272 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
India casts forth at certain times, the in- 
habitants thereabouts pitch their ships with 
it. It is of excellent use to mollify the hard- 
ness of swellings and discuss them, as also 
against inflammations ;the smoke of it burnt 
is excellently good for the fits of the mother, 
and the falling-sickness: Inwardly taken in 
wine it provokes the menses, helps the bit- 
ings of venomous beasts, and dissolves con- 
gealed blood in the body. — 
Ambergreese is hot and dry in the second 
degree, I will not dispute whether it be a 
‘Gum or not: It strengthens nature much 
which way soever it be taken, there are but 
few grains usually given of it at a time: 
mixed with a little ointment of Orange 
flowers, and the temples and forehead 
anointed with it, it eases the pains of the 
head and strengthens the brain exceed- 
ingly; the same applied to the privities 
_ helps the fits of the mother; inwardly taken 
it strengthens the brain and memory, the 
heart and vital spirit, warms cold stomachs, 
and is an exceeding strengthener of nature 
to old people, adding vigour to decayed and 
worn-out spirits: it provokes venery, and 
makes barren women fruitful, if coldness 
and moisture or weakness be the cause im- 
Assafetida being smelled to, is vulgarly 
known to repress the fits of the mother; 
a little bit put into an aching tooth, pre- 
sently eases the pain, ten grains of it taken 
before dinner, walking half an hour after 
it, provokes appetite, helps digestion, 
strengthens the stomach, and takes away 
loathing of meat, it provokes lust exceed- 
ingly and expels wind as much. 
Boraz, besides the virtues it has to solder 
Gold, Silver, Copper, &c. inwardly given 
in small quantities, it stops fluxes, and the 
running of the reins: being in fine powder, 
and put into green wounds, it cures them at 
_ Gambuge, which the College calls Gutta 
Gamba. I know no good of it. 
Caranna outwardly applied, is excellent 
for aches, and swellings in the nerves and 
joints: If you lay it behind the ears, it 
draws back humours from the eyes; applied 
to the temples as they usually do Mastich, 
it helps the tooth-ache. 
Gum Elimi, authors appropriate to frac- 
tures in the skull and head. See Arceus’s 
liniment. 
Gum Lacca being well purified, and the 
quantity of half a dram taken in any con- 
venient liquor, strengthens the stomach and 
liver, opens obstructions, helps the yellow 
jaundice and dropsy; provokes urine, 
breaks the stone in the reins and bladder. 
Liquid Amber is not much unlike liquid 
Styraz: by unction it warms and comforts - 
a cold and moist brain, it eases all griefs 
coming of a cold cause, it mightily comforts 
and strengthens a weak stomach, being 
anointed with it, and helps digestion ex- 
ceedingly, it dissolves swellings. It is hot 
in the third degree, and moist in the first. 
I think it would do the commonwealth 
no harm if I should speak a word or two of 
Manna here, although it be no Gum: I con- 
fess authors make some flutter about it, 
what it is, some holding it to be the juice 
of a tree; I am confident it is the very same 
condensated that our honey-dews here are, 
only the contries whence it comes being far 
hotter, it falls in great abundance. Let him 
that desires reason for it, be pleased to read 
Butler’s book of Bees, a most excellent €x- 
perimental work, there he shall find reason 
enough to satisfy any reasonable man. 
Choose the driest and whitest; it is a veTy 
gentle purger of choler, quenches thirst, 
provokes appetite, eases the roughness of 
the throat, helps bitterness in the throat, 
and often proneness to vomit, it is very good 
for such as are subject to be costive to put 
it into their drink instead of sugar, it hath 
no obnoxious quality at all in it, but may 
be taken by a pregnant woman without any 
danger; a child of a year old may take a? 
