AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 73 
pleased to make use of her herb boiled in 
white wine, and drink the decoction; it 
cleanses the womb, expels the after birth, 
and doth a woman all the good she can 
desire of an herb. And if any grumble 
because they cannot get the herb in winter, 
tell them, if they please, they may make 
a syrup of it in summer; it is chiefly used 
for the disease of the mother, whether it be 
the strangling or rising of the mother, or 
hardness, or inflammation of the same, 
applied outwardly thereunto. Or a decoc- 
tion of the flowers in wine, with a little nut- 
meg or mace put therein, and drank often in 
a day, is an approved remedy to bring 
down women’s courses speedily, and helps 
_ to expel the dead birth and after birth. 
For a woman to sit over the hot fumes of 
the decoction of the herb made in water or 
wine, is effectual for the same; and in some 
cases to apply the boiled herb warm to the 
privy parts. The decoction thereof made, 
with some sugar, or honey put thereto, is 
used by many with good success to help 
the cough and stuffing of the chest, by 
colds, as also to cleanse the reins and 
bladder, and helps to expel the stone in 
them. The powder of the herb taken in 
wine, with some Oxymel, purges both 
choler and phlegm, and is available for 
those that are shortwinded, and are troubled 
with melancholy and heaviness, or sadness 
of spirits. It is very effectual for all pains in 
the head coming of a cold cause, the herb 
being bruised and applied to the crown of 
the head: As also for the vertigo, that is a 
Tunning or swimming in the head. The 
decoction thereof drank warm, and the 
herb bruised with a few corns of Bay-salt, 
and applied to the wrists before the coming 
of the ague fits, doth take them away. The 
distilled water takes away freckles, and 
other spots and deformities in the face. 
The herb bruised and heated on a tile, with 
Some wine to moisten it, or fried with a 
little wine and oil in a frying-pan, and ap- 
plied warm outwardly to the places, helps 
the wind and cholic in the lower part of 
the belly. It is an especial remedy against 
opium taken too liberally. 
FENNEL. 
Every garden affords this so plentifully, 
that it needs no description. 
Government and virtues.] One good old 
fashion is not yet left off, viz. to boil Fennel 
with fish; for it consumes that phlegmatic 
humour, which fish most plentifully afford 
and annoy the body with, though few that 
use it know wherefore they do it; I suppose 
the reason of its benefit this way is, because 
it is an herb of Mercury, and under Virgo, 
and therefore bears antipathy to Pisces. 
Fennel is good to break wind, to provoke 
urine, and ease the pains of the stone, and 
helps to break it. The leaves or seed, 
boiled in barley water and drank are good 
for nurses, to increase their milk, and make 
it more wholesome for the child. The 
leaves, or rather the seeds, boiled in water, 
stays the hiccough, and takes away the 
loathings which oftentimes happen to the 
stomachs of sick and feverish persons, and 
allays the heat thereof. The seed boiled in 
wine and drank, is good for those that are 
bitten with serpents, or have eaten poison- 
ous herbs, or mushrooms. The seed and 
the roots much more help to open obstruc- 
tions of the liver, spleen, and gall, and 
thereby help the painful and windy swel- 
lings of the spleen, and the yellow jaundice; 
as also the gout and cramps. The seed is 
of good use in medicines to help shortness 
of breath and wheezing by stopping of the 
lungs. It helps also to bring down the 
courses, and to cleanse the parts after 
delivery. The roots are of most use in 
physic drinks and broth that are taken to — 
cleanse the blood, to open obstructions of | 
the liver, to provoke urine, and amend the 
ill colour in the face after sickness, and to _ 
cause a good habit through the body. — 
ee : 
