AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 127 



and may be effectual for other parts of the i together, stays bleeding at the mouth. The 

 body also. ] seed being drank, is a remedy against the 



stinging of venomous creatures, the biting 

 of mad dogs, the poisonous qualities of 

 Hemlock, Henbane, Nightshade, Mandrake, 

 or other such like herbs that stupify or dull 



NETTLES. 



NETTLES are so well known, that they ; 



need no description; they may be found j the senses; as also the lethaigy, especially 

 by feeling, in the darkest night. I to use it outwardly, to rub the forehead or 



Government and virtues.] This is also 5 temples in the lethargy, and the places 

 an herb Mars claims dominion over. You > stung or bitten with beasts, with a little salt, 

 know Mars is hot and dry, and you know \ The distilled water of the herb is also effec- 

 as well that Winter is cold and moist ; then $ tual (though not so powerful) for the dis- 

 you may know as well the reason why j eases aforesaid ; as for outward wounds 

 Nettle-tops eaten in the Spring consume; and sores to wash them, and to cleanse the 

 the phlegmatic superfluities in the body or 1 skin from morphew, leprosy, and other 

 man, that the coldness and moistness of > discolourings thereof. The seed or leaves 

 Winter hath left behind. 1 he roots or | bruised, and put into the nostrils, stays the 

 leaves boiled, or the juice of either of them, 1 bleeding of them, and takes away the flesh 

 or both made into an electuary with honey { growing in them called polypus. The juice 

 and sugar, is a safe and sure medicine to j of the leaves, or the decoction of them, or 

 open the pipes and passages of the lungs, j of the root, is singularly good to wash either 

 which is the cause of wheezing and short- j old, rotten, or stinking sores or fistulous, 

 ness of breath, and helps to expectorate \ and gangrenes, and such as fretting, eating, 

 tough phlegm, as also to raise the impost- j or corroding scabs, manginess, and itch, 

 humed pleurisy ; and spend it by spitting; | in any part of the body, as also green 

 the same helps the swelling of the almonds j wounds, by washing them therewith, or ap- 

 of the throat, the mouth and throat being -plying the green herb bruised thereunto, 

 gargled therewith. The juice is also effec- 1 yea, although the flesh were separated from 

 tual to settle the palate of the mouth in its j the bones; the same applied to our wearied 

 place, and to heal and temper the inflam- j members, refresh them, or to place those 

 mations and soreness of the mouth and i that have been out of joint, being first set 

 throat. The decoction of the leaves in j up again, strengthens, dries, and comforts 

 wine, being drank, is singularly good to pro- 1 them, as also those places troubled with 

 voke women's courses, and settle the suf- j aches and gouts, and the defluxion of 

 focation, strangling of the mother, and all \ humours upon the joints or sinews ; it eases 

 other diseases thereof; it is also applied out- the pains, and dries or dissolves the defluc- 

 wardly with a little myrrh. The same also, j tions. An ointment made of the juice, 

 or the seed provokes urine, and expels the | oil, and a little wax, is singularly good to 

 gravel and stone in the reins or bladder, rub cold and benumbed members. An 

 often proved to be effectual in many that i handful of the leaves of green Nettles, and 

 have taken it. The same kills the worms | another of Wallwort, or Deanwort, bruised 

 in children, eases pains in the sides, and ; and applied simply themselves to the gout, 

 dissolves the windiness in the spleen, as s sciatica, or joint aches in any part, hath 

 also in the body, although others think it | been found to be an admirable help there- 

 only powerful to provoke venery. The junto, 

 juice of the leaves taken two or three days i 



