38 THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



into two parts, (he uppermost being like a hood, and the 

 lowermost like a lip hanging down, of a dark red colour, 

 ■which passing, there come in their places small round 

 heads with small points at the ends, wherein lie small 

 and brownish seeds. The root is a thick bush of strings 

 and shreds growing from the head. 



Place.'] It groweth by the ditch-side, brooks, and other 

 water-courses, generally through this land, and is seldom 

 found far from the water-side. 



Time.'] It llowereth about July,' and the seed is ripe 

 in August. 



Guverniiient and Virtues.] Water Betony is an herb of 

 Jupiter in Cancer, anil is appropriated more to wounds 

 and hurts in the breasts than Wood Befony, which fol- 

 lows ; it is an excellent rinirdy for sick hogs, it is of a 

 cleansing quality. The leaveji bruised and li.Milied are 

 effectual for all old and filthy ulcers ; and espt>cially if the 

 juice of the leaves be boiled with a little lioaey, and 

 dipped therein, and the sores dressed therewith : as also 

 for bruises or hurts whether inward or outward. Tiie 

 distilled water of the leaves is used for the same purpose, 

 as also to bathe the face and hands spotted or blemished, 

 or discoloured by sun burning. 



1 confess 1 do not much fanry distilled water, I mean 

 such waters as are distilled cold ; some virtues of the herb 

 they may happily have (it were a strange thing else) ; but 

 this 1 am confident nl, that being distilled in a pewter 

 still, as the vulgar ana apish fashion is, both chyniical 

 oil and salt is left befiind, unUss you burn them, and 

 then all is spoiled, water and all, which was good for as 

 little as can be by sucii a distillation. 



Wood Betony. % and T. (h.d.Q.) 



Tins is one of the herbs Ihat ought to be kept in every 

 famil , . 



Dcscript.] Common or Wood Betony hath many 

 leaves rising from the root, which are somewhat broad 

 and rouiid ai U:e end, roundly dented about the edges, 

 standing upon long foot sialks, from among which arise 

 up small, stpare, slender, but upright hairy stalks, with 



