Chap. 605. 
( /j Herb, 
cond or Great Spanifh Kind, that they can fcarcely 
be known af under ; but that this is jul/er of Stalks 
and Leaves. The Flowers at the tops of the Branch- 
es, are at firjl of a pale blujh color • but being blown 
open, confifl of five white Leaves ; and a great num- 
ber of while Threads in the noddle tipprwith 
yellow. 
IX. The fifth, or Teller purple Virginia Medow 
Rue. This Is in almofi all ref pelfs much like the for- 
mer, but J. mailer ; and differs mojl in the color of its 
Flowers, which in this are of a purple colot: tipt 
with yellow. 
X. The Places. The firft grows in many 
places in England, in the borders of moift and 
plalhy Medows and by Ditch lides. The fe- 
cond is alfo found in our moift Medows and 
by Ditch fides but near the Sea , as at Margate 
on the Chalkcy Clift on the left Hand, as you 
go from the Town to the Sea fide, and in other 
places farther from the Sea. But this grows alfo 
in Spain, from whence it has been brought to us, 
whence came the Name of Spanifh Medow Rue, 
but is truly a Native alfo of England. "The fifth 
grows alfo in lower Grounds by River fides. All 
thefe Gerard fays grow along Ditch fides leading 
from Kentijh Street to St. Thomas Waterings, (the 
place of Execution) on the right Hand. They grow 
alfo upon the Banks of the Thames leading from 
Black-wall to Woolwich, near London , and in feve- 
ral other places. The two lalt came to us from 
Virginia. 
XI. The Timet. They all Flower in the Months 
of July and AuguJI -, and the Cods of Seed are 
ripe in fome Ihort time after. 
XII. The Qualities. It is hot and dry in the 
fecond Degree, is Ablterfive, Aperitive, and gently 
Cathartick or Soluble. 
XIII. The Specification. It is ufed to cure the 
Plague or Pellilence, and the Yellow Jaundice : and 
is profitable for fuch as have the Falling-ficknefs. 
XIV. The Preparations. There is, 1. The herb 
it fielj, ufed as a Pot lleitb. 2. A Juice or Effence. 
3. A Decotlion of Roots or Leaves in Ale. 4. A 
Decotlion of the fame in Water. ;. A Cataplafm 
of the Leaves. 6 . A Ddhlled Water. 7. An Acid 
Tinilure of Roots, Leaves , and Flowers. 8. A 
Saline Tinilure of the Roots. 
The Virtues. 
XV. The F refit herb and Roots. They are com- 
monly ufed as Pot-Herbs , with other Herbs; and 
if they are put in plentifully, they gently purge 
the Belly, and provoke to Stool; but the Roots 
more than the Leaves. 
XVI. The Juice or Effence of the Roots and 
Leaves. They open ObftruGions of the Vtfcera, 
and cleanfe : and being taken from 2 Spoonfuls to 
4 or 5 , or more , they very pleafantly and eafily 
purge and cleanfe the Belly of thiak , clammy and 
grois Humors. They are profitably given againft 
the Plaguy.'jnd all other malign, contagious, and 
peltilenrial Diltempers. In Saxonie the Juice is ufed 
agnitfft the Jaundice-, it is indeed profitable in that 
Cure , if fome Antimonial Emerick be given once or 
twice beforehand. Lttgdunenfis in transferring the 
Name Pigamum to Medow Rue, does therewith 
aferibe to it a Virtue proper to Rue, as if it did 
belong to this , viz. that it raifes or reftores him 
out of his Fit, that is troubled with the EpHepfic 
or Falling Sicknefs , if fome of the Juice of it be 
put up into his Noftrils, and kept there a while. 
97 'j 
XVII. The decotlion of the Roots or Leaves in 
Ale. Being drank pretty largely , it provokes to 
Stool and gently purges; but th e Decotlion of the 
Roots is more powerful tljan that of the Leaves ■ 
and carries off much of the Morbifick Matter of 
the Jaundice and Epilepfie. 
XVIII. The Decotlion of the Roots or Leaves in 
Water Being walhed upon the places troubled 
with Vermine or Lice, whileft it is very warm it is 
find perfeGly ro deftroy them; befides it drys up 
““Sores, and moift running Scabs, the places 
effected being bathed therewith very hot, 2 or 3 
times a Day or more, for near half an Hour at a 
time ; it warms, comforts, loolens, and opens the 
Fores of the Scabs, Ulcers,, and Flelh, as alfo the 
Skin adjacent thereto, and powerfully attraQs and 
and draws forth the Virulent and Morbifick 
Matter. 
XIX. The Cataplafm of the Leavls. It is made 
by beating them in a Mortar frelh and green- and 
fo applied to old Sores it brings them to cicatrizing 
and does perfeGly cure old Ulcers, as Diofcohdcs 
lays; and Galen fays, it dryes without any heat or 
Iharpnefs. 
XX. The Diflilled Wattor of the Roots, Leaves 
and Flowers. It has the Virtues of the Juice ' 
Effence, Decotlion, and Cataplafm ; but is not fo 
powerful in its efteGs: but if a little Nitre be dif- 
lolved in it, it becomes a good Cofmctick. 
XXL The Acid Tinilure of Roots, Leaves, and 
Flowers. It has all the Virtues of the Juice and 
FJJence-, and a Specifick againft the Plague or 
Feltilence, and all forts of malign and pc-ftilential 
Diltempers. Dofe4o, jo, or 60 Drops in all that 
the Patient drinks , as alfo in all his Broth or 
Spoonmeat, except it is made of Milk. 
XXII. The Saline TinOure of the fame. It is 
very Abfterfive, and a great cleanfe of the Flelh 
and Skin from Pimples, Pufhes, Tertars, Ring- 
worms, Scabs, Itch, running Sores, ScurfF, Mor-‘ 
phew, and other breakings out, and withall kills 
Lice, and other Vermine , to which the Patient is 
SubjeG, being ufed very hot 2 or a times a Day 
and for fome confiderable time , as nearly half an 
Hour, every time it is ufed ; ir opens the Pores of 
the Flelh and Skin, and draws forth powerfully the 
Purulent and Morbifick Particles of the fame. 
CHAP. DCVI. 
R U E - 
L r | ' H E Names. The Greeks knew nothing 
JL hereof; the Latines call it Galega , Rut a 
Capraria, alfo Herba Gallica, as F racaftorius does : 
in I.nglifh it is called Goats-Rue. 
II. the Kinds. Thofe which Authors have 
chiefly taken notice are thefe two, r. Galega vel 
Ruta Capraria Vulgaris , Our common Goats-Rue. 
2. Galega Monlan^ugdunenfis, Mountain Goats- 
Rue. 
* 1 
n 
lift 
