The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome

CHAP. VI.

¶ Of cut Leekes or Porret: of bolled Leeks: and of Garlicke. [unspec L]

POrret, otherwise called Cut-Leekes or vnset Leeks, stancheth bleeding at the nose, in case it be stamped and put vp close into the nosethrils, or otherwise mingled with the pouder of the Gall-nut, or Mints. Moreouer, Porret staieth the immoderat shift or fluxe of bloud, that follows women vpon a slip or abortiue birth, if the juice thereof be drunk in breast-milke. In the same manner it helps an old cough and al other diseases of breast and lungs. Burnes and sealdings are healed with a liniment made of Porret or Leek blades: likewise the Epinyctides, for so in this place I tearme that vlcer, which in the lachrymal or corner of the eie runneth and watereth continually: some call it Syce, that is to say, a fig. And yet others there be who vnder∣stand by that word [Epinyctides] the blackish or blew blistring wheals, the bloudy fals I mean [unspec M] and angrie chilblanes, that in the night disquiet and trouble folk that haue them. But to come againe to our Porret: the blades thereof stamped and laid too, with Honie, healeth all sores and vlcers whatsoeuer. The biting of any venomous beast, the sting also of Serpents, are cured therwith. As for the impediments of the hearing and the ears, they be remedied with the juice

of Leeks and Goats gall, or els a like quantitie of honied wine instilled thereinto. And as for [unspec A] the whistlings or crashing noises that a man shall heare within head otherwhiles, they are dis∣cussed with the iuice of Leeks and womans milk dropped into the ears. If the same be snuffled vp into the nosthrils, or otherwise conueighed that way vp into the head, it easeth head-ach: for which purpose also it is good to poure into the eare, when one goeth to bed and lieth to sleepe, two spoonfuls of the said iuice, and one of Honie. The iuice of Porret if it be giuen to drinke with good wine of the grape; against the sting of serpents, and namely, Scorpions: likewise so taken with an * 1.1 Hemine of wine, it cureth the pains of the loines or small of the back. Such as spit or reach vp bloud, such as be diseased with the Phthisick or consumption of the lungs, such also as haue bin long troubled with the Pose, the Murre, Catarrhe, and other rheums, find great help by drinking the iuice of Porret, or eating Leeks with their meat. Moreouer, Leeks are ta∣ken [unspec B] to be very good either for the iaundise or dropsie. Drinke the same with the decoction of husked Barley called Ptisane, to the quantity of one Acetable, you shal find ease for the pains of the rains or kidnies. The same measure and quantity being taken with honey, mundifieth the Matrice and naturall parts of women. Men vse to eat of Porrets or Leekes, when they doubt themselues to haue taken venomous Mushroms. And a cataplasm therof cureth green wounds. Porret is a solicitour to wantonnesse and carnal pleasures: it allaieth thirstinesse, & dispatcheth those fumes that cause drunkennesse. But it is thought to breed dimnesse in the eie-sight: to in∣gender wind and ventosity; howbeit, not offensiue to the stomack, for that withall it maketh the belly laxatiue. Finally, it scoureth the pipes & cleareth the voice: thus much of Porret in blade or cut Leeks vnset. [unspec C]

These headed Leeks that are bolled and replanted, are of the same operation, but more effe∣ctual than the vnset Leeks. The iuice therof giuen with the pouder either of Gal-nuts, or * 1.2 fran∣kincense or els Acacia, cureth those that reject or reach vp bloud. Hippocrates would haue the simple iuice therof giuen, without any thing els for that purpose: and hee is of opinion, that it will disopilate the neck of the Matrice and the naturall parts of women; yea, and that they will proue fruitful and beare children the better, if they vse to eat Leeks. Being stamped and laid to filthie sores or vnclean vlcers with hony, it clenseth them. Being taken in a broth made of Pti∣sane or husked barly, it cureth the cough, staieth the rheume or catarrh, that distilleth into the chist or breast-parts; it scoureth the lungs and wind-pipe, and healeth their exulcerations. The like it doth if it be taken raw without bread, 3 bols or heads of them together each other day: and in this maner it will cure the patient, although he raught vp and spit out putrified and cor∣rupt [unspec D] matter. After the same maner it cleareth the voice, & it inableth folk to the seruice of lady Venus, and auaileth much to procure sleep. If Leeke bols or heads be sodden in two waters, (i.) changing the water twice, and so eaten, they wil stop the Lask, and stay all inueterat fluxes what∣soeuer. The pillings or skins of Leek heads if they be sodden, the decoction therof wil change the haire from gray to blacke, if they be washed or bathed therewith.

