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 ...

D.

WIld English D••ffadil, in Latin Narcissus Anglicus.

The Root is bul∣bous, composed of many Coats of a moderate Big∣ness; it tastes and feels clammy, 'tis sweetish, but leaves behind it some Bit∣terness. The Leaves are long▪ of a Light-green. The Stalk is an Hand or nine Inches high, channel'd, and hollow; upon the top of which is one Flower, bend∣ing downward, about two Inches long, consisting of six pale Leaves. The Seed is at first broadish, and af∣terwards round. It grows in several Places near Hedges, especially in moist Ground, and in Woods.

The Root is Vomitive. The Leaves bruised, are proper in an Erisipelas.

The Greater Wild White Daisies, in Latin Bellis major.

The Root is fibrous, and creeping, of an acrid Taste; sending forth many Stalks, nine Inches high, or higher, five-angled, solid, branching; and it has ma∣ny oblong, fat and indent∣ed Leaves, with obtuse Points. The Flowers cast forth Beams of Brightness; they are white in the Cir∣cumference, in the middle yellow, and large; com∣posed of many small, yel∣low Flowers, divided into five little Pieces, with a small Pillar in the middle of each. The Leaves of the Cups have a blackish Fringe. It flowers in May and June. It grows fre∣quently in Pastures.

The whole Herb, Stalks, Leaves and Flowers, boyl'd in Posset-drink, and drunk,

is accounted an excellent Remedy for an Asthma, Consumption, and Diffi∣culty of Breathing. 'Tis very good in Wounds and Ulcers, taken inwardly, or outwardly applied. A De∣coction of the Herb cures all Diseases that are occa∣sion'd by drinking cold Beer when the Body is hot.

The Lesser Daisie, or Common Wild Daisie, in La∣tin Bellis minor.

It grows in Meadows and Pastures.

There is some Difference amongst Writers, about the Temperament of this Plant. Some say, it is hot and dry: Others say, it is cold and moist. But its sharp Taste argues Frigidity; and the Effects of it, Siccity. Both the Greater and the Lesser are excellent Wound-herbs. 'Tis used outwardly in Pla∣sters and Fomentations, and inwardly in Vulnerary Potions; and upon that Account it is called in the Shops, the Lesser Comfrey. Women usually give the Herb and the Flower to Children, to loosen their Bellies. The Roots are used outwardly, with very good Success, in the King's-Evil. 'Tis commonly re∣ported, that the Roots of the Lesser Daisie, boyl'd in Milk, and given to Whelps, hinder their Growth. Take of the Lesser Daisie, Com∣frey, Marshmallows, each three Handfuls; Clivers two Handfuls, Liquorish one Ounce, half an Ounce of Anniseeds, four Nut∣megs; boyl all, being shred, sliced and bruis'd, in six Pints of Water, till half is wasted; after strain it, and dissolve in it four Ounces of Sugar, and clarifie it. This is good in Ulcers of the Bladder.

Dandalyon, in Latin Dens-leonis.

It has many long Leaves, much jagged, lying on the Ground; the Middle-rib is white, and full of bitter Milk. The Root is as thick as a Little Finger, and is full of Milk. The Stalks are naked, and empty, and sometimes hai∣ry: Each of them bears, at the top, a large, yellow Flower. The Down at the top is as round as a Ball, and is soon blown away

by the Wind, or Breath. It grows commonly in Gardens, Courts and Mea∣dows.

'Tis Epatick, and much of the same Virtue with Endive; and is also Diu∣retick. Take of fresh Horse-dung four Ounces, of Carduus-water one Pint and an half; make an In∣fusion over a gentle Fire, in a close Vessel, two Hours; then strain the Li∣quor, and add to it two Ounces of the Syrup of Dandalyon, and a Dram of the Spirit of Sal-Almo∣niack: The Dose is five or six Spoonfuls, three or four times a Day. This is very good in Pleurisies, and o∣ther Diseases that proceed from the Clamminess of the Blood, and from its be∣ing coagulated.

Dane-wort, in Latin Ebulus.

