Nightshade.
Description.
COmmon Nightshade hath an upright, round, green, hollow stalk, about a Foot or half a yard high, bushing forth into many Branches, whereon grow many green Leavs, somwhat broad and pointed at the ends, soft and full of Juyce, somwhat like unto Bazil, but larger, and a little unevenly dented about the edges at the tops of the Stalks and Bran∣ches, come forth three or four or more white Flowers made of five smal pointed Leavs a∣piece, standing on a Stalk together, one above another with yellow pointels in the middle, composed of four of five yellow threds set toge∣ther which afterwards turn into so many pen∣dulous green Berries of the bigness of smal Pease, full of green Juyce, and smal whitish round flat Seed lying within it. The Root is white and a little woody when it hath given Flower and Fruit with many smal Fibres at it; The whol Plant is of a waterish insipide tast, but the Juyce within the Berries is som∣what viscuous, and of a cooling and binding quality.
Place.
It groweth wild with us, under old Walls, and in Rubbish, the common paths, and sides of Hedges and Fields, as also in our Gardens here in England without any planting.
Time.
It dieth down every yeer, and ariseth again of its own sowing, but springeth not until the latter end of April at the soonest.
Vertues and Use.
This Common Nightshade is wholly used to cool all hot Inflamations* 1.1 either inwardly or outwardly, being no way dangerous to any that shall use it, as most of the rest of the Nightshades are; yet it must be used mode∣••••ly: The distilled water only of the whol Herb is fittest and safest to be taken inwardly. The Juyce also clarified and taken being mingled with a little Vinegar, is good to wash the Mouth and Throat that is inflamed:* 1.2 But outwardly the Juyce of the Herb or Ber∣ries with Oyl of Roses, and a little Vinegar and Ceruss labored together in a leaden Mor∣ter, is very good to anoint all hot Inflamati∣ons in the Eyes; It doth also much good for the Shingles, Ringworms, and in all running fretting, and corroding Ulcers, and in moist Fistulaes, if the Juyce be made up with some Hens dung and applied thereto: A Pessary dipp'd in the Juyce, and put up into the Ma∣trix stayeth the immoderate Flux of Womens Courses: A Cloth wet therein and applied to the Testicles or Cods, upon any Swelling therein giveth much eas, as also to the Gout that cometh of hot and sharp Humors. The Juyce dropped into the Ears, easeth pains ther∣in that arise of heat or Inflamation. And Pli∣ny saith, it is good for hot Swellings under the Throat.
Have a care you mistake not the deadly Nightshade for this; if you know it not, you may let them both alone and take no harm, having other Medicines sufficient in the Book.