PHYSIC-NUTS.

Some call them tyle-berries of India. They purge strongly upwards and downwards, given from three to five; they may be candied over, and given unknown to nice palates; if the inward film be taken out, they will work more gently. The best way of preparing them is, first to torrify them; then take off the outward skin and inward film, that is, the sprout or punctum saliens; then bruise them in a mortar, and steep them in Madeira wine; and they will purge well all gross humours. They afford great quantities of oil, which may be got by boiling or expression, and which purges strongly; this oil they use or burn in their lamps in Brasil. If you rub the stomach with the oil, it will purge and kill worms; it cures the itch, and deterges ulcers. There are three or four sorts of these trees; but one, in particular, differs very much from the rest, whose leaves are more divided, and have a very beautiful scarlet flower: These never grow so high as the other sorts; they are called French physic-nuts, and their purging quality is more strong than any of the other sorts.