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 ...

I.

JAck-by-the-Hedge, or Sauce-alone, in Latin Alliaria.

It sends forth Stalks, round, channel'd and solid; small, and some∣what hairy; three or four Foot high. The Root is small, woody and white; and stinks like Garlick. The Leaves are first round, like Ground-Ivy, but much larger; but soon after∣wards they are a little pointed, and indented a∣bout the Edges; they are of a pale Green, and smooth, and set on large Foot-stalks; the Smell and Taste of them is not so strong as Garlick; they are placed at a great di∣stance upon the Stalks. Disorderly, upon the tops of the Stalks and Branches, are many whitish, small Flowers, consisting of four small Leaves, upon very short Foot-stalks; in the midst whereof are Tufts, of a Colour betwixt Yel∣low and Green. The ob∣long and blackish Seed is contain'd in long Cods, that are angl'd, and di∣vided

by a Membrane that has two Valves. It grows in Hedges and Ditches.

Country-people use it in Sauces. When it is green, it provokes Urine; when dry, it expels Poyson. Being boyl'd in Wine, or mix'd with Hony, it cures old Coughs. 'Tis excellent for resisting Putrefaction: Up∣on which Account, the Herb it self, beat up with Hony, and the Juice boyl'd till it is thick, are put into Cata∣plasms for Gangreens, and other putrid and malignant Ulcers. The Seed applied to the Bottom of the Belly, cures Mother-fits. The Seeds rub'd, and put into the Nose, provokes Sneez∣ing, and purges the Head. The Herb boyl'd in Oyl and Water, and taken in∣wardly, relieves Asthma∣ticks. Some boyl the Leaves in Clysters for the Cholick. Nephritick Pains, and the Stone. 'Tis like true Scordium in Virtue and Smell. Fabricius Hil∣danus says, he often found the Juice very good for Gangreens, And none need wonder why the Ancients, especially the Arabians, sub∣stituted this Herb for Scor∣dium; not for that Scor∣dium was unknown to them, but because they found, in a manner, the same Virtues in this Plant. Besides, Scordium does not grow in many Regions, and so it must be had dry and obsolete; whereas this Herb grows almost every where.

White Iessamin, in La∣tin Jasminum album.

The Flowers are chiefly used to perfume Gloves. The Oyl of it heals, mollifies, and opens; and is used in Con∣tractions of the Limbs; and the like.

Iew's-ear, in Latin Fungus sambucinus.

It grows to the Trunk of the Elder∣tree.

Being dried, it will keep good a Year. Boyl'd in Milk, or infus'd in Vine∣gar, 'tis good to gargle the Mouth or Throat in Quin∣sies, and other Inflamma∣tions of the Mouth and Throat. And being in∣fus'd

in some proper Wa∣ter, it is good in Diseases of the Eyes.

St. Iohn's-wort, in La∣tin Hypericon.

It has a woody Root, that is much divided, and hath many stiff, woody, round, reddish Twigs, two Foot and an half high, or higher, and divided into many Branch∣es. The Leaves grow by Pairs, opposite to one ano∣ther, and have no Foot-stalks; they are smooth, and full of Holes, which may be plainly perceiv'd if you hold them up against the Sun; they taste dry and astringent, with some kind of Bitterness. At the top of the Stalks and Branches grow yellow Flowers of five Leaves a∣piece, with yellow Tufts in the middle; which be∣ing bruis'd, yield a bloody Juice. After the Flowers, come small, round Heads, wherein are contain'd small, black Seeds. It grows in Hedges, and a∣mong Bushes.

'Tis an excellent Diure∣tick and Vulnerary Herb. A Decoction of it cures Tertian and Quartan-A∣gues: It stops Spitting of Blood, and expels Gravel. A Tincture of the Flowers is excellent in a Mania: And the Flowers infus'd in Spirit of Wine, kill Worms. The Compound∣ed Oyl of the London-Dis∣pensatory is much us'd, and is made in the following manner: Take one Pint of White-wine; of the Tops, and Flowers, and Seeds of St. John's-wort four Oun∣ces; bruise them, and in∣fuse them three Days in a Pint of old Oyl of Olives, in the Sun, or upon a gen∣tle Fire; and then press it. Note, they must infuse in a Glass well stop'd. There must be a second and third Infusion in the same Wine. After the third Infusion, boyl it till all the Wine is, in a manner, consum'd; then strain it, and add three Ounces of Turpen∣tine, and one Scruple of Saffron; then boyl it a lit∣tle, and put it up for Use. This is excellent for Bruises and Aches. For Spitting of Blood, Take of the Leaves of St. John's-wort,

