The Kinds.

            There be two sorts or kinds of Tobacco; 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 Trinidad, an island near unto the continent of the same Indies. Some have added a third sort and others make the yellow Henbane a kind thereof.

The Description.

            1. Tobacco, or Henbane of Peru hath very great stalks of the bigness of a child's arm; growing in fertile and well dunged ground of seven or eight foot high, dividing itself into sundry branches of great length; whereon are placed in most comely order very fair long leaves, broad, smooth, and sharp pointed, soft, and of a light green colour; so fastened about the stalk, that they seem to embrace and compass it about. The flowers grow at the top of the stalks, in shape like a Bell-Flower somewhat long and cornered, hollow within, of a light carnation colour, tending to whiteness toward the brims. The seed is contained in long sharp pointed cods or seed-vessels like unto the seed of yellow Henbane, but somewhat smaller and browner of colour. The root is great, thick, and of a woody substance, with some thready strings annexed thereunto.

            2. Trinidad Tobacco hath a thick tough and fibrous root, from which immediately rise up long broad leaves and smooth, of a greenish colour, lesser than those of Peru: among which riseth up a stalk dividing itself at the ground into divers branches, whereon are set confusedly the like leaves, but lesser; at the top of the stalks stand up long necked hollow flowers 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 Marjoram. The whole plant perisheth at the first approach of winter.

Fig. 564. Dwarf Tobacco (3)

            3. This third is an herb some span or better long, not in face unlike the precedent, neither defective in the hot and burning taste. The flowers are much less than those of the Yellow Henbane, & of a greenish yellow. The leaves are small, and narrower those of Sage of Jerusalem. The root is small and fibrous.

The Place.

            These were first brought into Europe out of America, which is called the West Indies, in which is the province or country of Peru; but being now planted in the gardens of Europe it prospereth very well, and cometh from seed in one year to bear both flowers and seed. The which I take to be better for the constitution of our bodies than that which is brought from India; and that growing in the Indies better for the people of the same country: notwithstanding it is not so thought, nor received of our tobacconists; for according to the English proverb, Far fetched and dear bought is best for ladies.

The Time.

            Tobacco must be grown in the most fruitful ground that may be found, carelessly cast abroad in the sowing, without raking it into the ground or any such pain or industry taken as is requisite in the sowing of other seeds, as myself 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 April, and some in the beginning of May, because I durst not hazard all my seed at one time, lest some unkindly blast should happen after the sowing, which might be a great enemy thereunto.

The Names.

            The people of America call it Petun: some, as Lobel and Pena, have given it these Latin names, Sacra herba, Sancta herba, and Sanasancta indorum: and other, as Dodonæus, call it Hyoscyamus peruvianus, or Henbane of Peru: Nicolaus Monardus names it Tabacum. That it is Hyoscyami species, or a kind of Henbane, not only the form being like to yellow Henbane, but the quality also doth declare; for it bringeth drowsiness, troubleth the senses, and maketh a man as it were drunk by taking of the fume only; as Andrew Thevet testifieth, (and common experience showeth): of some it is called Nicotiana: the which I refer to the yellow Henbane, for distinction's sake.

The Temperature.

