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. II. Of the Description of Scurvygrass. (Book 2)

THe Herb Scurvygrass is of no high growth, but rather low, its leaves at their first springing out are longish, like those of Pyrola, or Winter-green, or the leaves of Ad∣ders Tongue, having many small strings, or stakes, of a moderate length, proceeding from its root; the leaves are shining, flat, thick, fat, a little hollowed, 'tis generally but small: but if it light on a proper soyl not so small, but of a middle size, re∣sembling a shallow Spoon. Sometimes its leaves are Angular, and pointed, its stakes are nine inches long, and sometimes they are a span and half

high, all along which there grows white flowers; its seeds are small, and of a dark red, or rusty brown colour, inclosed in little shells or husks, like the seeds of Water-cresses. The roots are slender and stringy, and of an acide or biting taste: this Herb is like the third sort of water Pimpernel, accord∣ing to Lobel r 1.1; but it chiefly re∣sembles that water Pimpernel with the round leaf, not that which is notched or jagged; wherefore Gui∣landinus, as Bauhinus s 1.2 says, calls this kind of Pimpernel sometimes wa∣ter Plantain, and sometimes he says it appears to be a sort of Scurvygrass. There are some which will have Scur∣vygrass to be a sort of Orpin, because they suppose it hath leaves like Pur∣slain, which is justly disapproved of by Wierus, t 1.3 because Garlick, and Onions, Sampier, land Coltrops, Spurge. Helioscopius, another sort of Spurge, which also hath leaves like Purslain, that is, thick, smooth, fleshy, or pulpy, are of the kinds of Orpine. He adds also many more distinguish∣ing marks: as 1. That Scurvygrass is of a full deep green colour, but Or∣pine

hath blewish leaves, that is ob∣scurely blackish like Plumbago, or the Arsmart of Pliny, Bears-breech, &c. 2. Because the leaves of Scurvy∣grass are bent up like a Spoon, with very small Angles or points. 3. Scur∣vygrass hath only single leaves upon each small stalk, of which many spring from its root: but the stalks of Or∣pin grow higher, and are furnished with more leaves. 4. The stalks of Scurvygrass are sharp pointed, and outwardly round, but Orpin hath stalks that are fat, and round, like Purslain. 5. The Flowers of Scurvy∣grass are always white; but Orpin sometimes white, and sometime yel∣low. 6. They differ in the place of their growth, for Orpin grows not in watry places, but chiefly amongst Vines; but Scurvygrass loves wet grounds, and Fields near the Sea∣shore: In Frisland and Holland it grows of its own accord; and al∣though in our Country we raise it in Gardens, yet it delights in moist ground where it may shed its seed, otherwise it will not grow. 7. They differ in their temper; for Scurvy∣grass

is hot and dry to the second and third degree, and of an eminent Acri∣mony, or biting tast, exceeding that of Water-cresses: but Orpin is not so hot, but only in the first degree; and moreover, it is endowed with a cleansing and detersive faculty (wit∣ness Galen and Dioscorides) from which it cureth the Morphew. What Telephium or Orpin is, is commonly known, it is so named (as is declared in the first Chapter) from Telephus K. of Mysia, who used it to a malig∣nant Ulcer (for which cause such Ul∣cers are called Telephia) with which he was long afflicted, and in which he was wounded by Achilles: but in these, and such like Ulcers, which are almost incurable, Orpin is out-done by the decoction of the leaves, and sprouts of Bramble, or Dogs-berry Bush made with Wine (which is also called Cynosbatus; which as Simon Paulus s 1.4 proves, is the same with Cynorrhodon, or Eglantine) if the Ul∣cers be often washed with it warm, which I have many times experienced in such like Patients; and therefore candidly communicate it to the cour∣teous Reader.

Many of the latter Writers do ab∣solutely affirm our Scurvygrass to be the same with Bistort, which was first discovered to the Roman Souldiers by the Frislanders,* 1.5 or North-Hollan∣landers. This is also mentioned by Dioscorides. t 1.6

It is described by Dioscorides u 1.7 c. l. that it hath leaves like wild Docks, but blacker and more hairy, and of an Astringent taste: and hath a little short Root, and shoots forth small stalks.

But that Scurvygrass is quite diffe∣rent from Bistort, these Reasons fol∣lowing prove. 1. Hitherto in these parts it hath not been known, so that many will have it to be Arsemart; others Bears Ear, and some Moun∣tain Carnations; there are which a∣vouch it to agree in its faculties with Bistort: but Scurvygrass, in these and other Western Countries, is known by every body. 2. Bistort, as ap∣pears by Dioscorides, w 1.8 hath leaves like wild Dock, but blacker, and more hairy, of a binding or astrin∣gent taste; but the leaves of Scurvy∣grass are round, and greener, like As∣serebacca,

smooth, and not at all hai∣ry, nor no way astringent. 3. Bistort hath a slender and short stalk and root; but Scurvygrass consists of ma∣ny small stalks, with only one leaf upon each of them; the root is not so short, but sometimes of the length of a span. 4. Bistort is cold and dry, and therefore endowed with a bind∣ing faculty, from whence it streng∣thens loose Gums, and prevents the falling out of the Teeth; but Scur∣vygrass is of a hot nature, as any may perceive by its biting the lips upon its first touching of them. That it also fastens loose Teeth, is from a∣nother Reason, because it insensibly corrects those thin and cold humours, whose substance is wholly vicious, and offensive, which are lodged about the Teeth. x 1.9 Lobelius says thus of this matter: They in Frisland account Scurvygrass the Brittanica of the An∣tients, they might better maintain this Opinion, if they knew that in Eng∣land by the pleasant River of Thames, (which flows by London, and from thence to Bristol, a Port of the We∣stern Ocean to which it moves, and

by degrees increaseth its Floods) there is another of the same kind, like it in the flowers, seed, and taste, but with leaves not so hollow, or Spoon-like, rather resembling All∣seed, or little Dock, the length of the Leaf is of the breadth of an Inch, to an inch and half, or two inches. It is thick, close, and full of juice, of the taste and colour of the other Scurvy∣grass, with a larger Root, and so all other parts of it proportionable, but less astringent, but no ways conveni∣ently likened to the Bistort, or Brita∣nica of Dioscorides, although like the other sort (viz. the Dutch Scurvy∣grass) it be praised for sore mouths, and the Scurvy with which we have seen many people that were deeply afflicted, cured the last Spring.

Notes

• r 1.1

  Lob. icon. p. 467.
• s 1.2

  Bauh. l. 7. §. 1. Pinac. theatr. Bot. 1. p. 252.
• t 1.3

  Wier de Scor∣but. p. m. 340:
• s 1.4

  Sim. Paul▪ c. l. p. 54.
• * 1.5

  Plin. l. 25. cap. 3.
• t 1.6

  Dios. lib. 4. c. 2.
• u 1.7

  Gal. l. 6. simpl. Med. Paul. Aegin. l. 7. c. 3.
• w 1.8

  Dios. C. L:
• x 1.9

  Lob. in Ad∣vers. p. 122.