VOL. XX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 23() 



clysters made of broth, which will serve to sustain them, and to bring them 

 more quickly to their strength. After the remedies, they may, to keep them- 

 selves in a good habit of body, take milk, with a little chocolate. 



The Ordinary Ptisan. — R Of red saunders, the rind of the pomegranate a §i. 

 tormentil roots §s. wild succory and dandelion a fii. choice sumach fii. leaves 

 of agrimony, two handfuls. Make all boil over a clear fire, in 6 pints of water, 

 which ought to be boiled to one half; at the end of the decoction, as you take 

 it off the fire, add to it two drachms of cinnamon, and as much powder of li- 

 quorice. 



For Clysters. — R Shepherd's purse two handfuls, linseed §s. red roses two 

 drachms, salt a handful. Make all boil in a decoction of barley ; strain it, and 

 mix it with the yolk of a fresh egg, and two ounces of honey of roses. These 

 clysters will, in a great measure, take off the pains in the intestines. If the pains 

 be very violent, two heads of white poppy may be added. 



Some Notes on this Paper, by Hans Shane, M. D. 



Although I am of opinion that the root mentioned in the foregoing paper is 

 not so infallible a remedy for fluxes, as is pretended ; yet considering that some- 

 times those distempers yield not to ordinary means, and that this has a great 

 reputation in our neighbour nations, and may be had in this, I thought it mighc 

 be beneficial to the public, to have it printed in English, that it may be con- 

 sidered of, and brought into use, if by proper judges of the circumstances of the 

 sick, it may be thought harmless and helpful. 



In order to a fuller understanding of it, I think it necessary to take notice 

 that Piso, in his edit. l648, p. 101, l658, p. 231, Pomet. p. 46, Marcgrave, 

 p. l6, and an author at the end of Dr. Lister's Exercitations lately printed 

 abroad, have treated of this herb. It seems to have been first noticed by an 

 anonymous Portuguese, who lived in Brasil, (supposed to be one Manoel 

 Tristaon,) whose book falling into the hands of the English, is translated and 

 published by Purchas, in the year l625. In whose Pilgrims, vol. 4, lib. 7, 

 cap. 1, § 5, p. 1311, he speaks of an herb called in Brasil, igpecaya, or 

 pigaya, which I believe to be this, 



Igpecaya, or pigaya, says he, is profitable for the bloody flux, the stalk is a 

 quarter long, and the roots of another, or more; it has only 4 or five leaves; the 

 smell is strong and terrible. This root beaten, and pat in water all night at the 

 dew, and in the morning, if this water with the same root beaten and strained 

 be drunk, (only the water,) it causes presently to purge so that the looseness 

 ceases altogether. 



Most of this is translated into Latin from Purchas, by Jo. de Laet, Amer, 



