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 ...

KErmes, or the Scar∣let Oak, in Latin Ilex Coccigera.

This little Tree grows on stony Hills about Monopeliar, and in other Parts of France, and in Ita∣ly: But Clusius says, it does not every where bear the Grains of Kermes; for he says, they are only to be found in those Regions which are near the Medi∣terranean Sea, where the Sun shines very hot; and not always there neither; for, when the Shrub grows so big as to bear Acorns, the Kermes will not grow on it; and therefore the Inhabitants burn them up when they are about four Years old, that young ones may come in their Room, which afterwards yearly have the Grain of Kermes sticking to them, on the Branch, like small Peas, of an Ash-colour. These Grains are counted by Philosophers and Botanists, the Spurious or Excrementitious Fruit of the Scarlet-Oak only: But the learned and ingenious Dr. Martin Lister found such kind of Grains grow∣ing in England, upon the tender Branches of Cherry-trees; and supposes that they are not Excrescencies, but the Work of some In∣sect, for receiving as in a Nest, its young ones. The Grains serve for two Uses, for Medicine, and for Dy∣ing of a Scarlet Colour. They are astringent, and are used successfully for Wounds, and wounded

Nerves. They are also of good use to prevent Mis∣carriage; and used by the Physicians of Montpeliar for sudden Accidents, and Acute Diseases; as, for an Apoplexy, Palsie, and the like. They are also used for the Palpitation of the Heart, for Fainting, and for Melancholy. The Con∣fection of Kermes of the London-Dispensatory is made in the following manner: Take of the Juice of fra∣grant Apples, and of the sweetest Water of Roses, each one Pint and an half; of the Syrup of the Grains of Kermes one Quart; of Sugar one Pound; boyl them almost to the Con∣sistence of Hony, then take it from the Fire, and while it is hot add two Drams of Amber-Grease, cut small, and dissolv'd with some Drops of Oyl of Cinna∣mon; which being well mix'd, add the following things powder'd; of choice Cinnamon, and the best Wood of Aloes, each six Drams; of prepar'd Pearl two Drams, of Leaf-Gold one Dram; mix them ac∣cording to Art. The Sy∣rup of Kermes, men∣tion'd in making Confe∣ction of Kermes, is made in the following manner: They beat the Grains in a Marble Mortar, and pulp them through a Sieve, and mix them with an equal quantity of Sugar; this they call Conserve: And by adding more Sugar, Raw Silk, the Juice of Ap∣ples, and Rose-water, they make a Syrup.