. a n Forms of Remedies ; iit. Recrrprs for mak g from}} sigeshar-ick ith Cautions in the giving hem. eee Priced for W. Jounstoy, in St. re. Ni ; emple- Bar mg Mie | es i UsEFUL FamiILy HERBAL. OR, AN Account of all thofe Engh ifh Plants, which are remarkable for their Virtues: And of the Drucs, which are produced by Vegetables of other Countries. With their DrescripTIONs, and their Ufes, as proved by po elagaa Ce Iiluftrated with ¥ : : Eigunks of the moft ufeful Englijh PLANTS. WITH AN INTRODUCTION; EES rae “ I. Directions for the ¢g rups, and othe r Forms proper to be and pablo Roots, Herbs, no in fpr and for keeping all Seeds. S, il, The various Metuops of pre- Iv. The ’ Ways of making up Elec poring thefe Simples for oi tuaries, Fuleps, Beats and the | other commo: them di filled aters, ses Cores | : AND AN | AP PLB ND 1X; ees Containing, aPRopo $ At for the farther feeking into the Virtues of Euglifh ee and the Manner of. sone 2 with Eafe and Safety : The Whole ste for the Ufe of Fam YLIESs a And for the Infruétion ‘of thofe who are defirdus of relieving — ~ the diftreffed Sick. By JOHN HILL, M.D ae Fellow of the Roya ACADEMY of Sciences at oe artaae THE SECOND sionamtbeege LONDON: W. Owen, in Fleet-frect near See MDCCLV. To the HonowrasBte the Lady Betty Germain. Mapam, HEN a Book intinided for % the Benefit of Mankind, Za, written with that fole Views x ® and preferring Ufe to! eon: required fome Name crate whofe Protection it might be received with Favour by the World, it will not appear ftrange to any, unlefs per- haps to yourfelf, that yours fhould be prefixed. Iam no Flatterer, Madam, but I think it a Duty thofe who have it in their Power to make Truth: public owe to Mankind, that they fhould 2 _— Virtue in the moft confpicuous A 2 Light. we DEDFEGCAT FO.24: Light. It is thus made more gene- rally, and more extenfively ufeful, than it could be by any other Means: And your Humanity, Benevolence, and generous Charities, fhall, being thus delivered to the public Eye, and ‘continued down perhaps to another Generation, be an Exampie to thofe who never faw you; and biefs the Defcendants of thofe Thoufands, whom your Hand as relieved. Virtues, like yours, Madam, in any Age, would: have ‘been confpicuous ; but in the prefent, where all Good- nefs is fo much difregarded, they fhine with a new Luitres to be ge- nerous»at a Time, when Profufion in Follies renders others \Niggards in good Things; ‘to relieve, — becaufe the Object is diftrefied, not becaufe fome particular Voice or Intereft- re- - eommends him; and to maintain a ed of Religion, as the Support. of Virtue ; and a Futurity as the Pes riod j in which it fhall be rewarded, at — a Time when — diredts even re = DEDICATI O WwW. Vv thofe who affect Humanity, and when every Thing facred is trod under Foot, and Heaven itfelf treated-as a Chimera ; this, Madam, isan Honeur, thatin the Eye of Reafon eclipfes all the Pomp of ‘Rank, and all the Gftentation of Title. It is more your Glory, Madam, te have claimed this Charaéer, than to have defcended frem the longeft Line of Patriots and of Heroes. It is for thefe the Good will celebrate you; anticipating that Praife, which your pure Spirit fhall tafte, when Angels fing about it, as they condué it to thofe Regions, which He who loves Virtue, has prepared for its Reception. | Pardon a Stranger, Madam, who addrefles you in Terms, fuited not to the ordinary Circumftances of Rank and Title, thofe others fhare with you; but in that'Goodnefs in which, to the Misfortune of the World, you are al- moft alone :. And who knows the moft that he can fay, will not be accounted Flattery ; becaufe, bad as Men are in general, they all allow Virtue to be | ample; =~ vic — DEDICATION. amiable ; and all allow that you pof- fefs it in the fulleft Chara¢ter. That you may yet long continue a Blefling to the prefent Age, is, Ma- dam, the moft fincere Wifh of him who knows he confiders the Interefts © of others, more than your own, in that Defire: And who is, a the moft true Refped, MADAM, Your LaDysuip’s moft obedient and moft humble Servant, John Hill. Wy j Ki Ss - ij ; ie ee Vides PS oyiiss < > upon the fame Sehictts with eGre)4 this, but if one of them had treated if in the fame Manner, this would have been rendered unneceffary, and would never have employed rhe Attention of its Author. It is his Opinion, that the true End of Science is Use; and in this View, the prefent Work has been undertaken. It appears to bim a Matter of more Confegquence, and a Subjet of more Satisfattion, to have difcovered the Vir- tues of one Herb unknown before, than _t@ have difpofed ip their proper ee 2 fexteen ime ine PR EF AG ie fixteen Thoufand; nay fo far will a Senfe of Uzility get the better of the Pride of mere Curiofity, that he fbould fuppofe this a Thing preferable to be faid of him, to the having difcovered Some unknown Species , to having picked from the Bottom of Jome Pond, an un- defcribed Conterva, or to having fetched from the mof? remote Parts of the World, @ Kind of Tree Mofs, with Heads larg- er than thofe at Flome. Lt grieves a Man of public Spirit and Flumanity, to fee thofe Things which are the Means alone of the Advantages of _ Mankind fiudied, while the End, that Advantage itfelf, is forgotten. And in this View he will regard a Cul- pepper, as a more refpettable Perfon, than a Linneus or @ Dillenius. That Botany is an ufeful Study is plain; becaufe it is in vain that we know Betony is good for Head-achs, or Self-heal for Wounds, unlefs we can diftinguifh Betony and Self-heal from one another, and fo it runs through the = whole Study. We are taught by it to The?P. RoE FA GR. know what Plants belong to what Names, and to know that very diftin&ly ; and. we fhall be prevented by that Know- ledge from giving a Purge for an Af- tringent, a Poifon for a Remedy ; let us therefore efteem the Study of Botany, but let us know, that this Ufe of the Di- fiinétions it gives is the true End of it; and let us refpeti thofe, who em- ploy their Lives in eftablifhing thofe DiftinEtions upon the moft certain Foun- dation, upon making them the moff ac- curately, and carrying them the far- theft poffible: Thefe are the Botanifts ; but.with all the Gratitude we owe them for their Labours, and all the Re/pe? we foew them on that Confide- ration, let us underfiand them as but the Seconds in this Science. The prin- cipal are thofe who know how to bring their Difcoveries to Ufe, and can fay what are the Ends that will be an- JSwered by thofe Plants, which they have Jo accurately diftinguifbed. The Boy colleéts the Specimens of Herbs with great Care, and beftows ten Years in << Af. pang. = vee The PREF A C Re pafting them upon Paper, and writing their Vames to them: He does well. When he grows a Man, be negleéts his ufeful Labours; and perhaps de- Spifes bimfelf for the Mifemployment of Jo much Time: But if he bas, to the Knowledge of their Forms, added af- terward the Study of their Virtues, he will be far from cenfuring himfelf for all the Pains he took to that End. He who wifbes well to. Science and to Mankind, muft wifh this Matter un- derfiood: And this is the Way to bring aPart of Knowledge into Credit; wobich, as it. isscommonly practised, is nota Fot above the Studies of a Raifer of Tulips or a Carnation-fanfier. When we confider the Study of Plants, as the. Search of Remedies for Difeafes, we fee it in the Light of one of the mof? honourable Sciences in the World; in this View no Pains are too great to have been beftowed in its Ac- quirement; and in this Intent, the _ principal Regard ought to be had to _— thofe of cur cwn Growth. The foreign —~ We Plants. ThOPREEFACGE vii Plants brought into our Stoves with fo much Expence, and kept there with fo mech Pains, may fill the Eye with empty Wonder: But it would be more to the Honour of the Poffeffor of them, ta have found out the Ufe of one common Herb at Home, than to have enriched our Country with an hundred of the others. Vay, in the Eye of Reafon, this oftentatious Study is rather a Reproach. Why foould he, who has not yet inform- ed himfelf thoroughly of the Nature of the meaneft Herb which grows in the next Ditch, ranfac the Earth for fo- reign Wonders? Does he not fall un- der the fame Reproach with the Gene- rality of thofe, who travel for their Im- provement, while they are ignorant of all they left at Home; and who are ridiculous in their Inquiries concerning the Laws and Government of other Countries, while they are not able to give a fatisfattory Anfwer to any Que- ftion which regards their own ? I have faid thus much to obviate the Cenfures ¥ — to whom an Inquiry A 4 | inte vai “The; P-R EF A Gs6; into the Virtues of Herbs, may feem the Province of a Woman. It is an Honour to the Sex, that they have put our Studies to ufe; but it would be well, if we had done fo ourfelves ; or if, con- fidering that they might, we had made _ our Writings more intelligible to them. The Intent of Words is to expre/s our Meaning: Writings are publifbed that they may be underftood; and in this Branch, I fall always fuppofe he writes beft, who is to be underftood moft univerfally. Now fo far are we from having had this Point in view in Bo- tany, that more new.and more firange Words have been introduced into it, than into all the Sciences together: And fo remarkable is the Swede before menti- oned, Linneus, for this; that a good _ Scholar, nay the bef Scholar in the World, fall not be able to under- frand three Lines together in bis beff Writings, although they are written in Latin, a Language in which he as ever fo familiar. The Author has not been at the Pains to explain bis oS new Thes#Pi Ri BrreA CE; ix new Words himfelf, but refers his Reader to Nature; he bids him feek them in the Flowers, where he found them. The farther we perufe this Confide- ration, the more we fball find a Book © like the prefent neceffary. It appears, that what are called the Books in Botany, far from being in the Com- pass of many who wifh to be ufeful in their Knowledge of Plants, are not to be underftood by any, except a few, who follow the ufelefs, though curious Steps of the Author ; in many Parts And as for the others which have not thefe fafbionable Innovations, the beft among them fay nothing of their Ufe or Virtue at all. The Authors efeem this a particular Branch of Know- ledge, and in this they are right. He who writes of the Forms and Figures of Plants is a Naturalift, and he who defcribes their Virtues ought to be a Phyfician: He who writes a very good Eiftory of Plants, may not have it in as x: Fhe P-R EF A Cok; bis Power to [peak knowingly of their Virtues or the Compafs of his Work may not give Room for it, or his Rea ders may not expel? or defire it; for this is the Cafe with many who have only an empty Curiofity. He therefore may, with Reafon, omit the Virtues where he defcribes the Forms; but let him make it a Matter of Confcience, if his Knowledge extend fo far, to do it himfelf, or if not, to recommend it to be done by fome other. | We fee, that the moft curious Botas mfis have not concerned themfelves a- bout the Virtues of Plants at all; that many of the others who have written well on Plants, have thought it no Part of their Subject ; let us examine the others ; thofe who are of lefs Repute. If we look into the Englith Herbals in par~ _ tteular, we find them large upon that Subj, indeed they are too large by much. They’ fay fo many Things, that — we know not which of them to credit 5 and therefore inthe Uncertainty we cre- Git none of them. There is not the moft Ss ass 3 trifling | The PREFACE, at trifing Herb, which they do not make a Remedy for almoft all Difeafes. We may therefore as well take one Plant for any Cafe as another; and the whole of their Labours amounts to this, that the Englith Herbs are full of Virtues, but that they know not what they are. Ifwe - add to the Writers on Herbs in our own Country, thofe who fiudy them, we fhall find the very fame ufele/s Curtofity, The Apothecary s Apprentice learns the Names of Plants, that he may win the Gingerbread Book by way of Prize, but when he foould come to the Ufe of them, he negleéts them, and often for- gets the little he had known fo perfet?~ ly, that they fell him Vipers Buglofs for Bugle in the Markets, and he knows it is the right, becaufe the Stalk is painted. | 7 Thofe who fearch into the Nature in this Province, are not a whit better. I was introduced in Yorkthire, to oné Brewer, who had contrived a Dre/s on Purpofe for Herbalizing, and had a Mafk for his Face, and Pads to bis Kzuees, m The PREF AGE. | . De live in the Country, and are defirous eS VICS of being ufeful to their Families and a ‘riends; or charitable to the Poor, in the Relief of their Diforders; of the Virtues of 3 thofe Plants, which grow wild about them: That 22 shey xvuck fe-l RO. 26 P40. N. they may be able to fupply this neceffary Affiftance, _ in Places where Apothecaries are not at Hand; _ and that they may be able alfo to do it without putting themfelves to the Expence of Medicines of Price, when the common Herbs, that may be had for gathering, will anfwer the fame Purpofe. However, as there are Cafes, in which more Help may be had from Drugs brought from a- broad, than from any thing we can procure at Home, an Account of thofe Roots, Barks, Seeds, Gums, and other vegetable Productions, kept by the Druggilts and Apothecaries, ~is alfo added; and of the feveral Trees and Plants from which they are obtained; together with their Virtues. This Work therefore, will tend to inftrué thofe charitable Ladies who may be defirous of giving this great Relief to the afflicted Poor in their Neighbourhood, and to remind Apothecaries of what they had before ftudied: Bnt the firft men- -tioned Purpofe is by much the moft ufeful, and the moft confiderable, and for this Reafon the eateft Regard is paid to it. Othe baa a vofed in the Alphabet, ac- cording to their Exgli/b Names, that they may be turned to the more readily ; and an Account is given, in two or three Lines, of their general Af- ct and Place of Growth, that thofe whoin part ow them already, may underftand them at _ once: If they are not perfectly known from this, a more particular Defcription is added, by obferv- ing which, they cannot be miftaken or confound- ed with any others; and after this follow, not only their Virtues, as others are content to fet them down, but the Part of each Plant which contains them in moft Perfeétion is named, _ the Manner in which they may beft be given. INTRODUCTION. © xii With Regard to the Virtues of Plants, it hes been the Cuftom to attribute too many to moft of them: So much is faid more than the Truth on thefe Occafions, that thofe who would be inform- ed, know not what they fhould believe. This is more cautioufly regulated here. The real Virtues alone are fet down, as they are affured by Expe- rience: And the Principal of thefe are always fet in the moft confpicuous Light." Perhaps it may be allowed the Author, to fpeak with more than others of thefe Things, becaufe he has been accuftomed to the Practice of Phyfic in that Way. Very few Things are named here, that he has not feen tried; and if fome are fet down, which other Writers have not named, and fome of which they have faid moft, are flichtly mentioned; it is owing to the fame Experience, which has added to the Ca- talogue in fome things, and has found it too great for Truth in others Nature has in this Country, ar doubtlefs alfo in all others, provided in in the Herbs of its own Growth; ‘the the Remedies for the ‘feveral Difeafes to whichit is moft fubjeét; and although the Addition of what is brought from abroad, fhould not be fuppofed fuperfluous, there is no Occafion that it fhould make the other —— “his has been the Confequence of the great Refpect fhewn to tite others ; and befide this, the prefent Ufe of chemical Preparations has almoft driven the whole of gale- nical Medicine out of our Minds. To reftore this more fafe, more gentle, and often more efficacious Part of Medicine to its na- tural Credit, has been one great Intent in the this Treatife ; and it is § the more neceflary. ic decree of thofe, who are intended ee : to be ditefted in this Matter, fince this is much argos oe Nay it is i. Bf rit - PNT ROD:UCTION., fay, that this:is dangerous at all in moft In- ftances. , ates - The Apothecaries are apt in’ their unfeeling