268 PARKINSONS MANUSCRIPTS 



TJie Vertues of some Exotic Plants. 



Giniber is a tree growing in Brasill about Pernambuco, whose fruite is bigger 

 then those of an Orrenge, but of a darck greene colour from whence with one 

 kind may be crushed out a liquor very like both for colour and consistence 

 unto the whey of milke : this liquor or water hath such a qualitie that what 

 parte of the skin of the bodye be washed therwith it will colour it so black as 

 no black inck or dye can doe more & so likewise the haire in any parte of the 

 bodye, which colour will abide so strongly fixed therin for the space of eight 

 dayes that if all the remedies to whiten the partes againe were applied they 

 would be of none efect ; but of itselfe the colour will fade after that tyme & the 

 partes will become as white as they were before. This water is also as it issued 

 is of espetiall propertye to encrease haire. Other thinges this water doth 

 performe without the least daunger or harme. 



The Brasilians have a familiar medicine that is common & well knowen to 

 most of them, beinge a most certaine remedye to staye or stanche the blood 

 that flowes from any part of man or woman. 



This is made of a certaine herbe which groweth in the high & rockye 

 mountaines which therupon the Portugalls call Rais de serra that is Radix 

 montium, the Roote of the Mountains, because the roote onely of this herbe 

 hath that effect to staunche blood, the leaves herof are said to be like unto 

 Plantaine leaves & the roote unto a Cicharye roote both for forme and 

 colour which roote being a little burned in a cleane earthen pot or vessell & 

 afterwardes rubbed into partes & a scruple in weight taken fasting with 

 Plantaine or Rosmary doth most rertainely staye the fluxe of blood issuing 

 from any parte of the bodye. Petrus de Osma cited by Monardes testifyeth 

 the vertue that many herbes have that hidden propertye to stay bleeding by the 

 example of some Negros that constrayned through hunger to cut of the calves 

 of their legs to eate, & by layinge a leafe of a certaine greene herbe did whollye 

 staye the fluxe that not a droppe of blood was seene to be shed. [Cf. Park. 

 Theatr. 1622.] 



There is a certaine kinde of Rushe growing on the hilles in Peru, which they 

 there call Jeho or Yoha, very like onto the Spanish rushe called Spartum wherof 

 the fraile are made that they putt Raysins & figs ; & wherwith the metalline 

 bodyes are sooner melted by its flame than by much wood, & separated from the 

 Quicksilver that is put into them for that purpose. The fumes also of this 

 Rushe (a wonder to be spoken) taken under a Canopay or close covering, 

 causeth all the Quicksilver, that abideth in the bodies of those that have ben 

 annointed therewith to helpe the Frenche poxe, to sweate out of all partes of the 

 bodyes, without any maner of sense of paine. 



I.akeka is a kind of gum gathered in Martaban in the East Indies, whose 

 propertye is to expell drunckeness if pieces therof being put on a thred or 

 stringe & wounde on the bare arme, so that whosoever shall drinck much &: 

 strong wine shall not be overtaken therwith. 



Lapis Lipis is a kinde of blew minerall stone found on the hills of Potosi 

 called Lipis of the citye neere them. And is of a transparent blew colour, very 

 hard to breake yet brought into small pieces, sharpe and bitinge in taste so that 

 being put to the tongue it will with the heate oxalegrate it, it is brought as 

 merchandise being cut into tablets iS: so sold : it is (saith Zacutus Lusitanusj so 

 like Anil Indica that a form of it might be taken for Indico & being made 



