Wenches use the Decoction of it too frequently when they think they are with Child 'T is good in the Dropsie and Jaundice Take of the Leaves of Asarabacca six seven eight or nine bruise them and pour upon them three Ounces of White-wine strain it Take it in the Morning or at Four in the Afternoon Drink large Draughts of Posset-drink after every time it vomits Or Take of the Powder of the Root one Dram or four Scruples Oxymel of Squils one Ounce and an half mingle them and take it in a draught of Posset-drink Use Posset-drink in the Working of it as above-directed The Ash-tree in Latin Fraxinus The Seed of the Ash powder'd and taken in Wine forces Urine The Juice of three or four Leaves taken every Morning makes those lean that are fat The Bark and the Wood dry and attenuate and are supposed to soften the hardness of the Spleen by a Specifick Quality The Juice of the Leaves and tender Twigs taken in the Morning daily in a small quantity is said to do good in Dropsies One Dram of the Seeds powder'd and taken in Wine is also beneficial in the Dropsie The Salt of it provokes Sweat and Urine Avens in Latin Cariophillata The Root grows oblique sending down sometimes thick Fibres into the Earth 'T is of an Aromatick taste and Smell like July-flowers Several Stalks rise from the same Root two Foot high or higher round hairy small and full of Pith garnish'd with Leaves plac'd alternately they are branchy at the top The Leaves that come from the Root are hairy and winged small Wings being here and there joyned to the Middle-rib The Extremity of the Leaf is cut in deep The Leaves that are on the Stalks consist of two Wings that are pretty large which adhere to the Stalk at the Basis of the foot-Foot-stalk as if they were Ears and they have three Jags at the End almost like a Bramble The Flower does not come from the Bosom of the Leaf but grows opposite to it and has long foot-Foot-stalks and five yellow Leaves like Tormentil The Cup is composed of ten Leaves five large five small Many yellow Threads stand round the Head which grows into a roundish Bur compos'd of a great many Seeds placed thick together each of them has a Tail that turns back at the End whereby they stick to Clothes It grows in Hedges and Bushes and flowers in May or June 'T is somewhat astringent it strengthens and discusses 't is Cephalick and Cordial and resists Poisons 'T is chiefly used inwardly to cure Catarrhs and for quickening the Blood when it is coagulated Wine wherein the Root has been infus'd has a fine pleasant Taste and Smell It chears the Heart and opens Obstructions The Root infus'd in Beer is excellent for strengthening the Joints and Bowels Two Ounces of the Root or an Handful of the Herb boyl'd in a Quart of Water or Posset-drink to the Consumption of a fourth Part has been us'd successfully in curing Agues especially Tertians being taken two Hours before the Fit or in the Fit B. BArbery-tree in Latin Berberis The Berries cool and are astringent they provoke Appetite and strengthen the Stomach and therefore the Conserve of them is frequently used in Fevers a Loosness and the Bloody Flux The inward Bark of the Branches and Root infus'd in White-wine is an excellent Remedy for the Jaundice The Juice of the Berries a Decoction of the Bark or the Juice of the Leaves mix'd with Vinegar cure the Pain of the Teeth occasioned by Fluxion The Conserve of it frequently taken cures Inflammations of the Mouth and Throat or the Mouth being gargled with some of the Conserve dissolv'd in Water and Vinegar Barley in Latin Hordeum The French-Barley is much used in Fevers and for Diseases of the Breast and for Heat of Urine A Pultis of Barley-meal and Butter is very Anodine and eases painful Tumours Barley-water Boyl two Ounces of French-Barley in Fountain-water change the Water twice boyl it the third time in a Quart of Water to a Pint and an half adding Liquorish half an Ounce Violet-leaves and Strawberry-leaves each one handful sweeten it with Sugar or Syrup of Violets The Cinnamon-water with Barley Infuse twelve Ounces of Cinnamon in four Quarts of Barley-water prepared by it self without the Liquorish and other Ingredients distill them in B. M. Garden Basil in Latin Ocymum 'T is about nine Inches high and has many four-square Branches that are somewhat red and a little hairy The Leaves are like Pellitory-Leaves they are smooth some are indented some not They have a fragrant Smell but do not taste very well The Flowers are white or of a purplish Colour they smell sweet and are plac'd on long Spikes in Whirls The Seed is small and black The Root is woody black and fibrous It grows only in Gardens It comforts the Heart and expels Melancholy It cleanses the Lungs and moves the Courses 'T is an Ingredient of three Compound-Waters in the London-Dispensatory viz. Gilberts-water Briony-water and the Celestial-water Wild Basil in Latin Acinos It has but one thin Root with but a few Fibres The Stalks are one Hand high hairy red four-square branchy tho' near the Earth they seem round There are two Leaves at each Joint and their Foot-stalks are contrary one to another they are like wild Thyme but larger they are indented about the Edges are green above underneath whitish Their Nerves are conspicuous they are plac'd upon short Foot-stalks The Flowers are dispos'd like a Whirl at the top of the Stalks and Branches and shew themselves of a purple Colour The Cup is oblong channell'd big-bellied but narrow at the Neck It grows of its own accord upon chalky Hills and on dry and gravelly Ground It flowers in June The Virtue of it is not certainly known and indeed one would judge by the Smell and Taste that it had no great Virtue tho' Schwenckfeld says that 't is hot and dry and that it forces the Courses and the Birth and removes Melancholy Baulm in Latin Melissa 'T is reckon'd among the Cordial-Herbs It removes Melancholy and cheers the Heart 'T is much commended for Fainting and Beating of the Heart and for the Palsie and Falling-sickness and for other cold Diseases of the Brain Put the green Leaves into Canary-wine and drink a Glass or two at Meals it provokes the Courses and Child-bed-Purgations and is good for Mother-fits and cures a Stinking Breath For Madness Take one Handful of the Leaves cut them small and infuse them in four Ounces of Brandy add of prepar'd Pearl half a Dram the Dose is two Spoonfuls Morning and Evening This was counted a great Secret at Montpelier For Melancholy Take of the Conserve of Balm one Ounce of the Conserve of Bugloss and Borage-flowers each half an Ounce of Confection of Alkermes one Dram make an Electuary with the Syrup of the five opening Roots Take the quantity of a Nutmeg Morning and Evening for the space of a
excellent Lithontripick being powder'd and taken in Small Beer or Posset-drink The Leaves are applied outwardly to old Sores and to Burns The Seed powder'd and taken forty Days together cures the Hip-Gout 'T is said it provokes Venery Take of the Seeds of Bur-dock two Drams of Wild-Carrot-Seeds one Dram of Salt of Amber one Dram of Oyl of Nutmegs half a Scruple Balsamum Capivii a sufficient quantity make small Pills take four Morning and Evening This is a good Diuretick Medicine But the Root is chiefly us'd Take of the Roots of Bur-dock three Ounces of Sarsaparilla six Ounces of the Wood of Guaiacum three Ounces of the Bark of the same one Ounce of the Roots of Notty China three Ounces of Sassaphras one Ounce and an half of Harts-horn and Ivory rasp'd each one Ounce of Red and White Sanders and of the sweet-smelling Flag each six Drams of Raisins of the Sun ston'd one Handful of the Seeds of Anise and Fennel each half an Ounce Infuse them in eight Quarts of Fountain-water for twenty four Hours in B. M. and cover the Vessel close then boyl it with a gentle Fire till a third part of the Liquor is is consum'd towards the latter end of Boyling add of the Tops of Eye-bright Betony dried Sage and of the Cordial-Flowers each one Pugil of Woody Cassia half an Ounce of Nutmegs number two strain it for use Take half a Pint four times a Day Burnet in Latin Pimpinella vulgaris sive minor It has a long slender brown Root with some Fibres The Stalks are a Foot or two Foot high angl'd branchy and of a light red Colour At the top of the Branches are small Heads from whence arise small purplish Flowers The Seeds are short and four-square It has many long wing'd Leaves that lie on the Ground which consist of several small roundish Leaves green above and grayish underneath finely indented about the edges and set on each side of a Middle-rib It grows commonly on chalky Ground and in hilly Pastures 'T is Cordial and Alexipharmick The green Herb is put into Wine to chear the Heart and it renders it very pleasant by imparting an Aromatick Smell and Taste to it 'T is a good Preservative against the Plague and other contagious Diseases 'T is also astringent Of excellent use in immoderate Fluxes of the Courses and Belly and in all Hemorrhages and to dry and heal Wounds and Ulcers and the Biting of a Mad Dog The following Water was much us'd in the last London-Plague Take of the Tops of Burnet Rosemary Wormwood Sun-Dew Mugwort Dragon's Scabious Agrimony Balm Carduus Betony the Lesser Centory one Handful each of the Roots of Tormentil Angelica Peony Zedoary Liquorish and Elecampane each half an Ounce of the Leaves of Sage Celandine and Rue of the Leaves and Flowers of Marigolds each one Handful cut them and infuse them three Days in four Quarts of the best White-wine then distil them carefully and keep the Water for use The Dose was four Spoonfuls Butter-bur or Pestilent-wort in Latin Petasitis First it sends forth a Stalk about nine Inches high that is concave and downy with narrow sharp Leaves on it At the top is a long spiked Head of Flowers of a purplish Colour When the Flowers fade and the Stalks die large Leaves succeed like the Leaves of Colts-foot but twice or thrice as large or larger hook'd near the Foot-stalk