s ta. i.

great Strengthner ,• and it wonder-fully warms and titillates the Nerves,whereby íiich Delires are excited:And on the like account in manyConftitutions may cure Barrennefs,and promote Conception. But asthere are fome warm Arommics inthat Compofition befides, it is tobe doubted whether they do notcome in for the greater ihare inthefe Effects.

47. ZedoarijE, of Zedoary.This is diftinguiihed by ibme intovarious kinds, but the long andround are the moil remarkable -,tho Lobelius fays, they differ onlyin Form. Mathklus will have theZedoary ofAvicen to be the Author ftof the Moderns} and Dodon&us takesthe Officinal Zedoary for the Ze-rttmbeth, or Zerumbet of Avicen andSerapion. The Antients had manyPreparations and Compolitions ofthis Root, which are now quite re-jected. It comes from India. The

Of Nervous Simples.

bell is White, fragrant, heavy, ibur.c,'and of a ipicy bittenih Tafte, whicrtbrings it under the Clafs of Cepha-lic*. But it is alio reckon'd by ma-ny amongft the Alexipharmics, forwhich reaibn it comes to have 3place in the Capitals ; and it is laideven to prevent Infections, by hold-ing it only in the Mouth . By reafortof its agreeable Bitternefs it is prc-fcribed likewife as a Stomachic, andfor its fpicy Warmth 'tis commen-ded alio in Cholles and hyßericalAffections, and iikewile tor pro-moting the Menfes.

48. ZiNziBEHis, of Ginger.This is Iikewiie an Indian Root, ge-nerally brought over dry, but fome-times in Preierve. It is alio broughtto us from Arabia. It is very hocand penetrating, and therefore agreat Warmer of the nervous Parts ;whence it enters into Compolitionsof other Intentions than fuch as arcmerely Cephalic.

Clafs 2. Of Carminatives.

THESE have a place amongthe Nervous Simples, by reaibn thenervous Parts are frequently undergreat Diforders from Flatus's, orWind pent up: And therefore whatdiflipates and expels fuch Vapours,muft be reckon'd of great Serviceto thofe Parts.

A great many feem to be Stran-gers to this Term, as it does notappear to carry in it any thing ex-prefiire of the medicinal Efficaciesof thole Simples which pafs underits Denomination. This Term hadcertainly its Rife as thus apply'd,when Medicine was too much in thehands of thole Juglers, who forwant or a true Knowledge in theirProfeflion, brought Religion into

their Party; and what thro' .theirIgnorance they were not able todo by rational Prefcription, and theufe of proper Medicines, they pre-tended to effect, by Invocation andtheir Interefl: with Heaven. WhichCant being generally, for the Sur-prize fake, couch'd in fome ihortVerles ; the Word Carmen, whichlignifies a Verfe, was made alio tomean an Enchantment : Which as itwas a very good Cover for theirIgnorance as well as their Knavery,was frequently made ufe of to fa-tisfy the People of the Operation ofa Medicine they could not accountfor. And as thofe Medicines nowunder this Name are of fome quickEfficacy, and the ConfequencesG i thereof