The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Samuel Browne ( - 22 Sep 1698)

Scottish botanist and a surgeon employed by the East India Company. He was a source of botanical specimens:
Browne travelled to Zhou Shan in China and sent back large specimens of Rhus chinensis, the China Sumac tree. James Petiver recorded how it arrived in England still bearing its ripe berries, and was given to [Henry] Compton, who raised several small trees from those berries at Fulham Palace. Like [John] Banister in Virginia, Browne sent back dried plants from India along with information that Petiver was able to incorporate into Philosophical Transactions for the Royal Society" (Willes, 212).


 Dictionary of National Biography entry: https://doi-org.cyber.usask.ca/10.1093/ref:odnb/3647 Other biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Browne_(surgeon) Botanist
 Relevant locations: Visited Salavakkam, Tamil Nadu
Workplace or place of business Fort St. George, Madras
 Relationships: Samuel Browne was a source of object(s) for Henry Compton (1631/2-1713)
Samuel Browne was a employed by East India Company (1600-)
Samuel Browne was a donor to James Petiver (c. 1665-Apr 1718)
Samuel Browne was a source of object(s) for James Petiver (c. 1665-Apr 1718)

John Conway (-fl. c. 1698) was a conveyor of objects from Samuel Browne
Linked print sources: as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - A description of some shells found on the Molucca Islands; as also an account of Mr Sam. Brown, his fourth book of East India plants, with their names, vertues, &c..
as Mentioned or referenced by - Plant lists from ‘olde’ Madras (1698–1703).
as Mentions or references - The Curious World of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn.
 References in Documents:
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) Mal. 32. Aquatica planta Malabarica tripetalos Inhame foliis fructu alato. Sagittæ affinis Malabariensis latissimo folio floribus ex albo trifoliatis Com. not. H. Mal. v. 11. Tab. 46. p. 95. Where they call it Ottel Ambel, and the Brachmans or Brammins Odeca Aloen. East-Indies=Tankweed with welted heads. This my ingenious and worthy Friend, Mr. Samuel Brown, sent me from Fort St. George.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) ☞ 37. Baccifera Madraspatana Glycyrrhizæ foliis fructu coronato. an Santalum pallidum C. B. 392? Raii H. Pl. 1804. This Mr. Sam. Brown sent me from Fort S. George, by the Name of Yellow Sanders.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) Pluk. 47. Convolvulus minimus procumbens Acetosellæ foliolis barbulis ad imum quaternis summo apice tricuspidatis Pluk. 147. fig. 5. Dr. Plukenett's small Halbert=leaved Bindweed of Madraspatan; from whence Mr. Samuel Brown sent it me.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) Mal. 53. Ferrum equinum majus Malabaricum siliquis in summitate Com. not. It's called Nala tali by the Malabars, and Nalabi by the Brammins. H. Mal. v. 9. Tab. 18. p. 31. The East-Indies Horseshooe-Vetch. This my ingenious Friend Mr. Samuel Brown sent me, who gathered it about Fort S. George.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) * 55. Filix pyramidalis Madraspatana elegans pinnulis serratis. Mr. Sam. Brown's Steeple=Fern, Who first observ'd it about Fort S. George.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) * 60. Gramen Dactylon Madraspatanum spicis pilosis. Mr. Samuel Brown's hairy Cocks=foot Grass, who first gathered it between Madrass and Quatra Serras.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) * 133. Aceris folio subtus lanuginoso, Planta è Madraspatan. These three grow about Fort St. George, from whence they were sent me by my Ingenious Friend Mr. Sam. Brown.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) * 259. Laurus tinus Madraspatanus trifoliatus. Gathered on St. Thomas his Mount near Fort St. George by Mr. Samuel Brown, Surgeon.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 339. Adhatodæ affinis Champaceæ, Chamedryos folio, subtùs villoso. These Eight last were sent me by that most industrious Botanist, my uery ingenious Friend, Mr. Samuel Brown, Surgeon, at Fort St. George.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 362. Baccifera Madrasp. parva Reniformis, Vincæ per vincæ folio subtùs molli. These five last my inestimable Friend Mr. Samuel Brown sent me from Fort St. George.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 1. MR.Mr. GEORGE ALFREY, Surgeon to Capt. HALLEY in his late Expedition, was so kind to make me some Collections of Plants on the Coast of Brasil. 