4G THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



a spiky biibh of palc-coloured flowers; which being 

 past, there abideth small seed, like unto sorrel seed, but 

 greater. 



There are other sorts of Bistort growing in this land, 

 but smaller, both in height, root, and stalks, and especi- 

 ally in the leaves. The root is blackish without, and 

 somewhat whitish within ; of an austere binding laste, as 

 the former. 



Place.l They grow in shadowy moist woods, and at 

 the foot of hills, but are chiefly nourished up in gardens. 

 The narrow leafed Bistort groweth in the North, in Lan- 

 cashire, Yorkshire, and Cumberland. 



Time.'] 'J'hey flower about the end of May, and the 

 seed is ripe about the beginning of July. 



Government and Virtues.'] It belongs to Saturn, and is 

 in operation cold and dry ; both the leaves and roots have 

 a powerful faculty to resist all poison. The root in pow- 

 der taken in drink expelleth the venom of the plague, the 

 small-pox, measles, purples, or any other infectious dis- 

 ease, driving it out by sweating. The root in powder, 

 or the deco6lion thereof in wine being drank, stayeth 

 all manner of inward bleeding or spirting of blood, 

 and any fluxes in the body, or vomiting. It is also 

 very available against ruptures, or burstings, or all 

 bruises, or falls, dissolving the congealed blood, and 

 easelh the pains that happen thereupon ; it also helpeth 

 the jaundice. 



The water distilled from both leaves and roots, is a 

 singular remedy to wash any place bitten or stung by any 

 venomous creature ; as also for any of the purposes before 

 spoken of, and is very good to wash any running sores 

 or ulcers. The derocHon of the root in wine being 

 drank hindereth aboilion or miscarriage. The leaves 

 also kill the worms in children, and are a great help to 

 them that cannot keep their water; if the juice of plain- 

 tain be added thereto, and outwardly applied, much 

 helpeth the gonorrhea, or running of the reins. A dram 

 of the powder of the root taken in water thereof, wherein 

 some red hot iron or steel hath been quenched, is also an 

 admirable help thereto, so as the body be lirst prepared 

 aad purged from the offensive humours. The Jearcs, 



