142 THE COMPLETE HERBAt 



biting of serpents, or a mad clog. The; stone. The gum or leaves boiled in vino- 

 same 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 

 where any bone is out of joint, to hinder |oil of almonds is made, is good against the 

 inflammations, swellings, and pains that ! 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: 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 nurs- 

 One part of Plantain water, and two parts! kadcl, drives forth the stone, and helps the 

 of the brine of powdered beef, boiled \ cholic. 

 together and clarified, is a most sure remedy ; 



,- .i- 7 POLYPODY OF TllK OAK. 



to heal all spreading scabs or itch in the> 



head and body, all manner of tellers, ring- 1 DescriptJ] Tins is a small herb consist- 

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

 and fretting sores. Briefly, the Plantains j 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 t rising from the root, every one single by 

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



$ consisting of many small narrow leaves 



Tj TT r Q i ^ */ 



\ cut inlo the middle rib, standing on each 



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

 description. :upto 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 \ sad green colour, and smooth on the upper 

 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- j by reason of some yellowish flowers set 

 Iron 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 thirsts under the upper crust of the earth, brown- 

 more, and bind the belly; the moist and : ish on the outside and greenish within, 01 

 waterish do sooner corrupt in the stomach, j a sweetish harshness in tasle, set with ccr- 

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

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

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

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

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

 sickness, to relish the mouth und stomach,: stumps, or trunks of trees, as oak, beech, 

 10 procure appetite, and a lillle to open ha/el, willow, or any other, as in the woods 

 the body, allay cholcr, and cool the i 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 

 hroat, 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. j thereof is scarce sufficient for the common 

 The gum ot the tree is good to break the use 