Mockery to fay, they are obliged to the good La- dies, who give Medicines to their fick Neigh- bours, for a great deal of their Bufinefs for out of little Diforders they make great ones. This may be the Cafe where their Shops fupply the Means; for chemical Medicines, and fome of the Drugs brought from abroad,: are not to be truft with thofe who have not great Experience; but there will be no. Danger of this Kind, when the Fields are the Supply. This is the Medicine of Na- ture, and as it is more efficacious in moft Cafes, it is more fafe in all. If Opium may be dange- rous in. an unexperienced Hand, the Lady who will give in its Place a Syrup of the wild Lettuce, (a Plant not known in common Practice at — this Time, but recommended from Experience’ in this Treatife) will find that it will eafe Pain, and that it will caufe Sleep, in the Manner of that foreign Drug, but fhe will never find any ill Con- fequences from it : And-thefame-might be faid in many other Inftances. _ | As the Defcriptions in this Work, very readily diftinguifh what are the real Plants that fhould be “ufed, .and the great Care will remain, in what Manner to gather and preferve, and in what. Man- ner to give them ; it will be ufeful to add a Chap-. ter or two on thofe Heads. .Asto the former, I would have. it perfectly underftood, becaufe a great deal ds upon it; the latter cannot ea-, lily be miftaken. tax! sere fas _ Having. difplaced the Drugs brought from a- broad in a great Meafure from. this charitable: Practice, I would have every Lady who. has..the Spirit of this true Benevolence, keep.a Kind of = . “Druggifl’s i” ee “3 +s 3 -_ [2 ——e INTRODUCTION. xix Druggitt’ sShop of her own: This fhould be fup- plied from the neighbouring Fields, and from her Garden. There is no Reafon the Drugs fhould not be as well preferved, and as carefully laid up, as if the Product of a different Climate, , though the Ufe of the frefh Plants will in general. be beft when they can be had. As there are fome which will not retain their Virtues in a dried State, and can be met with only during a fmall Part of the Year ; it will be proper to aan the beft Methods of preferving thefe in fome Way, according to the Apothecaries Man- ner; and thefe Chapters, with that which fhall lay . down the Method of making the Preparations from them for ready Service, will be fufficient to lead to the perfect Ufe of the Medicines of our own Growth: And it will be found upon Experience, ~ that thofe who fufficiently know how to make a sit Ute of thetts es feldom have Benwurl a epi ti iso ile, sets ¢ a tar CHAP. a Concerning the Methods of colleéting and Fe | Jerving Plants, and Parts of them for Uje. HE Virtues of different Plants fefiding priri= _cipally in certain Parts of them, and thofé different according to the Nature of the oper thefe feveral Parts are to be felected, and the left; and thefe are in seperti oe juft gathered in- others, ei eceffity, a : H PEOREE 1. ABs | Ce ee Is wx INTRODUCTION. In fome only the Leaves are to be ufed, in others the whole Plant cut from the Root, in o- ‘thers the Flowers only, in others the Fruits, in others the Seeds, in fome the Roots, and of fome — Trees the Barks, féme the Woods, and only the Exerefcences of-others; while fome Vegeta- “bles are to be ufed intire, whether it be frefh ga- thered, or dried and preferved. Of all thefe, Inftances will be given in great Number in the following Sheets, and the Matter will be fpecified under each Article, as the Part of the Plant to be ufed wil} always be named; and it will be ad- ded, whether it be beft freth, or beft or neceffarily dried or otherwife preferved; but it will be proper in this Place to enter into the full Examination of this Matter, to fave unneceffary Repetitions un der the feveral particular Articles, | The whole of moft Plants, native of our Coun- try, dies off in Winter, except the Root; and in many that perifhes alfo, leaving the Species to be renewed from the fallen Seeds. When the whole when the Root remains many Years, and fends up new Shoots in the Spring, It commonly has great Virtue. This may be a general Rule: For » there is very little to be expected in the Roots of annual Plants: Their Seeds for the moft Part duce a Root and Leaves which’ ftand = Aste ‘Winter, and the Stalk does not rife till the fuc- ceeding INTRODUCTION. — xxi ceeding Spring. Thefe are of the Nature of thofe Leaves, which rife fromthe Rootof other Plants be- fore the Stalks in Spring;. and are in. the fame Manner to be diftinguifhed from thofe which grow upon the Stalks: They have the full Nourith- ment from the Root,.whereas the others are ftarved by the Growth of the Stalk and_ its Branches; and the Preparations made by Nature for the Flowers and Seeds ; which are the great Purpofe of Nature, as they are to continue the Plant. For this Reafon, when the Leaves of any Plant are faid to be the Part fitteft for Ufe, they are not to be taken from the Stalk; but thefe large ones growing from the Root are to be chofen; and thefe where there is no Stalk, if that can be; for then only they are fulleft of Juice, and have much done in fome Plants, that although the rous e the Stalk grew up, they die and wi- ther as it rifes. en the Juice of the Leaves of any Plant is required, thefe are the Leaves from which it is to be preffled: When they are ordered in Decoc- tion, Notice is always taken in this Book, whe- ther they be beft frefh or dried, .if freth, they fhould be juft gathered for the Occafion, they fhould be cut up clofe from the Root, and only fhook clean, not wafhed ; for in many, that car- ries off a Part of the Virtue, and they are to be cut into the Pot. If they are to. be dried, the fame Caution is to be ufed, and they are beft dried, by fpreading them upon the Floor of the Room, with the Windows open, often turning them. When thorougly dried, they fhould be put up in | | a3 . _ & Drawer, xxii INTRODUCTION. a Drawer, preffing them clofe down, and covered with Paper. When the intire Plant is to be ufed except the Root, Care is to be taken that ‘it be gathered at a proper Seafon. Nature in the whole Growth of Plants, tends to the Production of their Flowers and Seeds, but when they are ripe, ‘the reft_begins to decay, having done its Duty ;' fo that the Time when the intire Plant is in its moft full Perfection, is when it is in the Bud; when the Heads are- formed for flowering, but not a fingle Flower has yet difclofed itfelf: This is the cact “Time. When Herbs are to be ufed freth, it is beft not to take them intire, but only to cut off the Tops ; three or four Inches long, if for Infufion; and if for other'Purpofes, lefs: If they are to’ be beaten _ up with Sugar, they fhould be only an Inch, or lefs: Juft as far’ as they are frefh and tender. The Tops of the Plant thus gathered, are always preferable to the whole Plant for immediate Ufe; 3 When the intire Herb is to be dried, the Seafon for gathering: it.is to be as juft defcribed, when the Flowers are buding; and the Time of the Day muft be’ when the Morning Dew is dried away. This is a very material Circumftance, for if they be cut wet with the dew, Herbs will not dry well, and if they be cut at Noon-Day, when _ the Sun has made the Leaves flag, they will not have their full Power. » Care muft alfo be taken, to cut them in a dry Day; for the Wet of Rain will do as much harm, as that of Dew. « . % - When the Herbs are thus gathered, they are ‘to be looked over, the decayed Leaves picked off, and the Ends of the Stalks cut away : They are then to be “tied up in fall Bunches,” the leis the better ;: and hung upon Lines drawn acrofs a Room, where the Wit.dows and Doors are to be ao 7 _ kept INTRODUCTION. xxii kept open in good Weather ; the’ Bunches are -to be half a Foot afunder, and they are to hang till perfectly dry.» They are then to “be taken” foftly down, without fhaking off the Buds of the Flow- ers, and laid evenly in a Drawer, préffing ther? down, “and covering them with Paper.’ They are thuis ready for Infufions‘or Decoctions, and aré _ better for Diftillation, than when freth. 5S The Flowers of Plants aré principally ~ufed. frefh, though feveral particular Kinds retain their’ Virtue very well dried; they are on thefe different Occafions to be treated differently. Z - Lavender Flowers, and thofe’of Stoecha, ' keep* very well, ‘they. are therefore to bé preferved dry 5 the Lavender Flowers ‘are to be ftriped off the’ Stalks, Hufk andall together, and fpread upon the- Floor of a Room to dry: . The ‘Steechas Flowers” are to be preferved-in the whole Head; this is’to? be cut off from the’ Top of the Stalk, and dried in the fame Manner: When dry; they ‘are to ‘be’ kept as the Herbs." 2 42 PRS OU EP IS Fant Oris When Rofemary Flowers are dried,’ they’ are* generally taken with fome of the Leaves ‘about* them, .and this. is very right, forthe Leaves te-? tain more: Virtue than the Flowers.’ ‘Some dry‘ Borage, Buglofs, and Cowflips, but? they “retain very little Virtue in that Condition. Rofe’ Buds’ are to be dried,» and to’ this Purpofe, their ‘white’ Heads are to be cut off; and the full blown Flow-1 es may be’ preferved in the fame Manner. The Red Rofe is always meant, when we fpeak of the’ dpaiblibwers.is eh za qeiecra Ut ye Peneht Seas _. For the reft of the Flowers ufed »in “Medicine, ° they are beft frefh, .but as they remain only a- {mall Paré of the Year in that State, the Method is to preferve them in the Form of Syrups Conferves. Such as the Syrup of Cloves and Pop- a4 pies, = xxiv INTRODUCTION. pies, the Conferves of Cowflips, and the like.. Of thefe, a fhort general Account fhall be fubjoined, that nothing may be wanting to make this Book as ufeful for Families, as the Nature of fuch a one will admit. Among the Fruits of Plants, feveral are to be ufed frefh, as the Hip for Conferve, and the Quince, Mulberry, and Black Currant; from the Juices of which, Syrups are made. As to thofe which are to be dried, 9 as the Juniper Berries, the Bay like, they are only to be ga- deal when jut ripening, not when quite mel- low, and fpread upon a Table or Floor, of- ten turning them, till they are dry. But of thefe we ufe very few of our own Growth; moft of the Fruits ufed in Medicine, are brought from abroad, and muft be purchafed of the Druggift or Apo- thecary. With Refpect to the Seeds and Plants, it is o-' therwife: Many of them are of our own Growth, and aie is fo eafy as to preferve them. Thefe are all to be ufed dry ; but Nature has in a Man- ner them to our Hands: For ‘they are not till perfeétly ripe, and then they does not come; and they are then ready to be t up. ee The Seeds ufed in Medicine, may be referred to . general Kinds. They either grow in naked Heads or Umbels, as in Fennel, Parfley, and the like; or in Pods, as in Muftard and Cref- Plant, till perfectly ripe; then they are onl to be hook from the Hleads upon the Floor ori ited INTRODUCTION. xxv tn Pods, a fmarr Stroke or two of the Plant upon the Floor, when they are thoroughly ripe, will diflodge them: In the other Cafe, the Fruit mutt be cut open, and they muft be taken out from among the wet Matter, feparated from the Mem- branes that are about them, and fpread upon a Table, in a dry Place, where they muft be often turned and rubbed as they grow dry, that in the End they may be perfeétly dry and clean. Among the Roots, a great many are to be ufed freth, but a greater Number are beft dried? The black and white Bryony, the Arum, and fome others, loofe’all their Virtue in drying; and many that retain fome, yet loofe the greater Part of it: There are others which are excellent both frefh and dried, as the Marfhmallow and fome more. As to the few which lofe their Virtue intirely in drying, it will be beft to keep fome of them _ always in the Garden, that they may be taken as they are wanted. Theothers are to be ma- do a great deal toward the furnifhing this Drug- ift’s Shop, which fhould be filled with Medicines, the Produce of our own Country. The beft Seafon for gathering Roots for drying, is in the earlier Part of the Spring: What Nature does for Plants when they are juft going to flower, fhe does for Roots when the Leaves are juft going: to bud: The Juices are rich, frefh, and fuil, and the Virtue is ftrongeft in them at this Seafon, They are to be wiped clean, not wafhed; and, ac- cording to their feveral Natures, prepared for - drying, : — Some xxvii INTRODUCTION. _ Some are full of a mucilaginous Juice, as Marfh- mallow, and above all other Roots the Squill, and in fome Degree many others of that Kind: thefe muft be cut into thin Slices crofs-wife, and they will dry beft if laid upon a Hair Cloth ftretched acrofs a Frame. they muft be frequently turned ; and be very thoroughly dry, before they are put up; elfe they will become mouldy: But, rightly. prepared, they keep very well. ho .- Other Roots have Juices, that evaporate more eafily. Thefe have the Virtue either throughout the whole Subftance, or only in the outer Part, and they are to be prepared accordingly. When ‘Roots are of one uniform Subftance, they gene- rally have the Virtue equal, or-nearly fo, in all Parts. .Thefe fhould be fplit opera length-wife, firft cutting off the Head, and the littl End; or if confiderably thick, they may be. quartered ;; when.this is done, they are to be ftrung upon a Line, by drawing a Needle threaded with a {mall Twine through their thickeft Part, and they are.. then. to be hung up to dry in the Manner. of ¢ Doors and Windows of which are to be kept open in good Weather. . _ When Roots confift of a fort of thick Rind, or flefhy Subftance within the Rind, and a hard ftiicky Part in the middle; this flefhy Subftance under it pofieffes all. the Virtues, the hard inner Subftance having none; in this Cafe, the Root is to be fplit long-wife as before, and the hard. woody Part is to be taken out and thrown away ; the reft is to be ftrung as before defcribed, and dried in the fame Manner. ____, When Roots confift of Fibres, thefe are gene- wally connected to a Head, if it be ever fo {mall,. INTRODUCTION. iwi and the beft Way is to fplit this in two, and then ftring up the feparate Parts for drying. It is neediefs to enumerate the F xamples of the feveral Kinds of Roots here; they follow in their Places: But if the charitable Lady vrould on firft looking over this Book, to fee what are moft ufe- ful, order her Gardener to take out of his Ground, and to feck in the Fields the feveral Roots there ' mentioned, and fee them dried and preferved ac- cording to thefe Directions ; fhe would be poffef- fed of a Set of Drugs of a new Kind indeed, but they would fave the Price of many brought from other Countries, and might be ufed with lefs Danger 33 : The Bavics of Trees make but a {mal] Part of ; the Engli/h Drugs, and moft of them are bett frefh, but fuch as will preferve and retain their Virtues dried, are very eafily prepared that Way : No- thing mote is required, than to cut them into mo- erate Pieces, and ftring them up in the fame ‘are to be put ‘up as the others ; and they will keep ever fo long; bur in all this Time they are for the moft Part lofing of their Virtues. It may be prudent to preferve Drues brought from iad great while, becaufe of theit Price but as thefe coft only the Trouble of gathering and preferving them, I would advife, that the whole Shop be renewed every Year ; what is left of the old Parcel of every Kind, being thrown’ away as the frefh one is colle€ted in its Seafon. The Place for keeping thefe fhould be a dry Room, neither damp nor hot; and they fhould now and then be looked at, to fee that they are in order ; that they do not grow mouldy, or fmell mufty through Damp, or become lighter, and Jofe their Virtue by too much Heat, : ~ pe cae xxvii INTRODUCTION. It may-be juft proper to mention; that the Woods which we ufe, are beft kept in the Block, and fhaved off as they are wanted; for being kept in Shavings, they loofe their Virtue: And in the fame Manner as to the foreign Woods, it is beft to keep a Block of Saffafras, and of Lignum Vite in the Roufe, and cut them as they are wanted. As to the Excrefcences, fuch as Galls of the Oak, and the Burr upon the wild Briar, they are naturally fo dry, that they only require to be ex- pofed a few Days to the Air upon a Table, and then they may be put up with Safety, and will keep a long Time. aftly, the Fungus’s, fuch as ews Ears, and the like, are to be gathered when they are full rown, and ftrung upon a Line, that they may Se abit. for elfe they fpoil: They mutt be very well dried before they are put up, elfe they will grow mouldy in damp Weather ; and if once that happen, no Art can recover their Virtues. _ Thus may a Druggift’s Shop of a new Kind be filled, and it will confift of as many Articles, and there will be this Advantage in having every Thing ready ; that when Cuftom has made the irtues of the feveral Things familiar, the Lady may do from her Judgment as the Phyfician in his Prefcription, mix feveral Things of like Virtue together, and not depend upon the Virtues of any one fingly, when the Cafe requires fomething of Power. Thefe Roots and Barks powdered, will _make as handfome aad as efficacious Bolufes and Mixtures, as any furnifhed by the Apothecary. CHAP. INTRODUCTION. xxix C H-A-P..