AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 55 
in this nation; the first of which shoots 
forth one or two winged leaves, upon long 
brownish foot-stalks, which are doubled 
down at their first coming out of the 
ground; when they are fully opened they 
consist of seven leaves, most commonly of a 
sad green colour, dented about the edges, 
set on both sides the middle rib one against 
another, as the leaves of the ash tree; the 
stalk bears no leaves on the lower half of 
it; the upper half bears sometimes three or 
four, each consisting of five leaves, some- 
times of three; on the top stand four or 
five flowers upon short foot-stalks, with 
long husks; the flowers are very like the 
flowers of Stockgilliflowers, of a pale 
purplish colour, consisting of four leaves 
a-piece, after which come small pods, which 
contain the seed; the root is very smooth, 
white and shining; it does not grow down- 
wards, but creeps along under the upper 
crust of the ground, and consists of divers 
small round knobs set together; towards 
the top of the stalk there grows some single 
leaves, by each of which comes a small 
cloven bulb, which when it is ripe, if it be 
set in the ground, it will grow to be a root. 
As for the other Coralwort, which grows 
in this nation, ’tis more scarce than this, 
being a very small plant, much like Crow- 
foot, therefore some think it to be one of 
the sorts of Crowfoot. I know not where 
to direct you to it, therefore I shall forbear 
the description. 
Place.| The first grows in Mayfield in 
Sussex, in a wood called Highread, and in 
another wood there also, called Fox-holes. 
Time.| They flower from the latter end 
of April to the middle of May, and before 
the middle of July they are gone, and not 
to be found. 
Government and virtues.] It is under the 
dominion of the Moon. It cleanses the 
_ bladder, and provokes urine, expels gravel, 
and the stone; it eases pains in the sides 
wounds, especially such as are made in the 
breast or lungs, by taking a dram of the 
powder of the root every morning in wine; 
the same is excellent good for ruptures, as 
also to stop fluxes; an ointment made of it 
is excellent good for wounds and ulcers, for 
‘it soon dries up the watery humours which 
hinder the cure. 
COSTMARY, OR ALCOST, OR BALSAM HERB. 
Tuis is so frequently known to be an 
inhabitant in almost every garden, that I 
suppose it needless to write a description 
thereof. 
Time.] It flowers in June and July. 
Government and virtues.] It is under the 
dominion of Jupiter. The ordinary Cost- 
mary, as well as Maudlin, provokes urine 
abundantly, and moistens the hardness of 
the mother; it gently purges choler and 
phlegm, extenuating that which is gross, 
and cutting that which is tough and glu- 
tinous, cleanses that which is foul, and 
hinders putrefaction and corruption; it 
dissolves without attraction, opens obstruc- 
tions, and helps their evil effects, and it is a 
wonderful help to all sorts of dry agues. 
It is astringent to the stomach, and 
strengthens the liver, and all the other in- 
ward parts; and taken in whey works more 
effectually. Taken fasting in the morning, - 
it is very profitable for pains in the head 
that are continual, and to stay, dry up, and 
consume all thin rheums or distillations 
from the head into the stomach, and helps 
much to digest raw humours that are 
gathered therein. It is very profitable for — 
those that are fallen into a continual evil 
disposition of the whole’ body, called 
| Cachexia, but especially in the beginning : 
of the disease. It is an especial friend and 
help to evil, weak and cold livers. The — 
seed is familiarly given to children for the _ 
worms, and so is the infusion of the flowers oats 
i ee Bis eae uantity of 
