Some  OBSERVATIONS on  the
Egyptian,   Grecian,  and  Roman
Literature, Botany, and Medicine.

In a LETTER to a FELLOW of the
College of PHYSICIANS.

Admiranda canunt sed non credenda

Cato. Distich

L O N D O N :

Printed by T. Gardner, for W. BICKERTON,
at Lord Bacon's Head without Temple Bar
and at his Shop at Eton College. 1737.


[Opening page]

[Wood carving]

A CRITICAL DISSERTATION ON THE MANDRAKE, &c. S I R, THE uninterrupted Course of Friendship that has always subsisted between us, join'd to the good Opinion you are pleased to entertain of me, puts it out of my Power to disobey your Commands : And I think I can't give you a stronger Proof of that Influence you have over me, than in complying to give you my Sentiments on the Mandrake of the Antients. But in the mean time I can't help accusing you of an unfriendly Piece of Severity, in im- [4-5] posing upon me a Task so unequal to my present Situation, in which I can neither have Access to Books, nor indeed enjoy that uninterrupted Freedom of Thought which the Intricacy of the Subject seemsto require. However, as all Considerations ought to give Place to that of Friendship, I shall endeavour to satisfy your Request: and if the Method in which I treat the Subject will afford you the least Satisfaction, I shall think my time very happily employ'd. The most antient Book now in the World is that of the Old Testament, preserved by a particular Providence through a Series of Accidents by which Millions have perished; and I believe it is owing to some whimsical Notions about the Mandrakes of Reuben mention'd Gen. xxx. that so many absurd and ridiculous Opinions have been advanced at different times relating to this Plant. But as that History has given no Foundation upon which they could possibly build such wild Conjectures, it would be unreasonable as well as unjust to suspect the Veracity of it. ___ Moses, the most excellent of all Historians, relates this History with a Ca ndor, so agreeable to that native Pu-rity which adorns his Writings, that it is [5] impossible to conceive that he had the least Design of imposing upon Posterity.___ If a Cheat or Imposition of this kindhad once got footing in the World, we should have met with heavy Accusations against him in all the Writings of Antiquity; but the contrary is evident, as they all mention him, as a Writer of great Eminence and Veracity, a most famous Lawgiver, and an excellent Man. † If we consider how little we know ofthe Antiquities of those Nations, who flourished nearest the Times in which Moses wrote, it will appear no great Wonder that we are now perfectly ignorant of the Nature and Species of a Plant, whose original Name is hardly known. We have only some Fragments of the Chaldaic Philosophy preserved by different Writers, and their Botany, if it were still extant, would in all Probability afford us no great Satisfaction. The Egyptian Learning is that from which we might have expected the greatest Assistance in determining the present Enquiry. Antiquity [EDGENOTE:] † The Author is not ignorant of what Longinus, Apion, &c. have said, but as their Accusations have been already fully answered by the most eminent Writers, it is not worth while to regard them. [6-7] mentions their Learning with the utmost Veneration. Macrobius says, that they were the most learned People in the World, and calls them in one Place, Omnium Philosophiæ Disciplinarum Parentes (a), and in another Place, Solos omniumrerum divinarum conscios (b). But that which raises in us the grandest Ideas of the Egyptian Literature, is that Testimony given of it in Scripture, where in order to display the Wisdom of Solomon, it is said to have exceeded all the Wisdom of theChildren of the East, and all the Wisdom of Egypt. (c) Tho' these are sufficient Testimonies of the Learning of this People, it is evident that there is nothing of it remaining that in any degree comes up to those Encomiums conferr'd upon it by the best Writers in Antiquity. ___ We know nothing of their Theology till it was sunk to the lowest Degree of Stupidity, and render'd them justly the Jest and Contempt of all other Nations. Rome itself, the Seat of all Idolatry and Superstition, had so mean an Opinion of their religious Rites and Ceremonies, that Alexand. ab Alexandro tells us, the States had even prohibited their Introduction a- [ENDNOTE:] (a) In Somn. Scipion p. 74. (b) Saturnal. p. 222. (c) I King. Ch. iv. ver. 29. [7] mong them ; (a) And Fuvenal, in order to display the contemptible Opinion he had of their Wisdom in paying Adoration to such low Object as Garlick and Onions, addresses then with this Satyrical Expression: O Sanctas Gentis ! quibus hæc nascuntur in hortis Numina. (b) Their Hieroglyphical Learning, which has made so great Noise in the World, is the only remaining Proof of that Science for which they were so eminently distinguish'd. The Learned Pierius has with great Diligence and Application endeavour'd to vindicate the Importance ofthose mysterious Representations, and collected under their several Figures, all that the Egyptians meant to express by them, but notwithstanding all his Labour, it is greatly to be feared, that the utmost degree of their Probability amounts only to Conjecture. Pierius (c) accordingly takes Notice, that the Mandrake repres ented a mong the Egyptians a sleepy Person, and an amorous Potion. He also observes that it was used for the Hieroglyphick of Joy, and quotes Xenophon, who in his Sympo- [ENDNOTE:] (a) Genial Dierum, Lib. 2. p. 88. (b) Satyr. vi (c) De Sacris AEgypt. Lit. Lib. 58. cap. 37, &c. [8-9] siums makes Socrates say, Vinum non alitern Merori mederi, quam Mandragora hominibus, letitiamque non aliter excitare, quam Olium inspersum igni flammam. But that which gain'd the Egyptians the most universal Esteem was their Knowledge in Medicine. Manctho says, that several of their Kings of the first Dynasty composed several Books of Anatomy. __Pliny ascribes to them the Invention of Medicine, (a) which it is certain, they knew long before the Grecian Æsculapius, on whom that vain-glorious People have conferr'd the Honour, and according to Custom enroll'd him among the Number of their Gods. __ It is upon this Account that Lactantius very justly censures the Greeks, when he says of Æsculapius, Quid fecit aliud divinis honoribus Dignum, nisi quod Sanavit Hyppolytum? (b) Diogen. Laertius says, [pantas anthropos aigbitios idtrois einai] (c) that all the Egyptians were Physicians; and Pliny tells us that the Physicians of that Nation were employ'd at Rome, in the time of Claudius, to cure a Disease which till then was un- [ENDNOTE:] (a) Hist. Nat. Lib. 29. cap. z. (b) Lact. de. Falf. Religion. p. ii. Cant. (c) In Vit. Platon. [9] known to the Romans. (c) He calls it the Mentagra, from the manner of its Invasion, and seems to be the same with the modern Tetter or Ring-worm. The Kings of Egypt were great Encouragers of Learning, but those of the Ptolemean Race exceeded all their Predecessors in this Particular. ___ The Alexandrian Library was a most magnificent Monument of their Affection for Letters, and if that most valuable Collection of Books had not been destroy'd by the Saracens, we had been by this time perfectly acquainted with all the Learning in the World. ___ A Library consisting of 700,000 Volumes must have contained all the Writings which were then extant ; and with them we have lost that Light into Antiquity, which would have determined not only this, but many other Difficulties, which it is likely we shall ever be unable to unfold. ___ The religious Zeal of this barbarous illiterate People has done irreparable Injury to the Republick of Letters. It has render'dour Knowledge of the most ancient Account of Things imperfect, uncertain, and obscure, and has been the main Cause of [ENDNOTE:] (c) Hist. Nat. lib. xxvi. Cap 1. [10-11] all that Passion and Animosity which has subsisted among the Learned in all Ages. As to the Mathematical Learning of Egypt, it is not to be questioned. The most ancient Greek Writers ingenuously confess that all that Knowledge in Geometry, which overspread Greece, and rende r'd them the most illustrious Mathematicians in the World was at different times imparted to them by the Egyptian Priests. And it is demonstrably true that Greece was indebted to other Nations for all that Knowledge which for many Years made it the Scene and Theatre of Arts and Sciences. ___ It is from this Source that we must derive all that can illustrate the present Subject, the Greeks being the only Writers now remaining that have left us any Account of the Mandrake. Yet if we consider how long it was before that polite Nation made any tolerable Advances in Letters, it will appear evident that their Authority alone is not sufficient to determine the