The Kindes.
There be two sorts or kinds of Tabaco, one greater, the other lesser; the greater was brought into Europe out of the provinces of America, which we call the West Indies; the other from Trinidada, an Island neere unto the continent of the same Indies. Some have added a third sort, and others make the yellow Henbane a kind thereof.
The Description.
I TAbaco, or Henbane of Peru hath very great stalkes of the bignesse of a childes arme, growing in fertile and well dunged ground of seven or eight foot high, dividing it selfe into sundry branches of great length; whereon are placed in most comly order very faire long leaves, broad, smooth, and sharp pointed, soft, and of a light green colour, so fastned about the stalke, that they seeme to embrace and compasse it about. The floures grow at the top of the stalks, in shape like a bell-floure, somewhat long and cornered, hollow within, of a light carnation colour, tending to whitenesse toward the brims. The seed is contained in long sharpe pointed cods or seed-vessels like unto the seed of yellow Henbane, but somewhat smaller, and browner of colour. The root is great, thicke, and of a wooddy substance, with some threddy strings annexed thereunto.
2 Trinidada Tabaco hath a thicke tough and fibrous root, from which immediately rise up long broad leaves and smooth, of a greenish colour, lesse than those of Peru: among which rises up a stalk dividing it self at the ground into divers branches, wheron are set confusedly the like leaves but lesser. At the top of the stalks stand up long necked hollow floures of a pale purple tending to a blush colour: after which succeed the cods or seed-vessels, including many small seeds like unto the seed of Marjerom. The whole plant perisheth at the first approch of winter.
The Place.
These were first brought into Europe out of America, which is called the West Indies, in which is the province or countrey of Peru: but being now planted in the gardens of Europe it prospers very well, and comes from seed in one yeare to beare both floures and seed. The which I take to be better for the constitution of our bodies, than that which is brought from India; & that growing in India better for the people of the same country: notwithstanding it is not so thought of our Tabaconists; for according to the English proverb, Far fetcht & dear bought is best for Ladies.
The Time.
Tabaco must be sowne in the most fruitfull ground that may be found, carelesly cast abroad in sowing, without raking it into the ground, or any such pain or industry taken as is requisit in the sowing of other seeds, as my self have found by proof, who have experimented every way to cause it quickly to grow: for I have committed some to the earth in the end of March, some in Aprill, and some in the beginning of May, because I durst not hasard all my seed at one time, lest some unkindely blast should happen after the sowing, which might be a great enemie thereunto.
The Names.
The people of America call it Petun. Some, as Lobel and Pena, have given it these Latine names, Sacra herba, Sancta herba, and Sanasancta Indorum. Others, as Dodonaeus, call it Hyoscyamus Peruvianus, or Henbane of Peru. Nicolaus Monardus names it Tabacum. That it is Hyoscyami species, or a kinde of Henbane, not only the forme being like to yellow Henbane, but the qualitie also doth declare; for it bringeth drowsinesse, troubleth the sences, and maketh a man as it were drunke by taking the fume only; as Andrew Theuet testifieth, and common experience sheweth: of some it is called Nicotiana, the which I refer to the yellow Henbane for distinctions sake.
The Vertues.
Nicolaus Monardis saith, that the leaves hereof are a remedie for the paine of head called the Megram or Migram, that hath bin of long continuance.
It is a present remedie for the fits of the mother, it mitigateth the paine of the gout, if it be rosted in hot embers, and applied to the grieved part.
It is likewise a remedy for the tooth-ache, if the teeth and gumbs be rubbed with a linnen cloth dipped in the juice, and afterward a round ball of the leaves laid unto the place.
The weight of foure ounces of the juice hereof drunke procureth afterward a long and sound sleepe, as wee have learned of a friend by observation, who affirmed, That a strong countreyman of a middle age having a dropsie, took it, and being wakened out of his sleepe called for meat and drinke, and after that became perfectly cured.
Moreover, the same man reported, That he had cured many countreymen of agues, with the distilled water of the leaves drunke a little while before the fit.
Likewise there is an oile to be taken out of the leaves that healeth merri-galls, kibed heeles, and such like.
It is good against poyson, and taketh away the malignitie therof, if the juice be given to drink, or the wounds made by venomous beasts be washed therewith.
The dry leaves are used to be taken in a pipe set on fire and suckt into the stomacke, and thrust forth againe at the nosthrils, against the paines in the head, rheumes, aches in any part of the bodie, whereof soever the originall proceed, whether from France, Italy, Spaine, Indies, or from our familiar and best knowne diseases. Those leaves do palliate or ease for a time, but never perform any cure absolutely: for although they empty the body of humors, yet the cause of the griefe cannot be so taken away. But some have learned this principle, That repletion doth require evacuation; that is to say, That fulnesse craveth emptinesse; and by evacuation doe assure themselves of health. But this doth not take away so much with it this day, but the next bringeth with it more. As for example, a Well doth never yeeld such store of water as when it is most drawn and emptied. My selfe speake by proofe; who have cured of that infectious disease a great many, divers of which had covered or kept under the sickenesse by the helpe of Tabaco as they thought, yet in the end have bin constrained to have unto such an hard knot, a crabbed wedge, or else had utterly perished.