2. Mr. EDWARD BARTER, at Cape Coast in Guinea. From this Person I lately received 3 or 4 Quires of Plants, with some Medicinal Roots, &c. 3. Mr. JACOB BOBART, Botanick Professor of the Physick-Garden at OXFORD, hath favoured me with some Plants I had not before seen. 4. Mr. SAMUEL BROWNE, Surgeon at Fort S. George in the East-Indies. To the indefatigable Industry of this Worthy and Generous Person, I am beyond expression obliged, for his large and frequent Performances; in not only gathering himself, but constantly employing several Persons to make Collections for me, and many of them some days Journy up the Country, from such Places we never yet saw any Plants before. And to most of these he has added their Indian Names, and the Vertues to such as are known to have any. I have this Year (besides several before) received near 20 Volumes in Folio, filled with fair and perfect Specimens of Trees and Herbs, and amongst them some from China, the Island of Ceilon, &c. He hath also procured me a Correspondence with divers Ingenious Persons residing in remoter Parts; and the like I could heartily wish my other Friends would do. 5. Mr. EDWARD BULKLEY, another Ingenious Surgeon at the same Place. This curious Person hath lately been pleased to send me thence 3 Volumes of Medicinal Plants, with their Names and Vertues annext; as also some Seeds, and a Materia Medica from Tonqueen; and formerly some from Persia. From this obliging Gentleman I have also farther Promises of Yearly Yearly Collections, as well from several other Parts of India, as of such as grow about him. 6. The Reverend Father GEORGE CAMELLI, a learned Jesuit; who hath been pleased to transmit to Mr. Ray and me, the Designs of such rare Medicinal Plants, with a large Account of their Vertue, Use, &c. as he hath experienced, and observed them to grow amongst the Philippine Islands, where he resides; some of which are already Published, and we hope e'er long to gratifie the World with something more from him. 7. Mr. WILLIAM CLERK, Surgeon, brought me lately some Plants and Seeds from Turkey. 8. Capt. JOHN CONWAY, my hearty and kind Friend; who, besides the care he took of several Collections, sent me from Fort St. George, the Cape of Good Hope, &c. procured me himself some Quires of Plants from the New Fort called Fort St. David, which is about 50 Leagues S. W. from Madrass. 9. Mr. CHARLES COOMBS, Surgeon, was so kind to collect me some Plants at Calabar, on the Coast of Africa; as also some others with some Insects from Maryland. 10. Mr. JAMES CUNINGHAME, Surgeon. A Learned and most industrious Promoter of Natural Philosophy, and extremely well qualified for such a Design; as I am very sensible, by the curious Remarks he hath made on most of the Plants, &c. he hath observed : having in a late Voyage to China made Collections wherever he touched, viz. 1. At Palma, one of the Canary Islands. 2. About Batavia in the Island of Java. 3. and 4. At Emuy and Colonshu, two Chinese Islands; from whence he also procured me the Paintings of near eight hundred several Plants in their Natural Colours, with their Names to all, and Vertues to many of them. In his return he visited the Streights of Malacca, the Cape of Good Hope, Island of Ascension, &c. at all these Places he not only collected Plants, with the Seeds of most of them, but also Insects, Shells, &c. and indeed whatever came in his way. A farther and more particular Account of these and many other things, the Publick may in time be acquainted with. 11. My kind Friend Mr. JOHN FOXE, Surgeon, sent me formerly a Collection of Plants, which he gathered at the Cape of Good Hope, and very lately some Shells from thence, as also 3 Quires of Plants from the Bay of Bengale. 12. The Reverend Mr. HUGH JONES, A very curious Person in all parts of Natural History; particularly in Fossils; some of which he hath sent me from Maryland with several Volumes of Plants very finely preserved; with divers Insects and Shells. From this obliging Gentleman, I am promised frequent remittances of whatever those Parts afford, as well Animals & Fossils as Vegetables. 13. Mr. 13. Mr. JEZREEL JONES. This worthy and kind Gentleman, in one Year whilst he was in Portugal (Secretary to his Excellency Mr. METHWYN our now Envoy) was pleased to make me considerable Collections every Month, of all the Plants he there observed, which he very curiously preserved: and after the same Monthly method, he sent me a great number of Insects; amongst them there were several altogether New to me and Strangers in England. To these he added what Shells and Fossils he there met with, as also some curious Reptiles. It were heartily to be wisht, that the Zeal and Industry of this Inquisitive Person, were imitated by such other curious Gentlemen, as may have occasion to travel or reside in more remoter Parts. 