THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 5 



Descript.'] This herb hath but one leaf, which grows 

 with the stalk a finger's length above the ground, being 

 flat and of a fresh green colour; broad like VVattr Pian- 

 tane, but less, without any rib in it ; from the bottom of 

 which leaf, on the inside, riseth up ordinarily one^ some- 

 times two or three slender stalks, the upper half whereof 

 is somewhat bigger, and dented with small dents of a 

 yellowish green colour, like the tongue of an adder 

 serpent (only this is as useful as they are formidable.) 

 The rools continue all the year. 



Place."] It grows in moist meadows, and such like places ; 

 but must be diligently searched for before it can be dis- 

 covered, as it is entirely buried among the grass. 



Time.'] It is to be found in May or April, for it quickly 

 perisheth with a little heat. 



Government and Firlues,] It is an herb under the domi- 

 nion of the Moon and Cancer, and therefore if the weak- 

 ness of the retentive faculty be caused by an evil inllu. 

 ence of Saturn in any part of the body governed by the 

 Moon, or under the dominion of Cancer, this herb cures 

 it by sympathy. It cures these diseases after specified, in 

 any part of the body under the influence of Saturn, by 

 antipathy. 



It is temperate in respect of heat, but dry in the second 

 degree. The juice of the leaves drank with the distilled 

 water of Horse-tail, is a singular remedy for all manner of 

 wounds in the breasts, bowels, or other parts of the body, 

 and is given with good success unto those that are troubled 

 with casting, vomiting, or bleeding at the mouth or nose, 

 or otherwise downwards. The said juice given in the 

 distilled water of Oaken-buds, is very good for women 

 who have their usual courses, or the whites flowing dowu 

 too abundantlj'. It helps sore eyes. Of the leaves in- 

 fused or boiled in oil, omphacine, or unripe olives, set ia 

 the sun for certain days, or the green leaves sufficiently 

 boiled in the said oil, is made an excellent green balsam, 

 not only for green and fresh wounds, but also for old 

 and inveterate ulcers, especially if a little fine clear 

 turpentine be disolved therein. It also stayeth and re- 

 fresheth all inllaiumatiuus that arise upon pains by hurt* 

 ftud wounds. 



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