26  CULPEPER’s ENGLISH PHYSICIAN, 
notice of our fenfes, point it out for ufe ; but chemiftry has~banifhed natural medi. 
cines. Diofcorides beftows high praifes on the herb ; and“direéts the flowery tops 
to be ufed, juft before they open into bloom ; he determines the dofe to be three 
drams ; and the manner of taking it as tea. It is happy that the ancients, who faw 
the great effect of thefe medicines, have been fo accurate in the dofe and manner of 
giving them; wherever they have, wé find them always right, and may depend on 
them as our beft guides; where they have not been fo particular, no guefs, or bold 
opinion, is to be indulged; but all is to be learned from careful trial. To be af- 
fured of their medicines, is the firft care: and, that being afcertained, we fhall be 
certain to find the accounts they give us of their virtues true, if we will wait with 
patience till we find the dofe, beginning from a little. The many who apply, 
wearied with the expence, and tired with the vain hope of relief fom the common 
practice, give abundant opportunities of finding this fafely and exactly ; and, if this 
publication conveys clearly to mankind the way to reap the advantages of ancient 
Galenical medicines, the attention to the object will have been well beftowed. 
There is no better medicine for young women, in whom the efforts of nature are 
too weak, than this: the flowers and buds fhould be {tripped off from the tops of — 
ftalks ; three drams of thefe, clipped {mall, fhould be put into a bafon, and half a 
pint of boiling water poured apon them : and when juft cool it is to be drunk with 
little fugar and cream : this is to be taken twice a day, during the time of nature’s 
effort, and the will rarely want any farther help; but, if its effeét be not altogether 
_ fufficient, fuch a tea of it fhould be drunk afterwards every day. Nothing is fo 
” deftructive to the conftitution as the ufe of too powerful medicines on this occafion ; 
_ this i is fufficient, andcan do no harm. Butitis not to this time of life it is limited, 
it may be taken at any period ; and there is a peculiar way of ufing it to great ad- 
vantage. A lady of thirty-eight, unmarried, and healthy, after riding many morn- 
son horfeback, (a new exercife to her, and therefore over-pleafing,) found her- 
difappointed at the period of her expectation; with feverifh heat, pain, fwell- 
nd, I believe, inflammation. She had been blooded in the foot; had taken 
pe yal | water ; and was entering upon fomething of more power, when, being 
: in fo another lady of the virtues of this herb, and that the excellent Diof- 
cori er phyfician than Friend or Mead, advifed the fitting over the fteam 
ofa 
0 rit on certain occafions ; and that, in this Particular cafe, that way 
feemed in every €nfémoft proper. A pound of mugwort was boiled in two gallons 
of water ; the whole \ was. put together intoa pan; and, when the vapour was not too 
hot to be borne, the lad y fat over it, It was done at night; and, before morning; 
all was well and happy. 4 
THE 
