain ; but becaufe, by hindering the Influx of the ner- vous Juice into the Nerves, it prevents the Arrival of the painful Senfation, from the Part affedted, at the Origin of the Nerves or the Soul. From 380 ^ Treatise on From a Deficiency of the nervous Juice or ani- mal Spirits, the Secretions and Excretions are leflen- ed, or wholly fupprefied *, which is particularly ob- fervable in the Liver and Kidneys. Moreover, the fame happens in thefe Bowels as in the Brain *, namely, by the Arteries diftended beyond Meafure, the excretory Vefiels of t Jr 3 Bile and Urine are com- prelfed, and the Excretion of thefe Humours is fiopt. The Perfpiration alone remains perfect after the taking of Opium, and even acquires Strength from it ; fince there are no fecretory Vefiels ap- pointed for Perfpiration : But the perfpirable Matter leeks to itfelf an Exit from all the Vefiels through the Pores of their Membranes •, and by Opium the Membranes are extended, and the Pores dilated. A Sweat likewife fometimes fucceeds, becaufe the fudoriferous Du£ts, being placed at the Extremi- ties of the Vefiels in the Skin, are not furrounded by fmall Arteries or other dilatable Vefiels, which by prefling upon them may hinder this Evacuation. Some Evacuations indeed, when fupprefied, are fometimes refiored by the Ufe of Opium ; to wit, if that Suppreflion arife from a violent Irritation of the nervous Membranes, fo that, by the continual and abundant Afflux of the animal Spirits, the Fibres are ftrongly drawn up and convulfed. This Afflux of the animal Spirits being reftrained or di- minifhed, the nervous Fibres are relaxed, and the fupprefied Evacuations are refiored, at leaft for fome Time. Thus the Flux of the Menfes and Lochia , the Exclufion of the Secundine, the Excretion of Stones from the Kidneys, a Purgation, Diurefis , or other Evacuations, are fometimes promoted by Opi- um : And after the fame Manner it ufually calms the fpafmodick Motions of hyfteric^l Womep, or of Hypochondriacks. Foreign Vegetables. 381 They who ufe opiate Medicines for a long Time, often find that the fame Dofe which in the Begin- ning was fufficient to induce Sleep, after fomeTime becomes ineffectual ; and that a larger Dofe is re- quired, or alfo, to have the defired Effedt, that it muff be daily augmented. Now this happens, be- caufe the Blood, by the firft Doles of the Medicine, acquires a certain Degree of Fluidity, which the fame Dofe is not able to increafe. For the fuper- fluous Recrements of the Blood having been caff off by Sweat or by Perfpiration, the Bulk of the Blood is diminifhed, fo that it does not afterwards diftend the Arteries fufficiently to comprefs the Nerves and caufe Sleep. To fwell the Arteries to an equal Amplitude a greater Quantity of Opium is required, whereby the Mafs of Blood may be further diffolved and rarefied ; and fo more and more, until it hath acquired the utmoft Degree of Fluidity poffible : And then larger Dofes of Opi- um, reiterated and increafed, are no longer able to procure Sleep. Here it may be demanded, what are the Princi- ples, by which Opium produces this remarkable Diffolution and Expanfion of the Blood ? To which I anfwer, that Opium is compounded of Salts, both acid and alkaline-urinous, and of a thick Sulphur greatly condenfated, but capable of the greateft Divifibility and Expanfion : And I think, that its foporiferous Virtue is not owing fo much to the Salts as to the Sulphur *, fince we obferve, that Bodies replete with a Sulphur of the like Sort oc- cafion Sleep, as Saffron, Nutmeg, Caftor, &c. Now, Opium and the foporiferous Aromaticks, when taken into the Stomach, are diffolved by its fermentative Liquor, and put into Fermentation. Their narcotick Sulphurs half expanded by this Fermentation are carried to the Mafs of Blood; where 382 ^ Treat ise on where they not only preferve the fermentative Mo- tion received in the Stomach, but are alfo thrown into a greater Motion by the fpirituous Parts of the Blood : They are