278 THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



happen in tlie eyes or eyelids, being steeped and strained ; 

 as also to assuage the swellings and inllammations ; and 

 applied with lioney, boiled in wine, it taketh away all 

 blue spots or marks that happen therein. AVliey or uhite 

 ■wine are the best liquors to steep it in, and thereby it 

 MOrkcth more eHe<^tually in 0])ening obstructions, and 

 purging the stomach and liver. Many use a little Indian 

 spikenards as the best corre<5lor thereof. 



Meadow Rue. O. {h. d. 3.) 



Tins is also called Spurious Rhubarb, or Rucweed. 



Deacnpt.} IMeadow Rue risetli up with a yellow stringy 

 root, much spreading in the ground, shooting forth new 

 sprouts and round about, with many green stalks, two 

 feet high, crested all the length of them, .set with joints 

 here and there, and many large leaves on them, above as 

 well as below, being divided inio smaller leaves, nicked or 

 dented in the forepart of tlicm, of a red green colour on 

 the upper side, and pale green underneath ; toward the 

 top of the stalk there shooteth forth branches, on every 

 one whereof stand two, or three or four small heads, or 

 buttons, which breaking the skin that incloscth them, 

 shooteth forth a tuft of pale greenisii yellow threads, which 

 falling away, there come in their ])!aces small three cor- 

 nered pods, wherein is contained small, long and round 

 seed. The whole plant hath a strong unpleasant scent. 



Place.'] It groweth in many places of this land^,^ in tlie 

 borders of moist meadows, and ditch-sides. 



Timc.~\ It Howereth about July, or beginning of 

 August, 



Governmerd and Virtues.'] Dioscorides saith, that this 

 herb bruised and applied, perfectly healeth old sores, and 

 the distilled Avater of the herb and (lowers doth the like. 

 It is used by some among other pot herbs to open the 

 bodv, and make it soluble ; but the roots Mashed cleau, 

 and'boiled in ale and drank, provoke to stool more than, 

 the leaves, but yet very gently. The root boiled in 

 ■water, and the place of the body most troubled with 

 Termin and lice, washed therewith while it is warm, de- 

 stroy cth them utterly. 



