The next thing I shall take Notice of, as peculiarly adapted to this Case is _Liquorice_. This Plant was ever reputed by the Ancients for the greatest quencher of Thirst in Nature, and therefore they call’d it _Adipson_, and upon that account, _Galen_ tells us it was given to Dropsical people, _Theophrastus_ calls it _Scythica_, and _Pliny_ gives us the Reason of it, and tells us the _Scythians_ where wont to Live 12 Days upon _Liquorice_, and a little Cheese made of Mare’s Milk; so that it was in Reputation, likewise for sustaining Nature, and enabling People to bear Hunger. Its effects on Pains in the Stomach, the Bladder and the like, are numerous; and some of ’em very well attested, and perhaps there is scarce any Alterative that the Ancients take more Notice of than this, except their admir’d _Silphium_; and we may gather from all, that it is one of the greatest Correcters of Acrimony in general, and that it is very temperate and safe, because the Juice of it has been drank in considerable quantities, and that fermented too; after this account of it, let us see how we use it; we boil about an Ounce or an Ounce and a half, in a Decoction of a Quart or two with other Ingredients; this is a wonderful Concession, but then in our Lozenges, there we do it to some purpose, about equal Parts of Juice of _Liquorice_ and _Sugar_, make up a Stupendious Medicine indeed, not remembring at the same time a good Remark of _Tragus_’s, _viz._ that _Sugar_ and _Liquorice_ are directly contrary, he Glories, speaking of _Liquorice_, that we have found a Sweet, that will quench the Thirst, whereas most other Sweets will cause Thirst, and instances in _Sugar_, which if it be true, can any thing imply more of Contradiction than Our Practice? If we were to make Sweetmeats for Children only, it would be allowable to mix all the Sweets in the Universe together; but when the Blood of a Poor Consumptive Wretch, is heated and loaded with Acrimony, to spoil the most agreeable Drug in Nature, by mixing it with its contrary, only because the form of a Medicine requires it; this, with all Submission, is what I think cannot easily be excus’d; this is to Cheat People with the _Bellaria_ of Physick, and Tickle Men into the Grave.