AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 53 
and somewhat flat heads. The root is 
tough, and somewhat woody, yet lives and 
shoots a-new every year. 
Place.| It grows upon hedges, and 
sometimes in the open fields, in divers 
places of this land. 
Time.| They flower all the months of 
July and August, and the seed ripens in 
the mean while. 
Government and virtues.] It is under the 
dominion of Venus. It has power to rarify 
and digest; and therefore the green leaves 
bruised and laid as a plaister, disperse 
knots, nodes, or kernels in the flesh; and 
if, when dry, it be taken in wine, it helps 
the stranguary; and being anointed with 
oil, it provokes sweat. It is a singular food 
for cattle, to cause them to give store of 
milk; and why then may it not do the like, 
being boiled in ordinary drink, for nurses. 
COLUMBINES. 
THEsE are so well known, growing al- 
most in every garden, that I think I may 
Save the expence of time in writing a de- 
Scription of them. 
Time.| They flower in May, and abide 
not for the most part when June is past, 
perfecting their seed in the mean time. 
Government and virtues.] It is also an 
herb of Venus. The leaves of Columbines 
are commonly used in lotions with good suc- 
cess for sore mouths and throats. Tragus 
saith, that a dram of the seed taken in wine 
with a little saffron, opens obstructions of 
the liver, and is good for the yellow 
jaundice, if the party after the taking 
thereof be laid to sweat well in bed. The 
seed also taken in wine causes a speedy 
delivery of women in childbirth; if one 
draught suffice not, let her drink the 
_ Second, and it will be effectual: The 
Spaniards used to eat a piece of the root 
_ thereof in the morning fasting, many days 
_ together, to help them when troubled with 
_ the stone in the reins or kidneys. 
. ee 
COLTSFOOT. 
Cattep also Coughwort, Foals-foot, 
Horse-hoof, and Bulls-foot. 
Descript.] This shoots up a slender stalk, 
with small yellowish flowers somewhat 
earlier, which fall away quickly, and after 
they are past, come up somewhat round 
leaves, sometimes dented about the edges, 
much lesser, thicker, and greener than those 
of butter-bur, with a little down or frieze 
over the green leaf on the upper side, which 
may be rubbed away, and whitish or meally 
underneath. The root is small and white, 
spreading much under ground, so that 
where it takes it will hardly be driven 
away again, if any little piece be abid- 
ing therein; and from thence spring fresh 
leaves. 
Place.| It grows as well in wet grounds 
as in drier places. 
Time.] And flowers in the end of 
February, the leaves begin to appear in 
March. 
Government and virtues.| The plant is 
under Venus, the fresh leaves or juice, or 
a syrup thereof is good for a hot dry cough, 
or wheesing, and shortness of breath. The 
dry leaves are best for those that have thin 
rheums and distillations upon their lungs, 
causing a cough, for which also the dried 
leaves taken as tobacco, or the root is very 
good. The distilled water hereof simply, 
or with elder flowers and nightshade, is a 
singular good remedy against all hot agues, 
to drink two ounces at a time, and apply ~ 
cloths wet therein to the head and stomach, 
which also does much good, being applied 
to any hot swellings and inflammations: 
It helps St. Anthony’s fire, and burnings, 
and is singular good to take away wheals 
and small pushes that arise through heat; 
as also the burning heat of the piles, or 
privy parts, cloths wet ene eae cys | 