As touching Garlicke, it is singular good and of great force for those that change aire, and come to strange waters. The very sent thereof chaseth Serpents and Scorpions away. And as some haue reported in their writings, it healeth all bitings & stings of venomous beasts, either eaten as meat, taken in drinke, or annointed as a liniment: but principally it hath a special pro∣perty [unspec E] against the Serpents called Haemorrhoids, namely, if it be first eaten, and then cast vp a∣•…•…in by vomit▪ and wine. Also, it is soueraigne against the poisonous biting of the mouse called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Shrew: and no maruell, for why, it is of power to dull and kill the force of the venomous herb Aconitum, i. Libard bane, which by another name men cal Pardalianches, because it strangleth or choketh Leopards, yea, it conquereth the so poriferous & deadly quality of Henbane: the bi∣tings also of a mad dog it healeth, if it be applied vpon the hurt or wounded place with him. As for the sting of serpents verily, Garlick is exceeding effectuall, if it be taken in drink: but with∣al, you must not forget to make a liniment of it, the hairy strings or beard growing to the head, the skins also or tails and all, wherby it is bunched, tempered all together with oile, & laid vpon the grieued place: and thus also will it help any part of the body fretted or galled, yea, though it were risen vp to blisters. Hippocrates moreouer was of this opinion, that a suffumigation made [unspec F] therewith, fetcheth downe the after-birth of women newly deliuered and brought to bed: who vsed also with the ashes of them burnt and reduced together with oile into the forme of a lini∣ment, to annoint the running skalls of the head, and thereby cured and healed them vp. Some

