Colloquies on the Simples and Drugs of India

The work is interesting because it contains the first of many important plants, of their uses and the first descriptions of the treatment of diseases-Cholera, for instance-and of several customs and habits of the natives. He had a most extensive and accurate knowledge of the writings of all who had gone before him and his second commonsense enabled him, with confidence, to seprate facts from fable. He knew personally all the plants within his reach from which drugs were derived. For the rest he was indefatigable in his enquiries from native physicians, of India, and of traders and others from all parts of moors, persians, Arabs and Malaya.