-:; Concerning the various Methods of preparing Simples for prefent Ufe. MPHERE is no Form of Medicines fent from the Apothecary, which may not be prepared from the Herbs of our own Growth, in the fame Manner as from foreign Drugs. Eleduaries may be made with the Powders of thefe Barks, Roots, and Seeds, with Conferves of Flowers, and ‘of the Tops of frefh Herbs: And Syrups, made from their Juices and Infufions; the Manner of making which is very fimple, and fhall be fubjoined to this Chap- ter, that all may be underftood before we enter on theBook itfelf: And in the fame Manner their Boluffes may be made, which are only fome of thefe Powders mixed up with Syrup: And their Resehie ed which i eae Sot without, thefe § Syraps being added, and the Tine. tures of the Roots and Barks; the Method of making which fhall be alio annexed in a familiar Manner. ’ But befide thefe feveral Forms of giving a there are others much more fimple, eafy, and ready, and thefe are generally more fhall arrange thefe under three Kinds, Juices, In-— fufions, and Decottions. Thefe are the Forms of giving the Medicines moft frequently mentioned in the Courfe of the Work, and there is lefs Trou- ble in them, than in the ‘others. They are not indeed contrived for Shew, nor would they an- fwer the Purpofe of the Apothecary, for Mis Pro- fits would be fmall upon them; but when’ ein : 3 uxte_ INTRODUCTION... fign is only to do good, they are the moft td be chofen of any; - Juices are to be exprefied ffom Leaves or Roots; ahd in order to this, they are to be firft beaten in a Mortar. There is no Form whatever in which Herbs have fo much Effect, and yet this is in a Manner unknown in the commen: Practice of Phyfic. oe a Thefe are to be obtained in fome Plants from the intire Herb, as in Water Creffes, Brook- lime, and others that have juicy Stalks; in others the Leaves only are to be ufed, as in Nettles, and the like, where the Stalk is dry and yields nothing; but is troublefome in the Preparation. When — the Juice of a Root is to be had, it mutt be frefh taken up, and thoroughly beaten. A marble. . Motar and wooden Peftle, ferve beft for this Pur-. pofe, for any thing of Metal is improper: Many Plants would take a Tincture from it, and the Juife would be fo impregnated with it, as to become a different Medicine, and probably very improper in the Cafe in which it was about to be. given. van ae Toe” to Se _As thefe Juices have fometimes an ill Tafte, and as fome of them are apt to be cold upon the Sto- mach, or. otherwife to difagree with it, there are. Methods to be ufed, to make them fit better upon it; and in fome Cafes thefe increafe their Vir- When the thick Juice, freth drawn, is too coarfe. for the Perfon’s Stomach; it may be fuffered to fectle and grow clear: A little Sugar may be ad- ded alfo in beating the Herb, and in many Cafes, asin thofe Juices given for the Scurvy, the Juice _ @f a Seville Orange may be added, which will ‘great improve the Flavour. ; gurl eS To INTRODUCTION. = xxxi To the Roots, it is often proper to adda little White Wine in the bruifing, and they will operate the better for it. Thus ae Inftance, the Juice of the Flower-de-luce Root, will not ftay upon many Stomachs alone; but with a little White-~ wine added in the Bruifing, all becomes eafy : And its Effects are not the lefs for the Addition. The fame Addition may be made to fome of the colder Herbs; and if a little Sugar, and upon Oc- cafion, a few Grains of powdered Ginger be added, there will be fcarce any Fear of the Medicine dif- agreeing with the Stomach, and its Effects will be ~ fame, as if it had been bruifed and preffed lon Tnfisfions are naturally to be mentioned after the Juices, for they are in m “iis — esa to pe ply their Place, Juices cano trefh Plants, and there are Times. es the a when the Plants are not to be had in that State. that have been done according to the preceeding Dire¢tions, it retains a great Part of its Virtues ;. in this Cafe it is to be cut to pieces, and hot Wa- ter being poured upon it, extracts fo much of its ualities, as to ftand in the Place of the other.. Often indeed the Virtues are the fame: In fome Plants they are greateft from the Infufion; but then fome others loofe fo much in drying, that an Infufion fearce has any thing. But it is not only as a Help in the Place of the other, that this tion is to be ufed,. for Infufions are very eevper from many frefh Herbs; and are of great Virtue from many dry ones, of which when | trefh, the Pie would have been worth little. sxii INTRODUCTION. - Infufions are the fitteft Forms for thofe Herbs whofe Qualities are light, and whofe Virtue is eafily extracted: In this Cafe, hot Water poured upon them takes up enough of their Virtue, and none is loft in the Operation: Others require to be boiled in the Water. From thefe are thus made what we call Decoétions: And as thefe laft would not cive their Virtues in Infufien, fo the others would loofe it all in the boiling. It would go off with the Vapour. We know very well, that the diftilled Water of any Herb, is only the Vapour of the boiled Herb caught by proper Veffels, and condenfed to Water: Therefore, whether it be caught or let to fly away, all that Virtue muft be loft in boili It is from this, that fome Plants are fit for Decoctions, and fome for Infufions, “There are fome, which if diftilled give no Virtue ‘to the Water, and thefe are fit for Decottions, which will retain all their Virtue, as Biftort, and ‘Tormentill Roots, and the like. On the contra- ry, an Infufion of Mint, or Pennyroyal, is of a ftr ‘afte, and excellent Virtue; whereas, 2 s, is difagreeable or > are Herbs alfo,. which have fo little Juice, that it would be impoffible to get it out; and others whofe Virtue lies in the Hufks, and Buds, and this would be loft in the Operation. _ An In- fufion of thefe, is the right Way of giving them. Thus Mother of Thyme is a dry little Herb, from which it would be hard to get any Juice, and when — Span a pofiefs very little of its Virtues; : an: Infufion of Mother of Thyme poflefies it _ Infufions are of two Kinds. They are either prepared in Quantity, to be drank coid; or they ase drank as they are made, in the Manner of Tea. | ; This < INTRODUCTION. xxkiii his laft Method is the beft, but People will not be prevailed upon to do it, unlefs the Tafte of the Herb be agreeable: For the Flavour is much ftronger hot, than it is cold. . Infufions in the Manner of Tea; are to be made juft as Tea, and drank with a little Sugar: The others are to be miade in this Manner. A Stone Jar is to be fitted with a clofe Cover; the Herb, whether frefh or dried, is to be cut to pieces, and when the Jar has been fealded out with hot Water, it is to be putin: Boiling Water is then to be poured upon it; and the Top is to be fixed on: It is thus to ftand four, five, or fix Hours; or a whole Night, according to the Na- ture of the Ingredient, and then to be poured off clear. It is impoffible to direé&t the Quantity in general for thefe Infufions, becaufe much more of fome Plants is required than of others: For the moft Part, three Quarters of an Ounce of a dried Plants or two Ounces of 7 ered. The beft Rule is to fuit it to the Patienit’s Strength and Pa- late. It is intended not to be difagreeable, and to have as much Virtue of the Herb as is neceffary : This is only to be known in each Kind by Trial ; and the Virtue may be heightned, as well as the Fla- your mended, by feveral Additions. Of thefe Su- gar anda little White- Wine, are the moft familiar, but Lemon Juice is often very ferviceable, as we. find in Sage Tea; and a few Drops of Oil of Vi- triol, gives Colour and Strength to a Tincture of Rofes. Salt of Tartar makes many Infufions ftronger alfo than they would be, but it gives them a very difagreeable Tafte. It is therefore fit only for fuch as are to be taken at one Draught, not for fuch as are to be fwallowed in large Quantities Time after Time. ren ey Among - — * ~ sxiv INTRODUCTION. _ Among the Herbs that yield their Virtues moft commodioufly by Infufion, may be accounted many of thofe which are pectoral, and good in Coughs, as Colts-foot, Ground-ivy, and the like, the light and. aromatic, good in nervous Difor- ders, or Mother of Thyme, Baum, and the like; the Bitters are alfo excellent in Infufion, but very difagreeable in Deco¢tion; thus boiling Water poured upon Roman Wormwood, Gentian Root, and Orange Peel, makes. a very excellent Bitter. It need only ftand till the Liquor is cold, and may be then poured off for Ufe. It is often proper to add fome purging: In- eredient to this bitter Infufion, and a little frefh Polypody Root excellently anfwers-that Purpofe, without fpoiling the Tafte of the Medicine. Several of the Purging Plants alfo do very well in Infufion, as purging Flax, and the like; and: the frefh Root of Polypody alone is a very good one; a little Lemon Juice added to the laft named Infufion does no Harm; and.it takes off what is difagreeable inthe Tafte, in the fame Manner as it does from an Infufion of Sena. Thus we fee what a great Number of Purpofes y be anfwered by Infufions, and they are the moft familiar of all Preparations. Nothing is re- quired, but pouring fome boiling Water upon the Plants frefh or dried, as already directed, and: pouring it off again when cold. Decoctions are contrived to anfwer the Purpofe of Infufions upon Plants which are of fo firma Texture, that they will not eafily yield forth their ufeful Parts. In thefe the Ingredients are to be boiled in the Water ; as in the others, the boiling Water was to be poured overthem. In general, Leaves, Flowers, and intire Plants, whether freth or dried, are ufed in Infufions; and Roots and . atks in Decottions. ~ An + INTRODUCTION. xxxv An earthen Pipkin, with a clofe Cover, is the beft Veffel for preparing thefe; for many of thofe Medicines, which are little fufpécted of it, will take a Tincture from the Metal ; and it would be as improper to boil them in a Copper Pan, as it is too common a Cuitom, as to beat the Herbs and Roots-in a metal Mortar. Frefh Roots are ufed in Decoétion, as well as thofe which are dried; and the Barks, and other Ingredients in like Manner. When the frefh are ufed, the Roots are to be cut into thin Slices, and the Barks and Woods fhould be fhaved down; as to the Leaves, and intire Plants, they need be cut but flightly. When dry Ingredients are ufed, the Roots and Barks are beft pounded to pieces, and as to the Herbs and Flowers, little is to done to them, and in general, they are beft added toward the End of the Decocttion. It is always beft to let the ngreciene of a De- ion ftand in the Water cold for twelve Hours, - before it is fet on the Fire, and then it fhould be - heated gradually, and afterwards kept boiling gently as long as is neceflary : And this is to be propor- tioned to the Nature of the Ingredients. Gene- rally a Quarter of an Hour is fufficient, fometimes much longer is neceffary. They are then to be ined off while they are hot, preffing them hard, and the Liquor fet by to cool: When they are thoroughly cold, they are to be poured off clear from the Settlement, for they always become clear as they cool; and fweetened with a little Sugar. Frequently alfo, it is proper to add to them a little White-Wine, as to the Infufions, or bs CHAP, sxxi INTRODUCTION. SHAY: iY. Concerning Difiiiled Waters, and other ‘Prepa- rations to be kept in the Houfe. T Shall bring the charitable Lady farther in this’ Matter than perhaps fhe was aware at the firft fetting out; but it will bewith little Expence, and” little Trouble. She will find, that I now intend fhe fhould keep a Sort of Chemift’s, or at leaft an Apothecary’s Shop, as well as a Drugeift’s ; but it will be founded upon the fame Materials. No Drugs brought from abroad, or to be purchafed at a great Price, will have Place i in it: They are: all Natives of our own Country; and the Prepa- ration of thefe Medicines from them will coft only ° a little Spirit, a little Sugar, and the Labour of a Servant. That Spirit is beft ee is called Moloffes Spi- rit; it is to be bow: a {mall Price at the Diftil- Jers: And as tot cues the moft ordinary loaf Kind will do for moft Purpofes: Where other is neceflary, it will be particularly named. | Few Families are without am Alembic or Still, and that will be of material Service. With that In- ftrument the fimple Waters are to be made; with no Expence befide the Fire, and it will be os 3A keep thofe of the following g Ingredients. Water, Pepper-mint Watef, and Penny- royal Water, are to be made of the dry Herbs.’ Three Pound of each is to be put into the Still, _ with four Gallons of Water, and two Gallons is- to be diftilled off. Milk Water is to be made Bes a Pound and half of Spear-mint, a Pound of ~ Rue, half a Pound of Roman Wormwood, and — — a Pound of Ss Leaves, are to be a INTRODUCTION. -xxxvii into the Still with five Gallons of Water, and three Gallons are to be diftilled off. Common Mint Water is good in Sicknefles of the Stomach, Pepper-mint Water in Cholics, and Pennyroyal to promote the Menfes. Milk Water is good in Fevers, and to make Juleps. It ufed to be made with Milk, but that anfwers no Purpofe. Only one fimple Water more need be kept, and that for Cholics, it is beft made of Jamaica Pepper: A. Poundiof Famaica Pepper, is to be put into the Still over Night, with three Gallons of Water; and the next Morning two Gallons of Water di- ftilled off. It has been cuftomary to keep a great many fimple Waters, but thefe are all that are necet- fary or proper. The other Herbs are better to be given in Infufion and Decoétion, As for Cordial Waters, they are made as the others, only with the Addition of Spirit.. It may be proper to keep the following; and no more are 1, Cinnamon Water; which is made by putting into the Still a Pound of Cinnamon, a Gallon of Spirit, and a Gallon of Water, and the next Day diftilling off a Gallon. _ This is-good in Sicknefs at the Stomach, and isa fine Cordial. 2. Spirituous Milk Water; made from a Pound ef Spear-mint, half a Pound. of Angelica, and a Quarter of a Pound of Roman Wormwodd, all green. To thefe is to be put a Gallon of Spirit, and a Gallon of Water, and a Gallon to be diftilled off ; to which is to be added, a Pint of Vinegar: This is good to promote Sweat, and is ufed inftead of Treacle Water, being better. — 3. Strong Pennyroal Water, which is ufed in- ftead of Hyfteric Water, in all hyfteric Cafes, and to promote the Menfes, and is made of a ' ° b 3 Pound xxxvii INTRODUCTION. Pound and half of dry Pennyroyal, a Gallon of Spirit, and fix Quarts of Water, drawing of a Gallon. | - 4. Annifeed Water, which is good in the Cholic, andis made with a Pound’ of Annifeed, a Poun of Angelica Seed, and two Gallons of Spirit, with one Gallon of Water, diftilling off two Gallons. No more than thefe are neceflary: But before I clofe this Article of diftilling, I fhall add the making of Lavender Water, Spirit of Lavender, and the Water, which are Preparations of the fame Kind, and very eafy. Lavender Water, is made from a Pound of frefh Lavender Flowers, and a Gallon of Molof- three Drams of red Sandese Wood, thefe are to ftand together till the Spirit.is well coloured. This is.all the family Practitioner will need with diftilling: A fhort Account, but fufficient. As for Tinétures, which are a great Article with the Apothecary and Chemift, making a great Shew, andreally very ufeful; I would have fe- veral of them kept, and they are as eafily made as the Waters, nay more eafily. Molofles Spirit is all that is necefiary for this Purpofe. It would be well to keep Tinétures of all thofe Roots and Barks, which are faid to be good dried in the Courfe of this Work, for a Tinéture will contain more or lefs of the Virtue of every one of “ : : : thele, (BPP gs, INTRODUCTION. xxix thefe, and be often convenient, where the Powder or Decottion could not be given. It is needlefs ‘to enumerate thefe, and one Rule of making, ferves for them all: Two Ounces of the Ingredient ~ is to be cut to thin Slices, or bruifed ina Mortar, and put into a pick of Spirit; it is to ftand’a Fortnight, in a Place a little warm, and be often fhook ; at the End of this Time, it isto be ops out, ftrained off, and made to pafs throug Funnel, lined with whitifh brown Paper, an a4 up with the Name of the Ingredient. To thefe Tinctures of the Englifh Roots, Barks and Seeds, it would be well to adda few made of foreign Ingredients. As, 1. The bitter Tin@ure for the Stomach, is made of two Ounces of Gentian; an Ounce of dried Orange Peel, and half an Ounce of Carda- mom Seeds, and a Quart of Spirit: Or it may be made in White Wine, allowing two Quarts. 