THE great Juniper, call'd in Latin Juniperus, is a Tree of different Sizes, according to the different Places where it grows. This Tree is commonly crooked, at a good Height of which spring forth several Branches, furnish'd with little, narrow, prickly Leaves, always green, bearing Berries of the Bigness of a Hazel Nut; which the first Year are green, the second brown, the third black, and which being full ripe, are very Alexipharmick.
By cutting the Trunk, and the largest Branches of this Tree, there flows a Gum call'd Sandarac, during the great Heats, which is brought to us from Africk, where the Trees grow very high, and in great Quantities. This Sandarac is the Arabian Sandarac or Varnish, which is a great Trade with the Swedes, Hamburgers and English: This is call'd by some the Arabian Sandarac; by others the Varnish-Gum, or Gum Juniper; and is of more Use to the Artists than in Physick.
Of the small Juniper.
The small Kind of Juniper is so common every where, that it needs no Description; but there is made of the fresh and dried Berries, a white and fragrant Oil; as likewise a Water or Spirit, vulgarly known by the Name of Geneva, as a Corruption from the French Word Genevre: Besides this, there is a Spirit and Oil drawn from the Wood, by the Retort; which Oil is that mention'd in the preceding Chapter. The Wood is usually burnt as well as the berry, to drive away or expel infectious Air. The Germans use the Berry in their Ragous and their Treacle; for which Reason an Extract of it is call'd German Treacle. This Juniper likewise affords some Sandarac; but in such small Quantities it is not worth the while to make it.
The great Juniper is call'd Juniperus vulgaris celsior &c arborescens, the common high Juniper-tree, or the Spanish Juniper, which is chiefly improv'd in Africa. Mr. Tournefort distinguishes this Tree from the Cedar by its Leaves, which are single and flat, instead of those of the Cedar, which more resemble the Cypress. It is sudorifick in Decoctions, and fragrant when burnt; to which Purpose it is frequently us'd in the Houses to prevent pestilential Diseases, and other Infections.
The other Juniper is a common Shrub, known to every Body, which is full of Oil and essential Salt; it grows plentifully in some Parts of England, and in most Parts of Europe. The Berries are cephalick, good for the Nerves and Stomach, to provoke Urine and the Terms, to resist Poison, for inveterate Coughs, Wind-Colick, and nephritick Pains, together with the Strangury, Gravel, Sharpness of Urine, and all Obstructions of the urinary Passages, Womb, Liver, or Spleen. In France they make Comfits of them, which they call St. Roch's Comfits, and carry them in their Pockets, that they may chew two or three of them in a Morning, to prevent Infectious Airs, and make the Breath sweet.