pale-yellow Colour and sometimes incline to a Purple The Leaves are sharp wrinkly prickly equal about the Edges and dispos'd in no Order The Seeds are like the Seeds of Viper-Bugloss It grows in watery Places or near Rivers and flowers in May. 'T is an excellent Wound-Herb is Musilaginous and Thickning and qualifies the Acrimony of the Humours 'T is used in all Fluxes especially of the Belly and for a Consumption The Flowers boyl'd in Red Wine are very proper for those that make a Bloody Urine Outwardly applied it stops the Blood of Wounds and helps to unite broken Bones wherefore 't is called Bone-set It eases the Pain of the Gout and cures Eating-Ulcers Take of the Root as much as you think convenient beat it in a Mortar till it is reduc'd to a Mass spread it on Leather and apply it to the Part affected This is excellent for Abating Gouty Pains and the Sciatica and for Pains in the Arms and has been also us'd for Venereal Pains with good Success Take of Comfrey-Roots half a Pound slice them and put them into an Earthen Pipkin with half a Pint of Alicant and half a Pound of Loaf-Sugar cover it with a Paper and bake it in an Oven as you do Apples Eat Night and Morning two or three Slices of the Comfrey and take a Spoonful or two of Syrup presently after This was prescrib'd for a Lady with Child that had her Courses immoderately by Doctor Willis And it has cured several others Sea Coralline in Latin Corallina 'T is one two or three Inches high hoary and of an Ash-colour sometimes yellowish reddish or whitish It has abundance of thin Branches jointed sometimes with small Twigs growing on the side It smells like a Fish the Taste also is saltish and unpleasant It cracks between the Teeth like Sand and is easily reduc'd to Powder by rubbing it with the Fingers It grows upon Rocks and on Shells and Stones near the Sea-side 'T is not soft when under Water as Caesalpinus writes Being grosly powder'd it kills and expels Worms Half a Dram is given to Boys not Ten Years of Age a Dram to grown People This is much commended for the Worms Take of Coralline and Calcin'd Hearts-horn each half a Scruple of Virginia-Snake-weed one Scruple make a Powder Let the Child take a third part of it Morning and Evening in a small Draught of the white Decoction Female Cornel Dog-berry or Gatter-tree in Latin Cornus foemina It grows commonly in Hedges The Wood of it is so very hard especially when it is dry that it can scarce be cut Some People make Oyl of the Berries for their Lamps Costmary in Latin Balsamita mas The Roots grow oblique like the Roots of Mint they are round and have many Fibres The Stalks are two or three Foot high channel'd branchy and of a pale-green Colour The Leaves are like the Leaves of Pepperwort and of the same Colour with the Stalks indented about the Edges but seldom jagged it has a very strong Scent and a very bitter Taste On the top of the Branches are Umbles or Tufts of Golden yellow Flowers somewhat like the Flowers of Tansie The Seeds are small oblong and flat It grows in Gardens It cures the Crudities of the Stomach Belchings Vomitings and a Stinking Breath the Gripes Heart-burning and Pain in the Head that is occasion'd by Fumes from the Stomach It opens Women's Obstructions and is good in the Stone The Juice and the Seed kill Worms 'T is supposed to be peculiarly good against the Malignity of Opium and other Poisons It cures Wounds presently An excellent Balsam for old Ulcers is prepar'd of this Herb and Adder's-tongue boy'ld in Oyl of Olives adding Wax and Rozen to bring it to a Consistence Cowslips in Latin Paralysis 'T is common in Pastures and flowers in April The Leaves and Flowers are us'd amongst Pot-herbs and in Sallets and are very agreeable to the Head and Nerves They are us'd in Apoplexies Palsies and Pains in the Joints The Juice of the Flowers takes off Spots and Wrinkles from the Face and other Vices of the Skin The Water of the Flowers the Conserve and the Syrup are Anodine and gently provoke Sleep and are very proper Medicines for weakly People The Juice of the Leaves and Flowers mix'd with an equal quantity of Red-Cow's Milk cured an inveterate Head-ach when other Medicines would do no good Take of Cowslip-water two Ounces of the Syrup of White Poppies one Ounce of the Juice of Limons fresh drawn two Spoonfuls make a Draught This is commonly used at Bed-time to cause Sleep Common-Garden Cresses in Latin Nasturtium hortense It flowers in May and June and when the seed is ripe withers quite away The Herb especially the Seed is acrid and hot for which Reason it opens attenuates and cleanses 'T is chiefly used for the Swelling of the Spleen for Obstructions of the Courses and to expel a dead Child It cuts the Tartareous Musilage of the Lungs and is good in the Scurvy 'T is outwardly used beat up with Lard to cure Scabs in the Head and other Parts of the Body 'T is used every where in Sallets with Lettice and other Herbs It qualifies the Coldness of the Lettice and comforts the Stomach and promotes Concoction by its Heat For Lethargies and sleepy Diseases there is nothing better than Cresses either boyl'd or eaten in Sallets For Children's Scabs or Scalded Heads nothing is so effectual and quick a Remedy as Garden-Cresses beat up with Lard for it makes the Scales fall in twenty four Hours and perfectly cures them if they continue the Use of it Water Cresses in Latin Nasturtium aquaticum It grows frequently in Brooks and watery Places It flowers chiefly in July and August and sometimes before 'T is much us'd in the Spring-time in Broths to purifie the Blood 'T is good in the Stone for it provokes Urine it opens Women's Obstructions and relieves those that are in Dropsies Spirit of Water-Cresses Take a large quantity of Water-Cresses beat them in a Marble Mortar press out the Juice dissolve some Leaven with it make an Heap and beat them well with your Hands then put them in a convenient Place for eight Days afterwards distil the Spirit in B. M. The Dose is one Spoonful or two in Winter-time for Scorbutical People The Spirit of Celandine Brooklime and Scurvy-grass may be made the same Way Take of Water-Cresses and Brook-lime each two handfuls Wood-Sorrel one Handful bruise them and put the Juice into a Pint of White-wine let it stand close stop'd till the Wine is clear Take two Spoonfuls of the clear Wine in your Beer every time you drink continue the Use of this for the space of three Weeks This is good for an hot Scurvy Cross-wort or Mugweed in Latin Cruciata It grows up in square hairy brown Stalks about a Foot high having four small broad and pointed hairy yet smooth yellowish green Leaves growing at every Joint each against the other cross-wise