2. Tincture of Caftor, good in plaints, and made with two Canes of Caftor and a Quart of Spirit. 3. Tincture of Bark, which will cure thofe who will not take the Powder, made of four Ounces of Bark, and a Quart of Spirit, 4. Tincture of Soot for Fits, made with two Ounces of Wood Soot, one Ounce of satiety, and a Quart of Spirit 5. Tincture of Steel, for the Stuppape of the Menfes, made of Flowers of Iron four Ounces, and Spirit a Quart. 6. Tinéture of Myrrh, made of three Ounces of of NOS and a anes of Spirit, good for curing the Scurvy in the Gum * 7, Tincture of of Rhubarb, made of two . of Rhubarb, half an Ounce of Cardamom Seed and a of an Ounce of Saffron, eh a 0. it. Quart of Spi oe si INTRODUCTION. 8. Elixir Salutis, made of a Pound of ftoned Raifins, a Pound of Sena, an Ounce and a half of Caraway Seeds, and half an Ounce of Carda- ' ‘moms, in a Gallon of Spirit. g. Elixir of Vitriol, made of fix Drams of Cinnamom, three Drams of Cardamoms, two Drams of long Pepper, and the fame of Ginger 5 and a Quart of Spirit : To a Pint of this Tinéture ftrained clear off is to be added four Ounces of Oil of Vitriol: This is an excellent Stomachic. Laitly, to thefe it may be well to add, the fa- mous Fryars Balfam, which is’ made of three Ounces of Benjamin, two Ounces of {trained Sto-: rax, one Ounce of Balfam of Tolu, half an Ounce of Aloes, and a Quart of Spirit of Wine, fuch as is burnt under Lamps. This Spirit may ° be made by putting a Gallon of Molofies Spirit into the Still; and drawing off two Quarts, and this will be ufeful for Spirit of Wine and Cam- phire, which is made by. diffolving an Ounce of pean in a Quart of the Spirit. Lattly, we add what is called the Afthmatic aoe alee with Flower of Benjamin and Opium, of each a Dram, Camphire two Scruples, Oil of Ani- feed forty Drops, Liquorice Root half an Ounce, Honey one Ounce, and a Quart of Spirit. This is a gentle Opiate, and is much better in Fami- lies than the ftrong Laudanum - As to the Tinétures made With White-Wine inftead of Spirit, a few are fufficient. Steel Wine is made of a Quarter of a Pound of Filings of : fron, and half an Ounce of Mace, and the fame uantity of Cinnamon, put into two Quarts of : nifh. Hiera Picra is made of half a Pound of Se two Ounces of Winters-Bark, and five Quarts of White-Wine, The firft is a Reftora- tive: aa and Strengthner 5 the latter is fuffi- ciently eset INTRODUCTION. xi TCiently known as a Purge. Laudanum is made of two Ounces of Opium, a Dram of Cloves, and a Dram of Cinnamon, and a Pint of Wine. Viper Wine is made of two Ounces of dried Vipers, and two Quarts of White-Wine; and the Tincture of Ipecacuanha for a Vomit, of two Ounces of that Root, half an: Ounce of dry Orange Peel, and a Quart of Sack. Laftly, what is called Elixir Proprietatis, is made of Aloes, Myrrh and Saffron, of each an Ounce, Sal Armoniac fix Drams, and Salt of Tartar, eight Ounces in a Quart of Mountain-Wine. “Thefe are all the Tinctures and Wines that need be kept in a Family, whofe Charity is de- figned to be very extenfive, the Expence of the whole is a Trifle, not worth naming, and the Trou- ble fearce any thing. Books are full of Direc- tions in particular for every Tincture, as if every ome ‘were to be made a different Way; but the beft Method is to give a deal of Time and frequent fhaking, and that will ftand in the Place of Heat in moft Things of this Kind: Never- thelefs, 1 advife, that they fhould ftandin a Room where a Fire is kept while they are making; and thofe which require Heat, that is, thofe that take a Colour moft flowly, are to be placed neareft to it. : ~ Eafy as thefe are, they are by far the moft dif- ficult Part of the Tafk, the reft is as it were nothing. Conferves, Syrups, and Ointments, will be wanting, but in the fame Manner one_ Direc- tion will ferve for the making the whole Affort- ment of each, and the Ingredients will be at hand. ~As to Plaifters, in general they do more Harm than Good. Surgeons at this Time m very little Ufe of them; and in the Courfe of this Work, many Herbs will be named, ssa pomee ici ves sii INTRODUCTION. Leaves of which are better than all the Plaifters in the World. : Conferves fhould be made of Rue, Mint, Scur- vy-Grafs, Wood Sorrell, and Roman Wormwood. As to the four firft, the Leaves are to be picked off from the Stalks, and beaten up with three Times the Weight of Sugar. The Tops of the young Shoots of the latter are to be cut off, and they are to be beat up in the fame Manner. In the Cousfe of this Work, many Plants will be named, the en Tops of which contain their Virtue, thefe may all be made into Conferves in the fame Manner, of as many of them added to thofe here named, as fhall be thought proper. Conferves of the Flowers of Rofemary, Mal- - lows, Archangel, and Lavender, are to be made alfo in the fame Manner, and of red Rofe Buds. Thefe laft are to be picked from the Hufk, and the white Heels are to be cut off. They are all to be beat up with three Times their Weight of Sugar, and in the fame Manner may be made Conferves of Cowflip Flowers, and of thofe of sapY other Plants mentioned in the following s he outer Rinds of Seville Oranges and Le- mons, are alfo to be made into Conferves in the fame Manner, beating them firft to a Pulp, and then adding the Sugar, and to thefe muft be ad- ded the Conferve of Hips and Sloes, which are to be made in a particular Manner. The Hips are to be gathered when fully ripe, afterwards fet by in a Cellar, till they grow very foft; then they are to be laid upon the Back of a large Hair-Sieve, a Difh being put underneath, they are to be broke with the dor a wooden Peftle, and rubbed about till all the foft Matter is forced through the _Hiair-Cloth, the Seeds and Skins only remaining, ; ae This INTRODUCTION. xiii This foft Matter is to be weighed, and to be beat up in a Mortar with twice its Weight of Loaf-Sugar, firft powdered. Sloes are to be gathered when they are mode- rately ripe, and they are to be fet over the Fire in Water, till they fwell and are foftened, but not till the Skin burfts; they are then to be laid upon a Sieve, and the foft Matter driven through as in the other Cafe, and three Times the Quanti of Sugar is to be mixed with this, that it may make a Conferve by beating together. Syrups are to be made of many Ingredients: They may be made indeed of any Infufion, with Sugar added to it in a due Quantity; and the Way to add this, fo that the Syrups fhall keep and not candy, is to proportion the Sugar to the Liquor very exaétly. One Rule will ferve for all is Matter, and fave a great deal of Repetition, The Liquor of which a Syrup is to be made, may be the Juice of fome Herb or Fruit, or a Decoétion, or an Infufion; which ever it be, let it ftand till quite clear, then to every Wine. Pint of it, add a Pound and three Quarters of Loaf Sugar, firft beat to powder: Put the Sugar and the Liquor together, into an earthen Pan that will go into'a large Saucepan, put Water in the Saucepan, and ét it over the Fire. Let the Pan ftand in it, till the Sugar is perfectly melted, feuming it all the Time, then as foon as it is cold, it may be put up for Ufe, and will keep the Year round without Danger. This being fet down as the general Method of making the Liquor into a Syrup, the reft of the Defcriptions of them will be eafy, They are to be made in this Manner. For Syrup of Cloves, xiv INTRODUCTION. off: Pour upon them five Pints of boiling Water. Let them ftand al] Night, and in the Morning pour off the clear Liquor, and make it into a Syrup as directed above: In the fame Manner are to be made the Syrups of Violets and red Poppies: But lefs of the Violet Flowers will do, and more _ of the Poppies may be added: Thus alfo are to be made, the Syrups of Damafk Rofes, Peach Blof- foms, Cowflip Flowers, and many others which will be recommended for that Purpofe in this Book : _ Syrup of Buckthorn, is to be made by boiling the Juice down to half its Quantity, with a little Cinnamon, Ginger, and Nutmeg, and then adding | the Sugar. _ The Syrups of Lemon Juice, Mulberries, and the like, are to be made with a Pound and half of Sugar to every Pint of the clear Juice, which is to be melted as in the former Marner. . Syrup of Garlic, Leeks, Orange Peel, Lem- mon Peel, Mint, and many other Things, are be made of {trong Infufions of thofe Ingre- te apt and fome others, are to be made in the fame Man- ner with the ftrongeft Decottions that can poffibly He made from thofe Ingredients, with the fame Quantity of Sugar, as is firft mentioned. _Syrup of Baliam, is made by boiling a Quarter of a Pound of Balfom of Tolu, in a Pint and half of Water in a clofe Veffel, and then making the Water intoa Syrup, with the ufual Quantity of Sugar: And thus may be. made Syrups. of any of the Balfams, — _ Syrup. INTRODUCTION. xlv Syrup of Saffron, is made of a ftron Tincture of Saffron in Wine. An Ounce of Saffron being put to a Pintof Mountain, and this when ftrain- ed off, is to be made into a Syrup, with the ufual Quantity of Sugar. At one Time it was a Cuftom to keep a Quan- tity of Syrups of a particular Kind under the Name of Honeys. They were made with Honey inftead of Sugar, and fome of them, which had Vinegar in the Compofition, were: called Oxymels. A few of the firft Kind, and very few, are worth keeping, and two or three of the latter, for they have very particular Vir-" tues. The Way of making them is much the {fame with that of making Syrups, but to be ex-— = it may be proper juft to give fome Inftance Of iti: <3 Honey of Rofes is the moft ufeful, and it is to be made of an Infufion of the Flowers and Honey= in this Manner. Cut the white Heels from fome™ red Rofe Buds, and lay them to dry in a Place’ the Oxymels, they are alfo made in a very uni- form Manner. The following are fo ufeful, that | “Sas e x xivi FNTRODUCTION. it will be proper always: to keep them in Readi- - nefs For Oxymel of Garlic, put half a Pint of Vi- negar into an earthen Pipkin, boil in it a Quarter of an Ounce of Caraway Seeds, and the fame Quantity of fweet Fennel Seeds; at laft add an Ounce and half of frefh Garlic Root fliced thin; let it boil a Minute or two longer, then cover it up to ftand till cold, then’ prefs: out the Liquor, and add ten Ounces of Honey, and boil it to a Confiftence. = : For Vinegar of Squills, put into a Pint of Vi- negar three Ounces of dried Squills, let it ftand’ two Days in a gentle Heat, then prefs out the’ Vinegar, and when it has ftood to fettle, add a: ‘Pound and a: half of Honey, and boil it to a Confiftence. Both thefe are excellent in Afthma’s: To thefe alfo fhould be added, the com- mon fimple Oxymel, which is made of a Pint of Vinegar, and two Pounds of Honey boiled toge- ther to the Confiftence of a Syrup. and the Expence is only fo much Hogs-Lard, | ‘The Lard is to be melted, and the freth gathered: the Leaves begin to feel crifp, and then the Lard is to be ftrained off. It will be green, and will have the Virtues of the Herb, and muft be cal- fed Ointment of fuch an Herb. To thefe I thall ‘take the Opportunity of adding the Way of mak- ing two or three more, which thou not the Produce of Englifp Herbs are very ufeful, and our charitable Shop fhould not be without them. 1. The White Ointment, called Unguentum. -This is made by melting together four Ounces of white INTRODUCTION. xvii white Wax, and three Ounces of Sperma Ceti, ina Pint of Sallad Oil, and adding, if it be defir- ~ ed, three Ounces of Cenefs, and a Dram and half of Camphire: But it is better for all com- mon Purpofes without thefe. 2. Yellow Bafilicon, which is made by melting eotes yellow Wax, Refin, and Burgundy Pitch, of each half a Pound, in a Pint of Oil of Olives, and adding three Ounces of Turpentine. ~ - 3. Black Bafilicon, which is made by melting together in a Pint of Olive Oil, yellow Wax, . Refin and Pitch, of each nine Ounces. 4. The Mercurial Ointment, which is thus made: Rub together in an Iron Mortar, a Pound of Quickfilver, and an Ounce of Turpentine, when they are well mixed, add four Pounds of Hogs-Lard melted, and mix ali thorougly toge- ther. The Ointment of Tutty is prepared with levigated Tutty, and as much Vipers Fat as will make it into a foft Ointment; thefe are only to be mixed together upon a Marble, by worki them with a thin Knife. This is for Diforders of the Eyes, the foregoing for the Itch, and ma- ny other Complaints, but it muftbe ufed cautioufly. And thofe which were before named for old Sores. Of the fame Nature with the Ointments, are,’ in fome Degree, the Oils made by Infufion of Herbs and Flowers in common Oil. Thefe are alfo very eafily prepared, and an Inftance or two will ferve to explain the making of them all. The moft regarded among thefe, is the Oil of St. John’s-wort, and that is thus made; pick clean a quarter of a Pound of the Flowers of com- mon St. John’s-wort, pour upon them a Quart of Olive Oil, and let them ftand together till the Oil is of .a reddifh Colour. Oil of Elder is made of a Pound of Elder Flowers, & . which xvii INTRODUCTION. which are to be put into a Quart of Olive Oi,. and boiled tili they are crifp, and the’ Oil is to be then ftrained of. __ a 3. What is called the Green Oil, is thus made, bruife in a marble Mortar, three Ounces of green Chamomile, with the fame Quantity of Bay Leaves, Sea Wormwood, Rue, and Sweet Mar- joram; then boil them in a Quart of Oil of Olives, till they are a little crifp. The Oil is. ap to be poured off, and when cold put up for {e. ons Meica , ; Thefe Oils are ufed to rub the Limbs when there is Pain and Swellings; their Virtues will be found at large, under the feveral Herbs which are the principal Ingredients: And after one or, other of thefe Methods, may be made the Oil by Infufion, or by boiling of any Plant, or of any Number of Plants of like Virtue; Laftly, tho’ Herbs are now left out of the Com+ _ pofition of Plaifters, even the Melelot being now made without the Herb from which it was firft named: It may be proper to add the Way of preparing a few that are moft ufeful, and ought to be kept in Families. oan ee 1. The Common Plaifter is thus made; boil. together a Gallon of Oil, five Pounds of powder- ed Litharge, and a Quart and four Ounces of - Water. When the Water is boiled away, the - reft will be united into a Plaifter, but it muft be ftirred all the Time: This ufed to be called Dia- chylon. To’ make Diachylon with the Gums, add t2 a Pound of the laft defcribed, two Ounces of Galbanum, and an Ounce of common Turpentine, and the fame Quantity of Frankincenfe. Melt them all together, the Gums firft, and then add the P laifter. F : eS 2. For: INTRODUCTION. xlix _2. For a ftrengthning Plaifter, melt two Pounds of the common Plaifter, and add to it half a Pound of Frankincenfe, and three Ounces of Dragons Blood. and a Pound of Mutton Suet. This is ufed in- ftead of the old Melilot Plaifter to drefs Blifters ; and the Blifter Plaifter itfelf is made of it, only by adding half a Pint of Vinegar, and a Pound ot Spanifo Flies in Powder, to two Pounds of it; juft-as it begins to cool from melting. The Quickiilver Plaifter is thus made; rub three Ounces of Quickfilver, with a Dram of Balfam of Sulphur, till it no longer appear in Globules, then pour in a-Pound of the common Plaifter melted, and mix them well together. To clofe this Chapter, I fhall add a few Wa- ters made without Diftillation, which are ve cheap and very ferviceable, -and the Family Shop will then be quite compleat. = | _ 1. Lime Water. This is made by pouring gra- dually fix Quarts of Water upon a Pound of Quick Lime; when it has ftood to be clear, it muit be poured off. If a Pound of Lignum Vite Wood, an Ounce of Liquorice Root, and half an Ounce of Safijfras Bark be added to three Quarts of Lime Water, it is called compound Lime Wa- ter; and is excellent in Foulneffés of the Blood. — , 2. The Blue Eye Water. This is made by put- ting a Dram of Sal Ammoniac inta a Pint of Lime Water, and letting it ftand in a Brafs Veffel, till - it is of a Sky Blue Colour. 