140 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
flesh; and put up into the nostrils, purges 
the head; and Galen saith also, they have 
a dying faculty, whereby they are good to 
solder the lips of wounds, and to cleanse 
foul ulcers. The distilled water or juice is 
much esteemed by French dames to cleanse 
the skin from any roughness and defor- 
mity, or discolouring thereof; being boiled 
in wine and given to drink, it is a good 
remedy against the plague, and other pes- 
tilential fevers, if the party after taking it 
be warm in his bed, and sweat for two 
hours after, and use the same for twice at 
least. It helps also all stingings and 
bitings of venomous beasts, or mad dogs, 
being used inwardly, and applied outward- 
ly. The same also opens obstructions of 
the liver, and is very available against the 
infirmities of the reins: It provokes urine, 
and helps to expel the stone and gravel 
out of the kidneys and bladder, and helps 
much in all inward pains and ulcers. The 
decoction, or distilled water, is no less ef- 
fectual to be applied to all wounds that are 
fresh and green, or old, filthy, fretting, and 
running ulcers, which it very effectually 
cures in a short space. A little mixed with 
the juice, and dropped into the eyes, 
cleanses them from cloudy mists, or thick 
films which grow over them, and hinder the 
sight. It helps the tooth-ache, being 
dropped into the ear on a contrary side of 
the pain. It is also effectual to ease the. 
pains of the hemorrhoids or piles. 
GROUND PINE, OR CHAMEPITYS. 
Descript.] Our common Ground Pine 
grows low, seldom rising above a hand’s 
breadth high, shooting forth divers small 
_ branches, set with slender, small, long, nar- 
row, greyish, or whitish leaves, somewhat 
__ hairy, and divided into three parts, many 
bushing together at a joint, some growing 
scatteringly upon the stalks, smelling some- 
_ what strong, like unto rosin: The flowers 
are small, and of a pale yellow colour, 
growing from the joint of the stalk all along 
among the leaves; after which come small 
and round husks. The root is small and 
woody, perishing every year. 
Place.] It grows more plentifully in 
Kent than any other county of this land, as 
namely, in many places on this side Dart- 
ford, along to Southfleet, Chatham, and 
Rochester, and upon Chatham down, hard 
by the Beacon, and half a mile from 
Rochester, in a field near a house called 
Selesys. ; 
Time.] It flowers and gives seed in the 
Summer months. 
Government and virtues.] Mars owns the 
herb. The decoction of Ground Pine drank, 
doth wonderfully prevail against the 
stranguary, or any inward pains arising 
from the diseases of the reins and urine, 
and is especially good for all obstructions 
of the liver and spleen, and gently opens 
the body; for which purpose they were 
wont in former times to make pills with the 
powder thereof, and the pulp of figs. It 
marvellously helps all the diseases of the 
mother, inwardly or outwardly applied, 
procuring women’s courses, and expelling 
the dead child and after-birth; yea, it is so 
powerful upon those feminine parts, that it 
is utterly forbidden for women with child, 
for it will cause abortion or delivery before 
the time. The decoction of the herb in 
wine taken inwardly, or applied outwardly, 
or both, for some time together, is also 
effectual in all pains and diseases of the 
joints, as gouts, cramps, palsies, sciatica, 
and aches ; for which purpose the pills made 
with powder of Ground Pine, and of her- 
modactyls with Venice turpentine are very 
effectual. The pills also, continued for 
some time, are special good for those that 
have the dropsy, jaundice, and for griping 
pains of the joints, belly, or inward parts. | 
it helps also all diseases of the brain, pro — 
ceeding of cold and phlegmatic humours — 
and distillations, as also for the falling sick-_ 
