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 ...

Tobacco.

Names, Descript.] IT is called Petum and Nicotiana. There have several kinds thereof been planted here in England, which they did manure for Smoaking, but that is now pro∣hibited; I shall only describe one kind which is planted here for its uses in physick and Chirurgery only.

It riseth up with a thick round stalk about two foot high, whereon do grow thick fat fleshy green leaves, nothing so large as the other In∣dian kinds, neither for breadth nor length, somewhat round-poin∣ted also, and nothing dented about the edges: the stalk brancheth forth and beareth at the tops divers flowers, set in green husks, scarce standing above the brims of the husks round-pointed also, and of a greenish yellow colour; after which followeth the seeds contained in great heads; The root is woody byt perisheth in winter, but gene∣rally riseth of the seed that is suffered to shed it self.

Place and Time.] This (as is supposed) was first brought from Brazile, it giveth ripe seed in our Countrey here earlier than the o∣ther Indian sorts. It flowreth from June to the end of August, or later, and the seed ripeneth in the mean time.

Government and Vertues.] Tobacco is a Plant of Saturn, Culpeppers deity; of a stupifying quality: it is held to be available to expecto∣rate tough phlegm out of the stomach chest and lungs; the juice thereof made into a Syrup,* 1.1 or the

distilled water of the herb drank with Sugar; The same also helps to expell worms in the stomach and belly, as also to apply a leaf to the belly, and to ease the pains in the head or Meagrim,* 1.2 and griping pains in the bowels; It is also profitable for those that are troubled with the stone in the kidneys, to ease pains, and, by provoking Urine, to expell gravel and the stone ingendred therein; and hath been found very effectual to suppress the malignity and windy vapours which cause the strangling of the mother; The seed hereof is much more effectual to ease the pains of the teeth, than Henbane-seed, and the ashes of the burnt herb to cleanse the gums and teeth, and make them white; The herb bruised and applyed to the place of the Kings-Evil, is a speedy rememdy as is said. It is also said to be effectual to cure the Dropsie,* 1.3 by taking four or five ounces of the juice thereof fasting; which will strong∣ly purge the body both upwards and downwards, (And too strongly too, unless it be a well steeled body indeed.) The distilled water is often given with some sugar before the fit of an A∣gue, to lessen the fits and alter them, and to take them quite away in three or four times using; if the distilled faces of the herb having been bruised before the distillation, and not distilled dry, be set in hot dung to digest for fourteen days, and afterwards hung up in a bag in a Cellar, the liquor that distilleth therefrom is singular good to use for Cramps, Aches, the Gout and Sciatica, and to heal Itches,* 1.4 Scabs, and running Ulcers, and foul Sores whatsoever; The juice is good for all the said griefs, and likewise to kill lice in childrens heads. The herb bruised and applyed to any green wound doth speedi∣ly heal the same, the juice put into old sores doth heal the same. A good salve thereof may be made in this manner; Take of the green herb three or four handfulls, bruise it, and put it into a quart of good oyl-olive, boyl them on a gentle fire, till the herb grow dry and the oyl will bubble no lon∣ger, adding thereto, wax Rozen and sheeps-tallow, or Deers suet, of each a quarter of a pound, of Turpentine two ounces, which being melted put it up for your use: Some will add to it the powder of round Birthworth, and white Frankincense, each half an ounce, which is to be put in when it is nigh cold and well stirred together; This Salve likewise will help Imposthumes, hard tumors, and other Swel∣lings by by Bblows or Falls.

The Gum Taramahaca.

Descript.] THis Gum is said to be gathered from a great Tree like a Poplar, that is very sweet having a red fruit or berry, like to those of the Peony.

Virtues.] The Gum is of good use for outward remedies, it serveth most in womens diseases, to retain the Mother* 1.5 in its place by laying a plaister thereof upon the Navel; as also when it riseth up and is ready to strangle them, put some Musk and Amber to it, or a little Civet in the middle of the plaister: This Gum being spread on leather, and applyed to the side or spleen,* 1.6 that is grown hard and windy, dis••olveth the tumors, disperseth the wind, and bringeth much ease and help to the grieved part, and is no less effectual in all tumors pains and torments, in the body or joynts, proceeding of cold raw and windy humors,* 1.7 applyed plaister-wise thereon: To be applyed to the stomach with a third part of Storax, a little Am∣ber-greese, and some wax; is a singular help to strengthen the weakness thereof, to strengthen the brain and memory, as also in all defluxions from the head, it likewise helps the appetite, digestion, and dissolves wind; It helpeth also all running humors and pains in the Arms, shoulders, or any other part of the body; the Joynts likewise, Gout, and Sciatica.

