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OfANOLOi 
THE 
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L A N 
11 A: 
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TS. 
liber Trimus. 
O F 
Englifh Herbs 
and Plants. 
CHAP. I. 
O/ADDERS -TONGUE. 
I. P ■ ^ H E, Names. It is called in Grwek 
■ ’O^ioyhuojov j i n 'Larin, Lingua Ser- 
pentis , Lingua Serpentina , Lingua 
-M V ulner aria, Argentina, Lancea Chrijri, 
Herba Lucciola, Ophiogloffon : in Englijh , Adders 
Tongue, and Serpents Tongue. 
II. The Kinds. There is properly but One Species, 
which is fometimes miffhapen, and therefore are cal- 
led the Common and miffhapen : and differ only in 
one or two things : the latter has fometimes two or 
three ftalks, and fometimes but one ftalk •, and fome- 
times two or three Crooked Tongues. 
III. The Defcription. The Root is ftnall and Fi- 
brous, abiding under Ground all Winter, from which 
rifles up but one leaf, which with the ftalk, arifes 
not above jive or fix Inches from the Ground, being 
flat or thick , and of a frefh green colour , not much 
unlike inform to the head of a broad Javelin, or ra- 
ther the leaves of Water Plant ane, but leffer, with- 
out any middle rib in it : from the bofom or bottom 
of which leaf, on the infide, rifles up ordinarily one 
fmalh fender ftalk, about two or three, and fome- 
times four Inches long , the upper part of which is 
fomewhat bigger, and dented with fmall round dents, 
of a yellowifh green colour, much refembling an Ad- 
ders-Tongue (whence the name) which never fhews 
any other flower, and vanifhes away without yield- 
tag any Seed. 
IV. The P laces. It grows in tnoift Meadows in 
moft parts of England •, in the Meadows by Cole- 
brook in the Fields in Waltham-Forreft ■, in a Mea- 
dow near Barton , as you go from Oxford to Stow- 
Wood: in a Clofe near Botely on the Weft-fide of 
Oxford •, and in many Meadows in Kent, Sujfex and 
Surrey, as alfo near London, and feveral other parts 
of this Kingdom. 
V. The Times. It is in its Prime in April and 
May, and flourifhes fometimes till the beginning of 
June : but a little heat quickly makes it vanifh. 
VI. The Qualities. It is hot in the firft degree, 
and dry in the fecond degree. It is Cleanfing, Altrin- 
gent, Sarcotick, and Traumatick, or Vulnerary ^ by 
appropriation, it is Arthritick and Hepatick. It 
is alfo an Alterative, and Antifebritick. 
VII. The Specification. It is Vulnerary, good to 
heal Wounds, broken Bones and Ruptures. Mr. Ray 
faith , that Baptifta Sardus affirms that the Pouder 
of the Herb, being given Inwardly for fome time, 
will Cure all Ruptures whatfoever. And Mat thiol us 
in his Epitome fays, that the frefh leaves being 
applied, not only heal Wounds after a wonderful 
manner, but alfo Cure Ruptures, Burnings and Scald- 
ings. 
VIII. The Preparations. There are no Preparati- 
ons of it kept in the Shops : but if you pleafe you 
& may 