they taste sweet and are as pleasant as Parsnips Hogs dig them up and eat them greedily 'T is affirm'd that being worn in the Shooes it will cure the Bloody-Flux Bleeding at Nose and all immoderate Fluxes of the Belly Hartman says That having used it this way it has done good when all other Means signified nothing Smallage in Latin Apium 'T is hot and dry It incides and opens upon which Account it is reckon'd among the five Opening Roots It provokes Urine and the Courses and expels Gravel It cures the Jaundice The Seed is reckon'd among the Lesser Hot Seeds The use of this Herb certainly injures those that are afflicted with the Falling-sickness But being translated into Gardens it becomes more gentle and less ungrateful for in Italy and Spain they eat the tender Leaves of it and the upper part of the Root with Oyl and Pepper Sneez-wort in Latin Ptarmica The Root grows awry and is as it were jointed and has many long Fibres that are pretty large it tastes acrid and hot It has several brittle Stalks a Yard high or more and sometime not near so high they are divided into several Branches whereon are placed narrow long Leaves pointed and finely indented about the Edges At the top grow many white Flowers in a Tuft with a yellowish Thrum in the middle It grows in moist places and flowers in July It tastes hot and acrid The Powder of it provokes Sneezing The Root chewed cases the Pain in the Teeth by evacuating Flegm The Herb is mix'd with Sallets to correct cold Herbs Solomon's-seal in Latin Polygomaton The Root is a Finger thick unequal and tuberous with a great many Fibres and of a sweetish Taste The Stalk is two or three Foot high round and smells ill if it be rub'd or cut it is bent like a Bow The Leaves are placed one above another they are large and like the Leaves of the Lilly of the Vallies they are nervous and of a shining dark Green above of a grayish Colour underneath At the Foot of every Leaf almost from the bottom to the top hang long white and hollow Flowers and after them small round Berries green at first and bluish when they are ripe wherein are small stony Seeds they are white 'T is Astringent and Vulnerary It stops all Fluxes it cements broken Bones And the Root boyl'd in Wine and drank is excellent for Contusions and Ruptures Used outwardly it takes off Spots and whitens the Skin Fourteen or fifteen of the Berries purge Flegm upwards and downwards For the Whites take Candied Roots of Solomon's-seal and it is an excellent Remedy 'T is also counted good for the Falling-sickness Sope-wort in Latin Saponaria It creeps in the Ground with small-jointed Roots The Bark of the Root is reddish The Stalks are three Foot high or higher round smooth and reddish they have many Joints are full of Pith and can scarce sustain themselves The Leaves are placed by Pairs at the Joints opposite to one another three large Nerves running all along them they are like Plantain-leaves they are smooth have a nitrous Taste and short or no Foot-stalks at all The Flowers are placed in Tufts on the top of the Stalks every one on a short Foot-stalk they are of a pale-red Colour sweet and compos'd of five Leaves The small roundish Seeds are contain'd in an oblong Vessel that is thick about the Middle It grows near Rivers and Standing-waters It flowers in June July August and September The Root and Leaves are used in Physick but it is but seldom 'T is used for an Asthma and to provoke the Courses And a Decoction of it is much commended for the French-Pox Outwardly applied it discusses Tumours Clothes are cleansed from Greasie Spots by washing them with this Herb. The Sorbe or Quicken-tree in Latin Sorbus sylvestris 'T is a Tree of a middle stature The Bark is of a light Red and spotted The Leaves are sharp indented and smooth above green below whitish The Flowers are many white and sweet and are placed in Umbels The Berries are green at first when they are ripe of a darke Red they taste ill The Berries yield an acid Juice which purges Water excellently well and is very good for the Scurvy The Liquor which drops from the wounded Tree in the Spring cures the Scurvy and Diseases of the Spleen Common Sorrel in Latin Acetosa vulgaris It grows in Pastures and Meadows 'T is cold and dry It provokes Appetite suppresses Choler and quenches Thirst wherefore 't is frequently used in Fevers The Juice may be mix'd with Broths or the Leaves boyl'd in them In Summer 't is good Sauce for most Meats The Roots of it dried and boyl'd give a delicate Tincture to the Water Sheep's Sorrel in Latin Acetosa arvensis lanceolata It grows in Sandy and dry Grounds It has the same Virtues with Common Sorrel Roman or French Sorrel in Latin Acetosa rotundifolia The form of the Leaf sometimes varies being sometimes round like Scurvy-grass or the Lesser Celandine sometimes like Spinache pointed like an Arrow of a Sky or pale Colour and of a delicate sharp Taste The Stalks are bare and above two Foot high The little Flowers are compos'd of yellow and red Threads The Root is small and creeps and is less acid and drier than the Leaves 'T is common in Gardens It has the same Virtues with the former Wood Sorrel in Latin Trifolium acetosum vulgare It grows commonly in shady places in Woods and Hedges It has the same Virtues with the former The Syrup the Conserve and the distill'd Water of it are in use The distill'd Water is used to wash the Mouth in the St. Anthony's Fire and to cleanse Sordid Ulcers 'T is observ'd that when it bears a great many Flowers the Year will be very rainy but dry when there is a few Sothernwood in Latin Abrotanum 'T is somewhat astringent and discusses much It resists Putrefaction and Poyson It cures the Biting of Venomous Creatures kills Worms and forces Urine It cures Hysterick Fits and the Jaundice The Tops of it boyl'd in Wine or Water and sweeten'd with Hony or Sugar do much good in an Asthma and Difficulty of Breathing and helps Expectoration 'T is used outwardly to strengthen Bones Marsh Sparagus in Latin Asparagus palustris 'T is found in many places As in the Marishes near Bristol and about Harwich in Essex c. It differs only from the Garden-Sparagus by the Place of its Growth and the Accidents that proceed from thence for the saltness of it and the thickness of the Leaves and the largeness of the Berries are to be imputed to the Sea for the like is wont to happen to other Plants that grow near the Sea The Root is Diuretick and Lithontriptick and is one of the five Opening Roots It opens the Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen and especially of the Kidnies and therefore it is frequently used in Diuretick Decoctions The Stalks boyl'd gently according to
