Page images
PDF
EPUB

sides the cocoa-nuts; that chocolate, which the Doctor prepared for his Majesty, had double the quantity of the cocoa kernel to the other ingredients. In the common sort, the cocoa nuts may take up half the composition, according to Piso; in the worst, a third part only. As to the other ingredients for making up chocolate, they may be varied according to the constitutions of those that are to drink it; in cold constitutions Jamaica pepper, cinnamon, nutmegs, cloves, &c. may be mixed with the cocoa-nut; some add musk, ambergrease, citron, lemonpeels, and odoriferous aromatick oils. In hot consumptive tempers you may mix almonds, pistacho's, &c. sometimes china, sarsa, and saunders; and sometimes steel and rhuburb may be added for young green ladies. Mr. Hughes gives us very good advice †, in telling us, that we may buy the best chocolate of seamen and merchants, who bring it over ready made from the West-Indies. His reason is none of the worst, which is this: Let the cocoa kernels be never so well cured in the West-Indies, and stowed never so carefully in the ship, yet, by their long transportation, and by the various airs of climates, they are often spoiled, their natural oiliness tending much to putrefaction; from whence I have heard several complain in England, that their chocolate, made up here, does often prove musty, and will settle much to the bottom of the dish; which is a certain sign, says the learned Dr. Stubbst, that the nuts are either faulty, or not well beaten and made up. The best cocoa-nuts are said to come from Carraca, or Nicaragua, out of which Dr. Stubbs prepared chocolate for the King; yet the Doctor commends the cocoa-nuts of Jamaica, which were first planted there by the Spaniards. That you may know how to prepare your chocolate, I will give you a short direction, if you intend to make it up yourself; consult your own constitution and circumstances, and vary the ingredients according to the premises, for I cannot give a receipt to make up the mass of chocolate, which will be agreeable and proper to all complexions; yet, in the composition of it, you must remember to appoint the cocoa kernel for the fundamental and principal ingredient. As for the managing the cocoanut, Dr. Stubbs ||, and Mr. Hughes §, have published most excellent instructions, how you must peel, dry, beat, and searce it very carefully, before you beat it up into a mass with other simples. As for the great quantity of sugar which is commonly put in, it may destroy the native and genuine temper of the chocolate, sugar being such a corrosive salt, and such an hypocritical enemy to the body. Simon Pauli **,(a learned Dane) thinks sugar to be one cause of our English consumptions; and Dr. Willis ++ blames it as one cause of our universal scurvies; therefore, when chocolate produces any ill effects, they may be often imputed to the great superfluity of its sugar, which often fills up half its composi tion. For preparing the drink of chocolate you may observe the following measures: Take of the mass of chocolate, cut into small pieces, one ounce; of milk and water well boiled together, of each half a pint; one yolk of an egg well beaten; mix them together, let them boil but

Piso Nat. Histor. Indor.
illd. ib.

Indian Nectar.

+ Hughes's American Physician, p. 111. Dr. Stubbs's Mr. Hughes's American Physician. ** Simon Pauli Quadripart. Botan. + Dr. Willis de Scorbuto.

gently, till all is dissolved, stirring them often together with your mollinet, or chocolate-mill; afterwards pour it into your dishes, and into every dish put one spoonful of sack.

As for the vertues and effects of the cocoa-nut, or chocolate, all * the American travellers have written such panegyricks, and so many experimental observations, that I should but degrade this royal liquor, if I should offer at any. Yet, I think, two or three remarks upon it cannot be unsuitable to this little history; several of these curious tra vellers and physicians do agree in this, that the cocoa nut has a wonderful faculty of quenching thirst, allaying hectick heats, of nourishing and fattening the body. Mr. Gage acquaints us t, that he drank cho colate in the Indies, two or three times every day, for twelve years together, and he scarce knew what any disease was in all that time, he growing very fat. Some object it is too oily and gross, but then the bitterness of the nut makes amends, carrying the other off by strengthening of the bowels. Mr. Hughes informs us, that he lived, at sea, for some months on nothing but chocolate, yet neither his strength nor flesh were diminished; he says, our English seamen are very greedy of it, when they come into any Indian ports, and soon get plump countenances by the use of it. Mr. Hughes himself grew very fat in Jamaica, by vertue of the cocoa-nut; so he judges it most proper for lean, weak, and consumptive complexions; it may be proper for some breeding women, and those persons that are hypochondriacal and melancholy. The in dustrious Dr. Mundy gives a notable example of the effect of chocolate; he says, that he knew a man in a desperate consumption, who took a great fancy for chocolate; and his wife, out of complaisance drank it often with him; the consequence was this, the husband recovered his health, and his wife was afterwards brought to bed of three sons at one birth.

