i Treatise on 
The Arabians in general account them purgative, 
though fome Writers would deny that this Virtue 
belongs to them ; who perhaps never experienced 
their Efficacy in a fufficient Dofe. We muft in- 
deed acknowledge that they are exceedingly mild *, 
and with their folutive Virtue have a gentle Re- 
ftringency, which is found in few other Catharticks. 
They likewife temper the Acrimony of the Hu- 
mours, allay Heat of the Blood and Bile, cure 
acute, ardent, and peflilential Fevers, and the 
Jaundice, extinguiffi Third, Heat of the Stomach, 
Liver, and other Bow r els, and flop Vomiting. Com- 
mon Pradtice has confirmed their Ufefulnefs in the 
Hemorrhoids, Inflammations, Dropfy arifing from 
Inflammation, bilious Loofenefifes, Difeafes of the 
Kidneys, and alfo in a Gonorrhoea ; which is proved 
by the Obfervation of Fallopius , who gave them m 
this Diifeafe with Succefs. 
Further, befides the purgative Virtue inherent in 
themfelves, they are good Corredtors of the fame 
Property in fome more acrid Subftances *, fuch as 
Scammony, the Spurges, Spurge-Laurel, &c. for 
the faline, acrid and oily Parts of thefe are faturat- 
ed, fixed, and rendered lefs adlive, by the eflential 
acid Salt of the Tamarinds. On the other Pland, 
fweet Medicines, which operate (lowly, as Caffia, 
and Manna, are rendered quicker, and their fer- 
mentative Quality is reftraincd, by reafon that 
Acfcls are lefs difpofed to eflfervefcence. Antimonial 
Emeticks are not corredted by Tamarinds, as fome 
imagine ; for this, and all other vegetable Acids, 
are obferved to augment their Force : Which, on 
the contrary, by mineral Acids, is either weakened 
or totally deftroyed. 
In fome Difeafes Tamarinds are accounted fpe- 
cifick, as in ardent and putrid Fevers, Scurvy, 
Diabetes, Diforders in Children from Worms, and 
