An entire body of philosophy according to the principles of the famous Renate Des Cartes in three books, (I) the institution ... (II) the history of nature ... (III) a dissertation of the want of sense and knowledge in brute animals ... / written originally in Latin by the learned Anthony Le Grand ; now carefully translated from the last corrections, alterations, and large additions of the author, never yet published ... by Richard Blome.

CHAP. II. Of the Virtues and Efficacy of Plants.

I. Some Vege∣tables are endued with a warming, and others with a cooling vir∣tue. SOME Vegetables have a Warming Virtue, and a power to dilate Bodies, as Coleworts or Cabbage, Capers, Cinamon, Radish, Onions, Rocket, &c. others have a power of Cooling Bo∣dies, and drawing them together, as Barly, Cow∣cumber, Purslan, &c.

The warming virtue that is in Plants consists in this, that their thinnest particles surrounded with the subtil matter, do enter the Pores of the Bodies, and do so penetrate them, and agitate their parts, as to dissolve their texture, and interrupt their continuity. And therefore from this hindered course of the subtil matter, a kind of contest or variance ariseth, and consequently a greater heat, and agitation of the Parts. As may be seen in the mixture of Spirit of Vitriol and Oil of Tartar, which produceth an Ebullition or effervescence, be∣cause the accustomed motions of them both are disturbed, and one of them exerts its force upon the other. Again there are other Vegetables which produce Cold, whose insensible particles are of such a make, that they are able to hinder, or lessen the agitation of the parts of our Body. Thus Purslan and Barley are said to be Cold, because their par∣ticles are not easily discust by the subtil matter, and because they either altogether stop, or allay the motion of the Vital Spirits. And consequent∣ly we may conclude, that the greater particles of the subtil matter are predominant in warm Bodies, but the lesser and weaker in cold ones, because these are less agitated, and more easily reduced to Rest.

II. The diffe∣rence or se∣veral de∣grees of coldness in Plants. Amongst Vegetables, some are cold in the 1st, others in the 2d, others in the 3d, and others again in the 4th Degree. Coldness in the 1st be∣longs to Roses, Violets, Mallows, Barley, Prunes, &c. In the 2d to Sorrel, Lettice, Plantan, Gourds, Oranges, &c. In the 3d to Opium, Poppy, Pur∣slan, &c. In the 4th to Meconium or the juice of the Heads of Poppy and Hemlock, which latter by its extream coldness extinguisheth Life, by stop∣ping the circulation of the Blood.

III. Why some Vegetables provoke Lust. Beans, Asparagus, the Roots Satyrion, Parsnips, Rice and such like, do provoke Lust, and encrease Seed.

For Seed consists of Blood that hath been ve∣ry well concocted and strained, and the fore-men∣tioned Vegetables have the power of agitating, loosening, and so disposing the Organs▪ appoint∣ed for the generation thereof; that as soon as the Blood comes to those parts, it is readily strained through them, and by this means the quantity of Seed is encreased. Amongst these Earth-nuts or Pig-nuts may also be ckon'd, as producing the same effect. But on the contrary, Lettice, Anice, Hemlock, Purslan and the Seed of Rue diminish Seed, because they, with their particles do obstruct the Pores of those wonderful Strainers; and be∣sides, by thickning the Blood, make it less fit to be strained.

IV. How Pur∣slan restores our Teeth when set on Edge. Purslan cures the Teeth when set on Edge, and restores the Gums to their natural disposition, when by the eating of any sour or harsh things, they are drawn together.

The Reason is, because this Numbness of the Teeth proceeds from the particles of sour Bodies, which penetrating through the Gums, draw toge∣ther the Jaw-bone, and consequently the Teeth themselves. And forasmuch as Parslan aboundeth with Clammy Juice, which as soon as it comes in∣to the pores of the Gums, the foresaid sour and sharp particles stick to them, and are carried off by the Spittle. Salt is also said to produce the same effect; for when we rub our Teeth with it, it opens the pores of the Gums, whence the Spittle flowing in great abundance, carries those sharp Bodies along with it. Thus the Root of Pellitory of Spain, is often with good success held in the Mouth by those who are troubled with the Tooth∣ach, because it draws the humours powerfully into the Mouth together with our Spittle. For it causeth a kind of Salivation, being held in the Mouth only, which may it be it would do both for a longer time, and more copiously, in case it were taken inward∣ly in a small, but often repeated Dose.

V. How some Vegetables make Bo∣dies hard, and others make them soft and flexible. Some Vegetables make Bodies hard and solid; whereas others make them soft and flexible.

