THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. S83 



it is excellent in epidemical diseases, as pestilence, small 

 pox, and mtasle';. It is a notable expulsive mediciae and 

 remedy for the jellow jaundice. 



Sage. IJ.. (h. 2. d. 3.) 



Our ordinary Sage needeth no description. 



Time.'] It ilowereth in or about July. 



Government and Virtues.'] Jupiter claims tliis, and bids 

 me tell you, it is good for the liver, and to breed blood. 

 A decoction of the leaves and branches of Sage made and 

 drank, sailh Dioscorides, provokes urine, bringeth down 

 women's courses, helps to expel the dead childj aad 

 cause! h the hair to become black. It stayeth the bleed- 

 ing of wounds, and cleanseth foul ulcers and sores. The 

 decoction made in wine, taketh away the itching of the 

 privities, if they be bathed therewith. Agrippa saith, 

 that if women tliat cannot conceive, by reason of the 

 moist slii)periiiess of their wombs, sliall take a quantity 

 of the juice of Sage, with a little salt, for four days be- 

 fore they company with their husbands, it will help them 

 not only to conceive, but also to retain the birth with, 

 out miscarrying. Orpheus saith, three spoonfuls of the 

 juice of Sage, taken fasting, with a little honey, doth 

 presently stay the spitting or casting of blood in them 

 that are in a consumption. These pills are much com- 

 mended : take of spikenard, ginger, of each two drams, 

 of the seed of Sage toasted at the lire, eight drams, of the 

 long-pepper, 12 drams, all these being brought into pow- 

 der, put thereto so much juice of the Sage as may make 

 them into a mass of pills, taking a dram of them every 

 morning fasting, and so likewise at night, drinking a 

 little pure water after them. Matthiolus saith, it is very 

 profitable for all manner of pains in the head, coming 

 *of cold and rheumatic humours ; as also for all pains of 

 the joints, whether inwardly or outwardly, and therefore 

 hclpeth the falling sickness, the lethargy, such as are dull 

 and heavy of spirit, the palsy, and is of much use in all 

 defluctions of rheum from the head and for the diseases of 

 the chest or breast. The leaves of Sage and nettles 

 bruised together, and laid upon the imposthurae that 

 riseth behind the ears, doth assuage it much. 



The juice of Sage taken in warm water helpeth a 

 hoarseness and coush. The leaves soddened in wine. 