14. Mr. ROLESTON JACOBS. This young Gentleman was pleased to pick me up such curious Shells he met with amongst the Spicy and neighbouring Islands, being all or for the most part very fair as well as uncommon Shells. 15. Mr. WALTER KEIR. To this ingenious Surgeon I am obliged for some Plants, &c. he sent me from Jehore, in the Streights of Malacca, and I am in expectation of greater Performances from him. 16. Dr. DAVID KREIG, a German, Physician, and Fellow of our Royal Society. This curious Gentleman, after he had made several Remarks on the Natural Productions of this Island, and Painted several things he had here observed; was pleased to make a Voyage to Maryland, from whence he returned plentifully stored with what in Nature he had there taken notice of. His happy Genius in Designing, Painting, Etching, &c. were no small Additions to his other Qualifications; he being no less versed in the Study of Physick, than Anatomy, Botany, Chimistry, Natural Philosophy, and indeed whatever else is requisite to compleat a Physician. 17. Mr. SYLVANUS LANDON. Besides the Obligations I lye under to this worthy Gentleman and most ingenious Surgeon, for several Plants he formerly brought me from Cales, Alicant, Carthagena, and other Ports in Spain, and after that from the Island of Borneo in the East-Indies, with some very curious Serpents from thence: he hath been pleased lately to present me with the well-preserved Samples of such Trees, Herbs, &c. he has in a late Voyage observed on the Island of Flores; to these he has added the Shells of that and some other Islands in the East-Indies. In his return home, he also procured me the Remains of Dr. Oldenlands Collections at the Cape of Good Hope, with divers Reptiles, as Serpents, Lizzards, &c. from that most luxuriant Promontory. 18. I am very much oblig'd to Mr. GEORGE LONDON his Majesty's Gardener, who was pleased to present me with two two Volumes of dry Plants, very curiously Preserved, and collected at Maryland by my worthy Friend the Reverend Mr. Hugh Jones. 19. Mr. HENRY PASMORE. This Reverend Person was so kind to transmit me some Collections of Plants from the Island of Jamaica, with Promises of greater supplies, which I doubt not but he had performed had not Death prevented him. 20. Mr. RICHARD PLANER, Surgeon. This ingenious and hearty Friend made me formerly some Collections of Plants, Shells and Insects at Mount Serrado on the Coast of Africa: and in a Voyage since he got me other Collections from those Parts, with some very curious Insects off the Coast of Carthagena. 21. From Madam MARGARETHA HENDRINA van OTTEREN, Widow to that late most curious Botanist and Physician Dr. OLDENLAND, at the Cape of Good Hope, I have lately received the compleat Specimens of several Plants, very finely Preserved, and many of them such as I had not seen before; so that I am extremely obliged to this so generous a Benefactress, not only for these I have already received from her (and those formerly from her Learned Husband) but also for her kind Promises, in continuing to send me over whatever Plants that Fertile Promontory produces, with such Shells, Insects, Reptiles, Fossils, &c. as are there to be got. 22. Mr. JOHN RAY. To this most celebrated and worthy Author I stand indebted for many Favours, and particularly this last Summer, when I was with him, for some English Insects he was pleased to give me, which I had not before seen. 23. Mr. ROBERT RUTHERFORD, Surgeon. This hearty Person and kind Friend gathered me several Plants in Carolina, with some Insects and Shells he there observed. He hath also as I desired obliged some curious Persons that reside there, to hold a constant Correspondence with me. 24. Dr. FREDERICK RUYSCH, Anatomick and Botanick Professor in Amsterdam. To this most curious Person I am extremely obliged for several uncommon Reptiles, Insects, &c. which he was pleased formerly to favour me with; and since that I have received from him divers Exotick Plants, some of which I have not before not since seen. 25. Mr. STOCKER. This kind Person (and altogether a Stranger) was pleased to bring me a Collection of Shells, which he had pickt up in the Bay of Bengale, amongst them there were some very Curious. 26. Mr. ALEX. SYMPSON, Surgeon. This Gentleman was so kind lately to present me with the Samples of some Plants, very well Preserved, which he had observed about Gallipoli in Apulia. 