'Tis neither Tree, nor Shrub, but rather an Herb; but it is so like El∣der, that it is called Dwarf-Elder. 'Tis seldom so high as a Man, but most-com∣monly three Foot high, and no higher. The Stalk is green, and channel'd, and full of Pith, like Elder; which withers in Winter. The Leaves are whiter and greater than those of the common Elder, long, and broad, and cut in the Edges like a Saw. The Leaves are placed by Couples, and smell strong. The Flowers are white, tip'd with red; and grow at the top of the Stalks, in Tufts. The Ber∣ries are black. The Root is long, and of the thick∣ness of a Finger, not woo∣dy. It spreads much, and grows commonly near High-ways, and Ditches, and Church-yards. It flow∣ers in June, or July; and the Betries are ripe in Au∣gust and September.

'Tis said to have the same Virtues with Elder, but they are stronger. The Bark and Seeds purge Wa∣ter; wherefore they are good in Dropsies, and other Diseases arising from wa∣tery Humours. The Root likewise purges very strong∣ly. The Leaves of it, as well as those of Elder, ap∣plied to Burns, cure them. In Diseases of the Spleen,

Take four Ounces of the distill'd Waters of the Roots, for the space of ten or twelve Days, fasting. Take of the Roots of Dwarf-Elder, of our Flow∣er-de-luce, each one Ounce and an half; of the Leaves of Soldanella, and Hedge-Hyssop, each one Handful; of the Roots of Asarabacca and Wild Cucumbers, each two Ounces; of the Lesser Galangal six Drams, of choice Jalap half an Ounce, of Elaterium three Drams, of Cubebs two Drams; slice and bruise them, and pour upon them three Pints of small Spirit of Wine Tartariz'd; digest them in a close Vessel, in a Sand-Furnace, two Days; strain it, and let it stand till it is clear: Take two or three Spoonfuls, in a proper Ve∣hicle. This is an excellent Purge in a Dropsie.

Darnel, in Latin Lo∣lium album.

The Root is very fibrous. The Straws are two or three Foot high, like the Wheat-straw, but a little less. They have four or five Knots, at each whereof are the Leaves; they are narrower and greener than the Blade of Wheat; they shine, and are smooth, fat, channel'd, and are spiky. The Grain is less than Wheat, and is in∣cluded in a single, brown Husk. It grows too much amongst Wheat.

'Tis hot and dry: It attenuates, resolves and cleanses. Being mix'd with Malt, it makes the Beer heady: And mix'd with Bread, it occasions great Dulness. It offends the Eyes, by sending ill Va∣pours into the Head. The Flower of it, mix'd with other Medicines, is com∣mended by the Ancients for putrid Ulcers, the Itch, the Leprosie, the King's Evil, Gangreens, and the Hip-Gout.

Dill, in Latin Anethum.

'Tis very like Fennel, yet it differs from it in many things: The Root is an∣nual; the Stalk is less, and and lower, for it is rare∣ly three Foot high; the Leaves are lighter colour'd, and smell stronger, and not so pleasant; the Seed is

broader, of an acrid Taste, and not so pleasant as that of Fennel; the Tufts of Flowers are yellow, but not so large. It grows in Gardens, and springs year∣ly from its Seed: But it grows no where sponta∣neously in England, as I know of.

The Herb, but especial∣ly the Seed, digests, dis∣cusses and ripens Tumours, increases Milk, disposes to Sleep, lessens Venery, cures Vomiting, and the Hic∣kops. 'Tis said to be of∣fensive to the Eyes; which seems strange to me, for that it is very like Fennel, both in Quality, and out∣ward Appearance; and it expels also Wind: And Fennel is allow'd by all to be good for the Eyes. The tender Tops, and the Root, when fresh, provoke Urine, and so very good for those that are afflicted with the Stone.

Our People are wont to put the Seeds and Leaves into Pickle of Cucumbers, to better the Taste and Smell, and to correct the Coldness. Take of the Oyl of the Seeds of Dill four Drops, of Oyl of Almonds half an Ounce; mingle them for a Draught. This is excellent for the Hic∣kops, when they proceed from a cold Cause.

Dittander, in Latin Lepidium latifolium.

The Root is of a Finger's thick∣ness, and thicker, white, of an acrid and hot Taste, which soon vanishes. It creeps in the Earth. It has many Stalks four Foot high, sound, smooth, and full of Pith; branchy, less than the Little Finger, and co∣ver'd with Sky-colour'd Dust, which may be easily wiped off. The Leaves are long and broad, but end sharp; they are smooth, fat, of a dull green Colour, and plac'd alternately; they are indented about the Edges: Those which come from the Root, and are on the bottom of the Stalk, are prop'd by long Foot-stalks. The little Flowers are plac'd on the top of the Stalks and Branches; they consist of three white Leaves; there are many

of them. The small Seed-vessels succeed the Flow∣ers; they are fat, and pointed. Gardiners dislike it, because it spreads so much.

