AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 
179 
best companion, their husband excepted. 
Also it consumes the phlegmatic humours, 
the cold and moist constitution of Winter 
most usually affects the body of man with, 
and that was the first reason of eating tan- 
sies in the Spring. The decoction of the 
common Tansy, or the juice drank in wine, 
is a singular remedy for all the griefs that 
come by stopping of the urine, helps the 
stranguary and those that have weak reins 
and kidneys. It is also very profitable to 
dissolve and expel wind in the stomach, 
belly, or bowels, to procure women’s 
courses, and expel windiness in the matrix, 
if it be bruised and often smelled unto, as 
' also applied to the lower part of the belly. 
It is also very profitable for such women 
as are given to miscarry. It is used also 
against the stone in the reins, especially to 
men. The herb fried with eggs (as it is the 
custom in the Spring-time) which is called 
a Tansy, helps to digest and carry down- 
ward those bad humours that trouble the 
stomach. The seed is very profitable given 
to children for the worms, and the juice in 
drink is as effectual. Being boiled in oil, 
it is good for the sinews shrunk by cramps, 
or pained with colds, if thereto applied. 
WILD TANSY, OR SILVER WEED. 
Tuis is also so well known, that it needs 
no description. 
Place.| It grows in every place. 
Time.] It flowers in June and July. 
Government and virtues.| Now Dame 
Venus hath fitted women with two herbs of 
one name, the one to help conception, and 
the other to maintain beauty, and what 
more can be expected of her? What now 
remains for you, but to love your husbands, 
and not to be wanting to your poor neigh- 
bours? Wild Tansy stays the lask, and all 
the fluxes of blood in men and women, 
which some say it will do, if the green herb 
be worn in the shoes, so it be next the skin; 
he ee eee ee ee 
terms, if worn so, and the whites too, for 
ought I know. It stays also spitting or 
vomiting of blood. The powder of the herb 
taken in some of the distilled water, helps 
the whites in women, but more especially 
if a little coral and ivory in powder be put 
to it. It is also recommended to help chil- 
dren that are bursten, and have a rupture, 
being boiled in water and salt. Being boiled 
in water and drank it eases the griping 
pains of the bowels, and is good for the 
sciatica and joint-aches. The same boiled 
in vinegar, with honey and allum, and gar- 
gled in the mouth, eases the pains of the 
tooth-ache, fastens loose teeth, helps the 
gums that are sore, and settles the palate 
of the mouth in its place, when it is fallen 
down. It cleanses and heals ulcers in the 
mouth, or secret parts, and is very good 
for inward wounds, and to close the lips of 
green wounds, and to heal old, moist, and 
corrupt running sores in the legs or else- 
where. Being bruised and applied to the 
soles of the feet and hand wrists, it wonder- 
fully cools the hot fits of agues, be they 
never so violent. The distilled water 
cleanses the skin of all discolourings, 
therein, as morphew, sun-burnings, &c. as 
also pimples, freckles, and the like; and 
dropped into the eyes, or cloths wet therein 
and applied, takes away the heat and in- 
flammations in them. 
THISTLES. 
Or these are many kinds growing here in 
England, which are so well known, that 
they need no description: Their difference 
are easily known on the places wnere they — 
grow, Uz. oe 
Place.| Some grow in fields, some in 
meadows and some among the corn; others — 
on heaths, greens, and waste enmalt ee 
many places. : 
Time.| They flower in Stave auld 
lagemebinares ripe quickly after. 
