J 8 THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAX ENLiRGED. 



excrements ; it purgctli and strengthcneth tlie liver and 

 »plccn, cleansing f hem from such evil humours and hard- 

 ness as they arc afllictod with. It is to bo understood that 

 these things arc performed by the dried bark ; for the 

 fresh green bark taken inwardly provokes strong vomit- 

 ings, f)ains in the stomach, and gripings in the belly; yet 

 if the decoclion may stand and settle two or three days, 

 until the yellow colour be changed black, it will not work 

 «o strongly as before, but will strengthen the stomach, 

 and procure an appetite to meat. The outward bark con- 

 trariwise doth bind the body, and is helpful for all lasks 

 and Iluxcs thereof, but this also must be dried first, where- 

 by it will work the better. The inner bark thereof boiled 

 in vinegar is an approved remedy to kill lice, to cure the 

 itch, and take away scabs, by drying them up in a short 

 time. It is singularly good to wash the teeth, to take 

 away the pains, to fasten those that arc loose, to cleanse 

 them, and keep them sound. The leaves are good fodder 

 for kine, to make them give more milk. 



In Spring-time if you use the herbs before mentioned, 

 and will take but a handful of each of them, and to them 

 add an handful of Elder buds, and having bruised them 

 all, boil them iu a gallon of ordinary beer, when it is 

 new; and having boiled them half an hour, add to this 

 three gallons more, and let them work together, and drink 

 u draught of it every morning, half a pint, or thereabouts, 

 it is an excellent purge for the Spring, to consume the 

 phlegmatic quality the Winter hath left behind it, and 

 withall to keep your body in health, and consume those 

 evil humours which the heat of Summer will readily stir 

 up. Esteem it as a jewel. 



The Common Alder-Tree. ? .and K. fc. 7n.2.) 



The common Aider-tree is sufficiently distinguished from 

 the Black- Alder by its size. 



Descrip.'] It growcth to a reasonable height, and spreads 

 much if it likes the place. Its stem is trce-like and full 

 of branches; the bark is rough, of a dark brown colour, 

 and irregularly blotched with white, having large 

 round leaves that are irregularly notched on the edges 

 and clammy to the touchj especially while young. Its 