strain it then add four Pounds of White Sugar and boyl it to a Syrup the Infusion of Rubarb being put to it and the Saffron being tied up in a Rag and dipp'd often in it and squeez'd out This Syrup is a very proper Purge for melancholy People but will scarce purge enough by it self wherefore take two Ounces of it in three Ounces of the Decoction of Dodder which see among the Vertues of Dodder The Confection of Alkermes is made with Juice of Apples and the Ointment called Pomatum Cyder is good for the Scurvy Apricock-tree in Latin Malus Armeniaca The English Apricocks are better than the French or Italian and more wholsome than the Peach The Oyl of the Kernels is excellent for Inflammations and Swellings of the Hemorrhoids and for Pains of the Ears The Kernels eaten cure the Heart-burning White Arch-Angel in Latin Laminum album It has many fibrous Roots it creeps awry in the Earth like Mint the Stalks are a Foot or two Foot high four-square and pretty large but they are smaller near the Earth and weak so that they can scarce stand alone They are empty pretty hairy and branchy and have a few Joints and near the Earth seem of a Purple Colour when the Sun shines on them The Leaves are plac'd by Pairs opposite to one another like Nettles those on the Bottom-stalks are plac'd on long Foot-stalks those on the Top-stalks on short Foot-stalks and have a short soft Down The Flowers encompass the Stalks at the Joints they are white large and hooded without rather pale than white It flowers at the Latter End of April or the Beginning of May. One handful of the Herb beaten up with Hog's Lard and applied to King's-Evil-Swellings in the Neck or Throat discusses them A Conserve of the Flowers is much commended in the Whites But the Cure of them by the following Method is much safer and surer Bleed once and purge thrice with two Scruples of Pill Coch. Major Then take of Venice-Treacle one Ounce and an half of the Conserve of the yellow Pill of Oranges one Ounce of Diascordium half an Ounce of Candied Ginger and Nutmegs each three Drams of the Compound Powder of Crabs-eyes one Dram and an half of the outward Bark of the Pomegranate of the Root of Spanish Angelica of Red Coral prepar'd of the Trochisc de Terra Lemnia each one Dram of Bole-Armenick two Scruples of Gum-Arabick half a Dram with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of dried Roses Make an Electuary Take the quantity of a large Nutmeg in the Morning at Five in the Afternoon and at Bed-time drinking upon it six Spoonfuls of the following Infusion Take of the Roots Elecampane Master-Wort Angelica and Gentian each half an Ounce of the Leaves of Roman-Wormwood of White Arch-Angel and the lesser Centory and Calamint each one handful of Juniper-berries one Ounce Cut them small and infuse them in five Pints of Canary Let them stand in Infusion and strain it only as you use it Stinking Arrach or Orrach in Latin Atriplex Olida 'T is easily known by its stinking Smell which is exactly like Old Ling. It grows in Places where there is Rubbish but it is not common A Conserve of the Leaves or Syrup made of the Juice is good for Mother-fits and Women's Obstructions the quantity of a Nutmeg of the Conserve being taken Morning and Evening or two Spoonfuls of the Syrup at the same Times But the following Plaster must be applied to the Woman's Navel Take of Galbanum dissolv'd in Tincture of Castor and strain'd three Drams of Tacamahaca two Drams Mingle them and make a Plaster and spread it on Leather having an Hole cut in the middle The Woman must be also purg'd three or four times with the Pill Coch. Major viz. Take of the Pill Coch. Major two Scruples of Castor powder'd two Grains of the Peruvian Balsam four Drops Make four Pills to be taken at Five in the Morning and let her sleep after them After purging as above directed let the Woman take of the Conserve or Syrup as before mentioned thirty Days drinking presently after a Draught of Wormwood-Beer or Wine Or if she do not like the Conserve or Syrup let her take the following Pills for the space of a Month. Take of the Filings of Steel eight Grains of Extract of Wormwood a sufficient quantity Make two Pills let her take them in the Morning and repeat them in the Evening and so Morning and Evening drinking a small Draught of Wormwood-Beer presently after Common Arsmart in Latin Persicaria It has a single small woody white Root with many Fibres It has many Stalks a Foot or two Foot high solid round and smooth branchy and jointed When the Sun shines on them they are of a reddish Colour otherwise of a yellow Green The Leaves embrace the Stalks at the Joints and are plac'd on short Foot-stalks They are of a pale Green not spotted smooth They are like Peach-leaves The Flowers grow upon the upper Stalks and Branches in spiky Heads and are very small Some of them are useless no Seed succeeding them these consist of four Leaves Others are always shut and contain a pretty large three-square shining Seed that is black when 't is ripe and these are red without This Plant has an acrid and biting Taste It grows in watry Places and Ditches 'T is plainly hot and dry 'T is chiefly used outwardly in Wounds hard Swellings and old Sores The Water of Arsmart is of great use in the Stone of the Kidnies or Bladder a Draught of it being taken every Morning for two or three Months together A Country-Gentleman us'd a Load of this Herb in a Year to make the Water wherewith he cured many of the Stone The Root or Seed put into an aching hollow Tooth takes off the Pain There is scarce any thing more effectual to drive away Flies For whatever Wounds or Ulcers Cattel have if they are anointed with the Juice of Arsmart the Flies will not come near tho it is the Heat of Summer Artichoke in Latin Cinara The Germans and French eat the tender Stalks boyl'd with Vinegar and Butter And the Italians seldom boyl the Heads but eat them raw with Salt Oyl and Pepper They are said to provoke Venery to restore Nature and strengthen the Stomach A Decoction of the Buds provokes Urine Asarabacca in Latin Asarum It has many Heads shooting from the Roots whereon are many smooth Leaves every one upon a Foot-stalk by it self They are rounder and bigger than the Leaves of Violets and thicker and of a darker green shining Colour on the upper side and of a paler Green underneath Among the Leaves near the Earth are six-angled purplish Husks that are hairy and plac'd on short Foot-stalks these contain the Seeds that are like the Stones of Grapes They have within a white Marrow that tastes somewhat acrid It purges violently upwards and downwards Flegm and Choler 'T is Diuretick also and forces the Courses Wherefore
