CHAP. V.
Of the Judgment which may be made of the VIRTUES of Plants, from their Tasts.
S by duly observing the Tasts of Plants, we may be directed to understand their Causes. So also the Use and Virtues of those Plants or Parts of Plants in which they reside. For the proof whereof, an Instance might be fetched from every particular difference of Tast before set down. But it may be enough, to give these which follow.
2. §. And first, we may make no ill guess ex Analogia, or where we find the same Tast, that there the same Virtue in some kind, and in some degree, may reside. So Jalap, Mercury, and Daisy, have all of them that exasperating Tast in the Throat before described; and they are all three more or less Cathartick. Wherefore, we may believe, that other Plants which make the like Impression on the Throat, and there are many others which do, that they are in some degree alike Cathartick. Those Plants which are reckoned amongst the chiefest Cephalicks, cause rather a durable, than a vehement Heat upon the Tongue, as Pyrethrum, Euphorbium, Black-Hellebore, &c. It seemeth therefore reasonable to rank with these, any other Plant, though not used, which produceth the like durable Heat. The young Roots of Yarrow, or Millefolium, have the same Taste, as the Root of Contrayerva: and may therefore be used for the same purpose, with a probability of the like success; if not a better, because they may be gotten fresher. But by drying the Root, the Tast and Virtue, which lie in its exhalible parts, are much lost. The Seeds of the lesser Cardamom, and of Zedoary Root, if found, have both a smatch of the Tast of Camphire. They may therefore all, so far, reach the same Case.
3. §. Again, as we may make no ill conjecture from the sameness of Taste in Plants of several Tribes; so from the diversity of Taste, in those of the same. So the Flowers of all the Docks are evidently Astringent, and not Sower; except those of the Rha-pontick, which are extream sower, even in the 5ᵗʰ degree. Which is no mean Signature of some more than ordinary Virtue in it, besides what it hath in common with the rest of the Tribe. The Flowers of Pancy have a kind of fulsome Tast, plainly different from that of Violets: and in some Hypochondriacal Cases may be more useful.
4. §. It likewise importeth much, to observe the difference of Taste in the several Parts of the same Plant. So the Barque of Sassafras is three times as strong, as the Wood: and the like may be observed in any other commonly known Tree. If therefore we could obtein the Barques of Santalum, Lignum Rhodium, Lignum Aloes, &c. they would doubtless, most of them, be of much greater use. And as the Taste is sometimes stronger; so, much more grateful, in one Part than in another: as in the Flowers or Yellow Attire in the Heads of Carduus Benedictus; which being infused in Spirit of Wine, or other convenient Liquor, make a pleasant Cordial. Nature having laped up the Virtue in the Leavs, as in a brown Paper; but in the Flowers, as in Leaf-Gold.
5. §. As also, how far the Taste of any Plant may alter, either in preserving, or preparing it. So the Root of Arum, when taken fresh out of the ground, is notably Pungent: but being throughly dryed, and especially kept for some time, hath no more Taste, and therefore in all likelyhood, no more Virtue, than a Lump of Starch. The like we are to judge of all other Plants, whose Virtue lieth in their exhalible Parts. The Stillatitious Oyls of many Plants, are stronger than the Leavs or other Parts from whence they are drawn: but some there are, which are weaker; as is that of Euphorbium, in which the Heat is neither pertinaceous, as in the Gum it self, nor so great.
6. §. We may make, moreover, a judgment from the Nature of the Tast. So those Roots which are Bitter, and not Hot, as of Cichory, and the rest of the Intybous kind, may be accounted Nitro-Sulphureous; and so, to be Abstersive without any Heating Quality. The Marum Austriacum, which is extream Pungent, as well as Aromatick, may be looked upon as the best Cephalick of that Tribe. Because we find, that Jalap hath a special property of imitating the Glandulous Parts of the Mouth, and Throat; we may gather, That it is a better Purge to all the other Glandulous Parts, than most other Catharticks. Which is also one reason of its operation, for the most part, with at least a tendency to vomit; the Stomach it self being Glandulous as well as the Throat, and thereby answerably affected with it. A strong Infusion of white Sarzaparilla in Water, botled up, and kept in a Cellar for the space of two months, becomes extream sower; far beyond any thing observed in the Tasts of the Juyces and Infusions of divers other Plants kept as long and in the same manner. Which shews, how well Nature hath adapted a Plant of so mild a Taste, either by similitude of parts, for the carrying off of any preternatural Acid; or by contrariety, for the curbing of an exorbitant Salt. The Barque of the Root of common Wormwood, which impresseth a pertinaceous and diffusive Taste, which descendeth from the Tongue into the Gulet, as is before described; may be justly ranked with the most excellent Stomachicks; and upon tryal, I find it one of the best: besides, that it is neither unpleasant, nor affecteth the Head, as the Leavs. Yet the Gardener, and every Body throws it away, as good for nothing.
7. §. I shall conclude with one note, which is this; That the Specifick Virtue of Medicines, which some Physicians positively deny, and most dispute; from some of the forementioned Differences of Taste, as well as for other reasons, may seem, at least, to be probable. For why should not a Medicine make an Impression upon one Part, and not upon another, within the Body, as well as we find it doth within the Mouth? especially, since the Parts of the Mouth, are of a less different Nature, than some of the Viscera.