Foreign Vegetables. 177 
be hurtful, like other Catharticks, whereby in 
general thefe Difeafes are augmented ; forafmuch 
as they proceed either from a fpafmodick Difpofi- 
tion of the Nerves, or of the Membranes, the 
Caufe of which is the Attrition of calculous 
Bodies, or the faline vellicating Quality of the 
Serum offending the Ureters and Bladder. But 
if any Purge be neceffary in thefe Cafes, none cer- 
tainly can be more innocent and ufeful than this. 
Again, fome find Fault with Caffia on other 
Accounts. They tell us, it relaxes the Tone of 
the Stomach, caufes Gripings of the Belly, and 
produces Flatulencies : Wherefore they reckon it 
very improper for moift, hypocondriacal, or fla- 
tulent Stomachs •, and that its Sweetnefs alfo renders 
it noxious in bilious Temperaments. But thefe In- 
con veniencies are eafily obviated, by chufing the 
bed Cafiia, or that of Alexandria , frefti and per- 
fectly ripe j for this occafions no Gripings. But 
the American Sort, the Tafte whereof is lefs agree- 
able, fometimes proves a little painful in work- 
ing ; as does alfo the Alexandrian , when it is either 
immature, or grown four by long keeping. More- 
over if the Stomach be moift, and the Tone of its 
Fibres too lax, it may be mixed to good Advan- 
tage with Rhubarb. As it is a Medicine of a fweet 
Tafte, and flow Operation, no wonder that it 
fometimes ferments and fwells in the Stomach and 
Inteftines, and produces Flatulencies : Which is yet 
an Inconvenience that is eafily provided againft, 
by fubftituting inftead of the Pulp in Subftance, a 
Decodtion of it to be (trained and drank warm ; 
flnce thus it neither occafions Windinefs, nor Belch - 
ings, nor continues fo long in the firft Paflfages. 
We muft further add, that Melancholicks and hy- 
fterical Women have no need to be afraid of ufing 
it, from any Apprehenflons of its exciting what 
N they 
