80 oitlpepeb's complete hebbal. 



by this only medicine ; and then I pray, is not this far 

 better than endangering the eyes by tne art of the needle T 

 For if this doth not absolutely take away the film, it will 

 80 facilitate the work, that it may be done without dan- 

 ger : the herb or root boiled in white wine and drunk, a 

 few aniseeds being boiled therewith, openeth obstruc- 

 tions of the liver and gall, helpeth the yellow jaundice ; 

 and often using it helps the dropsy and the itch, and those 

 that hare old sores in their legs or other parts of the 

 body ; the juice thereof taken fasting, is held to be of 

 singular good use against the pestilence : the distilled 

 water wiui a little sugar and a little good treacle mixed 

 therewith (the party upon the taking oeing laid down to 

 sweat a little) hath the same efl'ect ; the juice dropped 

 into the eyes cleanseth them from films and clou dio ess 

 that darken the sight, but it is best to allay the sharpness 

 of the juice with a little breast-milk. It is good m old 

 filthy corroding creeping ulcers wheresoever, to stay their 

 malignity of fretting and running, and to cause them to 

 heal more speedily : the juice often applied to tetters, 

 ring- worms, or other spreading cankers, wiJl quickly heal 

 them : and rubbed often upon warts will take them away : 

 the herb with the root bruised and bathed with oil of 

 camomile, and applied to the navel, taketh away the grip- 

 ing pains in the belly and bowels, and all the pains of the 

 mother ; and applied to women's breasts, staveth the 

 overmuch flowing of the courses : the juice or decoction 

 of the herb gargled between the teeth that ache, easeth 

 the pain, and the powder of the dried root laid upon any 

 aching, hollow, or loose tooth, will cause it to fall out : 

 the juice mixed with some powder of brimstone is not 

 only good against the itch, but taketh away all discolour- 

 ings of the skin whatsoever ; and if it chance that in a 

 tender body it causeth any itchings or inflammations, by 

 bathing the place with a Uttle vinegar it is helped. 



Another ill-favoured trick have physicians got to use to 

 the eye, and that is worse than the needle ; which is to 

 take away films by corroding or gnawing medicines ; this 

 I absolutely protest against 



1.— -Because the tunicles of the eyes are very thin, and 

 therefore soon eaten asunder. 



2.~The callus or film that they would eat away is sel- 

 dom of an equal thickness in every place, and then the 

 tanide may be eaten asunder in one fuace before the film 



