THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 30,^ 



but the juice of it in women hindereth conception. 

 Matthiolus saitii, that if a dram of the dust that is on the 

 backside of the leaves be mixed with half a drum of amber 

 in powder, and taktn with the juice of purslain or plan- 

 tain, it helps the running of the reins speedily, and 

 that the herb and roots being boiled and taken, help- 

 eth all melancholy diseases, and those especially that 

 arise from the French disease. Camerarius saith, that 

 the distilled water thereof being drank, is very effectual 

 against the stone in the reins and bladder ; and that 

 the lee that is made of the ashes thereof being drank 

 for some time together, helpeth splenetic persons. It is 

 used in outward remedies for the same purpose. 



"Star Thistle. (?. (h. d. 2.) 



The thistles differ very little in virtue from each other. 



Deicript.'] The Star Thistle hath divers narrow leavea 

 lying next the ground, cut on the edges somewhat deeply 

 into many parts, soft or a little woolly, all over green, 

 among which rise up weak stalks parted into many bran, 

 ches, all lying down to the ground, that it seemeth a 

 pretty bush, set with divers the like divided leaves up to 

 the top, where severally do stand small Avhitish green 

 heads, set with sharp white pricks (no part of the plant 

 else being prickly) which are somewhat yellowish ; out 

 of the middle whereof riseth the flowers, composed of 

 many small reddish purple threads ; and in the heads, 

 after the flowers are past, come small whitish round seed, 

 lying down as others do. The root is small, long and 

 woody, perishing every year. 



Place.^ It groweth M'ild in many places. 



Time."] It flowereth early in July. 



Government and Viriues.'] Almost all Thistles are un- 

 der Mars. The seed made into powder, and drank in 

 wine, provoketh urine, and helpeth to break the stone. 

 The root in powder, given in wiue and drank in the 

 morning fasting for some time together, is very pro^tabia 

 for a fistula ia any part of the body.. 



