Appendix to the Books on Plants and Peripatetic Questions

to the mouth of the Stomach Latin: Ventriculi; the upper opening of the stomach or the organ itself. Concerning its powers, the native author Proprietatius wrote briefly in this manner: The Cadira Tree likely the Acacia catechu is bitter and harsh: it consumes phlegm Latin: pituitam; one of the four bodily humors and bile: it removes loathing for food and coughing: it dissipates tumors of the whole body: it cures scabies a contagious skin disease and leprosy, and purifies the blood. And although it is a remedy for many other diseases, its particular virtue is against putrefied blood. The juices, which are called Catu Catechu, an extract of the acacia tree, possess the same properties, but are more effective in all respects, since they contain the pure substance of the wood. Since he the primary author or traveler has often discussed this medicine and the method of using it with a certain native Physician, I shall not omit certain other details, even if they are essentially contained in the sayings of Proprietatius. The people of Malacca and the Chinese, to whom a great abundance of it is carried, chew it with Gypsum and Bletre—that is, the leaf of the Betel—against foulness of the breath: for it wipes away superfluous Phlegm from the mouth, prevents decay, strengthens the gums, and kills the worms that are produced in the teeth: it takes away pain and provides a sweet breath. One Drachma a small unit of weight, roughly 3.5 grams of it dissolved in three ounces of water—which is the common syrup of the Indians with which they dilute all medicines—stops fluxes of every kind, strengthens the Stomach, prevents vomiting, and stops the spitting of blood: and as if in a moment, it checks the excessive purging caused by medicines. Taken in the same way for 15 days, it heals scabies: continued up to 50 days, it cleanses one from leprosy, provided that the sick meanwhile abstain from moist, acidic, and salty foods. Regarding the power which Dioscorides Ancient Greek physician and pharmacologist writes of concerning the bite of a mad dog, the Indians have no experience, because such a disease is not found among them, even though the region is very hot; all other powers agree with Dioscorides. Midwives use a decoction of three ounces of it in six pounds of water to wash the private parts of a woman who has just given birth, so that they may be restored to their normal state. The aforementioned Proprietatius is a very ancient author who wrote on the subject of Simples medicines made from a single herb or plant in these regions, and he was called Nigantus likely referring to the "Nighantu," ancient Indian medical glossaries. He treated innumerable plants very briefly, as he has been translated. The Indians have other authors in whom they place the fullest trust without...