Dogs Mercury.
Discription.
HAving described unto you that which is called French Mercury, I come now to shew you in a Description this kind also.
This is likewise of two kinds, Male and Fe∣male, having many stalks slenderer & lower than Mercury and without any branches at all upon them: The Male is set with two Leavs at e∣very Joynt somwhat greater than the Female, but more pointed and full of Veins, and som∣what harder in handling, of a darker green co∣lour, and less dented or snip'd about the edges: At the Joynts with the Leavs come forth lon∣ger Stalks than the former, with two hairy round Seeds upon them twice as big as those of the former Mercury: The tast hereof is Herby, and the smel somwhat strong and Virulent: The Female hath much harder Leavs standing upon longer Foot∣stalks, and the stalks are also longer: From the Joynts come forth Spikes of Flowers, like the French Female Mercury, The Roots of them both are many, and full of smal Fibres, which run under ground, and mat themselves very much, not perishing as the former Mer∣curies do, but abiding the Winter, and shoot forth new Branches every yeer (for the old die down to the ground.
Place.
The Male and Female French Mercury are found wild in divers places of this Land; as by a Village called Brookland in Rumney Marsh in Kent.
The Dogs Mercury in sundry places of Kent also, and elswhere; but the Female more sel∣dom than the Male.
Time.
They flourish in the Summer months, and therein give their Seed.
Vertues and Use.
The Decoction of the Leavs of Mercury, or the Juyce thereof in Broth, or Drunk with a little Sugar put to it, purgeth Chollerick and waterish Humors.* 1.1 Hippocrates commendeth it wonderfully for Womens Diseases; and ap∣plied it to the secret parts to eas the pains of the Mother; and used the Decoction of it both to procure Womens Courses, and to ex∣pel the Afterbirth: And gave the Decoction thereof with Mirrh or Pepper, or used to ap∣ply the Leavs outwardly against the Strangu∣ry, and Diseases of the Reins and Bladder. He used it also for sore and watering Eyes, and for the Deafness and pain in the Ears, by drop∣ping the Juyce therof into them, and bathing them afterwards in white Wine.
The Decoction thereof made with Water and a Cock Chicken, is a most safe Medicine against the hot fits of Agues: It also clenseth the Breast and Lungs of Flegm, but a little offendeth the Stomach: The Juyce or distil∣led Water snuffed up into the Nostrils purgeth the Head and Eyes of Catarrhes and Rhewms. Some use to drink two or three ounces of the distilled water with a little Sugar put to it, in the morning fasting, to open and purge the Body of gross viscuous and Melancholly Hu∣mors. It is wonderful (if it be not Fabu∣lous) that Dioscorides and Theophrastus do relate of it: Viz. That if Women use these herbs either inwardly or outwardly for three daies together after Conception, and their Courses be past, they shal bring forth Male or Female Children, according to that kind of