Month being first purg'd once or twice A Maid was cur'd of deep Melancholy and the Green-sickness by the use of this Medicine 'T is us'd in Baths to comfort the Joints and Sinews and for Diseases of the Womb. It flowers in June July and August Bay-tree in Latin Laurus A Decoction of the Bark Berries and Leaves makes a good Bath for the Diseases of the Womb and Bladder The Berries are very effectual against all Poison of venomous Creatures and the stinging of Wasps and Bees and also in the Plague and infectious Diseases and therefore are an Ingredient in the London-Treacle They procure the Courses and 't is said that seven of the Berries taken inwardly will hasten Delivery and expel the After-Birth Being made into an Electuary with Hony they cure old Coughs and Shortness of Breath and stop Rheums they expel Wind and provoke Urine and comfort the Stomach The Oyl which is made of the Berries is very useful in cold Diseases of the Joints and Nerves The Electuary of it is frequently used in Clysters to expel Wind and to ease the Pain of the Cholick So do the Berries themselves A Clyster for the Cholick Take of the Leaves of Mercury Marsh-mallows Pellitory of the Wall each one Handful of the Flowers of Camomil one Dram of the Seed of Caraways Cumin of Bay-berries powder'd each one Ounce boyl them in clear Posset-drink to three quarters of a Pint of the Liquor strained Add three Ounces of Mercurial Honey which see among the Vertues of Mercury of Hiera Picra two Drams Make a Clyster Beans in Latin Faba They are the chief Diet all the Summer-time in some Places and are certainly very nourishing A poor Country-man when Corn was dear dieted his Children only with Beans dried and they were better colour'd and fatter than other Children The Distill'd Water of the Flowers provokes Urine and is much used for beautifying the Face and taking Spots from thence For the Gravel make a Lee of the Ashes strain it and sweeten it with Sugar Take six Ounces with twenty Drops of Tincture of Cinnamon in it One that voided Blood by Stool three or four Months was cured by eating Red Beans boyl'd in Milk Morning and Evening when other Medicines would do no good They provoke Venery but they are windy and occasion troublesom Dreams Bears-foot in Latin Helleboraster It grows only in Gardens The Powder of the Leaves kills Worms in Children But it is a churlish Medicine Beech-tree in Latin Fagus The Leaves of the Beech-tree bruis'd and applied to hot Swellings discusses them The Water contained in old and hollow Oaks and Beech-trees cures the Itch in Men and Cattel when they are mangy White-Beet in Latin Beta alba It has a woody Root of the thickness of the Little Finger pretty long and white The Leaves are of a light green Colour thick and succulent of a nitrous Taste The Stalk is four Foot high or higher small and channell'd and has many Wings wherein are the little Flowers in a long Series consisting of yellow Tufts The Seed is round rough and brown Sea-Beet in Latin Beta Maris 'T is like the White-Beet but the Leaves are smaller and greener They are plain and equal and have sometimes red Veins and sometimes not The Stalk is also less 'T is common in salt Marshes and on the Sea-shore Beet is hot and dry and loosens the Belly by reason of its Nitrosity 'T is an Errhine especially the Root for the Juice of it received into the Nostrils occasions Neezing The young Plants with their Roots gently boyled and eaten with Vinegar procure an Appetite extinguish Thirst and suppress Choler in the Stomach Be et amongst the Ancients was much taken notice of for its insipid Taste Martial reproaches it in the following Distick Ut sapiant fatuae fabrorum prandia Betae O quam saepe petet vina piperque coquus The Juice of this Herb drawn up into the Nostrils powerfully evacuates Phlegmatick Humours from the Brain and cures inveterate Head-aches This is counted a great Secret by some Wood Betony in Latin Betonica It grows in Bushes and Woods The Flower is commonly purple sometimes white Many Vertues are attributed to this Plant taken any way Scroder describes the Vertues in short thus 'T is hot and dry acrid and bitter It discusses attenuates opens and cleanses 'T is Cephalick Epatick Splenetick Thoracick Uterine Vulnerary and Diuretick 'T is used frequently inwardly and outwardly especially in Diseases of the Head 'T is observed that the Faculties of the Root are quite different from the Vertues of the Leaves and Flowers for 't is very nauseous in the Mouth and Stomach and occasions Nauseousness Belching and Vomiting The Leaves on the contrary are Aromatick and of a pleasant Taste and agreeable to Nature in Food and Physick Counterfeit Tea made of Sage Betony and Ground-pine sweetned and drank hot is very good for the Gout Head-ach and Diseases of the Nerves and eases Pain occasioned by these Diseases Common Bilberries in Latin Vaccinia nigra vulgaris This small Bush has many green angled Sprigs a Foot or two Foot high which are hard to break They are divided into many Branches whereon there are many tender green Leaves about an Inch long and half an Inch broad They are sharp-pointed smooth and curiously indented about the Edges They taste partly acid and partly harsh The Flowers are placed each on a Foot-stalk among the Leaves They are of a pale-red Colour with a Saffron-colour'd Thread in the middle and in form are like a Water-Pitcher To each Flower succeeds one Berry like to a Juniper-berry which is rather of a Violet-colour when it is ripe than black At first tasting of the Berries they seem pleasantly acid but they leave somewhat that is nauseous upon the Palate It flowers in May The Fruit is ripe in August and sometimes in July The Berries are cooling and astringent They are very agreeable to an hot Stomach and quench Thirst They cure a Looseness and the Bloody-Flux occasioned by Choler And are good in the Disease called Cholera morbus They stop Vomiting and take off Feverish Heats A Syrup made of the Juice of the Berries is most agreeable viz. Take of the Juice strain'd one Pint Fine Sugar one Pound and an half Boyl it to a Syrup with a gentle Fire Take one Spoonful at a time or mix it with three Ounces of some proper Water Birch-tree in Latin Betula The Branches of this Tree are small and flexible and most of them hang downwards The Bark is very various when the Tree is young 't is yellow or brown afterwards it grows lighter It bears long Buds like Long-Pepper It grows frequently in cold and watery Places and on moist Heaths The slender Twigs of it were formerly used for the Magistrates Verge Now they serve to discipline Boys and to tame wild Horses and to make Brooms and to catch Birds with Bird-Lime and Bands for Fagots Fishermen in Northumberland fish a-nights by
