Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/184

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
162
The HISTORY of

bier, which makes them raging mad, so that it is forbidden strictly under the Penalty of a great Pain to make use of the same.

Q. 10. Whether those that be stupifed by the Juice of this Herb Datura, are recovered by moistning the Soles of their Feet in fair Water?

A. No. For I have seen diverse Soldiers and Mariners fall into the Rivers and Ditches, being stupified by their Drink aforesaid, who were rather worse after they were taken out, than better.

Q. 11. Whether a Betel hath such a Contrariety to the Durion, that a few Leaves thereof put to a whole Shopful of Durions, will make them all rot suddenly? And whether those who have surfeited on Durions, and thereby overheated themselves, do by laying one Leaf of Betel cold upon the Heart, immediately cure the Inflammations and recover the Stomach? This Betel being thought to preserve those Indians from Tooth-ach, loose Gums and Scurvy, and from stinking Breath, some of it is desired to be sent over with the Fruit Arcica, and the other Ingredients, and Manner of preparing it.

A. I have seen that Betel Leaves in a short time will spoil a Durion, take away its Nature, and turn a fat creamy Substance into Water. Commonly those that eat great Quantities of Durions, eat a Betel afterwards as a Correctorium, but of laying a Leaf upon the Heart, I have never heard. As for the other Qualities of the Betel, I believe they are good, if not abused; as most of the Indians do, who never are without it in their Mouths, no not sleeping, which corrodes their Teeth, and makes them as black as Jet: It draws from the Head the phlegmatick Humours, which are voided by spitting; so we use it;

but