then mingled with the fulphure- ous Parts of the Blood, which they draw into Fer- mentation with themfelves, and divide and attenu- ate *, and thus diffolve and rarefy the whole Mafs : Whence Drowfinefs and Sleep. Nor does Opium operate before its divided Sulphur arrives at the Blood. It is true, that a certain grateful Senfation of Warmth is perceived in the Stomach in a fhort Time after taking Opium, from the gentle Titil- lation of its faline-oily Parts which are let at Liber- ty by the gaftrick Juice *, but Sleep does not come on till Half an Hour, or an Hour after ; which is the Time required for the Conveyance of the fulphureous Particles of the Opium to the Mafs of Blood. If it happen that the Particles of Opium are re* tained too long in the Stomach, or taken in too great a Quantity ; then, from the over-ftrong Titil- lation and Irritation of the nervous Fibres of the Stomach proceeds a Naufea, Hickup, or Vomit- ing. From thefe Things duly confidered, the Ratio- nale of the other Effe&s of Opium will be fuffi- ciently clear. I fhall therefore no longer dwell up- on their Explanation. When Opium hath been taken in too large a Dofe, and the grievous Symptoms occafioned there- by threaten Death, the Cure ought to be attempt- ed, firft by Blood-letting, and in the next Place by an Emetick. By this not only the Remains of the Opium in the Stomach are thrown up, but alfo by the Efforts of Vomiting the nervous Membranes are Ihook, and by thofe Succuffions the intercept- ed Afflux of the Spirits to the Parts is reftored. Foreign Vegetables. 383 By that the Blood -Vefl*els, didended beyond Mea- fure, are evacuated and reduced to their ufual Dia- meter. As to both thefe Means of Cure, we mud be particularly cautious that the Patient have dill Strength enough to bear them ; otherwife perhaps the Remedy might be worfe than the Difeafe. Af- terwards, acid Draughts are to be given, made of the Juices of Citrons, Oranges, Currants, Vinegar, Spirit of Sulphur, or Vitriol: For they hinder the Expanfion of the Sulphurs, redrain their Force, and thicken the rarefied Blood. Acrid dimulat- ing Clyders are to be injected, Powders blown up the Nodrils made of Pellitory or Euphorbium, and volatile Salts may be taken inwardly. Biidering Plaiders and Sinapifms are advantageoufly applied to the Neck and the Soles of the Feet ; alfo Cup- ping Glades, Scarifications, Burnings, painful Fric- tions, &V. are ufed with Succefs. For by thefe dimulating Remedies the nervous Membranes are drongly vellicated, the Spirits are derived more abundantly to the Parts, which thence recover their Tone, the Fluids of the renal Du6ts, being more forcibly p reded, break forth where they find a Padage, and the Secretions and Excretions are re- do red. With Regard to the Operation of Biidering Plan- ters in the Deliriums occafioned by Opium, Alexander \ Thomfon , an Englijh Phyfician, in his Medical Dif- fertations on Opium , obferves, that when the Patient, during the fird Operation of the Plaider, complains of a Coldnefs falling from the fore Part of his Head down his Neck, he is immediately freed from the Delirium. This, certainly, is a great Argument that the Brain, by Means of the Stimulus commu- nicated from the Plaider to its nervous Compages , is unloaded of a fuperfluous Quantity of Liquid : Whence a Solution of the Delirium. The 384 ^ Treatise on The Ancients, who believed that Opium was exceflively cold, endeavoured to correct it by hot Medicines, and fuch as diffolve the Blood when coagulated. Hence the Lheriaca , Mithridate , Phi- Ionium , and other opiate Compofitions. The Mo- derns have edablifhed different Methods of quali- fying Opium, according to their different Opini- ons concerning it. Some corredf its narcotick Force with Caflor and Saffron *, others with Vinegar, Ci- tron-Juice, Spirit of Vitriol or Sulphur, and the like acid Liquors *, others with alkaline Salts, both dxt and volatile ; others with Spirit of Wine, Bran- dy, Wine* or other fermented