1090 Salmons ‘Herbal. Lib. I. 
taken notice of are, 1. A.wv.ctJis, Daphncules, 
Laurcola , Quorum Nigrum Theophrflli Dodonto, | 
Out Common Spurge Laurel, a. XsfWefWH Jit, | 
ChanuedaphnoiJes , Laurcola Crtlica AJp'mi, Candy j 
Spurge Laurel. 
The Descriptions. I 
III. The firft, or Our Common Spurge Laurel. 
I/r Roar ^roror clean Jeep into the Ground, and 
Spreads alfo abroad with tough, long, white firings, 
fomething woody. It rijes up uj. unity with bat one 
Stent, a joot and half, or two feet high, yet feme- 
times with more , which are very tough and pliant, 
covered whlh a whitijb, thick, lough bark, branch- 
ing forth into jevcral Arm towards the Tops, on 
which are Jet many long, fmooth, thick, fomemhat 
broad and Shining dark green Leaves, fomething 
like to very fmall Day Leaves, but longer, fmoolh- 
er. Softer, and not with hard Veins therein as Bay 
Spurge Laurel. 
Leaves have. The flowers come forth towards the Tops 
of the Stalks and Branches, and at the Joints with 
the Leaves, many fet together, which are Some- 
thing long and hollow, ending or Spreading into 
fur fmall Leaves, of a whitijb, yellow green 
color. After which come fmall , round and Some- 
thing long black Berries when they are ripe, in 
which lies a white Kernel. Both Leaf and blower, 
alfo Bark and Root , are very hot and Jharp in 
Tape, heating and burning the Mouth and Throat 
of fitch as Tafle them. It keeps its green Leaves 
alfo, without fledding, all the Winter. 
IV. Gerard deferibes ir after this manner. Its 
Root is woody, tough , long, and dtverfly parted. 
growing Jeep into the Earth. It is a Shrub of a 
Cubit height, and Sometimes two or three feet high 
Spreading it felf out into many little boughs, 
which are tough and pliant , and covered with a 
thick R inde. The Leaves are long, broad, goofs 
Smooth, and of a blackijh green, Jhimng like La trel 
or Bay Leaves, but leper, thicker, and without 
fmell, very many at the Top eluj-ering together. 
The flowers are long, hollow , of a whitijb green 
color, hanging beneath and among the Leaves. 
The Berries when they are ripe , are black, with 
a hard Kernel within , which is a little longer 
than the Seed of Hemp, whofc pu/p or inner Jub- 
ilance is White. The Leaves, fruit and Bark, 
as well of the Root as of the Stalks and Branches, 
do by their Jharpnefs and burning quality. Bite 
and Inflame the Tongue and Throat. 
V. The fecond, or Candy Spurge Laurel. Its 
Root is white, fmall and crooked-, from whence 
fpring up three or four Crooked and bending 
blackijh Stalks, thick fet with I eaves without any 
order, covering them almoft wholly, which are long 
and j mall towards the bottoms, but broader to- 
wards the ends, being thick and hard, green above, 
and grayijh underneath, Tafling very hot , and 
burning very vehemently both Mouth and Throat. 
Ihe fruit is very hot alfo like the former, and the 
whole ¥ lant of low growth. 
VI. The Places. The firft grows Wild in many 
foreign Countries, as well as in many parts of 
England ; but being brought into Gardens, it will 
abide and fiourifh very well there: but it is 
faid to grow abundantly in the Woods in moil 
parts of this Kjngdom. The fecond was brought 
to us out of Caniia, and profpers well enough 
with us. 
VII. The Times. The firft flowers very early 
in the Year, even upon the Winter Tropick thro’ 
all December, January and F ebruary, if the Winter 
is mild : and the Fruit is ripe in May, and June ; 
and the Plant is always green, enduring the cold- 
eft Seafons in Winter. The other Flowers more 
early in its Native Clime , but fomething later 
with us. 
VIII. The Qualities, Specification , Preparations , 
and Virtues of Spurge Laurel are the lame with 
Spurge Olive , or Mezereon in Chap. 657. afore- 
going, to which you are referred: but a few other 
Obfervations Authors have made thereon: viz. 
IX. The Green Leaves. Being chewed in the 
Mouth, they attraH: or draw much fiegm and 
humors from the Head, Brain, and Eyes, which 
offend and hurt thofe parts. 
X. The DecoHion of the Green Leaves. It 
purges Pituitous and watery humors by Stool 
cleanfes alfo the Stomach by Vomit, if Foul, and 
provokes the Terms in Women when Stopt. 
XI. The Ponder of the Leaves. It may be gi- 
ven from a Scruple to a Dram in broth. Diofco- 
rides fays, it evacuates watery humors from the 
whole body, and has all the Virtues of the Deco- 
£tion aforegoing ^ and as a Sternutatory purges 
the Head by Sneezing. 
XII. The Berries or Grains. They are given 
to 15 Grains (more or lefs) as alfo the Pouder 
of the Leaves by Empyrical Phyficians, to purge 
with, and to evacuate watery humors in a Drop- 
lie, and that with good fuccefs, as alfo to eafe 
the Pains of the Colick. 
XIII. The Decoded Oil. The Berries or Leaves 
boiled in frelh Oil Olive, or Oil of Bitter Al- 
monds, and the Belly being anointed therewith, 
it gives eafe in the Colick. Anointed on the 
Reins of the Back, and on the Hemorrhoids or 
Piles, 
