Tractatus de simplicium medicamentorum facultatibus. = A treatise of the nature and qualities of such simples as are most frequently used in medicines,: both purging, and others. Methodically handled, for the benefit of those that understand not the Latine tongue. To which is added: many compound medicines for most diseases incident to mankinde: as also two alphabeticall tables, very necessary for the reader. Together with, the explanation of all hard words or termes of art, whereby the vulgar may the better understand it. / By Robert Pemel, practitioner in physick, at Cranebrooke in Kent. Licensed and enterd according to order.

CHAP. XI. De Bryonia alba. Of White Brionie.

WHite Brionie is somewhat like unto the common Vine in his leaves and branches, but something rougher, and whiter: The root is sometimes very great, long, and bitter.

The Names.

In Latine, Vitis alba, Bryonia, and Bryonia alba: in English, Bri∣onie, and Tetterberries.

The Temperament.

Briony is hot in the second degree, and dry in the third.

The Duration.

The Root will keep good a year or more, if it be gathered in a dry season and carefully dryed.

The inward use.

The root of White Briony purgeth strongly, Choller, Flegme, and Water from the Brain, Nerves, Womb, and Joynts; it o∣peneth obstructions or stoppings of the Liver, Spleen, and Womb, therefore it avails much in Hystericall fits, or fits of the Mother, in the Falling Sicknesse, Palsie, Apoplexie, and Vertigo, or swimming of the head, as also in the Gout, or Shortnesse of breath. It pro∣vokes the courses in Women, and cleanseth the Womb, provokes Urine, and is excellent in the Dropsie, for it draweth away water abundantly, both by vomit and stoole. It dissolveth congealed blood in the body, by reason of falls or bruises. The root is good against the biting of Vipers, or Adders, and killeth Worms in the body. It is good in the Kings Evill, the juice being taken with e∣quall parts of Wine and Honey. The foecula, or dregs thereof, are used for the aforesaid Diseases; you may give five or ten grains of it.

The manner of administring it.

The root of White Brionie is given in powder, in juice, in de∣coction, in syrupe, and in electuary, though every way not plea∣sing to the palate.

An Electuary of white Brionie purging the body.

Take of White Brionie root, four ounces, Turbith three ounces, Agaricke cut in thin slices, one ounce; Ginger in powder, Mastich,

Lonage seed bruised, of each three drams; macerate or steep them three dayes in two pints of Aquavitae, then boyle them to the con∣sumption of one pint; straine it, to which add clarified Honey, the pulp of Prunes, of each a pound, Sugar a pound and a halfe. Boyle them to the thicknesse of Honey, then being cold, let these things following be put in; Gum Gutta in powder, one ounce, Diagredium six drams, Anni-seed, Fennell-seed in powder, of each two drams, Cloves in powder, halfe an ounce, mix them well to∣gether, and make an Electuary. The Dose is from halfe an ounce to six drams, in white Wine, or Posset drink. This Electuary is excellent in the Dropsie, and Gout.

Syrupe of Brionie simple.

Take of the juice of White Brionie-root in May, a pound, of pure Honey clarified, two pound; boyle them gently to the thick∣nesse of a syrupe, by often scumming it.

The Compound Syrupe of Brionie.

Take of the juice of White Brionie-root, five ounces, Vineger of Squills, a pound, of the decoction made with Origanum, dry Hys∣sope, Lonage, Seseleos, Cardamomes, Stoechados halfe a pound, of good Honey, two pound; boyle them gently to the thicknesse of a syrupe. Freitag. aur. med. fol. 355, 356. Both these foregoing sy∣rupes are good in the Falling-Sicknesse, Swimming of the Head, and for Shortnesse of breath.

An Electuary for an old Cough, and shortnesse of breath.

Take of White Brionie root in powder, a dram, of clarified Ho∣ney three ounces, of the Lohoch or Electuary of Fox-Lungs, halfe an ounce, Spirit of Sulpher eight drops, make all into an Electu∣ary. Take of it chiefly in the morning and evening, as much as a small Nutmeg.

