( 217 ) 
Thirft, if eaten raw it is beft eaten after Meat ; 
before they are ripe, they are better baked than 
raw. The dry Fruit, eaten, checks Fluxes of the 
Belly and of Blood. If Mulhrooms are baked with 
them, they are faid to corredt their Malignity but 
I fhould be loth to try. They are either baked in 
Ovens, or preferved like other Fruits to keep. 
Harfh and four Pears, cool and bind ; the fweet 
loofen and nourifh, The Afhes of the Wood, or 
the Lee of them drank in Wine, is good for thofe 
that are in Danger of Suffocation, from eating 
Mufti rooms. The harfher applied outwardly, 
cool, bind, and heal Wounds, preventing their 
Inflammation, or farther Trouble ; for which Ufe, 
wild Pears are beft. 
233 - 
Male Pi on y. ( Pteonia Mas ) The Roots, 
Flowers, and Seeds, are all ufed for Difeafes of the 
Head and Womb, as Apoplexy, Epilepfy, Incu- 
bus, Vertigo, Cramp, Convulflons, Head-ach, 
obftrudled Menfes and Lochia , Retention of the 
After-birth, After-pains, and Obftrudtions of the 
Liver. Galen gives a furprifing Inftance of the 
Falling Sicknefs, cured by a Piece of the Root hung 
about the Neck in an Amulet. Common People 
ufe it to this Day, to prevent Convulflons, efpe- 
cially in Necklaces to Infants they are alfo made 
of Human Scull, Poppy Roots, (&c. The husked 
powdered Seed, given in Wine, is faid to reft ore 
loft Speech. Parkinfon fays, for the Epilepfy, the 
Root is to be infufed twenty-four Hours in Sack, then 
ftrained, and a Glafs of it drank every Evening and 
Morning, for a long Time, two Days before, the 
Day of, and two Days after, every full Moon ; 
but let the Body be firft duly prepared with Poffet 
Prink, made of Betony, The red Seed beaten. 