            It is hot and dry, and that in the second degree, as Monardis thinketh, and is withal of power to discuss or resolve, and to cleanse away filthy humours, having also a small astriction, and a stupefying or benumbing quality, and it purgeth by the stool: and Monardis writeth that it hath a certain power to resist poison. And to prove it to be of an hot temperature, the biting quality of the leaves doth show, which is easily perceived by taste: also the green leaves laid upon ulcers in sinewy parts may serve for a proof of heat in this plant; because they do draw out filth and corrupted matter, which a cold simple would never do. The leaves likewise being chewed draw forth phlegm and water, as doth also the fume taken when the leaves are dried: which things declare that this is not a little hot; for what things soever, that being chewed or held in the mouth bring forth phlegm and water, the same be all accounted hot as the root of Pellitory of Spain, of Saxifrage, and other things of like power. Moreover, the benumbing quality hereof is not hard to be perceived, for upon the taking of the fume at the mouth there followeth an infirmity like unto drunkenness, and many times sleep; as after the taking of opium: which also showeth in the taste a biting quality, and therefore is not without heat; which when it is chewed and inwardly taken, it doth forthwith show, causing a certain heat in the chest, and yet withal troubling the wits, as Petrus Bellonius in his third book Of Singularities doth declare; where also he showeth, that the Turks oftentimes do use opium, and take one dram and a half thereof at one time; without any other hurt following, saving that they are thereupon (as it were) taken with a certain light drunkenness. So also this Tobacco being in taste biting, and in temperature hot, hath notwithstanding a benumbing quality. Hereupon it seemeth to follow, that not only this Henbane of Peru, but also the juice of poppy otherwise called opium, consisteth of divers parts; some biting and hot and others extreme cold, that is to say, stupefying or benumbing: if so be that this benumbing quality proceed of extreme cold (as Galen and all the old physicians do hold opinion) then should this be cold; but if the benumbing faculty doth not depend of an extreme cold quality, but proceedeth of the essence of the substance, then Tobacco is not cold and benumbing, but hot and benumbing, and the latter not so much by reason of his temperature as through the property of his substance; no otherwise than a purging medicine, which hath his force not from the temperature, but from the essence of the whole substance.

The Virtues.

            A. Nicolaus Monardis saith, that the leaves hereof are a remedy for the pain in the head called the megrim or migraine that hath been of long continuance; and also for a cold stomach; especially in children; and that it is good against the pains in the kidneys.

            B. It is a present remedy for the fits of the mother: it mitigateth the pain of the gout if it be roasted in hot embers and applied to the grieved part.

            C. It is likewise a remedy for the tooth-ache, if the teeth and gums be rubbed with a linen cloth dipped in the juice; and afterward a round ball of the leaves laid unto the place.

            D. The juice boiled with sugar in form of a syrup and inwardly taken, driveth forth worms of the belly; if withal a leaf be laid to the navel.

            E. The same doth likewise scour and cleanse old and rotten ulcers, and bringeth them to perfect digestion as the same author affrmeth.

            F. In the Low Countries it is used against scabs and filthiness of the skin, and for the cure of wounds: but some hold opinion that it is to be used but only to hot and strong bodies: for they say that the use is not safe in weak and old folks: and for this cause, as it seemeth, the women in America (as Thevet sayeth) abstaine from the herb Petun or Tobacco, and do in no wise use it.

            G. The weight of four ounces of the juice hereof drunk purgeth both upwards and downwards, and procureth after, a long and sound sleep, as we have learned of a friend by obfervation, affirming that a strong countryman of a middle age, having a dropsy, took of it, and being wakened out of his sleep, called for meat and drink, and after that became perfectly whole.

            H. Moreover the same man reported, that he had cured many countrymen of agues with the distilled water of the leaves drunk a little while before the fit.

            I. Likewise there is an oil to be taken out of the leaves that healeth merry-galls, kibed heels and such like.

            K. It is good against poison, and taketh away the malignity thereof, if the juice be given to drink or the wounds made by venomous beasts be washed therewith.

            L. The dry leaves are used to be taken in a pipe set on fire and sucked into the stomach, and thrust forth again at the nostrils against the pains of the head, rheums, aches in any part of the body whereof soever the original proceed, whether from France, Italy, Spain, Indies, or from our familiar and best known diseases: those leaves do palliate or ease for a time, but never perform any cure absolutely: for although they empty the body of humours, yet the cause of the grief cannot be so taken away. But some have learned this principle, that repletion requireth evacuation; that is, fullness craveth emptiness, and by evacuation 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 yield such store of water as when it is most drawn and emptied. Myself speak by proof, who have cured of that infectious disease a great many; divers of which had covered or kept under the sickness by the help of Tobacco as they thought, yet in the end have been constrained to have unto such an hard knot, a crabbed wedge, or else had utterly perished.

            M. Some use to drink it (as it is termed) for wantonness or rather custom, and cannot forbear it, no not in the midst of their dinner, which kind of taking is unwholesome and very dangerous: although to take it seldom and that physically is to be tolerated and may do some good; but I commend the syrup above this fume or smoky medicine.