[ocr errors]

The great use of chocolate in venery, and for supplying the testicles with a balsam, or a sap, is so ingeniously made out by one of our learned countrymen already, that I dare not presume to add any thing after to so accomplished a pen; though I am of opinion, that I might treat of the subject without any immodesty, or offence. Gerson, the grave Roman casuist, has writ de Pollutione Nocturna, and some have defended fornication in the popish nunneries; hysterical fits, hypochondriacal melancholy, love-passions, consumptive pinings away, and spermatical fevers, being instances of the necessity hereof, natural instinct pointing out the cure. We cannot but admire the great prudence of Moses, who severely prohibited that there should be no whore among the daughters of Israel, yet that most wise legislator took great care for their timely marriage; upon these very accounts the Casuists defend the protestant clergy in their marriages. And Adam is commanded in paradise to increase and multiply, therefore I hope this little excursion is pardonable, being so adequate to this treatise of chocolate; which, if Rachel had known, she would not have purchased Mandrakes for Jacob. If the amorous and martial Turk should ever taste it, he

Joh. de Laet. Histor. Indor. Piso Nat. Histor. Indor. Herbar. Mexican. Benzonus Histor. Indor. Occident, &c. + Gage's Survey of the West Indies, chap. of Chocolate. + IIughes's American Physician, p. 147.

Dr. Mundy de Potulentis, p. 350.

would despise his opium. If the Grecians and Arabians had ever tried it, they would have thrown away their wake-robins and their cuckowpintles; and I do not doubt but you London gentlemen, do value it above all your cullisses and jellies; your anchovies, Bononia sausages, your cock and lamb-stones, your soys, your ketchups and caveares, your cantharides, and your whites of eggs, are not to be compared to our rude Indian; therefore you must be very courteous and favourable to this little pamphlet, which tells you most faithful observations.

The industrious author of the Vinetum Britannicum makes a query, Whether the kernel of the walnut may not supply the defect of the cocoa, if well ground? Dr. Grew thinks t, that for those that drink chocolate, at coffee-houses, without any medicinal respect, there is no doubt, but that almonds finely beaten, and mixed with a due proportion of spices, and sugar, may be made as pleasant a drink as the best chocolate.

The Natural History of Tobacco.

SECT. IV.

TOBACCO is reckoned by the best herbalists to be a species, or sort of henbane, proper to the American regions, as Dodonæus and Simon Pauli ; yet some botanists will have it a native of Europe, and reduce it to several of our classes. But I will not trouble you with this controversy, only we may take notice, that Thevet did first bring the seed of tobacco in France, though Nicot the French ambassador in Portugal (from whom it is called Nicotiana) was the first that sent the plant itself into his own country. Hernandes de Toledo, who travelled America, by the command of Philip the Second, having supplied Spain and Portugal with it before ||. Sir Francis Drake got the seed in Virginia, and was the first that brought it into England §; yet some give Sir Walter Rawleigh the honour of it; since which time it has thriven very well in our English soil; a great quantity of it grows yearly in several gardens about Westminster, and in other parts of Middlesex. It is planted in great plenty in Gloucester, Devonshire, and some other western countries; his Majesty sending every year, a troop of horse to destroy it, lest the trade of our American plantations should be incommoded thereby. Yet many of the London apothecaries make use of English tobacco in their shops, notwithstanding the vulgar opinion that this herb is a native of America, and foreign to Europe. Yet Libavius assures us, that it grows naturally in the famous Hercynian Forest of Germany. If this was true, we would no longer call it tobacco from the island of Tobago. The names of it are so various, as they would' glut the most hungry reader. The Americans stile it picielt; in Nova Francia, petum; in Hispaniola, cozobba; in Virginia, uppuvoc; at

• Vinet. Britan. p. 139.

+Dr. Grew's Mus. Reg. Soc. p. 205. Dodoneus Herbal. Simon Pauli Qurdripart Botan. & Lib. de Tobacco. Hernandez Histor. American. ? Pur chas's Voyages into America.

Rome, herba sancta crucis; in some parts of Italy, herba medicea; in France, herba reginæ, as you may read in Magnenus and Neander*: But, let it be of what name or kind it will, I am confident, that it is of the poisonous sort, for it intoxicates, inflames, vomits, and purges; which operations are common to poisonous plants, as to poppies, nightshades, hemlocks, monks-hood, spurges, and hellebores, that will produce the like effects. Besides, every one knows, that the oil of tobacco is one of the greatest poisons in nature; a few drops of it, falling upon the tongue of a cat, will immediately throw her into convulsions, under which she will die. This Dr. Willis assures + us to be true; the experiment succeeded, when it was tried before the royal society, as the learned Dr. Grew has affirmed t; besides, I can speak it upon my own certain knowledge, having killed several animals with a few drops of this oil. Yet that most sagacious Italian, Francisco Redi, observes || very well, that the oil of tobacco kills not all animals, neither does it dispatch those, it kills, in the same space of time; there is a great difference between the tobacco of Brasil, and that of St. Christophers, as to this effect. Varino and Brasil tobacco being almost of the same quality and operation; whereas that of St. Christophers, Terra Nova, Nieve, and St. Martin, has very different effects.

