142 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



biting of serpents, or a mad dog. The! stone. The gum or leaves boiled in vine- 

 sumc also is profitably applied to all hot -gar, and applied, kills tetters and ring- 

 gouts in the feet or hands, especially in the; worms. Matthiolus saith, The oil pre- 

 beginning. It is also good to be applied I served out of the kernels of the stones, as 

 \vhere any bone is out of joint, to hinder t oil of almonds is made, is good against the 

 inflammations, swellings, and pains that I inflamed piles, the tumours or swellings of 

 presently rise thereupon. The powder of * ulcers, hoarseness of the voice, roughness 

 the dried leaves taken in drink, kills worms J of the tongue and throat, and likewise the 

 of the belly; and boiled in wine, kills \ pains in the ears. And that five ounces 

 worms that breed in old and foul ulcers. j of the said oil taken with one ounce of mus- 

 One part of Plantain water, and two parts; kadel, drives forth the stone, and helps the 

 of the brine of powdered beef, boiled \ cholic. 

 together and clarified, is a most sure remedy ; 



, , ,. - t i ,1 ; POLYPODY OF THE OAK. 



10 heal all spreading scabs or itch in the* 



head and body, all manner of tetters, ring- 1 Descript.~] THIS is a small herb consist- 

 worms, the shingles, and all other running ; ing of nothing but roots and leaves, bearing 

 and fretting sores. Briefly, the Plantains ] neither stalk, flower, nor seed, as it is 

 are singularly good wound herbs, to heal | thought. It hath three or four leaves 

 fresh or old wounds or sores, either inward j rising from the root, every one single by 

 or outward | itself, of about a hand length, are winged, 



J consisting of many small narrow leaves 

 | cut into the middle rib, standing on each 



ARE so Avell known that they need no I side of the stalk, large below, and smallei 

 description. iupto the top, not dented nor notched at 



Government and virtues.'] All Plums are i the edges at all, as the male fern hath, of 

 under Venus, and are like women, some j sad green colour, and smooth on the uppei 

 better, and some worse. As there is great $ side, but on the other side somewhat rough 

 diversity of kinds, so there is in the opera- 1 by reason of some yellowish flowers set 

 tion of Plums, for some that are sweet | thereon. The root is smaller than one's 

 moistens the stomach, and make the belly \ little finger, lying aslope, or creeping along 

 soluble ; those that are sour quench thirst! under the upper crust of the earth, brown- 

 more, and bind the belly; the moist andjish on the outside and greenish within, of 

 waterish do sooner corrupt in the stomach, | a sweetish harshness in taste, set Avith cer- 

 but the firm do nourish more, and offend { tain rough knags on each side thereof, 

 less. The dried fruit sold by the grocers I having also much mossiness or yellow hair- 

 under the names of Damask Prunes, do uness upon it, and some fibres underneath it, 

 somewhat loosen the belly, and being! whereby it is nourished, 

 stewed, are often used, both in health and i Place.'] It grows as well upon old rotten 

 sickness, to relish the mouth and stomach, j stumps, or trunks of trees, as oak, beech, 

 to procure appetite, and a little to open 1 hazel, willow, or any other, as in the woods 

 the body, allay choler, and cool the! under them, and upon old mud walls, as 

 stomach. Plum-tree leaves boiled in wine, | also in mossy, stony, and gravelly places 

 are good to wash and gargle the mouth and j near unto wood. That which grows upon 

 Chroat, to dry the flux of rheum coming to j oak is accounted the best; but the quantity 

 the, palate, gums, or almonds of the ear. > thereof is scarce sufficient for the common 

 The gum of the tree is good to break the ; use 



