AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



73 



pleased to make use of her herb boiled in 

 white wine, and drink the decoction ; it 

 cleanses the womb, expels the after-birth, 

 and doth a woman all the good she can 

 desire of an herb. And if any grumble 

 because they cannot get the herb in winter, 

 tell them, if they please, they may make 

 a syrup of it in summer ; it is chiefly used 

 for the disease of the mother, whether it be 

 the strangling or rising of the mother, or 

 hardness, or inflammation of the same, 

 applied outwardly thereunto. Or a decoc- 

 tion of the flowers in wine, with a little Nut- 

 meg or Mace put therein, and drank often 

 in a day, is an approved remedy to bring 

 down women's courses speedily, and helps 

 to expel the dead birth and after-birth. 

 For a woman to sit over the hot fumes of 

 the decoction of the herb made in water or 

 wine, is effectual for the same ; and in some 

 cases to apply the boiled herb warm to the 

 privy parts. The decoction thereof made 

 with some sugar, or honey put thereto, is 

 used by many with good success to help 

 the cough and stuffing of the chest, by 

 colds, as also to cleanse the reins and 

 bladder, and helps to expel the stone in 

 them. The powder of the herb taken in 

 wine, with some Oxymel, purges both cho- 

 ler and phlegm, and is available for those 

 that are short winded, and are troubled 

 with melancholy and heaviness, or sadness 

 of spirits. It is very effectual for all pains in 

 the head coming of a cold cause, the herb 

 being bruised and applied to the crown of 

 the head : As also for the vertigo, that is 

 a running or swimming in the head. The 

 decoction thereof drank warm, and the 

 herb bruised with a few corns of Bay salt, 

 and applied to the wrists before the coming 

 of the ague fits, doth take them away. The 

 distilled water takes away freckles, and 

 other spots and deformities in the face. 

 The herb bruised and heated on a tile, with 

 some wine to moisten it, or fried with a 

 little wine and oil in a frying-pan, and ap- 



plied warm outwardly to the places, helps 

 the wind and cholic in the lower part of 

 the belly. It is an especial remedy against 

 opium taken too liberally. 



FENNEL. 



EVERY garden. affords this so plentifully, 

 that it needs no description. 



Government and virtues J\ One good old 

 fashion is not yet left off, viz. to boil Fennel 

 with fish ; for it consumes that phlegmatic 

 humour, which fish most plentifully afford 

 and annoy the body with, though few that 

 use it know wherefore they do it; I suppose 

 the reason of its benefit this way is because 

 it is an herb of Mercury, and. under Virgo, 

 and therefore bears antipathy to Pisces. 

 Fennel is good to break wind, to provoke 

 urine, and ease the pains of the stone, and 

 helps to break it. The leaves or seed, 

 boiled in barley water and drank are good 

 for nurses, to increase their milk, and make 

 it more wholesome for the child, The 

 leaves, or rather the seeds, boiled in water, 

 stays the hiccough, and takes away the 

 loathings which oftentimes happen to the 

 stomachs of sick and feverish persons and, 

 allays the heat thereof. The seed boiled in 

 wine and drank, is good for those that are 

 bitten with serpents, or have eaten poison- 

 ous herbs, or mushrooms. The seed and 

 the roots much more, help to open obstruc- 

 tions of the liver, spleen, and gall, and 

 thereby help the painful and windy swel- 

 lings of the spleen, and the yellow jaundice; 

 as also the gout and cramps. The seed is 

 of good use in medicines to help shortness 

 of breath and wheezing by stopping of the 

 lungs. It helps also to bring down the 

 courses, and to cleanse the parts after 

 delivery. The roots are of most use in 

 physic drinks, and broth that are taken to 

 cleanse the blood, to open obstructions of 

 the liver, so provoke urine, and amend the 

 ill colour in the face after sickness, and to 

 cause a good habit through the body. 