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
God who has dealt so bountifully with this Nation in giving the Kings of it at least from Edward the Confessor downwards if not for a longer Time an extraordinary Power in the miraculous Cures thereof This our Chronicle has all along testified and the Personal Experience of many Thousands now living can witness the same 'T is also useful in Cancers and Eating Ulcers The Powder of the dried Root applied to the Piles dries them up A Dram of it taken inwardly expels Worms The Water distill'd from the Root cures a Red Face An excellent Ointment is made of this Herb for curing the Itch It is composed as follows In May take the Herb with the Root and well wash'd and cleans'd beat them in a Mortar keep the Juice in a Glass well stop'd for a Year and when you would prepare the Ointment take of the Juice of Wax and Oyl equal parts and boyl them to an Ointment For the King's-Evil make the following Plaster Take one Pound of Lard melted over a moderate Fire then take of the Leaves of Fig-wort Hound's-tongue the Flowers of White Arch-Angel and Fox-glove cut them small and boyl them in the Lard Do the same three or four times till the Ointment be of a deep green Colour then add two Ounces of Turpentine and an Ounce of Verdigrease and a sufficient quantity of Wax and Rosin strain it and make a Plaster spread on Leather and apply it to the Part affected Filberd in Latin Corylus sativa The Nut is very pleasant but if many of them are eaten they occasion the Head-ach Wind in the Stomach Loosness and the Bloody-Flux Hoops are made of the Branches And Painters use the Coal of it to delineate Gun-powder was made of the Coals before the Coals of Alder were found more commodious for that Use Firr-tree in Latin Abies They say it grows plentifully on the Mountains in Scotland But I suppose the Tree that grows commonly there is that which is called by skilful Botanists Picea for that which we plant in our Gardens for the Firr-tree is the Picea as appears by the Characteristick Notes of the Picea for the Cone is slender and long and hangs downward and the rigid and prickly Leaves encompass the Branches disorderly Theophrastus says 't is propagated only by the Seed and that the Cutting off the Tops causes it to wither and die the same Year But we find by Experience that the Branches do not only grow but take Root and in time become Trees The Rosin of it is twofold First Liquid which comes from young Firr-trees This the Shops fasly call Venice-Turpentine Secondly Dry it is like Frankincense Thirty three stately Trees of this Kind make a fair Appearance on a little Hill near Waryton in Staffordshire two Miles from Newport The Branches and Tops are infus'd in Diet-drinks for the Scurvy with very good Success Sweet-smelling Flag in Latin Calamus aromaticus Officinarum It was first observ'd by Doctor Thomas Brown in the River Yare near Norwich It grows also spontaneously in other Parts of England viz. near Hedley in Surrey and in Cheshire 'T is easily known by its sweet Smell 'T is hot and dry 'T is chiefly used in Obstructions of the Courses Liver and Spleen and in the Cholick it also provokes Urine The Root of it candied tastes very pleasantly and is grateful to the Stomach The Turks usually chew it in a Morning to prevent Contagion of corrupted Air. The Tartars carry it about with them and will not drink Water unless this Root has been infus'd in it Flax in Latin Linum sativum 'T is sown in the Fields The Oyl is chiefly in use for Medicine 'T is taken inwardly in a Quinsie Pleurisie Consumption and Cholick Outwardly used it mollifies hard Swellings and eases Pains it asswages the Swellings of the Belly Printers Ink is made of this Oyl and Lamb-black Purging or Wild Dwarf Flax or Mill-mountain in Latin Linum silvestre catharticum It has a small white woody Root and some Fibres It sends forth little Stalks that creep a little and then rise an Hand high or higher they are small jointed and reddish branchy at the top and bending downward The lower Leaves are roundish and have an obtuse Point the upper on the Stalks are plac'd by Pairs opposite to one another there are many of them they are small and half an Inch long smooth and without Foot-stalks The Flowers have five white Leaves and are placed on small Foot-stalks The Taste of the whole Plant is bitter and nauseous It flowers at the Beginning of June It grows commonly in dry and hilly Pastures The whole Herb infus'd in Whitewine for a whole Night over hot Ashes purges strongly Watery Humours Take of Purging-Flax one Handful of Sweet-Fennel-seeds two Drams boyl them in a sufficient quantity of Fountain-water to six Ounces add two Ounces of White-wine make a purging Potion Marsh-Flea-bane or Bird's-tongue in Latin Coniza palustris The Root is thick and spreads much sending forth hollow and crested Stalks three Foot high with many Joints and Branches bearing two long Leaves at each Joint which are indented about the Edges green on the upper side and grey or woolly underneath At the tops of the Stalks and Branches stand many small yellow Flowers together like those of Rag-wort The Seeds when ripe fly away with the Wind. It grows in the Fen-ditches and on the Banks in the Isle of Ely but not very common It grows chiefly near Stretbam-Ferry The Herb being spread under-foot or burnt in any Place will as it is believ'd drive away venomous Creatures and Fleas and kill Gnats wherefore 't is called Flea-bane Some prepare an Ointment of the Root and Leaves for the Itch. Flix-weed in Latin Sophia Chirurgorum It is two or three Foot high It has many hard woody Branches they are round and a little hairy The Leaves are cut small like Roman-Wormwood it tastes somewhat acrid The Flowers are many small and yellowish The Pods succeed the Flower they are about an Inch long and very small The Seed is very small and brown The Root is white It grows in stony and gravelly Places and on Stone-Walls and in untill'd Grounds A Dram of the Seed is very good for a Loosness And not only the Seed but the whole Herb is commended for the Fluxes of the Belly and the Bloody Flux 'T is used in Plasters for Wounds and sordid Ulcers In Yorkshire they use the Seed to expel Gravel with good Success Common Purple Flower-de-luce in Latin Iris vulgaris The Root hang'd in Wine or Beer preserves the Beer sweet and imparts a pleasant Taste and Smell to the Wine like Rasberries 'T is much us'd by Bakers to prepare Leaven for Wheaten Bread Many Virtues are attributed to the Root of this Plant by the Ancient and Modern Writers they are briefly describ'd as follows By Schroder 't is chiefly us'd for Coughs Difficulty of Breathing Obstructions of the Courses and Children's Gripes Being outwardly applied it
