The royal commentaries of Peru : in two parts / written originally in spanish by the Inca Garcilasso de la Vega; rendred into english by sir Paul Rycaut.

Royal Commentaries. BooK 11. hours timé it begins to work wlch fuch fqtieamiíh nefs ih the Sromach, and fucñ giddinefs in the Head, that they feel the fame irtdiípofüiorí, as thoíe who labour of Sea-ftckneís, and purges them both upwards and dowhwai·ds with foch vio- lence, thac it brings away worms, and ali kmd of indigeíl:ed ina~cér, notwithfian- ding which, having firtiíhed its operation; it leaves che body íl:rong ánd without decay of Spirits, and wich a íharp and huhgry appetite: All which 1 can bold- ly atteíl:; having my felf proved ic, and takén it twice for a páin in my Sto- m~ . Theíe Cut€s by purging and bleedittg Weré comrhonly páformed by old W o- rnen, or by fome certain Botaniíl:s, who in the times óf the incas were famous for the knowledge they profeíled in rhe virme of Herbs; and theíe by Tradition transferred the fecrets of their learning to their Sons, who did not profefs to be Phyftcians common to ali, but to apply their Art onely for mediti~ their JGngs, and Curacas, and foch as were lineally deícended from them; l::iut the ordinar}' People cured one thé other, by fuch Medicines a.s were of common Reporc. Whqi fücking Infams were íitk of any diféafe, efpecially lf it were a Fever, or Calemure, they wafhed them every morning in Urine, and then wrapped them up, giving them fome of rheir own Water to drink. At the Birch of their Chil- dren, when che Midwife cut the firing of the Nave!, they left ir at Jeaft a fioger in length; which when it fell off from rhe Child of ir felf, chey con(erVed it care- fully, and on any oCcaÍton of indifpoÍttion, of which a whitenefs in the Mouth 0f the Child was rheir ufual fytnptom€, th€y gave it to fuck of chis íl:ring: which commonly proved an aífuted remedy, . What Reafons they had for theíe Seerets of Nature I know not, nor did 1 ever ask: 1 am fure chey macla no conjeétures by the chrobs of d e Pulfe, much lefs by Urine, haying no other Syrnpcoms of a Calenture, than what appeared by the exceffive hear and burnings of the Body. Their Purges and bleedings We're more coihmonly uíed when the Patient was b t a liule indifpofed, <!nd was able ca walk, but noc afcer he had yielded to the Difeaíe, fer then cbey comrnltt'.'ed hirri onely ro the füength of Namre, and a regular Dier, they never arrived to the knowledge of Clyíl:ers, or ro Unguents or Plaíl:ers; the old and fhaking fü of a Qgarcan chey called Chucchu, rhe bor fit Rnpa'r, which is burning, the which Indifpofüions they gréatly fea red by reafon of che uneafinefs chey felt boch by cold and hear. C H A J.'. XIIt . Of their Medicinal Herbs, and Phyflcal Pl~mts. T Hey have a certain_ Tree which th~}'. cáll M'!lli, and che Spaniard1 M_olle, which fweacs forth a kmd of raíomy ¡utce; whJCh bach a rnoíl: fovere1gn qualicy for che cure of green Wounds; rhe herb or íhrub, called Chi!!ca, being heaced il'l an earchen pan, harh done wonderfull effeél:s on thoíe who have been troubled with a pain in the joints and bones, caken by cold; they have a cercain root like the rooc or Fibres of Gra(s, but fomerhing grofler, and fuller of knocs, the ~ame of ir 1 do not well remember, which rhey make ufe of to íl:rengrhen che Teeth 1 <¡n9 fortify the Gums; and in che preparing of ir rhey roaíl: ic in rhe hor embers, and when ir is very hor they apply ir ro rhe Gums on t!ach Ítde of che mouch keeping it unrill ir is cold, which is of great cormenr ro che Patiem; for ir fc:ild~ the mouch exceedingly. This Remedy rhey apply in the Evening, and next morning doe che like, fo thac rheir Gums and Mourh look like roalled flefh, and for two or three days áre notable to chew, or receive orher nourifhment rhan by a fpoon; afterwards the white flefh of rhe Gums, which hach been camerized in this rnanner, begins to fall off, and a new and well coloured forc of Gum , íl:rong