Point. However we shall give you an Account of their Botanick Writers, and make such Observations on them as the nature of the of the Subject seems to require. Let us then begin with their most ancient Poet Orpheus, whom Eusebius makes cotemporary with Gideon, Judge of Israel [11] (a). This Man is celebrated through a Antiquity for his extraordinary Skill in Poetry and Musick, and hence is said to have moved not only Men and Beasts, but even the very Stones themselves. Horace alludes to his Excellency therein, when he says, Unde Vocalem temere insecutæ. Orphea Sylvæ. Arte Materna rapidos morantem Fluminum Lapsus, celeresque Ventos, Blandum et auritas fidebus canoris, Ducere quercus (b) Pausanias (c), Diodorus Siculus, and others (d) say expresly that he travelled into Egypt, and brought from thence all those Rites and Superstitions which afterwards overspread Greece. Aristophanes the Comedian mentions Orpheus as the first who taught the Greeks to abstain from killing of Beasts, and instructed them in their religious Rites. Orphus medgar teletas themin ?atedixe, phonon t' apechesthai] Equidem Orpheus ritusme Docuit & cædibus abstinuisse. (e) This doctrine no doubt Orpheus learn'd from the Egyptians, during his Residence [ENDNOTE:] (a) Præparat. Evangel. lib. I. (b) Od. xii. lib. I. (c) In Attic. (d) Diod. Sic. lib. iv. (e) [footnote in Greek]. Act.iv. Scen. 2. [12-13] among them, and is the first upon Record that recommended the same to the Practice of his Countrymen, who according to ancient Custom worshipped their Gods with all kinds of Sacrifices. The ancient Egyptians were you know averse to bloody Sacrifices, and could never be induc'd to follow the Practice of other Nations in this Point, tho' many Attempts had been made by the Ptolemies to introduce it among them. They worshipped their Gods as Macrobius observes Precibus & Thure solo, only with their Prayers and Frankincense. (a) Orpheus is not only famous in Antiquity for introducing new Rites and Ceremonies into the Worship of the Gods, but what is most for our purpose, is said to be the first who wrote on the Virtues of Plants. Pliny says that he was Primus omnium quos Memoria novit, qui de herbis curiosius aliqua Prodidit. (b) However Le Clerc (c) observes that Pliny in this place, does not mean to signify that Orpheus writ with Accuracy and Judgement, but rather intimates that he wrote with a deal of Superstition, to [ENDNOTE:] (a) Saturnal lib. Prim. Cap. 7. (b) Hist. Nat. lib. xxv. Cap. 2. (c) Hist. de la Medicin. Cap. 24. [13] which the Genius of those early times, was extreamly addicted, and we have Reason to credit this Conjecture, because Pausanias informs us that Orpheus pass'd for a great Magician (a). There are some Pieces ascrib'd to him still extant, out of which Mr. Le Clerc has quoted some Passages relating to the Virtues of certain Plants, and the Cure of particular Diseases: But we have been long ago fully assur'd that these and other such like Compositions are spurious, tho' they be very Ancient, being ascrib'd to him in the time of Cicero, who fathers them upon Cercops. And we have the Authority of Aristotle on our side, who says that it was universally believ'd in his time, that there were none of his genuine Writings in the World. The next ancient Writer in Botany after Orpheus was his Scholar Musæus, whom some Authors will have to be his Son. (b) Aristophanes in the place already mention'd ascribes to him, the teaching Men Remedies for Diseases, and Pliny mentions him with Hesiod for celebrating the Polion of the Ancients. (e). ___ Homer has also in many places of his Poem treat- [ENDNOTE:] (a) In Eliac. (b)[footnote in Greek] (c) Hist. Nat lib. xxv. Cap. z. [14-15] ed of the Nature of Plants, and describes with great Accuracy the Grecian Heroes applying proper Remedies to the Wounds of their Followers, and particularly mentions the Molly as an effectual Preservative against Inchantments, and Savin as capa ble of Causing Barrenness. Tis true Homer has wrote nothing professedly on the Subject, but as a Poet brings these Things occasionally into the Body of his Poem, in order to describe the Manners and Customs of those early times. The next eminent Person that claims a Place here is Pythagoras, whom Pliny says was the first, qui Volumen de earum effectu composuit. (a) This Philosopher appears to have been a very inquisitive Person, and fond of every Opportunity to render his Knowledge universal. With this Design he travell'd into Egypt (b) the Seat of Arts and Sciences, and there instructed himself in all their Mysteries.___He convers'd also with the Magi from whom he seems to have borrow'd manyof his Opinions. ___ As to his Knowledge in Physick, it is not to be doubted but he deriv'd that intirely from the Egyptians, [ENDNOTE:] (a) Hist. Nat. lib. xxv. Cap. 2. (b) Diog. Laer. in Vita Pythag. [15] who were particularly famous for their extraoardinary Skill therein. But if we may judge of the Extent of his Knowledge in Physick by the small Fragments still remaining, there will be no great Reason to admire him for the Progress he made in it. There is no thing which more evidently shews the gross Superstition of the Physicians in those early Ages than the Notions of this Philosopher ; Some of which, I shall give You here in the words of Laertius. (a) He says, [to de spthµa einai zagthna egnephali] &c. Semen esse Cerebri Stillam, quæ in se calidum contineat vaporem. Hæc vero dum infunditur Utero, ex Cerebro Saniem et humorem Sanguinemq. profluere. Ex quibus, Caro Nervi Ossa, pili totumq. consistat Corpus : Ex eo autem Vapore, Sensum atque animum constare. And speaking of the Formation of the Fetus, he affirms that it became solid in 40 Days, but that eleven, or nine, or more generally, ten Months, according to the Rules of Harmony were requisite to make the Fetus intirely compleat. (b) As to the Causes of Distempers, he learnt without question all that he has [ENDNOTE:](a) in Vit. Pythag. (b) ib. [16-17] said, concerning them from the same Masters, his Notions in this Point being equally ridiculous with the other. He says that the Air is fill'd with Souls, Demons and Heroes, that send Dreams, Signs, and Diseases to Men and Beasts, and that it is on their Account that Lustrations, and Expiations are preform'd. (a) However, tho' Pythagoras seems to have had little of the true Knowledge of Physick, Cornelius Celsus mentions him with Honour, and says that he and his Scholars were the first that brought Reasoning into Physick, and added that part to it call'd Phyhology, which treats of the Human Body in its several Parts, and whatsoever relates to it (b). Pliny (c) whose Authority in this Respect cannot well be question'd, says that Pythagoras compos'd a Book on the Magical Vertues of Plants, which he says was ascribed by some to Cleemporus a Physician. (c) [ENDNOTE:] (a) Totum Aera plenum esse eosque & Dæmones, & Heroes existimari, atque ab his Hominibus immmitti Som- nia & Signa atque Morbos, neque solum hominibus, ve- rum & Pecudi bus ac Jumentis reliquis : Atque ad hos re- ferri Lustrationes & Expiationes, Divinationem omnem, & Vaticinia & cætera id genus, Diog. Laert. Vit. Pythag. (b) De Re Medica. llb. i. (c) Hist Nat. lib. xxiv. Cap. 17. [17] He also relates some extraordinary Powers ascribed to certain Plants by Pythagoras himself, and in particular mentions the Coriacesia, the Callicea, two Plants capable of turning Water into Ice, and also the Corinthas and Aproxis, the former as an effectual Cure for the Bite of a Serpent, and the latter as remarkable for kindling Fire at a considerable Distance, like the Naphtha or Babylonish Bitumen. (a) What these Plants are we know not, nor is it easy to form Conjectures about them, having lost all knowledge of the superstitious Learning of the Magi, from whom it is certain our Philosopher had learned all that he knew relating to the Magical Virtues of Plants. His Followers are also recorded in Antiquity for joining Magic to Physick ; Diogenes Laertius has writ their Lives, whom if you like to consult you will find a great deal more relating to theirMedicine in the Life of Empedocles the most emmient of all his scholars. Pythagoras, is said to be the first who confer'd on the Mandrake the name of Anthropomorphon, but upon what Foundation we know not. Yet I believe it is upon his Authority alone, that such a [ENDNOTE:] (a) Hist. Nat. lib. xxiv. cap. 17. [18-19] Number of strange Conceits have been currently related about it; and in all probability gave birth to that common practice of imposing upon the Ignorant the Briony and other Roots cut by Art into such a Form: And no doubt the Mandrakes now at London, are such a knavish piece of Imposture, because we are sure that the Mandrake has no more Title to that of Anthropomorphon, than