Vertues and Use.
The Bark of the Tree, doth bind and dry* 1.1 very much, and the Leaves are much of the same temperature, but the Leaves when they are older, are heating and drying the Second Degree, and harder of digestion than when they are fresh, which by reason of their sweet∣ness are more pleasing and better digesting in the Stomach, and taken with sweet Wine they move the Belly downwards; but being old, they grieve the Stomach, and in hot Bodies cause Choller to abound, and the Headach, and are an enemy to those that have the Cough: But are less hurtful to those that have colder Stomachs, and are said to kill the broad Worms* 1.2 in the Belly or Stomach. If they be taken with Onions, Salt, and Honey, they help the biting of a Mad Dog, or the Venom or infectious poyson of any Beast &c. Oneus Pompeius found in the Treasury of Methridates King of Pontus, when he was overthrown, a Scrowl of his own Hand-wri∣ting, containing a Medicine against any Poyson and Infection, which is this: Take two dry Walnuts, and as many good Figgs, and twenty Leaves of Rue bruised and beaten together with two or three Corns of Salt, and twenty Juniper Berries, which taken every morning fasting, preserveth from danger of Poyson* 1.3 or Infection, that day it is taken. The Juyce of the outer green Husks, boyled up with Honey, is an excellent gargle for sore Mouths, the Heat and Inflamations in the Throat and Stomach: The Kernels when they grow old are more Oyly, and therfore not so fit to be eaten, but are then used to heal the Wounds of the Sinews, Gangrenes, and Carbuncles; The said Kernels being burned, are then very a∣stringent, and will then stay Lasks and Wo∣mens Courses, being taken in red Wine; and stay the falling of the Hair and make it fair, being anointed with Oyl and Wine; The green Husks will do the like being used in the same manner. The Kernels beaten with Rue and Wine, being applied, helpeth the Quinsie;* 1.4 and bruised with some Honey and applied to the Ears, easeth the pains and Inflamations of them: A piece of the green Husk put unto a hollow Tooth,* 1.5 easeth the pains. The Catkins hereof taken before they fall off, dried and gi∣ven a dram thereof in Pouder with white Wine, wonderfully helpeth those that are troubled with the rising of the Mother.* 1.6 The Oyl that is pressed out of the Kernels, is very profitably taken inward like Oyl of Almonds, to help the Chollick,* 1.7 and to expel wind very effectually, an ounce or two thereof may be taken at a time. The yong green Nuts taken before they be half ripe and preserved with Sugar, are of good use for those that have weak Stomachs, or Defluxions thereon. The di∣stilled water of the green Husk before they be half ripe, is of excellent use to cool the heat of Agues* 1.8 being drunk an ounce or two at a time, as also to resist the Infection of the Plague, if some thereof be also applied to the Sores thereof: The same also cooleth the heat of green Wounds and old Ulcers, and healeth them being bathed therewith: The distilled Water of the green Husks being ripe when they are shelled from the Nuts, being drunk with a little Vinegar, is also found by experi∣ence to be good for those that are infected with the Plague, so as before the taking ther∣of a Vein be opened. The said Water is very good against the Quinsin being gargled and bathed therewith, and wonderfully helpeth Deafness,* 1.9 the Noise, and other pains in the Ears. The Distilled water of the yong green Leaves in the end of May performeth a singu∣lar cure on foul running Ulcers and Sores, to be bathed with wet Cloathes or Spunges ap∣plied to them evening and morning.