3. Alum Water is made by boiling half an Ounce of white Vitriol, and the fame Quanti- ty of Alum in a Quart of Water, till they are dif olved, © Tha oes = 1 INTRODUCTION. Thus have we defcribed all the Drugs and Com- pofitions that need be kept in the charitable Shop’ of the Family, which intends to relieve a Neigh- bourhood of Poor in their greateft of all Diftref-- fes, that of Sicknefs. The Difeafes for which thefe Remedies are to be ufed, will be found enumerated at large under the feveral Heads of the principal Ingredients, as deferibed in the — fucceeding Pages. It only remains to fay a few Words about the Manner of puting thefe Things moft conveniently together, and we then efhall have prepared for all that follows. — a eh oe =e on A Pe, Concerning the bef? Methods of putting Medi- cines together for prefent taking, — ; I N the firft Place, although thefe feveral Forms of Syrups, Conferves, and the like, have been named, as what will be fometimes neceflary.. The great Practice in the Country will lie in the Infu- -fions and Decoétions of the frefh Plants and Roots, “The Strength of thefe Infufions and Decoétions, is to be proportioned to the Tafte: For as they are made to be fwallowed in Quantities, if they be made fo ftrong as to be very difagreeable, that End will be defeated: They may be rendered more pleafant by fweetening them with Sugar, about an Ounce of which is to be allowed to a Quart; and occafionally a little White Wine, or a {mall Quan- tity of fome of the Cordial Waters may be added to them. The Dofe of either Decoétion or Inifu- _fion, will be in general about half a Pint, except =e ‘Where they are intended to purge or vomit; there ie, 32 they INTRODUCTION. f they muft be more carefully and exactly propor- tioned to the Strength, than can be told in this general Manner. _ | Of the Simple Waters, about a Quarter of a Pint is a Dofe; and of the Cordial Waters, lef than half that Quantity.. Thefe may be occafion- ally given alone; but they are moftly intended for mixing with other Ingredients. — The Tinctures are-to be given in Drops, from ten to an hundred, according to their Strength and Nature: But to narné a general Dofe, it ig about five and twenty Drops. Thefe however will be alfo more ferviceable in Mixtures, than fing- ly. Of the purging TinCtures in Wine, and the ElixirSalutis, three, four; or more Spoonfuls is the Dofe. : Sa It would be well to keep Tin&tures of many of the Roots recommended in hervous Cafes, as Cor- dials, Aftringents, and of many other Kinds; and alfo to keep Powdérs of thefe Roots inReadinefs : And thus the commion Forms of Medicines, as fent from Apothecaries, will be very eafy. © For a Julep, fix Ounces of one of the Simple Waters, two Ounces of one of the Compound Waters, or thofe made with Spirit, two Drams of a Syrup, and fifty Drops of a Tinéture, make a very agreeable one. ‘Thus for an hyfteric Julep, Jet the Simple Water be Pennyroyal, the ftrone Water the ftrong Pennytoyal, the Syrup that of Saffron, and the Tinéture of Caftor, and it is a very pleafant Julep; and fo of all the reft. Ifa Pearl Cordial be defired, it is only mixing the Simple and ftrong Waters without Syrup ot Tinc- ture, and adding two Drams of Sugar, and half a Dram of levigated Oyfter-fhells. The Apothe- caries will not be pleafed with this difclofing the Myfteries of their Profeffion, but the ae e% Mii INTRODUCTION. Good is of more Confequence than his Plea- fife. 5: & Draughts are only little Juleps,. with more pow- erful Ingredients added to them. An Ounce and half of a Simple Water, three Drams of a ftrong Water, one Dram of a Syrup, and forty Drops of a Tinéture, makes a Draught; but to thefe may be added a Simple of fome Power to: in-. creafe the Virtue. What Waters, Tinctures, Sy- rups or Powders. fhall be ufed, will be deter- mined from the Cafe itfelf. .. .. _ Bolufes are made with thefe Powders in a certain Dofe. A Scruple or half a Dram, ~is made into a fort of Pafte with Syrrup.. The Cuftom is to cover it with alittle Leaf-Gold, but this is better let alone: Some ufe Leaf-Brafs. which is abominable. ,.. Eleétuaries are to be made of Powders, Con- ferves and Syrups, they differ from Bolufes in this, as well as in the Size, that the Dofe is fmaller, al- though the Piece taken be as large ; which is ow- ing to the Conferve, that having in general little Virtue’ in comparifon of the other Ingredients. This is the Form moft convenient for Medicines that are to be taken for a Continuance of Time, and the Dofe of which needs not be fo very punc-: tually regarded... : Thus Br an Electuary againft an habitual Loofe-. nefs, when it exceeds the proper Bounds ; mix together an Ounce of Conferve of Red Rofes, and fix Drams of Syrup of Cloves, add to thefe two Drams of powdered Biftort Root, one Dram of powdered Tormentill, and half a Dram of toafted Rhubarb. This makes an Electuary, a Piece of which, of the Bignefs of a Nutmeg, taken once in. = two Days, will check the Abundance of Stools, __- Without {topping the cuftomary Loofenefs intirely : Sea Se ee It INTRODUCTION. hii It will alfo be a pleafant Medicine. If a Draught of Tincture of Rofes, which will be defcribed in the following Part of this Work, under the Ar- ticle Red Rofe;.:be taken after this, it will increafe the Power, | | , In this Manner the charitable Lady may fupply the Place of the Apothecary, to thofe who could not afford fuch Affiftance : And Experience is. fo good a Guide, that fhe will be able in moft Cafes to fave the Expence of the Doctor alfo: And there will be this Satisfaction in her own Mind,” that while fhe deals principally with thofe innocent Sort of Medicines which the Fields afford her, fhe will be in very little Danger of doing. Harm.. The galenical Phyfic perhaps will be found ef- fectual in many more Cafes, by thofe who ftick to it folely, than they are aware who do not ufe it; as to the Mifchief of Medicine, that is al- moft entirely chemical. It would be idle to fay, that chemical Medicines do not do great Good; but they require to be in fkillful Hands: When the Ignorant employ them, Death is more likely to be the Confequence, than the Relief from the Dif order any other Way. "ae One ufeful Obfervation may ferye well to clofe this Introduction. Opiates, and Medicines of that kind, to compofe Perfons to reft, and to take off Pain, will be often neceffary; but as they are the moft powerful Medicines the charitable Praéti- tioner will have to do withal, they are the moft ca- pable of hoing Harm: The great Care will there- fore lie in the right Ufe of thefe. As there are three different Preparations de- fcribed in this Book for anfwering this Purpofe, befide the Opium, and that Solution of it in Wine, which is called Laudanum, I would advife that thefe two latter be ufed very feldom. A Syrup made fv INTRODUCTION. made of thé Juicé of the wild Lettuce, is an ex- cellent Medicine ; the Syrup of Diacodium, which is made of a {trong Decottion of Poppy Heads, is a little ftrongér than this; dnd if fomething more powerful than thefe is required, there is the afthmatic Elixir. One or other of thefe may al- moit on every Occafion ferve the Purpofe ; and it is almoft impoffible that the Ufe of them fhould be attended with Danger. I would there- fore advife, that Optim ot Laudanum be very rarely ufed: Perhaps it might be well to fay, not ufed at all, for the others wilk be able in al- moft all Cafes, if not univerfally, to anfwer the Purpofe. og > oe Avens, Herb Bennet Bro Adders Tongue ok-lime ane s- bill foot or Cr Doves- ommon. Cinquefoile Wn Cc = 4 sy NII \, i >. Sire \ b= ee Oh \ (Nf BS Sy RGA 5 ta See oN Horehound. men a Plate V Common Orpime g x Wa Sa ag 3 : ! Ti a YY + WH NE » we 17 NYY Ay WA) Z \\ 4 dA A) NY i es xf \ Ss gE \g r wey } Ay, De OY, Vay Sb) ocak oF QW We a 7) as Ye) ae AS \ Plantain. ~~ » i Sy i et ple ~ oF at [eS Bi Shino ARIAS Polypody of the Oak. e Spurge Laurel Swines Crefses — e) age i y Ni —S = Marsh Trefoil Tormentill ; se Pa beste phe fie = sc ‘Ufeful Family HERBAL. | es a As : Acacia Tree. ACACIA VERA SIVE SPINA 2 BCYETinACAA = VHE Acacia is a latge but not tall , x62 Gees Tree, with prickly Branches: The 7 Zasye Leaves are winged, or compofed of 6S )*). feveral {mall ones et oh each Side a - > le middle Rib; and the Flowers Ps sapeeties yellow. The Trunk is thick, and the-Top fpread- 2 ing. "The Leaves are of a bluifh Green, and the Ke Flowers refemble in Shape Pea Bloffoms; many of them ftand together. Thefe are fucceeded bo eee long and flatted Pods.’ The Seeds contained cae ee each are from four'to feven, and the Pod’ betwe them is ee {mall and narrow; the Bre adth where they lie ee ee The Tree is frequent i in FOP, and thee ieee reat 2- The Useful Family Herbal. Acacia Tree is kept in the Shops, but we have .from it two Drugs. 1. The Acacia Fuice, and 2. The Gum Arabick. The Acacia Juice or Succus Acacia is like Liquo- rice. Juice, hard and black. They bruife the un- ripe Pods and Seeds, and prefs out the Juice which they evaporate to this Confiftence. The Gum Arabick ouzes out of the Bark of the Trunk and Branches, as the Plum-Tree and Cherry-Tree Gum do with us. - , The Acacia Juice is an Aftringent but little ufed. The Gum Arabick is good in Stranguries, and in Coughs from a thin fharp Rheum; it is to be given in Solution an Ounce boiled in a Quart of Barley-water, or in Powder in Electuaries or otherwife. What is called the German Acacia is the Juice of unripe SYoes evaporated in the fame Manner. ACONITE. _ANTHORA SIVE ACONITUM SALU- | ee TIFERUM. | rT Here are many poifonous Aconites, not ufed; but there is one medicinal and kept in the ___ confifts of one Lump or Knob, fometimes of more. [tis a Native of Germany, but we have it in Gar- _ Gens, The Root is the only Part ufed; it is fup- The Ufeful Family Herbal. 3 pofed to be a Remedy againft Poifons, but it is not much regarded at this Time. ADDER’S-TONGUE. OPHIOGLOSSUN. A Daer’s-tongue is a little Plant common in ou Meadows. It confifts of a fingle Leaf, with a little Spike of Seeds rifing from its Bottom, which is fuppofed to refemble the Tongue of a Serpent. The Leaf is of an oval Shape, and of a fine bright green Colour; it is thick and flefhy, and has no Ribs dt Veins. The Stalk on which it ftands rifes from a Root compofed of fmall Fibres, and — is four Inches or more high. The Spike rifes to about the fame Height above it : And the Tongue . or Seed-vefiel is notched on each Side. The whole | Safa; tend: enikidt - Be Plant is buried among fought in Apriland May, for it dies off foon after ; and nothing is feen of it till the next Seafon. It is a fine cooling Herb, and an excellent Ointment is made from it. The Leaves are to be chopped to Pieces; and four Pounds of them are to be put into three Pounds of Sewet and one Pint of Oil melted together. The whole is to be boiled till the Herb is a little crifp, and then the Ointment is to be ftrained off; it will be of a beau- tiful Green. Some give the Juice of the Plant, or the Powder of the dried Leaves, inwardly in | Wounds; but this is trifling. _ AGRIMONY. AGRIMONIA. , Common Englifh Plant: It flowers in the ee. midft of Summer. It grows to a Foot or 4 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Flowers are yellow. The Root is perennial, thé Leaves are hairy, of a pale Green, and notched at the Edges; the Stalk is fingle, firm, and round ; the Flowers ftand in a long Spike, they are {mall and numerous, and the Seed-veffels which fuc- ceed them are rough like Burrs. The Plant is com- mon about Hedges. y The Leaves,are ufed frefh or dried; they have been recommended in the Jaundice; but they are found by Experience to be good in the Diabetes and Incontinence of Urine. The Plant is alfo one of the famous vulnerary Herbs, and an Ingredi- ent in. the right Arquebufade Water. Biack ALDER. * ALNUS NIGRA. FRANGULA. HE black Alder is alittle Shrub: The Shoots are brittle, flender, and covered with a brown Bark, the Leaves are roundifh, of a bright Greens and veined; they terminate in a Point. The Berries are large and black; they are ripe in Autumn; the Flowers which precede thefe.are fmall and inconfiderable, they are whitifh and -ftand on fhort Stalks. _ The Shrub is frequent in moift Woods, and the Berries are fometimes mixt among thofe of the Buckthorn by fuch as gather them for Sale, but this fhould be prevented. No Part of the black Alder is ufed in Medicine except the innér Rind; this is yellow; and is a good Purge; the beft Way to give it is in a De- cottion. Boil an Ounce of it in a Quart of Water, and throw in at leaft two Drachms of Ginger and iome Caraway-feeds ; let the Patient proportion the Quantity to his Strength : -It is excellent in the - Jaundice. In Yorkfbire they bruife the Bark with The Ufeful Family Herbal. g Vinegar, and ufe it outwardly for the Itch, which it cures very fafely. . ALEHOOF OR aid npD-Ivy. HEDERA TERRESTRIS. Low Plant that ereeps about Hedges. and flowers in Spring. The Stalks °are hollow and {quare, a Foot or more in Length; a leaves are roundifh and notched at the Edges: In Spring they are ufually of a purplifh Colour, and the Flowers are blue; the Leaves ftand two at each Joint, and the Roots are fibrous. The whole Plant has a peculiar and ftrong Smell, it thould be gathered when in Flower. It is an excellent Vulnerary, outwardly or in- wardly ufed; a Conferve may be made of it in Spring: A And it may be given by Way of Tea. It is excellent in all Diforders of the Breaft and Lungs, and in thofe of idnies, and againft bloody and foul ane Pores ALLHEAL oR CLown’s ALLHEAL. PANAX COLONE . A Common Herb in our wet Grounds with. long hairy Leaves and little red Flowers. It grows : to a Foot and a half high, but the Stalk is weak, {quare, and hairy: The Leaves ftand two at a Joint, and are OF. a pale Green notched at. die Edges, and of a ftrong Smell; the Flowers ftand in Clufters round the Stalk at the Joints. ae A are like thofe of the Dead-nettle kind but fix ler, the Root is perennial and creeps. Gr It is an excellent Wound Herb, but mutt od 3 ufed frefh. The shee ae to Pets a aS Jaid upon a new-made W: it dition , , they eee ising ‘nd tut . “Atgox- =e 6 Te Ofeful Family Herbal. ALMOND-TREKE. AMY GDALUS. BITTER and fweet Almonds are very dif- ferent in Tafte, but the Tree which produ- ces them is the fame; it is diftinguifhable at leaft only by the Tafte of the Almond. *Tis a moderately large Tree with long nar- row Leaves, of a beautiful Green, and notched at the Edges; the Bloffoms are large, of a pale red Colour, and very beautiful. The Fruit is com- pofed of three Parts, a tough Matter. on the Outfide, a Stone within that, and in this Shell the Almond by Way of Kernel. They cultivate Almond-Trees in France and Italy. 