The Women in Suffolk boyl it in Beer, to facilitate Delivery. The Herb is a∣crid. The Root eases the Pain of the Teeth.

Sharp-pointed Dock, with curled Leaves, in Latin La∣pathum acutum crispum.

The Root is single, and has sometimes Sprigs; it grows deep in the Earth; without brown, and with∣in yellow. The Leaves are narrow and long, and of a dull colour, curl'd, and crooked about the Edges, especially near the Foot-stalks. The Flowers are small, hanging down upon long Foot-stalks, and many Whirls. The Seed is of a Chesnut-colour. It grows on untill'd Grounds, and in Courts; especially in moist Places.

Sharp-pointed Dock, in Latin Lapathum acutum.

The Leaves are shorter than the former; the Low∣er grow narrow by de∣grees, from a broad Be∣ginning, and are less than the other. The Stalk is small, stiff, and sometimes crooked. The Whirls of the Flowers are not so thick; the Flowers are smaller, and the Seeds not half so large. It grows in moist Places, and near Wa∣ter; and commonly in Ditches, and Hedges.

The Root of Sharp∣pointed Dock is much commended for the Itch: And, infus'd in Beer, is excellent for the Scurvy, and the Jaundice. The Powder of the Seeds strengthen the Liver, and stop all Fluxes of the Belly.

Provide four Gallons of Small Ale; instead of Hops, boyl in it three Handfuls of the Tops of Pines, or Firr; after it has done Working in the Vessel, put into a Canvas-bag three Handfuls of Scurvy-grass, four Oun∣ces of the Root of Sharp-pointed Dock prepar'd, and the Peels of four Oranges; hang the Bag in the Vessel, with something to sink the

Bag: After it has stood a Week, and is clear, drink of it for your ordinary Drink. This is frequently used for the Scurvy, and is an excellent Diet-drink.

The Dock called Monk's-Rubarb, or Garden-patience, in Latin Hippo-lapathum.

'Tis sometimes as high as a Man. The Stalk is channel'd, and reddish; a∣bove it is divided into ma∣ny Sprigs. The Leaves are a Foot, or a Foot and an half broad, and point∣ed; of a dull green Co∣lour. The Root is thick, long, and has many Fibres, and of a Saffron-colour. The Leaves come out in March, and it flowers a∣bout June.

The Root purges Cho∣ler, and watery-Humours. Take of the dried Root one Dram, of Ginger one Scru∣ple: Those that use it for Rubarb take a double quantity. The Root expels Gravel: Take Dock-roots prepar'd and Polypody, each one Ounce; Sena ten Drams, Rubarb six Drams, Monks-Rubarb five Drams, Yellow Sanders two Drams, Salt of Wormwood, and Scurvy-grass, each one Dram; cut and bruise them, and put them into a Glass, with Snail-water and White-wine, each one Pint and an half; stop the Glass, and set it in a Cellar twen∣ty four Hours: Take six Ounces of it, or more, ac∣cording as it works, every Morning. This is good for the Itch.

Dodder, in Latin Cus∣cuta.

This fawning Para∣site, and ungrateful Guest▪ hugs the Herb it hangs up∣on, with its long Threads, and reddish Twigs; and so closely embraces it, that at length it defrauds the ho∣spitable Herb of its Nou∣rishment, and destroys it by its treacherous Embra∣ces. It has no Leaves. The Flowers are placed thick, at several Distances, or Intervals: Each of them consists of four small, acute Leaves, that are thick, and full of Juice. This Plant has no need of a large De∣scription; for it is distin∣guish'd from all other Plants, by having no

Leaves, nor Root, when it is grown up; consisting only of long Threads, by which it encompasses the neighbouring Plants, and sucks away their Nourish∣ment. Upon which Ac∣count the Country-people in Sussex call it Hell-weed, or The Devil's Guts. And so much for the Vices of this Plant.

