o &• 
Of the K'itorie ci Plants, 
916 
L IB. 2. 
Bdellium, of thefe, Maftich hath a manifeft binding qualitie : but tough and clammie things are 
much better, which haue no allridt ion at all in them, or very little. 
D For by fuel) binding or aftringent things, violent medicines being reftrained and brideltd do af- 
terward work their operation with more violence and trouble : but Inch as haue not binding things 
mixed with them doealilierworke,and with lefler painc, as be thofe pils which ulmf:s in bis ninth 
booke of Almaiizor calleth llliats : which are compounded of Coloquintida and Scamonv, two of 
the ftrongeft medicines that arc ; and of a third called gum Sagapenc , which through his clarnm i- 
neffe doth as it vveredaube the intrails and guts, and defend them from the harme that rnishr 
comeofeitherof them. - ■ b 
E The which compofition, although it be wonderfull ftrong,and not to be vied without very meat 
neceifitie vrge thereunto, doth notwithftanding eaiily purge, and without any great troubCand 
with lefler torment than mod of the mildeftand gentleft medicins which haue Maftich and other 
things mixed with them that are aftringent. 
F And. for this raufc it is very like that Galen in his firft booke of Medicines, according to the pla- 
ces affedted, would not fuffer Maftich and Bdellium to be in the pilles, which are furnamed Corfu a ■ 
the which notwithftanding his Schoolemafter rfiuntm was alfo woont before to adde vnto the 
fame. 
G But Coloquintida is not onely good for purgations, in which it is a remedie for the diffineffe or 
the turning fickneffe, the megrim, continuall head-ache, the Apoplexie, the falling fickneffe, the 
fluffing of the lungs, the gnawings and gripings of the guts and intrailes,and other moft dangerous 
difeafes, but alfo it doth outwardly vvorke his operations, which are not altogether to be reie&ed 
H Common oile wherein the fame is boiled, is goodagainft the finging in the cares ,anddeafenes: 
the fame killethand driueth forth all manner ohvormes of the belly, and doth oftentimes prouoke 
to the ftoole.if the nauelland bottome of the belly be therewith annointed . 
I Being boiled in vineger, and the teeth wafhed therewith, it is a remedie for the tooth-acjre as 
Mefttes teacheth. 
K The feed is very profitable to keepe and preferue dead bodies with : efpccially if Aloes and 
Myrrhe be mixed with it. 
L ^ The white pulpe or fpungious pith taken in the weight of a fcrupleopenerh the belly mighti- 
ly, and purgeth groffeflegme,andcho!encke humors. & 
M Ithath the like force if it be boiledandlaid toinfufeinwineorale.and giuentodrinke. 
N Being taken after the fame manner it profiteth the difeafes before remembred, that is the Apo- 
plexie, falling fickneffe, giddinefle of the head, the collicke,loofeneffe of finewesjand places out of 
ioint,and all difeafes proceeding of cold. 
For the fame purpofes it may be vfed in clifters. 
The fame boiled in oile, and applied with cotton or vvooIJ,taketh away the pain of the Hemor- 
rhoides. 
Q. The decoftion made in wine, and vfed as a fomentation or bathe, bringeth downe the defired 
fickneffe. 
Chap. 544. Of usf- zSK'fe lo n> 0 r SYf i l ho n . 
The Kindes, 
>, r - ’Here be diners forts of Melons found at this day, differing very notably infhapeand propor- 
A tion,asalfoin tafte, according to the climate and countrie where they grow .■ but of the Anti- 
ents there was onely one and no more, which is that Melepepo ca lied of Galen, Cueumis, or Galcns Cu- 
cumber : notwithftanding fome haue comprehended the Muskc-Melons vnder the kindes of Ci- 
truls, wherein they haue greatly erred : for doubtleffe the Muske-Melon is akinde of Cucumber, 
according to the belt approued Authors. 
TheDefcnption. 
1 'T’ Hat which the later Herbarifts do call Muske- Melons is like rothe common Cucum- 
1 ber in ftalks,lying flat vpon the ground,long, branched, and rough. The Jeaues be much 
alike, yet are they letter, rounder, and not fo cornered: the floures in like manner bee 
yellowithe fruit is bigger, at the firft fomwhat hairy, fomthing long, now and then fomwhatrqund ; 
oftentimes greater, and many times leffer : the barke or rinde is of an ouerworne ruflet greene 
colour. 