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
black purplish Colour full of Juice and of the bigness of a Grape having within many white Seeds The Berries and Leaves are Cooling and Drying The Berries are used inwardly in the Plague and Malignant Diseases and upon being poyson'd The Leaves are used outwardly in Pestilential Buboes and other hot Tumours and in old Ulcers Parsly in Latin Petroselinum The Root and Herb expel Wind provoke Urine and the Courses and open Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen and are good in the Dropsie and Jaundice The Seed is good for the same Diseases and for an old Cough and against Poyson The whole Herb outwardly applied dissolves hard Tumours and dries away Milk being applied to the Breasts Take of Parsly-seeds three Drams of Winter-Cherry-berries N. vi boyl them in a Pint of Milk and make Posset-drink Take six Ounces at a time sweeten'd with an Ounce of Syrup of Marsh-mallows This is good in the Stone Parsly-piert in Latin Percepier The Root is woody small and has a few small Fibres It has many small round hairy Stalks about an Hand high The Leaves are roundish divided into three Parts and are deeply jagged somewhat like Dove's-foot tho' less and hairy they are placed alternately the lower Leaves have Foot-stalks the upper have none at all or those that are are very short above they are of a light Green below they are whitish The Flowers are so small they can scarce be seen And the Seed is very small It delights in Sandy and Fallow Grounds and amongst Corn. It forces Urine violently and expels Gravel a Dram of the dried Herb being taken in White-wine It may be also eaten raw as a Sallet or pickled and eaten in Winter for Sauce Garden Parsnip in Latin Pastinaca latifolia sativa The Root is very nourishing and palatable It fattens and is a Provocative to Venery It opens attenuates and cleanses Cow Parsnip in Latin Sphondilium The Root is white and single and grows deep in the Earth of a sweet Taste and somewhat acrid It has a great Nerve within The Leaves that come from the Root are placed on long hairy Foot-stalks they are long and large and deeply cut about the Edges The Stalk is single round channel'd and about four Foot high The Flowers grow in Tufts they are white and consist of five Leaves It grows in moist Pastures and near Hedges The Root is Emollient and asswages Tumours The Seed is excellent for Hysterick Fits Peach-tree in Latin Malus Persica The Fruit has a sweet and pleasant Smell and refreshes the Spirits The Leaves boyled in Beer or Milk kill Worms and expel them The Water of the Flowers takes Spots from the Face The Syrup is a very proper Purge for Children and is made in the following manner Take of the fresh Flowers one Pound infuse them a whole Day in three Pints of warm Water then press them out add the same quantity of Flowers five times to the same Liquor and infuse them as before then add two Pounds and an half of Fine Sugar and boyl it to a Syrup The Pear-tree in Latin Pyrus Pears are agreeable to the Stomach and quench Thirst But they are best baked Dried Pears stop Fluxes of the Belly The following Pears are most esteem'd in England The Bon-Christien Summer and Winter the Butter-Pear the Green-Bury the Violet the Dove the Great Musk Amadot Rounselet Messieur Jean Great Sovereign Blood-Pear Windsor-Pear Green-field-Pear Dionier Great Bergamot Virgalous Roshea Red-Catharine Double-flower'd Pear Pease in Latin Pisum All sorts of Pease are windy and therefore are injurious to all that have windy Stomachs and are troubled with Spleen-wind Raw Green Pease are good for the Scurvy Pellitory in Latin Parietaria It cleanses and cools 'T is used for the Stone and Difficulty of Urine and for Coughs and in Clysters for Pains in the Belly Womb and Reins 'T is outwardly used for Tumours St. Anthony's-fire and for Burns Take of the Juice of Pellitory three Ounces of the Juice of Limons and Oyl of Almonds each half an Ounce mingle them Take it Morning and Evening for two Days This is good for the Stone in the Kidnies Penny-Royal in Latin Pulegium 'T is used to provoke the Courses and to help Delivery 'T is good for Coughs for the Gripes the Stone Jaundice and Dropsie A Spoonful of the Juice given to Children is an excellent Remedy for the Chin-Cough For an Hoarsness take six Ounces of the Decoction of it sweeten'd at Bed-time The fresh Herb wrap'd in a Cloth and laid in a Bed drives away Fleas but it must be renewed once a Week Peony in Latin Paeonia The Roots and Seeds of Male-Peony are much used in Physick They are used for Diseases of the Head and for Obstructions of the Courses and Child-bed-Purgations and to ease the After-pains The Roots are hang'd round the Neck to cure the Falling-sickness The Compounded Peony-water and the Syrup of it are much in use The Compounded Water is made in the following manner Take of the Leaves of Lillies of the Valley fresh one Pound infuse them in four Gallons of Spanish Wine Take of the Flowers of the Lime-tree half a Pound of Peony-flowers four Ounces infuse them two Days then distil them till they are dry in B. M. in the distil'd Water infuse two Ounces and an half of the Roots of Male-Peony of White Dittany and Long Birth-wort each half an Ounce of the Leaves of Misleto of the Oak and Rue each two Handfuls of the Seeds of Peony ten Drams of Rue three Drams and an half of Castor two Scruples of Cubebs and Mace each two Drams of Cinnamon one Ounce and an half of Prepar'd Squills three Drams of Rosemary-flowers six Pugils of Stechas and Lavender each four Pugils of Betony July-flowers and Cowslips each eight Pugils add four Quarts of the Juice of Black-Cherries and distil them in a Glass The Syrup is made in the following manner Take of the fresh Roots of both Peonies at Full Moon each one Ounce and an half slice them and infuse them in white-wine for the space of a Day of Contrayerra half an Ounce of Sermountain six Drams of Elk-hoof one Ounce of Rosemary with the Flowers one Handful of Betony Hyssop Wild-Marjoram of Ground-pine and Rue each three Drams of the Wood of Aloes of Cloves of the Seeds of the Lesser Cardamoms each two Drams of Ginger and Spikenard each one Dram of Stechas and Nutmegs each two Drams and an half infuse them warm a Day in three Quarts of the distill'd Water of the Roots of Peony boyl them to four Quarts strain it and add four Pounds and an half of Fine Sugar and boyl it to a Syrup Pepper-wort in Latin Lepidium The Root is of the thickness of a Finger or thicker 't is white it has an acrid hot Taste it creeps in the Earth It has many Stalks about four Foot high round smooth and full of Pith they are branchy and less than the Little Finger and are cover'd
