CHAP. LXVII. 
B I FOIL, jrTW A-B LADE. 
I.' I ' H E Names. It Was not known to the Greeks, 
X unlefs the 'Of ids of I* liny be it, which fome 
Hetborifts believe, and therefore call this Plant by 
that name : in Latin it is alfo called Ophris and 
Bifoliim and in Englijh , Bifoil or Twab/dde. 
II. The Kinds. There are two Kinds thereof, viz. 
I. Ophris feu Bifolium, fylvejlre vit/gare , Common 
Wood Bifoil or Twablade. 2. Bifolium Paluftre. 
Ahirjh Bifoil. 
III. The Defcription. It has a Root fomewhat 
fweet, with a head or top fomevibat thick (which 
fome call a Bulbe ) J, booting marry long Fibres down- 
wards, from which Root rifes up a round green 
Stalk, bare or naked next to the ground, for an Inch 
two, or three, to the middle thereof, as the Riant k 
in age and growth, as alfo from the middle upwards 
unto the Flowers , having only two broad and Jhort 
ribb’d pale green or hoary Leaves, very like unto 
Flantane leaves, but whiter , and fet at the middle 
of the Stalk, one on each fide, and encompa jjing it at 
bottom : fometimes it will have three leaves, but k 
more rare and this fome account to be a different 
fort, but is rather to be looked upon to be lufus Na- 
tural, in ground which abounds with too much nourijh- 
ment, the which happens alfo to many other Plants ; 
( as in Herb Paris, which has fometimes five, fix or 
feyen leaves, and fometimes it wants a leaf of its or- 
dinary number being but four, and in common Pre- 
foil, which ufually has but three leaves, yet often- 
times four are found uponfeveral Stalks, 8tc. ) the 
Flowers at top of the Stalks, are mafpikedhead,and 
they are many, f mall, long, whit iff green, and almofl 
Jhapelejs bodies, fomewbat like unto fome of the Or- 
chides or Vulgar Satyrions : thefe pa/fing away there 
remains f mall heads, with a kind of dull in them 
which is accounted to be the Seed. 
I\ . The Marfh Bitoil has a Root which runs or 
cr f e r j s i , Ir: *be Earth, and the whole plant is Jo lit- 
tle differing from the former, that the diff erences 
Dace Jcarcely been obferved, whereby feveral have 
been deceived in their judgments ■, but in thefe fol- 
lowing particulars it is dijlinguijhed , i. In its Site oh 
place of growing. 2. In thefmallnefsof the Plant, this 
being much lefier, and having fometimes three leaves 
aljo. 3. In the Greennefs , the other being of a more 
hoary White. 4. In the J pike of Flowers, which ah 
though of the fame fafinon or colour, or very near, 
yet are left by far. ’ 
V. The Places. The foil ufually grows in Woods or 
kopjes, and fuchlike fhady places, as between High 
■f ?! e and Hamftead, alfo at Southfieet in Kent ; in a 
Wood by Lcngfield Downs : in the Woods by Oven- 
Aw near to Clare in Effex ; as alfo in the Woods 
by Dunmow in Effex. The other grows not only in 
the low wet grounds between Hatfield and St. Ah 
bans but alfo in divers places in Rumney Marfh. 
VI. The Times. They Power for the moft part in 
May, and fo continue to the middle or end of June, 
and then wholly wither away, and ate gone in 
July. 
c ,l ' They are Tempetate in thelf 
nrlt qualities, Glutinative and Vulnerary i Neuro* 
tick, Arthritick, and Alterative. 
VIII. The Specification. They are Adapted fof 
the Cure of Green Wounds. 
IX. The Preparations. Thefe may be made frOril 
it: 1. A liquid Juice. 2 . An Effence. 3. A De* 
coawn m Wine. 4. A Pouder. 5. An Ointment, 
6 . A Balfam. 7. A Cataplafm. 
The Virtues. 
X- Jbe liquid Juice. If mixt with Nitte, It at« 
lays Inflamarions ; and gives eafe in the Gout s fo 
alfo if mixed with Vinegar. 
^ ' s Glutinous, and heals 
Wounds ( if umple ) by walhing them therewith} 
more elpectally if at time of ufing, it is mixed with 
a thud part of Wine, or Spirit of Wine: it prevails 
alfo againlt Ruptures. 
XII. The DecoSion. It is of admirable ufe in di- 
lacerated Contulions, for it draws forth the fcar- 
tered and hruifed Blood, cleanfes the Wound, and 
dilboies it to healing. 
XIII. The pouder of the Leaves. It difpofes green 
wounds to healing, drys and heals. 
XIV- Tpe Ointment. It foftens, gives eafe in pain, 
and cleanfes W ounds without any iharpnefs, whe- 
ther new or old : and is of good ufe in Ruptures. 
A\. 1 he Balfam. It cutes all fimple wounds 
commonly at one drefling, and if they be eontulei 
and dilacetated, it digells them, cleanfes them, and 
a vifT 1 ^™ ra W e manner fpeedily heals them, 
XVI. The Cataplafm. It difculfes foft Tumors, 
and Contufions, where the skin is not broken: and 
a PP' ,ed - u P°" an old open Ulcer, caufes a reparation 
of the Stuff from the quick fiefh, and difpoles it for 
healing, to be accomplifhed by other proper Me* 
dicines. 
CHAP. LXVIII. 
BIND-WEED Common. 