Liquors *, others by Fermentation *, others, again, by Torrefadtion. But fince Opium is not preferibed but to eafe Pains, and to induce Sleep, they vainly try to corredf the Virtue by which it fhould produce thefe Effedls. They adt contrary to themfelves. They want a Medicine to caufe Sleep, and are afraid of it : They give it for that Purpofe, and endeavour, as much as they can, to deprive it of its foporiferous Vir- tue. There is no Poifon contained in Opium, this Virtue excepted : It therefore requires no Corredti- on. It needs only to be cleanfed from the Drofs, Earth, Gravel and other Impurities •, and nothing is to be feared from it, provided that it be properly given, and in a due Dofe. It is purified from its Drofs, or (as they fayj is prepared, by diffolving it in fome proper Liquor and draining it. The drained Liquor is often put by, and given in Drops under theName of the Tindiure of Opium , or Liquid Laudanum. Sometimes the Li- quor is evaporated to the Confidence of a folid Extradf, and given in the Form of Pills, or in Powder. As in Opium there are two Subdances, the one gummous and the other refinous, it is not equally foluble Foreign Vegetables.' 385 foluble in all Liquors. In aqueous Liquors the Gum only diffolves ; in Spirit of Wine only the Refin. In Wine, in Vinegar, or in Brandy, both Subftances diffolve together. From this Diversity of Menftruums arife different Tindures of Opium, that is to fay, different not only in their Nature, but in their Effeds alfo. For the Tindure of Opium extracted by Spirit of Wine, by the general Con- fen t, is more intenfely narcotick, affeds the Head more violently, and often caufes Delirioufnefs, as I many Times obferved in a certain hypochondria- cal Perfon, who was troubled with Wakefulnefs, and when he took the Tindure of Opium prepared with Water, he flept with great Tranquillity ; but, on the contrary, when he took the Tindure drawn with Spirit of Wine, he was furprifingly affeded with a Phrenfy. The Tindure of Opium prepared with Vinegar fometimes fuppreffes the Urine, according to the Obfervation of James le Mort , a fkilful Phyfician and Chymift. That made with alkaline Salts is of little Service for procuring Sleep ; becaufe the Salts, vellicating the nervous Membranes by their Acri- mony, fhake off the Drowfinefs brought on by the Opium. It is true, that the Tindure of Opium joined with volatile urinous Salts provokes Sweat, and thus prepared is convenient in lbme Affedions. But I think, with the learned IVedelius , and the fkil- ful Phyfician and Chymift abovementioned, that the Preparation of Opium with Water is the fafeit, and the moft efficacious of all others. For nothing can be feared from this Menftruum and Opium thus prepared is not only purified from its hetero- geneous Parts, but is alfo deprived of its Refin, which fome Phyficians are afraid of. John Jones , a Phyfician of London , in a Treatife inti tied. The Myjleries of Opium revealed , puts fo high a Value C c upon 386 A Treatise m upon this fimple Tindture, that he dignifies it with the Title of Panacea. Indeed, fince it appears that Opium is neither cold, nor coagulates the Blood, as the Ancients believed, what Need is there of fo many hot and aromatick Subftances wherewith it is ufually mixed ? Are they intended to affift its Vir- tue ? But I afk, what Affiftance can Opium receive from Saffron, Caftor, and other Aromaticks, which are vaftly inferior to it, either for inducing Sleep, or for provoking Sweat ? Some, however, admit thefe Aromaticks into opiate Compofitions for other Reafons; namely, to corredt the virofe Smell of the Opium, or to extend it more, that it may be diftributed into fmaller Dofes. Upon the fame Ac- count likewile Sydenham prefers liquid Opium to the dry Extract, a Grain of Opium when diffolved being more eafily divided into fifteen or twenty Drops, than into fo many Parts in the dry Ex- tract. The Purgation, or Preparation, of Opium with Water is performed thus. Take of Opium