The Anatomy of Melancholy

Many times they are overcurious in this kind, whom Fuchsius taxeth, Instit. l. 1. sec. 1. cap. 1. that think they doe nothing, except they rake all over India, Arabia, Æthiopia for remedies, and fetch their Physick from the three quarters of the World, and from beyond the Garamantes. Many an old wife or country woman doth often more good with a few known and common garden herbs, then our bumbast Physitians, with all their prodigious, sumptuous, far-fetched, rare, conjecturall medicines: without all question if we have not these rare Exotick simples, we hold that at home which is in vertue equivalent unto them, ours will serve as well as theirs if they be taken in proportionable quantity, fitted and qualified aright, if not much better, and more proper to our constitutions.

But so tis for the most part, as Pliny writes to Gallus, We are careless of that which is neer us, and follow that which is afarre off, to know which we will travell and sail beyond the seas, wholly neglecting that which is under our eyes.

Opium in Turky doth scarce offend, with us in a small quantity it stupifies: Cicuta or hemlock is a strong poyson in Greece, but with us it hath no such violent effects: I conclude with I. Voschius, who as he much inveighs against those exotick medicines, so he promiseth by our European, a full cure, and absolute of all diseases; à capite ad calcem, nostræ regionis herbæ nostris corporibus magis conducunt, our own simples agree best with us.

It was a thing that Fernelius much laboured in his French practice, to reduce all his cure to our proper and domestick Physick: So did Janus Cornarius, and Martin Rulandus in Germany. T. B. with us, as appeareth by a treatise of his divulged in our tongue 1615. to prove the sufficiency of English medicines, to the cure of all manner of diseases.

If our simples be not altogether of such force, or so apposite, it may be, if like industry were used, those far fetched druggs would prosper as well with us, as in those countries, whence now we have them, as well as Cherries, Artichokes, Tobacco, and many such. There have been diverse worthy Physicians, which have tryed excellent conclusions in this kind, and many diligent, painfull Apothecaries, as Gesner, Besler, Gerard, &c.

but amongst the rest those famous publike Gardens of Padua in Italy, Noremberge in Germany, Leiden in Holland, Montpelier in France, (and ours in Oxford now in fieri, at the cost and charges of the right Honourable the Lord Danvers Earl of Danby) are much to be commended, wherein all exotick plants almost are to be seen, and liberall allowance yearly made for their better maintenance, that young students may be the sooner informed in the knowledge of them:

which as Fuchsius holds, is most necessary for that exquisite manner of curing, and as great a shame for a Physitian not to observe them, as for a workman not to know his axe, saw, square, or any other tool which he must of necessity use.