It is of temperature hot almost in the third degree, and dry in the second; the best is pure, and clean without dross, cleer, and some of a whitish brown colour, and more whitish in some parts, of a little quick and sharp scent, and quickly consuming into smoak being cast on quick coals.

Sealed Earth, Terra Sigillata.

Though this be not an Herb, yet because of its singular use in Phy∣sick, I have here set forth whence it comes, and its eminent Virtues; The place of its growth is by all reports, The Isle of Lemnos in the Aegean-Sea; The best fine Bole is very like it; The chiefest ef∣fects of it is to expell Poison, The venome of Ser∣pents; it is good against Lasks and Fluxes,* 1.8 the bitings of a Mad-dog; it wonderfully helpeth old sores, and consolidateth green wounds; The fine bole of Ar∣menia, is found to be very effectual in the Plague; it is also singular good in Lasks, Bloody-fluxes, and spit∣ting

of blood,* 1.9 for the Catarrhe, or defluxion of thin humors, upon the Breast and Lungs, and shortness of breath, and likewise against foul Ulcers of the mouth, lungs, or other parts, and Fistulaes.

Turbith.

TUrbith used in shops is a root, yet somewhat small, and of an Ashcolour on the outside, and white within, having a pitch in the middle, which is cut out and cast away as good for nothing, and some peeces, but not gummy at the ends, having no manifest taste.

Place] It groweth in many places of the Indies naturally, and hath been transported into Asia, Persia, and Portugal.

Virtues.] It purgeth flegm and tough clammy hu∣mours,* 1.10 that fall on the joynts and those parts that are more remote, it looseneth the belly of those Excre∣ments that stick close thereto, and cleanseth the breast from thick flegm; It is good for those that have the Dropsie, Leprosie or Pox, as also those that are troubled with those diseases that arise from adust humours, the black Jaundies or the like, it helpeth day-Agues, and all other diseases bred of Flegm.

The true Turpentine tree.

Kinds, Description, Names.] There are two sorts of the Turpentine-tree, the one bearing broad-leaves and the other narrower leaves.

Descript.] 1. The broader leafed Turpentine-tree, called in Latine Terebinthus Latifolia. This Turpentine-tree, in many places groweth but like a shrub, yet in some to be a great tree; the bark of the body and brances are Ash-colour, the lesser being greenish and red while they are young, sparingly set with large winged-leaves, like unto the Pistack-tree, but larger and smelling somewhat like unto a Bay-leaf, falling away, and not holding on in winter; The flowers are Mossy, like unto the Olive-blos∣somes, and grow on long-stalks coming out of certain knots, from the ends of the branches in small tufts set in clusters together, of a purplish brown Colour, which pass into berries, greenish at first, reddish after, and of a blewish colour, tending to green, when they are ripe; glutinous in handling, and sticking to their fingers that touch them, having a kernel within them; most of those berries that grow red before they be ripe, fall away, being empty: this beareth also certain red hollow skinny bladders, like long-horns, full of a blackish liquor, which breed small flyes, or knats, in them; This

tree being wounded in sundry places, yieldeth forth a liquid Rozen, or cleer Turpentine, but nothing so thin as that of the Larch-tree.

Descript.] 2. The narrow-leafed Turpentine-tree, called in Latine Terebinthus, angustiore folio vulgatiore. This Tree is in all things like the former, but that it never riseth so high, and the leaves are long and narrow much smaller than the former; the berries are many of them red on the stalks at their full time, which are empty husks, and no good seed, but some that will be full and good.

Place and Time.] The Turpentine-tree groweth in Narbone and Provence, in sundry places of Italy and Spain, Cyprus and Greece; where for the most part it abideth small and low, but groweth great and high in Syria, Arabia, Cilicia, Armenia; they flower somewhat early in the spring, and the fruit is ripe in September and October.