cut fmall q. v. diffolve it in q. f. of clear diftilled Water by digefting in B. A. Separate the Solution from the Refidue, and when it is cold filtre it through Paper. Pour a frefh Quantity of Water to the Refi- due, digeft, feparate from the Faeces and filtre as before ; and thus reiterate the Affufions, &V. till no Tindture is obtained. Then eva- porate all the Solutions together in B. M. to the Confiflence of a folid Extradt. The Dofe is from a Quarter of a Grain to gr. j. or ij. When a liquid Opium is required, one Grain of this Extradt may be diffolved in q. v. of any fuit- able Water, and be given in feveral Draughts at Difcretion. 2 The Foreign Vegetables, 387 The TinCture of Opium with Water foon con- tracts a Mouldinefs j and therefore if a liquid Lau- danum is to be kept a long Time, the Tincture is prepared either with Wine or with Brandy: Whence two Preparations of Opium in general Ufe at Paris , (viz.) the liquid Laudanum of Sydenham , and the anodyne Drops of Tabor. To make the liquid Lau- danum of Sydenham. Take of Opium in thin Slices p]. Saffron cut fmall Cinnamon and Cloves bruifed, a gj. Canary Wine §xvj. Let them ftand together in Digeftion in B. M for two or three Days *, then ftrain off the Wine, and keep it for Ufe. The anodyne Drops of Taber are prepared thus. Take of Opium in Slices 3jifs. Saftafras-Bark ?5fs. the Root of Aftarabacca §fs. Brandy fbj. Let them digeft in the Heat of the Sun in a clofe VefTel for nine Days, and put the ff rained Li- quor by for Ufe. The Dofe is from gutt. iv. to xv. or xx. Prepared Opium is called in the Shops Laudanum. This Name was firft given it by Paracelfus from the Word Laudandum , as being a Ale di cine which de- jerves Praife. Some propofe the TorrefaCtion of Opium as a Means to deftroy its narcotick Virulency. The Force of Opium when torrefied is without Doubt abated, though not, as they fay, by Reafon of the Exhalation of its narcotick Sulphur, but becaufe many Particles of the Opium have been deftroy ed and burnt to Coals. Wherefore this Correction feems quite ufelefs. Others endeavour to divide and attenuate the thick Sulphur of Opium by Fermentation. In Ef- C c 2 feCt, 388 i Treatise on fedt, when it has been fermented, it is not fo ftu- pefadtive and foporiferous, but rather promotes Perfpiration and Sweat, after the Manner of Aro- maticks, by agitating the Blood and the Humours. The Fermentation is managed thus. Take of Opium ifej. diffolve it in ibiij. of common Water. Then, Take of the belt Honey ifciij. which likewife dif- folve in ifexij. of common Water. Mix the two Solutions in a proper Veffel, and fet them in a warm Stove to ferment. When the fermenting Liquor exhales a vinous Smell, draw off its Spirit by Diftillation, having firft feparated the Froth and Faces. Strain the Liquor left in the Retort, and evaporate it to the Confidence of an Extradt *, which diffolve in the Spirituous Liquor before drawn from it, and reducing the Tindture to the Confidence of a thin Syrup keep it for Ufe. This Tindture may doubtlefs be given in larger Dofes than the common Tindtures of Opium ♦, but otherwife little Advantage is gained by this operofe Preparation. Nor is that of Helmont , with the Juice of Quinces, more ufeful. It is as follows. Take of the Juice of Quinces newly expreffed ffcx. of Opium cut into thin Slices ftj. Let them dand together in a gentle Heat to ferment for two or three Weeks. Afterwards pour the Liquor off clear from the Faces , and add to it of Cinnamon §iij. Cloves, Mace, Nutmeg, and the leffer Cardamom, a gj. the leffer Ga- langal §ifs. Diged them together for two or three Days. Then filtre the Liquor through Paper and evaporate it to the Confidence of a folid Extradt. 2 Some Foreign Vegetables. 