If we run over those countries, where tobacco is made use of, we may observe the various manners of using it. Some Americans will mix it with a powder of shells, to chew it, salivating all the time, which, they fancy, does refresh them in their journies and labours; others in New Spain will dawb the ends of reeds with the gum, or juice of tobacco, and, setting them on fire, will suck the smoke to the other end. The Virginians were observed to have pipes of clay before ever the English came there §; and, from those barbarians, we Europeans have borrowed our mode and fashion of smoaking. The Moors and Turks have no greatkindness for tobacco; yet, when they do smoak, their pipes are very long, made of reeds, or wood, with an earthen head. The Irishmen do most commonly powder their tobacco **, and snuff it up their nostrils, which some of our Englishmen do, and often chew and swallow it. I know some persons, that do eat every day some ounces of tobacco, without any sensible alteration; from whence we may learn, that use and custom will tame and naturalise the most fierce and rugged poison, so that it will become civil and friendly to the body. We read of a French ambassador ++, that, being in England, was so indisposed, that he could never sleep; upon which he would often devour whole ounces of opium without being concerned. And the Turks are often observed to swallow great lumps of it, a tenth part of which would kill those that were not accustomed to opiates. I know a woman in this city, that, being used to take both the hellebores, will often swallow whole scruples of them without the least motion, or operation; so that custom and conversation will make the fiercest creature familiar.

[ocr errors]

⚫Magnenus de Tobacco. Neander Tabacalog. + Dr. Willis Pharm. Rat. Mus. Reg. Soc. p. 352. Philos. Trans. Oldenburgh N. 92.

Dr. Grew's Purchas's Voyages to Ame

rica. Observe the original of that nauseous and unwholesome custom of taking snuff.

++ Ephem. German, an. 2.

As for the culture, harvest, preparation, and traffick of tobacco, I will recommend you to Neander, where, if you are curious, you may meet with satisfaction". I cannot omit one story out of Monardus †, who tells us, that the Indian priests, being always consulted about the events of war, do burn the leaves of tobacco, and, sucking into their mouths the smoke by a reed, or pipe, do presently fall into a trance, or extasy; and, as soon as ever they come out of it, they discover to the Indians all the secret negotiation, which they have had with the great dæmon, always delivering some ambiguous answer.

As for the qualities, nature, and uses of tobacco, they may be very considerable in several cases and circumstances; though King James himself has both writ, and disputed very smartly against it at Oxford, and Simon Pauli has published a very learned book against it. Some anatomists || tell us most terrible stories of sooty brains, and black lungs, which have been seen in the dissections of dead bodies, which, when living, had been accustomed to tobacco. We read that Amurath the Fourth did forbid the use of it, over all the Turkish dominions, under the most severe penalties; the Turks having an opinion amongst them, that tobacco will make them effeminate and barren, unfit for war and prócreation; though some think there is a politick design in it, to obstruct the sale of it, in the eastern conntries, and to prevent the Christians from establishing any considerable traffick, from so mean a commodity; which, perhaps, may be one reason §, why the great Duke ** of Muscovy has threatened to punish those merchants, who offer to sell any tobacco in his countries. Scach Abas, (the great Sophy of Persia) leading an army against the Cham of Tartary, made proclamation, that, if any tobacco was found in the custody of any soldier, he should be burnt alive, together with his tobacco. Yet, for all this, it may be very beneficial to mankind, as you will conclude from what follows.

Dr. Willis ++ recommends tobacco to soldiers, because it may supply the want of victuals, and make them insensible of the dangers, fatigues, and hardships, which do usually attend wars and armies; besides, it is found to cure mangy and ulcerous diseases, which are frequent in camps. I know a curious lady in the north, that does very great feats in sores and ulcers by a preparation of tobacco. Our learned and most experieneed countryman, Mr. Boyle #, does highly commend tobacco clysters in the most violent cholick pains, which are often epidemical in cities and camps. The renowned Hartman extols the water of tobacco, against agues : And the curious Dr. Grew §§ found the success of the oil of it, in the tooth-ach, a lint being dipped in it, and put into the tooth. The effects of tobacco have been very good, in some violent pains of the head; as some thousands have experimented. As for the daily smoaking of it, the state and circumstances of your body must be the best guide and rule; if your complexion be lean, hot, and dry, it is an argument against it, but if cold, moist, and humoral, subject to catarrhs, rheums, and pains, then there may be a temptation to venture upon

• Neander Tabacalog. + Monardus Lib. X. Exoticor. Cluffi. + Simon Pauli de Abusu #Diemerbrock. Anat. Hoffman. Pauvius. Olearius, Ambassadors Travels through ++Dr. Willis Pharm. Rat. + Boyle's Experimental Philosophy. ?? Dr. Grew Mus. Reg. Soc. p. 252.

Tabací.
Muscovy. ** Or, Czar.
Hartman prax. Chyin.

1

3

« PreviousContinue »