Foreign Vegetables. 353 
“ lus or Auxiliary. As a. Stimulus it is given to 
“ gr. ij. or iij. and as the Bafts to gr. xv. or 9j.” 
Laftly, Fallopius puts an End to all Difpute about 
the Dole. “ I advife (fays he) always to adminifter 
<c it in a fmall Quantity, to ferve only as a Spur*” 
By a Spur he means a few Grains added to other 
Purgatives, for Peafants, and others of athletick 
Conftitutions. As for myfelf, I prefcribe the belt 
Scammony, carefully powdered, from gr. ij. or iij. 
to gr. x. or xij. at moil: •, though very feldom, and 
never without fome Solicitude concerning its Ope- 
ration, which is always uncertain. For when the 
Coats of the Stomach and Inteftines are covered 
with a feculent tenacious Mucus , then the Medicine, 
being involved in this Mucus , paiTes through the 
Belly without Action. But, on the other Hand, 
when their Coats are almoft deftitute of Mucus , it 
lodges within the Foldings of the Stomach, or 
Cells of the Inteftines, and adhering to them by 
Means of its refinous Parts, irritates, inflames, and 
•ulcerates the Membranes ; and hence a fmall Dofe 
is fucceeded by a Superpurgation, a Dyfentery, or 
Fenefmus. 
Since Scammony, as we have faid, is a Subftance 
compounded of both Gum and Refin, but fo that 
the Refin greatly predominates, therefore, though 
it diftolves in Water, the Solution is not perfedb, 
becaufe the refinous Part gradually feparates into 
Grumes, and fubfides. For this Reafon it cannot 
be fafely drank diftolved in aqueous Liquors. Where- 
fore it is ufually taken in the Form of a Bolus or 
Pills, and feldom in Potions ; in which it is not 
given, unlefs divided by Spirits, Oils, or Salts. 
To temper the Acrimony of this Drug, and to 
fubdue its other Faults, many Corrections and Pre- 
parations have been contrived, 
A a 
The 
