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 ...

H.

HArt's-tongue, in La∣tin Phillitis.

It has many black, Capillary Roots. It has six, eight, or ten long Leaves, nine Inches, or a Foot long, and about two Inches broad; of a curious shining Green above, below streak'd with small, and somewhat long, brownish Marks. The Bot∣toms of the Leaves are a little bowed on each side of the Middle-rib. It smells strong, and tastes rough. It grows in moist, stony and shady Places, especially on Mountains, and in Wells and Caves. It grows in great Abundance by Wal∣berton, near Arrundel in Sussex.

'Tis used chiefly in Swel∣lings of the Spleen, for the Flux of the Belly, and for Spitting of Blood. Out∣wardly applied, it cleanses Wounds and Ulcers. The Powder of it is of excellent use for the Palpitation of the Heart, for Mother-fits, and Convulsions, being ta∣ken in Small Beer, and Posset-drink. A Conserve made of the green Leaves, is used for the same pur∣pose.

Hemlock, in Latin Ci∣cuta.

'Tis very cold, and supposed to be poysonous; yet it is frequently used now-a-days for Tumours and Inflammations of the Spleen. Some Physicians

say, it is hot. Outwardly used, it is Anodine. A Ca∣taplasm, or the Plaster of Hemlock, with Ammonia∣cum, discusses powerfully hard Swellings, and a Gan∣glion. Twenty Grains of the Powder of the Root is an excellent Diaphoretick in Malignant Fevers.

Common-Hemlock, Wild-Ciceley, or Cow-weed, in La∣tin Ci••utaria vulgaris.

The Root is thick, long, and white, especially within: It has an acrid and Aro∣matick Taste. The Stalks are three or four Foot high, or higher, as thick as the Thumb, empty, hairy, and reddish. The Leaves are like the Hemlock above∣mention'd, but they are broader, and of a paler Green; they shine, and have a short Down, but it is scarce visible. The white Flowers are placed in a Circle, and each of them consists of five Leaves; the uppermost are larger than the rest. A Pair of Seeds succeed each Flower; they are long, smooth, and black when they are ripe. It grows every where in Hedges, and in Orchards, and under Trees. It springs in the Beginning of the Spring, and flowers in May. In the Spring, when the Leaves are tender, Cows eat them greedily; where∣fore our Country-people call it Cow-weed.

J. Bauhinus says, he knew two Families, who think∣ing they had gather'd Pars∣nips, by chance found these Roots in the Winter, with∣out Leaves; (for they are more like Parsnips, than the Roots of the above∣mention'd Hemlock,) and having eaten a few of them, they were like to be suffo∣cated; and were senseless, and mad, and just like An∣ticks: He cured them with Vomits. And I remember, a whole Family, several Years ago, was strangely surpriz'd, at a Village cal∣led Huntington, about two Miles from the City of Chi∣chester, in Sussex, upon the like Occasion. But some affirm, that old Parsnips will cause the same Sym∣ptoms; wherefore they call them Madnips.

Hemp, in Latin Canna∣bis sativa.

The Seed of it boyl'd in Milk, is good for a Cough: And five or six Ounces of it taken, cures the Jaundice: An Emulsion of the Seeds does the same. The Juice of the Herb, and of the green Seed, cures Pains and Obstructions of the Ears. 'Tis suppos'd by some, that it extinguishes Venery; but the Persians use it now-a-days, fried, and mix'd with Salt, to provoke the same. The Oyl of the Seeds, mix'd with a little Wax, is excel∣lent to take out the Pain and Fire in Burns. Galen reckons, that the Virtues of Hemlock and Hemp are much the same.

Common Hemp-Agri∣monr, in Latin Eupatorium cannabinum.

The Root grows awry, and has large, whitish Fibres. The Stalk is five or six Foot high, streight, round, has Cotton on it, and is purplish, and full of white Pith; it has an Aromatick Smell when it is cut, and has many Wings. There are many Leaves upon the Stalks, three upon one Foot-stalk, something like the Leaves of Hemp, oblong, pointed, and indented about the Edges, and of a bitter Taste. The Flowers are placed on tufts, compos'd of five or six small purple Flowers. The Seeds, when ripe, fly away with the Down. It grows on the Banks of Rivers and Brooks, and near Stand∣ing-waters. It flowers in July.

