CHAP, xx S YL V A 197 



the fire immediately ; that, or, in season, the buds, 

 boil'd in water-grewel for a break-fast, has effected 

 wonders in a fever ; and the decoction is admirable 

 to asswage inflammations and tetrous humours, and 

 especially the scorbut : But an extract, or theriaca 

 may be compos'd of the berries, which is not only 

 efficacious to eradicate this epidemical inconvenience, 

 and greatly to assist longevity ; (so famous is the 

 story of Neander) but is a kind of catholicon against 

 all infirmities whatever ; and of the same berries is 

 made an incomparable spirit, which drunk by it self, 

 or mingled with wine, is not only an excellent drink, 

 but admirable in the dropsie : In a word, the water of 

 the leaves and berries is approved in the dropsie, 

 every part of the tree being useful, as may be seen at 

 large in Blockwitzius's anatomy thereof. The oint- 

 ment made with the young buds, and leaves in May 

 with butter, is most sovereign for aches, shrunk sinews, 

 haemorrhoids, &c. and the flowers macerated in vine- 

 gar, not only are of a grateful relish, but good to 

 attenuate and cut raw and gross humours. Lastly, 

 the fungus (which we call Jews-ears) decocted in 

 milk, or macerated in vinegar, is of known effect in 

 the angina and sores of the throat. And less than 

 this could I not say (with the leave of the charitable 

 physician) to gratifie our poor wood-man ; and yet 

 when I have said all this, I do by no means commend 

 the scent of it, which is very noxious to the air, and 

 therefore, though I do not undertake that all things 

 which sweeten the air, are salubrious, nor all ill savours 

 pernicious ; yet, as not for its beauty, so neither for 

 its smell, would I plant elder, near my habitation ; 

 since we learn from Biesius, l that a certain house in 



1 Bies. de Aeris potestate. 