the common Carrot, and Parsnip, or any other Plant whose Root is bifurcated. After Pythagoras and his Disciples comes Democritus, who having spent his Estate in travelling to see the most learned Men, and instruct himself in all the curious Learning of the East, compos'd a Bookon the Nature of Vegitables, which is of ten mention'd by Pliny, and censur'd by him as containing very monstrous and incredible Stories. (a) This Author in another place (b) gives us a Remedy or Composition of Democritus's to have five Children. It consists of Pine-apples bruis'd with Honey, Myrrh, Saffron and Palm wine, adding afterwards a Simple, which he calls [ENDNOTE:] (a) Hist. Nat. lib. xxv. cap. 2. (b) Hist. Nat. lib. xxiv. cap. 17. [19] (a) Theombrotion, and Milk. From these and other things related by Pliny, it is evident that the Writings of Democritus were full of such trifles and ridiculous Stories, and seems to have given himself little trouble in examining into the natural Properties of Vegitables. However many eminent writers mention his Name with Honour. Petronius says, that he drew Juices from all manner of Herbs, and spent his Life in making Experiments upon Stones and Plants; (b) and Celsus calls him, Vir jure magni Nominis, (c) a person that had deservedly a great Repu tation. Diogenes Laertius has given us the titles of several of his Books concerning Philosophy, Physick, and Geometry, which are all now lost. ___ There are still extant some Pieces concerning natural Magick ascrib'd to him, but they are universally look'd upon as spurious. [ENDNOTE:] (a) Caussinus says, that this Plant is call'd Semnion a potentiæ majestate, that it was frequently eat by the Kings of Persia against all Disorders of the Body and Infirmities of the Mind, and that it is of a most fragrant Smell. De Symbol. Ægypt. Scient. lib. x. p. 594. (b) Herbarum omnium Succos expressit, & ne Lapidum Virgultorumq. vis lateret, ætatem inter experimenta consumpfit. Petron. in Satyra. (c) De re Medic. lib. i. C 2 [20-21] The next Writer we are to mention as suitable for our purpose is Aristotle who flourish'd above 350 Years before Christ. He was a very eminent Person, and had by means of his Scholar Alexander the Great, more Opportunities than any man of searching into the Nature of Vegitables. He was supply'd with all the Productions of Aha at a very considerable Expence (a) and no doubt made many curios Ob- servations on the nature of Plants, but as he has consider'd them more as a Philosopher than a Physician we can expect no great things from the Writing of this eminent Author, even if we had them intire. Of all that he writ concerning Plants there are only two Books remain- ing, which fall short of that Accuracy and Exactness in which it is reasonable to suppose Aristotle left them. ___ They have pass'd so many Translations, suffer'd so many considerable Alterations, thro' the Ignorance and Pedantry of their Transcribers, that you must not expect to meet wit the Knowledge and exact Judgment of one whom Macrobius says was ignorant of nothing. (b) [ENDNOTE:] (a) Plin. Hist. lib. viii. cap. 16. (b) Videtur mihi vir tantus ignorare potuisse. InSomnium Scipion. p. 146. [21] You know very well how many Years the Works of this Philosopher lay bury'd under ground, and what Injuries they suffer'd by this Means. Hence it is that they abound with many Contradictions and Difficulties that have perplex'd his Readers to this very Day; and for these Reasons it is that some learned Men have ascrib'd this Work of Aristotle's to his Scholar Theophrastus who is justly censur'd for his Credulity in ascribing the Virtues of Plants to Magical Powers. (a) To Aristotle succeds his Scholar Theophrastus, who has great Ecomiums conferr'd upon him by the Ancients. (b) Pliny calls him Hominem in Eloquentia tantumut nomen divinum inde invenerit, and Alexander ab Alexandro says that he was Vir præstabeli Sapientia, & in Rebus Physicis & Mathemaricis Magna Doctrina & Estimatione. (c) He w rote ten Books on Plants which are come to our Hands, but as he considers them chiefly as a Naturalist with respect to their Growth, Termination, and the Parts whereof they consist, there will be no [ENDNOTE:] (a) Gesner. Bibliothec. (b) Hist. Nat. in prefat. ad Vespasian. (c) Genial. Dierum. lib. ii. p, 80. [22-23] great Foundation to build any lasting Superstructure on which he has said of the Mandrake. There are only four places in his Historia Plantarum, where he makes mention of this Plant, and in one only considers the Medicinal Properties of it; the Leaves as a Remedy for Ulcers, and the Roots sliced and beat up with Vinegar as useful in Diseases of the Joints, to procure Sleep, and to be given in Love Potions (a) In other places he describes this Plant, but very inacurately, yet in particular takes notice of some superstitious Ceremonies which were wont to be perform'd at the time of gathering or cutting of it. (b) This Ceremony is too remarkable not to deserve a place here; It is as follows : The Mandrake was circumscrib'd three times with a Sword whilst another cut it down towards the West. They were also to dance round it, and to talk many things [peri aphodision]. However we must acknowledge that Theo- [ENDNOTE:] (a) [footnote in Greek] . Hist. Plant. Lib. IX. cap. 10. (b) Lib. IX. chap. ix. sub sinem, [footnote in Greek] [23] phrastus is far from giving credit to suchidle Conceits, and plainly tells us that he relates them as such; yet it is a very convincing Proof that the Botany of those Times was wholly built upon Magical whimsies. It is true our Author in the place already cited asserts the Efficacy of the Mandrake in procuring of Sleep, and as a neccessary Ingredient in all Philtres or Love Potions. What Reason the Ancients had to imagine that the Leaves or Roots of this Plant were really necessary in such Circumstances, is no where to be found among their Writings, but as the Greeks, who are the only People that have left us any Account of the Mandrakes, reciev'd all their medical Knowledge from the most phantastical Nation in the World, we may reasonably suppose that this Notion was deriv'd from the same Fountain. Theophrastus is the first Writer who has ascrib'd these Properties to the Mandrake, and they have been ever since continu'd by his Successors in Botany upon his Authority alone, yet many more have been added by Dioscorides whose Account of the Mandrake you will see by and by, How far the Authority of Theoprastus is sufficient to determine the matter will admit [24-25] admit of some Dispute, that part of his Writings being now lost, which would have been of considerable Service in adjusting the Difficulty: Besides it is evident that his Historia Plantarum is not the same with that which render'd Theopharastus so universally esteem'd among all the Writers in Antiquity. ___ The Injuries of Time and Ignorance of Transcribers have let in innumerable Errors into this Book, which the famous Daniel Heinsius has with great Judgement endeavour'd to amend in his elaborate Edition of Theophrastus. ___ All that can be establish'd on the Authority of Theophrastus is this, that the Mandrake in his time was generally used for those Purposes already mention'd, and grounded upon no better Foundation than that of the Tradition of former times. The last of the Grecian Writers we have to consult on this Point is Dioscorides who was Physician to Cleopatra, the great Queen of Egypt. (a) He has left us Six Books on the Materia Medica, wherein he [ENDNOTE:] (a) Tho' Salmasius opposes this Opinion, there is good reason to think that he has carry'd the Point too far, having no other Foundation to sup- port his Hypothesis, than that founded upon the Opinion he had of Pliny's Candor. [25] has given a particular Relation of all the Virtues ascrib'd to the Mandrake in his Time. His Book is not without very pal- pable Errors, many of which have been corrected by his Commentator Mathiolus; But let that be as it will, we are sure of one thing, that he is the first ancient Writer that we now have, that has ex professo enumerated the several Virtues of this Plant, and I think it is upon his Authority chiefly, that the same have been continued, at least ascrib'd to it, by many Botanick Writers since his time. The account which Dioscorides gives us of the Mandrake is as follows. "Mandragoram, aliqui Antimalum, alii Circæam vocant, quoniam videatur "Radix ad Amatoria conducere. Duo ejus genera: Niger quæ fæmina "existimatur, Thridacias appellatus, angustiorib us foliis, ac Minor- "ibus quam Lactucæ,virosis ac graveolentibus in terra Sparsis, "Mala gerit Sorbis Similia, pallida, odorata, in quibus Semen veluti "Pyrorum:Radicibus inherit bene magnis, binis ternisve interse convolutis, "nigris foris,intus albis, crasso cortice vestitus, caule