AND COMPLETE HERBAL: 247 
Time. They flourith in the fummer months, and then produce their feed. 
GovERNMENT AND Virtues. Mercury, it is faid, ownsthis herb, but we are of 
opinion that it is under the dominion of Venus. The decoction of the leaves of 
mercury, or the juice thereof, in broth, or drunk witha little fugar put to it, purgeth 
choleric and watery humours. Hippocrates commendeth it wonderfully for wo- 
men’s difeafes ; when applied to the fecret parts, it eafeth the pains of the mother : 3 
and, when ufed as a decoction, helps women’s courfes, and expels the after-birth ; the 
decoétion, mixed with myrrh or pepper, or applying the leaves externally, is effec- 
tual again{t the ftranguary and difeafes of the reins and bladder. It is alfo ufeful 
for fore and watery eyes, and for deafnefS and pains in the ears, by dropping the 
juice into them, and bathing them afterwards in white wine. The decoétion thereof 
made with water and a cock chicken, isa fafe medicine againft hot fits of the ague. 
It alfo cleanfeth the lungs and ftomach of phlegm, though rather offenfive to the 
ftomach. -The juice, or diftilled water, fnuffed up intothe noftrils, purgeth the 
head and eyes of catarrhs and rheums, Two or three ounces of the diftilled water, 
with alittle fugar, are fometimes taken, in the morning, fafting, to open and purge 
the body of grofs, vifcous, and melancholy, humours. What Diofcorides and Theo- 
phraftus relate of this herbis truly wonderful, if not fabulous, viz. that, if women 
ufe them, either inwardly or outwardly, for three days together, after conception, 
and their menfes be ftopped, they fhall bring forth male or female children accor- 
ding to the kind of herb which they ufe. Mathiolus faith, that the feed, both of the 
male and female mercury, boiled with wormwood, and drunk,*cureth the yellow 
jaundice in a fpeedy manner. The leaves, orthe juice, rubbed upon warts, taketh 
them away. The juice, mixed withfome vinegar, helpeth all running fcabs, tet- 
ters, ring-worms, and theitch. Galen faith, that being applied, in the manner of a 
poultice, to any fwelling or inflammation, it digefteth the fwelling, and allayeth the 
inflammation ; and is therefore given in clyfters to evacuate offenfive humours from 
the belly. Dog’s*mercury, though lefs ufed, is notwithitanding ferviceable in 
Purging off oe and. paglegs humours. 
. ed EM See aes 2 
ESCRIPI 10N, OF all the kinds of mints, the fpear-mint, or hart- mint,’ sie ae 
ufef 5 the defcription thereof will therefore be fufficient. Spear-minthathdi- ~ 
_vers round long ftalks, but narrow leaves fet thereon; of a dark green colour. ie 
The flowers ftand in fpiked heads at the tops of the branches, being of a pale lait Ze 
Colour. ~The {mell or {cent thereof is fomewhat fimilar to bafil , itincreafethbythe 
root, “under ground, as all the others do. | 
No, 17: 
cto: és er Pace. 