'Tis Epatick and Vulne∣rary. 'Tis chiefly used for an ill Habit of Body; for Catarrhs, and Coughs; for Obstructions of Urine, and the Courses. It cures the Jaundice. Take of the Leaves of Hemp, Agrimo∣ny, Hart's-tongue, Speed-well, Colt's-foot, Mouse-ear, and Sanicle, each one Handful; of the Roots of Madder and Charvil, each one Ounce; of Barley half an Ounce, of Red Vetches half an Ounce, of Raisins of the Sun one Ounce and an half; boyl them in two Quarts of Fountain-water, till half is consum'd; sweet∣en it with Hony. This is used in an Empyema.

Common Hen-bane, in Latin Hyoscyamus vulgaris.

'Tis easily known by its stinking Smell. The Leaves are soft, downy, fat, and cut deep about the edges, and are plac'd disorderly upon the Stalks, which are two Foot high, branchy, thick, and cover'd with a thick Down. The Flow∣ers scarce appear above the Husk, they end in five round Points, they grow one above another, are of a dull yellow Colour, some∣what pale towards the Edges; they have many purplish Veins. The Seed is of a greyish Colour, and contain'd in an hard, close Husk. The Root is thick, wrinkly, white within, and brown without, and doth not stink so much as the Leaves. It grows near most High-ways, in untill'd Grounds, amongst Rubbish, and on fat Earth.

It cools and mollifies ve∣ry much: It disposes to Sleep, eases Pain, and miti∣gates Acrimony. 'Tis good for hot and sharp Defluxi∣ons of the Eyes. It stops Eruptions of Blood, and Overflowing of the Cours∣es. 'Tis applied for In∣flammation of the Testi∣cles, and other Parts. Take of the Seeds of Hen-bane and White-Poppy, each two Drams; Conserve of Red Roses two Ounces; make an Electuary: Take the quantity of a Nutmeg. This stops any Hemorrhage. Take of the Seeds of Hen∣bane and White-Poppy, each half a Dram; of Su∣gar of Roses three Drams, of Syrup of Comfrey a suf∣ficient quantity; make an Electuary: Take the quan∣tity of a small Nutmeg, drinking upon it a Draught of Tincture of Roses. This is good for Bleeding at the Nose, and Spitting of Blood.

Herb-Robert, in Latin Geranium Robertianum.

It grows commonly in Hedg∣es. It has a small Root. The Stalks are sometimes nine Inches, sometimes two Foot high; they are hairy, knotted, reddish, especially about the Joints; they branch out. The Leaves come partly from the Root, and partly from the Joints;

they are hairy, and are plac'd on reddish, hairy Foot-stalks, and are divi∣ded almost like the Leaves of Feverfew; they smell like Parsnips when they are rub'd, and taste astringent. The Flowers are purple, and consist of five Leaves; they come from a Cup that is hairy, of a deep red Co∣lour, and divided into five Parts. The Beaks are sharp-pointed.

'Tis Vulnerary. Inward∣ly taken, or outwardly ap∣plied, it stops Fluxes of Blood, and resolves coagu∣lated Blood. It cleanses Wounds and Ulcers. It expels Gravel, and cures Cholical Pains. 'Tis also commended for Ruptures. 'Tis used outwardly in an Erisipelas, and for Ulcers of the Mouth and Paps. Country-people make a Decoction of it for Cat∣tle, when they void Blood by Urine.

Holly, in Latin Agrifo∣lium.

The Berries are use∣ful in the Cholick, for they purge gross and pituitous Humours by Stool, ten or twelve being▪ taken at a time. This Tree is fittest to make Arbours, in the Northern Parts especially; for it will endure Cold ve∣ry well, it continues always green, is very pleasant to the Sight, and will bear Sheering: It grows very slowly, so that it will not be injurious to a Garden, either by reason of its Lu∣xuriant Branches, or spread∣ing Roots.

The Way to make Bird-lime.

