USES 
4 1 
The quaint writer already referred to- — Culpeper — speaking 
of the ‘ Maidenhair,’ which is evidently the Common Maiden- 
hair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes ) — and of the 
Wall-rue, or ‘ White Maidenhair ’ ( Asplenium ruta-vmraria), 
says that a decoction of either £ being drunk, helpeth those 
that are troubled with the cough, shortness of breath, 
yellow jaundice, diseases of the spleen, etc.’ Further, it 
‘ cleanseth the lungs, and, by rectifying the blood, causeth a 
good colour to the whole body,’ and ‘the lee made thereof’ 
is ‘ singular good ’ for staying the ‘ falling or shedding 
of the hair,’ and causing it to ‘ grow thick, fair, and well- 
coloured,’ for which purpose ‘ some boil it in wine, 
putting some smallage seed thereto, and afterwards some 
oil.’ 
A number of remarkable qualities are ascribed, by Cul- 
peper, to the Three-branched Polypody, or ‘ Polypody of 
the Oak,’ as he calls it ( Polypodium clri/opteris), which is, 
we are told, especially good for ‘those that are troubled with 
melancholy or quartan agues.’ For application to such 
purposes it should be taken ‘ in whey, or honied water, or in 
barley water, or the broth of a chicken with epithymum, or 
with beets and mallows.’ ‘ It is good for the hardness of the 
spleen as also for the colic.’ The distilled water, both of 
roots and leaves, besides being good ‘against melancholy,’ is 
‘ good ’ also for ‘ fearful and troublesome sleeps or dreams.’ 
If this distillation have sugar-candy dissolved in it, it is ‘good 
against cough, shortness of breath,’ and consumptive ten- 
dencies. If the fresh roots ‘ beaten small,’ or the powder of 
the dried roots, be mixed with honey, it will greatly ‘help’ 
a member which is out of joint. 
