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WIlde Cucumbre hath leaues somewhat rounde and rough, but lesser and rougher then the leaues of common Cucumber. The stalkes be rounde and rough, creeping alongst the grounde without any claspers or holders, vpon whiche out of the holownesse of the collaterall bran∣ches
or winges, amongst ye leaues grow shorte stemmes bearing a flower of a faynte yellow colour, after the flowers there commeth little rough Cucumbers of the bignesse & length of ones thombe, full of sappe with a browne kernell, the which being ripe, skippeth forth assoone as one touche ye Cucumbers. The roote is white, thicke, and great, with many other small rootes hanging by. All the herbe is of a very bitter taste, but espe∣cially the fruite, whereof men vse to ga∣ther the iuyce and drye it, the whiche is vsed in medicine.
This herbe is found in the gardens of Herboristes of this Countrie: and where as it hath ben once sowen, it com∣meth easily agayne euery yere.
These Cucumbers do flower in Au∣gust, & their seede is ripe in September.
This Cucumber is called in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: in Latine Cucumis Agrestis, syluestris, & erraticus: of some Cucumis anguinus: in shoppes Cucumis asininus: in English Wylde Cucumbre: in French Concombre sauuage: in high Douche Wilde Cucumer, or Esels Cucumer: in base Almaigne Wilde Concommeren, or Esels Concommeren: in Englishe Wilde Cucumber, or leaping Cucumber.
The iuyce of the roote being dry, is called Elaterium: in shoppes Elacterium.
The iuyce of wilde Cucumbre is hoate and drie in the second degree, and of a resoluing and clensing nature. The roote is of the same working, but not so strong as the iuyce.
[ A] Elaterium (whiche is the iuyce of wilde Cucumbers dryed) taken in quan∣titie of halfe a scruple, driueth foorth by siege grosse fleme, cholerique, and espe∣cially waterishe humours. Moreouer it is good against the Dropsie, and for them that be troubled with shortnesse of breath.
[ B] The same delayed with sweete milke, and powred into the nose, putteth a∣way from the eyes the euyl colour whiche remayneth after the Iaundise, swa∣geth headache and clenseth the brayne.
[ C] The same put into the place of conception sodden with honied wine, helpeth women to their naturall sicknesse, and deliuereth the dead childe.
[ D] Elaterium layd to outwardely with olde Oyle, or honie, or with the gall of an Oxe, or Bull, healeth the Squinancie, and the swellinges in the throte.
[ E] The iuyce of the barke and roote of wilde Cucumber, doth also purge fleme, and cholerique, and waterish humours, & is good for such as haue the Dropsie, but not of so strong operation as Elaterium.
[ F] The roote of wilde Cucumber made soft or soked in vineger and layde to, swageth the payne, and taketh away the swelling of the gowte. The vineger wherein it hath ben boyled, holden in the mouth, swageth the tooth ache.
[ G] The same layde to with parched barlie meale, dissolueth cold tumours, and layde to with Turpentine, it breaketh and openeth impostemes.
[ H] The same made into powder, and layd to with honie, clenseth, scoureth, and taketh away foule scuruines, spreading tetters, manginesse, pushes or wheales, red spottes, and all other blemishes, and scarres of mans body.
[ I] The iuyce of the leaues dropped into ye eares, taketh away the payne of the same.
Elaterium taken into the body, hurteth the inward partes, and openeth the smal vaynes, prouoketh gripinges and torments in the belly in doing his ope∣ration.
To cause that it shal do no hurt, it must be geuen with Mede, or with swete mylke, a litle salt and Annys seede, or geue it in powder with gumme Traga∣gante, a litle Annys seede and salt.