224 THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



those that are bruised by any accident. The green herb 

 bruised and applied to the fundament, and lyingthtre two 

 or three hours, easeth the pains of the piles ; the juice also 

 being made up into an ointment, is eflertual for the same 

 purpose. The head washed Milh a decoc^rtion thereof, it 

 taketh away scabs, and may be ellettual for other parts 

 of the body also. 



Nettles. o. (//. f/. 2.) 



Nettles arc so mcII known, that they need no de- 

 scription ; they may be found by feeling, in the daikest 

 Jiight. 



Government and Virtues.'] This is also an herb ^klars 

 claims dominion over. You know ]Mars is hot and dry, 

 and you know as well that Winter is cold and moist ; 

 then you may know as well the reason why Nettle-tops 

 eaten in the Spring consumeth the phlegmatic superfluities 

 in the body of man, that the coldness and moistness of 

 Winter hath left behind. The roots or leaves boiled, or 

 the juice of either of them, or both 'made into an elec- 

 tuary with honey and sugar, is a safe and sure medicine 

 to open the pipes and passages of the lungs, which is 

 the cause of wheezing and shortness of breath, and help- 

 eth to expectorate tough phlegm, as also to raise the im- 

 posthumed pleurisy, and spend it by spitting ; the same 

 helpcth the swelling of the almonds in the throat, the 

 mouth and throat being gargled therewith. The juice 

 is also etfeClual to settle the palate of the mouth, in its 

 place, and heal and temper the inflammations and sore- 

 ness of the mouth and throat. The dccoCtion of the 

 leaves in wine, being drank, is singular good to provoke 

 ■women's courses, and setttlc the suflocation, strangling 

 of the mother and all other diseases thereof; as also ap- 

 plied outwardly, with a little myrrh. The same also, of 

 the seed, provoketh urine and expelleth the gravel and 

 stone in the reins or bladder, often proved to be efieftual 

 in many that have taken it. The same killeth the worms 

 in children, easeth pains in the sides and dissolveth the 

 windincss in the spleen, as also the body, although others 

 think it only powerful to provoke vcnery. The juice of 

 the leaves taken two or three days together, sfayeth bleed- 



