Vertues and Use.
Mesues (who is called the Physitians Evan∣gelist, for the certainty of his Medicines, and the truth of his Opinions) saith, That it dri∣eth up thin Humors,* 1.1 digesteth thick and tough, and purgeth burnt Choller, and espe∣cially tough and thick Flegm, and thin Flegm also, even from the Joynts; and is therfore good for those that are troubled with Melan∣cholly, or Quartan Agues, especially if it be taken in Whey, or Honeyed Water, or in Barley water, or the Broth of a Chicken with Epithimum, or with Beets and Mallows. It is also good for the hardness of the Spleen and for prickings or Stitches in the sides, as also for the Chollick, some use to put to it some Fen∣nel Seeds, or Annis Seeds or Ginger to cor∣rect that loathing it bringeth to the Stomach, which is more than needeth, it being a safe and gentle Medicine fit for al persons at al sea∣sons, which daily experience confirmith; And an ounce of it may be given at a time in a De∣coction, if there be not Saena or some other strong purger put with it. Adram or two of the Pouder of the dried Roots, taken fasting in a cup of Honeyed water, worketh gently, and for the purposes aforesaid. The distilled water both of Roots and Leavs is much commended for the Quartan Ague, to be taken for many daies together, as also against Melancholly, or fearful or troublesom sleeps* 1.2 or Dreams, and with some Sugar Candy dissolved therein, is good against the Cough, shortness of breath and Wheesings, and those distillations of thin Rhewin upon the Lungs, which caus Phtisicks, and oftentimes Consumptions. The fresh Roots beaten smal: or the Pouder of the dried Roots mixed with Honey and applied to any Member that is out of Joynt, doth much help it: Applied also to the Nose cureth the Dis∣eas called Polipus, which is a piece of Flesh growing therein which in time stoppeth the passage of breath through that Nostril; And it helpeth those clefts or Chops that come be∣tween the fingers or Toes.
And why I pray must Pollipodium of the Oak only be used, Gentle Colledg of Physi∣tians, can you give me but a glimps of a rea∣son for it? is it only becaus it is dearest? will you never leave your coverousness till your lives leave you? The Truth is, that which grows upon the Earth is best ('tis an Herb of Saturn and he seldom climbs trees) to purge Melancholly, if the humor be otherwise, chuse your Pollipodium accordingly.