158 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
thereof contrary doth bind the belly, and 
helps to stay any sort of lasks or bloody- 
flux. The distilled water thereof is very 
_ profitably used to heal scabs; also foul 
ulcerous sores, and to allay the inflamma- 
tion of them; the juice of the leaves or 
roots or the decoction of them in vinegar, 
is used as a most effectual remedy to heal 
scabs and running sores. 
The Bastard Rhubarb hath all the pro- 
perties of the Monk’s Rhubarb, but more 
effectual for both inward and outward dis- 
eases. The decoction thereof without vine- 
gar dropped into the ears, takes away the 
pains; gargled in the mouth, takes away 
the tooth-ache; and being drank, heals the 
jaundice. The seed thereof taken, eases 
the gnawing and griping pains of the 
stomach, and takes away the loathing there- 
of unto meat. The root thereof helps the 
ruggedness of the nails, and being boiled in 
wine helps the swelling of the throat, com- 
monly called the king’s evil, as also the 
swellings of the kernels of. the ears. It 
helps them that are troubled with the stone, 
provokes urine, and helps the dimness of 
the sight. The roots of this Bastard Rhu- 
barb are used in opening and purging diet- 
drinks, with other things, to open the liver, 
and to cleanse and cool the blood. 
The properties of that which is called the 
English Rhubarb are the same with the 
former, but much more effectual, and hath 
all the properties of the true Italian Rhu- 
barbs, except the force in purging, wherein 
it is but of half the strength thereof, and 
therefore a double quantity must be used: 
it likewise hath not that bitterness and as- 
triction; in other things it works almost in 
an equal quantity, which are these: It 
purges the body of choler and phlegm, 
being either taken of itself, made into pow- 
der, and drank in a draught of white wine, 
_' or steeped therein all night, and taken fast-— 
__ ing, or put among other purges, as shall be 
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liver, and blood, opening obstructions, and — 
helping those griefs that come thereof, as __ 
the jaundice, dropsy, swelling of the spleen, — 
tertian and daily agues, and pricking pains — 
of the sides; and also stays spitting of — 
blood. The powder taken with cassia dis- 
solved, and washed Venice turpentine, — 
cleanses the reins and strengthens them — 
afterwards, and is very effectual to stay the _ 
gonorrhea. It is also given for the pains — 
‘and swellings in the head, for those that are — 
troubled with melancholy, and helps the — 
sciatica, gout, and the cramp. The powder — 
of the Rhubarb taken with a little mum 
mia and madder roots in some red wine, — 
dissolves clotted blood in the body, happem- — 
ing by any fall or bruise, and helps burstings | 
and broken parts, as well inward as out- 
ward. The oil likewise wherein it hath been 
boiled, works the like effects, being anointed. 
It is used to heal those ulcers that happe? 
in the eyes or eyelids, being steeped and 
strained; as also to assuage the swellings 
and inflammations; and applied with honey, 
boiled in wine, it takes away all blue spots 
or marks that happen therein. Whey % 
white wine are the best liquors to steep . 
in, and thereby it works more effectual in 
opening obstructions, and purging the 
stomach and liver. Many do use a little 
Indian spikenard as the best correcto? 
thereof. 
MEADOW-RBUE. 
Descript.| Murapow-rve rises up with 
a yellow stringy root, much spreading ” 
the ground, shooting forth new sprouts 
round about, with many herby green stalks, 
two feet high, crested all the length of them, | 
| set with joints here and there, and many — 
large leaves on them, above as well as be 
low, being divided into smaller leave 
nicked or dented in the fore part of er 
of a red green colour on the upper-side, 
and pale green underneath: Toward the 
top of the stalk there shoots forth dive? 
prem etee ——te 
Sep ern 
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