The compleat herbal of physical plants containing all such English and foreign herbs, shrubs and trees as are used in physick and surgery ... : the doses or quantities of such as are prescribed by the London-physicians and others are proportioned : also directions for making compound-waters, syrups simple and compound, electuaries ... : moreover the gums, balsams, oyls, juices, and the like, which are sold by apothecaries and druggists are added to this herbal, and their irtues and uses are fully described / by John Pechey ...

N.

CEltick Nard, in La∣tin Nardus Celtica.

It heats and dries, provokes Urine, strengthens the Sto∣mach, and discusses Wind. 'Tis frequently used in Lo∣tions for the Head. It grows frequently upon the Alpes.

Spike-Nard, in Latin Nardus Indica, sive Spica Nardi.

'Tis much of the same Virtue with the for∣mer. 'Tis Hepatick, is good for the Jaundice, and the Stone in the Kidnies. Nard-Oyl is made in the follow∣ing manner: Take of Spike-Nard three Ounces, of Marjoram two Ounces; Wood of Aloes, Sweet-smelling Flag, Elecampane, Cyperus, Bay-leaves, Indian Leaves or Mace, Squinanth, Cardamoms, of each one Ounce and an half; bruise them all grosly, and steep them in Water and Wine, of each fourteen Ounces; Oyl of Olives four Pounds and an half; perfect the Oyl by boyling it gently, in a double Vessel. It heats, attenuates, digests, and binds moderately; and is good for cold and windy Diseases of the Brain, Sto∣mach, Reins, Liver, Spleen, Bladder and Womb.

True English Stinking Dead-Nettle, in Latin Ga∣leopsis.

The Juice of it given with Vinegar, is good for Hemorrhoids, and takes off Warts, and discusses

hard Tumors. A Deco∣ction of it, or the Powder of the Herb, is commend∣ed for Diseases of the Spleen.

Nigella.

The Seed is chiefly in use. It expecto∣rates, increases Milk, and provokes Urine and the Courses. 'Tis good for the Biting of Venomous Crea∣tures, and is reckon'd Spe∣cifick for Quotidian and Quartan-Agues. 'Tis used outwardly in Epithems, and the like, for the Head-ach, and to dry Catarrhs. An Oyl is press'd out of it, which many ignorant Apo∣thecaries use instead of Nard-Oyl. For Catarrhs and a Coriza use the follow∣ing Nodulus: Take of the Seeds of Nigella toasted, of Tobacco, Storax, and Cala∣mint, each one Scruple; of Amber-grease two Grains; mingle them and tie them up in a Rag; let it be of∣ten held to the Nostrils. For the Recovery of Smel∣ling, Take of Roman Ni∣gella a sufficient quantity, powder it, and mix it with old Oyl in a Mortar; lean∣ing the Head back, and the Mouth fill'd with Water, let the Party snuff some of it up into his Nostrils. Take of the Roots of Sow-bread, and of Esula, each one Dram; of the Seeds of Roman Nigella half a Dram, with a sufficient quantity of Hony make a Pessary for the Falling of the Womb. 'Tis an Ingredi∣ent of the Syrup of Mug∣wort of the London-Dispen∣satory.

Nutmeg, in Latin Nux Moschata.

The Tree grows commonly in the Island Banda, situated near the Equator. 'Tis somewhat Astringent, is Stomachick, Cephalick and Uterine; it discusses Wind, helps Con∣coction, mends a Stinking Breath, prevents Fainting, does good in the Palpita∣tion of the Heart, lessens the Spleen, stops a Loos∣ness and Vomiting, pro∣vokes Urine, and quickens the Sight. Nutmeg is of great use in the Bloody-Flux, and other Fluxes; for it has all the Virtues necessary for a Medicine fit for these Diseases. The Oyly Substance of it de∣fends

the Guts from sharp Humours, and eases the Pain; the Aromatick Qua∣lity consisting in the Airy Spirit, penetrates the No∣ble Parts, and comforts them; the Earthy Part binds, dries up Ulcers, and Cicatrises them. Candied Nutmegs are used in all cold Diseases of the Head, for a Palsie, and other Dis∣eases of the Nerves and Womb; besides, they are counted Cordial. They have been used to be brought many Years can∣died from the Indies, and are used for Sweet-meats and Banquets. Delicate People eat the outward Bark when it is green, and they prefer it before the Nut, for it has a curious Smell, and is very agree∣able to the Stomach; but it has been found by Expe∣rience, that the frequent and excessive use, both of the Nuts and Bark, occa∣sions Sleepy Diseases, for they are very Narcotick: Upon which Account, what Tavernier relates is not im∣probable; namely, That when these Nuts are ripe▪ the Birds of Paradise flock together to the Molucca-Islands, to eat them; just as Thrushes flock to France, at the time of the Vintage; but they pay dearly for their dainty Food; for when they have eaten gree∣dily of them, they are seiz∣ed with a Giddiness, and fall to the Ground as if they were drunk; and when they lie on the Ground the Ants eat off their Legs. And Lobelius mentions an Observation of an English Lady with Child that long'd for Nutmegs, and eat twelve of them; upon which shew grew deli∣rous, or was rather intoxi∣cated; but having slept a good while, and Repelling Medicines being applied to her Head, she recover'd. The Wounds of a Soldier were soon cured by eating Nutmegs. Wedelius also commends them for curing of Wounds. John Bauhi∣nus having drunk cold Wa∣ter too freely on the Apen∣nine Mountains, was seiz'd with violent Pains in his Bladder, and his Scrotum was swell'd with the Wind, tho' he never was bursten'd before or after; and when

