404 -^Treatise on 
The oriental People commend this Maflication 
againft an offenfive Breath, to ftrengthen the Teeth 
and Gums, to fortify the Stomach, to flop Vomit- 
ings and Loofenefies, to raife the Appetite and help 
Concodlion. But the Mouth after chewing it has a 
very filthy Appearance, as if it were befmeared 
with Gore. 
Catechu or Japan Earth, when pure and without 
the Mixture of Aromaticks, is moderately aftrin- 
gent, corroborates the Teeth and Gums, heals the 
Thrufh and Ulcerations of the Mouth, cures the 
Quinfey and fwellingof the Tonlils, flays fpitting of 
Blood, reflrains Catarrhs, is ferviceable againft 
Coughs and Hoarfenefs, foftens the Acrimony of 
the Lymph, flrengthens the Stomach, helps Di- 
geflion, flops Loofenefies, the Diabetes and He- 
morrhages, and abates the Menfes when immoderate. 
Wedelius in the Ephemer. German, gives an Account 
of a young Man, who by the Ufe of this Medicine 
was cured of a Hernia varicofa . 
With Refpedl to the too large Dofe of Japan 
Earth, I am of Opinion that nothing is to be feared, 
for Pieces of it may be held conflantly in the Mouth, 
frefii ones being fubflituted as faft as the others dif- 
folve without any bad Confequence. It is to be ob- 
ferved, that the fmaller the Pieces are the more 
agreeable they are found to the Palate. They are 
generally taken about as big as Anifeed, or Corian- 
der-feed. 
It is ufually given in Subfiance, under the Form 
of a Bolus or Tablets, froni 9fs. to sfs. Wedelius 
draws a Tinclure from it thus, 
Take of Japan Earth powdered q. v. pour upon 
it fix or eight times its Quantity of rectified 
Spirit of Wine i fet them to digefl together, 
and when the Tindure is drawn, pour it off 
gradually 
