Corn Cockle

A tall and beautiful plant, wild in corn-fields, with red flowers. It grows two feet high; the stalk is single, slender, round, hairy, firm, and very erect. The leaves stand two at a joint, not numerous; they are long, narrow, hairy, and of a bright green colour, the flowers stand singly, one at the top of each branch, large, and of a beautiful red. They have a beautiful cup, composed of five narrow hairy leaves much longer than the flower.

The seeds are used; they promote urine, the menses, and all obstructions, and are good in dropsy and jaundice. The best way is to give them in powder, made into an electuary, to be taken for some time; for the medicines, whose virtues are against chronic disease, do not take effect at once.