Philfopbied History of Plants. 
15 
Bitter, and Penetrant upon the Tongue, or in the , as Daify, Ana- 
gallis,good Cleanfers. That fuch Bodys,principally,are Anodyne, which 
are Yellow, I think, is more than a conceit; Yelks of Eggs, Foenugreek 
Seeds, Lint-feed Oyl, May-Butyr, Marrow, Pinguedo Humana, Hyof- 
eyamus luteus, Safron, Sulphur, Opium, all Avodyne and Yelow. How 
likewife their Faculties and Qualities may vary their Degrees, either 
differently or together: fo Aloe and Colocynthis, are both Bitter in the 
highelt Degrees yet Aloe, which is alfo sweet, Purgeth more mode- 
rately ; Colocymthis, which is Bitter, but not Smeet,molt Violently. How 
far the Faculties of Vegetables, as wellas their Qualities, may be Com- 
pounded; where, and which chiefly 5 as Aftrictive and Purgative in 
Rhabarb. Where this Queftion may be put, Whether divers other, 
and yet more extreme Faculties, as well asthefe of Aftrictive and Pur- 
gative, may not fomewhere or other be alfo found, or made, to meet: 
whereby the fame Piet, or fome Preparation of it, may be molt Po- 
tent, and yet moft Innocent; the Malignity thereof exerting its Pow- 
er, and the Virtue its Soveraignty at the fame time. And laftly, what 
Affinity there may be betwixt thems as moft Plants, that are ftrong 
Purgatives, and elpecially Vomitorics, I think, are’alfo Stermntatorys 
as white Hellebore, Jalap, Tobacco: and on the contrary, fuch as are 
Sternutatory, are fome of the molt proper moft potent Medicines 
for the Head, Brain, and Geass Nervofum, Taken inwardly, as Lilium 
convalle, &c. and the like. 
31. §. Thus far a particular obfervation of the Qualities and Fa 
culties ofthe Contents of Vegetables may proceed, as they are exiftent 
in their Natural Eflate, ‘ From which, although fome probable Con- 
jectures may be made, of their Material and Formal Effezces, and of the 
Canfés of their determinate Varieties, or the Modes of Vegetation ne- 
ceflary thereunto : yet will our Conceptions hereof be more facile,clear, 
and comprehenfive, ifby all other Waysof Obfervation, they be like- 
ile examined, according as Experiment may be applicable to any of 
them. 
32. $. As by Contufions fo fome Plants give their Smell,not with- 
out Rubbing, or not fo well; as the green Leaves of Stramonium,Scur- 
raf, and many more : others lofe'1t by Rubbing, as the flowers of 
Violets, Carnations, Borage, &e. others yield it both ways, as Rofé- 
mary, &e. So fome Apples mend their Taffe, by Scoaping, and Pears 
by Rowling, efpecially that called the Rowling Pear. 
33: $. By Agitation, which doth that, fometimes, by Force, which 
Digeftion, doth by Heat: { any cold Oyl and a syrup being, in a due 
manner, agitated together, of two Fluid bodies will become one Con- 
fiftent, as is known. 
but the former moft. Some of the Contents of Plants, nny be wholly 
diffolved in Common Water ; fome but in part,others not at all ; or ve- 
ry litele ; which is proper to fome Milks, as well as Gums. The Co- 
fours, Smells‘ or Taftes they hereupon yield, a 1 various; and in 
fome 