they are almost round and indented about the Edges The Root is thick and bitter and creeps much It grows in moist places and near the Banks of Rivers the Spike and Flower flourish in April 'T is much us'd in Pestilential Fevers 'T is also reckon'd good in Coughs and for an Asthma It expels the broad Worms of the Belly and provokes Urine and the Courses 'T is outwardly applied to Bubo's and Malignant Ulcers 'T is us'd also to provoke Sweat and to expel Malignity Take of the Root of Bur-dock Virginian Snake-weed and Contrayerva each one Dram of Cochinell and Saffron each half a Dram make a Powder The Dose is half a Dram to be taken in a proper Water Butterwort or Yorkshire-Sanicle in Latin Pinguicula The Root has some white Fibres that are pretty large considering the smalness of the Plant. It does not grow deep Six or seven of the Leaves lie on the Earth and sometimes more of a pale yellow Green they look greasie and shine as if they were besmear'd in length two Inches and in breadth about one they are somewhat blunt at the Ends the Edges are smooth the upper part of the Leaf is cover'd with a very short Down which is scarcely seen Some foot-Foot-stalks about an Hand high arise amongst the Leaves at the top of each is plac'd one purplish Flower of one Leaf divided into five parts It grows in marshy Places and on moist Hills The Leaves bruis'd and applied cure fresh Wounds Country-People cure Chaps in Cows Dugs and Chaps and Swellings on their Hands by anointing them with the fat Juice of this Herb. The Welsh make a Syrup of it wherewith they purge themselves They also boyl the Herb in Broth for the same purpose for it purges Flegm very briskly They also make an Ointment of it which is of excellent use for Obstruction of the Liver The Leaves beat and applied to Parts affected with Pain ease the Pain 'T is reckon'd Vulnerary and very good for Ruptures in Children C. CAbbage in Latin Brasica Warts anointed with the Juice of it are taken off in the space of fourteen Days The Leaves boil'd in Wine and applied to Ulcers and the Leprosie do much good And so great is the Virtue of it that the Urine of those that feed on it is very useful and proper for curing the Fistula Cancer Tetters and such like Diseases At the Beginning of an Inflammation of the Jaws when we design to cool and repel we make use of the Liquor of it A Person so over-run with the Scurvy that he could scarce go or stand and had Spots all over his Breast and Legs was cured by drinking daily three Pints of Wine wherein four handfuls of Red Cabbage had been infus'd with half a Dram of Ginger and two Drams of Cinnamon For a Pain in the Side apply a Leaf of it besmear'd with Butter hot to the Part affected having first sprinkl'd Powder of Cumin-seed upon it 'T is said Cabbage prevents Drunkenness Sea Cabbage or Colewort in Latin Brasica Marina It grows every where almost on the Sea-shore in England Our People in such places eat it preferring it before Garden-Cabbage Field Calamint in Latin Calamintha It springs up yearly with many Stalks which are two Foot high small four-square stiff and hairy they look reddish in Sunny Places they are branchy and bend downward The Leaves by Intervals are opposite one to the other small hairy with here and there a Jag they smell as strong as Penny-royal and almost as strong as Water-mint they are for the most part triangular
Ounces of Carduus-water one Pint and an half make an Infusion over a gentle Fire in a close Vessel two Hours then strain the Liquor and add to it two Ounces of the Syrup of Dandalyon and a Dram of the Spirit of Sal-Almoniack The Dose is five or six Spoonfuls three or four times a Day This is very good in Pleurisies and other Diseases that proceed from the Clamminess of the Blood and from its being coagulated Dane-wort in Latin Ebulus 'T is neither Tree nor Shrub but rather an Herb but it is so like Elder that it is called Dwarf-Elder 'T is seldom so high as a Man but most-commonly three Foot high and no higher The Stalk is green and channel'd and full of Pith like Elder which withers in Winter The Leaves are whiter and greater than those of the common Elder long and broad and cut in the Edges like a Saw The Leaves are placed by Couples and smell strong The Flowers are white tip'd with red and grow at the top of the Stalks in Tufts The Berries are black The Root is long and of the thickness of a Finger not woody It spreads much and grows commonly near High-ways and Ditches and Church-yards It flowers in June or July and the Betries are ripe in August and September 'T is said to have the same Virtues with Elder but they are stronger The Bark and Seeds purge Water wherefore they are good in Dropsies and other Diseases arising from watery Humours The Root likewise purges very strongly The Leaves of it as well as those of Elder applied to Burns cure them In Diseases of the Spleen Take four Ounces of the distill'd Waters of the Roots for the space of ten or twelve Days fasting Take of the Roots of Dwarf-Elder of our Flower-de-luce each one Ounce and an half of the Leaves of Soldanella and Hedge-Hyssop each one Handful of the Roots of Asarabacca and Wild Cucumbers each two Ounces of the Lesser Galangal six Drams of choice Jalap half an Ounce of Elaterium three Drams of Cubebs two Drams slice and bruise them and pour upon them three Pints of small Spirit of Wine Tartariz'd digest them in a close Vessel in a Sand-Furnace two Days strain it and let it stand till it is clear Take two or three Spoonfuls in a proper Vehicle This is an excellent Purge in a Dropsie Darnel in Latin Lolium album The Root is very fibrous The Straws are two or three Foot high like the Wheat-straw but a little less They have four or five Knots at each whereof are the Leaves they are narrower and greener than the Blade of Wheat they shine and are smooth fat channel'd and are spiky The Grain is less than Wheat and is included in a single brown Husk It grows too much amongst Wheat 'T is hot and dry It attenuates resolves and cleanses Being mix'd with Malt it makes the Beer heady And mix'd with Bread it occasions great Dulness It offends the Eyes by sending ill Vapours into the Head The Flower of it mix'd with other Medicines is commended by the Ancients for putrid Ulcers the Itch the Leprosie the King 's Evil Gangreens and the Hip-Gout Dill in Latin Anethum 'T is very like Fennel yet it differs from it in many things The Root is annual the Stalk is less and and lower for it is rarely three Foot high the Leaves are lighter colour'd and smell stronger and not so pleasant the Seed is broader of an acrid Taste and not so pleasant as that of Fennel the Tufts of Flowers are yellow but not so large It grows in Gardens and springs yearly from its Seed But it grows no where spontaneously in England as I know of The Herb but especially the Seed digests discusses and ripens Tumours increases Milk disposes to Sleep lessens Venery cures Vomiting and the Hickops 'T is said to be offensive to the Eyes which seems strange to me for that it is very like Fennel both in Quality and outward Appearance and it expels also Wind And Fennel is allow'd by all to be good for the Eyes The tender Tops and the Root when fresh provoke Urine and so very good for those that are afflicted with the Stone Our People are wont to put the Seeds and Leaves into Pickle of Cucumbers to better the Taste and Smell and to correct the Coldness Take of the Oyl of the Seeds of Dill four Drops of Oyl of Almonds half an Ounce mingle them for a Draught This is excellent for the Hickops when they proceed from a cold Cause Dittander in Latin Lepidium latifolium The Root is of a Finger's thickness and thicker white of an acrid and hot Taste which soon vanishes It creeps in the Earth It has many Stalks four Foot high sound smooth and full of Pith branchy less than the Little Finger and cover'd with Sky-colour'd Dust which may be easily wiped off The Leaves are long and broad but end sharp they are smooth fat of a dull green Colour and plac'd alternately they are indented about the Edges Those which come from the Root and are on the bottom of the Stalk are prop'd by long foot-Foot-stalks The little Flowers are plac'd on the top of the Stalks and Branches they consist of three white Leaves there are many of them The small Seed-vessels succeed the Flowers they are fat and pointed Gardiners dislike it because it spreads so much The Women in Suffolk boyl it in Beer to facilitate Delivery The Herb is acrid The Root eases the Pain of the Teeth Sharp-pointed Dock with curled Leaves in Latin Lapathum acutum crispum The Root is single and has sometimes Sprigs it grows deep in the Earth without brown and within yellow The Leaves are narrow and long and of a dull colour curl'd and crooked about the Edges especially near the Foot-stalks The Flowers are small hanging down upon long Foot-stalks and many Whirls The Seed is of a Chesnut-colour It grows on untill'd Grounds and in Courts especially in moist Places Sharp-pointed Dock in Latin Lapathum acutum The Leaves are shorter than the former the Lower grow narrow by degrees from a broad Beginning and are less than the other The Stalk is small stiff and sometimes crooked The Whirls of the Flowers are not so thick the Flowers are smaller and the Seeds not half so large It grows in moist Places and near Water and commonly in Ditches and Hedges The Root of Sharp-pointed Dock is much commended for the Itch And infus'd in Beer is excellent for the Scurvy and the Jaundice The Powder of the Seeds strengthen the Liver and stop all Fluxes of the Belly Provide four Gallons of Small Ale instead of Hops boyl in it three Handfuls of the Tops of Pines or Firr after it has done Working in the Vessel put into a Canvas-bag three Handfuls of Scurvy-grass four Ounces of the Root of Sharp-pointed Dock prepar'd and the Peels of four Oranges hang the Bag in the Vessel with something to sink the Bag After it has stood a