2 Sweet Almonds are excellent in Emulfions, for Stranguries and all Diforders of the Kidneys and Bladder ; they ought to be blanched and beat up with Barley-Water into a Liquor like Milk, this is alfo good in fmaller Quantities for People in Confumptions and Heéticks. < _ Bitter Almonds are ufed for their Oil; this taftes fweet, and what is called Oil of fweer Almonds, is commonly made of them. But the Cakes left after Preffing afford by Dittillation a Water that is poifonous, in the fame Manner as Laurel- Water. Tue Atoz-Pranr. ae ALOE, PT HERE are a great many kinds of the Aloe preferved in our Green-Houfes and Stoves. _ They are all Natives of warmer Climates, but of = = thefe there are only two that need be mentioned here, a as the Aloe kept by Apothecaries, though of three kinds, is the Produce of only two Species. Thefe eae © ere Pa The Ujeful Family Herbal, 7 two are the Socotrine Aloe-Plant and the com- mon Aloe. The Soggtriné Aloe is a very beautiful Plant; the Leaves are like thofe of the Pine- apple, eighteen or twenty Inches long, prickly at the Sides, and armed with a large Thorn at the End. The Stalk is half a Yard high or more, naked at the Bottom, but ornamented at Top with a long Spike of Flowers; thefe are of a long Shape and hollow, and of a beautiful red ¢ Colour. e Socotrine or fineft Aloes is produced from this Plant ; the Leaves are preffed gently and the. Juice received in earthen Veffels : It is fet to fettle and then dried-in the Sun. The common Aloe is a very fine Plant; the Leaves are above two Feet long and an Inch thick, they are dented at the Edges and ppc and have a very fharp Thorn “at the Poi The Stalk, when it flowers, is five or fix Feet high, and divided into feveral Branchesy. the Flowers are yellow ftreaked with From the Juice Pike Paver of this ‘Plant ; are made the Hepatic and the Caballine Aloes; the Hepatick is made from the clearer and finer Part of the Juice, the Caballine from the coarfe Sediment. Smell. It is a moft excellent Purge, but it mutt not be given to Women with Child, nor to thot who fpit Blood, for it may be fatal. The beft. Pace of giving it is in e Tincture of Hies®s § The U, Veful Family Herbal. » ALOES Woop. LIGNUM ALOES™ Tt may be neceffary to mention this Wood, as it is fometimes ufed in Medicine, although we are not acquainted with the Tree which affords it, We are told that the Leaves are fmall, the F low- ers moderately large, and the Fruit as big as a Pigéon’s E -and woolly ; and we read alfo that the Juice ¢ he ‘Tree, w' vile frefh, will sate Blif- ters on the Sich and even cat ndnefs : But thefe Accounts are very imperfe a We fee three kinds of the Wood in the cs Shs, and they are diftinguifhed by three different Names, -Calambac, common Lignum Aloes, and Calam- bour; of thefe the Calambac is the fineft and the moft refinous, the-Calambour is almoft a mete Chip, the other is of a middle Value between them. They are all of the fame Virtue, but in different Degrees. They are faid'to be cordial and ftreneth- er to the Stom ach » but we ule them xo little. ig SSS : Es ee eae Pave eee ~ AMOMUM VERUM RACEMOSUM. AN! is another of thofe Dru we re- “ceive from abroad, and do not Da 1s : : 1 Drown; the “Leaves are broad, oblong, and not unlike thofe ,of the Lemon-Tree. The Flowers are whitifh, ‘and very inconfiderable. The Fruit is as big as a Nutmeg, and confifts of a flefhy Subftance on the Outfide, and a Kernel inclofed in a thin and brittle Shell within. The Tree is properly of the Bay-Tree kind. They cut the Branches of the Benjamin Trees, and the Juice which flows out, hardens by De- grees into that reddifh and white fragrant Refin _we fee. Itis an excellent Medicine in Diforders of ‘the Breaft and Lungs: And a Tin@ure of it made with Spirit of Wine makes Water milky, and this Mixture is called Virgins-Milk ; it is ‘good to cleanfe the Skin, 2 : Woop- The Ufeful Family Herbal. 37. W oop-BEeToNny. BETONICA SYLVESTRIS. A Common wild Herb, but of very great Virtue. It is frequent in our Woods and among Buthes, and flowers in Fune. The Stalks are almoft naked, anda Foot high, and the Flowers are purple. There grow many Leaves from the Root; the have long Stalks, and are broad, above an Inc long, of a blackifh green Colour and hairy, blunt at the Point, and indented about the Edges.. The Stalks are {quare, of a dark Colour, hairy, and not very ftrong. The Leaves on them are yery few, and very diftant; but they ftand two at a Joint, and are like the others. The Flowers ftand at the Tops.in Form of a kind of thick fhort Spikes they are {mall and purple, and of the Shape. ) seco pres ti, een tony is to be gathered wher _ going - flower. Tt is excellent for Diforders of the Heac and for all nervous Complaints. The habitual Ufe of it will cure the moft inveterate Head- achs. It may be taken as Tea or dried and © powdered. _Some mix it with Tobacco and fmoak it, but this is a more uncertain Method. There is a-tall Plant with fmall purple Flowers growing by Waters, thence and from the Shape of the Leaves called Water Betony, but it has none of the Virtues of this Plant; it is a kind of Figwort, and poffefies the Virtues of that Plant, but in an inferior Degree. ; ta 38 «The Ufeful Family Herbal, BiInpD-WEED. CONVOLVULUS MAJOR. A Common wild Plant which climbs about our Hedges, and bears very large white Flowers, The Stalks are weak and flender, but very tough, fix or eight Feet long, and twift about any thing that can fupport them, ~The Leaves are large, and of the Shape of an Arrow-Head, bearded at the Bafe, and fharp at the Point: They ftand fingly, not in Pairs, and are of ‘a pale green Co- Jour. The Flowers are of the Breadth of a Crown- Piece at the Mouth, and narrower to the Bafe Bell-fafhioned, and perfectly white. The Root is long and flender. In Northamptonfbire the poor People ufe the Root of this Plant frefh- gathered and. boiled in Ale as a Purge; they fave the Expence of the Apothecary, and anfwer the Purpofe ‘better than any one thing would do forthem. It would nau- feate a delicate Stomach, but, for People of their ftrong Conftitution, there is not a better Purge. The BiLLBERRY-BusH, VACCINIA NIGRA. are broad, fhort, and indented about the Edges. The Flowers are fmall but pretty, their Colour are of a blackifh Colour, and of a pleafant Tafte. A Syrup made of the Juice of Billberries, when Ret over ripe, js cooling and binding ; itis a plea- s = fant The Ufefil Family Herbal. 39 fant and gentle Medicine for Women whofe Men- fes are apt to be too redundant, taken for a Week before the Time., The Bircu-Trex, BETULA. A Tall and handfome Tree common in our Woods and Hedges. The Bark is fmooth and white. The young Shoots are reddifh, and they are fmall and long. The Leaves are beautiful ; they are fhort, roundifh, of a fine bright Green, and notched about the Edges. The Flowers are inconfiderable; the Fruit is a little, fcaly, Globule, preceding the ‘Leaves in Spring. The Juice of the Birch-Tree, procured by boring a Hole in it in Spring, is diuretic, and good againft The ves, gathered and_ boiled i in’ Vater, afford a Decoétion, which acts in the fame Manner, and is good” in Dropfi And in all cutaneous Diforders, aiewarlly alec RoOuUND-ROOTED BIRTHWORT. ARISTOLOCHIA ROTUNDA. A wild Plant in Jtaly and the South of France, but with us found only in the Gardens of the Curious. It hasno great Beauty, or even Sin- gularity. in its Appearance, till examined: The — are a Foot anda half longs. a i are fquare and of a duik n Colour e Leaves are fhort, broad sad enact of a dufky Green ; alfo the Flowers are long, hollow, and of an odd Form, not refembling the Flowers of other _ Plants: They are of a dufky greenifh Colour on the Outfide, and purple within: The Fruit is | flethy, and as big asa {mall Walnut, The Root age and roundith. a es D4 =, lhe. 40 The Ufeful Family Herbal. The Root is the only Part ufed in Medicine, and that we have from Countries where the Plant is native ; it isa rough and difagreeable Medicine; it often offends the Stomach, but it is an excel- lent Drug for promoting the neceflary Eva- cuations after Delivery. There are two other kinds of Birthwort, the Root of which are alfo kept in the Shops; the one called the long Birthwort; the other the climbing Birthwort. They poflels the fame Vir- tues with the round, but in a lefs ao and are therefore lefs rega BisHoPswoop. AM MI, AY Wild Plant in France and Italy, but kept only -* in our Gardens, in its external Figure, fome- what refembling Parfly when in Flower. The Stalk is round, firm, and ftriated; it grows two Feet high. The Leaves are of the compound kind, and formed of many fmaller, which are road, fhort, and indented at the Edges. The Flowers are fmall and white, but they ftand in fuch large Tufts at the Tops of the Stalks = they make a confiderable Appearance. - Each Flower is fucceeded by two Seeds; thefe are fmall a ftriated, of a warm aromiatick: Tafte, and not able. a Sec ds are the only Part of the Plant ufed in Medicine; they are good againft the Cholick, as all the other carminative Seeds are; but they are alfo diuretick, fo that they are particularly proper in thofe Cholicks which arife from the Stone . in the Kidneys and Ureters; they alfo poe the Menfes. . | There is another Sort of Bifhops- -weed called “‘Cretick Ammi, the Seeds of which are ufed in Medicine; The Ufeful Family Herbal. 4% Medicine ; they are of the fame Virtues with thefe> but are lefs ufed. They have a more fpicySmell. BIsTORTA., BISTORT. A war beautiful wild Plant: It grows in our Meadows, and, when in Flower in May and Fune, is very confpicuous, as well as very ele- gant in its Appearance. . It is about a Foot anda half high; the Leaves are broad and beautiful, and the Flowers grow in a thick Spike or Ear at the Top of the Stalks, and are of a bright red Colour. There rife immediately from the Root a Number of large and beautiful Leaves, long, broad, and of a fine green Colour. The Stalks on which they ftand, have alfo a Rim of the Ieeaf running down them ; the Stalks. are round, firm, and erect, of a pale Green, and have two or three Leaves, like the others, but finaller, on them, placed at Dif s. The Spike of the Flow- ers is as long and as thick as a Man’s Thumb: The Root is thick and contorted, blackifh on the Outfide, and red within. ~- If we minded our own Herbs, we fhould need fewer Medicines from abroad. The Root of Bif- tort is one of the beft Aftringents in the World: Not violent but fure. The Time of gathering it is in March, when the Leaves begin to fhoot. String feveral of them on a Line, and let them dry inthe Shade. The Powder or Decottion of them will ftop al] Fluxes of the Belly, and is one of the fafeft Remedies known for Overflowings of the Menfes. They are alfo good in a Diabetes. The Ufe of this Root may be continued without Danger, till it effets a perfect Cure. BitTER- 42 The Ufeful Family Herbal. BiITTER-SWEET: ~ SOLANUM LIGNOSUM. A Common wild. Plant with weak but woody Stalks that runs among out Hedges, and bears Bunches of very pretty blue Flowers in Summer, and in Autumn red Berries. The Stal run to ten Feet in Length, but they cannot fup- port themfelves upright: They are of a bluith Colour, and, when broken, have a very difagree- able Smell like rotten Eggs. The. Leaves are oval, but fharp-pointed, and have seach two little ones near the Bafe ; they are of adufky Green and indented, and they grow fingly on the Stalks. The Flowers are fmall, and of a fine purplith Blue, with yellow Threads in the Middle. The Berries areoblong. This is little regarded in Medicine, , but it deferves to be better known; we account: the Night-Shades poifonous, and many of them are fo, but this has no Harm in it. The Wood of the larger Branches, and the young Shoots of the Leaves, are a fafe and— ent Pr I have known a Dropfy taken early:cured by this fingle Medicine. Bits Broop-wortT. - LAPATHUM SANGUINEUM.- A Beautiful kind of Dock kept in Gardens, and Wild in fome Places. It grows to four Feet ughs the Stalks are firm, ftiff, upright, branch- ed, and ftriated. The Leaves are very lang and narrow, broadeft at the Bafe, and fmaller all the Way to the End. They are not at all indented at the Edges, and they ftand upon long Foot Stalks: Their Colour is a deep Green, but they arein different Degrees ftained with a beautiful 9 ae BAO e The Ujeful Family Herbal. 43 Blood Red; fometimes the Ribs only are red, fome- times there are long Veins of Red irregularly fpread over the whole Leaf, fometimes there are very broad, and in fome Plants the whole Leaves and the Stalks alfo are of a Blood Colour; the Flowers are very numerous:and little, They in all Refpeéts refemble thofe of the common wild Docks, The Root is long and thick, and of a deep Blood red Colour. ee The Roots are ufed: They are beft dry, and they may be given in Decot¢tion, or in Powder: They are powerfully aftringent , they {top bloody Fluxes, Spitting of Blood, and the Overflowings of the Menfes. It is alfo good againit violent Purg- ings and again{t the Whites, — : BRAMBLE, RUBUS VULGARIS, THE moft common Buhh in our Hedges. The + Stalks are woody, angulated, and of a pur- lith Colour ; and they are armed with crooked pines; the Leaves are rough, indented, and ftand either five or three on a Stalk. The Flowers are white, with a very faint Tinge of purplifh, and the Fruit is compofed of a2 Number of {mall Grains. The moft negleéted Things have their Ufe. The Buds of the Bramble-Leaves boiled in Spring, Water, and the Decottion fweetened with Honey, are excellent for a fore Throat. A Syrup made of the Juice of the unripe Fruit, with very fine Sugar, is cooling and aftringent. It is good in joe z — of the Menfes, and even = Purgings. Berries are “to be gathered this Purpofe, when they are red. : | ~ Brve- “te 44 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Brue-Borrte. CYANUS. A Very common anda very pretty Weed among £* our Corn; the Leaves are narrow, and of a whitifh Green ; and the Flowers of a very beauti- ful Blue and large. The Plant is about a Foot high, and, when in Flower, makes a confpicuous and elegant Appearance. The Root is hard and fibrous ; the Stalk is very firm, white and angu- lated, ‘and branched. The Leaves that grow from the Root have fome Notches on the Edges ; thofe on the Stalk have none, and they are narrow like Blades of Grafs; the Flowers ftand only on the Tops of the Branches, and they grow: out of fcaly Heads. The Seeds are beautiful, hard, white, and fhining. The Leaves which grow on the Stalks of the Blue-Bottle frefh gathered and bruifed, will ftop the Bleeding of a frefh Wound, even if a large Vefiel be cut. oy are not fufficiently knawn for this Purpofe, but they exceed all other Things: And may fave a Life where a Surgeon is not to had in Time for fuch an Accident. A diftilled Water of the Flowers ufed to be kept in the Sense but it was of no Value. An-Intufion of them works gently by Urine here 3 is a large kind of this Plant in Gardens, ich is called a Vulnerary or Wound Herb. But it is not fo good as this. _ The Box-TREE, BUXUS. A Common little Shrub in our Gardens, anda Native of our own Country, though not common in its wild State. With us it grows but | ta , The Ufeful Family Herbal. 45 to a {mall Height; in fome other Parts of Europe, it is a tolerably Jarge Shrub. The Bark is whitifh, the Wood yellow; the Leaves fmall, roundith, fmooth, of a very dark green Colour, and very numerous. The Flowers are fmall and greenifh yellow; the Fruit is little, round, and furnithed with three Points. The Wood of the Box-Tree, and particularly of the Root, is an excellent Medicine in all Foul- neffes of the Blood; it has the fame Virtues with the Guiacum, but in a greater Degree. Itis to be given in Decoction not made too ftrong, and con- tinued a long Time. There have been Inftances of what were called Leprofies cured entirely by this Medicine. There is an Oil made from it by Diftillation, which is good for the Tooth-ach. It is to be dropped on Cotton, and to be put into the Tooth, BOotact BORAGO. A Rough Plant common in our Gardens, with great Leaves, and beautiful blue Flowers. It grows two Feet high; the Stalks are thick, round, flefhy, and juicy ; and covered with a ki of Hairinefs fo fturdy that it almoft amounts to ‘the Nature of Prickles. The Leaves are oblong, broad, very rough and wrinkled ; and they have the fame Sort of Hairinefs, but lefs ftiff than that of the Stalk; the largeft grow from the Root, but thofe on the Stalks are nearly of the fame Shape. ‘The Flowers are placed toward the Tops of the Branches; they are divided into five Parts of a moft beautiful Blue, and have a black Eye as it were in the Middle. coe s, Borage has the Credit of being a great Cordial; but, if it pofiefs any fuch Virtues, they are to ba obtained 46 The Ufeful Family Herbal. _ obtained only by a light cold Infufion; fo that the Way of throwing it into cold Wine is better than all the medicinal Preparations, for in them it is naufeous, WHITE BRYONY... BRYONIA ALBA, A Tall, climbing, wild Plant, which covers our Hedges in many Places. The Leaves are fomewhat like thofe of the Vine; the Flowers are inconfiderable ; but the Berries are red, and make are broad, and divided deeply at the Edge, and they are hairy. The Flowers are of a ereen- ifh White and fmall, but the Berries are mode- rately large and full of Seeds. The Root is the only Part ufed in Medicine ; the Juice of it operates very ftrongly-by Vomit sara and that ina fall} re tions cannot bear it, but, for thofe that can, it is excellent in many fevere Difeafes; Dropfies have been cured by it. It is alfo good againft hyfterick Complaints, but for this Purpofe it is to be given in very {mall Dofes and frequently repeated. Brack Brrowny. BRIONIA NIGRA. "THERE is not any Inftance which more _ blames our Neglect of the Medicines of our own Growth, than this of the black Bryony, a Medicine fearce known or heard of, but equal to any, | re ae Gg - Tne The Ufeful Family Herbal. 