viduus est.. "___ Alter candidus qui mas dicitur, nonnullis Norion Vocitatus: "Hujus Folia magna, alba læta, lævia ut Betæ. [26-27] "Betæ. Mala quam alterius duplo majora, colore in Crocum inclinante, (a)jucunde cum gravitate quadam olentia quorum Pomorum cibo Opiliones aliquantum Soporantur. Radix alterius Similis, major & candidior, orbata et hæc caule." (b) This Description of Dioscorides Mandrake appears to be very full and complete, and fixes the Genus to which it properly belongs, tho I find Mr. Ray has without sufficient Foundation changed its Place, and transplanted it among those of the Bacciferous kind. (c) Surely there is a very remarkable Difference to be made between Plants of the Pomiferous and Bacciferous kind, the one bearing Fruit of a very large, and the other of a very small Size. ___ It is true Mr. Ray acknowledges that there are some of these pretty large, and particularly mentions the Pomum Amoris and the Mala Insana as such. But the Mandrake of Discorides is evidently of the Pomiferous kind, and ought to be restor'd to that species to which it [ENDNOTE:] (a) Here Ruellius has render'd Dioscorides inconsistent with himself by translating the word [en ode] in this Sense, which ought to have been translated Valde whiche? in Composition often Signifies. (b) Lib. iv. Cap. Edit. Ruellian. (c) Hist. Plant. Lib. xiii. Cap. 16. [27] more properly belongs, as Mr. Ray's Observation about the different Dispositions of the Bark does not appear to be universally true, tho it was upon this Account that he was led to place this Plant among those of the Bacciferous kind. Dioscorides having in this accurate manner describ'd the Male and Female Mandrake, goes on to enumerate their Virtues, of which he has given a very large Account, and plainly shews that is was a Plant of general use among the Medicine of the Ancients, tho the present Practice knows nothing of it. Our Author as follow'd Theophrastus in ascribing to the Mandrake a Narcotick Quality, and tells us that the juice of it boil'd in Wine was us'd in obstinate Watchfulnes, and to deaden the sense of Pain in Amputations by stupifying the Patient. ___ I believe it is upon their Authority that the ancient Writers in Botany have almost unanimously agreed in placing the Mandrake among the Number of Soporiferous Remedies. Yet I find that the famous Lyncæus, Professor of Botany at Rome, eat a large Mandrake in the Presence of a numerous Audience without being in the least dispos'd to sleep. The same Experiment was afterwards often try'd by [28-29] Terrentius with the same Success. (a) And we are pretty sure by the Description he has given of the Mandrake he eat, that it was the same with that describ'd by Dioscorides. But perhaps one may object that the Difference of the Climate might have occasion'd the Loss of its narcotick Qualities. It must be granted that different Digrees of heat will very considerably heighten or abate the Virtues of Plants, yet I can't think this Objection will prove of great Force in the persent Case, as some late Experiments and Observations on the Nature of Vegitables are incontestable Proofs of the contrary. ___ I am rather inclin'd to believe that Dio- Scorides was ignorant of the true Virtues of this Plant, and mention'd its narcotick Qualities in Compliance to current Tradition, not as a Truth to which he himself gave any Manner of Credit. If we allow the Mandrake to be such a powerful Narcotick as to deaden Pain and stupify the Senses according to Dioscorides, it will appear very strange that Rachel should so eagerly importune Leah for a Plant that would have prov'd of per- nicious Consequence to her. ___ Give [ENDNOTE:] (a) Terrent, Not, in Hernand. de Plant. Mexican. Lib. viii. Cap. 28. [29] me I pray thee of thy Sons Mandrakes. (a)Here Rachel asks them with a kind of Impatience and Desire, like one who is extravagantly fond and eagerly covetous of satiating his Appetite with some delicious Morsel. Dioscorides also ascribes an Emetic Property to the Mandrake, and says that one Scruple of the Juice, will like Hellibor bring up by Vomit black Bile and viscid Humours, and that it will kill in greater Quantities. (b) ___ If so small a Quan- tity of the Juice of this Plant is capable of producing such surprising Effects, it is something strange that the Eastern Nations should account it among the Number of their most delicious Fruits, as it appears to be in the Case of Rachel just now mention'd. ___ But as we have only the Authority of Dioscorides in this Point there is great Reason to question its Veracity, and may possibly be one of those tradio- nary Virtues ascrib'd to it in his time, which his Observations could not then perhaps contradict. You know that Dioscorides is not the only Writer on the Materia Medica, who [ENDNOTE:] (a) Gen. Ch. xxx. v. 14. &c. (b) Succus duobus obolis ex Mulso potus ut Veratrum, per Vomitiones, bilem atram, Pituitam extrahit : verum potu largiore Vita adimitur. 16. [30-31] may be justly censur'd for the Crime of Credulity. It is a Vice that has spread it self far and near, and got such deep Root among the Writers of this Class, that it is a very common thing with them to ascribe innumerable Virtues to Plants, which after repeated Trials have been found absolutely false. However, I must say that I know of no modern Writer whatsoever that has been so credulous as to follow Dioscorides in this Point, tho they have been too ready to copy after him in many other. Among other Virtues ascrib'd to the Mandrake by our Author there is one, which has always been allow'd ; that is, of being a great Cooler, for which Reason the College have very wisely given it a Place in the Ungent Populneum of the Shops, and Dioscorides tells us that it was of frequent Use in Inflammations of the Eryhpilatous kind, for which he commends it as an excellent Remedy, and is no doubt as suitable a Medicine in these Cases as the Housleek and Cream of the present Age.a) Having in this cursory Manner examin'd the Grecian Writers of Botany, and after all our Labour found nothing upon which [ENDNOTE:] (a) Ib. [31] we can build any tolerable Superstructure; it remains that we should search into other channels for the Discovery of the Point in Question. ___ If Greece, Polite Greece, once the Scene and Theatre of all the Learning in the World, is unable to supply us with proper Materials to ground our Enquiries upon, where are we to ex- pect them? ___ The Romans who engross'd all the Learning of that Nation, were for many Years after the building of their City, so intent about the Affairs of Government, that they gave themselves no Time to study the Politer Sciences of Grecee. ___ Their Government was founded upon Violence, and requir'd another kind of Knowledge to support it. ___The Studies and Employments of that warlike People, consisted in Fighting and Routing their Enemies. Ovid frankly confesseth the Aversion of his Country-men to Letters, and gives us a beautiful Description of the Characters of his Ancestors in the following Lines. Qui bene pugnavit, Romanas noverat Artes Mittere qui potuit Pila, disertus erat. (a) [ENDNOTE:] (a) Fast. Lib. iii. v. 203. Besides, [32-33] Besides, it is evident from Pliny that the most rigid and severe among the Ro- mans were really afraid of the Grecian Arts. ___ They thought that they would let in Luxury and Effeminacy among them, corrupt the Manners of their Youth, and impair that Strictness of Virtue, and Severity of Morals, to which they ow'd the Extent of their Conquests. ___ Cato the Elder declaims bitterly against the Grecian Letters, and tells his Country-men that whenever they are introduc'd, they will spoil and corrupt all, (a) therefore advises his Son Marcus only to look into the Grecian Letters, but not to learn them. (b)This rigid old Roman had contracted so strong an Aversion to the Learning of Greece, that he even extended it so far as to caution his Country-men against the Admission of Grecian Physicians into the Common Wealth, and in order to gain his Point with as little Opposition as possi- ble, had barely propagated a Report that [ENDNOTE:] (a) Quandocunq. ista Gens suas literas dabit omnia corrumpet. Plin. Hist. Lib. xxix. Cap I. (b) Bonum sit eorum Literas insoicere non perdiscere Plin. ib. [33] they had sworn to kill all the Romans with their Medicine. (a) But tho Cato was at first thus strangely prejudic'd against the Learning of Greece, we are assur'd by Quintilian that he learn'd Greek in his old Age, (b) and Lord Bacon very jsutly calls it a Judgement upon him for his former Blasphemy. (c) The Romans had for many Years no Knowledge of the true Art of Healing. ?? Their Medicine consisted of Charms and Fascinations, Incantations and Amulets. We have still remaining a very remarkable Instance of the