Milk and therefore 't is called their Treacle But the often use of it is injurious partly by reason of the intollerable Stink but especially because it occasions the Head-ach and Drought and for that it hurts the Eyes and the Organs of all the the Senses Zacutus Lusitanus relates an Observation of an Old Man who travelling a long Way in the Snow was taken desperately ill the innate Heat of his Stomach being in a manner extinguish'd And when Zacutus had tried all hot Remedies to no purpose he at length according to Avicen's Directions gave him Dried Garlick mix'd with Hony and when he had used this four Days the Man found himself better and was quite recover'd by using it a Month. And Experience teaches the Northern People the Use of this Root for which Reason they eat it often Garlick beat with Lard and applied to the Soles of the Feet in the manner of an Ointment opens the Stoppages of the Lungs If Garlick be applied to the Soles of the Feet the Breath will stink of it but the Vapours penetrating the Habit of the Body do not occasion that Stink but Particles of the Garlick are mix'd with the Blood and together with it are brought to the Lungs and so are emitted by Expiration with the Sooty Effluvia of the Blood Take Cloves of Garlick pill'd four Ounces boyl them till they are soft change the Water twice pour the Water off and put the Garlick into a Vessel to which put Syrup of Vinegar half a pound stop it up close and set it in a Skillet with Water put Hay under the Vessel and boyl it for half an Hour Take four or five of the Cloves every Day and a Spoonful or two of the Syrup This is much commended for Coughs and the Worms Wild Germander in Latin Chamaedrys silvestris 'T is rooted with a great many Fibres The Branches bending to the Earth sometimes turn to Roots and so by creeping it increases The Stalks are sometimes two Foot high downy round small and weak to which the Leaves grow by Intervals opposite to one another without Foot-stalks they are indented hairy very green and wrinkly from a large Basis they grow by degrees pointed but not very sharp The Flowers come from the Wings of the Leaves and grow like an Ear and seem as if they had four Leaves tho' they have really but one for they are entire at bottom They are of a pleasant Sky-colour and shine and are streak'd with deep colour'd Lines and white in the Middle where is a very small Violet-Pillar with two Threads sustaining the white Tufts The Cup of the Flower has four Leaves The Flowers are placed upon short Foot-stalks coming from the Bosom of a small Leaf The Seed-vessels are flat and Twins like those of Speed-well 'T is hot and dry and somewhat bitter 'T is good for a Cough at the Beginning of a Dropsie for an ill Habit of Body the Green-sickness an hard Spleen the Strangury and Obstructions of the Bowels The Garden-Germander provokes Urine and Sweat powerfully upon which Account it is good in Fevers for the Scurvy and for the Blood when coagulated but especially for the Gout the Jaundice and Suppression of Urine It was commended to the Emperor Charles V. as an Arcanum for the Gout 'T is outwardly used for Eating Ulcers for the Piles the Itch and to dry Catarrhs 'T is frequently used in a Decoction to open Women's Obstructions 'T is called in Cambridgeshire English-Treacle Take of the dried Leaves of Germander Ground-Ivy and White Hoar-hound each one Handful of the Roots of Elecampane and Florentine-Flower-de-luce each one Ounce and an half of Anniseeds bruis'd two Ounces of Liquorish one Ounce and an half of Raisins of the Sun three Ounces hang all these in a Bag in a Glass that has a large Mouth and put three Quarts of Lime-water to it stop it close and set it in a cold Place pour out the Liquor as you use it The Dose is four Ounces thrice a Day This is good for Catarrhs and Ulcers of the Lungs Goat's-beard in Latin Tragopogon Any part of this Plant being cut yields a white Milk which soon turns yellow and clammy The Root is streight about the bigness of a Finger The Stalks are empty and branchy larger and stronger-than those of Scorzonera It has many Leaves that are like the Leaves of Leeks which are sometimes very broad sometimes long narrow and sharp The Flowers are placed on the top of the Stalks and Branches and consist of eight nine or ten green Leaves they are long and sharp above three Inches long of a deep purple or Sky-colour and at last turn into a soft Down to which the Seed adheres 't is two Inches long round streak'd and rough and black when ripe The Root boyl'd is reckon'd delicate Food 't is also used raw in Sallets It nourishes much and therefore good for Consumptive People 'T is used in Diseases of the Breast and for a Cough and Difficulty of Breathing 'T is supposed to expel the Stone and to force Urine The Juice of the Root and the distill'd Water of it do the same Goat's-Rue in Latin Galega It spreads a small white Root in the Earth The Stalks are four Foot high or higher channell'd empty and has many Branches The Leaves are like the Leaves of a Vetch they have a soft little Thorn at the end of them The Flowers are placed upon peculiar Twigs arising from the Wings of the Leaves they grow one above another like the many flower'd Vetch and are of a whitish Colour The Pods are round small long and upright wherein is contain'd the Seed 'T is Alexipharmick and Sudorifick It expels Poyson and cures the Plague 'T is used in Children's Convulsions a Spoonful of the Juice may be given at a time 'T is good for the Worms and for the Biting of Serpents The raw Herb or when it is boyl'd is also eaten in these Cases The distill'd Water of it is used to expel Contagion and in Children's Convulsions The Honourable Mr. Boyle commends it much from his own Experience in curing Pestilential and Malignant Diseases 'T is one of the Ingredients in the London-Plague-Water Take of the Roots of Angelica Master-wort Butter-bur and Peony each half a Pound of Athamantick Spikenard and of Scorzonera each four Ounces of Virginian Snake-weed two Ounces of the Leaves of Rue Rosemary Balm Carduus Benedictus Scordium Marigolds and their Flowers Dragons Goat's Rue and Mint each four Handfuls pour upon them four Gallons of the best Brandy let them infuse gently in B. M. the Vessel being close stop'd for three Days draw off four Gallons wherein hang in a Bag half an Ounce of Saffron to every Pint of this add an Ounce and an half of Fine Sugar Golden-rod in Latin Virga aurea The Root is brown and has many whitish Fibres and is jointed and grows awry The Stalks are stiff upright five or six Foot high channell'd a little hairy and full
of a fungous Pith. The Leaves that come from the Roots and those that grow on the Stalks are placed alternately on long Foot-stalks and sometimes they have none at all or very short ones Those that are at bottom are almost an Hand 's breadth and about twice as long but here in England they are not so long nor so broad The uppermost are of a dark-Green hairy on both sides and indented about the edges The Flowers are many and grow on the tops of the Stalks and on peculiar Foot-stalks arising from the Wings of the Leaves they are yellow and at last turn into a kind of Down It grows commonly upon Heaths and in Hilly Woods and Groves It flowers in August The Flowers sometimes vary 'T is an excellent Wound-herb either taken inwardly or outwardly applied 'T is Lithontriptick and Diuretick Two Drams of the Powder being taken in White-wine hot every Morning 'T is very cleansing and drying 'T is good in the Obstructions of the Bowels and for those that are inclin'd to a Dropsie and for stopping all Fluxes of the Womb or Belly and inward Bleedings Goos-berry-bush in Latin Grossularia It loves cold Places It flowers in April the Fruit comes forth in May and is ripe in June and July The Fruit is very agreeable to the Stomach Being boyl'd in Broth before they are ripe they do good in a Fever They provoke Appetite and stop the Fluxes of the Belly They also cure a Gonorrhea and the Whites They are outwardly applied for Inflammations and St. Anthony's Fire But before they are ripe many of them must not be eaten for they occasion the Cholick and Gripes Wine is made of them when they are ripe in the following manner The Berries being put into a Tub they pour upon them a sufficient quantity of hot Water and then covering the Vessel very close they let them stand three Weeks or a Month till the Liquor is impregnated with the Juice and Spirit of the Berries then they draw it out and put it into Bottles with Sugar which they keep close stop'd till the Liquor is well mix'd and fermented with the Sugar and so it becomes a generous Wine Goose-grass or Cleavers in Latin Aparine This Herb beat up with Lard cures the King's-Evil The distill'd Water stops the Flux of the Belly and is good in the Jaundice The distill'd Water or the Herb cut small and boyl'd in a sufficient quantity of Wine and drunk is an excellent Remedy for the Stone and Gravel The Herb dried with the Spleen of a Calf in a Furnace is accounted very excellent for Tumours of the Spleen and Hypochondriack Winds Take of the Leaves of Cleavers Plantane and Brook-lime each four Handfuls bruise them and pour upon them three Ounces of Aqua Lumbricorum and three Ounces of Aqua Raphani Composit then strain them This is to be taken twice a Day at Eight in the Morning and Five in the Afternoon This is good in a Dropsie Groncil or Grouncel in Latin Lithospermum The Root is about the thickness of the Thumb woody and Perennial and has some Fibres on the Sides It has many Stalks two or three Foot high streight firm round rough and branchy It has many Leaves plac'd disorderly they are long narrow and end in a sharp Point and have no foot-Foot-stalks Those that are at the top of the Stalks and Branches are broader and shorter and of a deeper Green The little Flowers are placed on short Foot-stalks and come from the Wings of the Leaves they are white and consist of one Leaf divided into five blunt pieces The Cup is hairy and