106 THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



and roots arc more sharp and fierce than it: in all things 

 else it is like the former. 



Place.'] These two sorts grow frequently almost under 

 every hedge side in many places in this land. 



Tt?iie.} They shoot forth leaves in the Spring, and con- 

 tinue but until the middle of Summer, or somewhat later ; 

 their husks appearing before they fall away, and their 

 I'ruit shewing in April . 



Government and p'irtues,'] It is under the dominion of 

 Mars Tragus reporteth, that a dram weight, or more, 

 if need be, of the spotted AVake Robin, either fresh and 

 green, or dried, being beaten and taken, is a prcsentand 

 sure remedy for poison and the plague. The juice of the 

 herb taken to the quantity of a spoonful hath the same 

 effect. But if there be a little vinegar added thereto, as 

 well as to the root aforesaid, it somewhat allaycth the 

 sharp biting taste thereof upon the tongue. The green 

 loaves bruised, and laid upon the boil or plague sore, doth 

 wonderfully help to draw forth the poison. A dram of 

 the powder of the dried root taken with twice so much 

 sugar in the form of a licking electuary, or the green root, 

 doth wonderfully help those that are pursy and short- 

 winded, as also those that have a cough; it breaketh, 

 digesteth, and riddeth away phlegm from the stomach, 

 chest, and lungs. The milk wherein the root hath been 

 boiled is effectual also for the same purpose. The said 

 powder taken in wine or other drink, or the juice of the 

 berries, or the powder of them, or the wiufc wherein 

 they have been boiled, provoketh urine, and bringeth 

 * down women's courses, and purgeth them cffedtually after 

 c^ild-bearing, to bring away the after-birth. Taken 

 with sheej/s milk it healeth the inward ulcers of the bow- 

 els. The distilled water thereof is eftcctual to all the pur- 

 poses aforesaid. A spoonful taken at a time healeth the 

 itch ; and an ounce or more taken at a time for some days 

 together, doth help the rupture : The leaves, either green 

 or dry, ar the juice of them, doth cleanse all manner of 

 rotten and filthy ulcers, in what part of the body soever ; 

 ■ and healeth the stinking soresin the nose, called Polypus. 

 The water whereii^ the root hath been boiled, dropped 



