The times., 1901-04-28
CURIOUS MEDICAL ADVICE
Roots and Herbs Highly Valued by
the Old Philippine Friars.
Ancient Volumes Which Contain In
structions fer Those Afflicted With
Various IIis-EyiI warded on by
a PInnt-Laugh Provoking seeds.

The knowledge of the medicinal proper
ties of herbs and plants possessed by the
old monks in the Philippine Islands would
appear from a work, published by the
Augustinian friars in four immense vol
umes, on the subject of the fora of the
islands, TO have been wonderful. copy
of this work can with difficulty be pro-
cured. That part of the fourth volume
entitled The Declaration of the Virtue
of the Trees and Plants, Which are in
This Land" by the priest, Ignasio de
Mercado, Filipino, with scientific classi-
fication by Friar Fernandez Villar, is es-
pecially interesting.
The language employed by the writer
is as quaint as his statements are re-
markable.
For an unfortunate tree" says the
author, we hold the Calumpaug; after
having received benefits from it's branches
and leaves, men despise it. l say this
because if the sun is hot they use the
shade of the Calumpang. if it rains they
do the same, if they are hungry beneath
it they eat, and the recompense that it
finds from the passersby is that all hack
it's trunk, as If it were a crime to have
comforted with it's branches the thank
less ones who come to use them when ex-
hausted by hunger or weariness or be-
cause the skies are threatening or too in
tense
The writer speaks in a like strain of the
Pittosporum: There are some things
which have a bad face and good works,
and others the contrary, And also there
are others which are throughout good or
bad. This Mamals is beautiful, inasmuch
as it puts out it's branches each one like
a palm. Now, we do not know whether it
is beautiful in it's properties; that depends
on how one wishes to use it. because the
bark of the root which looks toward the
east makes a good plaster for stomach
ache.
Here follows a singular passage relating
to the root of the Smilax China, which
God created here, and which, plucked
when the moon is on the increase, is an
even better remedy for pains, tumors, etc,
than the celebrated Palo de China, which
causes the bones to decay. Let them that
do not believe this take from the sepul-
chre one who has been cured Dy the Palo
de China and they shall see all his bones
decayed.''
Saffron. it is stated, has such power that
placed in the hand it penetrates instant
ly to the heart "A little bag of it put
on the stomach" says the priest, keeps
one from breakfasting, and it is certain
that if given to drink in quantity 1t de-
spatches from this life to the other the
patient, who dies al once and laughing.
( The seeds of Datura metel act like laugh
ing gas, keeping one unconscious for a
long time, laughing, weeping, sleeping,
speaking, ard answering, but all uncon-
sciOuSly. The antidote is the root itself
gathered on the side which faces the
east"
THE water in which Romero Rosmari-
nus has been boiled prevents wrinkles,
and is a most healthful bath, cleansing
the body from all weakness, pain, weari-
ness, melancholy, sorrow, and anxiety,
preserving the strength and enlivening
all the members and feelings, and who
uses ii twice q month and SWeatS need
fear no infirmity. He who takes the holy
plant (Artemisa grata) with him when
walking will suffer no i'll from the sun
nor from the moon
The leaves of Fleurya applied to the
pulses of sufferer from chills viii, it is
said, effect a cure in five days, by the
help of God. OF Asparagus officinalis
we are told, blessed be God who created
this plant for the aid of the poor. il
! sutfices for the praise of Brassica that
/ Christ our Lord compared the holy faith
living and pure, to the grain Of mustard.
! But nevertheless we Will mention here
! for our advantage, some properties and
/ virtues of this seed according TO Pliny
/ DESCRIBES, and Avicena.'
! The following observation IS applicable
/ to that valued American product, the
| watermelon He who eats the least OF
melons is the best off, for they are all
/ congeaIed water and without sustaining
/ power"
! Some idea of the power of a Philippine
( onion may be gathered from the follow
/ ing observation: He who eats a raw aye
! garlic viii break bottle by blowing
I upon ii Immediately afterward.
! The following hints are among the most
/ curious in the book: Cane sugar giver
! il cold water is more refreshing to one
! who has fever than water alone. The
! reason for the water appearing more re-
( freshng with it is that since il is sc
! tempered it converts itself Immediately
| into the nature of him to whom it is