            N. 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 pains in the head, stomach, and grief in the breast and lungs; against catarrhs and rheums, and such as have gotten cold and hoarseness.

            O. Some have reported that it little prevaileth against an hot disease, and that it profiteth an hot complexion nothing at all: but experience hath not showed it to be injurious unto either.

            P. They that have seen the proof hereof have credibly reported, that when the Moors and Indians have fainted either for want of food or rest, this hath been a present remedy unto them to supply the one, and to help them to the other.

            Q. The priests and enchanters of the hot countries do take the fume thereof until they be drunk; that after they have lain for dead three or four hours, 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 Devil) of the success of their business.

            R. The juice or distilled water of the first kind is very good against catarrhs, the dizziness of the head, and rheums that fall down the eyes, against the pain called the megrim, if either you apply it unto the temples, or take one or two green leaves, or a dry leaf moistened in wine, and dried cunningly upon the embers and laid thereto.

            S. It cleareth the sight and taketh away the webs and spots thereof, being anointed with the juice blood warm.

            T. The oil or juice dropped into the ears is good against deafness; a cloth dipped in the same and laid upon the face, taketh away the lentils, redness, and spots thereof.

            V. Many notable medicines are made hereof against the old and inveterate cough, against asthmatical or pectoral griefs, which if I should set down at large, would require a peculiar volume.

            X. It is also given to such as are accustomed to swoon, and are troubled with the colic and windiness, against the dropsy, the worms in children, the piles and the sciatica.

            Y. It is used in outward medicines either the herb boiled with oil, wax, rosin and turpentine, as before is set down in Yellow Henbane, or the extraction thereof with salt, oil, balsam, the distilled water and such like, against tumours, apostumes, old ulcers of hard curation, botches, scabs, stinging with nettles, carbuncles, poisoned arrows, and wounds made with guns or any other weapon.

            Z. It is excellent good in burnings and scaldings with fire, water, oil, lightning, or such like, boiled with hog's grease in form of an ointment, which I have often proved, and found most true, adding a little of the juice of Thorn-apple leaves, spreading it upon a cloth and so applying it.

            A. I do make hereof an excellent balsam to cure deep wounds and punctures, made by some narrow sharp pointed weapon. Which balsam doth bring up the flesh from the bottom very speedily, and also heal simple cuts in the flesh according to the first intention, that is, to glue or solder the lips of the wound together, not procuring matter or corruption unto it, as is commonly seen in the healing of wounds. The receipt is this: Take oil of roses, oil of St. John's Wort, of either one pint, the leaves of Tobacco stamped small in a stone mortar two pounds, boil them together to the consumption of the juice, strain it and put it to the fire again adding thereto of Venice turpentine two ounces, of olibanum and mastic of either half an ounce, in most fine and subtle powder, the which you may at all times make an unguent or salve by putting thereto wax and rosin to give unto it a stiff body, which worketh exceeding well in malign and virulent ulcers, as in wounds and punctures. I send this jewel unto you women of all sorts, especially to such as cure and help the poor and impotent of your country without reward. But unto the beggarly rabble of witches, charmers, and such like cozeners, that regard more to get money, than to help for charity, I with 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 do bear unto such, hide any thing from you of such importance: and therefore take one more that followeth, wherewith I have done very many and good cures, although of small cost, but regard it not the less for that cause.

            B. Take the leaves of Tobacco two pound, hog's grease one pound, stamp the herb small in a stone mortar, putting thereto a small cupful of red or claret wine, stir them well together; cover the mortar from filth and so let it rest until morning; then put it to the fire and let it boil gently, continually stirring it until the consumption of the wine; strain it, and set it to the fire again; putting thereto the juice of the herb one pound, of Venice turpentine four ounces; boil them together to the consumption of the juice, then add thereto of the roots of Aristolochia or Birthwort in most fine powder two ounces, sufficient wax to give it a body, the which keep for thy wounded poor neighbour, as also the old and filthy ulcers of the legs and other parts of such as have need of help.