Chap. 3 1 6 . 
ID 
42 
majus, Scordotis Plinii, Scordium alterum , Scordotis 
legitimum Plinii , The Greater Scordium, having 
Leaves almoft as large as Baivm. I know that jfo/;/?- 
fon and Parkinfon will fcarcely allow of this Greater 
kind , and make no Difference between them, but 
only in refpeCt to the place of its Growth, making 
it to be either Greater or Leffer , according as the 
Soil is either richer and fatter, or poorer and more 
lean •, but doubtlefs they were miftaken , for the 
two differing Species are manifeft. 
III. The Defcriptions. The fir ft, which i-s the 
Smaller kind, and is the True Scordium or Water 
Germander, has a J. mall Root , full of white Strings 
or Fibres, Spreading in the Ground , and creeping 
round about ■, from whence fhoot forth fever al weak. , 
Square , hairy Branches , which take Root in fever al 
places , ns they lye , and fpread by which means it 
much cncreafes. Upon thefe Stalks or Branches 
grow many Leaves, two always at a Joint, which 
are fomething larger and longer than the Leaves of 
Garden Germander , of a fad or dark green color, 
whereon there is yet a fhew of Hoarinefs, fomewhat 
foft in handling, full of Veins, and dented about 
the edges, of a Scent fomewhat ftrong, and refemb- 
ling Gar lick , whence came the Greek and Latin 
Name. The Flowers are fmall, red and gaping, or 
of a purple color, like the Flowers of dead Nettles, 
and ftand at the Joints with the Leaves, towards the 
tops of the Branches. 
Water Germander the Greater. 
IV. The fecond , or Greater Scordium, or Water 
Germander, has a fmall long Root , and very fibrous, 
creeping deep into the Ground , and far about, abiding 
long, and not perifhing every Tear -, from which ma- 
ny fquare, white, hairy Stalks or Branches Spring 
forth, fome rifing up higher , and others dwarf like, 
keeping nearer the Ground. Upon thefe Stalks or 
Branches grow Leaves, two at a Joint, broader and 
rounder than the former Scordium, and all of a hoa- 
ry white, being fomewhat like unto the Leaves of ( 
Horehound or Water Mint, and almoft as large as 
thofe of Bazvm. From the middle of the Stalks up- 
wards, towards their tops, come forth the Flowers, 
ftanding as it were in a long fpiky Head, with 
Leaves at the bottoms of Husks or Ihort Foot-ftalks. 
Thefe Flowers are of a pale purplilh color, almoft 
white, like unto Horehound , gaping, and very like 
to thofe of dead Nettles -, which being pafled away* 
there follows fmall, round, black Seed. The whole 
Plant fmells of Garlick as much as the former, or 
True Scordium -, and thereby it is known to be of 
the kind, tho’ the Leaves, by being larger, do fome- 
what differ:. 
V. The Places. The hrft grows in many wet 
Grounds, and by Water-fides in many places of 
England. Diofcorides fays, That it grows as well 
on Hills as by Water-fides 5 and it will flourilh well, 
if it is tranfplanted into a Garden : Gamer amts lays. 
That it is found to be Itronger and 1 harper which 
grows on high Grounds, than that which grows on 
low and moift places. It grows near to Oxenford, 
. by Ruley , on both fides of the Water •, and in a 
Meadow by Abington, called Neitford : alfo in 
great plenty in the Ifle of Ely, and in a Meadow by 
Harwood in Lancajhire, and in feveral other places. 
The other grows alfo in low and moift places, but 
is not lb generally to be found as the hrft is : in 
Candia the People gather it promifcuoufly with the 
firft fort. 
VI. The Times. They flower in June, July and 
Auguft, in which Months it is belt to gather it and 
keep it dry : it perilhes not in Winter^ but only 
loofes the Stalks, the Root fending up trelh again 
in Summer. 
VII. The Qualities. Germander is hot and dry in 
the fecond Degree : it is Aperitive, Abfterfivc, A- 
ftringent, Carminative, Digeftive, Diuretick, Ano- 
dyne and Traumatick ^ Cephalick, Neurotick, Sto- 
matick, Cordial, Hepatick, Nephritick, Sudorifick 
and Alexipharmick. 
VIII. The Specification. It is a counter Poifon a- 
gainlt all Poilbns and Infections of Contagious and 
Epidemick Difeafes, as Stingings or Bitings of Ser- 
pents, mad Dogs, Gfc. all forts of malign Fevers, 
the Meafles, Small-Pox, Purples, Spotted Fever 
and Calenture, as alfo the Plague or Peitilence it 
felf : it is an efpecial Help againft the Strangury, 
and provokes the Terms in Women. 
IX. The Preparations. You inay prepare here- 
of, viz. 1. A liquid Juice. 2. An Ejjence. 3. An 
Infufion in Wine , or Deco ff ion. 4. A Syrup. 5. 
A Pouder. 6. An Ele binary. 7. Biafcordium. 8. 
An Ointment or Balfam. 9. A Cataplafm. 10. ff 
di filled Water. 11. ff Spirituous Tincture. 12. 
An Acid Tincture. 13. An Oily Tintlure. 14. ff 
Spirit. 17. An Elixir. The Herb is only ufed. 
The Virtues. 
X. The liquid Juice \ It is a little fharp and pe- 
netrating, and fo is effectual to provoke Urine, and 
give eale in the Strangury. It opens ObftruCtions 
of the Womb, and provokes the Terms in Women, 
facilitates the Birth, and brings away the After-birth. 
It is good againft the Bitings or Stinging of Vipers, 
Rattle Snakes, and other Serpents, mad Dogs, Scor- 
pions, Hornets, Gf c. and refills all other deadly P01- 
fons. Dofe two, three or four Spoonfuls in the di- 
ftilled Water of the fame, or in any other fit or pro- 
per Vehicle, Morning and Night, to be continued 
for fome time. 
XI. The Ejfence. It has all the former Virtues, 
and may be given in like manner in the lame Dofe : 
and as it is a counter Poifon, fo it refills all conta- 
gious 
