161-164 Red Winter Cherries, French Mercury, The smaller Spurge, Chickweed.
161. Red Winter Cherries. Alkekengi or Halicacabum.
1. The Stalks grow two Foot high, the Leaves are a dull Green, the Flowers white with yellow Stamina, and the Fruit red.
2. They are planted here in Gardens, flowring in Iuly and August, the Fruit being ripe in September.
3. The Leaves are esteem'd cooling; and the Berries a good Diuretic, usefull in the Gravel and Stone. - Boiled in Milk and sweetned with Sugar they cure the Heat of Urine, making of bloody Water, Ulcers in the Kidneys and Bladder. - They help the Jaundice by opening the Obstructions of the Liver and Gall Bladder; and the Dropsy by carrying off the Water thro the Urinary Passages. The officinal Preparation is the Trochisei Alkekengi.
4. Greek, Στρυχνος αλκικακαβοσ. Latin, Solanum versicarium. Spanish, Besiga de Perro. Italian, Alcachengi. French, Buguendandes. German, Judentirschen. Dutch, Krieken van Oberzee.
162. French Mercury. Mercurialis mas & foemina.
1. It grows about a Foot high, the Leaves are grass Green, & the Flowers yellowish.
2. It grows frequently in Gardens, waste Places, and Rubbish, flowring for several Months in the Year.
3. The Leaves and Stalks are accounted apperative and mollifying, a Decoction of them purges choleric and serous Humours, used in Glisters. - Matthiolus commends a Decoction of the Seed with Wormwood for the yellow Jaundice. The Juice is good to take away Warts.
4. Greek, Αινοζωςις θηλυς. Latin, Mercurialis vuglaris mas et foemina. Spanish, Mercuriale. Italian, Mercurella femina. French, Mercuriale femelle. German, Bingelcraut. Dutch, .
163. The smaller Spurge. Esula minor Pityusa.
Also see #123, Garden Spurge.
1. The Stalks grow more than a Foot high, the Leaves are grass Green, and the Flowers yellowish.
2. It is planted in Gardens here, & flowers for Several Months in the Summer.
3. This Plant is a violent strong Cathartic & Emetic; and is said to be good for the Dropsy, Gout, & other Obstinate Distempers; But must be used with great Caution.
4. Greek, Τιφυμαλος κυωαγιωιας. Latin, Esula minor. Spanish, Lecce tregua. Italian, Esula minore. French, Tithymale. German, Cypressene Bolffsmilch. Dutch, .
164. Chickweed. Alsine.
1. It grows to be eight Inches high, the Leaves are a light grass Green and the Flowers white.
2. It grows every where in moist Places, and too often in Gardens, flowring most Months of the Year.
3. It is esteem'd cooling and moistning, good for Inflammations of the Liver, St. Anthony's Fire, Redness and Pimples in the Face; being applyed to the Parts affected as a Cataplasm or Cloths dipt in ye Juice. - A Poultice made of it & Hog's Lard, helps hot Swellings & Tumours; the Juice dropt into ye Eyes helps Redness & Bloodshot.
4. Greek, Αλσινη. Latin, Alsine. Spanish, . Italian, Paparine. French, Mouron. German, Bogelcraut. Dutch, Muur.
