Ground-pine, in Latin Chamaepytis vulgaris.
'Tis a small Plant, of the breadth of an Hand, and rarely a∣bove an Inch, or two Inch∣es high. The Root is long, woody, and single. The little Stalk is round, hairy, and somewhat red near the Earth; in other Places green, inclining to a yel∣low; as also are the Leaves, which are placed at small Distances, at the Knots, by Pairs, opposite to one another; they are hairy, and resemble the Claws of a small Bird; they taste and smell like Pitch and Rosin. The Flowers proceed from the Wings of the Leaves, are yellow, and have a broad Lip, divided into two parts, the Upper has red Spots instead of an Hood; they have Threads of a light Purple. The Seeds are placed in little Cups, four and four in a Rank; and they are three-square. The Tube of the Flower bellies out, and serves instead of a Seed-vessel. It grows in Till'd Grounds, but is rare in England.
It strengthens the Nerves; incides, opens, and is Diu∣retick, and provokes the Courses. It expels a dead Child, and the After-birth; and works so powerfully, that Women with Child are wholly forbid the use of it, because it occasions Miscarriage. Boyl'd in Wine, or powder'd, and made into Pills, with Her∣modactyls and Venice-Tur∣pentine, does much Good in a Dropsie. Outwardly used, it cures Ulcers, by cleansing them, and taking off the Hardness. Take of Ground-pine and Worm-wood, each two Handfuls; of Scurvy-grass ten Hand∣fuls, of Mountain-Sage six Handfuls, six Oranges sli∣ced; put all into a Pye, made of two parts of Bar∣ly-meal, and one of Rye; bake it, and after shred it all small; then put it into a Bag, and hang it in five Gallons of Midling Ale: After six Days, drink of it for your ordinary Drink. This was used, with ex∣cellent Success, to a Person