47 The Plant climbs upon Bufhes and Hedges like the former, but this by twifting its Stalk about the Branches of Trees and Shrubs, for it has no Tendrils. It runs to fifteen Feet in Height, the Stalk is tough and angular: The Leaves are broad, and of a Heart-like Shape and are per~ fe€tly fmooth and fhining, and of a glofly and very deep blackifh Green. The Flowers are very fmall and of a greenifh White; the Berries are _ The Root is black without, white within, and full of a flimy Juice. The Root of black Briony is one of the beft Diureticks known in Medicine. It is an excel- lent Remedy in the Gravel, and all other Ob- ftruétions of Urine, and other Diforders of the urinary Paflages — BooxKLIMeE. ANAGALLIS SOU Les A, BEC A- : Best. 2 ana os al Common wild Herb frequent about fhallow L Waters, with a thick Stalk, roundifh Leaves, and Spikes of little bright blue Flowers. Brook- Imie grows to a Foot high. The Stalk is round, flefhy and large, yet it does not grow very up- right: It ftrikes Root at the lower Joints. The Leaves are broad, oblong, blunt at the End, and a little indented on the Edges. The Flowers ftand fingly on fhort Foot-Stalks one over ano- ther, fo that they form a kind of loofe Spike; the Roots are fibrous. ae Brooklime has great Virtues, but muft be ufed pre gathered, for they are all = drying: The uice in Spring is v d agai € vy; but it muft eileen six Setne Tian, noaaees gently by Urine, but its great Virtue is in fweet- _ ening the Blood. ee oe , Broom. 48 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Broom. | GENIST A. A Common naked-looking Shrub that grows ort wafte Grounds, and bears yellow Flowers in May. tis two or three Feet high. The Stalks are very tough, angular, and green, . The Leaves are few, and they are alfo fmall ; they grow three together, and ftand at Diftances on the long and flender Stalks. The Flowers are numerous, they are fhaped like a Pea-Bloffom, and are of a beau- tiful bright Yellow. The Pods are flat and hairy. The green Stalks of Broom, infufed in Ale or Beer for the common Drink, operate by Wine, and remove Obftructions of the Liver and. other Parts; they are famous in the Dropfy and Jaun- ice. It is a common Praétice to burn them to Afhes, and infufe thofe Afhes in White-wine; thus the fixed Salt is extraéted, and the Wine becomes a kind of Lee. This alfo works by Urine more powerfully than the other, but the other is Jit) BuTCHERS-BROOM. RUSCUS. : A Littlé fhrubby Plant frequent on our waft« Grounds and Heaths, with {mall prickly Leaves and bufhy Tops. The Plant grows a Foot and a half high. ‘The Stalks are roundifh, lated, thick, and very tough. They are naked towards the Bottom, and divide- into fome Branches towards the Top: They are there covered with Leaves. Thefe Leaves are fhort, broad, oval, and poi A Point running out in a Prickle; they are of a bluith Green, _wery ‘thick and flefhy. The Flowers are feldom re- oa garded; The Ujeful Family Herbal, 49 garded ; they grow in a fingular Manner upon the Backs of the Leaves, they are very {mall and purplifh: Thefe are fucceeded each by a fingle Berry, which is red, round, and as big as a Pea. The Roots are whith, thick, and numerous. The Root is the Part ufed, and it is an excel- lent Medicine to remove Obfiruétions. It works werfully by Urine, and is good in Jaundices, stid in Dineniss of the Menfes, and excellent in the Gravel. BuCK-BEANS., TRIFOLIUM PALUSTRE. AN Herb better known by the common People, than among the Apothecaries, but of great Virtue. It grows wild with us in marfhy Places, and is of fo very fingular an Appearance, that it muft be. -at Sight. It grows a Foot high the Leaves ftand three neach Stalk, and. thefe Stalks rife immediately from the Roots, They are thick, round, Racoth and flefhy; and dhe Leaves themfelves are large, oblong, and have fome Refemblance of ‘thofe of Garden-Beans. The Flowers ftand upon naked Stalks, which are alfo thick, round, fiefhy, and whitith: They are i but they grow together in a kind of thick rt Spike, fo that in the Clufter they make a — ret by ste Appearance; they are white with a very faint Tinge of Purple, and are hairy with- in; the Root is whitith, long, and thick. The Leaves of Buck-bean are to. be iiceedl before the Stalks appear for Flowering, : and are to be dried ; the Powder of them will cure Agues, but their great Ufe is againft the Rheumatifm: For this Purpofe they are to be given for a Con- tinuance of Time }Infufion, or in the Manner of Tea. E : Buck- Mo. -Bot. Garden, : bf 8 93 é 50 The Ufeful Family Herbal, BucK THORN. SPINA CERVINA. A Prickly Shrub common in our Hedges, with pale green Leaves, and black Berries. It grows to eight or ten Feet high, The Bark is dark-coloured and glofly, and the Twigs are tough. The Leaves are oval, of avery regular and pretty Figure, and elegantly dented round the Edges. The Flowers are little, and inconfiderable ; they are of a grecnifh Yellow, and grow in little Clufters. The Berries which are ripe in Septem- ber, are round, gloffy, black, as big as the largeft As ta and contain each three or four The Juice of the Berries, boiled up with Sugar, makes a good Purge; but it is apt to gripe, un- lefs fome Spice be added in the making: It isa rough Purge, but a very good one. i SEE OS a at a N. sata Ft is — A As pretey wis Pe which grows i in our _ tith, and have at the Top a Spike of Flowers of an fandy and barren Places, with the Leaves Ss read out in Manner of a Star, all the Way round. ro m the Root; and in the Heads like other Plan- tains, although fo very unlike them in its Leaves. The Root is long and fiender: The Leaves which jong, very beautifully notched and divided fo as to refemble a Buck’s Horn, whence the Name, and of a pale whitifh Green, and a little hairy. The Stalks are flender, fix Inches long, but fel- dom quite ereét : They are round, hairy, and whi- Inch band stig 2 TA eR et lie thus flat upon the Ground, are narrow and — | The Ufeful Family Herbal. 51 Inch or two in Length, altogether like that of the other Plantains, only more flender. This Plant has obtained the Name of Star of the Earth, from the Way of the Leaves fpread- ing themfelves. Thefe Leaves bruifed, and ap- plied to a frefh Wound, ftop the Bleeding and effect a Cure. It is faid alfo to be a Remedy a- gainft the Bite of a mad Dog, but this is idle and groundlefs. BUGLE. BUGULA. Common wild Plant and a very pretty one, with gloffy Leaves, creeping Stalks, and blue Flowers ; itis frequent in damp Woods. The Stalks, when they rife up to bear the Flowers, are eight or ten Inches high, fquare, of a pale green Colour, often a little purplifh; and have two Leaves atevery Joint, the Joints being fomewha iftant. Thefe Leaves are of the fame Form with thofe which rife immediately from the Root; oblong, broad, blunt at the Point, and of a dee green Colour, fometimes alfo a little purplith, and are flightly indented round the Edges. “ The Flowers are fmall and of a beautiful Blue, in Shape like thofe of Betony; they grow in a Sort of Circles round the upper Part of the ~ Stalks, forming a kind of loofe Spikes. The Cups re- _Main when the Flowers are gone, and-hold the ; The Juice of this Plant is efteemed good for inward Bruifes; it is a very good Diuretick. E 2 &2 The Ufeful Family Herbal. BuUuGLOSS. BUGLOSSUM HORTENSE. Rough and unfightly Plant kept in our Gardens for the Sake of its Virtues, but very rarely ufed. It grows to a Foot and a half highs the Leaves are rough like thofe of Borage, but they are long and narrow, of a deep green Colour, and rough Surface. The Stalks are alfo covered with a rough and almoft prickly Hairinefs. The fame Sort of Leaves ftand on thefe as rife imme- diately from the Root, only fmaller. The Flow- ers ftand at the Tops of the Branches, and are very pretty, though not very large; they are red when they firft open, but they afterwards become blue. - The Root is long and brown. It flowers in une and Fuly. Buglofs fhares with Borage the Credit of being a Cordial; but perhaps neither of them have any great Title to the Character; it is ufed like Borage ‘in cool Tankards, for there is no Way of making any regular Preparation of it, that is poffeffed of any Virtues. | There is a wild kind of Buglofs upon Ditch- Banks, very like the Garden kind, and of the fame Virtues. _ a BuRDOCK. ae BARDANA. F the laft mentioned Plant has more Credit for medicinal Virtues than it deferves, this is not - fo much regarded as it ought. Providence has made fome of the moft ufeful Plants the moft common, but, becaufe they are fo, we foolifhly neglect them. a ox It The Ufeful Family Herbal. 53 Ttis hardly neceffary to defcribe the common Bur- dock. It may be enough to fay, that it grows a Yard high, and has vaft Leaves of a Figure approach- ing to triangular, and of a whitifh green Colour. The Stalks are round, ftriated, and very tough : The Flowers are. fmall and red, and- ‘hase ey grow among the hooked Prickles of thofe Heads which we call Burs, and which ftick to our Cloaths. Even this feems a Provifion of Nature in Kindnefs to us. In pulling off thefe we fcatter the Seeds of which they are compofed, and give Rife toa moft ufeful Plant in anew Place. The Root of the Burdock is long and thick ; brown on the Outfide, aod whitifh within ; this is the Part ufed in Me- cine, and it is of very great Virtues. It is to ms boiled, or infufed in Water; the Virtue is diu- retic, and it is very powerfully fo. It has cured ies alone. The Seeds have the fame Vir- tue, but in a lefs Degree. .The Root is faid to be fudorifick and_good in Fevers; but its Virtue in operating by Urine is its great Value. BURNET. PIMPINELLA SANGUISORBA. Common wild Plant. It grows by Way-fides, and in dry Places, and flowers in Fuly. The Leaves which rife immediately from the. Root are very beautiful; they are of the winged kind, being compofed of a great Number of fmaller, growing on each Side a middle Rib, with an odd one at the End. They are broad, fhort, roundith, and elegantly ferrated round the Edges. The Stalks are a Foot high, round, ftriated, pur- plifh or green, and almoft naked , the few Leaves they have are like thofe at the Bottom. | i | Tops of thefe Stalks ftand the Flowers ; , they difpoied in little round Clufters, and are” Tall | ae = es s4 The Useful Family Herbal. and of a pale reddifh Colour, and have a Num- ber of Threads in the Middle. Burnet is called a Cordial, and a Sudorific, and is recommended in Fevers. They put it alfo into cool Tankards like Borrage. The Root is a good Aftringent; dried and Pet it ftops — ‘Fluxes, and Overflowings of the Me BURNET SAXIFRAGE. PIMPINELLA SAXIFRAGA. A Pretty Plant, wild in our dry Paftures, and under Hedges, but not very common in all Parts a the Kingdom ; it grows two Feet high, and has the Flowers in Umbels. The Stalk is Sra ftriated, and branched ; the Leaves rifing from the Root are pinnated, and the lefler Leaves of which they are compofed, are hard, of a deep Green, narrow and indented. The Leaves upon the Stalks are fmaller and narrower ; the Flowers are little and white, but they ftand in fo large Cluf- ters, that they make a Ei Soe dhe Root is es and of a hot t gre “The. Root is the only Part ufed ; it t thould be taken up in Spring before the Stalks fhoot up, and dried ; It is very good in Cholicks, and Diforders of the Stomach, and it works by Urine, BuTTeR-Bur. FEL ASLIIES. A Very fingular and very confpicuous Plant» not unfrequent with us in wet Places. The Flowers appear before the Leaves, and they would hardly be iuppofed to belong to the fame Plant. _. TheStalks are round, thick, {pungy, and of a whi- == : fh ae and have a few Films by ay of — eaves The Ufeful Family Herbal. 55 Leaves upon them. On the Top of each ftands a Spike of Flowers, of a pale reddith Colour ; - the whole does not rife to more than eight Inches in Height. Thefe appear in March. When they are dead, the Leaves gfow up; thefe are roundifh, green on the upper Side, and whitih o , of a vaft Bignefs, and ftand fingly upon hollowed Foot-Stalks, of a purplifh, whitith, or greenifh Co- jour; they are often two Feet broad. The Root is white and long, it creeps under the Surface of the Ground. — The Root is the Part ufed; it is praifed very *= highly, asa Remedy in peftilential- Fevers; but, whether it deferve that Praife or not, it is a good Diuretick, and excellent in the Gravel. ftand in a kind of circular Tufts about the upper Parts of the Stalk : Lower down ftand the rough Fruits called Burs, from whence the Plant ob-, tained - tained its Name; they are of the Bignels of a large _ Nutmeg, green and rough. The Root is com- pofed of a Quantity of white Fibres, ee The unripe Fruit is ufed, they are aftringent, and good againt Fluxes of the Eclly, and Biced- ings of all kinds: The beft Way of giving them is infufed in a rough red Wine, with a littie Cir pamon. They wfe them in fomie Pare. of Bgl a 56 The U; Voful Family Herbal. externally for Wounds. A’ Strong Decoétion of them is made to wafh old Ulcers, and the Juice is applied to frefh Hurts, and they fay with great Succefs. C. The CuocoratTe Nut-TREE. . CACAO, ys is an American Tree, very beautiful as well as very valuable for its Fruit. The Trunk is of the Thicknefs of a Man’s Leg, and | the Height of fifteen Feet; but in this it differs greatly according to the Soil; and the Size of the Fruit alfo will differ from the fame Caufe, whence fome have talked of four different kinds of the The Flowers are fmall and yel- lowifh, and they grow in Clufters from the ‘Branches, and even from the Trunk of the Tree; but each has its feparate Stalk. _ The Fruit is of the Shape of a Cucumber, half a Foot long, and thicker than a Man’s Wrift ; this is ridged, and, when ripe, of a purplith Colour, with fome ‘Ting of Yellow. The Cacao Nuts, as they are ‘called, are lodged within this Fruit; every Fruit contains between twenty and thirty of them. The ‘are of the Bignefs of a large Olive, but not FA ‘thick: And are compoied of a woody Shell, and_ a large Kernel, which affords the Chocolate... The common Way of taking this in Chocolate is not the only one in which it may be. given; ee The Ufeful Family Herbal. 