THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 95 



the hands, face, or boJy, it will cause it to itch ; the 

 stalk that riseth iVoin among thtm being two or three feet 

 high, hollow and coinerocl, is very hairy also, having 

 many such like leaves :is grow beJow, but lesser and les- 

 ser up to the top ; at the joints of the stalks it is divided 

 into many branches, with some leaves thereon, and at 

 the ends stand many flowers in order one above another, 

 whitii are somewhat long and hollow like the finger of a 

 glove, of a pale whitish colour, after which come small 

 black seeds. The roots are great and long, spreading 

 ^reat thick branches under ground, black on the outside, 

 and whitish within, short and easy to break, and full of 

 glutinous or clammy jnic;, of little or no taste at all. 



There is another sort in all things like this, only some- 

 what less, and beaieth flowers of a pale purple colour. 



Place.'] They grow by ditches and water-sides, and 

 in divers fields that are moist, for therein they chiefly 

 delight to grow. The first generally through all the land, 

 and the other but in some places, iiy the leave of my 

 authors, I know the first grows often in dry places. 



Time.'\ They flower in June or July, and give their seed 

 in August. 



Government and Virtues.'] This is an herb of Saturn, and 

 I suppose under the sign of Capricorn, cold, dry, and 

 earthy in quality. What was spoken of Clown's Wound- 

 wort, may be said of this. The Great Comfrey helpeth 

 those that spit blood, or make a bloody urine. The root 

 boiled in water or wine, and the decodtion drank, helps 

 all inward hurts, bruises, wounds, and ulcers of the 

 lungs, and causeth the phlegm that oppresseth them to be 

 easily spit forth. Jt helpeth the defluftion of rheum 

 from the head upon the lungs, the fluxes of blood or hu- 

 mours by the belly, women's immoderate courses, as well 

 the reds as the whites, and the running of the reins, hap- 

 pening by what cause soever. A syrup made thereof is 

 very effeiSual for all those inward griefs and hurts, and 

 the distilled water for the same purpose also, and for out- 

 ward M ounds and sores in the fleshy or sinewy part of 

 the body whatsoever, as also to take away the fits of 

 agues, and to allay the sharpness of humours. A de- 

 cofilion of the leaves hereof is available to all the purpo- 

 ses, though not so effedlualas the roots. The roots being 



