The Medlar

The medlar grows nearly tothe size of the tree, spreading branches moderately large, with longer and narrower leaves than either the apple or quince, not dented at the edges. At the end of the sprigs stand the flowers, made of five white, broad pointed leaves, nicked in the middle with some white threads also; the fruit is of a brown green colour, bearing a crown on the top, which, having fallen away, the head is hollow.

The fruit is very harsh before it is mellowed. It is cultivated in gardens.

A strong decoction of unripe medlars arrests diarrhoea. A plaster made of the fruit dried beforethey are rotten, and other convenient things, and applied to the .kidneys prevents abortion. They are powerful to stay fluxes of blood or humours; the leaves have the same quality. The fruit prevents unnatural longings in females. The decoction is good to gargle and wash the mouth, throat and teeth, when affected with pains and swellings.

The medlar is a good bath to sit over for the bleeding piles. If a poultice or plaster be made with dried medlars, with the juice of red roses, and a little clove and nutmeg, and applied to an unsettled and foul stomach, it gives relief. The dried leaves in powder strewed on fresh bleeding wounds heals them quickly. The medlar-stones powdered, and put into wine in which parsley roots have been boiled a little, is effectual in removing stones from the kidneys.