1916] FoMES OFFICINALIS (Vill.) 191 
and good for medicine, which beareth the name of Agaricus or Agaricke: 
I find that Pliny supposeth all the Masticke trees, and those that bear 
Galls, do bring forth this agaricum: Wherein he was somewhat deceived, 
and especially in that he tooke Glandifera for Conifera, that is, those 
trees which bear mast or Acornes for the Pine apple trees: but among 
all the trees that beare agaricus, the Larch is the chiefe, and bringeth 
most plenty of Agaricke.... 
“Pliny hath said somewhat hereof, contradicting the writings of 
others, in his 16 booke, 8 chapter, where he saith, that specially the 
Acorne trees of France do beare Agaricke, and not only the acorne 
trees, but the cone trees also, among which, saith he, the Larch tree is 
the chief that bringeth forth Agaricke, and that not only in Gallia, 
which now is called France, but rather in Lumbardy and Piedmont in 
Italy, where there be whole woods of Larch trees, although they be 
found in some small quantitie in other countries. . 
“The Agaricke is also called in Greek ayapixov and ayapixos: in 
Latine Agaricum and Agaricus, and so likewise in shops: The Italians, 
Spaniards, and cther Nations do imitate the Greeke word; and in English 
we call it Agaricke. . 
‘ Agaricke is hot in the first degree and dry in the second, according 
to the old writers. It cutteth, maketh thin, clenseth, taketh away 
obstructions or stoppings of the intrails, and purgeth also by stoole. 
“Agaricke cureth the yellow jaundice proceeding out of obstruc- 
tions, and is a sure remedy for cold shakings, which are caused of thicke 
and cold humors. 
“The same being inwardly taken and outwardly applied, is good for 
those that are bit of venemous beasts which hurt with their cold poison. 
“It provoketh urine, and bringeth down the menses: it maketh the 
body well coloured, driveth forth wormes, cureth agues, especially 
quotidians and wandering feavers, and others that are of long con- 
tinuance, if it be mixed with fit things that serve for the disease: and 
these things it performes by drawing forth and purging away grosse, 
cold, flegmaticke humours, which cause the diseases. 
‘From a dram weight, or a dram and a halfe, to two, it is given at 
once in substance or in powder: the weight of it in an infusion or decoc- 
tion is from two drams to five. 
“But it purgeth slowly, and doth somewhat trouble the stomacke; 
and therefore it is appointed that Ginger should be mixed with it, or 
wilde carrot seed, or Lavage seed, or Sal gem, in Latine, Salfossilis. 
“Galen, as Mesue reporteth, gave it with wine wherein Ginger was 
infused: some use to give it with Oxymel, otherwise called Syrrup of 
vinegar, which is the safest way of all. 