state of Physick among the Romans in that famous Book of Cato's de re Rustica, which is also an irrefraga- ble Proof of the gross Superstition and Ignorance of these times. ___ This great Patriot in order to render himself in all manner of ways serviceable to the Com- mon wealth, compos'd a Treatise of Physick for the Benefit of himself and Family, in which he recommends the constant Repetition of these Words fro the Cure of a Luxation ; Motas, væta, daries dardaries, dissunapiter usq. dum coeant. In [ENDNOTE:] (a) Jurarunt inter se Barbaros necare omnes Medicina. Plin. Hist. Nat. Lib. xxix. Cap. I. (b) Inst. Lib. xii. Cap. I I. (c) Advancement of Learning, Book I. [34-35] a Fracture he would have the Limb bound up, and the following Words sung every Day. Huat hanat, ista, pista, fista, dominabo, damnastra, & Luxata. The other part of his Practice seems as extraordinary as the former ; for he blames Diet, and Abstinence in Diseases, and upon every Occasion prescribes, Pidgeons, Ducks and Hare's Flesh, because easy of Digestion, but adds, that they are apt to make the sick Man dream. (a) Pliny says that he liv'd to the Age of 85, (b) and Plutarch, who has no great Opinion of his Medicine, says that his long Life was intirely owing to a Course of Exercise and Temperance, and very justly laughs at those who would ascribe it to his skill in Physick. (c) If the grave Cato, whom Pliny distinguishes with the Title of Omnium honarum Artium Magister, (d) makes so ridiculous a Figure in the Art of Healing, what must we expect amongst his Contemporaries, who had neither his Masculine Parts, nor the same Opportunities of examining ito the truth of things? The only Botanick Writers among the Romans, as appears from Pliny, (e) were [ENDNOTE:] (a) Cat. de re Rustica, Cap. 60. (b) Hist. Nat. Lib. xxix. Cap. I. (c) In Vit. Caton. (d) Hist. Nat. Lib. xxv. Cap. 2. (e) Ib. [35] Cato, C. Valgius, and Lenaus, Pompey's Freed-Man. As to the Writings of Cato I refer you to his Book de re Rustica, and to Pliny who cites his Opinions in many Places of his Natural History. What Valgius did towards the Improvement of Botany we can't certainly judge at this distance of time, but if Pliny may be cre- dited, there is good Reason to think that he carry'd his Knowledge therein to no great Perfection : Lenus was a Man of great Eminence, and a learn'd Gram- marian. He was employ'd by Pompey the Great to translate the Writings of Mithri- dates King of Pontus,who had made Physick his chief Study the greater part of his Life, in which he made so great Progress, that Pliny remarks, that the Con- quest of this Prince did not only serve to aggrandize the Roman Name, but to preserve their Health and Lives; (a) and in particular takes Notice that till then the Ro- mans had no Knowledge of this Science.(b) ___ If it was so late before the Romans apply'd themselves to the Study of Medicine it is no wonder that we find not the least Mention in all their Writings of this [ENDNOTE:] (a) Vitæque ita prosuit non minus quam Reipubl. Victoria illa. Hist. Nat. Lib. xxv. Chap. 2. (b) Quo primum tempore hanc Scientiam ad nostros per- venisse animadverto. Ib. [36-37] Plant before the time of Pliny, who has only transcrib'd what Theophrastus and Dioscorides have said long before him. Pliny makes mention of the Mandrak in seven different places of his Natural History. ___ In the first he almost lite rally transcribes what Theophrastus and Dios- corides have left us upon the Subject, which I think cannot well be denied notwith- standing all that the Learn'd Salmasius (a) has said to the contrary. ___ I shall tran- scribe here the words of Pliny, and leave you to form what Judgement you please: " Mandragoram, alii Circeam Vocant. " Duo ejus genera, candidus qui & mas, " niger qui femina existimatur, angusti- " oribus foliis quam Lactucæ, hisutis & " (b) caulibus, radicibus binis ternisve ru- " fulis, intusalbis, carbosis tenerisque, pene " & cubitalibus. Ferunt mala avellanarum " Nucum Magnitudine, & iis femen feu " Pyrorum. ___ Album hoc alii Arfen, alii " Morion alii Hypophlomon vocant. Hujus " Folia alba, quam alterius latiora, (c) La- " pathi Sativæ. Cavent effosuri contrarium " ventum & tribus Circulis ante gladio cir- " cumscribunt ; postea fodiunt ad Occa- " sum Spectantes. [ENDNOTE:] (a) Præfat. ad Homonyma Hyles Iatricæ. (b) Sine caulibus. Dios. (c) Ut Betæ. Dios. "Od or [37] " Odor gravis ejus : Sed Radicis & " mali gravior (a) Potu quidem largiore " etiam moruntur. Bibtur et contra Ser- " pentes, & ante Sectiones Punctiones- " que ne Sentiantur. Bibitur et pro He- " lieboro duobus obolis in Mulso. " (b) It will appear evident to any one, that will give himself the Trouble to compare this Description of Pliny's Mandrake with that of Dioscorides, that it is the same in effect, and only differs in those places mark's in the Margin. He also ascribes the same Virtues to it that Dioscorides and Theophrastus have done, and takes Notice of that superstitious Ceremony which the Ignorance of those early times had introduc'd, relating to the manner of cutting or gathering of it, in almost the same words with the latter (c) Lavent effossuri contrarium Ventum, & tribus Circulis ante gladio circumscribunt, postea fodiunt ad occasum spectantes. (d) We have now consider'd the State of Botany amongst those Nations who were the most considerable for Arts and Sciences, and made such Observations [ENDNOTE:] (a) Dios. says nothing of the Smell of the Root. (b) Hist. Nat. Lib. xxv. Chap. 13. (c) Vid. p. 30. (d) Plin. Hist. Nat. Lib. xxv. Chap. 13. [38-39] thereupon as the Nature of the Subject requir'd. ___ We come next to enquire, First, Whether the Mandrake of Dioscorides is the same with that which we now have. Secondly, Whether it is the same with that which Rachel so eagerly requested of Leah. (d) Thirdly, Whether she desir'd it on the Account generally suppos'd by Interpreters of this Text of Scripture, that is, to render her capable of Conception. As to the first Enquiry, I think it will be universally granted, that the Man- drake of Dioscorides answers in every respect to the Description of that which we commonly have in our Physick Gardens. ___ This will appear evidently true to any one who will give himself the trouble to compare the Descriptions of this Plant, drawn by Gerara, Bauhine, Parkinson and others,with that of Dioscorides. ___ Tis true he has ascrib'd a great many Vertues to his Mandrake, which neither of these writers have so much as mention'd. But the Reason of this is plain. Dioscorides wrote on the Materia Medica at a time wherein Authors were too ready to report Things upon the Credit of others, who had no -better Foundation so support what they [ENDNOTE:] (d) Gen. Chap. xxx. v. 14, 15, & c. [39] asserted than that of common Tradition : But the Case was quite the reverse with those eminent Men. ___ They had all the Advantages of a truer Philosophy, and many Experiments and Observations, which the other could not in all proba- bility pretend to, I would not be thought to detract from the Merit of Dioscorides. I have great Esteem for his Book, and think that he justly deserves the Character confer'd upon him by Galen, (a) of being the first Writer who treated the Materia Medica with any tolerable Exactness : But there is no reason why we should implicitly give up all to the Authority of Dioscorides. He has had his day, and perhaps been more follow'd in points of Botany than any other ancient Writer whatsoever. ___ We are willing to give Dioscorides that Rank in Authority which he justly deserves ; this is all that his greatest Admirers can expect, both in Respect of him, and in respect of that Regard which we ought always to pay to Truth. 