C A 
( *1$ ) C A 
felves preferring them be- 
fore their own Country- 
men, when they labour un- 
der thofeDifeafes that reign 
in the Eajl-Indies. They 
are very excellent Bota- 
nift^, admirably skill’d in 
the Nature and Ufe of 
Plants ; and having an 
extraordinary Variety of 
them, have improv’d Gale- 
nical Phyfick to a very 
great height. I do not 
underftand that they are 
acquainted with any of the 
Chymical Ways, of iepa- 
rating the pure from the 
impure Parts ; nor are they 
acquainted with the ufe of 
Minerals : But as they are 
nourifh’d by the Product of 
the Earth, fo they are cured 
by the Off-fpring thereof : 
Not feedinguponany Ani- 
mal kill’d for their tife, 
fearing they fhould eat 
fome of their Anceftors, 
becaufe they hold aTranf- 
migration of Souls. This 
Root, rho’ it might ferve to 
Aromatize their Diet, and 
is certainly a good Stoma- 
chick, yet they ufe it only 
Medicinally ; and that in 
fo homely a Way, as is be- 
coming fuch plain and fim- 
ple Men , unacquainted 
with the ConfedKoner’s or 
Apothecary’s Art. They 
cut the Root tranfverfe, or 
crofs-ways ; and having fo 
done, they dry it in the Sun 
with greatCare; and when 
they have Occafion to ufe 
it , they grind it betwixt 
two Stones, adding Water 
to it ; after the manner of 
Painters grinding theirCo- 
lours : Being reduc’d here- 
by to the Confiftence of an 
Eledtuary, theyadminifter 
two or three Drams of it 
at a time to their Patients. 
As to itsQualities, *tis mo- 
derately hot, and very a- 
ftringent. It ccnfifts of ve- 
ry fine Parts ; wrap’d up 
in, and tied to an Earthly 
Matter ; and may be rec- 
kon’d amongft Aromata, or 
Spices. It exceedingly re- 
cruits the Animal and Vital 
Spirits; and may well be 
imagin’d to be apparative. 
by the Experience I have 
had of it, 1 find it admira- 
bly to agree with the Ani- 
mal Spirits, and a proper 
Remedy againft their Irre- 
gularities. With Spirit of 
Wine I have drawn a good 
Spirit from ir, and with 
the remaining Faeces made 
a very good Extra# ; and 
conceive, 
