Qcntury V. 



105 



Wilde Garlick, their Milk tafted plainly of the Garlick • And the Flefh 

 of Muttons is better tafted where theSheep feed upon Wild Thyme, and other 

 wholefome Herbs. Galen alio fpeaketh of the Curing of the Scirrus of the 

 Liver , by Milk of a Cow, that feedeth upon certain Herbs 5 And Zftwji in 

 ty<w# fmelleth (apparently ) of the Rofemary, or Orenge, from whence the j?<?<? 

 gathereth it : And there is an old Tradition of a Maiden that was fed with 

 Tiapellus-j ( which is counted the Strongeft poyfon of all Vegetables) which 

 with ufe did not hurt the Maid, but poyfoned fome that had Carnall Com 

 pany with her. So it is obferved by fome, that there is a vertuous Bezoar, and 

 another without vertue Which appear to the mew alike But the yenu 

 ous is taken from the Beaft, that feedeth upon the Mountains, where there 

 are Theriacall Herbs ; And that without Vertue, from thole that feed in the 

 Valleys, where no filch Herbs are. Thus far I am of Opinion- That as 

 Steeped Wines and Beers,are very Medicinal! h And likewife Bread tempered 

 with .divers Powders 5 So of MeatMo^ ( as Flcjh> Fifl) , Milk , and Eggs , ) 

 that they may be made of great ufe for Medicine^ and Diet, if the Beaft, Fowl, 

 or Fifi, be fed with a fpeciall kind of food, fit for the Difeafe. It were a dan 

 gerous Thing alio for fecret Empoyfonments. But whether it may be 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 fpeciall 

 Quality, untill the Plant do aflimilate it. 



But left our Incredulity may prejudice any profitable Operations in this 

 kind ( efpecially fince Many of the Ancients have fet them down, ) We 

 think good briefly to propound the four Meanes, which they have devifed 

 of Making Plants Medicinable.The firft is by Slitting of the Root find Infufing 

 into it the Medicine 5 As Hellebore^opium,Scammcmy,Triacle,8cc. And then 

 binding it up again. This feemeth to me the leaft probable 5 Becaufe the 

 Root draweth immediately from the Earth • And fo the Nourifhment is the 

 more Common, and lefs Qualified : And befides it is along time in Go- 

 ing up, ere it come to the Fruit. The Second Way is, to Perforate the Body 

 of the T ree , and there to Infltfe the Medicine • W r hich is fomewhat better : 

 For if any Vertue be received firpm the Medicine , it hath the lefs way , and 

 the lefs time to go up. The Third is , the Steeping of the Seed or Kerne 11 in 

 fome Liqnour, wherein the Medicine is Infufed 5 Which I have little Opini- 

 on of, becaufe the Seed ( I doubt , ) will not draw the Parts of the Matter , 

 which have the Propriety : But it will be far the more likely , if you mingle 

 Medicine with Dung 5 For that the Seed naturally drawing the Moifture 

 of the Dung y may call in withall fome of the Propriety. The fourth is, 

 the Watering of the Plant oft, with an Infufion of the Medicine. This, in one 

 refped may have more force than the reft ■ Becaufe the Medication is oft 

 renewed ^ Whereas the reft are applyed but at one time : And therefore the 

 Vertue may the fooner vanifh. Bnt ftill I doubt , that the Root is fomewhat 

 too ftubborn to receive thofe fine Impreffions-,And befides,(as I have faid be- 

 fore, )they have a great Hi H to go up. I j udge therefore the likelieft way to 

 be the Perforationof the Body of the T rce,\n jeverall places^one above the other-, 

 And the Eillingoi the Holes with Dung mingled with the Medicine, 

 And the Watr ingot thofe Lumps of Dung, with Squirts 

 of an Infufion of the Medicine in Dun- 

 ged Water , once in three or 

 four Dayes, 



NATURALL 



