Jews Ears.
Auriculae Judae.
A kind of fungus, or, as the common phrase is, of toad's stool, growing upon old elder trees. It is about an inch and a half long, and generally an inch broad, and is somewhat of the shape of an ear. It grows by a broad base to the bark of the tree, and from this it gradually spreads into a flat, hollow, substance, with several ridges in it, running irregularly, whence it is supposed to have the resemblance of the ear most perfectly. Its colour is a pale grey on the outside, it is darker within, and there run several ribs along it. It is to be dried. Boiled in milk, it is recommended greatly in sore throats and quinsies. These remedies of the vulgar have come originally from physicians, and they commonly have something to support them. The Jew's ear is at this time out of repute, but that seems owing to sophistication. They commonly sell, under the name of it, another fungus that grows to a great bigness, overspreading wood, in damp places. They get it off the water pipes at the New River head at Islington, to supply Covent Garden market.
