184 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
phrenzy or lethargy, although they are two 
contrary diseases: It helps spitting and 
voiding of blood, coughing, and vomiting; 
it comforts and strengthens the head, 
stomach, reins, and womb, expels wind, and 
breaks the. stone. 
TORMENTIL, OR SEPTFOIL. 
Descript.| Tuts hath reddish, slender, 
weak branches, rising from the root, lying 
on the ground, rather leaning than standing 
upright, with many short leaves that stand 
closer to the stalks than cinquefoil (to 
which this is very like) with the root-stalk 
compassing the branches in several places; 
but those that grow to the ground are set 
upon long foot stalks, each whereof are like 
the leaves of cinquefoil, but somewhat long 
and lesser dented about the edges, many of 
them divided into five leaves, but most of 
them into seven, whence it is also called 
Septfoil; yet some may have six, and some 
eight, according to the fertility of the soil. 
At the tops of the branches stand divers 
small yellow flowers, consisting of five 
leaves, like those of cinquefoil, but smaller. 
The root is smaller than bistort, somewhat 
thick, but blacker without, and not so red 
within, yet sometimes a little crooked, 
having blackish fibres thereat. 
Place.| It grows as well in woods and 
shadowy places, as in the open champain 
country, about the borders of fields in many 
places of this land, and almost in every 
broom field in Essex. 
Time.] It flowers all the Summer long. 
Government and virtues.] This is a gal- 
lant herb of the Sun. Tormentil is most ex- 
cellent to stay all kinds of fluxes of blood or 
humours in man or woman, whether at nose, 
mouth, or belly. The juice of the herb and 
root, or the decoction thereof, taken with 
some Venice treacle, and the person laid 
to sweat, expels any venom or poison, or 
_ the plague, fever, or other contagious dis- 
_ €ases, as pox, measles, &c. for it is an 
ingredient in all antidotes or counter poi- 
sons. Andreas Valesius is of opinion that 
the decoction of this root is no less effec- 
tual to cure the French pox than Guiacum 
or China; and it is not unlikely, because it 
so mightily resists putrefaction. The root 
taken inwardly is most effectual to help any 
flux of the belly, stomach, spleen, or blood; 
and the juice wonderfully opens obstruc- 
tions of the liver and lungs, and thereby 
helps the yellow jaundice. The powder 
or decoction drank, or to sit thereon as 4 
bath, is an assured remedy against abortion, 
if it proceed from the over flexibility or 
weakness of the inward retentive faculty; 
as also a plaister made therewith, and vine- 
gar applied to the reins of the back, doth 
much help not only this, but also those that 
cannot hold their water, the powder being 
taken in the juice of plantain, and is also 
commended against the worms in children. 
It is very powerful in ruptures and burst- 
ings, as also for bruises and falls, to be used 
as well outwardly as inwardly. The root 
hereof made up with pellitory of Spain and 
allum, and put into a hollow tooth, not only 
assuages the pain, but stays the flux of 
humours which causes it. Tormentil is 20_ 
less effectual and powerful a remedy 
against outward wounds, sores and hurts, — 
than for inward, and is therefore a i 
ingredient to be used in wound drinks, lo- 
tions and injections, for foul corrupt rotten 
sores and ulcers of the mouth, secrets, 7 
other parts of the body. The juice or pow — 
der of the root put in ointments, plaisters, — 
and such things that are to be applied t | 
wounds or sores, is very effectual, as the 
juice of the leaves and the root bruised 
applied to the throat or jaws, heals the 
king’s evil, and eases the pain of the 
sciatica; the same used with a little vine 
gar, is a special remedy against the Tu 
ning sores of the head or other parts; scabs 
also, and the itch or any such eruptions ” | 
the skin, proceeding of salt and shatP | 
