196 yf Treatise on 
Artic. XI. O/Cubebs. 
Authors have clifputed much concerning Cubebs, 
iome averting they were known to the ancient 
G reeks , others denying it. The former build their 
AiTertions upon the Authority of Avicenna and 
others of the Arabians , who have afTigned to Cu- 
bebs whatever Galen had faid of Ka^nVwv, as if 
they were the fame, notwithftanding we may learn 
from Galen himlelf, that Carpefmm was no Fruit, 
but either a Branch or twiggy Root. This (to 
omit others of the like Nature) is fo obvious a 
Blunder, that it is reafonable to conclude, till bet- 
ter Authority to the contrary be produced, that 
Cubebs were entire Strangers to the Ancients. But 
leaving this Controverfy, we proceed to treat of 
the Cubebs which are now found in the Shops. 
Cubebs Vulgar es , Off. Cubeb <2 or Quabebsi, Arab. 
They are a dry Fruit, or fpherical Grains, like 
Pepper, but fometimes a little larger, having a 
long (lender Foot-Stalk, and a brownifh gray Bark 
which is full of Wrinkles-, though fometimes it is 
fmooth and co~extended with a thin brittle Shell, 
which contains a roundifh Seed of a dark Colour 
on the outlide, and white within. They have a 
lweet, acrid, aromatick Tafte ; but in their Acri- 
mony are much weaker than Pepper, though they 
are perceptible a long Time in the Mouth, and draw 
-forth abundance of Spittle. Two Sorts of them 
come to us (.viz.) the ripe, and the unripe. Thefe 
laft are light, wrinkled, and contain a fmall wither- 
ed Kernel ; the others are fmooth, and perfectly 
full of Kernel, and are therefore the heavier. They 
are brought from Java, an Ifland in the Eaft Indies , 
and the heft are large, heavy and frefh. 
Paid 
