Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 23, 1912.djvu/515

 Correspondence. 491

no black spots as the Cold hath, it being a Weed of Mars, let it be gathered as directed, and put in cold Water, being well moistened, take it out and lay it to the place Defective, and let it lie on it till the Asjnart be hot, then take it and Bury it in the Ground above two Foot deep, and as that doth rot or consume, so will the Wen or any of the other sink or grow less and less, till it be quite gone ; for that which hath been long, do it twice.

Vervaine. Vervaine an Herb of Venus, being gathered as directed, and bruised and hung about the Neck, helps the Head-ach,^ the Distill'd Water of it, so gathered, droped into the Eyes, cleanseth them from all Mists, Films, Clouds that hinders the Sight, and wonderfully Strengtheneth the Optlck Nerves; the Leaves in Syrrup or Decoction, helpeth all inward Pains and Lungs, Kidneys, Stone or JFounds, healeth Ulcers, Gangreens or Fistula s, in any part of the Body.

JVild Carrot Seeds. Being under Mercury and taken in Wine, or Boyled in Wine, removes Stiches in the Sides. . . and helpeth to break and expel the Stone ; for the Dropsie, and those whose Bellies are Swellen with Wine, helpeth Collick, the Stone in the Kidfieys,. . . ; the Leaves applyed with Hotiey to Running Sores or Ulcers, it Cleanses them, and Heals them in a short time.-

Hop Seeds. Take half a Dram of it in Powder in a little Drink, killeth the Worms in the Body. ..

Columbine. Being under Venus, a Dram of the said Seeds taken in Wine with a little Saffron, openeth Obstructions of the Liver, and is good for the Yellow Jaundice, if the party after the taking thereof be laid to Sweat well in the Bed. ..

iCf. W. G. Black, Folk- Medicine, p. 193.

2 Cf. Blagrave^s Supplement, or Enlargement to Mr. Nick. Culpepper's English Physitian (1674), pp. 24-5.