Cochlearia curiosa: or The curiosities of scurvygrass. Being an exact scrutiny and careful description of the nature and medicinal vertue of scurvygrass. In which is exhibited to publick use the most and best preparations of medicines, both Galenical and chymical; either for internal or external use, in which that plant, or any part thereof is imployed. Written in Latine by Dr. Andreas Valentinus Molimbrochius of Lipswick. Englished by Tho. Sherley, M.D. and physitian in ordinary to His present Majesty.

CHAP. V. Of the Qualities and Virtues of Scur∣vy grass.

SCurvy grass is of the Classis of those Plants, which are of a hot and dry faculty h, in the same degree with the third sort of green Water Cresses, and is not unlike it in quality and taste, i Schroderus. In Groen∣land, as it is noted by Simon Paulus Quadripart, Botanic. p. 209. it is al∣most insipid or tasteless. It is indow∣ed with an opening and Diaphoretick power, rendring fixed and crude hu∣mours, volatile and spiritual, and re∣sists putrefaction; from whence it is useful in the obstructions of the Me∣sentery, spleen, and diseases of the Hypocondryes. Therefore Brunne∣rus k sayes, Scurvygrass doth not onely wonderfully mend the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or disorders of the Spleen, but also powerfully opens obstructions, it li∣quefieth, cuts, attenuates, and cleans∣eth Melancholly mixed with Phleg∣metick

humours, and sends them to the Kidneys, and therefore doth happily cure the Cacochymy or vitious juices of the Body, proceeding from swollen, or great spleens, and that chiefly, if the decoction of it be made with whey of Goats Milk. It is pro∣fitable against the Dropsie. It procur∣eth Womens courses. The seed is effectual in expelling by sweat the small Pox, and Measles, Frider. Hoff∣man n. But chiefly Scurvygrass doth powerfully cure the Scurvy and its Symptomes; wherefore it is called Scorbuticorum Levamon. the solace or comfort of the Scorbutick, by Iohan∣nes Iohnston o (a Physitian that will easily be allowed the chief of our Times). Upon what account it doth avail in the Scurvy is taught by Sen∣nertus p. It abounds with a vola∣tile Salt of a certain bitterish Taste, for which cause it opens and pene∣trates those crude, gross humours, and renders them volatile, as the Chy∣mist speaks; It discusseth and purg∣eth by Urine and Sweat; It streng∣thens the Bowels. Almost all modern Physitians do agree, that in the Scorbu∣tick

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humour there abounds a gross and fixed salt, like that which is in smoked and dryed flesh, and this is proved by me in my Tract. de varis seu Arthridite vaga Scorbutica. If this Salt therefore shall be made volatile, it may be discussed and expelled with the more ease, but if the Scorbutick Salt be volatile, as it is in the running Gout, it is further attenuated, and fitted for discussion by the secret pores of the skin, by the volatile Salt of Scurvygrass, or because this Salt (viz. in the Scurvy) is most common∣ly acid, and therefore apt to cause such intolerable pains by the volatile Salt of Scurvygrass, it is drunk in and mortified. The chief Antiscor∣butick power or vertue of Scurvy∣grass is occult or secret, as almost all modern Physitians do agree, as it also appears in my Tractate de varis. Io∣hannes Ioachim Bechorus q describes the vertue of Scurvygrass in these following Verses.

Spoonwort doth marm, and also doth dry, In the Scurvy 'tis a great Remedy,

It sends out all corrupt humors by sweat With this your mouth gargel often, and wet. This Plant which deserves so much of your praise The Apothecaries use six several wayes. It's Spirit, Syrup, Water procures health, So doth its Salt conserve, and th'Herb it self.

Scurvygrass is not onely used in∣wardly, but outwardly also, as you may see hereafter in the one and twen∣tieth Chapter of this Book.

Notes

• h

  Pilleter. Plant Syno∣nym. p. 1152.
• i

  Schrod. Pharm. Me∣dic. Chym. lib. 4. Clas. 1. p. 50.
• k

  Brunn. Cor∣sil. 63. p. 337.
• Schwenkf. C. L. p. 262. Maeb. Epitom. Instit. Med. l. 5. part. 2. § 8. c. 29. p. 662.
• n

  Frid. Hoff. Meth. Med. Wallejan. p. 14.
• o

  Ioh. Iohns. in Notit. regni vegetab p. 302.
• p

  Senn. l. 3. Med. prac••. part. 5. §. 2. Cap 4. p. 613.
• q

  In suo Parnas. Medicin. illu∣strato. p. 324.