Fig. 626. Turpeth of the shops

The Description.

            Garcias a Portugal physician saith that Turpeth is a plant having a root which is neither great nor long: the stalk is of two spans long, sometimes much longer, a finger thick, which creepeth in the ground like Ivy, and bringeth forth leaves like those of the Marsh Mallow. The flowers be also like those of the Mallow, of a reddish white colour: the lower part of the stalk only, which is next to the root and gummy, is that which is profitable in medicine, and is the same that is used in shops: they choose that for the best which is hollow, and round like a reed, brittle, and with a smooth bark, as also that whereunto doth cleave a congealed gum, which is said to be gummosum, or gummy, and somewhat white. But, as Garcias saith, it is not always gummy of his own nature, but the Indians because they see that our merchants note the best Turpeth by the gumminess, are wont before they gather the same, either to writhe or else lightly to bruise them, that the sap or liquor may issue out; which root being once hardened they pick out from the rest to sell at a greater price. It is likewise made white, as the said Author showeth, being dried in the sun: for if it be dried in the shadow it waxeth black, which notwithstanding may be as good as the white which is dried in the sun.

The Place.

            It groweth by the seaside, but yet not so near that the wash or water of the sea may come to it, but near about, and that for two or three miles: in untiled grounds, rather moist than dry. It is found in Cambay, Surat, in the Isle Dion, Bazaim, and in places hard adjoining; also in Gujerat, where it groweth plentifully, from whence great abundance of it is brought into Persia, Arabia, Asia the less, and also into Portugal and other parts of Europe: but that is preferred which groweth in Cambay.

The Names.

            It is called of the Arabians, Persians, and Turks Turpeth: and in Gujerat Barcaman: in the province Canara, in which is the city Goa, Tiguar: likewise in Europe the learned call it diversely, according to their several fancies, which hath bred sundry controversies, as it hath fallen out as well in Hermodactyls, as in Turpeth; the use and possession of which we cannot seem to want: but which plant is the true Turpeth, we have great cause to doubt; some have thought our Tripolium marinum, described in the former chapter, to be Turpeth: others have supposed it to be one of the Tithymals, but which kind they know not: Guillandinus saith, that the root of Tithymalus myrsinitis is the true Turpeth; which caused Lobel and Pena to pluck up by the roots all the kinds of Tithymals, and dry them very curiously; which when they had beheld, and throughly tried, they found it nothing so. The Arabians and half Moors that dwell in the East parts have given divers names unto this plant: and as their words are divers, so have they divers significations; but this name Turpeth they seem to interpret to be any milky root which doth strongly purge phlegm, as this plant doth. So that as men have thought good, pleasing themselves, they have made many and divers constructions which have troubled many excellent learned men to know what root is the true Turpeth. But briefly to set down my opinion, not varying from the judgment of men which are of great experience; I think assuredly that the root of Scammony of Antioch is the true and undoubted Turpeth, one reason especially that moveth me so to think is, for that I have taken up the roots of Scammony which grew in my garden. and compared them with the roots of Turpeth, between which I found little or no difference at all.
            Through all Spain (as Clusius in his notes upon Garcia, testifies) they use the roots of Thapsia for Turpeth which also have been brought hither, and I keep some of them by me, but they purge little or nothing at all being dry, though it may be the green root or juice may have some purging faculty.

The Temperature and Virtues.

            A. The Indian physicians use it to purge phlegm, to which if there be no fever they add ginger, otherwise they give it without in the broth of a chicken, and sometimes in fair water.

            B. Mesue writeth, that Turpeth is hot in the third degree; and that it voideth thick tough phlegm out of the stomach, chest, sinews, and out of the furthermost parts of the body: but (as he saith) it is slow in working, and troubleth and overturneth the stomach: and therefore ginger, mastic, and other spices are to be mixed with it; also oil of sweet almonds, or almonds themselves, or sugar, lest the body with the use hereof should pine and fall away. Others temper it with dates, sweet almonds, and certain other things, making thereof a composition (that the apothecaries call an electuary) which is named diaphœnicon, common in shops, and in continual use among expert physicians.

            C. There is given at one time of this Turpeth one dram (more or less); two at the most: but in the decoction, or in the infusion three or four.