Chap. 656. Englijh Herbs. 
1 
081 
Warts, Corns, and other Excrefcencies, it takes 
them away. And mixed with a fufficient quan- 
tity of Honey, it is good to clear the fight, help 
dimnels of the Eyes, watering and running of them, 
and to take away Films or Scars growing in them, 
The Juice is made by beating in a Mortar and Ex- 
prefling it * but Diofcorides fhews us another way 
of doing it : Thus. Beat the Roots, and put 
them into a Veflel full of water, ftirring or beat- 
ing them well therein, and with a feather gather 
the uppermoft upon the Water, which being dryed 
and kept, ferves for the ufes aforefaid, and for 
thofe which have the Dropfy. 
XVII. 'Pills of Efula. Take the Root prepared 
by feeping a night and day in White Wine Vinegar , 
reduced to Pouder , an Ounce : Aloes two Ounces : 
Ala (lick 2 Drains : all being in Pouder make them 
up into Pills with Fennel Water. Dole from a 
Scruple to 2 Scruples. Tragus fays, thefe Pills 
are good againlt the Dropfy, and fuch as are 
fhort winded, and may be taken without pain or 
danger. 
XVIII. The Di filled Water of the whole Plant. 
It makes a good Wafli againlt Tanning, Sunburn- 
ing, Yellownefs, Freckles, Lentils, Scurff, Mor- 
phew, and all other kinds of difcolorings and de- 
formities of the Skin, it being wafht therewith 
3 or 4 times a day -, the Pores of the Skin be- 
ing firft opened, by walhing with warm Water. 
It may be made much more potent, if a little of 
the juice be added thereto. 
XIX. The Pouder of the Seed and Leaves. 
They are firft to be prepared by fteeping them 
in ftrong White Wine Vinegar, then drying them, 
and afterwards reducing them to Pouder by beat- 
ing. Diofcorides fays, the Pouder may be given 
to 3 Drams * but in our Climate, if it is given 
from half a Dram to a Dram it will be Dofe 
large enough. It is given againft the Dropfy and 
Gout. 
XX. The Extrattum EfuU Rulandi. It has 
all the former Virtues* and may be given from 
a Scruple to Dram, with fat Broth, according 
to Age and Strength. With this Rulandus did 
wonders, and almoft incredible Cures in the molt 
rebellious, inveterate, and deplorable Difeafes. 
CHAP. DCLVI. 
Of SPURGE Gnat, 
O R, 
PALMA CHRIST I. 
1 . nr 'HE Names. It is called by the Arabians, 
A Cberva, and Kerva in Greek, Klu» k^’m, 
Cici and Croton, i Crotonis five R icim animalis 
Jimilitudine, quod refert femen: Arias Montanas 
in his Commentary upon Jonas Cap. 4. fays, that 
this Plant is fignified by the Hebrew word Kikojon, 
tho’ in our Bibles it is tranflated a Gourd. In 
Latine Ricinus, Raima Chrifti, Cataputia major , 
Granum Regium by Mcfues ; and by fome, Tenia- 
datlylus. In Englilh, The Great Spurge, and 
Raima Cbrijli. 
II. The Kinds. There are feveral forts of this 
Plant, but the chief are, 1. Ricinus, Cataputia 
major vulgatior. , Raima Cthnjli , The more Com- 
mon Great Spurge, o r vulgar Palma Chrifti. Put 
the Seed of this Plant is for the moll part called 
Cataputia major ; and by fome Ficus inferna/is ■ 
and its Oil in the Shops is called Oleum deCherva 
and by fomp, Oleum Cicinum. 7. Ricinus minor 
Raima Chrifti minor. The lefler Species of the’ 
grear Spurge, or Palma Chrifti : the Seed of this 
wmch Rarkmfon firft faw, he fays came from 
Bermudas, where they made Oil thereof. 3. Ri- 
cinus Americanus, Curcas Indorum, The Am-rican 
.great Spurge, or Palma Chrifti. 
The Defcriptions. 
tt ’ I II. J e more Common Great Spurge or 
Vulgar Palma Chrifti. I ,s Root conjifts of long 
and great firings and /mail fibres, which with us 
perfti quickly after it has felt the firft Frolis 
and muft be jet new every year by fuch as will 
have it, but abides all Winter in Warm Countries 
which have no Vroft. This great Spurge /prints 
up in our Country , to be Eight and Jometimes Nine 
or Ten feet high, with a hollow Stem, as big al- 
moft as our Ordinary Canes, of a brownijh color 
with an Eye of blew hoarinefs upon it. The 
Leaves which Jiand upon the Stem, and upon the 
branches it fends forth every one feveraUy on all 
Jidcs upon long Foot folks, are very broad or large. 
Spurge great common : or Palma 
Cbrijli. 
and divided into ; 7 , 8, or 9 parts or diviftons 
( rSi e I en h" g A hi: c hm i “ ■ wi,h ,he $*£"* 
Phe L TA °f“p rk ° r deep green color on 
‘beupperfiie, and of a whitifh green underneath. 
are ? an y round buttons, /hooting 
forth together, and Jiand all along upon a long 
6 Y Stalk, 
