Phytognomonica

PHYTOGN.

...and the Italians, who inhabit a fertile, temperate zone, flourish; but the Germans, who live under a cold region of the sky, can scarcely be called the first original: "vix primi dicunt," suggesting they are less vigorous or their plants are less potent. Consequently, what serve as medicines for the former are merely foods for the latter. I remember last year that a seed of basil original: "ocimum", carried by the wind into the gaping cracks of a wall, took root and grew strong. Another seed was watered and cultivated by some women in small hanging gardens in a shaded spot. To the taste, the first plant seemed to reach the third degree In ancient pharmacology, medicines were ranked from 1 to 4 in intensity of heat, cold, etc. of potency, while the second barely reached the first. Since they grew under the same sky, but in different conditions, I leave it to others—even beginners—to judge what might happen when all variables are different; for I do not see how they can defend their positions otherwise. To settle this controversy, the specific locations, sites, soils, and cultivation methods should have been described, lest the ignorant crowd of doctors be deceived by observing these ancient texts as if they had "dropped from heaven." But since this is not my primary purpose, and to refute these points would require more words than the present study demands, we shall pass over them. We will speak more extensively on these matters when we write about the "powers of simples" Simples are medicinal herbs used on their own, not in a mixture., where we shall strive to reconcile what has been said by ancient and modern doctors about qualities with our own principles.

Chapter V.

Ornamental woodcut initial 'H' featuring a seated figure in a landscape with a building in the distance.
Hitherto, the doctrine of the ancients has wandered far, but other experiments—those which do not arise from obvious qualities—remained hidden from the ancients. Medical histories record that things known by no logic or method were discovered by those skilled in divination, by spirits, by chance, by dreams, by prophecy, or by observing animals. Indeed, we said much in the preface about what has been learned from animals. Pliny Gaius Plinius Secundus (23–79 AD), author of Natural History. records that a remedy for the bite of a rabid dog, the dog-rose original: "cynorrhoda"; the wild briar or rosehip., was discovered through an oracle; there are other examples which I consider unnecessary to list, and in these all the modern writers have grown old. But so we do not seem to linger in the entryway of this inquiry, we shall not stop until we strive to breathe that air—or if that is not permitted, to penetrate into the innermost recesses and the most private places of nature’s courtyard, where the perennial and most abundant springs of hidden things flow forth. We do this if divine confidence, which never fails anyone acting for the good, smiles upon our daring. Let us therefore gird ourselves for the work and touch upon the matter in brief discourse. To make our instruction clearer and more polished, we shall propose a division in our usual manner.

Some qualities of herbs are manifest (obvious), others are occult (hidden). We have already said that the manifest qualities are cold, moist, hot, and dry. We shall first discuss these: by what clues they can be recognized, and in a way different from what has been observed anywhere else or by anyone—namely, from their nourishment original: "alimento"; referring to the soil, water, and environment from which a plant draws its life.. Soon after, we shall speak of the occult qualities. But first, it is necessary to recall those things we said in our books on human physiognomy Porta's earlier work, De humana physiognomonia, argued that a person's character can be judged by their physical appearance.. For we taught that character flows from the nourishment with which infants are imbued by their nurses; children drink in the vices and virtues of their nurses with their milk. This happens not only in humans, but in other animals. Hunters who wish to preserve a noble breed of dogs do not allow them to be fed from strange teats, because the milk and the mother's spirit greatly increase both their natural wit and the growth of their bodies. Oppianus A Greco-Roman poet who wrote on hunting (Cynegetica). believes that hunting dogs, to make them swifter, should be fed from the teats of deer or gazelles. The Troglodytes A legendary tribe of "cave-dwellers." are a fierce people because they are nourished by animals rather than their parents. In our books on agriculture, it is explained that "little forks" grafts inserted into a base stock take on the qualities of the trunk along with its nourishment.

Thus, it matters greatly what nourishment a plant is fed, making it more or less heating or moistening. Therefore, those plants that grow in stagnant, wet places are large in form, with a succulent, smooth, and rounded stem, numerous and round leaves, and fruit that is tasteless original: "insipido", odorless, and colorless, with thin roots and exhausted powers. These, by simple deduction, are to be declared cold and moist. Those, however, that grow in marshes, with an angular and compliant stem, a stubborn fruit, fringed and nervous foliage, and a large, hairy, slightly scented root with more vigorous powers, are of a cold and dry quality.