THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 327 



the Sun, very sympathetica! with the body of man, and 

 that is tlui reason spirit of >vinc is the greatest cordial 

 among all vegetables. 



Violets. ? . (c. m. 1.) 



Both the tame and the wild are so well known that they 

 need no description. 



Tuiie-I They flower until the end of July, but are best 

 in March, and the beginning of April. 



Government and Firtues.l^ They are a fine, pleasing 

 plant of Venus, of a mild nature, no way harmful. All 

 the violets are cold and moist while they are fresh and 

 green, and are used to cool any heat, or distcnipcrature 

 ©f the body, either inwardly or oxitwardly, as inilaninia- 

 tions in the eyes, in the matrix or fundament, in impost- 

 humes also, and hot swellings, to drink the decoction af 

 the leaves and flowers made with water and wine, or to 

 apply thera poultice-wise to the grieved places ; it like- 

 wise easeth pains in the head, caused through want of 

 sleep ; or any other pains arising of heat, being applied 

 in the same manner, or with oil of roses. A dram weight 

 of the dried leaves or flowers of Violets, but the leaves 

 more strongly, doth purge the body of choleric humours, 

 and assuageth the heat, being taken in a draught of wine, 

 or any other drink ; the powder of the purple leaves of 

 the flowers, only picked and dried and drank in water, 

 is said to help the quinsy and the falling sickness in chil- 

 dren, especially in the beginning ot the disease. The 

 flowers of the -white Violets ripen and dissolve swellings. 

 The herb or flowers, while they are fresh, or the flowers 

 •when dry, are effectual in the pleurisy, and all diseases of 

 the lungs, to lenify the sharpness of the rheums, and the 

 hoarseness of the throat, the heat and sharpness of urine, 

 and all the pains of the back or reins and bladder. It is 

 good also for the liver and jaundice, and all hot agues, to 

 cool the liver and quench the thirst ; but the syrup of 

 Violets is of most use and of better efiect, being taken in 

 some convenient liquor ; anil if a little of the juice or 

 syrup of lemons be put to it, or a few drops of the oil of 

 vitriol, it is made thereby the more powerful to cool the 

 heatj^and quench the thirsty and giveth to the drink a 