'Tis suppos'd to partici∣pate of the Plant it adheres to: So that which grows to Broom is reckon'd Diu∣retick; that is counted moist, which sticks to Flax; that astringent, which climbs Madder; that which grows on Nettles, is very Diuretick. 'Tis hot, dry, and cleansing: It opens Ob∣structions, and purges Me∣lancholy; is of good use in the Itch, for the Black Jaundice, and Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen. But that which grows on Nettles is prefer'd before all the other in Physick. Take of Dodder of Thime, and of Rubarb, each one Dram and an half; of Se∣na three Drams, of Yellow Sanders half a Dram, of Coriander-seeds two Scru∣ples, of Salt of Wormwood half a Dram, of Celtick Spike one Scruple; infuse them in a close Vessel all Night, in four Ounces of White-wine, and Water of Apples: To five Ounces of the strain'd Liquor, add six Drams of Syrup of Dod∣der of Thyme, and two Drams of Aqua-mirabilis; mingle them, and make a Potion: For those that are difficult to purge, add a Dram, or two Drams, of the Fibres of Black Helle∣bore, infus'd in Vinegar. This is an excellent Purge for melancholy People.

Common Drop-wort, or Filipendula, in Latin Fili∣pendula.

It has many Roots; black without, and white within. The Fibres of it are bulbous. It has many Leaves at the Roots; they are long, wing'd, and indented almost like Bur∣net-Saxifrage. The Stalk is most commonly single, upright, nine Inches or a Foot high, or higher, chan∣nell'd branchy, with a few Leaves on it. The Flow∣ers are placed on the top

of the Stalk, in a Tuft; they smell sweet, and are white; they consist of se∣ven Leaves. Eleven or twelve Seeds, more or less, are placed in the form of a Star. It grows in Mea∣dows, and Hilly Pastures.

The Root attenuates, and is somewhat astrin∣gent. A Decoction of it provokes Urine, and ex∣pels Gravel: It cures the Heat of Urine, and takes off the Difficulty of it. The Powder of the Root, and the Juice of it, is com∣mended by some, in the Falling-Sickness: 'Tis ex∣cellent for the Whites, and the immoderate Flux of the Child-bed-Purgations: The Dose is, one Dram of the Root in Wine. It also cures the Bloody Flux, and Ruptures.

Common Dove's-foot, or Crane's-bill, in Latin Ge∣ranium Columbinum vulgare.

It has several small, round, pale-green Leaves, cut in about the Edges, like Mal∣lows: They are placed up∣on long, reddish, hairy Stalks, lying on the Ground; among which rise up two or three, or more, reddish, jointed, slender, weak and hairy Stalks, with some such like Leaves thereon, but smaller, and more cut in. It has many very small, bright, red Flowers, of five Leaves a-piece; after which follow small Heads, with small, short Beaks, pointing forth, as all other Sorts of this Kind of Herbs have.

'Tis very Vulnerary, ei∣ther outwardly applied, or taken inwardly. It stops a Flux of Blood, and resolves coagulated Blood: It clean∣ses Wounds and Ulcers: It expels Gravel; and eases the Pain of the Cholick. The Powder of the Root and Leaves taken, in Wine, is very effectual for curing Ruptures.

The Dove's-foot, cal∣let Herb-Robert, and in La∣tin Geranium Robertianum,

has the same Virtues with this above-describ'd.

Dragons, in Latin Dra∣contium.

'Tis easily known, being speckl'd like a Snake. It flowers in July.

'Tis hot and dry, astrin∣gent, and of an acrid Taste. 'Tis something of the Na∣ture of Cuckow-pint. 'Tis good in Coughs, Catarrhs, and Convulsions. The Leaves are good for Ulcers, and Venomous Bitings. The distill'd Water is good in the Plague, and Pestilen∣tial Fevers. Take of Dra∣gon-water, and Wood-Sor∣rel-water, each four Oun∣ces; of Compound-Scor∣dium-water two Ounces; of Treacle-water, and Be∣zoartick-water, each one Ounce; of Prepar'd Pearl one Dram, of Syrup of Gillyflowers two Ounces, of Spirit of Vitriol twelve Drops; make a Julep: The Dose is three Ounces often in a Day. This is used in the Plague.

Duck's-meat, in Latin Lenticula palustris.

This grows in Standing-waters, and is full of shining, round Leaves, green above, and black below. They are joyn'd together with white, small Threads. It often covers all the Water it grows in.

'Tis Cooling, and good in Inflammations. It also cures Children's Ruptures. An Infusion of it in White∣wine cures the Jaundice infallibly, six Ounces of it being taken every Morn∣ing, for nine Days, Ducks feed upon it very much.