i6o ^ Treatise on 
full of Worms, of a flrong Smell, or black* they 
are bad. 
The Tree is the Ficus Sativa , Inft. R. H. 662. 
Ficus Communis , C. B. P. 457. It is cultivated in 
Provence , Italy , Spain , and other Countries *. 
Figs, both frelh and dry, are ufed much for 
Food, efpecially in the more fouthern Climates. 
When they are frefh and ripe they are of eafy Di- 
geftion in the Stomach, being fooner concodled 
than any other horary Fruit. Galen tells us, that 
from twenty eight Years of Age, in order to pre- 
ferve his Health, he always abftained from all Sum- 
mer-fruits, except Grapes and Figs perfedlly ripe. 
This Fruit is moderately nutritive, mollifies the 
Belly, and is ferviceable to the Lungs, Kidneys, 
and Bladder, having an abflerfive Quality, and re- 
moving gravelly Concretions. The Blood, how- 
ever, which is produced of Figs, is not the moft ' 
laudable -, and being too frequently ufed they occa- 
fion Flatulencies, hurt the Liver and Spleen, and 
render the Flefh lax, turgid, and flabby. Perfons 
who are liable to Obflrudtions of the Bowels, or 
whofe Belly is over moifl, ought to avoid uflng 
them. It is always proper after eating them, to 
drink plentifully of fome diluting Liquor ; other- 
wife by flopping in the Stomach or Inteflines, and 
corrupting, they may be the Caufe of putrid Fevers. 
The Moderns oftener make ufe of Figs in Me- 
dicines when they are dry. Phyflcians in general 
allow them to be good in Afthmas, Coughs, and 
other Diforders of the Breafl and Lungs : For by 
Virtue of the melleous Juice, wherewith they 
abound, they foften and relax the Belly, and flimu- 
* The Figs which are ufed with us in Medicines come chief- 
ly from Spain and Portugal , where they are cured by dipping 
them firft in fcalding hot Lye, and afterwards drying them in 
the Sun. 
late 
