Philofopbical History of Plants. 15 


Bitter, and Penctrant upon the Tongue, or in the Throat, as Daify, Ana- 
gallis,good Cleanfers, That fuch Bodys,principally,are Avodyne, which 
are Yellow, L think, is more than a conceit; Yelks of Eggs, Foenugreekk 
Seeds, Lint-feed Oyl, May-Butyr, Marrow, Pinguedo Humana, Hyof- 
eyamus luteus, Safron, Sulphur, Opium, all Azodywe and Yellow. How 
likewife their Faculties and Qualities may vary their Degrees, either 
differently or together: fo Aloe and Colocynthis, are both Bitter in the 
higheft Degrees yet Aloe, which is alfo sweet, ‘Purgeth more mode- 
rately 5 Colocynthis, which is Bitter, but not Sweet,mott Violently. How 
far the Faculties of Vegetables, as wellas their Qualities, may be Com- 
pounded; where, and which chiefly; as Aftrictive and Purgative in 
Rhabarb. Where this Queftion may be put, Whether divers other, 
and yet more extreme Faculties, as-well asthefe of Aftrictive and Pur- 
gative, may not fomewhere or other be alfofound, or made, to meet: 
whereby the fame Plat, or fome Preparation of it, may be moft Po- 
tent, and yet moft Innocent; the Malignity thereof exerting its Pow- 
er, andthe Virtwe its Soveraignty at the fame time. Andlaftly, what 
Affinity there may be betwixt them; as moft Plats, that are {trong 
Purgatives, and efpecially Vomitories, I think, are alfo Sterzutatory; 
as white Hellebore, Falap, Tobacco : and on the contrary, fuch as are 
Sterwutatory, are fome of the moft proper and moft potent Afedicines 
for the Head} Brain, and Genus Nervofiw, Taken inwardly, as Lilinw 
-convalle, ec. and the like: 
31. §. Thus far a particular obfervation of the Qualities and Fa- 
culties ofthe Contents of Vegetables may proceed, as they are exiftent 
in their Natural Effate. From which, although fomeprobable Con- 
jectures may be made, of their Material and Formal E/fences, and of the 
Caufés of their determinate Varieties, or the Modes of Vegetation ne- 
ceffary thereunto : yet will our Conceptions hereof be more facile,clear, 
and comprehenfive, ifby all other Waysof Obfervation, they be like- 
wife examined, according as Experiment may be applicable to any of 
them. 
32. §. As by Contufions fo fome Plants give their Swel/,not with- 
out Rubbing, or not fo wells as the green Leaves of Stramonium,Scur- 
vygraf, and many more: others lofe it by Rubbing, as the flowers of 
Violets, Carnations, Borage, Gc. others yield it both ways, as Rofé- 
mary, Ge. Sofome Apples mend their Taffe, by Scoaping, and Pears 
by Rowling, efpecially that called the Rowling Pear. 
33. §. By Agitation; which doth that, fometimes, by Force, which 
Digeftiow, doth by Heat: fo any cold Oyl and a syrup being, in a due 
manner, agitated together, of two Fluid bodies will become one Con- 
fiftent, as is known. ‘ 
34. §. By Frigtfailion; how far the Fuyces of Plants, either with- 
out or within them, may be any of them, or fome more than others, fub- 
ject to Cold = and thereby to be deprived of their Asotion or natural 
Confistence, or may fuffer alteration in their Colour, Taffe, or Smell. 
35. §. By Infufion; where I mean Infufion only in Common Wa- 
ters So both CaffiaLignea, and Cinnamon are. a little Mucilaginous 
but the former'moft, Some of the Contents of Plants, may be wholly 
diffolved in Common Water 5 fome but in part,others not at all ; or ve- 
rylittle ; which is proper to fome Milks, as well as Gums. The Co- 
fours, Smells or Taftes they hereupon yield, are found various; and in 
fome 
















































