Blagrave's supplement or enlargement to Mr. Nich. Culpeppers English physitian containing a description of the form, names, place, time, coelestial government, and virtues, all such medicinal plants as grow in England, and are omitted in his book, called, The English-physitian, and supplying the additional virtues of such plants wherein he is defective : also the description, kinds, names, place, time, nature, planetary regiment, temperature, and physical virtues of all such trees, herbs, roots, flowers, fruits, excrescencies of plants, gums, ceres, and condensate juices, as are found in any part of the world, and brought to be sold in our druggist and apothecaries shops, with their dangers and corrections / by Joseph Blagrave ... ; to which is annexed, a new tract for the cure of wounds made by gun-shot or otherways, and remedies for the help of seamen troubled with the scurvy and other distempers ...

The Lemon-tree, or Lemons.

Names.] THere are several sorts of Lemons, some great, others small; some having very thick and rugged peels, and some very smooth; some are of a wild juice, others sharp, and some very tart and crabbed: which alterations may be made both by the Soil, and place where they grow or are planted.

1. The ordinary Lemon-tree is called Malus Limonia, acida, vulga∣ris.

2. Malus Limonia, acida, cortice tenui; the thin rin'd sower Le∣mon.

3. Malus Limonia, acida, fructu rotundo; The sower round Le∣mon.

4. Malus Limonia, dulcis, major; The greater sweet Lemon.

5. Malus Limonia dulcis minor. The lesser sweet Lemon, or Civil Lemon.

6. Malus Lemonia Silvestris minima. The least wild Lemon-tree.

Descript.] 1. The ordinary Lemon-tree groweth great and high, with great Arms and slender branches, with long greenish thorns, the leaves are long like unto Bay-leaves, but dented about the edges, and full of holes: the flowers are white and sweet, the fruit long and round, of a pale yellow colour, and the rind rugged and uneven; the juice is sharp.

Descript.] 2. All the difference between this and the former, is this; that the other is bigger, the rind is of a fine pale, yellow colour and smoother then the other, and thinner full of a pleasant sharp juice, with seeds amongst it as the other hath.

Descript.] 3. The tree that beareth the round Lemons, is in all things like the last, onely in this, that it hath few or no thornes upon it; and the fruit is like it, having a thin rind, but is somewhat rounder, with a small Crown at the head.

Descript.] 4. The greater sweet Lemon is greater then any other of the former Lemons, the rind is more smooth and yellower; and the juice more sweet and pleasant.

Descript.] 5. This Lemon is of the same size as the thin-rinded sower Lemons, and so like that it is hard by the outside to know one from the other but this hath a little deeper coloured rind, and the juice of a sweet pleasant taste, with a little sharpeness.

Descript.] 6. The least wild Lemon, groweth wild in Syria and Egypt; and heareth very smal fruit no bigger then Pigeons Eggs.

Place.] These Lemons are brought unto us from Spain and several of their Islands.

Time.] They hold their leaves on, alwayes green & are never without

blossomes, green, and ripe fruit, at all times throughout the year.

Government and Vertues.] The Lemons are Solar, yet of different parts, and contrary effects; it is of good use to resist poison, Venome or Infection; an ounce and an half, of the juice of unripe Lemons, drunk in Wine, clean∣seth the Kidneys of the Stone and gravel; and kill∣eth Worms in the body and driveth them forth.

An Antidote against the Plague, or any malignant or con∣tagious disease is thus prepared.

Take 4 ounces of the pure juice of Lemons, steep therein an Angel of Gold, or the weight thereof in leaf Gold, the space of four and twenty hours, then take out the Gold, or draw the juice dear from it, and give some of it in a draught of Wine, with a little of the pow∣der of Angelica-root unto any infected with the plague, and if there be any hopes of recovery it will help them. The juice of sweet Lemons is neither so cooling nor operative as the other. The distilled water, drawn from the inner pulpe or white substance of the Lemons, cleareth the skin and Face from Freckles and Spots, provokes Urine, expels the Stone, being drunk; and helpeth the running Scab, kills Lice in the Head, the Worms in the hands or Nose, and Wheals or pushes in the skin: The juice of Lemons is good for Seamen and others in Voyages at Sea, to put into their Beverage to keep them from the Scurvy; whereunto long voyages much subject their bodies, and also to quench thirst in hot Countries: But I need not teach the Seamen to make a bowl of punch, but pray they may at no time want materials.

An excellent remedy for Scabs and Itch.

Take a Lemon and cut it through the middle and cast thereon some fine powder of Brimstone; then rost him either against the fire or under the Embers as you do a Warden-Pear, and therewith rub the parts troubled with Itch or Scabs.

It is also the best most soveraign and clear remedy to destroy those pediculi inguinales, vulgarly called Crab-lice, the parts afflicted with them being rubbed therewith.

Notes

• Venome, Infection
• Stone, Worms
• Freokles, Spots
• Stone, Scabs
• Lice, Wormes
• Wheales