yroyal, are likewise magnified and much prescribed
(as I shall after show), especially in hypochondriac melancholy, daily to
be used, sod in whey: and as Ruffus Ephesias, [4133]Areteus relate, by
breaking wind, helping concoction, many melancholy men have been cured with
the frequent use of them alone.

And because the spleen and blood are often misaffected in melancholy, I may
not omit endive, succory, dandelion, fumitory, &c., which cleanse the
blood, Scolopendria, cuscuta, ceterache, mugwort, liverwort, ash, tamarisk,
genist, maidenhair, &c., which must help and ease the spleen.

To these I may add roses, violets, capers, featherfew, scordium, staechas,
rosemary, ros solis, saffron, ochyme, sweet apples, wine, tobacco, sanders,
&c. That Peruvian chamico, _monstrosa facultate &c._, Linshcosteus Datura;
and to such as are cold, the [4134]decoction of guiacum, China
sarsaparilla, sassafras, the flowers of carduus benedictus, which I find
much used by Montanus in his Consultations, Julius Alexandrinus, Lelius,
Egubinus, and others. [4135]Bernardus Penottus prefers his herba solis, or
Dutch sindaw, before all the rest in this disease, "and will admit of no
herb upon the earth to be comparable to it." It excels Homer's moly, cures
this, falling sickness, and almost all other infirmities. The same Penottus
speaks of an excellent balm out of Aponensis, which, taken to the quantity
of three drops in a cup of wine, [4136]"will cause a sudden alteration,
drive away dumps, and cheer up the heart." Ant. Guianerius, in his
Antidotary, hath many such. [4137]Jacobus de Dondis the aggregator, repeats
ambergris, nutmegs, and allspice amongst the rest. But that cannot be
general. Amber and spice will make a hot brain mad, good for cold and
moist. Garcias ab Horto hath many Indian plants, whose virtues he much
magnifies in this disease. Lemnius, _instit. cap. 58._ admires rue, and
commends it to have excellent virtue, [4138]"to expel vain imaginations,
devils, and to ease afflicted souls." Other things are much magnified
[4139]by writers, as an old cock, a ram's head, a wolf's heart borne or
eaten, which Mercurialis approves; Prosper Altinus the water of Nilus;
Gomesius all seawater, and at seasonable times to be seasick: goat's milk,
whey, &c.

SUBSECT. IV.--_Precious Stones, Metals, Minerals, Alteratives_.

Precious stones are diversely censured; many explode the use of them or any
minerals in physic, of whom Thomas Erastus is the