'Tis indeed very surprising to find all the Botanick Writers for many Years after Dioscorides unanimously concur in ascribing to the Mandrake all these Virtues conferr'd [ENDNOTE:] (a) De Simpl. Medic. Facultat. Lib. vi. [40-41] upon it by him. Hence no doubt it is, that the Commentators upon that Text in Scripture, which relates the History of Ruben's Mandrake, were led into an Error in imagining that Rachel requested those Mandrakes of Leah in order to render her capable of Conception. But I shall clearly prove that the Mandrake mention'd in Scripture could not be that mention'd by our Author. This is the second Proposition we have to disscuss, which we shall endeavour to prove by considering the Virtues of this Plant according to Dioscorides, and then by examining how far a Plant possessing those Properties is capable of answering such Intentions. ___ We have already taken notice of several Vertues ascrib'd to the Mandrake by Dioscorides, and made such Remarks upon them as appear'd then necessary. (a) And I think if there were no stronger Arguments to prove our Asser- tion than those already mention'd, they would be sufficient to any one who will allow himself to be convinc'd. But in order to render this as clear as the Nature of the subject will admit, we shall now examine the other Properties ascrib'd to the Mandrake by Dioscorides, which he de- [ENDNOTE:] (a p. 37. [41] delivers in the following Words, " Medicamentis Ocularibus, et his qui do- " lores finiunt, Pessis quoq ; emolientibus, " admiscetur : Semioboli pondre inditus " per se menses & partus expellit ; Subdi- " tus Sedi pro Balano, Somnificus est. " Radix ebur emollire fertur, quæ Senis " horis cum eo decocta sit : & ad accipi- " endam, quam effingere optaveris, for- " mam, ipsum facile præstat. ___ Folia " recentia convcnienter Oculorum Inflam- " mationibus, & Collectionibus, quas " Ulcera citarunt, cum polenta illinuntur. " Durities omnes, Suppurationes, Stru- " mas & Tubercula discutiunt. . ___ Trita " Radix Ignibus Sacris ex Aceto, & " Serpentium ictibus ex Melle et Oleo " Midetur. Strumas atque tubercula cum " aqua dissipat : Articulorum cruciatus " cum polenta Sedat. ___ Mala Soporem " afferunt olfactu, & etiam si mandan- " tur : item expressus ex iis Succus, ni- " mio tamen odore percussi, obmutescunt. " ___ Semen malorum potum Vulvas pur- " gat, appositumque cum Sulphure ignem " non experto rubra Feminarum profluvia " Sistat (a.") &c. He afterwards gives us the description of another kind of Mandrake call'd Mo- [ENDNOTE:] (a) Dios. Lib. iv. [42-43] rion, which according to Tradition will deprive one of his Reason if taken to the Quantity of a Dracham in any Vehicle whatsoever. (a) Here we have an Account of a Plant possessing very extroardinary, and very opposite Virtues, yet the Experience of many Ages has not been able to discover any other remarkable Efficacy in the Mandrake, than that arising from its cooling Properties. ___ But supposing the case to be quite the Reverse, it will appear evident, that the Mandrake of our Author could not be that which Rachel so eagerly requested of Leah. For by the account given of it in the writings of Dios- corides,it appears to be a Plant of a very deletirious Nature ; and he himself in another place, ranks it among the Number of such noxious Plants, and expressly tell us thatit will occasion a Paralysis, and such a profound Sleepiness as differs little from a Lethargy. Dioscorides in the Account already given, seems to have been very little ac- quainted with the true Vertues of the Mandrake ; or that which he knew must be very different from that which we have in [ENDNOTE:] (a) Tradunt eam in Pane, Offa. Obsoniove drachmæ poncere devoratam usum Rationis intercipere. Dios. Ib. [43] these parts of the world. But as there is no Foundation to think that it was diffe- rent from ours, we may fairly conclude that all those Vertues ascrib'd to it by Dioscorides were merely grounded upon the current Tradition of the times ; other- wise we must conceive a very mean opinion of Dioscorides's candor. ___ It has been remark'd in the course of this Dissertation, that the Greek writers in Botany were always fond of ascribing supernatural powers to Plants, and it is perhaps owing to this whimsical Notion, that so many ridiculous things have been recorded of the Mandrake. (a) Dioscorides himself seems to have fallen into this absurd way of thinking, or how shall we able to defend him when says the Root of the Mandrake will by 6 Hours boiling turn Ivory soft, so as to render it susceptible of any form? Or how shall we be able to account for what he says concerning the Seeds of the Mandrake, which he assures us, will, being apply'd, stop the rubra Feminarum profluvia with the addition of Sulphur, ignem non experto? Pliny tells us the same almost in the same words. (b) [ENDNOTE:] (a) Mandr agora Si bibatur, confestim Sopor insequitur, exolutio ac vehemens Veternus, nihil temere distans a Lethargo. Lib. vi. Cap. 16. (b) Nimia rursus Profluvia Sistet Semen cum vino & Sulphure. Hist. Nat. Lib. xxvi. Bap. 15. [44-45] We have now consider'd the Medicinal Virtues of this Plant according to Diosco- rides, and shewn how inconsistently he has enumerated them ; but there is still re- maining one particular Vertue ascrib'd to it, which requires a very strict Exami- nantion : That is, whether the Mandrake really possesses such Virtues as are necessary in Cases of Sterrility, and whether Rachel purchas'd them of Leah upon this account. This is the last thing we propos'd to examine, and that in which we are likely to meet with the Strongest Opposition, having the concurrent Testimony of many learned Men against us, especially those who have oblig'd the World with their Comments upon the Bible. But as they seem to have been over-rul'd by the Autho- rity of Great Names, they will not be found so formidable Antagonists as might well be imagin'd. ___ They seem to have over look'd the plain Meaning of Scrip- ture, and stumbled upon Solutions much more obscure and uncertain than that which they attempted to explain. ___ They rely intirely upon the uncertain Accounts of Theophrastus, Dioscorides and Pliny, who have only transmitted the Opinions of each other, without considering upon what Degree of Certainty they [45] advanc'd them ; and seem rather inclinable to err with those Great Men, than question the Veracity of any thing they have left us. ___ It is this Attachment to Great Names that blinds the Understanding, and slackens our Inquiries into the truth of things : Authority may incline the Will, but can never convince the Understanding. It is, Sir, owing to this blind Fondness for Antiquity that so many and ridi- culous things have been recorded of the Mandrake, some of which are even unworthy to be nam'd. But what surprises me still more is to find, that the Learned Grotius (from whose extraordinary parts we might have expected better things) has said so little on the subject, and like one lead away with the current Notion, only quotes this Sentence of Pliny to prove the Affirmative, Semen Mandragoræ potum Vulvam purgat : (a) Which plainly shows that he was of opinion that the Mandrake really possess'd those Virtues appropriated to it by the Ancients. ___ Pliny in this particular has certainly copied after Dioscorides,who has verbatim asserted the same (b)long before him. It is true Grotius knew [ENDNOTE:] (a) Hist. Nat. Lib. xxvi. Cap. 15. (b) Vid. p. 51. [46-47] very well all that the Greeks have wrote on the subject, but tells us that there are many Plants of that Name, and that their Virtues are variable according to the Cli- mate, and different ways of Culture. (a)Hence it appears what Sentiments Grotius had of the Mandrake, and how unwilling he was to dissent from the Authority of the Ancients. ___ We have already allow'd that the difference in Climates may considerably highten or abate the Vertues of Plants, and daily Experience plainly shews it. But what have the Followers of Grotius in this point, to answer for themsleves, when it can be clearly prov'd that in Spain and Italy, (hot Climates) the Mandrake grows to great Perfection, enjoys all the Advantages of Soil and Heat, yet never was known in these Countries to answer the Purposes alledg'd by him. As to what he says relating to the different Species of this Plant, I thin it is without any Foundation, for Dioscorides only mentions the Male and Female, and that call'd Morion which according to him is a Plant of very deleterious Nature, and we have already shewn that neither of these could [ENDNOTE:] (a) Eadem in alio natæ Solo, & alio paratu, aliued Valent. Annotat. ad Cant. Cantic. Cap. vii. v. 13. be [47] be the Mandrake purchas'd by Rachel: And the Moderns have no other Mandrake than the Male and Female commonly describ'd by Writers in Botany. It appears to me a kind of Paradox to imagine that a Plant so eminently remar- kable for its cooling Properties should in any Degree promote Conception. Galen (a) calls it cold in the third Degree, and Sennertus (b) gives it a place among poisonous Plants, and Bestows a whole Chapter about the Method of Cure, in which he differs little from that laid down by Dioscorides. ___ It is true, Philosophy leaves us here, and all our Reasonings however fine, and artfully spun out, are at best but lame and imperfect Guides ; and stand as evident Proof of the shallowness of Human Understanding. We know little of those dark and mysterious Causes which con- cur towards the Formation of the Embryo. These are Secrets only known to him, from whom nothing is hid. Leminus observing the insuperable Difficulties that attend Conjectures of this kind, endeavours to solve them by Reasons drawn [ENDNOTE:] (a) De Simpl. Mid. Facult. Lib. vii. (b) Lib. vi. Vol. 3. pag. 1095. Ed. Paris. [48-49] from the Difference of Climates. (a) He supposes that