Adam in Eden, or, Natures paradise the history of plants, fruits, herbs and flowers with their several names ... the places where they grow, their descriptions and kinds, their times of flourishing and decreasing as also their several signatures, anatomical appropriations and particular physical vertues together with necessary observations on the seasons of planting and gathering of our English simples with directions how to preserve them in their compositions or otherwise : ... there is annexed a Latin and English table of the several names of simples, with another more particular table of the diseases and their cures ... / by William Coles ...

The Vertues.

Because the Physicians do commonly joyn sumak and myrtle in their Com∣positions, therefore I have set them next to one another in this Book of simples, and indeed they are alike effectuall for all effusions of blood, at what part soever both in Men and Women, the dry rather then the dryed Leaves being beaten and boyled with water and drunk, and so it is good against Catarrhes, falling to any part of the body, the Whites in Women, moist Ulcers, and fretting or creeping sores. The fruit with the seed is good for the tremblings and passions of the heart, resisteth the danger that might happen by the sting of Serpents, the bit∣ings of venemous Creatures, or by poysonfull Mushromes; Being drunk in Wine, it helpeth a stinking breath, cureth the diseases of the bladder, & provok∣eth Urine: the same heated with wine, healeth all Ulcers that are hard to cure, and so it is good for blancs, wheales, and other breakings out of the skin: The decoction is good for Women, to sit in or over that are troubled with the falling downe of the Mother, and is good also for the falling downe of the fundament, and the piles: Being mixed with Sallet-Oyle, or Oyle of Roses and Wine, and applyed, it helpeth the swelling of the Cods, the Impostumes of the fundament and Saint Anthonies fire. The decoction of the Leaves is good for the resolu∣tion of the Arteries and Joynts, and other weaknesses incident thereunto, to sit in the same as in a Bath, or else to bath that part only which is most amisse, and so it helpeth to consolidate those bones that are broken or out of joynt, which will otherwise hardly be cured: It helpeth the sorenesse of the Nailes, and the rising of the skin about them, if the powder of the dryed leaves be cast thereon. The juyce of the leaves hath the same effects, whether it be taken out of the fresh Leaves, or from the dry, by sprinkling them over with Red Wine, and is safely used where there is need of any binding Medicine, either to heal the Ulcers of the Mouth or of the privy parts: the same also helpeth watering eyes, or those that begin to loose their eye-sight, by reason of any filme or skin growing over it, especially if it be laid on with parched Barly Meal. The decoction of the Berries maketh the hair black, and keepeth it from falling, it cureth all the evill sores of the head, and cleanseth the same from scurfe and scals, being often wa∣shed therewith, and helpeth them that are bursten. The Syrupe of Myrtls is good for the Cough and exulceration of the Lungs. The powder of the dryed Leaves helpeth the stinking sweat of the flanks and arme-pits, and the sweating of the

Cardiack passion; The juyce condensate of Myrtles is also commended, as a good substitute for Acacia. The excrescence called Myr••••danum, is of greater force to dry and bind, then either leafe, juyce or seed.