OtJLPEPKB'e COMPLBTK HURBAL. 2S1 



P^ae€. — It is cultivated in many parts of England. 



Time, — The flowers appear in July. 



Oovemment and Virtues. — It is an herb of Mars. The 

 roots are the only parts used for medicinal purposes, and 

 they have a weak, bitterish, and somewhat astringent taste. 

 A strong decoction is diuretic and good in obstructions of 

 the viscera. It disperses congealed blood, cures the jaun- 

 dice, and is useful in dropsy. It also cleanses the kidneye 

 and urinary organs from gravel ; it is also valuable for 

 the palsy and sciatica, and effectual for bruises inward and 

 outward, and is therefore much used in vulnerary drinks. 

 The root is good for all the aforesaid purposes, if boiled in 

 wine or water, as the case requires, and some honey and 

 sugar put in afterwards. The seed taken in vinegar and 

 honey, helps the swelling and hardness of the spleen. The 

 decoction of the leaves and branches is a good fomentation 

 to bring down the courses. The leaves and roots beaten 

 and applied to aoy part that is discoloured with freckles, 

 morphew, the white scurf, or any such deformity of the 

 skin, cleanses thoroughly, and takes them away. 



MAIDENHAIR {COMMON.)— {Adiantum CapUlut 

 Veneris,) 



Descn^. — From a number of hard black fibres, grow a 

 a Domber of blackish shining brittle stalks, hardly a span 

 loDg, in many not half so long ; tbey are set on each side 

 very thick, with small round dark green leaves, and spot- 

 ted on the back of them like a fern. 



Place, — It grows plentifully about rock-holes, and upon 

 stone walls in the western parts, and in Kent. It is also 

 found by the sides of springs and wells ; in moist and 

 shady places ; and is always green. 



Time. — The seed appears in August and September.. 



Oovemm,ent and Virtties. — This and all other Maiden- 

 hairs are onder Mercury. This is a goodremedy for coughs, 

 asthmas, pleurisy, &c, and on account of its being a gentle 

 diuretic, also, in the jaundice, ^vel, and other impuri- 

 ties of the kidneys. All the Maidenhairs should be used 

 green, and in conjunction with other ingredients, because 

 their virtues are weak. 



MAIDENHAIB {OOLDEJff. )-( Adiantwm Aweur/L) 



Descrip. — This is a large kind of moss, with a stalk 

 three or four inches high, whoee lower part is covered with 



