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 ...

Coral.

Kind and Names.] THere be several kinds of Coral, but the red and the white, especially the red, is most in use: there be also several sorts of black Coral called Antipathes, and ther is a kind of Coral, which is black, rough, and bristly, and is called Sam∣beggia.

Descript.] These plants, although their hard substance, make them seem rather to be Stones, yet they are vegetables. The greater red Coral, which is the best, groweth upon rocks in the Sea, like unto a shrub, with arms and branches, which shoot forth into sprigs, some greater and some lesser, of a pale red colour, for the most part when it is taken out of the water but when it is pollished it is very fair, and of a lovely red colour: whilest it is in the water it is soft and pliable, but being taken out and kept dry a while, it be∣comes of an hard stony substance.

Place.] The Corals are found in the Isles of Sardinia, and divers o∣ther

places of the Mediterranean Sea.

Time.] Coral is found growing at all times in the year.

Government and Virtues.] Coral is under the dominion of the Sun, yet reputed to be of a cooling and astringent quality: the red is the hottest, the white the coldest, it is good to stop the Running of the Reins in Men,* 1.1 and the Whites in Wo∣men; the red Coral stops bleeding, and is good for them that spit bloud; or any flux of bloud; being ta∣ken in Wine, or other drink: It abates the Slpeen, helps the stoppage of Urine, and such as pisse by drops, the powder of it being burnt, and taken in drink easeth the pain of the Stone: It strengthens the Heart, Stomack and Liver, and is good in all pestilen∣tial Feavers, and malignant diseases: it is good against Venome, chears the Heart and is good against Melancholy; there is an excellent Cor∣dial made of it called Tictura Corallii, singular good for all the purposes aforesaid, the powder taken in Wine or distilled Water, gives rest to such as have Agues, helps the Cramp,* 1.2 it is good against the Falling-Sickness: some write that if two grains of the powder of red Coral be given to a Child newly born, in some black cherry water, or the Mothers milk; that Child shall never be trou∣bled with the Falling-Sickness;* 1.3 it is likewise good to cause easie Delivery,* 1.4 to rub Childrens Gums,* 1.5 to help their teeth to break forth more easily,* 1.6 it helps sore Gums and Ulcers in the Mouth; and healeth up foul hollow Ulcers in other parts:* 1.7 it is also profitable to be used in medecines for the Eyes, to stay the Flux of Rhume: It cools and dryes up the moisture, and takes away the heat and redness of the Eyes: the aforementioned Tincture and likewise the Chymical oyl, may be used for any of the aforesaid purposes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Running of the Reins, Whites Bleeding, sp••••en Strangury Spleen, Stone Heart, stomack Liver, Feavers
• * 1.2

  Cramp
• * 1.3

  Falling-Sickness
• * 1.4

  Easie Delivery
• * 1.5

  Gums
• * 1.6

  Teeth
• * 1.7

  Ʋlcers