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 ...

Cassummuniar.

To give a Description of the Herb, its Place, its Growth, whether it bears any Flow∣er or Seed, is not in my power; having receiv'd no Account along with it from my Brother, Factor to the Honourable East-In∣dia Company. Only, thus much is most certain; 'tis a Plant esteem'd even by Princes themselves; some part of what I have being taken out of the King of Golconda's Garden, one of the greatest and wealthiest Princes in India. And the Priests, who are the Brack∣mannes of the Pythagorean Sect of Phylosophers, do many and great Cures with it; for which they are much esteem'd, not only by the Natives, but also by Foreign Merchants that re∣side there; the English them∣selves preferring them be∣fore their own Country∣men, when they labour un∣der those Diseases that reign in the East-Indians. They are very excellent Bota∣nists, admirably skill'd in the Nature and Use of Plants; and having an extraordinary Variety of them, have improv'd Gale∣nical Physick to a very great heighth. I do not understand that they are acquainted with any of the Chymical Ways, of sepa∣rating the pure from the impure Parts; nor are they acquainted with the use of Minerals: But as they are nourish'd by the Product of the Earth, so they are cured by the Off-spring thereof:

Not feeding upon any Ani∣mal kill'd for their use, fearing they should eat some of their Ancestors, because they hold a Trans∣migration of Souls. This Root, tho' it might serve to Aromatize their Diet, and is certainly a good Stoma∣chick, yet they use it only Medicinally; and that in so homely a Way, as is be∣coming such plain and sim∣ple Men, unacquainted with the Confectioner's or Apothecary's Art. They cut the Root transverse, or cross-ways; and having so done, they dry it in the Sun with great Care; and when they have Occasion to use it, they grind it betwixt two Stones, adding Water to it; after the manner of Painters grinding their Co∣lours: Being reduc'd here∣by to the Consistence of an Electuary, they administer two or three Drams of it at a time to their Patients. As to its Qualities, 'tis mo∣derately hot, and very a∣stringent. It consists of ve∣ry fine Parts; wrap'd up in, and tied to an Earthy Matter; and may be rec∣kon'd amongst Aromata, or Spices. It exceedingly re∣cruits the Animal and Vital Spirits; and may well be imagin'd to be Aperitive. By the Experience I have had of it, I find it admira∣bly to agree with the Ani∣mal Spirits, and a proper Remedy against their Irre∣gularities. With Spirit of Wine I have drawn a good Spirit from it, and with the remaining Faeces made a very good Extract; and conceive, its Extract made with Fountain-water may be better than the Powder in the Bloody-Flux, for which it is an excellent Re∣medy. The Spirit is good to mix with Cordials. It is a very good Medicine, outwardly used; and will lay Scents better than any thing yet found out. 'Tis much commended by Do∣ctor John Peachie of Glou∣cester, (who wrote this Ac∣count of it) for Apople∣xies, Convulsions, Fits of the Mother, and the like. He used to foment the Head with the Spirit, and to give inwardly the fol∣lowing Medicine: Take of Cassummuniar powder'd two Ounces, of the Con∣serves

of the Flowers of Betony one Ounce; make an Electuary according to Art, with a sufficient quan∣tity of Syrup of Peony: Let the Patient take the quantity of a Nutmeg thrice a Day, drinking up∣on it four Ounces of the following Julap: Take of the Waters of the Flowers of the Lime-tree, and of Black-berries, each half a Pint; of the Compound Spirit of Lavender three Ounces, a sufficient quan∣tity of Syrup of Peony; mingle them. He says, many have been cured of Head-diseases by this Me∣dicine. Mr. Marlow, in King-street, near Guild-Hall, an excellent Apothe∣cary, and a curious Man, shew'd me Cassummuniar, and confirm'd the Use and Virtues above-mention'd.