f 



THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 43 



only two broad plantain-like leaves (but whiter) set at 

 the middle of the stalk, one against another, compassing 

 it round at the bottom of them. 



Place.^ It is an usual inhabitant in woods, copses, and 

 in many other places in this land. 



Another sort groweth in wet grounds and marshes, 

 which is somewhat different from the former. It is a 

 smaller plant, and greener, having sometimes three 

 leaves; the spike of the flowers is less than tlie former, 

 and the roots of this do run or creep in the ground. 



They are often used by many to good purpose for 

 wounds, both green and old, and to consolidate or knit 

 ruptures, as well it may, being a plant of Saturn. 



The Birch Tree. ? . (c. m. 2J 



Although the twigs of Birch are well known to every 

 school boy, yet few people have seen the tree in its per- 

 fection. There is a degree of elegance in its appearance 

 in the summer; and in the winter the bark is frequently 

 variegated with red and white streaks. 



Descript.'] This groweth a goodly lall straight tree, 

 fraught with many boughs, and slender branches bending 

 downward; the old being covered with a discoloured 

 chapped bark, and the younger being browner by 

 much. Ihe leaves at the iirst breaking out are 

 crumpled, and afterwards like Beech leaves, but smaller 

 and greener, and dented about the edges. It beareth 

 small short cat-skins, somewhat like those of the hazel 

 nut-tree, which abide on the branches a long time, until 

 growing ripe, they fail on the ground, and their seed 

 with them. 



Place.'] It usually groweth in woods. 



Government and Firtues.l It is a tree of Venus; the 

 juice of the leaves, while they are young, or the distilled 

 ■w ater of them, or the juice that comes from the tree being 

 bored with an auger, and distilled afterwards, an; of 

 these being drank for some days together, is available to 

 break the stone in the kidnies and bladder, and is good 

 also to wash sore mouths. The leaves have been used in 

 the itch, dropsy, 6:0. either externally applied, or takci\ 