389 Some take off* the virofe Smell of Opium by long Digeftions, and repeated Diffolutions and Dif- tillations, and by this Method they think to de- prive it of its. narcotick Sulphur. The Procefs may be conduced thus. Take of Opium q. v. difTolve it in q. f. of com- mon Water, and filtre the Solution through Paper. Let it fcand in Digeftion for eight Days in B. A. and afterwards diftil it from a Glafs-Alembick with a gentle Fire to the Con- fidence of Ploney. To this mellaginous Ex- trad pour more Water, digeft for eight Days, and diftil again to the fame Confidence. Re- peat the Affufions, Digeftions and Diftillati- ons, till both the Water and the Reftdue are void of Smell. Then laftly, difTolve the Re- fidue in a frefh Quantity of Water, drain, and evaporate it to the Confidence of a folid Ex- trad ; which is fo weak that it may be given with Safety from gr. iij. to x. By thefe repeated Digeftions and Diftillations the Sulphurs are divided and attenuated, and fly off with the volatile faline Parts. Whence the terref- trial Molecule remain almoft inert with the groffer Sulphurs and Salts. We therefore think this Prepa- tion can anfwer no extraordinary Purpofes. Haying mentioned the ufual Preparations of Opi- um, we fhail now lay down fome Rules and Cauti- ons concerning its Ufe. 1. The Tindure and Extrad of Opium, drawn with aqueous Menftruums, are preferable to all other Preparations. 2. TheTindures and refmous Extrads of Opium drawn with Spirit of Wine ought to be rejeded. For they are more intenfely narcotick j they op- C c 3 prefe 390 A Treatise on prefs the Head, and inflame the Blood and Spirits ; they fometimes alfo adhere to the Membranes of the Stomach, and occafion Oppreflions, Naufeas, Hick- ups, and Vomitings. 3. The Preparations of Opium with Acids, which obtund and deftroy its Force, are ufelefs. Thofe with volatile Salts, which by their Acrimony hin- der Sleep, are accounted no better, unlefs intended to promote Sweat ; for then the Salts are fervice- able. Thofe alfo with fixt Alkalies, though they provoke Urine, greatly diminifh the foporiferous Vir- tue of the Opium. 4. In the Form of Pills the Operation of Opium is flow and uncertain. It is more advantageoufly given in a Bolus, fiifficiently extended with other Powders, or diflblved in fome proper Liquor : For it operates fooner, and agrees better with the Stomach. 5. It ought never to be given when the Stomach is full of Food. Wherefore, after folid Food an Interval of four Hours is neceflary, and after Broth, at leaft, two Hours. Neither are folid Aliments to be taken till the Opium has finifhed its Operation *, nor Broth, unlefs upon urgent Neceflity, and only three Hours after the Narcotick. 6. It ought not to be given during the Flux of the Menfes , the Child- bed Purgations, periodical Hemorrhages, or critical Evacuations. Nor ought it to be given without Caution after any large Eva- cuation whatfoever, left from a Deficiency of Spi- rits, the Patient, already too prone to Sleep, fhould be thrown into too long, or perhaps an eternal deep, or into a Palfy. 7. It mult be given with the greateft Caution to Men of weakly Conftitutions, of a lax Texture of Body, or weakened by long Difeales, to Children, pregnant Women, and old People, to fuch as have a Weak Stomach and bad Digeftion, and to fuch al- Foreign Vegetables. 391 fo as are extremely plethorick, for perhaps, from the fudden Rarefaction of the Blood, a deadly Sleep, or an Hemorrhage, may come on. It ought fel- dom to be given in acute Difeafes, efpecially fuch as are inflammatory, for Fear left the apparent A- batement of the Difeafe ftiould deceive both thePhy- flcian and the Patient. 8. Its Ufe ought to be fometimes interrupted, otherwife it will become entirely ineffectual, or hurt- ful. 9. The Indications for giving Opium are princi- pally three ; namely, great Wakefulnefs, fharp Pain of long Continuance, and enormous Vomiting or Purging. 10. Sydenham likewife adds great Diforders of the animal Spirits : Whence it fometimes affords much Relief in fpafmodick Affections of the Nerves, and in hyfterick Fits. 11. To this Virtue is chiefly owing the Faculty which is found in Opium of promoting fome Eva- cuations, when fuppreffed by a convulfive Affecti- on of the Nerves. Thus Sydenham , in his Epiftle to Co/e, 488. to reftore the Purgations of Child-bed Women, when other Remedies have been tried in vain, propofes Laudanum. 