Government and Virtues.] These plants are Solar, both leaves, bark and fruit, and do binde, strengthen and repel: but the Turpentine doth heat cleanse and purge, draweth and mollifieth, and excelleth all other Rozens. The berries being dry, very nigh unto the third de∣gree, provoke Urine and are good for the spleen,* 1.11 and for the biting of the Spider Phalangium; of the berries, is made an oyle, as out of the berries of the Lentisk-tree, which healeth and bindeth, and is good in Cramps, Convulsions, hardness of the sinews, and to close wounds:* 1.12 The berryes themselves are much eaten by the people in Turky, (where they grow) and make them their daily food, warming, comforting, and opening the Uretory passages, and doe provoke lust; The Turpentine, heal∣eth, mollifieth, dissolveth, digesteth and clenseth; if a dram or two be taken in a rear egge it helpeth the Cough, which cometh by flegm, stoppings of the lungs, wheesings,* 1.13 and shortness of breath, and all imperfections of the chest by flegm: It cleanseth the back and Reins, and stayeth the running of the Reins: wi••h a little powder of Rubarb put thereto, it provoketh Urine, and help∣eth to expel both stone and gravel; it ripeneth Im∣postumes, and helpeth to expel them, and mightily dissolveth winde in the pains of the Chollick, sto∣mack or sides, and is good also against the Gout, Sci∣atica, and all pains in the joints, aswell to take it in∣wardly with Chamepitis, Sage, and Stoechas: as to be made into a Cerecloth, and applyed thereto; It is a special ingredient, in those Balsoms that are to heal any green wounds, and is effectual in all wounds, and fractures of the head, all punctures in the head and sinews, and all breakings out in the skin, be it Itch or Scab, Piles, Pushes or wheals; it draweth forth

Splinters,* 1.14 thorns, or the like out of the flesh; and healeth the chaps of the lips, hands, fundament, or other parts; It is put into all salves, oyls, oyntments or plaisters; that serve to cleanse Ulcers, to draw or heal any sores, and to warm and comfort any cold and weak parts: the Chymical oyl of this Turpentine is very effectual in many of these diseases if it be carefully applyed, it being of very subtil parts, and therefore inwardly or outwardly it must be used as it were by drops.

Descript.] The Turmerick brought unto us is an Indian Root: In which Countreys it springeth up, and beareth larger and thinner leaves than Mil∣let, of a paler green colour, a stalk full of leaves, compassing one another to the top; The Root is slender and yellow, near unto the form of Ginger.

Government and Vertues.] It is a Plant of Mars, and is of great use in the yellow Jaundise,* 1.15 either the powder or the decoction being taken, for it doth open obstructions of the gall and other parts; It is of very good use in old and inveterate griefs and sicknesses, and the evil disposition of the body, called Cachexia, and is very profitable against the dropsie.

Turn-Sole.

Kinds, and Names.] OF Turn-Sole there are several kinds, whose names shall follow with their Descriptions.

Descript.] 1. The greater Turnsole called in Latine Heliotropium maius. This riseth up with one upright stalk, about a foot or more high, dividing it self, almost from the bottom, into divers smaller branches, of a hoary colour: At each joynt of the stalk and branches grow two small broad leaves, somewhat like unto those of Calamint, or Basil, somewhat white or hoary also: at the tops of the stalks and branches, stand in any small white flowers, consisting of four, and sometimes of five very small leaves, set in order one above another, upon a small very crooked spike, which tur∣neth inwards like a bowed finger, opening by degrees as the flowers blow open; after which in their places come small cornered seed, four for the most part standing together, the root is small and threddy, perishing every year, and the seed shedding it self riseth again the next spring.

Descript.] 2. The greater creeping Turnsole is in a manner but the same with the fomer greater Turnsole; because it is in most things so like it, yet differeth in these particulars: That it hath more and slenderer stalks, not standing upright as the other doth, but leaning down to the ground: the stalks and leaves are lesser, but hoary in like manner; the flowers are

white, and stand in crooked spiky heads, bowing like a Scorpions tail, as the other, but the seed being smaller standing singly, or but two together; the roots are small and perish in like manner.

Descript.] 3. The smaller Turnsole, Heliotropium minus, this smaller Turnsole groweth very low, lying almost with his slender weak branches upon the ground, having thereon many small leaves, like the other in form, but three times less in substance, neither stalks nor leaves white nor hair∣ry, but of a dark green colour; the flowers are much smaller and yellow∣ish, not growing in long crooked or bowing heads like the former, nor at the tops of the branches, but standing at the joynts upon very small stalks, some above the leaves, and others under them, which afterwards turn into small round heads or buttons, like unto warts, wherein is such like seed as the last, but smaller and rounder.

