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. III. De Aloe. Of Alloes. Or Aloe succotrina.

ALoe is the juice of an Hearb like the Sea Onion, which after it is pressed out, is dryed, and kept for to use, as neede requireth.

The Names.

It is called in Latine Aloes succotrina, in English Aloes, Hearb Aloes, and Sea Housteeke.

The Temperament.

Alces is hot in the first or second degree, and dry in the third, and very bitter.

The Kindes.

Constantinus Affricanus mentioneth three kindes of Aloes; one reddish, which groweth in an Island called Scheta; another sort which is black, and is found in Persia; a third kinde yellow, which is found in Arabia. Constant. Affric. de grad. fol. 355. Schro∣derus saith there are four sorts in use now. First, A blackish sort, called Aloe caballina, because it is fit only for Horses. Secondly, Another sort more purer, in colour like the Liver, called Aloe He∣patica. Thirdly, A sort called Aloe succotrina, because the powder thereof is of a citrine, or yellow colour, or because there is great plenty of it in the Island Socotra. Fourthly, The fourth kinde is the purest part of the juice, and is called Aloe lucida, because being held up against the beams of the Sun, it sheweth very clear, like a kinde of red glasse. Schroder. Parmac. med. Chym. l. 4. fol. 240. The best is that which is most clear and transparent, of a reddish or yellow colour, being easie to break, and very bitter.

The Duration.

It will keep good nine or ten years, being kept dry, and from the wind and Sun.

The Inward Ʋse.

Aloes purgeth first Choller, then Flegme, not from all parts, but chiefly from the stomach and belly; therefore saith Gallen, Est eustomachicum plus omnibus catharticis. Gal. Alter. de dinamid. fol. 76. It is more proper for the Stomach then all other purging Medi∣cines. And by its adstrictive faculty, it strengthneth the stomach. It much helpeth a crude, moist, and nauseous stomach. It is pro∣fitable in these Diseases, in the Head-ach, when vapours arise from the stomach, in the Night-Mare, in the Scorbute, or Scurvy, in the Falling sicknesse, in Rheumes: It resisteth putrifaction, killeth worms of all sorts, whether in the belly or stomach; nay it is a speciall Antidote against Worms. It preventeth Arthriticall paines, or paines of the Joynts; it quickneth the senses by purging ob∣noxious humours from the braine. It provoketh womens courses, and the Hemrods or Piles. The use of Aloes doth preserve the body

from many dangerous Diseases: it helpeth those that have a pale colour, and is used against the Jaundise: Aloe doth hardly draw humours from any part above the Liver. Fernel. Meth. medend. fol. 112.

The manner of administring it, and the time.

Aloes is given in powder, in the pap of an Apple, which is very frequent, or in pils. It is most convenient for Flegmatick per∣sons, and may be given before meat, or after meat, and in the morning fasting. It is better to give it before meat, then after meat. Aloe is the basis of most pils, for there are but few purga∣tive pils which have it not as one chiefe ingredient.

Pils excellent for the Stomach.

Take of Aloes three ounces, of Rubarbe in powder, three drams, mix them, and infuse or steep them in a sufficient quantity of En∣dive-water, let it stand a night and a day, then straine it out, and boyle away the crudity of it, and make a masse for Pills. The Dose is halfe a dram, or two scruples.

Pills to purge Choller.

Take of Rubarbe in powder, one scruple, Aloes and Mastich, of each halfe a scruple, Diagnieium six graines, Spikneard and Nutmeg of each three graines, with syrupe of Roses, Laxative, make Pills and take them all in a morning fasting, with Physicall observati∣on that is fasting, and then to take some warm Broth, and to keep your selfe warm, but you must fast two or three hours first.

De Aloe Lota & Rosata.

Aloes being washed looseth part of its purgative faculty, and doth more strengthen then purge. Gallen saith it may be given in Feavers, so that the Feaver be gentle, as in a Quotidian Feaver. Gal. de compos. pharmac. fol. 710.

Aloe Rosata is a Medicine very safe and gentle, it may be given to all sorts of persons, before or after meat. It purgeth the sto∣mach of Choller and other offensive humours, openeth stoppings, is good in the Jaundise, and strengthneth the stomach, and is thus made.

Take of pure Aloes in powder four ounces, of the juice of Da∣muske Roses clarified, one pound, mix them together, and digest in the Sun, or in a Bath, till all the moisture be exhaled or taken away; then infuse it again in so much more of the juice, and eva∣porate away the juice again: doe thus four times, then keep the masse or lump for your use.

The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••all Ʋse.

Aloes being outwardly applied hath a consolidating faculty to heal green Wounds, and drieth, as also mundifieth or clean∣seth, and takes away all putrifaction in Wounds. It healeth Wounds of the Testicles and Privities; it cures the rednesse of the eyes, and consumes spots growing therein. It is good in infla∣mations of the Eyes, and Apostumes of the Lips, Nose, and Eyes. It healeth Ʋlcers that are hardly brought to cicatrize and especi∣ally those in the Fundament and privy members. Being mixed with Oxe-Gall, or the juice of Wormwood, it killeth Wormes. If it be dissolved with wine and used, it helpeth the falling or shed∣ding of the hair. Being made in powder, and put on the Hemroids it stayeth the bleeding thereof: mixed with honey and used, it takes away blacknesse and spots. Aloes in powder being mixed with Myrrhe and Dragons bloud, and cast into putrified Wounds or Ʋlcers, eateth out spungious flesh without pain.

A Plaister for Wormes.

