AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 
173 
but broad at the ends, and cut in the mid- 
dle, of a yellowish green colour, every one 
standing on a long foot-stalk, which at 
their first coming up are close folded to- 
gether, to the stalk, but opening themselves 
afterwards, and are of a fine sour relish, 
and yielding a juice which will turn red 
when it is clarified, and makes a most dainty 
clear syrup. Among these leaves rise up 
divers slender, weak foot-stalks, with every 
one of them a flower at the top, consisting 
of five small pointed leaves, star-fashion, 
of a white colour, in most places, and in 
Some dashed over with a small show of 
blueish, on the back side only. After the 
flowers are past, follow small round heads, 
with small yellowish seed in them. The 
Toots are nothing but small strings fastened 
to the end of a small long piece; all of them 
being of a yellowish colour. 
Place.| It grows in many places of our 
land, in woods and wood-sides, where they 
be moist and shadowed, and in other places 
not too much upon the Sun. 
Time.] It flowers in April and May. 
Government and virtues.] Venus owns it. 
Wood Sorrel serves to all the purposes that 
the other Sorrels do, and is more effectual 
in hindering putrefaction of blood, and 
ulcers in the mouth and body, and to 
quench thirst, to strengthen a weak 
stomach, to procure an appetite, to stay 
vomiting, and very excellent in any conta- 
Sious sickness or pestilential fevers. The 
Syrup made of the juice, is effectual in all 
the cases aforesaid, and so is the distilled 
water of the herb. Spunges or linen cloths: 
wet in the juice, and applied outwardly to 
any hot swelling or inflammations, doth 
much cool and help them. The same juice 
taken and gargled in the mouth, and after it 
1S spit forth, taken afresh, doth wonderfully 
help a foul stinking canker or ulcers therein. 
tis Singularly good to heal wounds, or to 
stay the bleeding of thrusts or scabs in the 
body. . | gees 
SOW THISTLE. 
Sow Thistles are generally so well 
known, that they need no description. 
Place.| They grow in gardens and 
manured grounds, sometimes by old walls, 
pathsides of fields, and high ways. 
Government and virtues.] This and the 
former are under the influence of Venus. 
Sow Thistles are cooling, and somewhat 
binding, and are very fit to cool a hot 
stomach, and ease the pains thereof. The 
herb boiled in wine, is very helpful to stay 
the dissolution of the stomach, and the milk 
that is taken from the stalks when they are 
broken, given in drink, is beneficial to those 
that are short winded, and have a wheez- 
ing. Pliny saith, That it hath caused the 
gravel and stone to be voided by urine, and 
that the eating thereof helps a stinking 
breath. The decoction of the leaves and 
stalks causes abundance of milk in nurses, 
and their children to be well coloured. The 
juice or distilled water is good for all hot 
inflammations, wheals, and eruptions or 
heat in the skin, itching of the hemor- 
rhoids. The juice boiled or thoroughly 
heated in a little oil of bitter almonds in the 
peel of a pomegranate, and dropped into 
the ears, is a sure remedy for deafness, sing- 
ings, &c. ‘Three spoonfuls of the juice 
taken warmed in white wine, and some 
wine put thereto, causes women in travail 
to have so easy and speedy a delivery, that 
they may be able to walk presently after. 
It is wonderfully good for women to wash 
their faces with, to clear the skin, and give 
it a lustre. 
SOUTHERN WOOD. 
SovtHern Wood is so well known to be | 
an ordinary inhabitant in our gardens, that 
I shall not need to trouble you with any _ 
description thereof. Boe 
Time.| It flowers for the most 
July and August. eo 