Some use to drink it (as it is termed) for wantonnesse, or rather custome, and cannot forbeare it, no not in the midst of their dinner; which kinde of taking is unwholsome and very dangerous: although to take it seldom, and that physically, is to be tolerated, and may do some good: but I commend the syrrup above this fume or smoky medicine.
It is taken of some physically in a pipe for that purpose once in a day at the most, and that in the morning fasting, against paines in the head, stomack, and griefe in the brest and lungs: against catarrhs and rheums, and such as have gotten cold and hoarsenesse.
Some have reported, That it doth little prevaile against an hot disease, and that it profiteth an hot complexion nothing at all. But experience hath not shewed as yet that it is injurious unto either.
They that have seene the proofe hereof, have credibly reported, That when the Moores and Indians have fainted either for want of food or rest, this hath bin a present remedie unto them, to supply the one, and to help them to the other.
The priests and Inchanters of the hot countries do take the fume thereof until they be drunke, that after they have lien for dead three or foure houres, they may tell the people what wonders, visions, or illusions they have seen, and so give them a prophetical direction or foretelling (if we may trust the Divell) of the successe of their businesse.
The juyce or distilled water of the first kind is very good against catarrhs, the dizzinesse of the head, and rheums that fall downe the eies, against the pain called the megram, if either you apply it unto the temples, or take one or two green leaves, or a dry leafe moistned in wine, and dried cunningly upon the embers, and laid thereto.
It cleeres the sight, and taketh away the webs and spots thereof, being annointed with the juyce bloud-warme.
The oile or juyce dropped into the eares is good against deafnesse; a cloth dipped in the same and layd upon the face, taketh away the lentils, rednesse, and spots thereof.
Many notable medicines are made hereof against the old and inveterat cough, against asthmaticall or pectorall griefes, all which if I should set downe at large, would require a peculiar volume.
It is also given unto such as are accustomed to swoune.
It is used in outward medicines, either the herbe boiled with oile, wax, rosin, and turpentine, as before is set downe in yellow Henbane, or the extraction thereof with salt, oile, balsam, the distilled water, and such like, against tumours, apostumes, old ulcers of hard curation, botches, scabbes, stinging with nettles, carbuncles, poisoned arrowes, and wounds made with gunnes or any other weapons.
It is excellent good in burnings and scaldings with fire, water, oile, lightning, or such like, boiled with hogges grease into the forme of an ointment, as I have often prooved, and found most true; adding a little of the juice of Thorne-Apple leaves, spreading it upon a cloth and so applying it.
I doe make hereof an excellent Balme to cure deep wounds and punctures made by some narrow sharpe pointed weapon. Which Balsame doth bring up the flesh from the bottome verie speedily, and also heale simple cuts in the flesh according to the first intention, that is, to glew or soder the lips of the wound together, not procuring matter or corruption to it, as is commonly seene in the healing of wounds. The Receit is this: Take Oile of Roses, Oile of S. Johns Wort, of either one pinte, the leaves of Tabaco stamped small in a stone mortar two pounds; boile them together to the consumption of the juice, straine it and put it to the fire againe, adding thereunto of Venice Turpentine two ounces, of Olibanum and Masticke of either halfe an ounce, in most fine and subtil pouder: the which you may at all times make an unguent or salve, by putting thereto wax and rosin to give unto it a stiffe body, which worketh exceeding well in malignant and virulent ulcers, as in wounds and punctures. I send this jewell unto you women of all sorts, especially such as cure and helpe the poore and impotent of your countrey without reward. But unto the beggarly rabble of witches, charmers, and such like couseners, that regard more to get money, than to helpe for charitie, I wish these few medicines far from their understanding, and from those deceivers, whom I wish to be ignorant herein. But courteous gentlewomen, I may not for the malice that I doe beare unto such, hide any thing from you of such importance: and therefore take one more that followeth, wherewith I have done many and good cures, although of small cost; but regard it not the lesse for that cause. Take the leaves of Tabaco two pounds, Hogs grease one pound, stampe the herbe small in a stone morter, putting thereto a small cup full of red or claret wine, stirre them well together, cover the morter from filth, and so let it rest untill morning; then put it to the fire and let it boile gently, continually stirring it untill the consumption of the wine: straine it and set it to the fire againe, putting thereto the juyce of the herbe one pound, of Venice turpentine foure ounces; boile them together to the consumption of the juice, then adde therto of the roots of round Aristolochia or Birthworth in most fine pouder two ounces, sufficient wax to give it a body; the which keep for thy wounded poore neighbor.