giue it boiled, others raw, to them that be short-winded. Diocles prescribeth it with Centaurie to [unspec G] them who are in a dropsie, he giueth it also to purge the belly between, or in two figs. But green * 1.3 Garlick taken in good wine, together with Coriander, doth the deed more effectually. Some are wont to minister it to those that draw their wind short, being stamped and put into milke. Praxagoras the Physitian ordained to drinke it with wine, against the Iaundise: also against the Iliack passion, in oile and thick * 1.4 gruel. And in that sort he vsed to annoint the swelling kernels called the kings euill. In old time the maner was to giue raw garlick to such as were bestraught or out of their wits. But Diocles appointed, that it should be boiled for phrentick persons. Cer∣tes, if it be bruised and so laid to the throat, or otherwise gargled with some conuenient liquor, it will do much good to them that haue the squinancie. Take three heads or cloues of Garlick, beat them well, and together with vinegre apply them to the teeth, they will mightily asswage [unspec H] the paine. Or do but make a collution with the broth wherein they were boiled, and hold it in your mouth, and afterwards put some of the Garlicke it selfe within the hollow teeth, you shall see much ease insue thereupon. The iuice of Garlick together with goos-grease, is passing good to be dropped into the ears, to asswage their pain, and bring the hearing again. Being taken in drink, it clenseth the head from dandruffe, and killeth lice: so doth it also, if it be stamped and * 1.5 applied to the place with vineger and nitre. Seeth it in milke, or do but stamp it and mingle it with soft fresh cheese, and so eat it, you shall see how it will represse and stay Catarrhes and Rheumes: after which manner it will make them speake cleare that be hoarse, and haue a rusty voice. But let a man who hath the Phthisicke, and is far gone into a Consumption of the lungs, drink it in bean broth ordinarily, he shall recouer or find great ease. Generally, Garlicke is bet∣ter, [unspec I] boiled or rosted, than raw: andyet of the twain, it is not so good rosted as sodden: for in that order must it be taken for to help the voice and make a cleare breast. Also, being boiled in ho∣nied vineger or Oxymell, and so drunke, it driueth out the broad wormes and all other such like vermin forth of the guts. Being taken in a thicke broth or gruell, it cureth the disease * 1.6 Tines∣mus. Being sodden to the consistence of an Vnguent, and so applied as a frontal to the temples of the head, it allaieth their paine. Boiled with hony, then stamped and reduced to a liniment, it represseth red pimples. Seeth it with good old seam or grease, or in milk, it is singular for the Cough. See you one to reach vp bloud, or to spit filthy matter? Rost Garlick vnder the hot em∣bers, and giue it the party to eat, with equall quantity of honie. Being taken with salt and oile, it is a soueraign remedy for them that be bursten or Spasmaticke, that is to say, vexed with the [unspec K] Crampe. Applied with the fat or grease of an hog, it cureth all tumors and suspitious impost∣humes. Being emplastred with brimstone and rosin, vpon Fistulaes or such hollow and blind vl∣cers, it draweth out all the filth and corruption that lieth rankling and festering within. But lay it to a sore with pitch, you shall see it fetch out spils and ends of broken arrowes sticking still within the flesh. The Leprosie, the running and dangerous * 1.7 tettar, the red pimples also rising in the skin, Garlick doth first fret and exulcerat; but afterwards, with Origanum, it cureth and hea∣leth the same. •…•…ea, the very ashes of Garlick burnt, and so tempered with oile and the pickle, [Garum] that it may take the form of a liniment, doth the like. The wild fire also, or shingles, * 1.8 that hath gotten to a place, if it be annointed therewith, will be extinguished. Be any place of the body grown black and blew by stripes or blows, a liniment made of Garlick burnt to ashes and tempered with hony, will bring the natiue and fresh colour again quickly. There is a deepe [unspec L] and setled opinion among men, that if a man or woman do ordinarily take garlick with meat & drink, they shal find remedy thereby for the falling sicknesse. Also, that one head of Garlick ta∣ken in some styptick & harsh raw wine, with Laserpitium, to the weight of one Obulus, driues away the Quartan ague for euer. But after another sort, if it be vsed; to wit, boiled with brused Beanes, and so eaten ordinarily with meat; there is no cough so tough, no vlcer within the brest so foule and filthy, but it will stay the one, and cleanse, yea, and heale the other, so as the patient shall recouer perfect health. Garlicke maketh folk to sleep well, and giueth a good, fresh, and ruddy colour to the whole body. Garlicke stamped with green Coriander, and drunken with strong wine, increaseth the heat of lust, and prouoketh to Lecherie. But as many good proper∣ties [unspec M] as Garlicke hath, it is not without some bad qualities for them againe. It maketh the eies dim, it breedeth windinesse and ventositie; it hurteth the stomack, ouer liberally taken, & * 1.9 cau∣seth thirst: but let me not forget among other vertues which it hath: namely, that if it be gi∣uen to Hens, Cockes, and other Pulleine, among their corne, it will keepe them from the pip.

As for Horses, Mares, Asses, and such like beasts that cannot stale, or be groud and wrong in the [unspec A] bellie: stampe Garlick, and therwith rub the shap and naturall parts; it will prouoke the one, and ease the other.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hemina, i•…•… much about ten ounces.
• * 1.2

  Called Ma•…•…∣na Thuris.
• * 1.3

  In fico duplici.
• * 1.4

  i. The wrin∣gings and tor∣ment of the vpper small guts.
• * 1.5

  Porrigenes, not pr•…•…vigenes, out of Diose.
• * 1.6

  A great desire to goe to the stoole, with doing little or nothing.
• * 1.7

  Called Men∣tag•…•…a.
• * 1.8

  Sacros ignes, called other∣wise S. Antho∣nies fire. Erisypelas.
• * 1.9

  Contrary to Gale•…•….