Descript.] 4. The Colouring or dying Turnsole Heliotropium trico∣num. This dying Turnsole, that beareth berryes, three alwayes set toge∣ther, riseth up with an upright stalk, branching it self diversly, to the height of half a yard or there-abouts, whereon grow broader and softer leaves than on any of the former, like unto those of the sleepy night-shade, and whitish withall, set without order at the joynts up to the tops, yet les∣ser above than below; at the ends of the branches come forth small mossy, yellowish flowers, which quickly perish, and fall away without giving any seed; herein like unto the Ricinus or Palma Christi, called the great Spurge: for in the same manner also at the joynts, with the leaves, come forth the fruit or berries, standing three for the most part alwayes joyned together; upon short footstalks, which are of a blackish green colour, and rough or rugged on the outside, wherein is contained, ash-coloured seed, which if the heads be suffered to grow over-ripe, and be dry∣ed with the Sun, will fall out of themselves upon the ground, and spring again in their natural places the next year, thereby renewing it self; for the root is small, and perisheth after it hath born seed; But these berries when they are at their full maturity, have within them, that is between the outer skin and the inward kernel or seed, a certain juice or moisture, which being rubbed upon a paper or cloath, at the first appeareth of a fresh and lively green colour, but presently changeth into a kind of blewish purple upon the cloath or paper; and the same cloath afterwards wet in water and wrung forth, will colour the water into a Claret-wine colour; And these are those rags of cloath called Turnsole in the Druggists and Grocers shops, and with all other people; and serveth to colour Jellies or other things.

Place and Time.] These doe grow in Italy, France and Spain, in divers places; The two first are planted in gardens here with us, and doe flower and seed well every year, but the other two will scarce grow to shew any seed in our cold Climate.

Government and Vertues.] These are Solar Plants, to whom they yield obedience; the head of the flowers always facing the Sun: a

good handfull of the greater Turnsole, boyled in water; and drunk, purgeth both Choler and phlegm, and being boyled in wine it is good against the stinging of Scorpions,* 1.16 to be aswel drunk as layd upon the place that is stung. The same also boyled with Cummin and drunk, hel∣peth them that are troubled with the Stone in the Reins Kidneys or Bladder, provoketh Urine and Wo∣mens Courses, causeth an easie and speedy birth when they are in travail. It killeth the Worms of the belly, both long and round, if the herb and seed of the les∣ser kind be taken with Hysop, Cresses, and Nitre; the leaves bruised and applyed to the places pained with the Gout, or that are out of joynt, and being set are full of pain, do give much ease; as also for Chil∣dren which are troubled with an Inflamation in the parts about the brain and the tunicles thereof; The seed of the greater or least kind being rubbed with a little salt, upon warts or wens and other hard kernels or Excrescencies in the face, eye-lids, or any other part of the body, will take them away by consu∣ming them by little and little with often using it; The dying or colou∣ring Turnsole, is good against all venemous creatures, chiefly against the great Spider Phalangium, and the stinging of Scorpions, being applyed thereto.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Phlegm, Sto∣mach, Chest, Lungs, worms,
• * 1.2

  Pains in the head, Mea∣grim, Stone, Gravel, Mo∣ther.
• * 1.3

  Kings-Evil, Dropsie.
• * 1.4

  Cramps, aches, Gouts, Sciati∣ca, Scabs, Cankers, Lice, Green wounds, Old Sores.
• * 1.5

  Mother,
• * 1.6

  Spleen, Wind,
• * 1.7

  Tumors, Pains, Joynts, Sto∣mach, Brain, Memory, Dige∣stion, Stomach, Wind, Armes, Joynts, Gouts,
• * 1.8

  Poyson, Ser∣pents, Lasks, Fluxes, Plague, and Bloody-fluxes,
• * 1.9

  Spitting of Blood, Ca∣tarrhes, breath Ʋlcers, Fistu∣laes,
• * 1.10

  Flegm, tough-humours, belly, Dropsie, Lepro∣sie, Pox, Adust humours, black Jaundies.
• * 1.11

  Ʋrine, Spleen,
• * 1.12

  Cramps, Con∣vulsions, Si∣news, wounds.
• * 1.13

  Cough, lungs, Wheesings, Shortness of breath, flegm, Back, Reins, Ʋrine, Stone, Gravel, Im∣postumes, wind, stomack, sides, Gout, Sciatica, pains in the joynts, Green-wounds and fractures in the head, si∣newes, itch, Scab.
• * 1.14

  Piles, Pushes, Thorns, Lips, Hands, Fun∣dament.
• * 1.15

  Jaundise, Old diseases, Dropsie.
• * 1.16

  Choller, Phlegm, Scor∣pions, Stone, Reins, Kidneys, Bladder, Ʋrine Womens Cour∣ses, Easie birth, Worms, Gout, Joynts pained, Warts. Wens, Kernels, Ex∣crescencies, Face, Eye-lids.