The herball or Generall historie of plantes. Gathered by Iohn Gerarde of London Master in Chirurgerie very much enlarged and amended by Thomas Iohnson citizen and apothecarye of London

¶ The Vertues.

The leaues draw forth by vomit, thicke phlegmaticke and cholericke humours, and withall [ A] moue the belly; and in this they are more forceable and of greater effect than the roots them∣selues.

They are thought to keepe in hard swelling cankers that they encrease not, or come to exulce∣ration, [ B] or creeping any farther, if they be outwardly applied vpon the same.

The roots are good against the stoppings of the liuer, gall, and spleene, against wens and hard [ C] swellings, and agues of long continuance: but being taken in the greater quantitie, they purge flegme and choler not much lesse than the leaues (though Galen say no) by vomit especially, and also by siege.

One dram of the pouder of the roots giuen to drinke in ale or wine, grossely beaten, prouoketh [ D] vomit for the purposes aforesaid; but being beaten into fine pouder, and so giuen, it purgeth very little by vomit, but worketh most by procuring much vrine; therefore the grosser the pouder is, so much the better.

But if the roots be infused or boyled, then must two, three, or foure drams be put to the infusi∣on; [ E] and of the leaues eight or nine be sufficient: the iuyce of which stamped with some liquid thing, is to be giuen. The roots may be steeped in wine, but more effectually in whay or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 water, as Mesues teacheth.

The same is good for them that are tormented with the Sciatica or gout in the huckle bones, [ F] for those that haue the dropsie, and for such also as are vexed with a quartaine ague, who are cured and made whole by vomiting.