AND COMPLETE HERBAL, 185 
Bods S20 (hit. KeasNs Uueh9g, 
Names. THESE nuts are alfo called in fhops piftacia, pifacies, and Sifici. 
DescripTion. The tree bearing thefe nuts, hath long great leaves, {pread abroad,.: 
confifting of five, feven, or more leaves, growing one againtt another, upon a red- 
difh rib or finew, whereof the laft, which is alone at the top of the leaf, is much the 
largeft ; the fruit is much like the hazel-nuts, or kernels of the pine-apple. 
Piace. This treeis a ftranger in this country, but is a native ‘Of Syria and other 
- eaftern countries. 
GovERNMENT AND Virtues. Fiftick-nuts are under the influerice of Jupiter. 
They are of a mean or temperate heat, and fomewhat aftringent; they. are good to’ 
open ftoppages and obftruétions of the liver, and for ftrengthening the fame ; ;. they: 
~ are alfo good for the ftomach, they open the pipes of the breaft and lungs, and’be. 
ing eaten either alone or with fugar, are exceeding good for the phthyfi ic and fhort-- 
nefs of breath. Diofcorides faith, that fiftick nuts given.in wine, is an excellent. Te 
medy for the biting of venomous beafts, 
f Toe 
Names. IT is called in Latin num, by which name it is well Known in fhops ; alfa» 
dn, whence the cloth that is made thereof is called linen-cleth ; its iced 1 is Called lin-- 
feed, and the oil produced therefrom, linfeed-oil. 
‘Description. Flax hatha tender ftalk, covered with fharp narrow leaves, pact 
_ atthe top into fmall fhort branches, which bringeth forth fair blue flowers; thefe- 
are fucceeded by round knobs or cig containing a- blackifh, bo fat, and: 
thining feed. 3 oF Bit 
Pracz, Iti is cultivated in 1 this country, and fown i in- fine age fertile erounds,, 
‘efpecially fuch as lie low. 
‘Trae. It flowereth in May and June, and ripens .foon after: | 
Government and Virtues. It is under the dominion of Venus ; the feed of 
this plane, being only ufed in medicine, is hot in the firft degree, and temperately’ 
‘moift and dry. The feed , or linfeed, being boiled in water and applied as a poultice” 
_ or plaifter, affwageth all pains, fofteneth cold tumours or fwellings, the impofthumes - 
of the neck and ears, and of other parts of the body. Linfeed pounded with figs, . 
is good to ripen and bring to a head boils and other fwellings ; alfo to draw. forth: Z 3 
~ thorns and {plinters, being mixed witl the root of wild cucumber. The feed mi gled 
with honey and crefles, and laid upon rough, rugged, and ill-favoured nails; eit ier OF- 
the hands or feet, cleanfeth and clarifieth thofe that are corrupt; or Jaid on se z ‘§ 
- cleanfeth » 
