Chap. 348* HngUJh Herb j 
Hard Black Hellebor Fennel Leav’d 
laft in Chaj). 350, following. 
Hellei 
of which three 
'BlacK 
IV. The Defcription. The fji, or True Black 
Hellebor, called Chrifliras Flover. It has a Root 
which con/ft s of a great numbtb of brownifh black 
Strings , which run down jeep into the Ground , and 
are fajined to a thick he:d , of ihe bignefs of ones 
f inger , growing fmallerfom its top or head down- 
wards ; I rent this Root fife leveral lair green Leaves, 
each of them Handing upn a thick , round , ffiff ’ 
green Stalk , about a Had breadth high from the 
Ground, divided into fever, eight, or nine parts, or 
Leaves, and each of them Diked or dented from the 
middle of the Leaf to the pintward on both fides, 
abiding green all the Winti, a t which time the 
Flowers rife on the like ihoi Stalks as the Leaves 
grow on , without any Leafthereon for the moil 
part, yet fometimes having .fmall, (hort, pale 
green Leaf, refembling rather iSkin than a Leaf, 
a little under the Flower, and gi TO but little higher 
than the Leaves ; each Stalk aifi bears ufually but 
one Flower, very rarely two, conifing of five large, 
round, white Leaves apiece, like feto a great lingle 
White Rofe, chancing fometimes , be either daiht 
with a Purple about the edges, or tbe wholly Pur- 
ple , without any White in them , as the Seafon , 
Weather, or time of continuance doe contribute to 
effed the fame ; this Flower has mat p a [ e yellow 
Thrums in the middle. Handing about g reen Head, 
which afterwards grows to be the Set VelTel , di- 
vided into feveral Cells or Pods, like up a Colum- 
bine Head, or Aconitum Hymeale , buirteater and 
thicker , in which is contained fomewh, long and 
round blackilh Seed, like to the Seeds of e Bajlard 
Kinds , or Bears-fcOts. 
V. The Places. It glows in Greece , ID, 'Eng- 
land^ frame , and Germany , in many places ' thofe 
Countries, as alfo in Anticyra , an Illand overiaj n ft 
the Hill Oct a in Theffaly , where it is laid titow 
in an extraordinary plenty , whence came thpro- 
verb (fpeaking to a Melancholy or Mad Man, , t o 
495 
his Cure) Naviga ad Anticyras ; hut with us in Eng- 
land it only grows in Gardens. 
VI. The Times. It Flowers in December , and 
January , it the Seafon or Weather be any thins 
temperate, if the Air is mild and warm, it general 
ly Flowers about Chriflmas time, from whence with 
us “rathe Name of Chriftnus Flower. 
11. The Qualities. It is hot and drv in the third 
degree, Aperitive, Abfterfive, Cofmetick, Hepaiick 
Splenetick, Arthritick, Cathartick, F.metick, and if 
given by an uhskilful Hand JW3 ei&, or Venefick, 
luai- j , Specification. It is peculiar againit 
Madnels and Melancholy, Quartan Agues, Scabbi- 
nels, and Leprohe, kills Worms, and cures the Kings- 
iv T-? P ” e ’ Yello ' v Jaundice, and Gout. 
t/" 1 ^ rc P ;n " :t ions. You may have therefrom, 
"r [' le T>y‘ ,d fntce of the Leaves. 2. An Effcnce 
0} the fame. 5. An Infu/on or D ecottion of the green 
Leave* 4. An htfujion or DecoSion of the Root. 
A Syrup. 6 . A Ponder of the Leaves or Root. 
' A Set on of the Root. 8. An Ext rail of the Root. 
9* A rejjary of the Root. 10. A Lotion of Herb or 
,/■ 11 An Ointment of the Herb. 12. A Diflil- 
lei Water of the Green Herb. it. An Acid Tm- 
llureoj Herb or Root. 14. A Spirituous TmlUire. 
15. An Oily Tmlture. 1 6 . A Saline Tmliure, 
The Virtues. 
f X ' 3 “ ,ce °f ,he Leaves. It is ufed 
tor molt Difeaies in which White Hellebor is avail- 
able, but it is nothing fo violent or dangerous-, the 
Juice ot the Leaves made up with Flower inro filial! 
Cakes and baked , has been ufed to good purnofe 
a S?. ln i! : 4 h e Dropfie, Jaundice, Cachexia, and other 
evil difpofmons of Liver, Spleen, and Gall; it mav 
be given from half a Dram to two Drams, according 
to Strength and Age. ‘ ° 
, X j' J h f It is ufed to open and purge 
the Body in feveral Cafes (as well as the Extrad of 
the Roots) and is of great ufe and effeds againit all 
Melancholy Dlfeafes, long and tedious Agues as 
the Quartan, and the like; it eafes the Megrim and 
Cephaka, or old Inveterate Headach , Yellow and 
Black Jaundice, Leprofie, Falling-Sicknefs C011- 
iumption, either of the Lungs or whole Body, pains 
of the Belly, Sciatica, Cramps, Convulfions, or 
mnnking of the Nerves, as alfo all other Griefs and 
Pains of the Joints or Nerves, as Gout, Inflammati- 
on, and the like, it being taken Morning and Even- 
ing, half a Dram at a time, in any convenient Vo 
hide, always increaiing or diminilhing the Dole 
according to the Age and Strength of the Patient’ 
and as you find it by oblervation to work. 
XII. The Infu/on or Dccctlion. It may be made 
with Water (if for hot ■ Difeafes) or Wine (if for 
cold Diltempers) but Authors advife, that tbe Herb 
or Root be firlt correded, by Keeping it in Vinegar, 
(becaufe of its dangerous and obnoxious Qualities) 
a day and a night, and then dryed again j yet out 
Englifh Kind items not to be fo violent as that which 
grows in hotter Countries, nor has it fiich a violent 
operation in working, tor which reafon that previ- 
ous corredion of it may be torborn; thefe have all 
the Virtues of the Juice and Effence, but work with 
more moderation, and are much fafer to be taken 
and may be ufed in all the Cafes aforenamed. Dole 
from half an Ounce to two, three , or four Ounces 
according to Age, Lfc. 
XIII. An Infu/on or Decollion of the Root. It has 
all the Virtues ot thole of the Leaves, but it yet 
operates more moderately, and therefore is the more 
fife to be taken; Country People give the Infulion 
or Decoft ion ot either Leaves or Roots to kill 
Worms in Children, 1 confefs they may be given to 
filch 
