Foreign Vegetables. 
21 
A R T I C. IX. Of L I QJJ O R I C E. 
The Liquorice of the Ancients and the Moderns 
are not the fame Plant, but two diftind Species ; 
though both are included under the fame Genus. 
The Liquorice of the Ancients Y\ vxvpjtig#;. Diofc . 
Theophras) differs from our in having 
a prickly Fruit and many Pods growing together 
in Cluflers, with a Root, not fmall and creeping 
like common Liquorice, but as thick and long as 
the Arm, fhooting perpendicularly into the Earth, 
the gaftrick Juice being too much diluted with Serum, and defti- 
tute of a fufficient Stock of Spirits, becomes as it were vapid 
and unfit for the Office of Digeftion : or, at other Times, it oc- 
cafions a bad Digeftion, by being over-loaded with fulphureous, 
faline, acrid, or acid Particles. Now thefe Caufes, fo different 
from each other, though they may produce the fame Effect, 
require notwithftanding a different Method of Cure. There- 
fore, before we venture to give thefe Remedies, wq ought to 
confider what is the Caufe why Conco&ion is not duly performed. 
For if the Fault be owing to an hotDiftemperature, an inflamma- 
matory Difpofition of the Membrances, ora convulfivc Tenfion 
or Spafms of the nervous Fibres, then Aromaticks are not only 
ufelefs, but even prejudicial in the higheft Degree : and hence it 
is, that in melancholick and hypochondriack Affedions they do 
Mifchief, and oftentimes bring on a Dropfy. Wherefore, as 
Wallteus very jufty cautions, when we give aromatick Stoma- 
chicks, we ought to be exceeding careful in obferving the Urine ; 
for if this be diminifhed in Quantity, or changed in Colour, fo 
as to become foul or red, thefe Medicines muit immediately be 
laid afide ; becaufe an AJ cites is then approaching. But in a cold 
Diftemperature of the Stomach, or a vapid State of its Juices, 
thefe Things are given to great Advantage, efpecially with the 
inflammable Spirits of Wine, Juniper, &c. They are equally 
proper alfo when the Tone of the Stomach is relaxed, but chiefly 
fuch as are bitter or in fome Degree aftringent. Moreover, 
when the gaftrick Juice is too thick, aromatick Subftances, by 
inciding the vifcid Lymph and ftimulating the Fibres, may be 
of Service ; yet in this Cafe Diluters are preferable. Thefe 
Particulars ought to be duly attended to in giving Stomachicks. 
C 3 and 
