THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 1 1 



you may no longer eat it out of ignorance, but out of 

 knowledge. 



The Black Alder-tree. ? and s (t. m. I.) 



This is likewise called the Berry-bearing Alder ; but 

 has more the appearance ofa shrub than a tree. 



Descript'] It seldom groweth to any great bigness, but 

 for the most part abideth like a hedge-bush, or a tree 

 spreading its branches, the woods of the body being 

 ■white, with a dark red cole, or heart; the outward bark 

 is of a blackish colour, with many whitish spots therein : 

 but the inner bark next the wood is yellow, which being 

 chewed, will turn the spittle near into a safiron colour. 

 The leaves are somewhat like those of an ordinary Alder- 

 tree, or the Female Cornet, or Dogberry-tree, called in 

 Sussex Dog-wood, but blacker, and not so long. The 

 (lowers are white, comingforthwith the leaves at the joints, 

 "which turn into small round berries, first green, after- 

 wards red, but blackish when they are thorough ripe, 

 divided, as it were, into two parts, wherein is contained 

 two small round and flat seeds. The root runneth not 

 deep into the ground, but spreads rather under the upper 

 crust of the earth. 



Fluce.l This tree or shrub may be found plentifully in 

 St. John's wood by Hornsey, and the woods on Hamp- 

 stcad-Heath ; as also in a wood called the Old Park ia 

 Barcomb in Sussex, near the brook's side. , 



Time.'] It fiowereth iu May, and the berries are ripe ia 

 September. 



Government and Virtues.'] It is a tree of Venus, and 

 perhaps under the celestial sign Cancer. The inner yel- 

 low bark hereof purgeth downwards both choler and 

 Y)hlegm, and the watery humours of such that have the 

 dropsy, and strengthens the inward parts again by bind- 

 ing. If the bark hereof be boiled with Agrimony, Worm- 

 wood, Dodder, Hops and some Fennel, with Smallage, 

 Kndive, and Succory roots, and a reasonable draught 

 taken every morning for some time together, it is very 

 effectdal against the jaundice, dropsy, and the eril dis- 

 position of the bo^y, especially if some suitable purging 

 fiaediciaes have been taken before, to Toid the gross*!* 



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