he thought he should have died by reason of the Vio∣lence of the Pain, his Fel∣low-Traveller gave him Nutmegs, and he eat four of them presently, and, by the Blessing of God, was freed of his Pains. Nut∣megs chew'd and swal∣low'd, do much good for a Palsie of the Parts that serve for Swallowing. An Oyl express'd from the fresh Nuts beat, and made hot in a Frying-pan, is good for the Gripes, and Nephri∣tick Pains, being taken in∣wardly in some hot Li∣quor. Children's Navels being anointed with it when they are grip'd, are eas'd thereby. 'Tis also good for Pains of the Nerves and Joints proceed∣ing from Cold. The Tem∣ples being anointed with it, it disposes to Rest. The best Nutmeg is that which is weighty. Oyl of Nut∣megs is made in the follow∣ing manner: Take sixteen Ounces of good Nutmegs, beat them in a Mortar un∣til they are almost in a Paste, and put them upon a Boulter, cover them with a piece of strong Cloth, and an Earthen Pan over that; put your Cloth over a Ket∣tle half fill'd with Water, and set the Kettle upon the Fire, that the Vapour of the Water may gently warm the Nutmegs; when you find, upon touching the Pan, it is so hot that you cannot endure your Hand upon it, you must take off the Boulter; and putting the Matter into a Linen Cloth, take its four Corners, and tie them quickly together, put them into a Press, between a couple of warm Plates, set the Pan underneath, and there will come forth an Oyl, which congeals as it grows cold; press the Mat∣ter as strongly as you are able, to draw out all the Oyl; then keep it in a Pot well stop'd. This Oyl is very Stomachick, being ap∣plied outwardly, or else given inwardly. The Dose is, from four Grains to ten, in Broth, or some other convenient Liquor. This is call'd Oyl of Nutmegs by Expression, which is an Ingredient in the following Apoplectick Balsam: Take of Oyl of Nutmegs by Ex∣pression

two Ounces, Oyl of Rosemary, Marjoram, Sage, Thyme, Hysop and Angelica, each one Dram; Oyl of Cinnamon half a Dram, of Oyl of Amber half a Scruple, of Oyl of Rhodium one Dram, of the Oyl of Rue, Limons, Oranges and Cloves, each one Scruple; of Peruvian Balsam half an Ounce, of Tincture of Benzoin, of Civet, Chymical Oyl of Nutmegs, of Tincture of Cloves, each half a Dram; of Amber-grease two Drams, of Musk one Dram; put all the Oyls together, in a Glass, for use; the longer they have been mix'd, the better they are: Then take ten or twenty Drops, and grind them with the Oyl of Nut∣megs half an Hour, then drop the same number of Drops as before; get up the Mixture together with a piece of Horn, or with a Knife, then let it stand two Hours to ferment, then put thirty Drops of the Oyls more to it, and grind it with the Mixture half an Hour; cover it with a Pa∣per, and let it stand all Night; in the Morning grind it with the Balsam of Peru for half an Hour, then warm a Brass Mortar and Pestle, and cut or scrape in∣to it your Amber-grease; add to it thirty Drops of your Mixture of Oyls grind them together for a quarter of an Hour, then add thir∣ty Drops more of the Oyls, afterwards put it out on one side of the Stone, and on the other side put the Musk, mix it by degrees, with the Oyls and Amber-grease, till it be all dissolv∣ed; then put to it the Ci∣vet, and grind it with the Musk and Amber-grease for a quarter of an Hour; mix all by degrees with the former Composition, and ferment them two Hours, then put it up, and keep it for use. Take of Alabastrian Ointment, and of Ointment of Roses, each two Ounces; of Opium one Dram, of Saffron one Dram, of Oyl of Nutmegs one Dram; mingle them, and make an Ointment; anoint the Temples and Forehead with it: 'Tis good for the Head-ach. Take of Saffron powder'd

two Scruples, of the Oint∣ment of the Flowers of O∣ranges, and of Oyl of Sweet Almonds, each one Ounce; of Oyl of Nutmegs by Ex∣pression half a Dram; min∣gle them, and make an Ointment: Anoint Chil∣dren's Breasts, in Colds, and other Diseases of the Lungs, with this Oint∣ment.

Nux Vomica.

'Tis Narcotick and Virulent, and worse than Opium. Being powder'd, and mix'd with Meat, it kills Cats and Dogs.