( i8z ) 
196. 
French Mercury, Male and Female. 
(Mercttrialis Mas et Fcsmina ) Their Leaves and 
Juice are taken in Broth, or drank with a little Sugar 
to purge Choler and watery Humours. Hippocrates 
extols them in Women’s Difeafes. Applied to the 
privy Parts, he fays, they eafe Hyfteric Pains. Its 
Decodffion, drank, expels Menfes and Afterbirth * 
a Stove or Fomentation of them does the fame. He 
applied the Leaves outwardly for Difeafes of the 
Reins and Bladder, and for fore and watery Eyes ; 
and for Deafnefs, and Pains of the Ears, by drop- 
ping its Juice into them, and then Bathing them 
with white Wine. The Leaves, boiled in Chicken 
Broth, are good again ft hot Fits of the Ague. They 
cleanfe the Breaft and Lungs from Phlegm, but 
offend the Stomach. The Juice fnuffed up the 
Nofe purges the Head of Rheum. A Glafs of the 
diftill’d Water, drank faffing with a little Sugar, 
purges vifcous and melancholy Humours. The 
Leaves or Juice, often rubbed on Warts, take them 
away. The Juice, mixt with Vinegar, helps all 
Running Sores, Tetters, Itch, &c. Applied in a 
Poultife, it digefts and fpends the Humours, and 
eafes the Inflammation. Given in a Clyfter it clean- 
fes the Guts, as well as a Decoction of Senna. Seeds 
of Male and Female Mercury, boiled with Worm- 
wood, cure the yellow Jaundice fpeedily, fays 
Mathiolus. Superfluous People formerly believed, 
that, if breeding Women ufed the Herb inwardly or 
outwardly for three Days together, after Concep- 
tion, and the Menfes flayed, they fhould bring forth 
Children Male or Female, as was the Sort of Mer- 
cury ufed. Dog Mercury is feldom ufed, but an- 
fwers the fame Purpofes as the French. 
1 197. Wood 
