74 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



Both leaves, seeds, and roots thereof are j little Euphorbium put to the nose, helps 

 much used in drink or broth, to make peo- i those that are troubled with the lethargy, 

 pie more lean that are too fat. The dis- j frenzy, giddiness of the head, the falling 

 tilled water of the whole herb, or the con- j sickness, long and inveterate head-aches, 

 densate juice dissolved, but especially the j the palsy, sciatica, and the cramp, and 

 natural juice, that in some counties issues s generally all the diseases of the sinews, used 

 out hereof of its own accord, dropped into; with oil and vinegar. The juice dissolved 

 the eyes, cleanses them from mists and i in wine, or put into an egg, is good for a 

 films that hinder the sight. The sweet j cough, or shortness of breath, and for those 

 Fennel is much weaker in physical uses; that are troubled with wind in the body. 

 than the common Fennel. The wild Fen- 1 It purges the belly gently, expels the hard- 

 nel is stronger and hotter than the tame, \ ness of the spleen, gives ease to women 

 and therefore most powerful against the! that have sore travail in child-birth, and 

 stone, but not so effectual to encrease milk, | eases the pains of the reins and bladder, 

 because of its dryness. 1 and also the womb. A little of the juice 



dissolved in >, nd dropped into the 



BESIDES the common name in English, 



SOW-FENNEL, OR Hocs-FENNEL. 



ears, eases much or the pains in them, and 



put into a hollow tooth, eases the pain 



Hog's Fennel, and the Latin name Peuci- j thereof. The root is less effectual to all 

 danum, is called Hoar-strange, and Hoar- j the aforesaid disorders ; yet the powder of 

 strong, Sulphur-wort, and Brimstone-wort, j the root cleanses foul ulcers, being put into 



Descript.] The common Sow-Fennel | them, and takes out splinters of broken 

 has divers branched stalks of thick and j bones, or other things in the flesh, and 

 somewhat long leaves, three for the most | heals them up perfectly: as also, dries up 

 part joined together at a place, among \ old and inveterate running sores, and is of 

 which arises a crested straight stalk, less i admirable virtue in all green wounds, 

 than Fennel, with some joints thereon, and i 



leaves growing thereat, and towards thej FIG-WORT, OR THROAT-WORT. 



tops some branches issuing from thence ; 1 



likewise on the tops of the stalks and? Descript.~] COMMON great Fig-wort sends 

 branches stand divers tufts of yellow flowers, j divers great, strong, hard, square brown 

 whereafter grows somewhat flat, thin, and j stalks, three or four feet high, whereon grow 

 yellowish seed, bigger than Fennel seed. Uarge, hard, and dark green leaves, two at 

 The roots grow great and deep, with many | a joint, harder and larger than Nettle 

 other parts and fibres about them of a \ leaves, but not stinking ; at the tops of the 

 strong scent like hot brimstone, and yield ' stalks stand many purple flowers set in 

 forth a yellowish milk, or clammy juice, j husks, which are sometimes gaping and 

 almost like a gum. | open, somewhat like those of Water Betony ; 



Place.'] It grows plentifully in the salt \ after which come hard round heads, with 

 low marshes near Feversham in Kent. i a small point in the middle, wherein lie 



Time.'] It flowers plentifully in July and j small brownish seed. The root is great, 

 August. | white, and thick, with many branches at it, 



Government and virtues^] This is also an \ growing aslope under the upper crust of 

 herb of Mercury. The juice of Sow-Fennel \ the ground, which abides many years, but 

 (saith Dioscorides, and Galen,) used with j keeps not his green leaves in Winter, 

 vinegar and rose water, or the juice with a f Place.'] It grows frequently in moist 



