I. '"p HE Names. It is called by the Arabians , 
-L Afaron ; in Greek, ' l Acm(yvj Netf<r©- dyeict- 
in Latin, Afarum , Nardus Sylveftris, , Nardus Rufli- 
ca ( becaufe of its Aromatick or Sweet Smell • ) by 
Macer, Vulgago , as by his Verfe, Eft Afaron Greece, 
Vulgago diffa Latine quod Vulgam vel Bu/gam feu 
Ventrem move at : and in Eng/ijh , Afarabacca. I fup- 
pofe our Enghft) Name came by a mi hake, taking 
this Plant 'for Baccharis or Plowmans Spicknard , 
which it is not ; and fo out of the two names, of 
Afaron and Baccharis , they made the name ok Afa- 
rabacca. Others thought Afarton and Baccharis to 
be one Plant, and .&> compounded the name out of 
them both , and called it Afarabaccara , as it is cal- 
led in Spain at this day. 
II. The Kinds. It is twofold, i. Garden. 2. Wild. 
of which in the next Chapter. The Garden kind is 
alfo twofold, i .Afar urn horror urn Vulgar e, Common 
Garden Afarabacca. 2. Afarum Virgimanum , Vir- 
ginian Afarabacca. 
jfsATCLhaccCL . 
III. The Defcriptions. Our Common Garden Afa- 
rabacca has J mall Roots , and wbitifh, fpreading many 
ways in the Ground, and increafing into divers Heads, 
but not running or creeping under Ground, rut many 
other creeping Herbs do ■, they are fweet in Smell , 
rejembling Spicknard, but more when they are dry, 
than when green, and of ajharp, but not unpleafant, 
tajte : jrom thefe Roots rife up many Heads, from 
whence comes many fmooth Leaves, every one upon 
his own Loot -ft a Ik, which are fmoolher, rounder, and 
bigger than Violet Leaves , thicker alfo, and of a 
darker green fining colour on the upper fide, and of 
a paler yellow green underneath, little or nothing 
dented about the edges -, from among which, rife up 
ro ftnd, hollow, brownifh, green Husks, upon 
Stalks of about an Inch long, divided at the brims 
mb five diviftons, very like the Cups or Heads of 
the Henbane Seed, but that they are f mailer : and 
thefe are all the Llower it hen, which being fmelPd 
unto, are fomewhat fweet ■ and wherein, when they 
are ripe, are contained fmall covered rough Seeds 
very like the Kernels or Stones of Grapes or Rai- 
fins. 
1 ^ • T 7 ;<? Virginian Afarabacca, grows very like the 
former ■ but ,/s Roots ore fomewhat greater , and 
fuller of fubfiance, Spreading in the fame manner , 
and Jomething more fragrant, and a link hot in 
tajte, hung a little the Tongue: Tom this Root 
Springs up the Leaves as the former, but they are 
a pretty deal larger, Jlijf alfo, and thick, fomewhat 
crumpled about the edges, of a dark green colour 
and not fo much Jhtning as the former ; nor yet fo 
round, but a little pointed at the end, very much re- 
jembling the flat Jhape of an Heart ■, feme of winch 
Leaves mil be Spotted or jlraked. The Flowers have 
but three dwijions or points, and of a paler green 
colour. 
V. The Places. The fiift grows naturally Wild 
under the (hades of Trees, and upon (hady Hills in 
Pom us, Phrygia, and other places of rheEalt: The 
other grows Wild in Virginia ; but they are both of 
them Nurft up in Gardens with us ; of which the 
hrlt is very common. 
VI. The Times. They both keep their Leaves 
green all the Winter, but (hoot forth new in the 
Spring ; and with them come forth thofe Heads or 
flowers, which give ripe Seed about Mtdfummer ■ 
or in July or Auguft, whofe Seed is ripe not long 
alter : but their Roots and Leaves are gathered in the 
Spring. 
VII. The Qualities. They are hot and dry in the 
fecond Degree, or rather in the third. They Open 
Incide, Attenuate, and Refolve, and are Cathartick’ 
Emetick, andDiuretick ; and are appropriated to the 
Head, Stomach, Liver, Spleen, Reins, Womb and 
Joints. 
VIII. The Specification. It is a peculiar remedy 
tor the Dropfie, Jaundice and Gout = as alfo for Agues 
of all forts. ° 
IX. The Preparations. In the Shops there are 
The Roots in Ponder. 2. The Leaves in Wine 
?, An Infufton. 4. A DecoSion. y. An Extra 3 . 
6 . An Ejjence , 7. Jhiafarum Fernelij, an FJechiary 
8 . A Saline TinUure 9 . An Oil by Info/at, on. 
ro. ACalaplafm. u. The Juice. 12. JtConferve. 
The Virtues. 
X. The Roots. They Vomit, working both up-' 
wards and downwards, but not fo Ilrongiy as the 
Leaves . Dole from half a dram to j. dram in Pou- 
der : Being given in White Wine, a little before the 
lit of an Ague, it takes away the lhaking Fir, and 
thereby caufes the hot Fit to be more remifs and 
m twice or thrice taking, it is laid to cure it, whe- 
ther it is Quot id, an, Tort tan or Qitartan. Diofcorides 
fiith, that vj. drams of the Root in infhfion iii honied 
water, being drunk, powerfully provoke the Terms - 
I fear the Dofe is very much too large in fubfiance" 
lij. or iv. drams may beinfufed in the Mead andfo 
dnmk 1 Parhnfon fays, it will work like Black Hel- 
lebore It is good alfo againft the Bitings of Ser- 
pents, and other Venomous Creatures. The Pouder 
the finer it is, the more it purges by Vomit and 
Urine •, the coarler it is, the more it purges by 
Dofe j. dram in Pouder, as Authors fay. 
XI. The Leaves. Wine being made of the Leaves, 
by Iteeping them therein, is an Emetick, and pro- 
vokes Urine, as Diofcorides faith, eafes the Pains of 
the Stone, and an old Sciatica, and is profitable a- 
gainft Dropfies. Mefue fays, it not only Vomits 
but works downwards, and by Urine alfo, purging 
both 