the Bark on gently move the Belly two or three being taken at Bed-time The Tree tap'd in the Spring yields a great quantity of Liquor but it is not so pleasant as that of the Birch-tree 'T is said to be peculiarly proper for Obstructions of the Courses The Nuts being infus'd in Water till the Skin of the Kernels comes off then infuse them two Days in Aqua vitae Take two or three of them daily in the Morning fasting for ten Days before the usual time of their Flowing The Oyl of the Nut mix'd with Oyl of Almonds is excellent in the Stone two or three Ounces of it may be taken inwardly at a time See Mr. Boyl of Specifick Remedies pag. 163. Wall-flower in Latin Leucoium luteum It grows every where on Walls The Flowers are cordial and good for the Nerves They ease Pain provoke the Courses expel the Secundine and a dead Child The Conserve of the Flowers the distil'd Water and the Oyl made of the Flowers by Infusion are in use for Apoplexies and Palsies The Oyl is very Anodine in Wounds and Inflammations of the Nervous Parts Way-faring-tree in Latin Viburnum It sometimes spreads much tho' it is not high The Wood of it is fungous and pithy The Branches are about a Finger thick and four Foot long or longer The Bark is of a dark-gray Colour but the Bark of the Branches is whitish The Leaves are somewhat like the Leaves of the Alder they are broad longish and thickish and indented about the Edges they are hairy and white like Meal especially below The Flowers are placed in Umbels and smell like the Flowers of Elder they are white and consist of five Leaves The Berries are first green then red and lastly black they are sweet and clammy Some Country-people eat them It grows commonly in Hedges The Leaves and Berries are dry and astringent They are used for Inflammations of the Throat and Almonds and for the Relaxation of the Vvula and to settle the Teeth when they are loose and also for Fluxes of the Belly A Decoction of the Leaves makes the Hairs black and prevents their falling Wheat in Latin Triticum The Juice of it is good to take off Spots The Flower mix'd with Bean-shell-water takes out Wrinkles from the Face A Cataplasm made with Water and Oyl and the Flower takes off the Hardness of the Breast and ripens Swellings The Bran cleanses the Hands and makes them soft and white Common Whitlow-grass in Latin Paronychia vulgaris It has a small fibrous Root and many Leaves that lie on the Ground they are scarce an Inch long they are pointed hairy sometimes green sometimes reddish and a little indented and taste somewhat astringent at first afterwards acrid It has sometimes one sometimes two or three Stalks or more they are round and about an Hand high and sometimes not so much they have no Leaves on them but they have many little white Flowers which consist of four Leaves they have small flat Pouches It grows on Walls and Houses Rue Whitlow-grass infus'd in Small Beer and drank for some Days cures King's-Evil-Swellings without any sensible Evacuation See Mr. Boyl of Specifick Remedies pag. 155. Take of Whitlow-grass half an Handful fry it with Flower and an Egg Take it in a Morning fasting for two Days This cures the Whites Winter-cherry in Latin Alkekengi The Berries are Diuretick Nephritick and Lithontriptick They are also good for the Jaundice they may be either infus'd in Wine or boylâ—d in Posset-drink or powder'd and taken in any Liquor One that took eight of the Cherries every Change of the Moon was cured of the Gout tho' before he was miserably afflicted with it Take of Chios-Turpentine two Drams of the Balsam of Tolu half a Dram with a sufficient quantity of the Troches of Alkakengi make Midling Pills Take four at Bed-time These Pills are good for the Stone in the Kidnies Winter-green in Latin Pyrola Five or six of its Leaves lie on the Ground they are like the Leaves of a Pear they are thick of a dark Green smooth and shining above The Foot-stalks are near an Hand long The Stalk is nine Inches high and angled and has on it some small sharp Leaves and a Spike of fine white Flowers consisting of five Leaves The whole Plant tastes bitter It grows in the North near Halifax 'T is an excellent Vulnerary Herb either taken inwardly or outwardly applied Woodroof in Latin Asperula 'T is divided into many Joints The Root is small and creeps on the top of the Earth sending down Capillary Fibres The Stalks are small four-square an Hand or nine Inches high The Leaves are placed on the Joints like those of Madder they are larger than Cleaver-leaves and of a lighter Green they shine a little and are a little hairy The Stalk is divided at the top into two or three Branches upon which the Foot-stalks sustain the little Flowers that smell sweet and are compos'd of four small Leaves The Seeds are small and very hairy and in shape like a Kidny they stick to the Clothes as the Seeds of Clevers do It grows in hilly Woods and among Bushes It flowers in May. 'T is used for Obstructions of the Liver and Gall-bladder and to cool an hot Liver It procures Mirth as they say being put into Wine and gives it a pleasant Taste for which Reason 't is frequently used among the Germans Common Wormwood in Latin Absinthium vulgare It strengthens the Stomach and Liver excites Appetite opens Obstructions and cures Diseases that are occasion'd by them as the Jaundice Dropsie and the like 'T is good in long putrid Fevers it carries off vitious Humours by Urine it expels Worms from the Bowels and preserves Clothes from Moths The Juice the distill'd Water the Syrup the fixed Salt and the Oyl of it are used but the Wine or Beer seems to be the best It strengthens the Stomach creates an Appetite opens Obstructions and provokes Urine The Simple Water is more Languid and of less Virtue The fixed Salt if it be wholly separated from the other Parts by the force of the Fire differs nothing in my Opinion neither in Taste nor Virtue from the Fixed Salt of any other Plant. A Scruple or half a Dram of the Salt according to the Strength and Age of the Sick taken in a Spoonful of the Juice of Limon scarce ever fails to cure Vomiting Green Wormwood bruis'd and mix'd with Lard and applied cures Tumors of the Kernels of the Throat and the Quinsie THE Exotick or Foreign PHYSICAL PLANTS AC ACacia It grows in Egypt The Juice of it press'd from the Cods before they are ripe or from the Flowers or Leaves is used to strengthen the Eyes and to take off the Inflammation of them and to cure Ulcers of the Mouth and Ears and for Chaps of the Lips The Juice reduc'd to a Powder after it has been wash'd in a Decoction made with the Juice or the Leaves or Flowers and sprinkl'd on
