54 ^Treatise ok 
thing for four Hours after, and lying in Bed well 
covered with Clothes to fweat. Sometimes a little 
of the Root in Powder was mixed with each 
Glafsful of the Decodtion. And thus it was con- 
tinued for thirty, and in ftubborn Cafes, for forty 
Days, with a Purge every tenth Day, and a very 
fparing Diet *, nothing being allowed but Bifcuit 
and Raifins. By this Method the Spaniards , and 
Inhabitants of the fouthern Parts of America , were 
wont to cure the venereal Difeafe ; but in our 
Climate, which is much colder, it has been at- 
tended with no great Succefs. This may be at- 
tributed to two Caufes : As firit, to the Denfity of 
the Skin in People of thefe Climates, they being 
on that Account lefs difpofed to fweat ; and fe- 
condly, to an improper Diet, the Patients here not 
obferving fo exa< 5 t and low a Regimen as both 
the Remedy and the Difeafe require. For, if we 
may credit Monardus , the Indians are fo very itridt 
in this Point, that they ilarve and emaciate fuch as 
labour under a venereal Infection to the laft Extre- 
mity, allowing them nothing to eat or drink for 
three Days, except a warm vifeid Liquor which 
they obtain by Deco&ion from Sarfaparil. 
This Root is fuppofed to confiit of finer Parts 
than either China or Guaidcum , and therefore to be 
more fudorifick. It is given from 3fs. to 314 in 
Su bilance, and to §fs. in Decodtion. Monardus 
cautions us to abilain from it in Fevers and acute 
Diflempers. It is made ufe of chiefly in drying 
and fweating Ptifans and Apozems. 
Take of Sarfaparil cut fmall §iij. Guaiacum ^ij. 
boil them in ffrx. of Spring- Water to a 
Confumption of Half ; then itrain the De- 
coction, and give a Glafsful now and then. 
Take 
