64 THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



grown, arc very large and broad, being somewhat thin 

 and almost round, whose thick red sour-stalks above a 

 foot long stand towards the middle of the leaves ; the 

 lower part being divided into two round parts, close al- 

 most one to another, and are of a pale green colour, and 

 hairy underneath; the root is long, and spreadeth under 

 ground, being in some places no bigger than one':j An- 

 ger, in others much bigger, blackish on the outside, 

 and whitish within, of a bitier and unpleasant faste. 



Place and Time.^ They grow in low and wet grounds 

 by rivers and water-sides ; their flower Cas is said) rising 

 and decaying in February and March, before the leaves, 

 which appear in April. 



Government and Virtues.'] It is under the dominion of the 

 Sun, and therefore is a great strengthencr of ihc heart, and 

 chearcr of the vital spirits ; the roots thereof are by long 

 experience found to be very available against the plague 

 and pestilential fevers, by provoking sweat ; if the pow- 

 der thereof be taken in wine, it also rcsisteth the force 

 of any other poison ; the root hereof taken with zedoary 

 and angelica, or without them, helps the rising of the 

 mother; the decoftion of the root in wiue, is singular 

 good for those that wheese much, or are short winded. It 

 provoketh urine also, and women's courses, and kil- 

 Icth the flat and broad Avorms in the belly. The 

 powder of the root doth wonderfully help to dry up 

 the moisture of the sores that are hard to be cured, and 

 taketh away all spots and blemishes of the skin. It w ere 

 •well if gentlewomen would keep this root preserved to 

 help their poor neighbours. It u Jit the rich should help 

 the poor J for the poor cannot help themselves. 



The Burdock. ? (h. d. 1.) 



TiiEY are also called Personata, and Loppy-major, 

 great Burdock and Clod-bur ; it is so well known, 

 even by the little boys, who pull oft' the burs to throw 

 and stick upon one another, that I shall spare to write 

 any description of it. 



Place.'] They grow plentifully by ditches and water- 

 sides, and by the highways almost every where through 

 this land. 