66 In this Cafe (fays he) “ Laudanum, though it be in its own Nature af- t%cig, Galen. MeA» h x.ocXoc[*oi<;> Lheophraf. Me A i Y.ocXocy.lvov^ Arrian. ’Aa? Pauli AEginet. Zuccar , Arab . Saccharon , Plin. Sugar is an effential Salt, fat, oily, of a red- difh brown Colour or grayifh when unrefined ; but when perfeftly refined, of a fnowy Whitenefs and cryftalline Splendour, dry and friable under the Teeth. It difiblves in Water, and becomes thick a- gain by boiling •, is fat like Honey, and dudtile into long Threads, of an agreeable fweet Tafte, almoft void of Smell, and is extracted from the Sugar- Cane. It was known to the Ancients, but was not ufed among them as it is at this time with us •, which in- deed is evident from the Teftimony of many Au- thors •, though it was formerly, as at prefent, pro- cured from different Plants, which we fhall men- tion below. Strabo , in his Geography, /. 1 5. writes exprefsly, that in the Indies there is a certain Reed which pro- duces Honey without the Afiiftance of Bees. Lucan alfo witneffeth the fame in this Line. Quique % bibunt tenerd dulces ah Ar undine fuccos. Likewife Marcus Varro in the following Verfes, In die a non magnd nimis Arbore crefcit Arundo : lUius e lentis premitur radicibus humor , JOulcia cui nequeant Succo contendere Mella . Upon this Reed, Seneca , Epift. 85. writes thus, “ It is faid that Honey is found in the Indies upon “ the * Sc. lndi , Foreign Vegetables. 407 two Ounces an<3 four Drachms $ Foreign Vegetables.' 441 Drachms ; in Calcination twenty- fix Ounces, five Drachms and fifty- two Grains. It appears from this AnalyJiSy that Galls contain a large Quantity of thick fixed Sulphur, combined with an ammoniacal Salt. Moreover, Galls turn a Solution of Vitriol black or rather of a deep purple. For the alkaline Salt of the Galls joining itfelf to the vitriolick acid Salt, feparates from it the metallick Parts : Which then fubfide not to the Bottom *, but are united with the fulphureous Particles of the Galls floating in the Liquor, and are fuftained by them. By this Pro- perty an Infufion of Galls ferves Chymifts and Na- turalifts to try Mineral Waters : For if they contain a vitriolick Salt, or any Thing of Iron or Copper, it renders them black, violet-colour’d, purple, or tending thereto, according as they are more or lefs loaded with the metallick Salt. Galls are powerfully aftringent : Wherefore they are commended by many in Dyfenteries, Loofeneflfes and Hemorrhages. And very lately an antifebrile Virtue was difcovered in them. This Difcovery was made publick by M. Reneaums , a Phyfician of Paris , in the Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sci- ences, Ann . j 7 1 1. They are given in Powder from gfs. to 3j. at the Beginning of the Fit in intermit- ting Fevers, in thofe efpecially, fays M. Reneaume , which depend upon a lax Tone of the Stomach. They are applied externally to aftringe, repel, and to ftrengthen lax Parts. A Deco&ion of them is ufed againft the bearing down of the Womb, and Reftum, and to prevent Fluxions upon them. Take Galls and Pomegranate-barks, a 33. Leaves of Sage, Laurel, Camomile, and Balauftines, a. p. ij. Boil them in rough Wine and Smith’s Water, q. f. and with the Deco&ion foment the Part aflfetted. They 442 A Treatise on They are very ufefuHo Dyers ; and are alfo an Ingredient in Ink j the beft Method of making which is this. Take of River- water feiv. White-wine ffeij. A - leppo Galls bruited §iv. Macerate them for twenty-four Hours, fhaking them now and then about in the Veflel. Afterwards boil them for half an Hour, and remove the Scum with a Feather. Then taking the VefTel from the Fire, add of Gum Arabick ^iifs. Hungarian Vitriol §ij. Roch-allum and Sugar-Candy, a Jfs. Let them Hand together in Digeftion a- gain for twenty-four Hours, afterwards boil them a Quarter of an Hour, and then ftrain the Decodtion through Linnen. A SUPPLE- A SUPPLEMENT; WHEREIN Some Foreign Plants, omitted in the pre- ceding Treatise, are referred to the fe- veral Chapters to which they refpec- tively belong. WITH A Ihort Account of their Vi rtue s, &V.’ [ 445 ] v A SUPPLEMENT, gfr. To C H A P. f. add S QJJ I L L. ID AD 1 X Scillce, Off. The Root of the Squill, or Sea-Onion, is large and bulbous, being com- pofed of many Coats folding over one another. In the Shops are two Sorts, (viz.) The Red, which is the Root of the S cilia vulgaris radice rubra , C. B. 2. The White , which is generally preferred, and is got from the S cilia radice alba,, C. B. They grow by the Sea-fide in Spain, Sicily , anpi other warm Countries. Thefe Roots, ufually called Squills , are gently emetick and purgative ; powerfully opening, atte- nuating, deterfive and diuretick. They are therefore good to cleanfe the Stomach, Inteftines, and Lungs of thick vifcid Phlegm, and are very ufeful in the Dropfy, Jaundice, Cachexies, and againft all Ob- ftrudions arifmg from tough Humours. They are commonly given prepared in Vinegar, Oxymel, Syrup, or Wine, to §fs. ^vj. or %]. though Some- times in a much larger Dofe. They are moreover reckoned alexipharmack, on which Account the Troches made of them are an Ingredient in Venice - Treacle. To 446 rA Treatise m To C H A P. IH. add Lo G-W O O D, T IGNUM tinttile Campechenfe , Off. Lignum Cam - pechianum , Species quadam Brafil . ^0. Sloane, Cat, Jam. p. 313. The Tree from which Log-wood is cut, is defcribed by Breynius , Prodr. 2. 37. under this Title *, Pavonis C or onillce fo- lio fecunda , five tinftoria Indie a , fore luteo racemofo minor e^ filiqud latiffima glabra , Lignum rubrum Sap- pan dittumf 'evens. Cajfonatum , Cafummunair , Catechu , Cmnamomum , Colocynthis , Contrayerva 5 Coralliumy — nigrum , - — : rubrum 3 Cojtus, CubebcB , Cucumis agreftis „ Curcuma , Cyminum> Cytini > Page 309 238 1 2 241 75 204 191 192 194 ibid. J59 220 205 99 *73 66 4i5 9 400 66 163 10 I27 *35 j36 I27 13 196 449 17 454 i87 INDEX D. Daucus Creticus , Page 454 Diagrydium cydoniatum , 3 £4 glycyrrhizatum , ibid. Sulphuratum , ibid. Dittamnus Creticus , 147 E. Elaterium , aso EleutherUy Eleteriiy five Eleuterii Cortex , 99 F. Fceniculum dulce , 455 Fcenum Gracum , 45^ Ficus , 159 G. Galbanum , Gallcey 439 Gambogia , 359 Gentiana , 18 G/ycyrrbiza, 2l Grana Paradifi 9 *93 Granatum , 186 Guaiacum, 107 Gummi Ammoniacum , 292 Arabicuniy 267 Elemiy 248 Tragacantha , 271 ■> H. Helleborus albusy 25 zwgtfr. ibid. Hypociftisy 398 J- Jalapiumy 31 Ipecacuanhay 36 Iris Florentine 44 Juncus odoratusy 137 K. I N D E X. K. : , Khaath lndorum% Page 401 Kina Kina , 76 99 L. Labdanum 9 250 Lignum Rhodium y 106 Lignum tinttile Campechenfe , 446 Limonium malum , 183 M. Maris , 209 Malabathrum feu folium Indumy 140 Manna , « 273 Marum Syriacum , *49 Maftiche , 254 Meleguetta , 192 Mufcovatumy 4*4 Myrrha , 3X7 N. Nardus Celtic a , 59 — — Indica> zn Nicotiana , 446 iV## mo f chat a % 208 o. Olibanum , 256 Oliv<£y 450 Opium ^ 366 Opobalfamum 3 214 OpopanaXy 324 P. Peruvianus Cortex , 76 Petrofelinum Macedonicmu 458 Piper album , 198 sEthiopicumy 204 Jamaicenfey ibid. — Indicumy C * : ibid. - Longum , *99 Piper INDEX. Piper nigrum , Piffaleum , Pixarida , PalimpiJJa , Burgundica , Liquida , Navalis , Nigra, Frunze Gallic#, Pyre thrum, R. Refina Candida , Rhabarbarum, Rhaponticum, S. Saccharum, candum, mifcellaneum, pyramidale , rubrum, Sagapenum, Sanguis Draconis, Santala, Santalum album, flavum , « rubrum , Sarcocolla, Sarfaparilla, Sajjafrafs, Scammonium , Scilla, Scoenanthus, Senna, Serpent aria Virginiam , Sefeli, Stcschas Arabica, Styrax calamita, — — — vulgaris. Page 198 ibic ibid. ibid. ibid. ibid. 45^ 45 236 406 4i7 4J5 417 418 326 260 120 121 ibid. 121, 122 329 52 124 347 445 ^37 141 55 4 57 153 264 ibid. T. INDEX. T. ! Tamarind! , Page i6o T artarum , 427 T ^ rebint hina , 227 Argentoratenjis, 234 Chia^ vel Cypria, 227 Communis , 236 Venetay 230 Terra Japonica, 400 *Ihus album , 236 — — mafculum. 