27. Dr. 27. Dr. PITTON TOURNEFORT, Physician, one of the Royal Academy of Sciences, and Botanick Professor of the Royal Garden at PARIS. To this Celebrated Botanist I am obliged for some Alpine and Pyrenæan Plants he lately sent me, and am daily in expectation, according to his Promises, of greater Collections from him. 28. Mr. RICHARD WHEELER. This Person, my kind and hearty Friend, hath for many Years past, and doth still continue to send me all the Plants and Insects which he can get or procure me, about Long-Sound in NORWAY: many of the First being rare with us, and only to be met with in the North of England, and divers of the last are such I have not yet seen about London.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 579. Amourettes Madraspat. spicâ simplici Loliaceâ. Mr. Samuel Brown Surgeon, sent me this curious Grass with many others from Fort St. George.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 610. Arbor Salawaccensis Laurifolio, fructu filo longo terminante, flore ex utriculo quasi erumpente. This was gathered near Salawacka about thirty miles from Fort St. George, and sent me from thence by that most industrious Botanist Mr. Samuel Brown Surgeon.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 707. Cantharus Madraspatan. vaginis et pedibus rubris, cæteris viridibus, scapulâ instar Digitalis punctatâ. an Hoefn. Tab. 16. Fig. 7? This in shape resembles our smooth water Beetle, its sheath or shell wings are Scarlet, but the shoulders are green and pounc'd like a Thimble. Mr. Sam. Brown sent me this some years since, from Fort St. George.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 1. INIn her Grace the DUCHESS of BEAUFORT's most Noble Garden and Matchless Stoves at Badmington in Gloucestershire, I the last Summer met with many New Rare and very curious Plants, most of them raised to that Perfection I never saw before. 2. From Mr. JACOB BOBART, Botanick Professor of the Physick Garden at Oxford, I have at times received several curious Plants raised in that Garden under his Care. 3. Dr. JOANNES PHILIPPUS BREYNIUS (Son of JACOBUS BREYNIUS that late Celebrated Botanist) hath been pleased to give me several uncommon Plants, which he had collected the last Summer out of the most Curious Gardens in Holland, and he promised me greater Favours at his return to Dantzick. 4. Mr. EDMUND BOHUN hath again been pleas'd generously to present me with great variety of Insects and several Books of Plants, which he collected in Carolina. 5. I am much obliged to Mr. EDWARD BULKLEY at Fort St. George for several curious Plants, Shells, Insects, &c. which, since Mr. SAMUEL BROWNE's Death, he hath been pleased frequently to procure me, which I intend to give some Account of, with what else he shall particularly favour me with. 6. The Reverend Father GEORGE JOSEPH CAMEL hath again been pleased to Favour Mr. RAY and me with the accurate Descriptions and Designs of several new Plants he hath observed to grow in the Phillippine Isles. I have also lately received divers Insects from him, and other Curiosities which shall suddenly be Figured and Described. 7. Mr. MATTHEW COLVILL, Surgeon, gave me a Collection of such Shells he found on Pulo Verara, an Island near Malacca. 8. Mr. JAMES CUNINGHAME. To this Curious Person I am beyond expression obliged, not only for what he has formerly done, but also lately performed, viz. in his last Voyage to China he sent me Collections from the Cape of Good Hope, as also from Combuys near Java, and the Crocodile Isles, and twice from the Islands of Chusan, from whence I have received near two hundred several Plants, most of them altogether New, to these he has added such Insects, Shells, &c. as he met with; some of which are already Figured in the First and Second Decade of my Gazophylacium Nature & Artis, and others you may expect in my Third, &c. 9. To Mr. FIFIELD, Surgeon, I am obliged for some Shells and Plants he gathered in the Bay of Campeachy, and particularly for some Sprigs of the Logwood, which I never saw in England before. 10. Madam ELIZABETH GLANVILE. To this Curious Gentlewoman I am obliged for an hundred Insects lately sent me (besides others she gave me before) which she had observed in the West of England, several of them being altogether new to me. 11. Dr 11. Dr. CHARLES GOODALL, Physician to the Charter-house and one of the College, observed this last Autumn, near Tunbridge-Wells, several Curious Mushrooms which he was pleased to give me. 12. Mr. CLAUDIUS HAMILTON, Surgeon, was pleased some time since to give me a Book of Plants he had collected in Barbadoes, with his Observations on them. 13. From Mr. JAMES HAMILTON, Surgeon in Edinburgh, I have received several Curiosities. 