A compleat history of druggs / written in French by Monsieur Pomet ... to which is added what is further observable on the same subject, from Messrs. Lemery, and Tournefort, divided into three classes, vegetable, animal and mineral; with their use in physick, chymistry, pharmacy, and several other arts. Illustrated with above four hundred copper cutts, curiously done from the life; and an explanation of their different names, places of growth and countries from whence they are brought; the way to know the true from the false; their virtues &c. A work of very great use and curiosity. Done into English from the originals.
- Pierre Pomet
- Date:
- 1725
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A compleat history of druggs / written in French by Monsieur Pomet ... to which is added what is further observable on the same subject, from Messrs. Lemery, and Tournefort, divided into three classes, vegetable, animal and mineral; with their use in physick, chymistry, pharmacy, and several other arts. Illustrated with above four hundred copper cutts, curiously done from the life; and an explanation of their different names, places of growth and countries from whence they are brought; the way to know the true from the false; their virtues &c. A work of very great use and curiosity. Done into English from the originals. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![low below, convex above, and very fmooth, about half an Inch broad at the Bottom ; fome of them of a deep grey inclining to blue; and there are others of a reddifli Co¬ lour; but both forts are ufually of a much lighter Colour at their Bottom. The long Toad-Stone is mod frequently of an Inch long, and above four or five Lines thick, hollow’d like a Trough on one lide, and of a convex Figure on the other: Some of thofe are of a deeper, and fome of a lighter Grey, markedxwich fome reddifli Spots, and fmooth as the round : They fet them, efpecially the round fort, in Rings ; but that is more for Ornament that any Virtue in them, for they are very uncertain in their Effe&s, efpecially when they pretend that they allay the Inflam¬ mation occafion’d by the Sting of Bees, or other Infcds. It is falfe that it changes its Colour, and fweats when it approaches a Cup wherein there is Poifon ; tho’ Boétius and others affirm, that the Toad-Stone is found in the Ground, nevertheless I ffiall not conteft or difpute, but that it may be bred in the Head of old Toads, tho’ it is certain what we now fell comes not from thefe Ani¬ mals, hut is found in the Earth, as has been obferv’d. This Defcription of (ht Toad-Stone, and that of the Eagle Stone were given me by Mr. Tour ne fort, who is a Perfon on whom we may depend. Bufonites, Chelonites, Batrachi- Lemery. tes, is a Kind of precious Stone, whereof there are two Kinds, one round, and the other long. The fird is round in its Circumference, hollow on one fide, and convex on the other, in Form of a little Cap or Bonnet, about half an Inch broad at the Balls, very fmooth, fometimes grey, brown, black, green, and of various Colours. The fécond fort is fometimes more than an Inch long, and above four or five Lines thick, [according to Pome?s Defcripti¬ on.] The lizeof thefe Stones are fufficient to undeceive thofe who believe that they are taken from the Heads of Toads, for they are found in the Mountains, and the Plains where they are produc’d. Some pretend, that being powder’d and taken inwardly, they are capable of reliding the Plague and other malignant Difeafes ; that being apply’d to the dinging or bitings of venemous Beads, they draw out the Poifon. Some hang them about their Neck for Quar¬ tan Fevers; but all thefe Virtues are imagi¬ nary, for the Toad-Stone has nothing in it but an alcaline Quality proper to abforbe A- cids, and to dop Loofenefs, taken from a Scruple to half a Dram; but it is not in Ufe. 21. Of the Lapis Amiantus. HE Lapis Amiantus is a Stone of a greenifh Black without Pomet. and within, pretty heavy, that be¬ ing broken is almod like Plumons Alum, in that it rifes in Threads of a whitiffi Green, or rather of a Horn Colour. This Stone is in- combudible,and the Ancients were not much deceiv’d when they faid the Lapis Amiantus and the Plumons Alum were the fame thing : There is notwithdanding fome Difference, in that the Plumons Alum arifes in long and this in ffiort Threads : befides, the Ex¬ tremities of the Plumous Alum are not of a Colour with thofe of the Lapis Amiantus. This Stone is found in Turkey, for all that we fell comes from Conjlantinople ; as to the Choice of it, or its Ufe, I know nothing. Amiantus, Jive Albefion, five Al- beftes Lapis, is a Stone of a Mine- Lemery. ral Subdance, ora Kind of Talck that has a near Refemblance to Plumous Alum, which feveral People confound one with the other, believing them to be the fame Thing. It is found in two different Forms; for the one is in Filaments or Strings, like thofe of Plumous Alum, but much longer ; the other is in a brown or blackifh hard Stone, but that will fpread under the Hammer. The Ancients fpun Amiantus and made incombu- dible Linen of it, which amongd other Ufes, ferved them to wrap their dead Bo¬ dies in when they burnt them to preferve their Afhes : The Corps burnt while the Li¬ nen remain’d entire. This Stone is found in the Quarries near the Pyrenees. Amiantus is us’d in fome Remedies ; they believe it re¬ fids Poifon, cures the Itch, and is deterfive. 22. Of Cobalt. CObaltum, or Kobaltum, it a red- p diffi hard Stone, that is heavy, omet, and in Grains of the fize of our Peas, that dick](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30412158_0614.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
