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. 143. De Pipere, of Pepper.

The Names and sorts.

THere are three sorts of Pepper chiefly in use, white Pepper, called Piper album, long Pepper, called Piper longum, and black Pepper, called Piper nigrum, and this last is most in use.

The temperament.

It is hot and dry in the third degree, or neer the fourth degree, of a heating and resolving quality.

The duration.

They will keep good many yeers.

••he inward use.

The black pepper is most in use for sawce and meats. They are all us••d to warm cold stomachs, and to stirre up an appetite, and to con∣sume ••rude and moist humours therein, or distilling from the head: they also help to break and dissolve winde in the stomach, or bow∣els, to provoke urine, to help the cough and other diseases of the breast, and are effectuall against the bitings of Serpents, and other poisons, & are therefore put into the great Antidotes. They are given before the fits of Agues, to abate the rigour and shaking thereof, and are used in the Quinsie with Honey. They strongly heat the si∣news and mus••les, and all cold parts. Pepper must not be too small beaten for fear of inflaming the bloud, and other profitable humours of the body. ••hey help the dimnesse of the sight, and stirre up Ve∣nery. If five or six grains of black or white Pepper be taken for cer∣tain dayes together, it doth help a cold and raw stomach, and such as are subject to the Collick.

The chymical oile of Pepper is good for the aforesaid diseases, and especially against a tertian Ague if three drops thereof be taken with a scruple of Myrrhe two houres before the fit commeth.

Pepper is best for cold, moist and grosse meats, for cold and moist seasons, for the aged and flegmatick, for such as have cold, weak, and windy stomacks, and that are subject to distillations.

The manner of administring them.

They are given in powder or in Electuary.

An Electuary against winde in the stomack and belly.

Take black, white and long Pepper, of each a dram and a half, of Ginger, Amse-seed and Thyme, of each half a dram, make them in∣to a grosse powder, and with six ounces of Honey, or conserve of red Roses make an Electuary, and take often of it as much as a Nut∣meg.

The outward use.

It is used outwardly against Agues mixed with Honey and laid to the Wrists, and against the Quinsie, and disperseth the kernels as well in the throat as in any other part of the body: it easeth the tooth-ach being put into a clout, tied up and chewed on, and snuffed up into the nostrils, it provoketh neesing.

A Medicine to help the tooth-ach.

Take of Mastich an ounce, Pepper, Pellitory of Spain, of each a dram and a half, make them in powder, and with Honey make a paste, of which take about the bignesse of a small Bean, and hold in the mouth by the space of half an houre fasting.

The hurtfull quality.

Pepper is hurtful to hot cholerick and dry bodies, in hot weather, and hot Countreys; consumeth the seed and burneth the bloud, if it be immoderately used.

The Dose.

It is given from half a scruple to thirty grains.

Medicines made thereof.

Species Diatrion pipereon. Chymical Oile. Oile by decoction.