them all according to Art and then add to each Pound of this Confection two Ounces of Venice-Treacle and Mithridate This is the Orvictan so much cried up by some G. GAlangal in Latin Galanga major The Root of it is good in all Cases wherein Ginger is used and it is wont to be candied like Ginger It provokes Appetite as Capers and Olives do The fresh Root of either of them cut into Slices is boyl'd with Flesh and Fish for the same purpose 'T is also eaten raw with Oyl Salt and Vinegar with Fish and Flesh to help Concoction 'T is used in the cold Diseases of Men and Beasts 'T is Cephalick Cardiack and Stomachick It strengthens the Stomach and takes off Sowr Belching Being chew'd in the Mouth it discusses Wind and cures a Stinking Breath It does good in the Cholick heats the Reins and provokes Venery Candied with Sugar it is good for cold Diseases of the Head and Nerves It cures the Head-ach and eases the Pain of the Limbs 'T is good for the Palpitation of the Heart used with the Juice of Plantane The Powder of it taken in good Wine or Balm-water or in the Juice of Borrage cures Fainting proceeding from a cold Cause The Germans use to give it to those that are about to be Let Blood to chew it in their Mouths to prevent Fainting It grows spontaneously in Malabar and Java Galbanum 'T is a fat Juice but cannot be dissolv'd with Oyl in Water it may 'T is of a middle Nature betwixt a Gum and a Resin for it will burn like Resin and dissolve in Water like a Gum. 'T is of a yellow Colour and of a soft Substance like Wax It tastes bitterish and acrid and smells very strong The chief use of it is to mollifie and digest 'T is used inwardly to provoke the Courses to hasten Delivery to expel the Secundine and a dead Child 'T is also outwardly used in Child-bearing for the Courses for Mother-fits and for Giddiness The Fume of it is good in the Falling-sickness for Mother-fits and for Fainting and the like 'T is said by some of the Ancients that he that washes his Hands with a Solution of it may safely handle Serpents But the Truth of it may be well doubted Take of Galbanum and choice Myrrh each one Dram and an half of Castor sixteen Grains with a sufficient quantity of the Balsam of Peru Make twelve Pills of each Dram Give three at Bed-time drinking upon them three or four Spoonfuls of Compound-Briony-water Continue the use of these Pills thirty Days These Pills are very proper in Hysterick Diseases Take of Galbanum dissolv'd in Tincture of Castor and strain'd three Drams Tacamahaca two Drams mingle them make a Plaster to be applied to the Navel This Plaster is very proper in Hysterick Diseases 'T is an Ingredient of several Plasters of the London-Dispensatory as of the Plaster of Ammoniacum Barbarum Magnum of the Plaster of Cinnabar and of the Compound Diachylon of the Plaster of Mucilages of the Divine Plaster and some others The way to purifie it is to dissolve it in Vinegar then passing it through a Cloth all the Moisture is to be evaporated away over the Fire By this means it is cleans'd indeed from Straws and some other Impurities that are contain'd in it But then part of its Volatile Spirits is evaporated at the same time and in them consists its greatest Virtue while some others are fix'd by the Acid which always hinders the Motion of Volatiles Wherefore I would never advise this Purification I had rather after chusing it as clean as may be only powder it in a Mortar to mix it with what may be thought fit for tho' there should be some little Straws in it they would never be able to alter the nature of the Remedy or diminish its Virtue so much as does the Destruction of its Volatile Salts by the Vinegar But because it is too moist to be powder'd you must first cut it into little Slices and dry it in the Sun 'T is a Tear of the Herb called Faerula Common Great Gentian in Latin Gentiana major The Root of it which is chiefly used is Alexipharmick 'T is used in the Plague and other Contagious Diseases for Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen and the like 'T is good for a Dropsie Mother-fits Weakness of the Stomach the Worms Agues and for the Biting of a Mad Dog 'T is frequently used outwardly to dilate Ulcers and to make Issues run The compound-Compound-water of Gentian of the London-Dispensatory is made in the following manner Take of the Roots of Gentian cut one Pound and an half of the Leaves and Flowers of the Lesser Centory each four Ounces infuse them for the space of eight Days in six Quarts of White-wine and then distil them in B. M. This Water is a good Preservative against Ill Air and and Contagious Diseases It opens Obstructions of the Liver strengthens the Stomach creates an Appetite and helps Digestion 'T is good for the Jaundice and opens Women's Obstructions The Extract of Gentian is also much in use The Root powder'd and made into an Electuary with Conserve of Orange-peels and Conserve of Hips strengthens the Stomach creates an Appetite and expels Wind and helps Concoction Ginger in Latin Zinziber It grows in all the Provinces of India 'T is candied green in India and is good for Old People and such as are cold and flegmatick and for such whose Stomachs do not concoct well especially when it is fresh candied 'T is also good for Viscid Flegm of the Lungs The Indians use the Leaves of Ginger in Broths and for the Kitchin They also use the Roots of it green with Oyl and Salt mix'd with other Herbs Fresh Ginger is reckon'd by them an excellent Remedy for Cholical Pains and for the Caeliack and Lientaerick Passions 'T is also good for long Diarrhaea's proceeding from Cold and also for Wind and the Gripes and the like But it is to be noted that they who are of a hot Constitution ought not to use it whether they are sick or well for it inflames the Blood and opens the Orifices of the Veins But Ginger and Pepper are more used in the Kitchin than in Physick 'T is mix'd with purging Medicines that are strong to correct them It cleanses the Lungs and Stomach strengthens the Brain and clears the Sight when it is dulled by moisture It strengthens the Stomach and is mix'd with Antidotes 'T is an Ingredient in the Cardiack Syrup of the Cardiack Julep of the London-Dispensatory Goards in Latin Curcurbitae It quenches Thirst provokes Urine lessens Seed and extinguishes Venery 'T is used in Meats prepar'd in the following manner They boyl the inner and white Substance with the unripe and soft Seeds afterwards they cut them small with Onions and boyl them with Salt and Butter and then they are much like Headed Cabbage cut and boyl'd They are very good for lean People The Italians cut