odlpetir's comflvtx hxrbal. 153 



mau or woman ; as also to consolidate bones broken or 

 out of joint. The juice thereof drank in wine, or the de- 

 coction of the herb drank, does kill the worms in the sto 

 mach or bellj, or the worms that grow in putrid and fil- 

 thy ulcers ; and made into a salve does quickly heal all 

 old sores, how foul and malignant soever they be. The 

 distilled water of the herbs works the same effects, although 

 somewhat weaker ; yet it is a fair medicine, and more ac- 

 ceptable to be taken. It is called Fluxweed because it 

 cures the flux ; and for its uniting broken bones, &c. Pa- 

 racelsus extols it to the skies. It is fitting that syrup* 

 oiutment, and plasters of it, were kept in all houses. 

 There is another sort, differing in nothmg save only that 

 it has somewhat broader leaves, a strong evil savour, and 

 of a drying taste. 



FLEUBrDELYS (GARDEN oe BLUE.— ("/rw.; 



Ducrxp. — The roots of Common Fleur-de-Lys spread 

 themselves pretty much on the surface of the earth, oeing 

 of a reddish brown colour on the outside, and whitish 

 within ; round, an inch and more in thickness, with seve- 

 ral transverse rings or circles, and shooting out long fibres. 

 The leaves are nervous, broad and flat, thickest in the 

 middle, with thin ed^es like a sword : they grow in thick 

 clumps together ; the flowera are made of nine leaves like 

 the former, of a purplish blue colour, and have the like 

 •eed-veasels, which are full of angular seed. 



Place. — It CTOws with us only in gardens. 



Time, — It flowers in May and June. 



Oovemment and Virtues, — This herb is Lanar. The 

 juice of the root, which is the only part used, is a strong 

 errhine ; being snuffed up the nostrils, it purges the heai^ 

 and clears the Drain of tnin serous phlegmatic humours. 

 The same likewise, or a strong decoction of the root^ 

 given inwardly, is a strong vomit^ and accounted good for 

 the dropsy, jaundice and agues ; but by reason it very 

 much vellicates and offends the stomach, it is rarely used 

 without honey and spikenard. The same being drunk, 

 does ease the pains and torments of the belly and sides, 

 the shaking of agues, the diseases of the liver and spleen, 

 the worms of the belly, the stone in the reins, convulsions 

 and cramps that come of old humours ; it also holps those 

 whose seed pass from them unawares : it is a remedy 

 •gainst the bitings and stingings of venomous ctvatures, 



