74 citlpepbb'b gomplxte herbal. 



taken from the flowers, from the crown of the head to 

 the sole of the foot, and afterward laid to sweat in bed, 

 and he sweats well ; this is Nechessor, an Egyptian's 

 medicine. It is profitable for all sorts of agues that come 

 either from phlegm, or melancholy, or from an inflamma- 

 tion of the bowels, being applied when the humours caus- 

 ing them shall be concocted : and there is nothing more 

 profitable to the sides and region of the liver and spleen 

 than it : the bathing with a decoction of camomile taketh 

 away weariuess, easeth pains to what parts soever they 

 be applied. It comforteth the sinews that be over-strained, 

 mollineth all swellings : it moderately comforteth all parts 

 that have need of warmth, digesteth and dissolveth what- 

 soever hath need thei-eof by a wonderful speedy property ; 

 it easeth all the pains of the colic and stone, and all pains 

 and torments of the belly, and gently provoketh urine. 

 The flowers boiled in posset-drink provoke sweat, and 

 help to expel all colds, aches and pains whatsoever : is an 

 excellent uelp to bring down women's courses. Syrup 

 made of the juice of camomile, with the flowers in white 

 wine, is a remedy against the jaundice and dropsy : the 

 flowers boiled in lee, are good to wash the head and com- 

 fort both it and the brain : the oil made of the flowers of 

 camomile is much used against all hard swellings, pains or 

 aches, shrinking of the sinews, cramps or pains in the 

 joints, or any other part of the body. Being used in 

 clysters, it helps to dissolve the wind and pains in the 

 belly ; anointed also, it helpeth pains and stitches in the 

 ■ides. 



Nechessor saith the Egyptians dedicated it to the Sun, 

 because it cured agues, and they were like enough to do 

 it, for they were the arrantest apes in their religion I 

 ever read of. Bachinus, Bena, and Lobel commend the 

 syrup made of the juice of it and sugar, taken inwardly, 

 to be excellent for the spleen. Also this is certain, that 

 it most wonderfully breaks the stone ; some take it in 

 syrup or decoction, others inject the juice of it into the 

 bladder with a syringe. My opinion is that the salt of it 

 taken half a drachm in the morning, in a little white or 

 rhenish wine, is betUr than either. That it i(» excellent 

 lor the stone appears in this which I have seen tried, 

 viz., — That a stone that hath been taken out of the body 

 of a man, being wrapped in camomile, will in time di»- 

 aolve^ and in a little time too. 



