'Theatrum Botanicum , 
i6z Chap. 4. 
TrI B 
E.2. 
Cucomu Sylveflris. 
The Wilde Gowcumber# 
it that touched it: thefeede being ripe, isblackifh and fome- 
what rugged, but otherwife white, lying in agreene moyd 
fubdance, very bitter and loathfome to fade : the roote 13 
white, and firme, thicker, and fhorter, than in any other fort 
of Gourde or Cowcumber, with fome fibres thereat, very bit¬ 
ter as is all the reft of the plant. 
The Place. 
It groweth naturally wilde in Italy, asU Watthio/us faith, fra 
many places by the way fides; and in untilled and moorilh pla¬ 
ces, we onely preferve it in gardens, throughout the whole 
Land, where it is ufed. 
The Time. 
The roote hereof doth often abide in the ground, all the win¬ 
ter long, if it fiand reafonably defended, or the ground be rich 
with foyling, fhooting then forth leaves betimes: in other col- 
dergrounds not defended, they perifh every yeare: the fruite 
K, is ufually ripe in Augnft. 
’ The Names. 
It is called in Greeke <&«< ij*©-, in Latin R Cummer & Cud 
currns agrelHs. or afinimu , as many writers doe, or anguinus , as 
Turner and Cerate* , but not properly: Matthiolus, Train* 
Dodonatis , and fome others, call it Cucnmis fylvefiris, The 
dryed or hardned juyceofthe fruit, is called, Elatcrtttm, Gated 
tranfiating Theophraflus called: it Agitatoruem, 
The Venues. 
The rcotes hereof and the dryed Joyce of the fruite, artifici¬ 
al and not rudely prepared, which is called EUterium, are 
chicfely ufed in medicines and fcarfe any other part: Concer¬ 
ning EUterium, there is difference betweene Theofhrapu and 
Thofeoride, , of the age, and durability, and in extinguifhino or 
encreafing the flame of a Jampe or candle. Theophraflus in "the 
ninth booke and foureteenth chapter of his hiltory of Plants 
faith EUterium is the moil durable medicine of all others and 
, , , - . , . , . „ . aurame medicine or all others and 
that the bed, is the elded; for as he faith,a Phyfition of diffident credit, kept by him fome EUterium, that’was 
200 yeares old, which he received of one as a gift; which notwithftanding the age, was of wonderfull vertue 
and untill it was 50 yearesold.it was foaboundant in humidity, that put tothe'flameofalampe or candle it 
would put it out. And Diofiendes daith that EUterium, is fit to be ufed as a purging medicine, from two vea’res 
old, untill it betaine, and that is the bed, which being put to the flame of a lampe or candle, will make it 
borne the more bright. WntoTheophraJlm, Pliny fubferibeth the fame thing, and faith that it is found true bv 
experience, that untill it be 5 0 yeares old, it will caufe a lampe or candle, to fpertle hither and thither before it 
put it out; whereupon cMatthtolue giving credit to the teftimonies of Theophraftue and Pliny is perfwaded 
that the text of Biofccrides is corrupted, but I verily beleeve they both fay true, the reconciliation of their re¬ 
pugnancy, being onely in the manner of making of EUterium. Theophrajim his EUterium being greenc as I 
fuppofe, and made of the fubdance of the inner pulpc of the fruite; yet in the tenth chapter of his found booke 
he faith it is made or the lecdejwhich I never faw,or heard of any to be fo made with inland that of Diofcoride’s 
being white, (which as he faith himfelf is the bed, and condemning the greene,)made onely of the morethinne 
watery, and wheyifh part: McfnesMo faith that the bed is white: my felfe having made of both forts can te- 
uihe.that EUterium, made of the fubdance of the fruite; although very gently prefled through a fine live will be 
greene, and continue moyd many yeares, after it is evaporated and dryed up hard, relenting with the ayre and 
will require many yeares toconfume the humidity therein,when as the other fort, madeofthewhitifh wheyifh 
liquour, thatdroppeth through the five of itowne accord, in the cutting of the fruite, without any’touch of 
prefling, will be white when it is dryed, and fo remaine white.hard and drye, for many yeares, unlefie it be left 
open to the moyft ayre, or hand in a moyd place to caufe it to relent: the greene fort like wife is not of hal fe 
that force or violence, to purge either upward or downeward, as the white EUterium ■ whereof one -maine 
weight diflolved in liquor, worketh forceably in any tender body; yea I have oftentimes feene, that filfe a 
graine weight put into a purging medicine, to quicken the weakeneffe thereof, hath troubled the Aomacke very 
much by callings, and much difquiet, and working alfo downeward with more violence, then it could bee 
thought the whole graine given of it felfe could doe. This narration although fomewhat tedious, 1 was the 
more willing to declare, becaufc I thmke none hath (hewed it before, and my little experience may let anedoe 
unto others, topolilli that which I have here {hewed you, but rough hewen. Thedofeor quantitie thereofta- 
ken at a tim c, D iofcoridcs faith is a whole oboltts, and thcleaft quantitie halfe an oboists, (feme take the oboists to 
weigh 13 graincs.but the mod ufuall is but 10 graines,) which fheweth as I fayd before, the great dofes, which 
the ancients were wont to give of purgers in their medicines, which we dare not follow : It purgeth choler and 
flegme from all parts of the body, and as he faith, is the bed medicine to purge thofe that arc purfie and fhort 
winded: to procure a vomit, he advifeth to diffolve it in water, and withafether dipped therein, to touch the 
lower part of the tongue, as low as you can; but milke or rather crcame which is more unctuous, is fitter touive 
it m, font will not fuffer it todicke to the tunicles ofthe domacke, but will caufe it flippe away the more fpce- 
dily: it helpeth alfo the falling fickneffe, being put into the nodrels with milke, and mixed with honey and old 
oyle, it cureth the Kings evill, being annointed therewith : It bringeth downe womens courles that are dayed, 
and 