consists of five narrow Jags Four Seeds succeed each Flower they are of an Ash-colour very hard and look as if they were polish'd It grows near Hedges in dry Grounds near High-ways and in Bushes It flowers in May and June The Seed of it cleanses the Reins and provokes Urine breaks the Stone and expels it Two Drams of the Seed or more may be given at a time Matthiolus prescribes it for Women in Labour in a Woman's Milk Ground-pine in Latin Chamaepytis vulgaris 'T is a small Plant of the breadth of an Hand and rarely above an Inch or two Inches high The Root is long woody and single The little Stalk is round hairy and somewhat red near the Earth in other Places green inclining to a yellow as also are the Leaves which are placed at small Distances at the Knots by Pairs opposite to one another they are hairy and resemble the Claws of a small Bird they taste and smell like Pitch and Rosin The Flowers proceed from the Wings of the Leaves are yellow and have a broad Lip divided into two parts the Upper has red Spots instead of an Hood they have Threads of a light Purple The Seeds are placed in little Cups four and four in a Rank and they are three-square The Tube of the Flower bellies out and serves instead of a Seed-vessel It grows in Till'd Grounds but is rare in England It strengthens the Nerves incides opens and is Diuretick and provokes the Courses It expels a dead Child and the After-birth and works so powerfully that Women with Child are wholly forbid the use of it because it occasions Miscarriage Boyl'd in Wine or powder'd and made into Pills with Hermodactyls and Venice-Turpentine does much Good in a Dropsie Outwardly used it cures Ulcers by cleansing them and taking off the Hardness Take of Ground-pine and Worm-wood each two Handfuls of Scurvy-grass ten Handfuls of Mountain-Sage six Handfuls six Oranges sliced put all into a Pye made of two parts of Barly-meal and one of Rye bake it and after shred it all small then put it into a Bag and hang it in five Gallons of Midling Ale After six Days drink of it for your ordinary Drink This was used with excellent Success to a Person that was afflicted with the Gout and Scurvy Groundsel in Latin Erigeron This grows every where in the Fields and Gardens and in Courts too frequently all the Year The Juice of the Herb taken in Beer or a Decoction of it with Hony vomits gently Outwardly applied it is good for the Inflammations of the Paps and for the King's-Evil 'T is very probable that it may be useful against Worms for Farriers use it as a present Remedy for the Botts H. HArt's-tongue in Latin Phillitis It has many black Capillary Roots It has six eight or ten long Leaves nine Inches or a Foot long and about two Inches broad of a curious shining Green above below streak'd with small and somewhat long brownish Marks The Bottoms of the Leaves are a little bowed on each side of the Middle-rib It smells strong and tastes rough It grows in moist stony and shady Places especially on Mountains and in Wells and Caves It grows in great Abundance by Walberton near Arrundel in Sussex 'T is used chiefly in Swellings of the Spleen for the Flux of the Belly and for Spitting of Blood Outwardly
Take of the clarified Juice of Goats-Rue Sorrel Scordium and Citron each one Pound of London-Treacle two Ounces infuse them three Days and then distil them in Glass You may give two or three Ounces at a time Scurvy grass in Latin Cochlearia 'T is hot and dry and abounds with a Volatile Salt Upon which Account it renders the fix'd and crude Humours more Spiritous and Volatile It cures those Diseases that proceed from too great a quantity of fixed Salts but especially the Scurvy upon which Account it is call'd in English Scurvy-grass But because the Parts wherein the chief Virtue of this Plant consists are very Volatile and soon dissipated by boyling the Juice or an Infusion of the Herb is much more effectual than the Decoction The Scurvy is a Disease very frequent among those that live on the Sea-shore especially in the North and among such as feed chiefly upon Salt-fish Solenander says such kind of Plants grow in every Region by the Appointment of God Almighty which most agree with the People and Animals that are there bred Nay he says he could tell what were the Diseases of any Country by seeing the Herbs that were most common in it As Among the Danes and Dutch with whom the Scurvy is very frequent Scurvy-grass grows plentifully Take of Conserves of Scurvy-grass Roman Wormwood and Fumatory each two Ounces of the Powder of the Winteran-bark and of the Root of Angelica and of Wake-Robin each two Drams of the Species of the three Sanders one Dram and an half of Crabs-eyes powder'd one Dram of Salt of Wormwood two Drams make an Electuary with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Citron-bark Take the quantity of a Nutmeg Morning and Evening for the space of three Weeks drinking presently after it a quarter of a Pint of the following Anti-scorbutick Wine Take of the Leaves of Scurvy-grass four Handfuls of Horse-Radish sliced four Ounces of the Winteran-bark half an Ounce the outward Rinds of four Oranges and four Limons put them all into a Glass well stop'd add to them six Quarts of White-wine keep the Bottle in a cool place and pour the Liquor out as you use it Provide four Gallons of Small Ale and instead of Hops boyl three Handfuls of Pine-tops When the Beer has done Working in the Vessel hang in the Vessel a Canvas-bag with three Handfuls of Scurvy-grass in it four Ounces of the Roots of Sharp-pointed Docks prepar'd and the Rinds of four Oranges when it is clear drink of it for your ordinary Beer you must put Stones or Bullets into the Bag to make it sink But before you begin to take of these Medicines you must bleed once and purge twice The Spirits of Scurvy-grass Golden and Plain as they are called are much used by some Country-people but they are not near so effectual as the Anti-scorbutick Wine above-mention'd for indeed the best parts of the Scurvy-grass I mean the the Volatile Salts fly away and are lost in preparing the Spirit so that scarce any thing remains but Flegm and an empty Name See Dr. Willis of the Scurvy pag. 263. Says he there The Virtue evaporates by Boyling Self-heal in Latin Prunella The Root grows awry and has some pretty large Fibres The Stalk is nine Inches or a Foot high or higher hairy and four-square and creeps by Fibres that come from the lower Joints The Leaves are placed by Intervals upon long Foot-stalks they are like the Leaves of Marjoram or Basil but larger and hairy they are so finely indented about the Edges that it is scarce visible The Flowers are purple and are placed upon a Spike at top the Flower varies sometimes It grows every where among Pastures and flowers in June 'T is much of the same Virtue with Bugules 'T is used outwardly in Wounds and often in a Quinsie and other Diseases of the Mouth and Jaws A Gargarism being made of the Decoction or distill'd Water of it Shepherd's-purse in Latin Bursa pastoris 'T is sometimes an Hand a Foot sometimes three or four Foot high or higher It has a small strait white fibrous Root it tastes sweetish but nauseous The Leaves that come from the Root are oblong and sometimes whole but most commonly jagg'd deep the Jags ending in an Acute Point they are a little hairy and have Foot-stalks an Inch long or they are rather enlarg'd by degrees from a narrow Beginning for the uppermost upon the Stalks with a broad Basis grow without those Foot-stalks and are not jagg'd at all they have an Ear at each Side From the middle of the Leaves one two three or four or more Stalks rise divided into Branches placed alternately The Top-stalks and Branches run up as it were into long Ears of Flowers which are placed on small foot-Foot-stalks about half an Inch long The Flowers are small and white compos'd of four small undivided Leaves with Threads bearing yellow Tufts When the Flowers fall the foot-Foot-stalks increase to the length of an Inch and bear the Receptacles of the Seeds that are sharp at the Beginning and end in a large Purse divided into two Parts a great many small Seeds are contain'd in each Vessel they are reddish when they are ripe 'T is astringent and thickens wherefore 't is good for Bleeding at Nose a Tent made of Cotton being dip'd in the Juice of it and put up the Nostrils 'T is also proper in a Dysentery a Diarrhaea and for Bloody Urine and the immoderate Flux of the Courses 'T is outwardly used by the Common People to heal Wounds with good Success 'T is also put into Febrifuge Cataplasms for the Wrists Silver-weed in Latin Argentina This Plant takes its Name from the soft and Silver-Down of its Leaves The Root is sometimes single cover'd with a blackish Bark sometimes fibrous it tastes astringent It has many Leaves near the Earth they are like the Leaves of Agrimony and are deeply indented about the Edges It sends out on every Side Shoots whereby it increases wonderfully like Straw-berries The Flowers are yellow and consist of five roundish Leaves not indented and are placed single on long hairy Foot-stalks It grows frequently near Foot-paths and in moist Places where the Water has stagnated all the Winter It cools moderately and is very astringent Upon which Account it cures Spitting of Blood and the immoderate Flux of the Womb and Belly 'T is good for the Stone in the Kidnies and is very useful in curing Wounds and Ulcers ' 'T is much commended for easing the Pain of the Teeth and for removing the Putrefaction of the Gums 'T is good to asswage the Heat of Fevers which it does very powerfully being beaten with Salt and Vinegar and applied to the Soles of the Feet and the Arm-wrists The Women in England use the distill'd Water of it to take off Freckles Spots and Botches from the Face and when they are Sun-burnt The Root of it which they call Moors in Yorkshire about Settle are eaten by the Boys in Winter for