Hart's-tongue, Speed-well, Mouse-ear, and Ground-Ivy, each one Handful; of the Roots of Chervil, and fresh Nettles, each one Ounce; boyl them in three Pints of Fountain-water, to two; add an Ounce and an half of Raisins of the Sun ston'd, of Liquorish two Drams, of the Byzan∣tine Syrup two Ounces; clarifie them with the White of an Egg, and make an Apozem: Take four or six Ounces twice or thrice a Day, for a Month.

Iuly-flowers, in Latin Caryophyllus.

They are Ce∣phalick and Cordial. The Syrup is chiefly used, and is made in the following manner: Take of fragrant July-flowers, the White be∣ing cut off, one Pound; pour on them a Quart of Spring-water, and let them stand all Night; then strain the Liquor, and, be∣ing gently warm'd, dissolve therein four Pounds of the whitest Sugar, without boil∣ing it; and make a Syrup.

Iuniper-tree, in Latin Juniperus.

It spreads it self near the Ground. The Leaves are like the Leaves of Furze, but not so large, nor so prickly; they are always green; they are stiff, and smooth above; they are seldom an Inch long, and are very nar∣row. The Branches are divided into many Twigs. The Berries are many, round, and twice as large as Pepper; when they are ripe they are blackish; they taste acrid and resinous, with a sort of Sweetness.

The Wood being burnt, perfumes the Air. The Berries are good for a cold Stomach, and are good a∣gainst Wind and Gripes: They provoke Urine, and expel Poyson, and are good in Diseases of the Head and Nerves. The Oyl of Juniper is much in use; it helps the Tooth-ach, and is good in the Cholick, and against Gravel: The Dose is five or six Drops, in a proper Vehicle.

Climbing-Ivy, in Latin Hedera Arborea.

'Tis fre∣quently used outwardly, upon Issues, and for Pains

in the Ears proceeding from Matter contain'd within. The Ancients boyl'd the Leaves in Wine, and applied them to Burns, and malignant Ulcers. Some that are afflicted with the Gout apply the green Leaves to the pain'd Parts. A Pugil of the dried Flowers, taken in Wine, cures the Bloody Flux. A large quantity of the Pow∣der of the ripe Berries taken in Wine, is an ex∣cellent Remedy for the Plague. A Dram of the Stones taken in Wine, pro∣vokes Urine, and expels Gravel. Three of the Stones powder'd, and ta∣ken, with a little Saffron, in Penny-royal-water, for some Days, in the Morn∣ing, scarce ever fails to move the Courses: It must be taken hot.

The Berries purge up∣wards and downwards. The Oyl of the Berries, drawn by Distillation, is very good for cold Diseases of the Joints: It provokes the Courses, expels Gravel, and cures sordid Ulcers. Take one Dram of the ripe Berries, dried in the Shade, and powder'd, in a Glass of White-wine: This is very Sudorifick, and is good in the Plague, and for Pains of the Stomach.

Ground-Ivy, in Latin Hedera terrestris.

'Tis Vul∣nerary, either outwardly applied, or taken inward∣ly. 'Tis also Diuretick, and moves the Courses. 'Tis frequently used for Diseases of the Lungs, for Obstructions of the Kid∣nies, and the Jaundice, and in Clysters for the Cholick. The People in the North put it into their Beer, to clear it; and therefore it is call'd Ale∣hoof. The Juice of it drawn up into the No∣strils, cures inveterate and violent Head-aches. A Tincture of the Leaves, made in Nantz-Brandy, is excellent in the Cholick. Take of the Conserve of Red Roses four Ounces, of Flowers of Sulphure four Scruples, of pure Oyl of Turpentine one Dram, of the Species of the Lungs of a Fox three Drams, of Syrup of Ground-Ivy a suf∣ficient

quantity; make a Linctus: Lick of it often in a Day, with a Liquorish∣stick. This is proper to stop a Tickling Cough.