112 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
off. It is also effectual] against scaldings 
and burnings, St. Anthony’s fire, and all 
other hot, red, and painful swellings in any 
part of the body. The flowers boiled in oil 
or water (as every one is disposed) where- 
unto a little honey and allum is put, is an 
excellent gargle to wash, cleanse or heal 
any sore mouth or throat in a short space. 
If the feet be bathed or washed with the 
decoction of the leaves, roots, and flowers, 
it helps much the defluctions of rheum from 
the head; if the head be washed therewith, 
it stays the falling and shedding of the hair. 
The green leaves (saith Pliny) beaten with 
nitre, and applied, draw out thorns or 
prickles in the flesh. 
The marshmallows are more effectual in 
all the diseases before mentioned: The 
leaves are likewise used to loosen the belly 
gently, and in decoctions to clysters for ease 
all pains of the body, opening the strait 
passages, and making them slippery, where- 
by the stone may descend the more easily 
and without pain, out of the reins, kidneys, 
and bladder, and to ease the torturing pains 
thereof. But the roots are of more special 
use for those purposes, as well for coughs, 
hoarseness, shortness of breath and wheez- 
ings, being boiled in wine, or honeyed 
water, and drank. The roots and seeds 
hereof boiled in wine or water, are with 
good success used by them that have ex- 
coriations in the bowels, or the bloody flux, 
by qualifying the violence of sharp fret- 
ting humours, easing the pains, and healing 
the soreness. It is profitably taken by them 
that are troubled with ruptures, cramps, or 
convulsions of the sinews; and boiled in 
white wine, for the imposthumes of the 
throat, commonly called the king’s evil, and 
of those kernels that rise behind the ears, 
and inflammations or swellings in women’s 
breasts. The dried roots boiled in milk and 
drank, is especially good for the chin-cough. 
_ Hippocrates used to give the decoction of 
the roots, or the juice thereof, to drink, to 
> 
those that are wounded, and ready to faint 
through loss of blood, and applied the same 
mixed with honey and rosin to the wounds. 
As also, the roots boiled in wine to those 
that have received any hurt by bruises, 
falls, or blows, or had any bone or member 
out of joint, or any swelling-pain, or ache 
in the muscles, sinews or arteries. The 
mucilage of the roots, and of linseed and 
fenugreek put together, is much used in 
poultices, ointments, and plaisters, to 
molify and digest all hard swellings, and the 
inflammation of them, and to ease pains in 
any part of the body. The seed either green 
or dry, mixed with vinegar, cleanses the 
skin of morphew, and all other discolour- 
ings, being boiled therewith in the Sun. 
You may remember, that not long since 
there was a raging disease called the 
bloody-flux; the college of physicians not 
knowing what to make of it, called it the in- 
side plague, for their wits were at Ne plus 
nultra about it: My son was taken with the 
same disease, and the excoriation of his 
bowels was exceeding great; myself being 
in the country, was sent for up; the only 
thing I gave him, was Mallows bruised and 
boiled both in milk and drink, in two days 
(the blessing of God being upon it) it cured 
him. And I here, to shew my thankfulness 
to God, in communicating it to his crea 
tures, leave it to posterity. 
MAPLE TREE. 
Government and virtues.] Iv is under the — 
dominion of Jupiter. The decoction either — 
of the leaves or bark, must needs strengthen © 
the liver much, and so you shall find it to | 
do, if you use it. It is excellently good to 
open obstructions both of the liver and | 
spleen, and eases pains of the sides thence 
proceeding. 
WIND MARJORAM. 
Cattep also Origanum, Eastward Mar 
