Of Felwoort, or Baldmoney.
The kindes (las clases).
There be diuers sorts of Gentians or Felwoorts, whereof some be of our owne countrey; others more strange and brought further off: and also some not before this time remembred; either of the auncient or later writers, as shall be set foorth in this present chapter.
The description (la descripción).
The first kinde of Felwoort hath great large leaues, not vnlike to those of Plantaine, very well resembling the leaues of the white Hellebore: among which riseth vp a round hollow stalke as thicke as a mans thombe, full of ioints or knees like the Portingale dead nettle: euery ioint or knot set rounde about with small yellowe starlike flowers, like a coronet or garlande: at the bottome of the plant next the grounde the leaues do spread themselues abroade, embracing or clipping the stalke in that place rounde about, set togither by couples one opposite against another. The seede is small, browne, flat, and smooth like the seedes of the stocke Gilloflower. The roote is a finger thicke. The whole plant is of a bitter taste. Carolus Clusius setteth foorth an other sort of great Gentian, rising foorth of the grounde with a stiffe, firme or solide stalke, set with leaues like vnto Asclepias, by couples one opposite against another euen from the bottome to the top in certaine distances: from the bosome of the leaues there shoote foorth set vpon slender footestalkes certaine long hollow flowers like bels, the mouth whereof endeth in fiue sharpe corners. The whole flower changeth many times his colour according to the soile and clymate; now and then purple or blew, sometimes whitish, and often of the colour of ashes. The roote and seede is like the precedent. 1 Gentiana maior. Great Felwoort. <column-break/> 2 Gentiana maior ij. Clusij. Purple flowred Felwoort. <column-break/> 3 Gentiana minor Cruciata. Crossewoort Gentian. <column-break/> 4 Gentiana Pennei minor. Spotted Gentian of D. Pennie. 3 Crossewoort Gentian hath many ribbed leaues spred vpon the ground, like vnto the leaues of Sopewoort, but of a blacker greene colour: among which rise vp weake iointed stalkes trailing or leaning towarde the grounde. The flowers growe at the top in bundels thicke thrust togither, like those of sweete Williams, of a light blew colour. The roote is thicke, and creepeth in the grounde farre abroade, whereby it greatly increaseth. 4 Carolus Clusius hath set foorth in his Pannonicke historie a kinde of Gentian, which he receiued from master Thomas Pennie of London, doctor in Phisicke of famous memorie, and a second Dioscorides for his singular knowledge in Plants: which Taber Montanus hath set foorth in his Dutch booke for the seuenth of Clusius: wherein he greatly deceiued himselfe, and hath with a false description wronged others. The 12. sort or kinde of Gentian after Clusius, hath a rounde stiffe stalke, firme and solide, somewhat reddish at the bottom, iointed or kneed like vnto Crossewoort Gentian. The leaues are broad, smooth, full of ribs or sinewes, set about the stalkes by couples, one opposite against another. The flowers growe vpon small tender stalkes, compact of fiue slender blewish leaues, spotted very curiously with many blacke spots and little lines; hauing in the middle fiue yellowe chiues. The seede is small like sande: the roote is little, garnished with a fewe strings of a yellowish colour.
The place (el lugar).
Gentian groweth in shadowie woods, and the mountains of Italie, Slauonia, Germany, Fraunce, and Burgundie; from whence master Isaac de Laune a learned phisition, sent me plants for the encrease of my garden. Crossewoort Gentian groweth in a pasture at the west ende of little Rayne in Essex, on the north side of the waie leading from Baintrie to much Dunmow; and in the horse way by the same close.
The time (la época).
They flower and flourish in August, and the seede is ripe in September.
The names (los nombres).
Gentius king of Illyria was the first founder of this herbe, and the first that vsed it in medicine, for which cause it was called Gentian after his owne name: in Greeke γεντιανή: which name also the apothecaries retaine vnto this daie, and call it Gentiana: it is named in English Felwoort Gentian; Bitterwoort; Baldmoyne, and Baldmoney.
The temperature (el temperamento).
The roote of Felwoort is hot, as Dioscorides saith, clensing or scouring; diuers copies haue, that it is likewise binding, and of a bitter taste.
The vertues (las virtudes).
It is excellent good, as Galen saith, when there is neede of attenuating, purging, clensing, and remouing of obstructions, which qualitie it taketh of his extreme bitternesse. It is reported to be good for those that are troubled with crampes and conuulsions; for such as are burst, or haue fallen from some high place; for such as haue euill liuers and bad stomackes. It is put into counterpoisons, as into the composition named Theriaca diatessaron: which AEtius calleth Mysterium, a misterie or hid secret. This is of such force and vertue, saith Plinie, that it helpeth cattle which are not onely troubled with the cough, but are also broken winded. The roote of Gentian giuen in powder the quantitie of a dram, with a little pepper and herb Grace mixed therewith, is profitable for them that are bitten or stung with any maner of venemous beast or madde Dogge: or for any that hath taken poison. The decoction drunke is good against the stoppings of the liuer and stomacke, helpeth digestion, dissolueth and scattereth congealed bloud; and is good against all colde diseases of the inward parts.
Texto en la ortografía original de Gerard, en inglés de 1597 (la s larga se imprime como s), transcrito por la Source Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). Un capítulo puede continuar en páginas aún no transcritas. Gerard escribía dentro de la medicina galénica; nada de esto es un consejo.