14. To Dr. DAVID KRIEG, F. R. S. I am obliged for some Curiosities he sent me from Riga in Livonia; whilst that City was besieged, and for others since from Paris. 15. The Reverend Dr. LEWIS hath been pleased to favour me lately with some Shells, &c. part of which you may see in the Philosophical Transactions, No 282. and others are Figured in the second and third Decades of my Gazophylacick Tables. 16. In his Lordship the BISHOP of LONDON's Curious Gardens at Fulham, I yearly see many Rare Plants, and several of them not to be met with in any other Garden in England. 17. Dr. NISSOLE, a Physician and very Curious Botanist at Monpelier, has been pleased to send me a Collection, finely preserved, of such Rare Plants as I desired, growing thereabouts 18. My kind Friend Mr. RICHARD PLANER, Surgeon, hath again brought me several Plants and Insects from the Coasts of Guinea, not yet taken notice of, some of which I shall suddenly figure. 19. Mr. RANCE, Surgeon, was generally pleased to give me a Collection of such Shells, &c. he found in the Island of Borneo. 20. To Dr. RICHARD RICHARDSON, a Curious Naturally and Physician, I am indebted for many Rare Plants, Fossils, &c. which he hath observed in the North of England. 21. I have again from Dr. FREDERICK RUYSCH Anatomick and Botanick Professor in Amsterdam, received several Cape-Plants and Foreign Insects. 22. I am obliged to that Accurate Botanist Dr. WILLIAM SHERARD, for divers Specimens of Plants, several of which I had not before. 23. Mr. JAMES SKEEN, Surgeon, was pleased to present me with three of four Books of Plants, with such Shells and Insects as he and Mr. WATT, Surgeon, deceased, had observed at Cape tres Puntas and Wida on the Coast of Guinea. 24. Mr. JOHN STAREMBURGH. From this Gentleman I have received many Curious Cape-Plants very treatly dried, as also some Insects, which are figured in my first and second Decades, and I am daily in expectation of the arrival of many more Curiosites from him. 25. Mr. JOHN STOCKER hath again been pleased to bring me some Shells and Insects, which he hath met with in another East-Indies Voyage. 26. From Mr. JAMES SUTHERLAND, Superintendant of the Physick Garden at Edinburgh, I have received several uncommon Northern Plants, which he had gathered wild in Scotland. 27. I am again charged to that Celebrated Botanist Dr. PITTON TOURNEFORT, Physician, one of the Royal, Academy of Sciences, and Botanick Professor of the Royal Garden at PARIS, for not only his Institutions, Rei Herbariæ, but also for many Curious Plants, several of which he gathererd himself in and . 28. To Mons. VAILLANT (Secretary to Dr. FAGON, Chief Physician to the King of FRANCE) I am indebted for several uncommon Plants, growing about Paris and elsewhere, very curiously preserved. 29. To 29. To that Curious Preserver of all Natural and Artificial Rarities Myn Heer LEVINUS VINCENT at Amsterdam, I am very much obliged for divers admirable Insects he hath lately sent me. 30. Mr. THOMAS WALNER. This Generous Gentleman, at the desire of my kind Friend Mr. ROBERT ELLIS, hath lately sent me Specimens of the Brasiletto Wood, and some other Trees and Plants from New Providence, one of the Bahama Islands: for which I am extreamly obliged to him, and for his kind Promises of greater Performances, by the next and all Opportunities. 31. Madam WILLIAMS. This Gentlewoman, tho altogether a Stranger, was to kind as to send me several Curious Insects, especially Burterflies, which she had observed about her Residence in Carolina. These my hearty Friend Major WILLIAM HALSTEAD brought me with several Curiosities of his own collecting, as Plants, Shells &c. 32. A certain Curious , whose Name at present I am obliged to conceal, hath sent me, from Carolina, several Plants of that Country with his Remark on them.
Petiver, Gazophylacii Naturæ (1702-1706) 6. Stella CHINENSIS perelegans dupliciter radiata. S. B. 5. 1. seu Act. Phil. No. 276. p. 1023. 1. Mr. Samuel Brown procured me this odd Animal from China.
Petiver, Gazophylacii Naturæ (1702-1706) 10. Crotalaria MADRASPAT. Pilosellæ folio Hort. nost. Sicc. Ray V. 3. app. 244. C. 194. This and the next I lately receiv'd from my worthy Friend Mr Edward Bulkly at Fort St George, as I had formerly done from Mr Samuel Brown.
Petiver, Gazophylacii Naturæ (1702-1706) 10. Plantæ MADRASPATANÆ simul & earundern relatio, Collectæ per D. Samuel Brown, Chirurgum, Botanistam imprimis Curiosum. Act. Phil. No 264. p. 531. Abbr. S. B. Vol. l. 1. S. B. 1.
Petiver, Gazophylacii Naturæ (1702-1706) 15. Conchylia quædam ex Insula MOLUCCA descripta, quibus adjicitur Quartus Liber D. Sam. Brown de Plantis Indicis. Act. Phil. No 274. p. 927. Abbr. S. B. 4.
