ee 
Century V. 
thereare [heriacel Herbs; and that wichout vertue, fromthofe thar fed in 
the Valleys, whereno fuch Herbs are. hus far Tam of opinion, that as 
fteeped Wines and Beers are very Medici.al, andlicsewife Breadtempered 
with divers powders ; foof <A%earalfo, (as Fiesh, Fish, Mlk, and Eggs) that 
they may bemadeof great ufe fur Medicine and Dict, if the Beat, Fowl, 
or Fish, be fed v ith a {pecial kinde of focd, ficfor the difeafe. It were adan- 
gerous thing alfo for fecret empoyfonments. But whether it maybe ap- 
plied unto Plants, and Herbs, I doubt more, becaufe the nourifhment of 
‘| them is a more common Juyce; which is hardly capable of any fpecial 
| quality until che Plantdo aflimilateit. 
mn 
But left our incredulity may prejudice any profitable Operations in 
this kinde (efpecially fince many of the Ancients have fet them down) .we 
think good briefly to p-opound the four Means, which they have devifed of 
making Plants Medicinable. The firlt is by flitting of the Root, and infufing 
‘}into it the Medicine, as Hellebore, Opium, Scammomy, Triacle. &c. and then 
binding itup again. This feemeth to me the leaft probable,becaufe the Root 
| common and lefs qualified ; and befides, it isalong time in going up, ere 
it cometo the Fruit. The fecond way is, toperforate the Body of the Tree, 
| and there to infufe the Medicine, it hath thelefs way, and the lefs time to go 
_jupe The third is, the fteeping of the Seed or Kernel in fome Liquor . 
wherein the Medicine isinfufed ; which] have little opinion of, becaufe 
|the Seed (I doubt) will not draw the parts of the matter which have the 
| propriety ; but it will be far the morelikely, if you mingle the Medicine 
‘may callin withal fome of the propriety. The fourthis, the Watering of 
4 the Plant oft, wich an infufionof the Medicine. This, in one refpeat may 
\have more force than the reft, becaufe the Medication is oft renewed , 
| whereas the reft are applied, but at onetime; and therefore the vertue may 
| the fooner vanifh. But ftill] doubt, that the Root is fomewhattoo ftubborn 
to receive thofe fne Impreffions ; and befides (as Ihave faid before) they 
perforation of the Body of the Tree, in feveral places,one above the other, 
andthe filling of the Holes with Dung mingled with the Medicine. And 
| the Watring of thofe Lumps of Dung, with Squirts of an Infufion of the 
| Medicine in dunged Water, once in three or fourdays. 
NATURAL 
draweth immediately from the Earth, and fo the nourifhment is the more’ 
with Dung, for that the Seed, naturally drawing the moifture of the Dung, 
have a great Hillto goup. I judge therefore the likelieft way to be the 
104 
$06. 