Rachel, residing in a Country where the Influence of the Sun is extreamly great, might possibly labour under a calida Uteri Intemperies, and in order to correct that Indisposition very reasonably had re- course to the Mandrake. ___ This would have been no good Solution of the point in Question, if we had any reason to suspect that Rachel was otherwise than is common to the Sex. But it is evident that Rachel labour'd under no Distempe- rature of the Uterus, much less that of Sterrility ; because the Scriptures mention soon after the birth of Joseph. Besides we have the same Authority to produce, that Leah's Mandrakes were of no Service to Rachel in promoting Conception, as she did not conceive thereupon ; for Leah bare Issachar, Zabulon and Dina before the birth of Joseph, which makes an Interval of about three Years at least. [ENDNOTE:] (a) In frigidis Humidisque Regionibus, atq ; in Utero humecto & Algido, tali quiddam perficere nequcat. sed in torrido æftuantique & exusto. Sic in Africa Hispania, Judæ &c. in quibus fere Regionibus mulieris adustos arentesque habent Uteros ac fervidos, tum squalidos ac Strigosos, non incommode hoc pomum adhibere posse crediderim, Herb. Bibl. Explicat. Cap. 2. In [49] Levinus Lemnius, having laid considerable Stress upon the hot and cold Intemperatures of the Ancients, is at great Pains to shew the Probability of his Supposition, that Rachel really labour'd under a Calida Uteri Intemperies : But as there is no foundation upon which he could possibly build so remote a Conjecture, we may very reasonably look upon it as mere Chimæra, and the idle Invention of his own Brain. ___ If Men were allow'd the Liberty of inventing Hypotheses to solve Difficulties, there is nothing in Nature, however latent and obscure, that would not be explain'd and illustrated upon the Hypothesis of some luxuriant Fancy or other. ___ This plainly appears to be the Case of our Author, who finding the different opinions of learn'd Men in this Point very uncertain and perplex'd, resolv'd with himself to reject them all at once, in order to make way for this imaginary Intemperature of his own. It must be allow'd that the Ancients have talk'd very largely of their hot and cold Intemperatures, and have erected one in almost every part of the Body ; in the Liver, Spleen, Kidneys, Womb, Brain, &c. For my own part, I know of no other Intemperature, than that arising from a quicker or slower circulation of [50-51] the Blood, which by encreasing or diminishing the Animal Secretions, may very probably produce such Indispositions as they without any manifest reason express'd by their Intemperatures. ___ But even in this Sense the Arguments of Lemnius will be of small Force to support his Hypothesis, as he strongly asserts the Narcotick Virtues of the Mandrake, and tells us, in what manner he himself was affected with te Effluvia of one lying in his Study, which render'd him so drowsy that he cou'd not recover himself out of it, till it was remov'd into another Place (a.) Now it is evident, that Lemnius must signify by his Intemperature some particular State of the Solids and Fluids, or it is a Word that carries along with it no Idea of the Thing meant. And if we allow that he understood by this Expression, allthat the Ancients have represented under it, the Whole amounts only to this, that [ENDNOTE:] (a) Cum autem Æstivis Mensibus (nam eo tempore Poma Mandragoræ se proferunt) Semel atwue iterum in Musco nost o amabilem ac Speciosum ejus Stirpis fructum negligenter collocassem, ita Somnolentus sum affectus, ut ægre sopor excuti posser. Cum autem obnixe obtinui, nec reationem tanti Veterni inire potui ; tandem cum quaquaversum demovissem Oculos, obulit se a tergo Pomum Mandragoræ, quo amoto, atque in alium locum translato, factus sum alacrior, atque torporem depuli, monemque Osciantiam discussi. Herbar. Bibl : Ex- plicat, cap. 2. Rachel [51] Rachel was of a hot Constitution, or to speak more Philosophically, that the Contractions of her Solids were elevated above the Ballance of Nature. ___ This is all that can reasonably be inferr'd, or justly concluded from the Calida Intem peris of Lemnius, taken in its full force, and utmost extent, which, when truly consider'd, is enough to overthrow his whole Hypothesis (even tho' we allow that it was with Rachel as he has imagin'd) while he asserts the Narcotick Qualities of the Mandrake. ___ You see, by the History just now mention'd, how much this Plant possesseth all the Virtues of Opium, and consequently most necessarily produce all its effects. What these would be in such a Constitution as is here suppos'd, is easily to be apprehended by those, who have been taught to reason justly on the Animal Oeconomy, or are acquainted with what one of the Ornaments of his Profession has writ, upon the Nature and Modus Operandi of Medicinal Simples of this kind. ___ It is true, some Apology may be made for Lemnius, as he liv'd in an Age, wherein Philosophy, and reasoning upon just and indisputable Principles, were hardly known. Sympathies, Antipathies, Occult Qualities, Subtile Matter, and such like unintellig ible Jargon, were the Foundation upon which the Writers [52-53] Writers of these times built and explain'd all the Phænomena of Nature. ___ But it is the peculiar Happiness of the present Age, to see it self rescu'd from the Bon- dage of such Enthusiastick Principles, and to have Philosophy grounded and illus- trated upon that which can only support it, viz. Experiments carefully made, and faithfully related. ___ Had our Author been acquainted with the Nature of Soporiferous Medicines, and their ways of acting, he would have soon discover'd the Improba- bility of his Hypothesis, and no doubt employ'd his thoughts in pursuit of one more agreeable to truth, or at least, one that cou'd have been supported by better and more forcible arguments. As to that account he gives of the Manner, in which he was affected, with the Effluvia of a Mandrake-Apple, I must declare, that I have no faith enough to believe, that his Sleepiness was occasion'd by means of Effluvia arising from it. There is no Man that does not find himself at times, without any evident cause, inclinable to fall into such agreeable Slumbers ; and it is not at all unlikely to imagine, that this was the Case of Lemnius. Who, recollecting what the Ancients have writ on the Narcotick Virtues of the Mandrake, immediately concluded that this [53] Lethargic Fit (as he calls it) was intirely owing to Effluvia arising from this pre- tended Soporiferous Apple. ___ It must indeed be granted, that Lemnius has the Authority of the Ancients in this Point, to produce in his Defence, but the greatest Authority must yeild, when Experiments often repeated, and carefully made, shew that it has no evident grounds to support it. We have already taken Notice of some Experiments made by Lyncæus Professor of Botany at Rome, and by Terrentius af- ter him, in order to ascertain the Narcotick Qualities of the Mandrake, and after all their attempts, were never able to discover any of those Effects, which Plants of the soporiferous kind constantly produce. And I think the Authority of these dili- gent and inqusitive Botanists, can't well be call'd in question, as their Experiments were made in publick, in the Presence of a numerous Audience, with all the Care and Caution imaginable. But in order to satifsy my self more fully about the Nar- cotic Virtues of the Mandrake, I made several Trials with the Root, Infusion and Tincture of that, which is commonly distinguish'd into Male and Female, and tho it was exhibited to different Animals in all these different forms, in pretty large Quantities, nothing ensued that could possibly. [54-55] sibly incline us to think that the Mandrake really possesseth any of those Properties resident in Plants of the Narcotic kind. It would take up too much Room to insert in this place the Remarks and Observations that occur'd to me during these several Trials, otherwise I had submitted them to the Judgment of the Publick at this very time ; however you shall soon see them in the same order in which they were made. The Case of Deusingius is almost Parallel to that of Lemnius. He exploded all the different Notions that had been set on foot to solve the Difficulties that attend an Explication of that Text in Scripture which relates the History of Rubens Man- drakes, and then gives his own Opinion in the following ludicrous Manner. "Sane, " si nugari in re Seria esset Animus, di- " cerem potius (Siquidem Poma Mandra- " goræ voce Doudaim intelligenda forent) " Rachelem præ tædio, quod ex amplexu " Mariti non conciperet Prolem, maluisse " quoque omne Desiderium concubitus " sibi perire, atque humc in finem Poma " illa Desiderasse, ad extinguendos Vene- " ris