Adam in Eden, or, Natures paradise the history of plants, fruits, herbs and flowers with their several names ... the places where they grow, their descriptions and kinds, their times of flourishing and decreasing as also their several signatures, anatomical appropriations and particular physical vertues together with necessary observations on the seasons of planting and gathering of our English simples with directions how to preserve them in their compositions or otherwise : ... there is annexed a Latin and English table of the several names of simples, with another more particular table of the diseases and their cures ... / by William Coles ...

The Signature and Vertues.

The Celles or rows wherein the seeds of Coloquintida are contained do some∣what resemble the Celles of the Colon, which is the Gutt that detaineth the Ex∣crements, and therefore it is of wonderfull operation to purge that Gut, which is the seat of the Chollick, and is commended for the same, whether it proceed from phlegme or wind. And though it be dangerous for Women with Child, Children, and old persons, yet it may be taken by those that have strong, and rustick bodies, without any danger of excoriation, or other evil accident, being corrected with Oyle of Roses, Gum Tragacanth, and Ginger: for the Oyle with its slippernesse will make it the sooner to passe away; the Gum will ••eni••••e the sharpnesse; and the Ginger will help the griping and tearing paines, which it causeth being taken alone, so that a due proportion of each of these made up into Tr••ches or Pills with Rose Water work better, then if Bdellium or Massick or such astringent things were added; as there be in those Troches called Trochi∣sci Alhandall, Handall being the Arabick name for Coloquintida: Which being so ordered as I have prescribed, purgeth also thick phlegme and viscous humors, the Choller both green and yellow, as also water from the most remote parts as from the Braine and the Membranes thereof, from the Nerves, Muscles, Joynts, Lungs, and Breast, and therefore it is profitable for any kind of Hea••-••ch, Fall∣ing-Sicknesse, Apoplexy, Swimming of the Head, and in Fluxes of Rhew••e flow∣ing to the Eyes, the cold Gout, Sc••atica, or Hip-Gout and other paines of the Joy••••s, and Sinews. It helpeth also the Jaundise, and is good for putrid and rotten F••••vers, for an Old Cough, the straitnesse of the Chest shortnesse of the breath, and above all these the Chollick and the Dropsy, being taken either in Gl••sters or Sup∣positories. The decoction of Coloquintida made with Vinegar easeth the pa••ue o•• the Feeth, if they be washed therewith. The powder mixed with the Gall of an Ox, and Hony and said to the belly of one that hath the Worms, not onely kill∣eth the Worms, and maketh them to avoid, but oftentimes purgeth the Belly also. Being steeped in Vinegar it taketh away all discolourings of the skin, as the Morphew and Lepry, dry scurse and Scabs, if the places affected be often rubbed therewith. Pure Oyle that is heated in an Apple of Coloquinda after the seeds are taken out, being dropped into the Eares, taketh away the paine, and noise and killeth the Wormes in them. And is said to make the hair black which was not so before, and to keep it from falling, as also from growing ray. A Bath made of Coloquintida, and the feet and other parts fomented, bringeth down the Courses in Women. The juyce boiled with hogs-grease and applyed to the Hip-Gout easeth the Sciatica. The Dose in powder is from five graines to ten, or fifteen, but it is more safe to take it for all the purposes aforesaid in a Glister made after

this manner. Take of the Pulp of Coloquintida two drams, Camomile flowers an handfull, Anniseed, Cumminseed, of each halfe an Ounce, make hereof a de∣coction in faire Water, and in a pint of it being strained dissolve Honey of Roses and Oyle of Camomile, of each three or foure Ounces. Now if any one should aske, how can a Glyster purge the whole Body? I answer that the Glyster moist∣ning the whole Colon, doth by the twigs of the Arteries draw noisome humours from the whole Trunk. The seeds will kill Ratts and Mice, who delight to feed upon them, and the decoction with Wormewood sprinkled in a House that is troubled with Flea••, doth utterly destroy them.