A critical dissertation on the mandrake of the antients; : with some observations on the Egyptian, Grecian, and Roman literature, botany, and medicine. In a letter to a Fellow of the College of Physicians.

Date:
1737
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A critical dissertation on the mandrake of the antients; : with some observations on the Egyptian, Grecian, and Roman literature, botany, and medicine. In a letter to a Fellow of the College of Physicians. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    [57 1 Word Dudaim occurs in the Original, and if we may be allow’d to alter the Tranflation in one Place upon the Evidence and Au¬ thority of the other, the Senfe will be ob¬ vious, natural and plain. St. Augu/lm was intirely of this Opinion, and ftrenu- oufly afterts that Rachel did not purchale RubensMa?jdrakes in order to promote her Conception, but on Account of fheir Fra- grancy and Smell, {b) Thefe, Sir, are the Reafons that have made me d.ffer in opinion from all other Writers on this Subject, and I think not without manifeft and cogent Reafons. It is true, the diftance of Time, together with the Lofs of ancient Monuments of Learning, has render'd the Point difficult to be determin’d. We have loft the /Egyptian Botany, and the Grecian is not to be depended upon. Arijlotleand cTheo- phrajlus are the moft ancient Botanic Writers they have, and Diofcorides, who flourifh’d many Years after, has in the Main follow’d their Steps, tho he has in many things improv’d upon them.- The Romans have left us nothing on the Subject, but what we have in Pliny, who feems to have tranfcrib’d from the Greeks all that he has faid.-It is owing to thefe Misfortunes that learned Men, after all (b) Auguft. lib. xxii. contra Fault, cap* 56. H their