358 CULPEPER’ ENGLISH PHYSICIAN, 
die thereof and many fibres thereat, from whence arife many long, round, green, 
branches, winding themfelves like a bindweed about ftakes and trees, or any other 
thing,that ftands next it, unto a good height, without any cla{ping tendrils, like the’ 
true or wild-vine: from the joints of the branches come forth the leaves, every one 
by itfelf upon fhort footftalks, fomewhat broad at the bottom, with two corners next 
thereto, and fome alfo round , and then growing long and narrow to the end, be- 
ing of a fair green colour, and {mocth, fomewhat fhining. Towards the tops of the 
branches, at the joints with the leaves, come forth large whitith bell-flowers, with 
wide epen brims, and narrow bottoms, after which come round heads, wherein is con- 
4ained three or four black feeds ; if any part of this plant be broken, it yieldeth forth 
a milk, not hot, nor burning, nor bitter, yet fomewhat up pleafant, provoking loath- 
ing, and almoft cafting. tine 
Names. It ts.called fcammoaia both in Greek and Latin. The dried juice, which 
is moft in ufe, is called alto fcannmoniacum in the drugegifts and apothecaries fhops, 
as alfo with moft writers, and fome call the plant fo too. When it is prepared, that 
is, baked in a quince under the embers, or in an oven, or any other way, it is called 
diagridium, 
Piace anp Time. Scammony groweth in Syria, and the farther eaftern parts, 
where no frofts come in the winter; for where any froft comes it quickly perifheth, 
confequently it flourithes in hot climates only. 
GovernMENT AND Virtugs. This isa martial plant, and of a churlifh nature, 
fo that there had need be reat care taken in the choice thereof, that only that be 
ufed in phyfic which is pure and without adulteration ; which may be known if it 
de not heavy, or clofe compact together, but that it be moderately light, with fome 
fmall holes, or hollownefs, here and there, therein 3 and that it be fmooth and plain 
in the breaking, and not in grains or knots, or having fimall fticks or ftones in it; 
fomewhat clear and blackifh, but not of a deadith dark or jll-favoured colour, and 
_ thatit may be made quickly into a very fine and white powder. It purgeth both 
¥ h le Z mn, yellow choler, and watery humours, very ftrongly ; but, if ir be indifcreetly 
Siven, it will not only trouble the ftomach more than any other medicine, but will 
alfo four the guts, in working too powerfully, oftentimes unto blood, and often- 
times unto faintings and {woonings, and therefore is not fit to be given to any gen 
tle or tender body. Méefue declareth three feveral hurts or dangers that come to 
the body thereby, and the remedies of them; the firtt is, faith hhe, that it ingendereth 
Certain Snawing winds in the ftomach, fo much offending it, that it provoketh to 
vomit. To be baked thereforein quince, and fome parfley, fennel, or sae 