the Alps which is a Specifick for this Disease and therefore we need not charge Children so strictly not to eat them They do indeed occasion Children's Heads to be scabby but it is because they eat immoderately of them And so any other Fruit would produce the same Effect A pleasant and generous Wine may be made of the Juice of the Berries press'd out and fermented with a little Sugar A Syrup made of the Juice is very good for Heat of Urine 'T is most commonly prescrib'd in Gargarisms to cure Sore Mouths Take of Bramble-tops of the Leaves of Columbine Cyprus and Sage each one Handful boyl them in two Quarts of Water wherein Iron has been quench'd till one is consum'd Add Allum one Dram and an half Hony of Roses one Ounce Make a Gargarism wherewith wash the Mouth often in a Day White Briony in Latin Brionia alba The Root is as thick as ones Arm white and fungous of a bitter and acâ—id Taste It sends forth pliant Twigs channell'd and somewhat hairy which spread themselves far and wide by the help of their Tendrels and climb up every thing that is near The Leaves are like Ivy-leaves but larger they are hairy and green The Flowers joyn'd together come out of the Wings of the Leaves and are of a whitish Colour It grows frequently in Hedges It purges strongly Watery and Phlegmatick Humours 'T is proper for the Diseases of the Spleen Liver and Womb for it opens the Obstructions of those Parts It drains the Water of Hydropical People by Vomit and Stool It provokes the Courses helps Delivery cures the Suffocation of the Womb and the Asthma Juglers and Fortune-tellers make wonderful Monsters of this Root which when they have hid in the Sand for some Days they dig up for Mandrakes and by this Imposture these Knaves impose on our Common People Conserve of White Briony-Roots taken twice a Day to the quantity of a Nutmeg for a long time cures the Falling-Sickness and Mother-Fits A piece of the Root put into the Pot the Sick drinks out of does the same The Compound-water of Briony is most in use I have used this Composition that follows with excellent Success in Women's Obstructions and it is undoubtedly much better in Hysterick Diseases than the common Compound-water of the London-Dispensatory Take of dried Briony-Roots beaten to a gross Powder two Ounces of the Leaves of Rue and dried Mugwort each half a pound Savine dried three quarters of an Handful of Featherfew Cat-mint and Penny-royal dried each half an Handful of the fresh yellow Pill of one Orange of Mirrh half an Ounce of Castor two Drams of the best Nants-Brandy one Quart Put them into a Glass and let them infuse six Days in warm Ashes then strain the Liquor off and keep it in a Glass-bottle well stopped The Dose is half a Spoonful to be taken in three Ounces of Penny-royal-water sweetned with Sugar Morning and Evening The Lees of Briony called in Latin Foecula Brioniae are made after the following manner Take what quantity of the Roots of Briony you please slice them and press out the Juice this being kept in Vessels unmov'd will in a few Hours depose the Lees or Foecula which being separated by pouring the Water away gently must be dried in a Glass-Vessel They are used in a Dropsie Common Brook-Lime in Latin Anagallis aquatica It grows commonly in little Brooks It heats and moistens moderately 'T is chiefly used in the Scurvy it powerfully expels the Stone of the Kidnies and Bladder it provokes the Courses and expels a dead Child Outwardly applied it cures Inflam'd Tumours and St. Anthony's Fire 'T is much of the same virtue with Water-cresses only not so strong Country-people cure Wounds with Brook-lime mix'd with a little Salt and a Spider's Web and applied to the Wound wrapp'd about with a double Cloth Brook-lime boyld in Water applied to blind Piles has presently eas'd the Pain when other Medicines would do no good Fabricius says he knew a large Ulcer that possess'd almost the whole Leg and reached almost to the Bone was cured in a Scorbutical Person only with Brook-lime boyl'd in Beer and applied twice a Day But it is most commonly used inwardly to cure the Scurvy Take of the Juice of Brook-lime Water-cresses and Scurvy-grass each half a Pint of the Juice of Oranges four Ounces fine Sugar two Pounds make a Syrup over a gentle Fire Take one Spoonful in your Beer every time you drink Broom in Latin Genista 'T is common in Sandy and barren Grounds It flowers at the Latter End of April 'T is Splenetick Nepthritick and Hepatick It expels the Stone and purges Watery Humours upwards and downwards by Stool and Urine Wherefore it is of great use in Obstructions of the Liver Spleen and Mesentery And in the Dropsie and Catarrhs the Flowers the Seeds and Tops are in use The Leaves the Branches and Tops boyl'd in Wine or Water or the Juice of them are good in a Dropsie and all Obstructions of the Kidnies and Bladder for they partly purge watery and superflous Humours by Stool and partly by Urine One Dram of the Seed does the same The Flowers when they are green are commonly pickled and make an agreeable Sauce for they provoke Appetite and force Urine The Ashes are most in use and frequently commended in the Dropsie Take of the Ashes of Broom one Pound infuse them cold in two Quarts of Rhenish-Wine adding to it half an Handful of Common Wormwood Take four Ounces of the clear Liquor in the Morning at Four in the Afternoon and in the Evening every Day Broom-rape in Latin Orobanche 'T is two Foot high or more the Stalk is streight round and hairy pale or yellowish or brownish whereon are Leaves that are narrow and longish if they may be called Leaves for they seem rather the Beginning of Leaves They soon fade and Flowers succeed them which are on a Spike like the Flowers of Orchis but at a greater distance they are of a dull yellow Colour The Root is round and scaly and tastes very bitter The Flowers smell pretty well The Herb candied or the Root is of excellent use in Diseases of the Spleen and for Melancholy An Ointment made of it with Lard is good to discuss hard and Scirrhous Tumours Butcher's Broom in Latin Ruscus or Bruscus 'T is a Foot and an half high and sometimes three or four Foot high It has many tough Branches and is full of Leaves and they are like the Leaves of the Myrtle they are ridged nervous and prickly they have no Foot-stalks they are hard and strong and taste bitter At the Middle of the Leaf is plac'd a small Flower on a very short Foot-stalk When first it rises it represents a little Bunch of small Needles but being open'd three little broadish Leaves appear A round Fruit succeeds the Flower that is larger than the Berries of Asparagus 't is reddish and sweetish Under the Skin of it lie
of this Drink for a pretty while he seldom heard of them any more Mr. Boyle prescrib'd one Ounce and an half of this Seed to a Gallon of Ale Celandine in Latin Chelidonium majus It has divers tender round light-green Stalks with greater Joints than ordinary in other Herbs they are very brittle branchy and have large tender long Leaves divided into many Parts and each of them cut in the Edges they are placed at the Joynts on both sides of the Branches of a dark-bluish green Colour above like Columbines of a pale bluish Green underneath They are full of yellow Sap which is of a bitter Taste and strong Smell At the tops of their Branches which are much divided grow yellow Flowers consisting of four Leaves After which come small long Pods with blackish Seeds therein The Root is pretty large at the Head shooting forth divers other long Roots and small Fibres reddish on the outside and full of yellow Sap within 'T is hot and dry It evacuates Choler by Urine and Stool and clears the Sight A Syrup made of the whole Herb is good in the Jaundice for Obstructions of the Liver Spleen and Kidnies It cures a Tetter called in Latin Herpes Miliaris effectually it being anointed with the Juice The Juice or distill'd Water of it outwardly applied strengthens the Eyes and cures Ulcers But because the Juice is very acrid it must be mix'd with those things that will abate its Acrimony A great quantity of the Juice is made use of in the Composition of Aqua Mirabilis which is made in the following manner Take of Cloves Galangal Cubeds Mace Cardamoms Nutmeg Ginger each one Dram of the Juice of Celendine half a Pint of Brandy one Pint of White-wine three Pints infuse them twenty four Hours and then distil a Quart in B. M. Celendine grows in shady and rough Places and amongst Rubbish The Lesser Celandine or Pile-wort in Latin Chelidonium minus 'T is a little Plant about an Hand 's breadth which has yearly a new Root Leaf and Flower The Root is inspid and partly round as an Onion and partly consisting of many white Fibres from whence arises a small Stalk near the Earth white above of a light Purple and at the bottom is a Joint from whence arise two Leaves opposite one to another with long Stalks that have a broad Beginning and are of a fleshy Colour and end narrow and green They are somewhat like Ivy-leaves but softer less and rounder they shine and are nervous and have sometimes white Spots as also those two that arise from the Root The Leaves upon the Stalks are much indented like the Leaves of Creeping-Ivy and they are commonly plac'd alternately and hang upon short green Foot-stalks At the top of the Branches is plac'd one Flower resembling that of Crowfoot consisting of eight or nine small Leaves of a Golden shining Colour The Cup consists of three little short Leaves and has in the middle many yellow Threads A little Head cover'd with Pricks succeeds the Flower of a yellowish green Colour compos'd of the Seeds It flowers at the Latter End of March or the Beginning of April in May the Leaves and Flowers vanish the Roots shoot forth the next Spring It grows in Meadows near Ditches and chiefly in wet Grounds It cools and moistens and is chiefly us'd for the Jaundice Scurvy and Bleeding of the Hemorrhoids Outwardly applied 't is a Specifick for Excrescencies in the Fundament and is much commended for Cleansing the Teeth and for