tHE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 15 



grows. It resists poison by defending and comforting the 

 heart, blood, and spirits; it doeth tiie like against the 

 plague and all epidemical diseases, if the root be taken in 

 powder to the weight of half a dram at a time, Avith some 

 good treacle in Carduus water, and the party thereupon 

 laid to sweat in his bed ; if treacle be not to be had, take 

 it alone in Carduus or Angelica water. Every part of this 

 excellent plant is full of Tirtue ; but the roots and seeds 

 in the highest degree, they being cordial, sudorific and 

 stomachic; of great efficacy in pestilential and contagious 

 disorders. They are likewise serviceable in all cold 

 flatulent complaints, and seldom fail of removing the ague, 

 if taken three or four times repeatedly on the approach 

 of the fit. A scruple of the dried root in powder, or ten 

 grains of the seed is a moderate dose. The stalks or 

 roots candied and eaten fasting, are good preservatives 

 in time of infection ; and at other times to warm and com- 

 fort a cold stomach. The root also steeped in vinegar, 

 and a little of that vinegar taken sometimes fasting, and 

 the root smelled unto, is good for the same purpose. A 

 water distilled from the root simply, as steeped in wine, 

 and distilled in a glass, is much more effectual than the 

 water of the leaves ; and this water, drank two or three 

 spoonfuls at a time, easeth all pains and torments coming 

 of cold and wind, so that the body be not bound ; and 

 taken with some of the root in powder at the beginning, 

 helpeth the pleurisy, as also all other diseases of the lungs 

 and breast, as coughs, phthisick, and shortness of breath ; 

 and a syrup of the stalks doth the like. It helps pains 

 of the cholic, the stranguary and stoppage of the urine, 

 procureth women's courses, and expellelh the after-birth, 

 openeth the stoppings of the liver and spleen, and briefly 

 easeth and discusseth all windiness and inward swellings. 

 The decoction drunk before the flt of an ague, that they 

 may sweat (if possible) before the fit comes, will, in two 

 or three times taking, rid it quite away; it helps diges- 

 tion, and is a remedy for a surfeit. The juice, or the 

 water being dropped into the eyes or ears, helps dimness 

 of sight and deafness; the juice put into the hollow teeth, 

 easeth their pains. The root in powder, made up into a 

 plaister with a little pitch, and laid on the biting of mad 

 dogs, or any other yenomous creature, doth wonderfully 



