154 THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



lask, bloody fluxes, Avomcn's courses, and bleeding of 

 ■wounds, and takclh a\vay inflammations rising upon 

 pains of thelicart: it is no less helpful for foul ulcers 

 hard to be cured ; as also for cankers or fistulas. 'J'he 

 distilled water of the herb doth eflcdlually perform the 

 same things. 



Groundsel. ?. (h. d. 2,) 



Our common groundsel is too well known to require any 

 description. 



Place.l This growcth almost every where, as mcII on 

 tops of walls, as at the foot, amongst rubbish and untiilccl 

 grounds, but especially in gardens. 



Time.] It flowerelh, as it is said before, almost in every 

 month throughout (lie year. 



Government and I'lrlues.'] This herb is Vcnus's mistress- 

 piece, and is a gallant and universal medicine for all 

 diseases coming of heat, in what part of the body soever 

 they be, as the sun shines upon ; it is very safe and 

 friendly to the body of man, yet causeth vomiting if the 

 stomach be affli<5led ; if not, purging : and it doth it with 

 more gentleness than can be expe^^ed ; it is moist, and 

 something cold withall, thereby causing expulsion, and 

 repressing the heat caused by the motion of the internal 

 parts in purges and vomits. Lay by our learned receipts ; 

 take so much Sena, so much Sciimmony, so much 

 Colocynthis, so much infusion of Crocus Aletallorum, 

 &c. This herb alone preserved in a syrup, in a dis- 

 tilled water, or in an oiutment_, shall do the deed for 

 you iu all hot diseases; and, shall do it, 1. Safely — 

 2. Speedily. 



The deco6lion of the herb (saith Dioscorides) made 

 with wine, and drank, helpeth the pains of the stomach, 

 proceeding of cholcr, (which it may well do by a Torait) 

 as daily experience sheweth. The juice thereof taken in 

 drink, or the decofiiou of it in ale, gently pcrformeth 

 the same. It is good against the jaundice and falling- 

 sickness, being taken in wine; as also against difficulty 

 of making water. It provokcth urine, expelleth gravel 

 in the reins or kidnies, a dram thereof given in oxymel, 

 after some walkiTig or stirring of the body. It helpctb 