preserving them from Putrefaction The Lesser Centory in Latin Centaurium minus The Root is small white and woody it creeps awry 'tis full of Twigs without Juice and insipid It has most commonly but one Stalk nine Inches or one Foot high smooth and firm Some of the Leaves lie on the Ground others are plac'd on the Stalk by Pairs one opposite to another larger than the Leaves of St. John's-wort smooth and green They have three great Nerves very conspicuous on the Underside running according to their Longitude There are many Flowers joyn'd together at the top of the Stalk and Branches but they have no Foot-stalk they are expanded from a long Tube into five sharp pieces resembling so many Leaves and they have five yellow Tops The Cup of the Flower is compos'd of five narrow acute small Leaves Long starvling little Heads succeed the Flowers full of Seeds like Sand. It flowers in July and is common in dry Pastures Gallen by reason of the wonderful and great Virtue of this Plant wrote a whole Book of it 'T is Splenetick and Hepatick bitter without Biting 't is Cleansing Opening and Vulnerary 'T is good in the Jaundice in Suppression of the Courses in the Gout and for Worms and is a Specifick for the Biting of a Mad Dog The Decoction of it is us'd with Success in Tertian-Agues wherefore 't is called by some the Febrifuge-Plant 'T is one of the Ingredients of the Bitter Drink so much us'd by the London-Physicians which is made in the following manner Take of the Tops of the Lesser Centory of the Flowers of Camomile each one Pugil of the Roots of Gentian half a Scruple of the Leaves of Sena and Carduus-seed each one Dram of Salt of Worm-wood ten Grains boyl them in a sufficient quantity of Fountain-water to four Ounces A Decoction of the Tops of it takes off Pimples Spots Morphew and other Diseases of the Skin A Lee made of it cleanses the Hair and makes it white A Man almost destroy'd by the Jaundice was cured by drinking every Morning a strong Decoction of this Herb. It will not grow in Gardens Common Wild Charvil in Latin Cerefolium Silvestre It has a woody single white Root and very small Fibres 't is as thick as the Little Finger The Taste of it is somewhat acrid It has sometimes one sometimes more Stalks They are a Cubit and an half high or higher round channel'd smooth and empty and knotted with joints plac'd at a great distance and they belly out under the Joints The Branches come out alternately at each Joint from the Wings of the Leaves This is one of the Plants that are called Umbelliferous The Flowers are small and white and consist of five Leaves and so many white Threads The Seeds are oblong smooth and blackish when they are ripe of a sweet and Aromatick Taste The Leaves are softer and cut sharper than the Leaves of Parsly of an Aromatick Smell and Taste and of a pale-green Colour and sometimes a little red The Foot-stalks are often red and somewhat hairy Tho' we said the Leaves grow alternately upon the Stalks yet at the top they are plac'd by Pairs And from the Wings of these two Branches rise which is common to most other Umbelliferous Plants It flowers in May Soon after the Seed is ripe it withers away It springs again in the Autumn and is green all the Winter Charvil especially that which grows in Gardens is hot and dry and
Week and is clear drink of it for your ordinary Drink This is frequently used for the Scurvy and is an excellent Diet-drink The Dock called Monk's-Rubarb or Garden-patience in Latin Hippo-lapathum 'T is sometimes as high as a Man The Stalk is channel'd and reddish above it is divided into many Sprigs The Leaves are a Foot or a Foot and an half broad and pointed of a dull green Colour The Root is thick long and has many Fibres and of a Saffron-colour The Leaves come out in March and it flowers about June The Root purges Choler and watery-Humours Take of the dried Root one Dram of Ginger one Scruple Those that use it for Rubarb take a double quantity The Root expels Gravel Take Dock-roots prepar'd and Polypody each one Ounce Sena ten Drams Rubarb six Drams Monks-Rubarb five Drams Yellow Sanders two Drams Salt of Wormwood and Scurvy-grass each one Dram cut and bruise them and put them into a Glass with Snail-water and White-wine each one Pint and an half stop the Glass and set it in a Cellar twenty four Hours Take six Ounces of it or more according as it works every Morning This is good for the Itch. Dodder in Latin Cuscuta This fawning Parasite and ungrateful Guest hugs the Herb it hangs upon with its long Threads and reddish Twigs and so closely embraces it that at length it defrauds the hospitable Herb of its Nourishment and destroys it by its treacherous Embraces It has no Leaves The Flowers are placed thick at several Distances or Intervals Each of them consists of four small acute Leaves that are thick and full of Juice This Plant has no need of a large Description for it is distinguish'd from all other Plants by having no Leaves nor Root when it is grown up consisting only of long Threads by which it encompasses the neighbouring Plants and sucks away their Nourishment Upon which Account the Country-people in Sussex call it Hell-weed or The Devil's Guts And so much for the Vices of this Plant. 'T is suppos'd to participate of the Plant it adheres to So that which grows to Broom is reckon'd Diuretick that is counted moist which sticks to Flax that astringent which climbs Madder that which grows on Nettles is very Diuretick 'T is hot dry and cleansing It opens Obstructions and purges Melancholy is of good use in the Itch for the Black Jaundice and Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen But that which grows on Nettles is prefer'd before all the other in Physick Take of Dodder of Thime and of Rubarb each one Dram and an half of Sena three Drams of Yellow Sanders half a Dram of Coriander-seeds two Scruples of Salt of Wormwood half a Dram of Celtick Spike one Scruple infuse them in a close Vessel all Night in four Ounces of White-wine and Water of Apples To five Ounces of the strain'd Liquor add six Drams of Syrup of Dodder of Thyme and two Drams of Aqua-mirabilis mingle them and make a Potion For those that are difficult to purge add a Dram or two Drams of the Fibres of Black Hellebore infus'd in Vinegar This is an excellent Purge for melancholy People Common Drop-wort or Filipendula in Latin Filipendula It has many Roots black without and white within The Fibres of it are bulbous It has many Leaves at the Roots they are long wing'd and indented almost like Burnet-Saxifrage The Stalk is most commonly single upright nine Inches or a Foot high or higher channell'd branchy with a few Leaves on it The Flowers are placed on the top of the Stalk in a Tuft they smell sweet and are white they consist of seven Leaves Eleven or twelve Seeds more or less are placed in the form of a Star It grows in Meadows and Hilly Pastures The Root attenuates and is somewhat astringent A Decoction of it provokes Urine and expels Gravel It cures the Heat of Urine and takes off the Difficulty of it The Powder of the Root and the Juice of it is commended by some in the Falling-Sickness 'T is excellent for the Whites and the immoderate Flux of the Child-bed-Purgations The Dose is one Dram of the Root in Wine It also cures the Bloody Flux and Ruptures Common Dove's-foot or Crane's-bill in Latin Geranium Columbinum vulgare It has several small round pale-green Leaves cut in about the Edges like Mallows They are placed upon long reddish hairy Stalks lying on the Ground among which rise up two or three or more reddish jointed slender weak and hairy Stalks with some such like Leaves thereon but smaller and more cut in It has many very small bright red Flowers of five Leaves a-piece after which follow small Heads with small short Beaks pointing forth as all other Sorts of this Kind of Herbs have 'T is very Vulnerary either outwardly applied or taken inwardly It stops a Flux of Blood and resolves coagulated Blood It cleanses Wounds and Ulcers It expels Gravel and eases the Pain of the Cholick The Powder of the Root and Leaves taken in Wine is very effectual for curing Ruptures The Dove's-foot callet Herb-Robert and in Latin Geranium Robertianum has the same Virtues with this above-describ'd Dragons in Latin Dracontium 'T is easily known being speckl'd like a Snake It flowers in July 'T is hot and dry astringent and of an acrid Taste 'T is something of the Nature of Cuckow-pint 'T is good in Coughs Catarrhs and Convulsions The Leaves are good for Ulcers and Venomous Bitings The distill'd Water is good in the Plague and Pestilential Fevers Take of Dragon-water and Wood-Sorrel-water each four Ounces of Compound-Scordium-water two Ounces of Treacle-water and Bezoartick-water each one Ounce of Prepar'd Pearl one Dram of Syrup of Gillyflowers two Ounces of Spirit of Vitriol twelve Drops make a Julep The Dose is three Ounces often in a Day This is used in the Plague Duck's-meat in Latin Lenticula palustris This grows in Standing-waters and is full of shining round Leaves green above and black below They are joyn'd together with white small Threads It often covers all the Water it grows in 'T is Cooling and good in Inflammations It also cures Children's Ruptures An Infusion of it in White-wine cures the Jaundice infallibly six Ounces of it being taken every Morning for nine Days Ducks feed upon it very much E. EArth-nut in Latin Bulbocastanum The Root is Tuberous white and solid with small Fibres at the Bottom and Sides It has a sweetish and pleasant Taste It grows deep in the Ground The Leaves are cut more sharp than the Leaves of Parsley The Stalk is single round channel'd with one Leaf growing to it Most commonly before it divides it self into Branches at every Division of the Stalk a Leaf is plac'd much more cut than those that rise from the Root The Flowers are white and very small This is one of the Umbeliferous Plants so called because they sustain their Flowers by long foot-Foot-stalks in a Circle The Seeds are small and somewhat long
