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AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 13 
ASARABACCA. 
Descript.] Asarapacca appears like an 
evergreen, keeping its leaves all the Win- 
ter, but putting forth new ones in the time 
of Spring. It has many heads rising from 
the roots, from whence come many smooth 
leaves, every one upon his foot stalks, which 
are rounder and bigger thar Violet leaves, 
thicker also, and of a dark green shining 
colour on the upper side, and of a pale 
yellow green underneath, little or nothing 
dented about the edges, from among which 
rise small, round, hollow, brown green 
husks, upon short stalks, about an inch long, 
divided at the brims into five divisions, very 
like the cups or heads of the Henbane seed, 
but that they are smaller: and these be all 
the flower it carries, which are somewhat | 
sweet, being smelled to, and wherein, when 
they are ripe, is contained small cornered 
rough seeds, very like the kernels or stones 
of grapes or raisins. The roots are small 
and whitish, spreading divers ways in the 
ground, increasing into divers heads; but 
not running or creeping under the ground, 
as some other creeping herbs do. They are 
somewhat sweet in smell, resembling Nar- 
dus, but more when they are dry than 
green; and of a sharp and not unpleasant 
taste. 
Place.] It grows frequently in gardens. 
Time.] They keep their leaves green all 
Winter; but shoot forth new in the Spring, 
and with them come forth those heads or 
flowers which give ripe seed about Mid- 
summer, or somewhat after. 
Government and virtues.| It is a plant 
under the dominion of Mars, and therefore 
inimical to nature. This herb being drank, 
not only provokes. vomiting, but purges 
downward, and by urine also, purges both 
choler and phlegm: If you add to it some 
spikenard, with the whey of goat’s milk, or 
honeyed water, it is made more strong, but 
_ dt purges phlegm more manifestly than 
choler, and therefore does much help pains 
in the hips, and other parts; being boiled 
in whey, they wonderfully help the obstruc- 
tions of the liver and spleen, and therefore 
profitable for the dropsy and jaundice: be- 
ing steeped in wine and drank, it helps those 
continual agues that come by the plenty of 
stubborn humours; an oil made thereof by | 
setting in the sun, with some laudanum 
added to it, provokes sweating, (the ridge 
of the back being anointed therewith) and 
thereby drives away the shaken fits of the 
ague. It will not abide any long boiling, 
for it looseth its chief strength thereby ; nor 
much beating, for the finer powder pro- 
vokes vomits and urine, and the coarser 
purgeth downwards. 
The common use hereof is, to take the 
juice of five or seven leaves in a little drink 
to cause vomiting; the roots have also the 
same virtue, though they do not operate so 
forcibly ; they are very effectual against the 
biting of serpents, and therefore are put as 
an ingredient both into Mithridite and 
‘Venice treacle. The leaves and roots being 
boiled in lye, and the head often washed 
therewith while it is warm, comforts the 
head and brain that is ill affected by taking 
cold, and helps the memory. 
I shall desire ignorant people to forbear 
the use of the leaves; the roots purge more 
gently, and may prove beneficial in such as 
have cancers, or old putrified ulcers, or 
fistulas upon their bodies, to take a dram 
of them in powder in a quarter of a pint of 
white wine in the morning. The truth is, 
I fancy purging and vomiting medicines as 
little as any man breathing doth, for they 
weaken nature, nor shall ever advise them 
to be used, unless upon urgent necessity. 
If a physician be nature’s servant, it is his 
duty to strengthen his mistress as much as 
he can, and weaken her as little as may be. A 
ASPARAGUS, SPARAGUS, OR SPERAGE. | 
Descript.] Iv rises up at first with divers 
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