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Radish and Horse∣Radish.
THe Garden Radish is so wel known that it needeth no Description.
Description.
The Hors-Radish hath his first Leavs that rise before Winter, about a foot and a holf long, very much cut in or torn on the edges into many parts of a dark green co∣lour, with a great Rib in the middle: After these have been up a while, others follow, which are greater, rougher, broader, and lon∣ger whol, and not devided as the first, but on∣ly somwhat roundly dented about the edges: The Stalk when it beareth Flowers (which is but seldom) is great rising up with some few lesser Leavs thereon to three or four foot high, spreading at the top many smal Bran∣ches of whitish Flowers, made of four Leavs apiece after which come smal Pods like those of Shepheards-Purs, but seldom with any Seed in them. The Root is great, long, white, and rugged shooting up divers Heads of Leavs, which may be parted for encreas, but it doth not creep within ground nor run above ground, and is of a strong sharp and bitter tast, almost like Mustard.
Place.
It is found wild in some places of this Land, but is chiefly planted in Gardens where it joy∣eth in a moist and shadowy place.
Time.
It Flowreth but seldom, but when it doth, it is in July.
Vertues and Use.
The Juyce of Hors-Radish given in drink is held to be very effectual for the Scurvy.* 1.1 It killeth the Worms in Children being drunk, and also laid upon the Belly. The Root brui∣sed and laid to the place grieved with the Scia∣tica, Joynt-ach, or the hard Swellings of the Liver and Spleen. doth wonderfully help them all. The Distilled water of the Herb and Roots is more familiar to be taken with a lit∣tle Sugar for all the purposes aforesaid.
Garden Radishes are in wantonness by the Gentry eaten as Sallet, but they breed but scurvy Humors in the Stomach, and corrupt the Blood, and then send for a Physitian as fast as you can, this is one caus, makes the owners of such nice Pallars so unhealthful, yet for such as are troubled with the Gravel, Stone,* 1.2 or stoppage of Urine, they are good Physick if the Body be strong that takes them, you may make the Juyce of the Roots into a Syrup if you pleas for that use, they purge by Urine ex∣ceedingly.
I Know not what Planet they are under, I think none of all the Seven will own them.