igniculos." Fasiculus Dissertationum Select. page 578. This is a Notion so very ridiculous and inconsistent, that it would be only distroy- ing of time to bestow one Moment in Confutation [55] Confutation of it, and deserves our Regard upon no other account than the Oddity of it, for which reason we have given it a Place here. In short, Commentators laying considerable Stress upon that Eagerness where- with Rachel desir'd Children, and finding all Antiquity concur in ascribing to the Mandrake such Virtues as are capable of promoting Conception, have almost una- nimously run into an Opinion, that Rachel could desire this Plant upon no other Account. ___ It cannot be deny'd, but Rachel's Passion for Children had carry'd be- yond all the Bounds of Modesty and Decorum. ___ Give me Children or else I die, is a full and convincing Proof of that Sorrow and Dispair into which her sterrility had thrown her ; and Jacob whom she had thus unreasonably reproach'd on that account, was at last oblig'd to give way to his Passion, and chastise her Impatience in the following pathetick Manner : Am I in Gods Place ? who hath withheld from thee the Fruit of the Womb ? Tho a Conduct like this of Rachels would appear very preposterous among the Women of any other Nation, yet it will admit of some degree of Alleviation among the Jews, who look'd upon the Want of Issue as the heaviest of all Cures, And Rachel upon [56-57] the Birth of Joseph was so sensible of the great Favours she had receiv'd from the Bounty of Heaven, that she immediately express'd her Acknowledgements in a Mixture of Gratitude and Transport, because God had taken away her Reproach. These arguments being fully weigh'd and consider'd, evidently shew, that Com- mentators have egregiously err'd, in explaining this Text of Scripture in the Sense I have mention'd. ___ It is true, the Septuagint have render'd the Word Dudain us'd in the Original by the Greek Word [Mandragoras], but what Affinity the one has to the other it not as yet agreed upon among those who are acquainted with the Oriental Languages. ___ All I can say is this, that upon examining several Versions of the Pentateuch, I find the Word Dudaim express'd by one, which in these dif- ferent Languages signifies some delicious and fragrant Fruit ; which is a Circum- stance that does not at all belong to the Mandrake of the Ancients, for Dioscorides and Pliny both affirm that it has a disagreeable Flavour. ___ This Conjecture is still further confirm'd from the Song of Solomon (a) wherein it is expressly said, the Mandrakes give a smell, &c. These are the only Places in Scripture where the [ENDNOTE:] (a) Chap. vii. Ver. 13. [57] Word Dudaim occurs in the Original, and if we may be allow'd to alter the Translation in one Place upon the Evidence and Authority of the other, the Sense will be ob- vious, natural and plain. St. Augustin was intirely of this Opinion, and strenu- ously asserts that Rachel did not purchase Ruben's Mandrakes in order to promote her Conception, but on Account of their Fragrancy and Smell. (b) These, Sir, are the Reasons that have ade me d[i]ffer in opinion from all other Writers on this Subject, and I think not without manifest and cogent Reasons. It is true, the distance of Time, together with the Loss of ancient Monuments of Learning, has render'd the Point difficult to be determin'd. We have lost the Ægyptian Botany, and the Grecian is not to be depended upon. Aristotle and Theo- phrastus are the most ancient Botanic Writers they have, and Dioscorides, who flourished many Years after, has in the Main follow'd their Steps, tho he has in many things improv'd upon them. ___ The Romans have left us nothing on the Subject, but what we have in Pliny, who seems to have transcrib'd from the Greeks all that he has said. ___ It is owing to these Misfortunes that learned Men, after all [ENDNOTE:] (b) August. lib. xxii. contra Faust. cap. 56. [58] their Enquiries, have not been able to determine what kind of Plant the Mandrake of the Ancients really was, nor discover any Modern one analogous to it. Many eminent Men and learn'd Critics have offer'd their Conjectures, but none have pre- tended to advance any thing with absolute Certainty. ___ The famous Ludolfus (a) has produc'd several plausible arguments to shew, that it is the Musa or Mauz of Syria. The Rabbins will have it to be the Fessamin, or Lilly: Others the Pala of Pliny upon account of its delicious Fruit. And Deusingius (b) is at great Pains to prove it to be a delicious kind of Melon, frequent on Syria and Ægypt. How far these different opinions will satisfy the Curious I know not, yet I think many Arguments might be advanc'd to prove their Uncertainty: However I hope that I have in some Measure answer'd your request, and if you think that I have treated the Subject with any tolerable degree of accuracy, I give you full liberty to dispose of it as you think proper, being indifferent about the Cen- sure of the World, whilst I meet with the Approbation of a Person of your emi- nent Merit among the Learned. I am &c [ENDNOTE:] (a) Comment. in Hist. Æthiop. page 141. (b) Fascicul. Differt. de Dudaim. F I N I S. [59] Shortly will be publish'd A Medico Practical Dissertation on the Use and Abuse of Blisters, wherein their Effects and Consequences in Accute and Chronic Diseases are clearly explain'd: And their perniceous Effects in some Febrile Symptoms me- chanically demonstrated, together with some Observations on the Commentaries of the Learned Dr. Friend, by the Author of the Critical Dissertation on the Man- drake of the Ancients. Non infrequenter enim fit, ut Medici arcanis fuis accepta ferant, quæ Suffragante tentum Natura, quo ad Afflictionum Mitigationem, vel totius Morbi Curationem evenerunt ; unde tam gloriose Smplicium & composi- torum Medicamentorum Encomia in libris practicis & botanicis prestant, quæ tamen plerymque omnen Spem et Expectationem tam Medici quam Ægrotantis fallunt atque destituunt. Fred. Hoffman. Medicin. Notional. Systemat. Tom. 3. page 21. ********************************************* B O O K S Printed for W. BICKERTON Poems on Several Occasions. viz. To a Gentle- man who requested a Copy of Verse from the Author. On Poverty. The Thresher's Labour. The Shunammite. Gratitude. A Pastoral. A Pastoral Elegry on the sudden Death of a beloved Friend. On a good Conscience. On Musick. On Richmond Park, and Royal Gardens. Avaro and Aman da. A Tale. In IV Canto's. The Absent Lover. An Ode to Death. Truth and Falshood. A Fable. On Mites. On the Queen's Grotto. On a Screen work'd in Flowers by her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange. On the Birth Day of his Royal highness the Duke of Cumberland. To the Rev. Dr. Friend, on his quitting Westminster School. On the Marriage of the Princess of Orange. To [60] To the Right Honourable the Lord Sunddon. A Jour- ney to Marlborough, Bath, Bristol, Salisbury, Portsmouth, Oxford, &c. Penelope to Ulysses Paraphras'd from Ovid. On her Majesty's Birth Day. Felix and Con- stance. A Tale, from Boccace. Imitations from Ho- race, &c. Of Friendship. On the Marriage of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. And on several other Subjects. By STEPHEN DUCK. To which is prefixed, an Account of the Author, By J. Spence, Professor of Poetry in the University of Oxon. The Second Edition. Ist. Mechanical Essay upon the H eart, in ThreeAnatomical Lectures, wherein, I. The Heart is Demonstrated to be a Compleat Epitome of Myology in General. 2. The Origen and Nature of the Blood. 3. The Præternatural State of that Fluid, and how to Restore it, when possible, to its Natural Crasis again, as delivered at the Goulstonian Lecture in the Amphitheatre of the Royal College of Physicians, London. By William Wood, M.D. Fellow of the said College. 2. Oratio Anniversaria in Theatro Collegii Regalis Medicorum Londinensium, Habita Ex Harvæi, Instituto, in Commemorationem Eorum qui Eruditione & sua in hoc Collegium Beneficentia Inclaruerunt, Die 18 Cotob. A. D. 1733. 3. A view of the Present State of Affairs in the King- dom of Ireland, in Three Discourses, viz. 2. List of the Absentees of Ireland, and the Yearly Value of their Estates and Incomes spent abroad, with Observation on the present Trade and Conditions of that Kingdom. The Present State of Ireland consider'd, wherein the List of Absentees is occasionally Answer'd. A modest Proposal for preventing the Children of poor People from being a Burthen to their Parents or the Country, and for mak- ing them Beneficial to the Publick. By Dr. Swift. 4. The Temple of Taste. By M. D. Voltaire 5. Christianity distinct from the Religion of Nature ; in Answer to a late Book, Entitled, Christianity as old as the Creation, &c. in 3 parts. by T. Broughton, Reader at the Temple Church. S