Against the Pestilence.

Take of White Brionie-root in powder, a dram, Diagredium one graine, take it in the juice of Celandine, and let the party sweat up∣on it. Theod. Dorsten. Botanic. fol. 52.

For such as have broken a Bone.

Take of the juice of White Brionie-root, two drams, or three drams, of Comfry-water, three ounces, mingle them together, and give it. Continue it for a weeks space, if need require.

The externall Ʋse.

A decoction of the root, or the juice thereof, taketh away Freckles, or Sun-burning, and all kind of Spots and Scarres. So

doth the Oyle wherein the roots of Brionie hath been boyled. It dissolveth black Bloud, and blew Marks, by reason of bruises, or falls, and dissolveth new swellings. It bringeth to maturity, and breaks old Imposthumes. It draweth forth splinters, and broken bones, and helpeth filthy Ulcers and white Flaes that grow up a∣bout the roots of the Nailes. The leaves, fruit, and roots, doe cleanse old and filthy sores, and are good against fretting and run∣ning Cankers, Gangrenes, and Tetters; therefore the be••ries are u∣sually called by the Countrey-people, Tetter-berries, may with good successe be applied to them. The root cleanseth the skin from the Morphew, Leprosie, all running Scabs and Manginesse, if a Bath be made thereof, or the juice applied thereunto. A Pessary made of the root, bringeth downe the courses in Women, and bringeth forth the After-birth and dead Child. A Bath made here∣of, cleanseth the Womb from filthinesse and uncleannesse. The root hung about the Neck is good against the Falling Sicknesse, and Convulsion. The root bruised and boyled in Vineger, being apply∣ed to the swollen Genitalls of men, helpeth the same. A decocti∣on of the leaves or roots mingled with Honey, and the mouth and throat washed therewith, cureth Ʋlcers, and sorenesse thereof. The distilled water of the root worketh the same effect, but more weakly, yet the water is used for freckles and spots in the face.

Against hardnesse and stopping of the Spleene.

Take what quantity you will of the green root of Brionie, bruise it with Figs, and apply it to the Spleen, adding thereunto a little Oyle of Capers.

Or,

Take Ammoniacum dissolved in Vineger, Oyntment Dialtheae, or of Marsh-mallows, Plaister of Melilot, of each halfe an ounce, Brionie root, and Orris in powder, of each halfe an ounce; Ducks-grease, Goose grease, and Hens-grease, of each three drams, Bdellium and Galbanum, of each a dram and a halfe; Oyle of Orris-root, one ounce and a halfe, of the Mussilage of Linseede, and Fenugreeke, a sufficient quantity of each; dissolve the gums, and boyle them gently together, and add thereto of Wax four ounces, of Turpin∣tine and Rosin, of each one ounce and a halfe: make all into a Cerat, according to art.

Against corrupt and fretting sores in the Legs.

Take the leaves or root of White Brionie, bruise them with Salt and Vineger, and apply it.

Against the Gout and Sciatica.

Take of Brionie-root, green, bruise it, and apply it with Hogs-grease.

The hurtfull Quality, with the correcting means.

The root of White Brionie doth much trouble the Stomach, head, and other parts: therefore it must not be given to delicate bodies, nor where the spirits are low: for though it have a specifick ver∣tue for the Diseases of the Brain before mentioned, yet it offends the weak. The hurtfull Quality hereof is taken away in part by adding to it Ginger, Cinamon, Quince, or such like. The same is also very dangerous for Women with Child, however it be given, for it causeth Abortion, or miscarrying.

These things are made of Brionie.

1. The Extract thereof. 2. Faeces vel Faculae Brioniae. 3. Water of Brionie. 4. Oyntment of Brionie. 5. Ʋnguentum Agrippae.

The Dose.

The Dose of the root in substance, is from a scruple to a dram; in infusion, from two drams to halfe an ounce. The juice of the root is given from a dram to two drams, or more, in strong bo∣dies. The faeces, or dregs thereof, are given from five graines to twenty.

Cambogia, see Gutta Gummi.