of a Chesnut-colour It flowers at the Latter End of May or Beginning of June and grows frequently in Sandy and Gravelly Pastures When the Seed is ripe the Superficies withers immediately the Root remaining in the Ground Our Country-people eat the Root raw but when it is pill'd and boyl'd in fresh Broth with a little Peper it is pleasant Food and very nourishing and stimulates Venery Being mix'd with Medicines it helps those that spit Blood and void a Bloody Urine Egglentine or Sweet-Bryer in Latin Rosa silvestris odora It needs no Description its curious Smell will not let it be unknown The Virtues of the Flowers are much the same with Garden-Roses but more astringent wherefore they are of excellent use in Fluxes of the Womb. The Fruit of it is much commended for its Lithontriptick Virtue The Heads when they are ripe contain a Pulp of a pleasant acid Taste which without doubt is very useful in Fevers and to provoke Appetite The Conserve of it is commonly kept in the Shops and is very good for the hot Scurvy and for Spitting of Blood The Root is good for the Biting of a Mad Dog a sort of a Sponge grows from the Branches when they are broken or hurt which is of a reddish Colour which laid on the Pillow disposes to Sleep The Ashes of it cure the Heat of Urine and kill Worms Take of the Conserve of Hips and Wood-Sorrel each one Ounce Conserve of Berberies half an Ounce Cream of Tartar one Dram make an Electuary with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Limons Take the quantity of a Nutmeg thrice a Day This is good in Fevers Elder in Latin Sambucus Martin Blockwitz wrote a whole Book of the Virtues and Use of the Elder the Title of it is The Anatomy of the Elder The inner Bark of the Elder purges watery Humours wherefore it is good in Dropsies The tender Leaves boyl'd in Wine is likewise very good for the same purpose and more convenient for weakly People The inner Bark applied to Burns takes out the Fire The Flowers discuss mollifie and dissolve and are Sudorifick and Anodine Vinegar wherein the Flowers have been infus'd is very agreeable to the Stomach and excites Appetite and it cuts and attenuates gross and crude Humours The Berries are Alexipharmick and Sudorifick The Spirit drawn from the Berries provokes Sweat and therefore good in Fevers The Wine made of the Juice of them or the Juice mix'd with White or Rhenish-Wine does much Good in Dropsies The Seeds cleanse and purge violently by Vomit and Stool A Decoction of the middle Bark with Syrup of Poppies promotes Sweat But note That Narcoticks mix'd with Sweating Medicines do much provoke Sweating For Swellings in the Feet take of the Leaves as much as is sufficient boyl them in Oyl with Salt and foment them with it In St. Anthony's Fire a Fomentation is frequently used made of two Parts of Elder-water and one of Spirit of Wine This is commonly us'd in London with good Success My Father makes an Ointment of the Red-Lead-Plaster and Oyl of Elder which he frequently uses for Burns And I have found it very successful also in other Inflammations Elecampane in Latin Helenium Many Leaves long and broad come from the Root and bend towards the Earth they are acute at both Ends above of a pale Green under hoary indented about the Edges They have short Foot-stalks from the Centre whereof the Stalks rise sometimes one sometimes more they are streight hairy and reddish five or six Foot high with some Leaves thereon compassing them about at the Lower Ends they are branched towards the tops and bear great large Flowers like those of our Marigold of a Golden Colour The Root is very thick without brown within white and of an Aromatick Taste and smells sweet and pleasantly especially when dried It grows in moist Meadows and Pastures but it is not common It flowers in June and July The fresh Root being candied or dried and powder'd mix'd with Hony or Sugar is very good in a Difficulty of Breathing an Asthma and an old Cough Being taken after Supper it helps Concoction It is also commended as an excellent Preservative against the Plague Being taken in the Morning it forces Urine and the Courses Half a Pint of White-wine wherein the slic'd Roots have been infus'd three Days taken in the Morning fasting cures the Green-sickness A Decoction of the Root taken inwardly or outwardly applied is commended by some for Convulsions Contusions and the Hip-Gout The Roots boyl'd in Wine or the fresh Juice infus'd in it and drunk kills and expels Worms Wine that is every where prepar'd with this Root in Germany and often drunk wonderfully quickens the Sight Elecampane distill'd in common Water yields a Volatile Salt that smells and has the same Virtue with Salt of Harts-horn Take of the Roots of Elecampane well cleans'd from the Fibres as much as you please boyl them in Water till they are salt and pulp them through a Sieve whereof take one Part and of Hony two Parts boyl them to the Consumption of the Moisture This is a Preservative against the Plague Take of the Roots of Elecampane Oris and Liquorish each one Dram of the Flowers of Sulphure two Drams Hony a sufficient quantity to make an Electuary Oyl of Sulphure ten Drops make a Linctus This is good for an inveterate Cough Elm in Latin Vlmus The Leaves the Branches and the Bark are astringent The Leaves cure Wounds And rub'd with Vinegar they are good for a Leprosie The Bark boiled in Fountain-water almost to the Consistence of a Syrup and the third part of Aquavitae mix'd with it is an excellent Remedy for the Hip-Gout if the Part affected be fomented with it before the Fire The Water in the Bladders upon the Leaves clears the Skin it being wash'd with it and it betters the Complexion It helps Burstenness in Children Clothes being wet in the Water and applied but a Truss must be kept on also Take of the Bark of Elm six Drams of the Root of Liquorish half a Dram of Raisins of the Sun ston'd number twenty of Red Roses two Pugils boyl them in a sufficient quantity of Water to a Pint and an half dissolve in it of Hony of Roses and Simple Oxymel each two Ounces make a Gargarism Endive in Latin Endivia The Root is fibrous and full of Milk The long broad Leaves like on the Earth they are like the Leaves of Lettice sometimes indented about the Edges The Stalk is two or three Foot high smooth channel'd empty and has many Branches and is crooked being cut it yields a Milk The Flowers come from the Wings of the Leaves they are Sky-colour'd and like the Leaves of Wild-Succory It grows in Gardens 'T is Cooling and the Water of it is used in Fevers and Inflammations Eringo or Sea-Holly in Latin Eringium marinum The Roots are very long and spread much they have an Aromatick Taste The Leaves are placed
takes off Spots from the Skin Mix'd with Hellebore and Hony 't is much used in Powders for the Hair It cures the Dropsie and Jaundice Take from half an Ounce to one Ounce and an half of the Juice this is commended in a Dropsie to purge away the Water A Gentlewoman cured many Hydropical People by this Juice alone She gave four Spoonfuls of it daily in the Morning fasting in six Spoonfuls of White-wine The Yellow Water Flower-de-luce in Latin Iris palustris lutea It grows almost every where in Marshy Places and upon the Banks of Rivers Whether it be hot or cold Botanists do not agree but almost all allow it very astringent and the Taste of it confirms as much wherefore it is commended for the Bloody-Flux and other Fluxes of the Belly and Womb And it stops Blood and therefore is useful to prevent the Bloody-Flux and Bleeding The Sick must have it hang'd about him So that it is plain that the Apothecaries were in a great Errour formerly when they used this Root which has quite contrary Faculties for the Root of the Sweet-smelling Flag The Highlanders in Scotland make excellent Ink with this Root infus'd or a little boyl'd in Water twenty four Hours by rubbing a white rough Stone upon a Knife or a piece of good Steel in it for some Hours Fluellin or Male-Speed-well in Latin Veronica maâ— It creeps with Twigs on the Superficies of the Earâ—h and sends down Roots from the Joints These little Stalks or Twigs are small round long hairy and jointed The Leaves are placed by Pairs one opposite to another at the Joints they are hairy and indented about the Edges they taste bitter and acrid The Flowers come forth spiked from the Wings of the Leaves compos'd of four small Leaves of a deep Sky-colour with Threads of the same Colour in the middle The Seeds are contain'd in small Receptacles like Shepherd's-purse The Flowers consist really of one Leaf only for tho' they seem several yet they are all entire at the bottom It grows plentifully on dry Places and on Heaths in Gravelly Sandy and Sunny Places A large quantity of the Decoction of it used for some Time cured a Woman of the Stone in the Kidnies which she had been troubled with sixteen Years The Lesser Spiked Fluellin or Speed-well in Latin Veronica spicata minor The Root grows awry and is fibrous The Stalk is upright sometimes four Inches sometimes a Foot sometimes two Foot high or higher Those Leaves that are placed at the Joints are narrow and sharp hairy and a little indented they are larger at the Root The Stalk ends in a long Spike full of Sky-colour'd Flowers flowering by degrees first the Lower then those that are at top when they are faded little long Threads remain 'T is Vulnerary and Sudorisick 'T is chiefly used in Erosions and Obstructions of the Lungs and Spleen in the Cholick and Consumption for the Plague and the Itch. 