Scabious, three sorts.
Description.
THe common Field Scabious groweth up with many hairy soft, whitish green Leaves, some whereof are but very little, if at all jagged on the edges, others very much rent and torn on the sides, and have threds in them, which upon the breaking may be plainly seen: from among which rise up divérse hairy green Stalks three or four foot high, with such like hairy green Leavs on them, but more deeply and finely devided, branched forth a little: At the tops hereof which are naked and bare of Leaves for a good space, stand round Heads of Flowers, of a pale blewish colour set together in a head, the outermost wherof are larger than the inward, wth many threds also in the middle, somwhat flat at the top, as the Head with Seed is likewise: The Root is great, white, & thick growing down deep into the ground, and abi∣deth many yeers.
There is another sort of Field Scabious, dif∣ferent in nothing from the former, but only it is smaller in all respects.
The Corn Scabious, differeth little from the first, but that it is greater in all respects and the Flowers more declining to Purple: And the Root creepeth under the upper crust of the Earth, and runneth not deep in the ground as the first doth.
Place.
The first groweth most usually in Meadows, especially about London every where.
The second in some of the dry Fields about this City, but not so plentiful as the former.
The third, in the standing Corn, or Fallow Fields, and the borders of such like Fields.
Time.
They Flower in June and July, and some abide Flowring until it be late in August, and the Seed is ripe in the mean time.
There are many other sorts of Scabious, but I take those which I have here described to be most familiar with us; The vertues both of these and the rest being much alike, take them as followeth.
Vertues and Use.
Scabious is very effectual for all sorts of Coughs, shortness of Breath, and all other Diseases of the Breast and Lungs, ripening and digesting cold Flegm,* 1.1 and other tough humors, voiding them forth by Coughing and spitting: It ripeneth also all sorts of inward Ulcers and Impostimes, the Plurisie also, if the Decoction of the Herb dry or green, be made with Wine, and drunk for some time to∣gether; four ounces of the clarified Juyce of Scabious taken in the morning fasting; with a dram of Methridate, or Venice Treacle, freeth the heart from any infection of Pestilence if after the taking of it, the party sweat two hours in their Beds; and this Medicine be again and again repeated if need require: The green Herb bruised and applied to any Carbuncle or Plague sore, is found by certain experience to dissolve or break it in three hours space. The same Decoction also drunk, helpeth the pains and Stitches in the sides. The Decoction of the Roots taken for fourty daies together, or a dram of the Pouder of them taken at a time in Whey, doth (as Math••olus saith) wonder∣fully help those that are troubled with running or spreading Scabs, Tetters, or Ringwornis; yea though they proceed of the French Pox, which he saith he hath tryed by experience: The Juyce or Decoction drunk, helpeth also Scabs and breakings out in Itch and the like: The Juyce also made up into an Oyntment and used, is effectual for the same purpose. The same also helpeth all inward Wounds by the drying, clensing, and healing quality ther∣in: A Syrup made of the Juyce and Sugar is very effectual to all the purposes aforesaid, and so is the distilled water of the Herb and Flo∣wers made in due season; especially to be used when the green Herb is not in force to be ta∣ken. The Decoction of the Herb and Roots outwardly applied, doth wonderfully help al sorts of hard or cold Swellings in any part of the Body; and is as effectual for any shrunk Sinew or Vein. The Juyce of Scabiaus made up with the Pouder of Borax and Camphl••e, clenseth the Skin of the Face or other part of the Body, not only from Freckles and Pim∣ples, but also from Morphew and Lepry. The Head washed with the same Decoction, clen∣seth it from Dandrif, Scurf, Sores Itches, and the like, being used warm. Tents also dipped in the Juyce or Water thereof not only hea∣leth all green Wounds, but old Sores and Ul∣cers also: The Herb also bruised and applied doth in short time loosen, and cause to be drawn forth any Splinter, broken bone, Arrow head, or other such like thing lying in the Flesh.