AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



31 



morphew, leprosy, foul scars, or other de- 

 formity whatsoever ; also all running scabs 

 and manginess are healed by the powder of 

 the dried root, or the juice thereof, but 

 especially by the fine white hardened juice. 

 The distilled water of the root works the 

 same effects, but more weakly; the root 

 bruised and applied of itself to any place 

 where the bones are broken, helps to draw 

 them forth, as also splinters and thorns in 

 the flesh; and being applied with a little 

 wine mixed therewith, it breaks boils, and 

 helps whitlows on the joints. For all these 

 latter, beginning at sores, cancers, &c. 

 apply it outwardly, mixing it with a little 

 hog's grease, or other convenient ointment. 

 As for the former diseases where it must 

 be taken inwardly, it purges very violently, 

 and needs an abler hand to correct it than 

 most country people have. 



BROOK LIME, OB WATER-PIMPERNEL. 



DescrtptJ] THIS sends forth from a 

 creeping root that shoots forth strings at 

 every joint, as it runs, divers and sundry 

 green stalks, round and sappy with some 

 branches on them, somewhat broad, round, 

 deep green, and thick leaves set by couples 

 thereon ; from the bottom whereof shoot 

 forth long foot stalks, with sundry small 

 blue flowers on them, that consist of five 

 small round pointed leaves a piece. 



There is another sort nothing different 

 from the former, but that it is greater, and 

 the flowers of a paler green colour. 



Place.~] They grow in small standing 

 waters, and usually near Water-Cresses. 



Time.~\ And flower in June and July, 

 giving seed the next month after. 



Government and virlnes.~\ It is a hot and 

 biting martial plant. Brook-lime and 

 Water-Cresses are generally used together 

 in diet-drink, with other things serving to 

 purge the blood and body from all ill 

 humours that would destroy health, and 

 are helpful to the scurvy. They do all 



provoke urine, and help to break the stone, 

 and pass it away; they procure women's 

 courses, and expel the dead child. Being 

 fried with butter and vinegar, and applied 

 warm, it helps all manner of tumours, swel- 

 lings, and inflammations. 



Such drinks ought to be made of sundry 

 herbs, according to the malady. I shall 

 give a plain and easy rule at the latter end 

 of this book. 



BUTCHER'S BROOM. 



IT is called Ruscus, and Bruscus, Knee- 

 holm, Kneeholly, Kneehulver, and Petti- 

 gree. 



Descript.~\ The first shoots that sprout 

 from the root of Butcher's Broom, are 

 thick, whitish, and short, somewhat like 

 those of Asparagus, but greater, they rise 

 up to be a foot and half high, are spread 

 into divers branches, green, and somewhat 

 creased with the roundness, tough and flex- 

 ible, whereon are set somewhat broad and 

 almost round hard leaves and prickly, 

 pointed at the end, of a dark green colour, 

 two at the most part set at a place, very 

 close and near together ; about the middle 

 of the leaf, on the back and lower sid ) 

 from the middle rib, breaks forth a small 

 whitish green flower, consisting of four 

 small round pointed leaves, standing upon 

 little or no footstalk, and in the place 

 whereof comes a small round berry, green 

 at the first, and red when it is ripe, wherein 

 are two or three white, hard, round seeds 

 contained. The root is thick, white and 

 great at the head, and from thence sends 

 forth divers thick, white long, tough strings. 



Place.~\ It grows in copses, and upon 

 heaths and waste grounds, and oftentimes 

 under or near the holly bushes. 



TimeJ] It shoots forth its young buds 

 in the Spring, and the berries are ripe 

 about September, the branches of leaves 

 abiding green all the Winter. 



Government and virtues] It is a pknt of 

 K 