Pill as many of this sort of Trees as you have occa∣sion for, in June or July; boyl the Bark, seven or eight Hours together, in Water, till it is tender: When it is boyl'd, make an Heap with Fern▪ strow∣ing a Lay of one, and a Lay of the other. This sort of Position the Chy∣mists call Stratum super stra∣tum; and mark it thus, S. S. S. Let it ferment a Fortnight, or three Weeks; then take it out, and beat it in a Mortar till it may be kneeded like Dough; then

wash it in Water, it will soon be clean. And so you will have pure Bird∣lime.

The Prickles of the Leaves boyl'd in Posset-drink, wonderfully ease the Cholick, and Pains in the Bowels. With this a Gen∣tlewoman cured her self, and many others, when other Medicines would do no good.

Common Hony-suckle, or Wood-bind, in Latin Pe∣riclymenum.

It heats and dries much: 'Tis Splena∣tick, and very Diuretick. 'Tis chiefly used in an Asth∣ma, and for a Cough. It dries moist and sordid Ul∣cers. It cures Scabs, and other Diseases of the Skin. It helps Difficulty of Breathing, and hastens De∣livery, and expels Gravel. The distill'd Water, and the Juice of it, is in use. The Leaves also are fre∣quently used in Garga∣risms; but some think they are too hot and acrid for such an Use.

Hops, in Latin Lupulus.

They preserve Beer, and make it more wholsom, and better tasted; and ren∣der it Diuretick. Beer purges the Blood, is good in the Jaundice, and for Hypochondriack Diseases: But whether it expels Gra∣vel, or generates it, is much disputed by some: They that commend it for the Stone, argue from its being hot and Diuretick: They that condemn the use of it in the Stone, say, that it makes the Fits worse; and that Ale, on the con∣trary, mitigates the Pain. Besides, they say that the Stone is much increas'd in England since the use of Hops. But I agree with those that approve and commend the use of it in Beer; for the Beer is there∣by render'd more agreeable to the Stomach, and pro∣motes the Concoction of the Meat the better. Nor does it avail any thing, that Physicians forbid the use of Beer in the Stone, and prescribe Ale; for they do so only to lessen the Pain; for which Intention Ale is very proper, by rea∣son of its Smoothness; but

it does no way conduce to∣wards the Eradicating the Disease, or Removing the Cause; but rather pro∣motes the Growth of it, by its being clammy, and apt to stick to it: And it plainly appears by Mr. Graunt's Observations on the Bills of Mortality, that fewer die of the Stone, in London, since Hops were so much used, than before. The Buds of Hops, eaten in the Spring-time, being first boyl'd and butter'd, purge the Blood, and loosen the Belly, and open Ob∣structions of the Liver and Spleen.

Take of Black-Soap, and fresh Hops, each two Hand∣fuls; of Blue-Currants a quarter of a Pound; beat them, and mix them, and apply them to the Wrists, to cure a Quotidian-Ague.

White Hore-hound, in Latin Marrubium album.

It has a single, woody Root, with many Fibres. It has many Stalks, a Foot high, or higher; they are downy, four-square, branchy, and have many Leaves on them, two opposite to one ano∣ther, at each Joint; they are roundish, wrinkly, and indented, and are placed on pretty long Foot-stalks. The Flowers are whitish, and very small; they en∣compass the Stalk at the Joints, and have short Foot-stalks, or none at all. Four Seeds, joyn'd together, suc∣ceed each Flower. The Smell of the whole Herb is strong, and somewhat offensive. It grows near High-ways, and amongst Rubbish.

The Juice of it mix'd with Hony, is good for those that have Coughs, and are Consumptive. The Powder of it kills Worms. Take of the Syrup of White Hore-hound two Ounces, of Oyl of Tartar per deliquium one Scruple; mix them: Let the Sick take often of it, a Spoon∣ful at a time. This is ex∣cellent in the Jaundice. The Tops of it infus'd in Wine, and drunk three Mornings, is good to pro∣voke the Courses, and to expel the Secundine, and to strengthen the Stomach,

and to cure an ill Habit of Body. A Conserve of the Flowers, made with Hony, and an Ounce of it taken in the Morning, for forty Days, cured a Nobleman of a Scirrhus in his Liver, when Chalybeats, and o∣ther Medicines, would do no good.

Horse-tail, in Latin E∣quisetum.

