420 A Treatise on 
The Ancients ufed to preferve and make up their 
Medicines with Honey. Aftuarius , feems to be 
the firft Phyfician who fubftituted Sugar in its 
Room. 
Sugar taken moderately with Food affords a pret- 
ty laudable Nourifhment. For we are allured that 
Swine by feeding upon the bruifed Canes, from 
which the Juice has been expreffed, grow furpri- 
zingly fat, and that their Flelh is fo tender and fa- 
voury, that it is preferred to Capon. If a Lump of 
Sugar be taken at the End of a full Meal, it helps 
Digeftion. 
Almoft all Phyficians commend it for Diforders 
of the Breaft and Lungs. To foften the Acrimony 
of Phlegm, to quiet Coughing, and to correct the 
Roughnefs of the Throat and pulmonary Tubes, 
it is ordered to be held in the Mouth ’till diffolved 
by the Spittle ; for thus it covers the Membranes of 
thofe Parts, and defends them from the acrid 
Phlegm. It promotes Expedtoration, efpecially if 
made into Syrup, and mixed with Oil of Almonds 
or Linfeed. Being taken in the fame Manner it al- 
lays colic Pains, and the Gripes of Children. 
Drinks prepared from Sugar cleanfe the Bread:, 
appeafe Coughs by fcouring away the Phlegm, 
cure Hoarfenefs, deterge Ulcers of the Lungs, 
provoke Urine, loofen the Belly, and are ferviceable 
in the Pleurify and Peripneumony. 
But if Sugar be taken alone and in over large 
Quantities, it is hurtful, particularly to cholerick 
Temperaments: For in thefe it ferments more 
ftrongly in the Stomach and Inteftines, excites 
Wind, and, by fermenting with the Bile, attenu- 
ates and renders it more duid : For which Reafon 
Sugar and fweet Things are faid to produce Bile. 
Doubtlefs the Bile being loaded with the faline Spi- 
cula of Sugar becomes more acrimonious : Whence 
