Historia vegetabilium sacra, or, A Scripture herbal wherein all the trees, shrubs, herbs, plants, flowers, fruits &c. mentioned in the Holy Bible, are in an alphabetical order, rationally discoursed of ... / by W. Westmacott.

Lentils. Gen. 25. 34. 2 Sam. 17. 28. and 23. 11. Ezek. 4. 9.

N. K. D. P. Lens, Lenticula 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Lentils are a kind of Pulse, of which there is a Ma∣jor and a Minor sort, which are ma••ur'd in the fields beyond Sea, and are cultivated in some places in Eng∣land, for Fo••der instead of Fitches, and are called Tills, not differing much from wild Fitches or Tares. having little brownish Flowers mixed with white, which do produce a small flatCod, containing brown or white Seed.

The Lens Minor, Mr. Ray saith, are sown in the fields in Cambridge aud Huntington-shire, alone, and mixt with Barley.

The Lens Palustris, is Duck meat, or Water-Len∣tils, called also Lenticula aquatica, well known to

grow in Ponds, Lakes, Ditches, and standing Wa∣ters, being in its freshest Beauty in the beginning of the year. Dills or Lentils are sowed at Weeford in this County.

Virtues and Ʋses.

Lentils I suppose, being so near related to Fitches and that large Tribe, must with them be governed by ill natured Saturn: They are temperate as to heat and cold, yet dry, say our old Herbals, in the second Degree, and a stringent.

Being husked (they lose their binding virtue) and boiled, do loosen the Body, are never used inwardly in these days, and Gallen and the old Authors say, They are hard of digestion, breed Atra Bilis, Leprosie, and Cankers. Mr. Ray saith, They dull the Sight, and are an enemy to the Head and Genus Nervosum.

Outwardly they may be used in Lotions, Fomen∣tations and Caetaplasms in Maladies, where Indica∣tions call for such qualified Plants. See Fitches, Tares.

Ducks-meat is crud and watery, colde and moist in the second Degree, used in all Inflammations, St. Anthony's Fire, Erysipela's alone, or made into a Pul∣tiss with Barley-meal, or with Wheat-flour, in hot Tumors and Phlegmons. Mathi••l. saith, The distilled Water cools inward In••l••••mations, and redness of the Eyes. And Mr. Ray saith, Dr. Bates communicated it is him, as an infallible Secret in the Jaundice, being in∣fused in White Wine and drank for nine days, but 'tis not remarked in the Pharmacop. Batean. as I can find. It may allay an inflamed Sulphurous Blood, in which Choler prevails, and often gives a Jaundice colour, but not cure, the Jaundice proceeding from obstruction, as Sir J. F. truly and rationally concludes.

Being once called to a Patient, far from better Medicines, I was forced to frame a Cataplasm of Ducks-meat, Peans powdered to Meal, and a little Vinegar, which applied, strangely pacified and eased an Inflammation of the Penis and Priapism.