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. XXX.

¶ Of Parthenium, and the medicinable vertues that it hath.

AS for Parthenium, some name it Leucanthe, others Tamnaum; but our countryman Celsus the Physitian calleth it Perdicium and Muralium. It groweth in the mounds & hedges about gardens: it bringeth forth a white floure, sauouring like an apple, and hauing a bitter taste. The decoction of this herbe, if a woman sit ouer it and receiue the fume into her body, is good to mollifie the hard tumours of the matrice and natural parts; as also to discusse all inflammations. A pouder made of this herb dried, and incorporat with honey and vinegre, [i. Oxymel] and so applied, purgeth choler adust and melancholy. In which regard it is good [unspec F] for the swimming and dizzinesse of the brain, and those that are giuen to breed the stone. Be∣ing vsed in maner of a liniment, it is good for the shingles and S. Anthonies fire: likewise for the Kings euil, if it be incorporate with old swines grease. The Magitians vse it much for Tertian

agues: but they lay a great charge, that it should in any wise be plucked vp with the left hand, [unspec G] and the parties precisely named for whose sake they gather it: but in any case they who pluck it, must not look behind them: which done, a leafe of the herbe must be put vnder the tongue of the sick patient; and when it hath bin held so a little while, it must anon be swallowed down in a cyath of water.

Notes

• Some thinke it is Mother∣woort, others Feuerfew.
• Surely accor∣ding to Diosco∣rid•…•…s, Plinie should haue written thus: Flore per ambi∣tum candido, intus melino; id est, with a floure white round about: but within of a darke yellow like to honey: & this agreeth to Feuerfew.