Foreign Vegetables. 437 
of either Sort predominates, it muft be avoided ; 
and likewife where the Blood is too aCtive, and the 
Bowels over hot ♦, of which Temperament are many 
melancholick, bilious, confumptive, and hyfterical 
People, as the learned Dottor Hecquet , in his MS . 
Treat ife of Purgatives , hath well observed. 
In Decoction or Infufion Agarick hath very little 
Virtue. In Subftance it operates more effectually. 
It is prefcribed in Powder, or prepared under the 
Form of Troches, from 3fs. to ^ils. or 3y. and in 
DecoCtion or Infufion from ^ij. to §fs. 
The Ancients tried to correCt the Faults and In- 
conveniencies of this Medicine by hot Stomachicks, 
and Aromaticks, particularly Ginger; by inciding Sub- 
ftances, as Sal Gem and Oxymel, whereby its Acri- 
mony is blunted. The Moderns correCt it after va- 
rious Ways. Many are afraid of it in Powder by 
Reafon of its Lightnefs, which makes it ftick to 
the Coats of the Gullet and Stomach : They there- 
fore take it in Troches. But who, pray, could 
every fwallow this dry Powder alone ? If it be 
mixed with any Liquor, or Syrup, it will no longer 
cleave to the Membranes of the Stomach, at lead: 
not fo readily. Some, to moderate or exftinguifh 
its emetick and dangerous Quality, burn it : But by 
this Method it is deftroyed, and converted into an 
inert Earth or Coal. Others propofe the refinous 
ExtraCt as preferable to the Powder: But its Tafte 
is very ungrateful and naufeous, and hurts the Sto- 
mach and Inteftines more than the Powder •, lo that 
the Correction is worfe than the Drug itfelf. 
In fine, no Preparation 6f it is fafer than that of 
Troches, wherein its ungrateful naufeous Tafte, and 
its Acrimony fo injurious to the Stomach, are cor- 
rected by Aromaticks. 
Some, by mixing with Agarick different Ingre- 
dients, according to their different Intentions, think 
F f 3 to 