Petiver, Gazophylacii Naturæ (1702-1706) 17. Descriptio quorundam Animalium, quæ à Rev. Patre Camell accepi ab Insulis Philippensibus: quibus præmittitur Liber 6. D. Sa. Brown Plantarum Officinalium & aliarum Medicinalium ex INDIA Curiosarum Act. Phil. No 277. p. 1055. Abbr. S. B. 6.
Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669) 36. Tetrephoe, Boyl'd in Broath is good for the Flux. Mr. J. S. This Plant grows also in Malabar, where they use the Root boyl'd in Whey, as a Remedy against the Piles, and the Powder of it cures the Belly-ach, Hort. Malab. Xanthium Malabaricum capitulis lanuginosis Mus. Petiv. 99. Betæ folio Malabarica semine Lappaceo Com. not. in H. Mal. Wellia Codiveli H. Mal. V. 10. Tab. 59. p. 117. From whence, and my own Specimens, I shall (685) here give you a short Description of it. It's Stalks are somewhat woody and hoary (especially towards the top) the Leaves grow (by Pairs) on short Footstalks, the young ones are Velvetty underneath, the others in shape and hoariness not unlike Pulmonaria maculosa, or Spotted Lungwort, but seldom so large. The Flowers grow close together in a Spike, and are composed of Five Greenish Leaves fill'd with a Scarlet Thrummy Tuft. After that, towards the ripening of the Seed, the Burs in which they are included grow more spars'd, or at greater distance; they are covered with a woolly Substance, out of which proceed small hamated or crooked Prickles, very like our English Burdock (but Four times less) and stick like them to whatever they touch. In each of these is one small, longish, flat, vetchlike, blackish, shining Seed. It grows in any Soil. My ingenious Friend, Mr. Sam. Brown, hath also sent it me from Fort St. George, where I find there are many Plants, the same with those in Guiney.
Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669)
[Prefatory Note to volume 20 number 236]

THEThe Honourable the East-India Company, having received from Mr. Samuel Browne, a Physician who has liv’d Seventeen Years in their Service at Fort-St George, or Madaras, in the East-Indies, a very considerable Collection of dried Specimens or Samples of Plants, Fruits, and Drugs; together with an Account of his Observations of the Uses of them, by the Natives and others of those Parts, both in Physick, Dying, &c. have very generously and for the Publick Good, presented them to the Royal Society of London for improving Natural Knowledge: Who considering the great Use and Improvement may be made of such Collections, have ordered that the Publick shall have the Benefit of this Present, by receiving the whole Account that came with them, from time to time in these Papers, and by taking care that the things themselves shall be preserved from Corruption in their Repository, where recourse may be had to them by the curious, so soon as they are put into such a Condition, as not to suffer by being handled.

Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669)

FIgFig. 5. Represents what is commonly, but falsely, in India, called, The Tartarian Lamb. This was more than a Foot long, as big as ones Wrist, having several Protuberances, and towards the end some Foot-stalks about Three or Four Inches long, exactly like the Foot-stalks of Ferns, both without and within. Most part of the outside of this was cover’d with a Down of a dark yellowish Snuff-Colour, shining like Silk, some of it a quarter of an Inch long. This Down is what is commonly used for spitting Blood, about Six Grains of it being to a Dose, and Three Doses pretended to cure such an Hæmorrhage. In Jamaica are many scandent and Tree-Ferns, which grow on, or to the bigness of Trees, and have such a kind of Lanugo on them, and some of our Capillaries have something like it. It seem’d to be shap’d by Art to imitate a Lamb, the Roots or climbing part is made to resemble the Body, and the extant Footstalks the Legs. This Down is taken Notice of by Dr. Merret at the latter end (p. 386.) of Dr. Grew’s Mus. Soc. Reg. By the Name of Poco Sempie, a Golden Moss, and is there said to be a Cordial. I have been assured by Dr. Brown, who has made very good Observations in the East-Indies, that he has been told there by those who have lived in China, that this Down or Hair is used by them for the Stopping of Blood in fresh Wounds, as Cobwebs are with us, and that they have it in so great Esteem that few Houses are without it. I have known it much used for spitting of Blood; it being pretended, that some of the small Down may, by being swallowed, easily slip into the Wind- (462) Pipe, and so stop the Bleeding: But on Tryals I have seen of it, though I may believe it innocent, yet I am sure ‘tis not infallible.