Bodies grow hard by the mixture of some Herbs, when the particles whereof they consist, having before been agitated by heat, and separated from one another, are seized by the Juice of these Vege∣tables; which entring their Pores, and putting a stop to their Agitation, makes them to come nearer to one another; for by the operating of their thin∣ner particles, the remaining become so much the closer united together. And on the other hand hard Bodies become flexible, when their particles being separated by heat, a forrein moisture get∣ting between them, keeps them at a distance, and by its interposition makes them flexible. For the softness or pliableness of any Body consists in this, that its parts are divided from one another, and have something running between them. Amongst those Vegetables that are endued with a consolida∣ting virtue Thorough Wax is one.

VI. Wherein the Diure∣tick Virtue of Vegeta∣bles doth consist. Some Herbs are endued with a Diuretick Virtue, as the Roots of Fennel, Saxifrax, Smallage, Ju∣niper Berries, Nettles, Bitter Almonds, and the like, which provoke Urin.

This faculty in these Plants proceeds chiefly from their heat, because their particles are easily agitated by the subtil matter. For seeing that ob∣structions are the cause of the retention of Urin, these are endued with a penetrative power, and consequently are proper to remove those obstru∣ctions which stop the free course of Urin. For en∣tring into the pores, they attenuate and cut the tough Flegm, and dissipate the grains of Gravel, which before, by means of some slimy moisture stuck together, and carry them off. So that the pores of the Kidneys being loosned by this com∣motion, the matter contained in them becomes dis∣solved, and easily passeth through them in order to its evacuation by urinary passages. And the case is much the same with those Herbs that move Womens Courses, by thinning and diluting their stagnating Blood, such as Saffron, Penny Royal and Sage, because by their heat they open the ob∣structions of those vessels by which the Blood is conveyed to the Womb. And accordingly we find by experience, that almost all Diuretick Plants are hot, as Rhadish, Rocket, Cinamon, &c.

VII. Dandelion and Sesel∣••m provoke Ur••n. Dandelion is reckon'd amongst Diuretick Plants, which by opening of the obstructions of the Me∣seraick Veins, conveys a greater quantity of Urin into the Bladder, than little Children are able to contain, and so makes them let go their Urin when they are asleep in their Beds: And therefore the name of Pissabed is also given to this Herb. So likewise the Decoction, Juice and distilled water of Seseli or Hart-wort, or the Seed of it in Pow∣der is very efficacious for the moving of Urin, breaking of the Stone and expelling it; and is to that purpose exhibited to Infants as well as grown Persons.

VIII. Why some Herbs cure Griefs and VVounds. Some Vegetables have an Anodyne Virtue, that is, such as mitigates the pains of the Flesh, and heals Wounds.

All Adstringent Plants are endued with this vir∣tue, and which consist of Particles like to those of Alome; which entangling together, and penetra∣ting the inward parts, do suck and draw out the hurtful and superfluous moisture from them; by which means the part is disposed to admit and re∣ceive its due and proper Aliment, so that the Wound by degrees is filled with new Flesh, and so brought to a Scarr.

IX. Of Vulnera∣ry Plants. Amongst Vulnerary Herbs are accounted Ad∣ders Tongue, which is an excellent Wound-herb, whether inwardly taken, or outwardly applied. The Green Leaves of it do conglutinate Wounds and cure those that are troubled with Ruptures: It is exhibited in the distilled water of Horsetail for the healing of inward Wounds: And some Physi∣cians assure us, that the Powder exhibited for ma∣ny days together cures all manner of Ruptures. The Herb called Ladies Mantle, is also an excel∣lent Traumatick or Wound-herb, it heals, dries, ad∣stringeth, stops bleeding, and stops the Whites and Courses of Women. The Leaves, Top and Root of this Herb is often added to vulnerary Potions, Plai∣sters and Ointments.

X. Of the use of Styptick or Adstrin∣gent Herbs. Thus Marsh mallows, Wheat, the Root of White Lillies and Camomile do asswage pain; and St. Johns Wort, Mastick, Barley-flower and Birth∣wort do restore the Flesh in a Wound or Ulcer. Thus Plantan, Pomgranate-shells, &c. have a Glu∣tinating Virtue, because they are Styptick or Ad∣stringent, and consist of such particles which en∣tangle one another, and pressing upon the part that lies under them, do as it were squeeze the superflu∣ous moisture of it.

XI. Poppies and Quinces are endued with a vir∣tue te stop fluxes of Blood. Poppies, Quinces, the Juice of Pomegranates, and other such like, stop fluxes of blood.

