Of Cucumbers

The world has been greatly divided in their opinions about cucumbers, some thinking them absolutely unwholesome, while others praise them above measure. The truth is, they are hard of digestion of themselves, are apt to rise in the sto-mach, and cool too much. However, they are very good in the hot fcurvy,by abating the acrimony of the humours, and by absorbing the hurtful salts of the blood. When they are seasoned with a little vinegar, oil, and pepper, they fit easy on the stomach, and are attended with no bad consequen-ces, let a person's age be what it will. A famous author, and skilful herbalist, continued eating them till sixty, without the least inconvenience, and did not leave them off then. The shaking them between two plates, to get out the juice, is a super-fluous labour, for it is not at all noxious.

Of Gourds

The pulp or flesh of a gourd was said by the antients to be nothing but coagulated water. It is cold, moist, yields little or no nourishment, relaxes the stomach, and take away the desire of drinking. Therefore it may be useful to the hot, and is noxious to the cold. But as it has a dead insipid taste, is is seldom brought to the table.

Of Citruls

Citruls have a near relation to gourds,and the pulp is eaten either raw or boiled. It yields little nou rishment, renders the blood watry,abates the inflammation of the internal parts, and temperates the heat of the bile. Those that think it worth their trouble, cook them in various manners, and boil, fry, or roasted them with butter, salt, onions, spices, and sugar They are best in hot weather, for those that are young and of a bilious constitution.

Of Oranges

Those oranges are best which grow in hot countries, for the fun renders the juice more mellow and fit for use. The pulp of China-oranges is cooling, quenches third, and helps the appetite. The juice of Seville-oranges is acid, and much more whole-some for sauce, or to make punch, than that of lemons; though no acids are good for coughs and consumptions. Being diluted with water, and sweetened with sugar, it makes Orangeat, which is a very agreeable drink in hot weather, to quench thirst, to temperate the heat of the blood, and is very useful in fevers, as also for those that are troubled with the scurvy. The peel helps digestion, strengthens the stomach, renders the humours fluid, discusses wind, eases the colic, promotes womens monthly courses, and kills worms. The rind of orange peel,either dry or fresh,made into a tincture with spirit of wine, is very good for the same purpo-ses,and makes a very good bitter. Thirty grains of the peel; reduccd to powder,may be taken at a dose.

Of Citrons And Lemons

Citrons are not used as aliment, but as sauce, being cut into quarters, and squeezed over meat, having both an agreeable taste and smell. The juice is an agreeable acid, excites an appetite and helps digestion, provided the use of it be moderate. It is cooling, promotes urine, and is excellent in the scurvy. It stops vomiting caused by bilious humours, and is good in palpitations of the heart. The outward yellow peel has a fine aromatick smell, being full of essential oil : being chewed, it mends the breath, by its bitterness it strengthens the stomach, kills worms, discusses wind, and di-gests crude humours in the stomach and intestines. Lemons are akin to citrons, but the juice is more sour, and consequently more cooling. It is put to the same uses as citron or orange juice, but is less friendly to the nerves, and is more apt to iritate the lungs to coughing. Lemons are less than citrons, the peel is thinner, and the juice in greater plenty. The peel has the same virtues. The juice, water, and sugar make lemonade or sherbet.