118 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



He adds, "Myselfe and others in London and 

 elsewhere hatie it growing in our gardens 

 for vse in phisick and chirurgerie." This 

 author, in addressing himself to the London 

 College of Physicians, relates an anecdote, 

 which we will give in his own words, to shew 

 the contrast of his days to our own, as re- 

 lates to country surgeons. 



" I learned a notable experiment of one 

 John Bennet, a chirurgion of Maidstone in 

 Kent, a man as slenderly learned as myselfe, 

 which he practised vpon a butcher's boie of 

 the same towne, as himselfe reported vnto 

 me. His practise was this : being desired to 

 cure the foresaide ladde of an ague, which 

 did greeuously vexe him, he promised him a 

 medicine, and for want of one for the present, 

 (for a shift, as himselfe confessed vnto me,) 

 he tooke out of his garden three or fower 

 leaues of the plant of rubarbe, which myselfe 

 had among other simples giuen him, which he 

 stamped and strained with a draugt of ale, 

 and gaue it the ladde in the morning to 

 drinke: it wrought extremely downwarde 

 and vpwarde within one hower after, and 

 neuer ceassed vntill night. In the ende, the 

 strength of the boie ouercame the force of 

 the phisicke, it gaue ouer working, and the 