The Root is small, black, jointed, and creeping, and has many small Fibres arising from the Joints. It springs up with Heads somewhat like Asparagus, which grow in∣to hard, rough, hollow Stalks, joynted at many places, one within another. At every Joint grows a Bush of rusty, hard Leaves, resembling an Horse-tail. At the Tops of the Stalks come forth small Catkins, like those of Trees.

'Tis very astringent, and therefore is used to cure the Whites, and Fluxes of Blood; one Dram of the Powder of it, or four Oun∣ces of the Decoction of it in Wine, being taken Night and Morning. Three Spoonfuls of the distill'd Water, taken two or three Mornings, cures Bleeding, and Ulcers of the Reins and Kidnies. Outwardly applied, it cures Wounds, even when the Nerves are cut. For Ulcers of the Lungs, drink three Ounces of the Decoction made in Water, or two Ounces of the Juice, Morning and E∣vening. A Dram of the Powder taken in three Ounces of Plantane-water, Morning and Evening, for some Days, is commended for a Consumption.

Great Hounds-tongue, in Latin Cynoglossum.

The Root is thick, black with∣out, white within; it smells worse than it tastes, it has an odd, sweet Taste. The Stalks are about three or four Foot high; they are divided into many Branch∣es. The first Year the Leaves are long, and some∣what broad: The second Year, when it bears a Stalk, they are sharp and pointed, hoary, soft, and downy, and stink. The Flowers are of a sordid red Colour, divided, for some

time, into five pieces; the Flowers and Seeds most commonly bend to one part, and each is placed on a Foot-stalk an Inch long, which has no Leaf. The Leaves grow alter∣nately to the Stalks, with∣out Foot-stalks. It grows commonly amongst Rub∣bish, and in Fields not cultivated. It flowers in June.

It cools, and dries. 'Tis used to stop Blood, a Loos∣ness, a Gonorrhaea, and Catarrhs. An Ointment made of the Juice, with Hony and Turpentine, is much commended for old Fistulous Ulcers. The Pill made of Hound's-tongue is compounded in the following manner: Take of the Roots of Hound's-tongue dried, of the Seeds of White Hen-bane, and of Opium pre∣par'd, each half an Ounce; of Mirrh six Drams, of Olibanum five Drams, of Saffron, Castor, and Sto∣rax Calamite, each one Dram and an half: The Roots of Hound's-tongue, the Seeds of Hen-bane, and the Castor must be all powder'd together; but the Myrrh, the Saffron, and the Olibanum must be powder'd a-part; the O∣pium must be sliced small, and dissolv'd in Rose-wa∣ter; afterwards you must add the Powders, and with Syrup de Stecade make a Mass: The Dose is one Scruple. 'Tis frequently used in Catarrhs, and to cause Rest.

House-leek, or Sin-green, in Latin Sedum ma∣gus vulgare.

It does not grow spontaneously in Eng∣land, but it is commonly sown on Houses.

'Tis very Cooling, and Astringent. 'Tis used in∣wardly in Bilious Fevers, for it quenches Thirst, and moderates the Heat, the Juice of it being mix'd with Sugar. Rags dip'd in the Juice, or distill'd Water of it, and applied to any Inflammation of the Body, especially in the Frenzy, are very be∣neficial. The Juice of it cures Corns and Warts. For Ulcers of the Ma∣trix,

and Urinary Passage, take of the Juice four Ounces, and one Ounce of Litharge, and the Yolks of two Eggs; rub them a long time in a Leaden Mortar; then make Appli∣cation. In Fevers, when the Tongue is dry, and chap'd, dip a Leaf of it in Rose-water, and apply it to the Tongue, and re∣peat it often. Take of the Juice one Spoonful, of White-wine two Spoon∣fuls; mix them together; drop one or two Drops into the Eyes, and apply a double Linnen Rag, dip∣ped in the same. This is good for an hot Distillation on the Eyes.

Hyssop, in Latin Hysso∣pus.

'Tis hot, and acrid: It attenuates, opens, and cleanses. 'Tis chiefly used in Diseases of the Lungs. 'Tis frequently applied outwardly to remove Blood that is setled in the Eyes. A Bunch of it being boyl'd in Water, and applied hot to the Eye, is also very good for Bruises.