256 vulgar e. 237 V. Veratrum album , 25 nigrum , ibid. Uv# pajjce maxim#. 1 55 — minores , ibid. minim#. 156 W. 75, 6? 76 Winteranus cortex. Z, Zedoaria longa , rotunda. 60 ibid. Zerumbeth, 59 Zingiber , 63 Zopijja jive Apochyma , 227 FINIS. A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS. A. A CAC1A, the true. f\ Page 396 - the German, 398 Acorus , the true. 1 Agarick , 43 2 Almonds , litter. 448 — — — fweet. ibid. Aloes, 33i caballine. 334 — — hepatick , 333 Soccotrine, 332 All-fpice, 204 Ammoniack , 292 Amomum, the true , 189 the common . > 191 Angelica , 3 Anifeed, 452 AJjafcetida, 296 B. Balaujlines, H Page Balfam Capivi, 223 of Gilead, 214 Peru, 220 Tolu, 222 Bark, Peruvian, 76 WinterV, 75 £s? 76 Bdellium , 309 Benzoine, 238 Birthwort , creeping, 6 ibid. round, 5 - — [mall, 7 Bijhop's Weed, its Seed, 453 Burgundy -pitch, 2 37 C. Camphor e, 241 white, 75 Cardamom , 19 1 the greater, 192 h Cardamom CONTENTS. Page Page Cardamom the lefjer , 194 Fenugreek-feed) 456 • — the middle , ibid. Frankincenfe) common 237 Carrot - of Candy, — — — 256 454 — white ) 236 Cafcaril , 99 Coffia purgings *73 G, l I fS Ci c* 66 CaJJonade , 415 Galbanum , 3X3 Cajfummunair , 9 Galls ) 439 Catechu , 400 GambogC) 359 Celtick Spikenard , 59 Gentian , 18 Cinnamon , 66 Ginger ) 63 Cloves , 205 Guaiacum, 107 Colocynth , 163 Guinea Pepper , 204 Colophony , 233 Gm Ammoniack) 292 Contrayerva , IO — — Arabick) 267 Coral) black) 136 Elemi , 248 127 Fragacanth) 271 • W&7?, 135 CofiuS) *3 H. CubehS) I06 Cucumber ) the wild , 449 Hellebore) black , 25 Cummin- feed) . 454 white. ibid. Currants , 156 HypcciftiS) 398 a If Dittany of Crete, 147 Jalap, 31 Dragon's Blood) 260 Jamaica Pepper , , 204 Japan Earth, 400 E. Indian Lfrz/, 140 Elaterium , 450. Ipecacuanha , 36 F. L. Fennel-feed , 455 Labdanum , 250 Lemon Lemon , Liquorice , Logwood , M* Manna, Marum , Syrian, Maftich , Melaffes , Meleguette , Mufcovade , Myrrh , N. Celtick, Indian, Nutmegs O. Olive Sy Opium , Opobalfamum , Opopanax, Orange , Orm, Florentine, P. Parfley , Macedonian, 458 Pellitory of Spain, 45 Peruvian Zforl, 76 Pepper, 197 Page Pepper /Ethiopian, 204 blacky 198 Guinea, 204 Jamaica, ibid. *99 whitey 198 Pitchy all forts , 237 Pomegranate , 186 R. Raijins and Currans, 154 336 £s? 337 Rapontick , 47 Rhodian Wood, 106 Rhubarb , 47 the fweet, 137 S. Sagapenum , 326 Sanders , 120 Sarcocol, 329 Sarfaparil, 52 Saffafrasy 1 24 Scammony , 347 Sccenanth, 137 14 1 Snake-root, 55 Spikenardy Celtick, 59 Indian, 57 Squills y 445 Stcechasy 153 St or ax, 264 Sugar, 406 -brown*, 8 Sugar* CONTENTS. Page 183 21 446 209 273 149 254 415 192 414 3*7 59 57 208 45° 366 214 324 185 44 CONTENTS. Page Page Sugar-candy, 41 7 Turpentine common, 236 — refined , ibid — ■ ■ Strafburg, 234 Venice, 230 T. Tamarinds , Tar, Tartar , Tobacco , Tragacanth , G&//?, Treacle , common , Turmerick , W. 160 237 Winter's Bark, , 75 £2? 76 427 446 Z. 271 415 Zedoary , 17 Turpentine , Chio Cy- prus, 227 Zerumbeth , %•> round. 59 60 ibid. 59 ERRATA. PAGE 53. line 17. and p. 58. I. 7. for with, read *«. p. 63. 1. 29. r. M/& Indies, p. 78. 1. 3 1 . f. Experiment he had made , r. the Means of his Cure . ib. 1. 33. dele Remedy, p. 113, 1. 2. dele <2. p. 130. 1. 13. r. /»/0. p. 132, 1. 14, r .piperine. p. 151, 1. 35, f. Lofs of, r. loft. p. 165, 1. 18, r. naufeas . p. 171, 1. 31. r. Alhandal. p. 194, 1. 16, r .fomewhat. p. 197, I. 33, f. /fe <5’0r/j- which are at this time in the Shops , m&r the fe Names, r. thofe three Species, which are ftill found in the Shops, p.i 99, 1. 8, r. Birch-tree. p. 2 10, 1. 7, f. Ounces, r. Pounds, p. 216, 1. 32, f. while, r. little, p. 240, 1. 17, r. 0#. p. 243, 1. 26, x. pour- ing. ibid. 1. 31, r. Nitre, p. 258, 1. 9. f. as well , r. ib. f. as, x. and. p. 276, 1. 4, r. Cold. p. 289, 1. 11, dele a. p. 32$, 1. 2. f. The,x.A . p. 330? 1*3 1} T. w Woman's Milk » « •I r ^ I '■”/ - ' > ' ■ . * M t * i i' V ■ ^ • H ^ w • 1