The compleat herbal of physical plants containing all such English and foreign herbs, shrubs and trees as are used in physick and surgery ... : the doses or quantities of such as are prescribed by the London-physicians and others are proportioned : also directions for making compound-waters, syrups simple and compound, electuaries ... : moreover the gums, balsams, oyls, juices, and the like, which are sold by apothecaries and druggists are added to this herbal, and their irtues and uses are fully described / by John Pechey ...

Chesnut-tree, in Latin Castanea.

It is a great and stately Tree , as thick as an old Oak; so very large sometimes, that three Men, with their Arms extended, can scarce encompass the Trunk of it. It has many Branches, the small Twigs are of a Crimson Colour. It has a smooth Bark, spot∣ted, and blackish, and sometimes of an Ash-co∣lour, but chiefly the Extre∣mity of the Branches: And when the Tree is young, the Wood of it is strong and lasting; but yet it bends with a Burthen, and

cracks much in the Fire, and its Coals are soon ex∣tinguish'd. It has large Leaves, about two Inches broad, and in length about five; they are thin, wrink∣ly, and indented like a Saw, with many transverse Veins sticking on the Back, ex∣tended from the Middle-rib that is most remarkable. Long hanging Buds pre∣cede the Fruit, having yel∣low Tufts. The Cups are prickly, and like a Bur; within they are hairy, and as soft as Silk: They con∣tain two or three Nuts, some but one, ending sharp, from a broad Basis; they are about an Inch long, flat on one side, and bellying out on the other, and are in shape something like the Heart. The Nut is white, solid and hard, sweet and palatable; especially when it is roasted. It chiefly grows on Mountains, and Rising Grounds. There are Abundance of them in Italy, where the People that live on the Mountains eat little else. They bud at the Beginning of Spring; and soon after flower. The Fruit is ripe about the Lat∣ter End of September. The good Nuts are known from the bad, by putting them in Water; for, if they are sound and good they sink, but if otherwise they swim. We in England make of this Wood Bedsteads, Chairs, Tables, Chests, and other Furniture for Houses. In some Places beyond Sea they make Bread and Frumenty of the Flower of the Nuts; but such sort of coarse Diet is no way pleasing to the En∣glish, who (God be thank∣ed) have Plenty of whol∣som Food, and great Abun∣dance of all things necessa∣ry. They are either boyl'd whole in Water, or roasted on the Fire, or fry'd. In Italy the Gentry and Citi∣zens roast them under Ash∣es, and, having pill'd them, mix a little Sugar and Juice of Oranges or Limons with them, and so eat them for a Second Course. But, which way soever they are prepar'd, they are windy, and injurious to the Sto∣mach and Head, and to those that are subject to Cholical Pains, and the Stone. The Nuts are

astringent, and consequent∣ly do good in Fluxes of the Belly, and for Spitting of Blood. They are said to be good for Coughs, being eaten with Hony, fasting: As also is an Electuary pre∣par'd with the Flower of them and Hony. An E∣mulsion of Chesnuts, made with the Decoction of Li∣quorish, and a few White Poppy-seeds, is good for Heat of Urine.