Take of Aloes in fine powder a dram and a halfe, of Mithridate three drams, Oyle of Savin, or Oyle of Wormwood, two or three drams, mix them together, make a Plaister, lay it on the Belly.

The Hurtfull Quality.

The daily and too frequent use of Aloes, is much forbidden; for being much and often taken, it doth fret and excoriat the stomach and bowells. Constant. Affric. de grad. fol. 355. Aloes is hurtfull to old men. Gal. de sanitat. tuend. fol. 365. Massaria, fol. 72. Freitag. aur. med. fol. 215. Fernel. meth. med. fol. 112. Aloe o∣peneth the Orifices, or mouths of the Vaines, therefore it is hurt∣full to such as have the Hemroids, or Piles, Flux of the Womb, Belly, or any other Bloudy Flux; as also to Women with Child, to those that have the Hectick Feaver, Burning Feaver, and to all hot, and dry, and macerated, or lean bodies. It is very hurtfull to those that have hot Livers, especially given in a large quanti∣ty; which though some deny, yet experience makes it good. And Scaliger Exercitat. 160. Sect. 3. saith, they which deny Aloe to of∣fend the Liver, Experientiae scutica digni sunt, hoc per annos quadra∣ginta compertum habemus. 'Tis not to be given often to Children, especially such as are of a hot and dry Constitution. When the season is extream hot, or very cold, 'tis not so safe to give Aloes, for then it will cause one to void bloud. Antonius Musa, saith, that after the taking of Aloes (in the depth of Winter) he was

so troubled that he could not sit for the space of a week. A. Mu∣sa exam. simpl: med. 4^o. 355. Wecher. Antid. spec. 4^o. 222.

Cinamon, Mace, Nutmeg, Cloves, Mastich, and Gum Tragacanth, are the best correctors of Aloes, and may be mixed with it. If Aloes be taken a little before supper, it doth so much the lesse hurt and of∣fend the stomach.

Whether the use of Aloes be profitable to preserve health?

Gallen doth much commend Aloes, and also Hiera pigra, and saith it is a very profitable Medicament, and gratefull to the sto∣mach; and many praise it, for that it takes away viscuous and corrupt humours that are contained in the Tunicles of the Sto∣mach. Mesue counts it one of the best and wholesomest Medica∣ments, which hath a prerogative above all Medicines. For when other purging Medicines doe weaken the stomach, and hurt the members or parts, the taking of Aloes doth not only not hurt, but doth much comfort the stomack; yea, he thinks if it be often taken, it makes all the parts and members sound. But Cardanus and others are of a contrary minde, and condemne Gallen for that (De tuend. san. lib. 1. c. 45.) he saith, Aloes is a friend to the Sto∣mach: Further, they say, being bitter and loathsome, it is offen∣sive to the Stomach, because the Stomach is much delighted with sweet things: Moreover they say, Hierapigra, although it be cor∣rected and sometimes not unprofitable to take it, yet it is hurtfull to the Stomach, and prejudiciall to the life. But I conceive that the use of Aloes doth much prevaile to preserve health, seing it doth not only purge away the excrements in the bowels, but also it purgeth crude humours, as also Flegmatick and Chollerick hu∣mours from the Stomach, and doth resist putrifaction, being also somewhat astringent: Only note, That it must be given but in a small quantity, and not too often; for if it be given often, and in a great quantity, so that it come to the Liver, it doth much hurt, especially to those that have dry bodies and hot Livers.

Whether Aloes doth open the mouths of the veines, and provoke the Hemroids?

There is some controversie among Physitians concerning this; Mesne, Serapio, and most of the Arabians conclude, Aloen ora vena∣rum aperire atque sanguinem ciere, that Aloes doth open the mouths of the veines, and open the Hemroide veines, Manardus, Fuchsius, and others on the contrary, altogether refute this opinion of theirs, and by strong and firme reasons out of Gallen, Diascorides,

and Plinie demonstrate, Aloen potius ora venarum occludere, at{que} san∣guinem undicunque fluentem sistere, That Aloes doth rather shut or close the mouths of the veins, and stop bloud flowing from any part. But this controversie may be thus decided or reconciled; if we say that Aloes being outwardly applied doth shut the mouths of the veins, and so doth stay any Flux of the Bloud; but being inwardly taken, so that it pierce or penetrate to the veins, it causeth bloud to flow. For being outwardly applied it hath a certaine binding, astringent, and glewing faculty: As for Dias∣corides and Plinie, they write not of the Hemroids or Piles, but of spetting bloud, which commeth when some veine or vessell is opened; now in such a case Aloes being taken inwardly, hath the same vertue of closing or shutting the veines, as it hath being out∣wardly applied to a bleeding wound. For this is most certaine, if Aloes be taken inwardly it opens the Hemroid veines, and cau∣seth bloud to be evacuated, especially in those that are subject to the Hemroids or Piles, and in such as are subject to have their bloud much heated. And this faculty it hath not from its acri∣mony, or sharpnesse, or bitternesse, but ex quadam insita virtute, from some inherent or naturall virtue.

The Compound Medicines made of Aloes.

These following are made of Aloes, 1. Aloe Depurata, or wash∣ed Aloes. 2. Aloe Violata. 3. Aloe Rosata. 4. Extractum Aloes, or Extracts of Aloes. 5. Pilulae de Aloes. 6. Pil. de Aloe Lota. 7. Hiera Picra. 8. Pil. de Hiera cum Agarico.

The Dose.

Aloes in substance is given from a dram to two drams; in in∣fusion from a dram and a halfe to three drams. Aloes Rosata is given from halfe a dram to a dram and a halfe. The same Dose may be given of washed Aloes.