244. CULPEPER’s ENGLISH PHYSICIAN, 
tHE MEDLAR: 
’ Description. THIS tree groweth near the bignefs of the quince-tree, with 
tolerably. large fpreading branches; longer and narrower leafed than either the 
apple or quince, and not dented about the edges. At the end of the {prigs ftand 
the flowers, formed of five white, great, broad-pointed, leaves, marked in the 
middle with fome white threads ; after which cometh the fruit, of a-brownifh green 
colour, when ripe, bearing the refemblance of a crown on the top, which was ori- 
ginally the five green leaves; and, being rubbed off, or having fallen away, the 
head of the fruit appears fomewhat hollow. The fruit is very harth before it is 
mellow, and ufually hath five hard kernels within it. 
There is another kind hereof, differing in nothing from the former, but that it 
hath fome thorns on it, in feveral places, which the other hath not ; and the fruit is 
fmall, and not fo pleafant. 
Time anp Pracz. They grow in this kingdom, and flower in May generally ; 
they bear ripe fruit in September and October, , 
GovERNMENT aND Virtuzs. This tree is under Saturn. A better medicine for 
ftrengthening the retentive faculties is hardly to be met with ; it ftays the longing of 
women. A plaifter made of the fruit, before they are rotten, with other neceflary 
ingredients, applied to the reins of the back, {tops the mifcarriage of women with 
child. They are very powerful in ftaying any fluxes of the blood, or humours, in 
men or women. The leaves have alfo the fame quality. The fruit, when eaten by 
ys women with child, ftayeth their longings after unufual meat, and is very effectual 
for thofe who are apt to mifcarry. The decoétion of them is good to gargle and 
wath the mouth, throat, and teeth ; when there is any defluxion of blood, to ftay 
‘it, or of humours which caufeth pains and fwellings. Iti is a good bath for women 
Ses to fit over that have their courfes flow too abundantly; or for the piles, when they 
sae too much. A poultice or plaifter, made of dried medlars, beaten and mixed 
the juice of red rofes, a few cloves, fome nutmeg, and a little red coral, and 
the ftomach, effectually. preventeth the cafting or loathing of meat. The 
ves in powder, ftrewed on frefh bleeding wounds, reftrain the blood 
and clofe the wound quickly. The medlar ftones, made into powder, and drunk 
| wherein fome parfley-roots have been infufed, ora little boiled, help to 
: break and expel thé ‘al in the Eisorys, ‘and is a perfect cure for the gravel i in the 
SS ba “soft obfinate cafes, 
e + 
ig. 
2 MELILOT, 
