Chap. 95. 'Englijh Herbs. 129 
of Borage , but efpecially with thofe of Vipers Bug- 
Infs, of which we treat in Chap. 9;. next follow- 
ing. 
CHAP. XCV. 
O/BUCLOSS Vipers. 
I. ' I ' H E Names. It is called in Greek , 
-I- ’AtjugiaAor, £ ’Aa Kigi.v ; and ill Latin , Echi- 
um , Alcibiadion , Alcibwn , & 1 Alcibiacum. , ( from the 
firft finder of it out, who being bitten by a Viper, 
and gathering this Herb, and chewing it, and fwal- 
lowing down the Juice, and applying the reft of 
the Herb to the bitten place, was cured thereby ) 
it is alfo called Bugloffum Viperitmm , and Sylvejtre 
Vtperinum , as fome fay, from the effects of the 
Roots in curing the bitings of Serpents ; but as 
others fay, from the color of the Stalks which are 
fpeckled like a Serpents, skin : In Englijh Vipers 
Buglqfs. Apuleius faith, that the Greeks called it 
alfo Theriornzon , Radix Viperea ■, and 
■EjpW, from the form of the Seed, which, as Diof- 
coridcs fays, is like the Head of a Viper ; whence 
came the name Ecbium. 
II. The Kinds. Authors make twelve feveral 
■Kinds of Vipers Buglofs , of all which, two only 
are laid to grow with us, viz. "ev,„ Ecbium 
Vulgar e, Common Vipers Buglolsi a. 'Ew Mnh, 
Ecbium Vulgare flore albo , White flowered Vipers 
Buglofs. 
III. The Defcription. The firft of thefe has a 
l<oot which ufomewhat large andblackifh , and grows 
woody at the approach of Seedtime , periling in the 
inter : from whence Jprings forth many longer ough 
Leaves , lying on the ground, and from among which 
rjc up J ever al hard round Stalks , which are very 
rough, as if thick fet with prickles or prickly hairs, 
having many black j pots on them, not much unlike 
to the skin of a Viper, upon which grow fuch like 
long, rough , prickly or hairy green Leaves, fome - 
thing narrow, the middle rib being for the moji part 
white. The Viewers ft and at the tops of the Stalks, 
branched forth into many fpiked Leaves or Flowers 
bowing or turning like to the Turnfole, dll of them 
opening generally on the one fide, which are long and 
hollow, turning up the brims a little, of a purplijh 
violet color, where they are fully blown but more 
reddifh, where they are but yet in the Bud, or not 
blown open, as alfo when they are upon their decay 
and withering : but in fome places they are of a pa-> 
ler purple color, with a long Point el in the middle, 
feathered, or pointed at the top. The Flowers being 
fallen, the Seeds grow inclofed in round heads, which 
growing to be ripe, are blackifh, cornered, and point- 
ed fomething like to a Vipers Head. 
IV. The Second Kind differs not much in any 
thing from the former, fave that in fome places it 
grows larger, the Leaves are of a frefher green color , 
and the Flowers are wholly of a white color. 
V. The Places. The firft of thefe grows wild al- 
moft every where, and as Gerard fays, it is found 
in great abundance, where Alkanet grows. The fe- 
cond grows about the the Caftle Walls of Lewes 
in SuJJ'ex. 
VI. The Times. They flower in the Summer 
Months , as the other Bug Ioffes do, and their Seed 
comes to ripenefs in the mean feafon. 
VII. The Vitalities. They are temperate in refpe£t 
to heat or cold, and dry in the firft Degree : Ape- 
ritive, Abfterfive, and Traumatick, or Vulnerary •, 
Cephalick, Stomatick, Cordial and Neurotick * Al- 
terative and Alexipharmick. 
VIII. 1 he Specification. The Experiences of many 
Ages have proved them to be peculiar againft the 
Poifon and Malignity of Serpents, Vipers, and other 
Poifonous and Venomous Creatures. 
IX. The Preparations. You may make therefrom, 
1. A liquid Juice. 2. An E fence . 3. A Syrup < t 
4. A difilled Water. 7. A Tmtfure of the Flowers. 
6 . A Ponder of the Seed. 7. A Decoffion of the 
Root. 8. An Ointment or Ba/fam. 9. A Cataplafm 
of Roots or Leaves. 
The Virtues. 
X. The liquid Juice. The Juice of thefe Plants 
are wonderfully clammy and flimy, fo that it is 
hard to Exprefs the fame for which reafbn, after 
you have well beaten the Herb, you muft fet it 
clofe covered in a cold Cellar, or fome other cold 
and mout place, for two Days and Nights, and then 
prels forth the Juice in a Wooden prels : after 
which you may clarifie it with Whites of Eggs, 
beaten into Glair, and palled gently thro’ a thick 
Hippocras Bag. It is a famous thing againft the 
biting of the Viper, and of all other Serpents, or 
an 7 ^ c i er . .* en °mous Creature, and prevails alfo a- 
gamlt Poifon, and the Malignity of Poifonous Herbs. 
You may give five Or fix fpoonfuls at a time in a 
Glais of Wine, and repeat it as you fee Occa- 
hon. 
t TV Offence. It has all theWirtues of the 
Liquid Juice, befides which, it is an excellent thing 
againft the Plague or Peftilence, Spotted Fever, 
i urple, and all other Burning and Malign Fevers 
whatfoever. It is a molt admirable Traumatick or 
Vulnerary fo that fcarcely any of the Vulneraries 
or All-heals go beyond it. It comforts the Head, 
Brain and Nerves, ftrengthens and fortifies the 
bromach, and cheats the Heart admirably. Dole 
three or four fpoonfuls or more, two, three or four 
times a day, in a glafs of the Diftilled Water, or in 
a glafs of Wine, or fome other proper Vehicle. 
S XII. The 
