‘AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 
127 
it takes away scabs, and may be effectual 
for other parts of the body also. 
NETTLES. 
Netries are so well known, that they 
need no description; they may be found by 
feeling, in the darkest night. 
Government and virtues.| This is also 
an herb Mars claims dominion over. You 
know Mars is hot and dry, and you know 
as well that Winter is cold and moist, then 
you may know as well the reason why 
Nettle Tops eaten in the Spring consume 
the phlegmatic superfluities in the body of 
man, that the coldness and moistness of 
Winter hath left behind. The roots or 
leaves boiled, or the juice of either of them, 
or both made into an electuary with honey 
and sugar, is a safe and sure medicine to 
open the pipes and passages of the lungs, 
which is the cause of wheezing and short- 
ness of breath, and helps to expectorate 
tough phlegm, as also to raise the impost- 
humed pleurisy; and spend it by spitting; 
the same helps the swelling of the almonds 
of the throat, the mouth and throat being 
gargled therewith. The juice is also effec- 
tual to settle the palate of the mouth in its 
place, and to heal and temper the inflam- 
mations and soreness of the mouth and 
throat. The decoction of the leaves in wine, 
being drank, is singularly good to provoke 
women’s courses, and settle the suffocation, 
strangling of the mother, and all other 
diseases thereof; as also applied outwardly 
with a little myrrh. The same also, or the 
_ Seed provokes urine, and expels the gravel 
_ and stone in the reins or bladder, often 
_ proved to be effectual in many that have 
_ taken it. The same kills the worms in chil- 
_ dren, eases pains in the sides, and dissolves 
_ the windiness in the spleen, as also in the 
_ body, although others think it only power- | 
: fal to provoke or eS z 
leaves taken two or three days together, 
stays bleeding at the mouth. The seed being 
drank, is a remedy against the stinging of 
venomous creatures, the biting of mad dogs, 
the poisonous qualities of hemlock, henbane, 
nightshade, mandrake, or other such like 
herbs that stupify or dull the senses; as also 
the lethargy, especially to use it outwardly, 
to rub the forehead or temples in the leth- 
argy, and the places stung or bitten with 
beasts, with a little salt. The distilled water 
of the herb is also effectual (though not so 
powerful) for the diseases aforesaid; as 
for outward wounds and sores to wash 
them, and to cleanse the skin from mor- 
phew, leprosy, and other discolourings 
thereof. The seeds or leaves bruised, and put 
into the nostrils, stays the bleeding of them, 
and takes away the flesh growing in them 
called polypus. The juice of the leaves, or 
the decoction of them, or of the root, is 
singularly good to wash either old, rotten, 
or stinking sores or fistulous, and gangrenes, 
and such as fretting, eating, or corroding . 
scabs, manginess, and itch, in any part of | 
the body, as also green wounds, by washing 
them therewith, or applying the green herb 
bruised thereunto, yea, although the flesh 
were separated from the bones; the same 
applied to our wearied members, refresh 
them, or to place those that have been out 
of joint, being first set up again, strength- 
ens, dries, and comforts them, as also those 
places troubled with aches and gouts, and 
the defluction of humours upon the joints or 
sinews; it eases the pains, and dries or dis- _ 
solves the defluctions. An ointment made 
of the juice, oil, and a little wax, is singu- 
larly good to rub cold and benumbed — 
members. An handful of the leaves of green _ 
nettles, and another of wallwort, or dean- _ 
wort, bruised and applied simply the ‘ 
selves to the gout, sciatica, or joint aches 
