The Names.

It is called in Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Man, quasi praeparatus cibus; from the Hebrew root 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Manah, paravit, constituit, for it was food prepa∣red by God for the Israelites, or Manna may come from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mah, quid, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Na, quaeso, What is it? quia nesciebant quid esset. For when that dew fell about their tents, every one asked each other what it was. In Caldee 'tis called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Manna: in Syriac 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Arabic 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Man, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Alman, in Persian 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Tar∣nagabin, in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 aërium mel. The Septua∣gint translate it according to the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Man, Exodus 16.31, 33. but in the New Testament 'tis called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, John 6.31. Heb. 9.4. Page  [unnumbered] In Latine Manna, Mel aërium, Mel roris, seu roscidum, Mel sylve∣stre, Manna purgatoria. It is called also Tereniabin, Thereniabin, & Trungibin, Teringibil, in English Manna.

The Temperament.

Manna is hot and moist in the first degree.

The kindes.

There are three kindes of Manna. First, that which is found on leaves, and is called, Manna de folio, this is most perfect and good. Secondly, that which is gathered from bou•hs and trunks of trees, and is called Manna ligni, vel trunci, but is not so good as the for∣mer. Thirdly, that which falls on the earth; or on stones and sticks, and is called Manna terrae. Or Manna is of two sorts, one called Manna liquida, which is liquid and thin, like some kinde of Honey; the other is called Tereniabin, which is Manna coagulated, and is hard being in greater or lesser pieces. Ant. Musa exam. suc. prae∣dent. f. 341. Tragos. aromat. fruct. &c. histor. f. 108.

The best kinde.

The best is that which is white, grained like Mastick, being sweet and pleasant in taste The best is called Manna Calabrensis.

How Manna is adulterated.

Manna is adulterated with Sugar-pellets, and the green leaves of Sene rolled up with them: or with Amylum Sene, &c. but this deceit is soon discerned by the taste. See Levinus Lemnius herb. bibl. expli∣cat. cap. 3. f. 12.

The duration.

It will keep good a yeer.

The time of gathering Manna.

Manna is gathered in Aprill and May.

The inward use.

Manna purgeth choler gently and hot humours, therefore it is profitable in burning Fevers and Phrensies: it lenifieth the hoarsness of the throat, quencheth thirst, and easeth the cough, and is conveni∣ent in the Pleurisie, and inflammation of the lungs. It may be given to such as are troubled with the stopping of their urine, and to such as have weak Kidneys, and also to such as have Ulcers therein. Wo∣men with childe, and children may safely take it.

The manner of administring it.

It is given in Potions.

A Potion.

Take of Manna two ounces, or two ounces and a half, dissolve it in four ounces of clean broth or posset-drink, strain it and give it.

Or

Take of Manna two ounces, Pulpe of Tamarinds one ounce and a half, dissolve first the Manna in foure ounces of Posset-drink, and then the Tamarids, make a Potion. A Bole

Take of Manna half an ounce, of Cassia newly drawn one ounce, with Sugar make a Bole.

Tabulates, or Cakes.

Take of Manna one ounce, Cream of Tartar in powder a dram, make Tabulates or Cakes thereof, and give them as need requireth. Schroder. Pharm med. Chym l. 4. f. 249.

Against the Collick.

Take an ounce of Manna, and two ounces of the Oile of sweet Almonds; dissolve the Manna in the Oile and give it.

Note, that Manna is not to be boiled (for then it doth more hurt then good) but only dissolved, and so strained through a clean cloth, casting the drosse away.

The hurtfull quality.

Manna doth not profit in intermittent Feavers, nor is it safe to give it in cold diseases, for in such it will more hurt then help.

The Dose.

The Dose is (in children) from three drams to an ounce. For per∣sons of yeers the Dose is from an ounce and a halfe to two ounces, or three ounces. Here note that these Doses are to be given only in broth or posset-drink, for if it be given in the infusion of Sene or such like, then the Dose is to be lesse.

These Medicines are made of Manna.

Electuary Diacassia with Manna. Electuary Lenitive of Man∣na Vide Spirit of Manna. Schroder. Pharm. Med. Chym. l 4. f. 249. Water of Manna, Syrup of Manna. Vide Tretag. aur. Med. f. 423.

VVhether Manna be more convenient in hot, or in cold diseases?

Heurnius, Massaria, Platearius, Sennertus, and some others deny the use of Manna in hot burning fevers, and commend the use of it in cold diseases, and in old persons: now the reason they forbid the use of Manna in burning fevers, is from a place in Galon de ali∣ment. facult. l. 1. c. •8 f. 120. and de sanit. tuend l. 4. where he saith that Honey and all sweet things are not convenient in hot diseases and hot seasons, because they are apt to turne into choler. But others do approve of Manna in burning fevers, and daily experience doth wit∣nesse how usefull it is in hot diseases; For my owne part I have known the use of it above twenty yeares in Frensies, burning fevers, Page  [unnumbered] &c. and that with good successe; but the best and safest way is to give it with infusion of Sene, with creame of Tartar, or with a de∣coction of prunes and Tamarinds, &c. Actuarius meth. med. f. 340. VVecher. antid. spec. f. 222. Theod. Dorstenius de herb. caet. simpl. med. f. 285. Constantinus Afric. de gradibus f. 347. Fernel. meth. med. l. 5. f 112. Tragos. hist. Ind. med. f. 110. Matthiol. Comment. in lib. 1. Diascor f. 85.

VVhether the Manna now in use among Physicians be such as the children of Israel had in the. wildernesse?

To which I answer in the negative, and that for these reasons. First, because that Manna which the Israelites had, was miraculous, and but for a time, Joshua 5.11, 12. Nehemiah 9.20, 21. now that it was miraculous appeares plainely by that place in Exod. 16.18. And when they did mete it with an Omer, he that gathered much, had nothing over, and he that gathered little, had no lack. But our Man∣na has continued many yeares. Secondly, the heat of the Sun melted that, but the heat of the Sun or fire condenses, or hardens ours. Third∣ly, that putrefied in one night, when it was kept contrary to Gods command, Exod. 16.20. ours doth not so, but is durable, and will keep good many monethes. Fourthly, that was hard to be ground in a Mill, or beat in a Morter, Numb. 8.11. ours not so, but soft, and being put on the tongue it melts. Fifthly, that was nourishing, ours purging. Sixthly, that fell all the yeare, except on the Sabbath ours is gathered in the Summer.