'T is of excellent use in Cleansing Wounds being outwardly applied and for hard Swellings of the Spleen Purple Fox-gloves in Latin Digiâ—alis purpurea vulgaris 'T is sometimes four Foot high The Stalk is as thick as the Thumb angled hairy reddish and concave The Root is fibrous and bitter The Flowers are placed on a long Spike they are placed on short hairy Foot-stalks and hang downwards each of them has a little sharp Leaf joyn'd to it they are like a Taylor 's Thimble without they are of a Crimson Colour except in the lower Part which by the mixture of some White is of a Flesh-colour they are purple also within but in the lower Part they have some white Spots To the Basis of the Flowers grow white or purple Threads The Leaf is oblong and ends sharp hairy and indented about the Edges above of a dark Green below hoary Those that are at the Root are placed on long Foot-stalks those on the Stalks are set disorderly and there are many of them The Cup of the Flower consists most commonly of five Leaves The Margin of the Flower is divided into five pieces It delights in Sandy Ground It varies the Flower and is sometimes white but very rarely 'T is Vomitive The Country-people in Somersetshire purge and vomit the Sick in Fevers with it 'T is very good in the Falling-sickness if you take two Handfuls of it with four Ounces of Polypody of the Oak and boyl them in Beer and then drink it For some have been cured by this Decoction that have had the Falling-sickness above twenty Years and that use to have two or three Fits every Month. But this Medicine must be given only to strong People for it purges and vomits violently Being bruised and applied to the King's-Evil or the Juice of it made into an Ointment does much good Some confide very much in the Flowers in King's-Evil-Swellings They put a great many into May-Butter and set them in the Sun Others mingle them with Lard and put them under Ground for forty Days they spread the Ointment on a Cloth and apply them to the Swellings and purge every sixth Day and in the mean while use continually a Decoction of the Herb Robert With the thinner part of the Ointment they anoint the Red Part of the Swelling the thicker they use on Cloth A large quantity of this Ointment ought to be provided for sometimes it is a Year and more before the Cure is perfected Tho' the Ulcers should grow larger at first you need not be discourag'd for when the Ointment has dried up all the Humour the Ulcers will heal and skin This Ointment is chiefly of use in moist Ulcers of the King's-Evil Fumetory in Latin Fumaria It purges Choler and purifies the Blood and is much used for a Leprosie the Itch and other Diseases of the Skin 'T is likewise commended for the French-Pox It opens Obstructions of the Liver and cures the Jaundice It is much used in Whey in the Spring-time 'T is also good for the Scurvy The Juice or Water of it dropped into the Eyes cures Dimness of Sight Being mix'd with Treacle it is good for the Plague An Ointment made of the Juice of Fumetory and of sharp-pointed Dock and a little Vinegar and Hony cures the Itch. Take of the Conserve of Fumetory and Wormwood each one Ounce of the Conserve of the yellow Peel of Oranges and Limons each two Ounces of the simple Powder of the Root of Wake-Robin of Yellow Sanders of Alloes-wood of the Root of Capers each one Dram and an half of Crabs-eyes one Dram of Salt of Wormwood two Drams of Syrup of Fumetory a sufficient quantity make an Electuary The Dose is the quantity of a Walnut twice a Day This is good for the Scurvy G. GArlick in Latin Allium 'T is hot and dry and Alexipharmick 'T is used outwardly and inwardly in the Flatulent Cholick the Worms for the Plague with Vinegar and for the Stone and for the Cough The Common People use it frequently boyl'd in
from another neither of the two will prove at all sweet The Oyl alone is insipid upon the Tongue because it makes little or no Impression upon the Nerve that serves for Tasting but when the Acid is entirely mix'd with it the Edges of this Acid do serve for a Vehicle to the Oyl to make it penetrate and tickle superficially the Nerve whereby the Sense of Tasting is produced The Acid therefore being alone does become incisive and pricks the Tongue by its Edges but when they are dull'd and blunted by the Ramous Parts of the Oyl then they have another sort of Determination and can no longer pierce the Nerve of Tasting but with a great deal of Tenderness and Gentleness Cask-Sugar is sweeter than finer Sugar because it contains more viscous or fat Parts which remain the longer upon the Nerve of the Tongue And this makes us sometimes prefer the first as to Use before the other Sugar-Candy is better for Coughs than common Sugar because being harder it requires a longer time to melt in the Mouth and besides it keeps the Breast moister than the common Sugar Spirit of Sugar is made in the following manner Powder and mix eight Ounces of White Sugar-Candy with four Ounces of Sal-Armoniack put this Mixture into a Glass or Earthen Body whose third part only is thereby fill'd fit an Head to the Body and place it in a Sand-Furnace joyn a Receiver to it and lute well the Junctures with a wet Bladder give it a small Fire for an Hour only to heat the Vessel then increase it to the second Degree there will distil a Liquor Drop by Drop and towards the End there will rise white Vapours into the Head increase your Fire still more until nothing more comes forth let the Vessels cool and unlute them you will find in the Receiver seven Ounces of a brown Liquor that smells ill and also a little black Oyl that sticks to the Sides pour it all together into a Glass-Body and having fitted to it an Head and Receiver and luted the Joints distil in Sand six Ounces of a very Acid Spirit that is clear and agreeable to the Taste and without any Smell 'T is good against Gravel and the Dropsie and for a Loosness and the Bloody-Flux The Dose is eight or ten Drops in Tincture of Roses or the like That which remains in the Body after Rectification is a Fetid Oyl which may be outwardly used to cleanse old Ulcers Melassoes or the Hony of Sugar are used to make Aqua-vitae and they yield a strong Spirit It has been reported that some Brewers make Ale in a great measure with Melassoes but if they do it is an abominable Cheat for they are not near so wholesom as Malt. Take of Brown or Red Sugar four Spoonfuls of common Salt as much as will lie on a Three-pence of Cow's-Milk one Pint let the Milk just boyl up dissolve the Sugar and the Salt in it strain it This is a Clyster and generally speaking serves as well as the best to empty the Bowels Swallow-wort in Latin Asclepias It grows in Germany Italy and France The Root of it is very Alexipharmick and Sudorinick 'T is chiefly used for the Plague and other Contagious Diseases for Obstructions of the Courses for the Palpitation of the Heart a Fainting and a Dropsie 'T is also commended for the Stone 'T is used outwardly The Flowers the Roots and the Seeds cleanse Sordid Ulcers 'T is good for the Biting of Venomous Creatures for Ulcers of the Paps of the Breasts and the like T. TAmarinds in Latin Tamarindi They grow in Arabia Foelix and in the East and West-Indies They correct the Acrimony of the Humours purge Choler and restrain the Heat of they Blood they cure Fevers and the Jaundice and take off the Heat of the Stomach and Liver and stop Vomiting The Turks and Arabians when they go long Journies in the Summer-time carry Tamarinds with them to quench their Thirst In Pestilential and Putrid Fevers Water wherein Tamarinds have been infus'd sweeten'd with Sugar is a proper Liquor to drink for it extinguishes Thirst and cools much Take of Tamarinds half an Ounce of Sena two Drams of Rubarb one Dram and an half boyl them in a sufficient quantity of Fountain-water to three Ounces of the strain'd Liquor add of Manna and Syrup of Roses Solutive each one Ounce Make a Purging Potion This is a good Cooling Purge and works well Take of Tamarinds half an Ounce of Sena two Drams of Rubarb one Dram and an half boyl them in a sufficient quantity of Water to three Ounces of the strain'd Liquor add of Manna and Syrup of Roses Solutive each one Ounce of Syrup of Buck-thorn half an Ounce of the Electuary of the Juice of Roses two Drams mingle them make a Potion But this must be given only to strong People I have found by Experience that this purges when nothing else will 'T is good for a Dropsie and the Running of the Reins Tea or Thee This Shrub grows in Japan and China The Price varies according to the Largeness of the Leaves and so great a difference is there in the Price that one Pound of the best Tea is sold for more than an hundred Pounds of another Sort. The Goodness of it is known by the fragrant Smell of the Leaves It smells somewhat like Hay mix'd with a little Aromatick Smell 'T is of a green Colour and tastes sweet with a little bitter It purifies the Blood prevents troublesom Dreams expels Malignant Vapours from the Brain takes off Giddiness and the Head-ach especially when it proceeds from Over-eating 'T is good in a Dropsie for it provokes Urine very much It dries up Rhumes of the Head corrects the Acrimony of the Humours opens Obstructions of the Bowels and strengthens the Sight for the People of Japan use it as the only Remedy for Weakness of the Sight and Diseases of the Eyes whereunto they are much subject It corrects Adust Humours cools an hot Liver and softens an hard Spleen It keeps People wakeful especially those that are not used to drink it It renders the Body brisk chears the Heart drives away Fear and takes off the Gripes and suppresses Wind. It strengthens the Bowels quickens the Memory and sharpens the Wit It prevents the Stone And a Person that travell'd in Japan and made it his Business to enquire about the Stone there could not find one Person that had the least Symptom of it either in the Bladder or Kidnies And it is moreover a Provocative to Venery it strengthens the Stomach and is very good for Gouty People Christ-thorn in Latin Palivrus The Root and Leaves are Astringent they stop the Flux of the Belly and digest and cure a Phyma The Fruit is so inciding that it is said to lessen the Stone of the Bladder and to remove Excretions of the Breast and Lungs The Seeds bruised are commended for a Cough and the Mont peliar-Physicians use them for Gravel