The Reason is, because the particles of these Bo∣dies insinuating themselves into the Pores, do di∣vide the agitated particles of the blood, and by in∣terposing themselves, make a separation between them: So as by this means they are no longer so much agitated as they were, and by this means come closer together. Or else the cause of this effect may be, because the Juice of Pomegranates, for instance, lying upon the mouths of the Veins and Arteries, obstructs their narrow passages, and doth not suffer the Blood to come forth. For we find by experience, that the efflux of blood is stopt by cold; as when in the bleeding of the Nose we apply cold water to our Temples or Nostrils, or a plate of Iron or a Key to the Nape of our Necks.

XII. Of Styptick or Adstrin∣gent Plants Horsetail is a powerful Adstringent, and is ac∣cordingly used with great success in spitting or vo∣miting of Blood, stops excessive blood-fluxes, and all othes fluxes of the Belly: For which purpose either the Herb it self may be taken in powder to the weight of one Dram, or of the decoction of it in Wine four Ounces, Morning and Evening, or if three Spoonfuls of the distilled water be drunk for two or three days together. Much the same virtue is also found to be in the Herb call'd Great-water-dock, all the parts whereof, Stalks, Leaves, Flowers, Seeds, but more especially the Roots, do very powerfully adstringe, harden and conglutinate. And therefore this Herb succesfully puts a stop to, and heals all putrefying spreading Sores, as the Rose, whether whole or ulcerated, Ringworms, Fretting, Evils, Gangrenes, &c. And stops all manner of Fluxes of Blood whether of Emrods, or of Womens Courses.

XIII. VVhy some H••rbs en∣crease Milk. Some Herbs conduce much to the encrease of Milk, as Fennel, Poly-mountain, Milkwort, &c. Others encrease Seed, as Sparagus, Pine-nuts, Rice, &c.

The former of these help to encrease Milk, be∣cause they nourish much; and therefore being mingled with the Alimental Juice, they open the pores, and remove the obstructions of those passa∣ges through which the Chyle is conveyed to the Breasts. For it is certain, that by a slight strain∣ing only, the Chyle becomes changed into Milk. And the Reason is much the same as to those Herbs which promote the generation of Seed; save only in this one thing wherein they differ from the for∣mer, viz. that they abound with more Salt, and diffuse a greater heat through the Body. By which means the Organs appointed by nature for the ge∣neration of Seed, are more opened, and consequent∣ly give a more free passage to the matter.

XIV. VVhy VVorm∣wood, Bit∣ter Al∣monds, &c. destroy VVorms. Wormwood, Bitter Almonds, Hartshorn Philoso∣phically calcin'd, &c. kill Worms and expel them out of the Body of Men.

The Reason is, because these Simples are bitter: For Worms delight only in things that are of a sweet taste, and with which they are nourished, as well as they were generated at first from them. For bitter things consist of rough particles, and which on all sides are surrounded with prickles, and consequently entring into the soft and spungy Bodies of Worms, they rend and tear their inwards. And by this means the Worms are killed, or avoid∣ing the said bitter things, are expell'd by Stool, or sometimes tending upwards, are voided at the Mouth or Nostrils. Corallina or the Sea-moss that grows upon Coral is very famous for its efficacy in destroying Worms and expelling them, being gi∣ven in Powder mixt with Wine, Milk, or the ex∣tract of Cassia, to the quantity of half a dram to Children under 14 years of age, and to those who are elder to the quantity of a whole dram.

XV. How the qualities of the Herbs that Ani∣mals ••eed upon, come to be com∣municated to their Milk. Nurses Milk oft partakes of the Odor and Taste of the Herbs they have eaten: And it is notorious that Cows according to the difference of the Herbs they feed upon, do give a different Smell, Taste and Colour to the Butter that is made of their Milk.

The Reason is, because the Milk is made imme∣diately of the Chyle, and not out of the Blood, which hath been formerly the common opinion. For the Chyle is carried from the Stomach to the Breasts, and by some particular passages is carried from the Guts to the Receptacles of Milk. This is confirmed by the daily practice of Physicians, who give Purges to Nurses, when their Nurslings stand in need of being purged, because the purging quality of the Medicin is communicated from the Chyle to the Milk; but not to the Blood, which takes a much longer circuit through the windings of the Heart and Arteries, and undergoing several changes, cannot possibly retain the Cathartick Vir∣tue of the Medicines. For how can it be that, when a Nurse drinks Milk ting'd with Saffron, within half an hour after the Milk in her Breasts should be of the same colour, smell, and Taste, if Milk were made of the Blood, and not of the Chyle, which by some secret and short passages, is conveyed to the Breasts? All which is further confirm'd by that Leaf of Succory which a Surge∣on took out of the Breast of a Roman Matron, and which she had eaten the night before.