57 the Nut itfelf may be put into Electuaries. It is very nourifhing and reftorative. £ CALAMINT. CALAMINTHA. A Common wild Plant of great Virtues, but too much negleéted: It is frequent by our Hedges, and in dry Places, and is a very robuft. Herb. It is eight or ten Inches high, and has roundifh dark green Leaves, and white Flowers. The Stalks are fquare, and very much branched: The Leaves are of the Bignefs of a Man’s Thumb- nail, fomewhat hairy, and flightly indented about the Edges. The Flowers ftand in little Clufters _ furrounding the Stalks, and are of a whitifh Co- lour, a little tinged with purplifh. The Root is compofed of a few Fibres. Calamint fhould be ga- thered when juft coming into Flower, and careful- ly dried, it is afterwards to be given in the Man- ner of Tea, and it will do t Service in Weak- neffes of the Stomach, and in habitual Cholicks. I have known effectual and lafting Cures perform- ed by it. PENNYROYAL CALAMINT. CALAMINTHA ODORE PULEGII A Little Plant of the fame kind with the other, and found in the fame Places, but more com- mon, Itis a Foot high; the Stalks are robuft and firm; the Leaves are fmall, and of a whitifh green Colour, and more hairy than in the other: The Flowers are fmall and white, with a Tinge of Purple; the Plant grows more erect and is lefs branched than the other ; and it has a very ftrong , and not a very agreeable Smell; the other is ftrong- Scented and pleafant. ae Pra 58 The Ufeful Family Herbal. This is to be preferved dry as the other, and taken in the fame Manner. It is excellent againt Stoppages of the Menfes, and, if taken conftantly, will bring them.to a regular Courfe. CaLtvEs-SNOUT OR SNAPDRAGON. AN TIRRHINUM. A Common wild Plant in many Parts of Eu- rope, and is very frequent in our Gardens, and upon the Walls of Gardens : Its natural Situation is on Hills among barren ‘Rocks, and nothing comes fo near that, as the Top = an old Wall with us: The Seeds are light and ate eafily car- ried thither by the Wind, and they never fail to ftrikke, and the Plant Sourithes: It is two Feet high, the Stalks are round, thick, firm, and to- lerably upright, but generally a little bent-to- wards the Bottom, the Leaves are very numeé- rous ; they are oblong, narrow, not indented -at the Edges, blunt at the Ends, and of a bluifh green Colour. The Flowers are large and red, they fland in a ki foofe ‘ upon the Tops of the Stalks; the Rot i wane. and oblong. _ The frefh Tops are ufed ; an Infufion of them - works by Urine, and has. been-recommended by’ fome in the Jaundice, and in other Difeafes arifiag from Obftructions of the Vifcera; but we have fo many Englifo Plants that excel in this Particu- Tar, and the Tafte of the Infufion is fo far from SS. that it is not worth while to have Re- ‘courte to i 2 Cawerte The Useful Family Herbal. 59 CAMELS-HAY. SCHENANTHUS,. A Sort of Grafs of a fragrant Smell, frequent in many Parts of the Raft, and brought over to us dried for the Ufe of Medicine. It grows to aFoot high, and in all a refembles fome of our common kinds of Grafs, particularly the Dar- nel. The Leaves are long and narrow: The Stalks are round and jointed, and have graffly Leaves alfo on them, and the Flowers ftand on - the Tops of the Stalks in a double Series: They are not unlike thofe of our Graffes, chaffy and ornamented with a few Filaments. It was at one Time in great Efteem as a Me- dicine; they called it a Cordial, and a Promoter of the Meenfes, but it is now very lictle regarded. > tas Fe Be CHAMOMILE. CHAMCMELUM. A Common low wild Plant of a beautiful Green, a fragrant Smell, and with Flowers not un- like Daifies. It is frequent on damp Heaths, and gets no Good by being brought into Gardens. It grows larger there, but has lefs Efficacy. In its wild State it fpreads its Branches upon the Ground, taking Root at the Joints. The Stalks are round, green, and thick, the Leaves are very finely di- vided, and-ofa dark blackifh green Colour. The Flowers grow upon long Foot-Stalks, and are. white at the Edge, and yellow in the Middle; The Flowers are moft ufed. Thofe which are raifed for Sale are double, and they have very little Vir-- tue in Comparifon of the fingle ones. They are to be taken in Tea, which is a pleafant Bitter ; _or in Powder they are excellent‘for Diforders of the c Stomach, 60 The Ufeful Family Herbal Stomach, and have fometimes cured Agues, as many other Bitters will. The Tea made of them is alfo good againft the Cholick, and works by rine. ; The Campuor-TREEeE. ARBOR CAMPHORIFERA. His is a kind of Bay-Tree of the Ea/-JIndies, but it grows to the Height of our talleft Trees. The Bark is brown and uneven on the ‘Trunk, but it is fmooth and green on the young Branches. The Leaves are like thofe of the com- mon Bay-Tree, only a little longer; and they are curled at the Edges. The Flowers are fmall and white, and the Fruit is a Berry altogether like our Bay-Berries, and of the Bignefs of .a large Pea. The Wood of the Tree is white or a little reddith, and veined with black, and fmells of the Camphire. The Leaves alfo, when they are bruifed, f{mell of Camphire; and the Fruit moft of all. The only Product of this Tree;-asfed in Medi- cine, is the Refin called Camphires’and this is not ‘a natural, but a fort of Chemical Preparation. fort of fubliming Veffel, with an earthen Head full of Straw. They make a Fire underneath, and the Camphire rifes in Form of a white Meal, and is found among the Straw. This is refined afterwards, and becomes the Camphire we ufe. It is fudorifick and works by Urine; it alfo pro- - motes the Menfes, and is good in Diforders of the ‘They cvt the Wood to Pieces, and put it into a: _ Wairs | ‘The Ufeful Family Herbal. 61 Wuiter Cam PrON. LYCHNIS FLORE ALBO. A Common wild Plant in our Hedges and dry Paftures, with hairy Leaves, and white Flow- ers. It grows to a Foot and a half high: The Stalks are round and hairy; the Leaves are of an oval Form, and alfo hairy; and they grow two at every Joint: They are of a dufky Green, and are not indented about the Edges. The Flowers are moderately large, and. white; they grow in a kind of {mall Clufters on the Tops of the Branches, and each has its feparate Foot-Stalk. This isa Plant not much regarded for its Vir- tues, but it deferves Notice; the country Peo- ple gather the Flowers in fome Places, and give them in the Whites and other Weakneffes with uccefs. a | The Canet BaRK-TREE, CALLED THE WINTER'S BARK-IT REE. CANELLA ALBA. A Very beautiful American Tree. It grows fifty Feet high, and is commonly much branched. The Bark is of a greyifh Brown: The Leaves are very like thofe of the Bay-Tree, and the Flowers’ are purple ; they are fingly very fmall, but they ftand in a kind of Umbels, and make a very pretty Figure: The Fruit is a Berry which ftands in the Cup of the Flower: Itis of the Bignefs of — a Pea, and of a deep blackifh Purple when ripe. It is frequent in Famaica in wet Plaecs. : The inner Rind of this Tree is the Part ufed in Medicine; it is brought to us rolled up ™ Quills, in the Manner of Cinnamon, and is #2 fpicy Tafte, and of a whitith Colour. — Its proper : 3 ee Name 62 The Ufeful Family Herbal, Maine is Canella alba, white Canel ; but the Drug- : ifts have accuftomed themfelves to call it Cortex Winteranus, Winter’s-Bark. It has the fame Vir- tues with that, but in a much lefs Degree; and they are eafily known afunder, that being the whole Bark of the Tree, and compofed of two Coats ; this being only the inner Bark, and there- fore compofed only of one. It is good in Weak- nefies of the Stomach, and in habitual Cholicks. Some recommend it greatly in Palfies and all nervous Complaints, but its Virtues of this kind are not fo well eftablifhed. : CanTersuky Betts. TRACHELIUM MAJUS. A Very beautiful wild Plant with Leaves like the w irregularly, they are of a dufky . eral Parts of the Extremity. If the Soil be poor, © the Flowers will vary in their Colour to a pale ae Reddifh, or White, bur the Plant is ftill the ame. The frefh Tops, with the Buds of the Flowers upon them, contain moft Virtue, but the dried Leaves may beufed. An Infufion of them fharp- ened with a few Drops of Spirit of Vitriol, and fweetened with Honey, is an excellent Medicine ees / for The Ufeful Family Herbal. 63 for. fore Throats, ufed by Way of a Gargle. The Plant is fo famous for this Virtue, that one of its common Exglifh Names is Throat-wort : If the Medicine be fwallowed, there is no Harm in it but, in the Ufe of every Thing in this Way, it is beft to {pit the Liquor out together with the Foul- neffes which it may have wathed from the affected - Parts The CAPER Sueve = i. CAPPARIS. A Common Shrub in Fraace. and italy, and kept in our Gardens. The Pickles which we know under the Name of Capers are made of the Buds of the Flowers; but the Part to be ufed in Medicine is the Bark of the Roots: The Shrub grows. to no great Height; the Branches, are weak, and ill able w 2 fapport them- es they are ae and fp The ; Leaves x Figure Soy es ta an oral or thofe of the Bramble ; the F lowers, when full opened, are pur- . plifh and. very pretty; the Fruit is roundith, The Bark of the Root is to be taken in Powder, or Infufion; it is good againft Obftructions of the Liver and Spleen, - in the Jaundice, and: ecees : driac Complaints: It is alfo commended in Pa: geitions, The Caranna TREE. CARANNA ARBOR. A Tall Eaf= Indian Tree and a very beautiful one: The Trunk is thick, and the Bark upon it is brown and rov ugh : Bs za on the young Branches is pale? are long 4 Poe ” es ete: 2 2 4} J i ‘ called 64 The Ufeful Family Herbal. The Flower is {mall and of a pale Colour, and the Fruit is of the Bignefs of an Apple. ' The Refin, called Gum Caranna, isa Product of this Tree; it is procured by cuttingthe Branches; they fend it in Rolls covered with Leaves of Rushes; it is blackifh on the Outfidé, and brown within. It is fuppofed a good nervous Medicine, but it is rarely ufed. ; The tessER CARDAMOM PLANT. CARDAMOMUM MINUS. A®™ Eaft-Indian Plant in many Refpects refem- bling our Reeds. It grows to ten or twelve Feet high. The Stalk is an Inch thick, round, fmooth, green, and hollow, but with a Pith within. ‘The Leaves are half a Yard long, and as broad as a Man’s Hand: Befides thefe Stalks, there arife from the fame Root others which are weak, tender, and about eight Inches high; thefe produce the Flowers which are fmall and greenifh, and after every Flower one of the Fruits alled the leffer Cardamoms, which are a light ‘hollow Fruit of a whitifh Colour, and fome- what triangular Shape ; of the Bignefs of an Horfe- bean, and of a dry Subftance on the Outfide, but with feveral Seeds within, which are reddith and very acrid, but pleafant to the Tafte. Thefe Fruits are the lefier Cardamoms, or, as they are generally called, the Cardamom Seeds 0 the Shops. They are excellent to ftrengthen the Stomach, and affift Digeftion. They are alfo good for Diforders of the Head, and they are equal to any Thing againft Cholicks; they are beft taken by chewing them fingly in the Mouth, and their Tafte is not at all difagreeable. The two other kinds are the middleCardamom, . along Fruit very rarely met with, and the great’ - Carda- a Pet Et hr The Ufeful Family Herbal. 65 Cardamom otherwife called the Grain of Paradife, much better than the Cardamoms. The CARANNA TREE: CARAGN A: A Tall and fpreading Tree of the We/t-Indies, the Branches are numerous, and irregular , the Trunk is covered with a brown Bark, the Branches witha paler, they are brittle; the Leavesare long and narrow, of a pale Green, and fharp pointed; the Flowers are {mall, the Fruit is roundifh and of the Bignefs of an Apple. This is the beft Ac- count we have of it, but this is far from perfect or fatisfactory in every Refpett. _ All that we ufe of it is a Refin which ouzes out of the Bark, in the great Heats ; this is brown, fomewhat Cae ‘and we have it in oblong Pieces - polled up in Rufhes; we ee = oe externally ; a Plaifter eae of it is good for Diforders of the Head, and fome fay will cure he S Sciatica without internal Medicines, but this is not probable. CARLINE. THISTLE: CARLINA.: I Have obferved that many Plants are not. fo much regarded for their Virtues, as they ought to be; there are on the contrary fome which are celebrated more than they deferve: The Carline Thiftle is of this lat Number. It is not wholly — Virtues, but it has not all that are afcrib-. = This is a Plant without any Stalk. The Leaves, = = ee epee of adark green Colour, divided. ~ and prickly at the Edges ; aad ey Ff read upon : the Ground in Manner of a Star. The Flower appears in the eee tg 66 The Ufeful Family Herbal. . immediately from the Root, with feveral fmalf Leaves round about it. It is the Head of a Thiftle, and the flowery Part is white on the Edge, and yellow in the Middle. The Root is long, and of a brown Colour on the Outfide, and reddifh with- in; it is of a warm aromatic Tafte. This is the only Part of the Plant ufed in Me- dicine. They fay it is a Remedy for the Plague: But however that may be, it is good in nervous Complaints, and in Stoppages of the Menfes. The Caraway PLANT. CARUM. x Wild Plant of the umbelliferous Kind, fre~ quent in moft Parts of Europe, but cultivated in Germany for the Sake of the S Seed. I have met with it very common in Lincolnfbire. Tt grows to a Yard high; the Stalks are ftriated® and firm; the Leaves are finely divided, and the Flowers are ela eaes and {mall, they ae in Tufts, els, Tops of the Branches ; ; the 3 m are very well known. The — are easton” in the Cholic, and in _ Diforders of the Stomach, they are beft chewed. WILD Crtar. DAUCUS SYLVESTRIS. A Common Plant about our Hedges, and in’ dry Paftures. ‘It grows near a Yard high, and has fmall Flowers, and after them rough Seeds” difpofed in Umbels, at the Tops of the Branches,’ thefe are hollow, and thence called by the Chil- dren Birds Nefts. The Stalks are ftriated and firm, the Leaves: are divided into fine and numerous Partitions, and 3 The Ufeful Family Herbal. 67 are of a pale Green and hairy ; the Flowers are white The Seed is the Part ufed in Medicine, and it is a very good Diuretic; it is excellent in all Dif- orders of the Gravel and Stone, and all Obftructi- ons of Urine; it is alfo good in Seoppases of the Menfes. CANDY CAnOTE. DAUCUS CRETENSIS A Plant frequent in the Eaft, and cultivated in fome Places for theSeed. It grows near a Yar high; the Stalkis firm, upright, ftriated, and branched: The Leaves are like thofe of F erinel, only meré finely divided, and of a whitifh Co- Jour ; the Flowers are white, and the Seeds aré oblong, thick in the Middle, and downy. : Thefe Seeds are the only Part ufed: They are good in ee thofe of our-own wild Plant are more ftrongly di uretic. The CascaARILLa TREE. ‘* CASCARILLA. A Tree of South-America, of the Fruits and Flowers of which we have but very imperfect Accounts, nee we are very well ac uainted. with the Bark of its young Branches. at we | have been told of it is, that the Branches are nu- merous, and fpread irregularly ; that the Leaves are oblong, green on the upper Side, and whi- tifh underneath ; and the Flowers fmall, fragrant, and ewe in a Sort of Clufters. S The Bark which our Druggift, fell is grey’ hon the Outfide, brown within, and is of ; Seeden: ble Smell: When me: they called E tetithe an 68 The Useful Family Herbal. Bark, and Baftard Jefuits Bark : It is cordial and: aftringent. It is very properly given in Fevers attended with purging. And many have a Cu- ftom of fmoking it among Tobacco ; as a Reme- dy of Head-achs, and Diforders of the Nerves: It alfo does good in Pleurifies and Peripneumonies: Some have recommended it as a fovereign Remedy in thofe Cafes, but that goes too far. The Cass1a Fistura TREE. _CASSIA FISTULA, S puis is a large Tree, Native of the Eaft, and a very beautiful one when in Flower. It grows twenty or thirty Feet high, and is very much branched. The Leaves are large, and of a deep Green, and each is compofed of three or four Pairs of fmaller, with an odd one at the End. The Flowers are of a greenifh Yellow, but they are very bright, and very numerous, fo that they make a fine Appearance, when the Tree is full of them: The Pods follow thefe, they are twa-Feet long, black, and woody, having within a black, aa hy = ee eo aike “HSHIS is a large {fpreading Tree, frequent in the , on hing — foft, pulpy Matter and the Seeds. va This pulpy Matter is the only Part ufed in Medicine. It is a gentle and excellent Purge, the lenitive Eletuary owes its Virtues to it. It never binds afterward, and therefore is an excellent Medicine for thofe who are of coftive Habits; 2 imall Dofe of it being taken frequently. aeeg She Cassia BARK-TReE. * CASSIA LIGNE A. Sere fend Pope bs aetiall = ap yt Eajt-Indies, and very much refem the Cinnamon Tree in its Appearance. The Branches are covered with a brownith Bark ; Leaves ~*~ The Ufeful Family Herbal. 69 Leaves are oblong and pointed at the Ends, and of a deep green Colour, and fragrant Smell. The Flowers are fmall, and the Fruit refemble that of the Cinnamon Tree. The Bark of the Branches of this Tree is the only Part ufed in Medicine; it is of 4 reddifh Brown Colour like Cinnamon, and refernibles it in Smell: and Tafte, only it is fainter in the Smell, and lefs acrid to the Tafte; and it leaves a glu- tinous or mucilaginous Matter in the Mouth. It is often mixed among Cinnamon, and it poffef- fes the fame Virtues, but ina lefs Degree. How- ever in Purgings it is better than Cinnamon, be- caufe of its mucilaginous Nature. It is an excel- lent Remedy given in Powder in thefe Cafes, and is not fo much ufed as it ought to be, - The Cassta CARYOPHYTHATA, OR ~ Crove Bark TREE. 5” CASSIA CARYOPHYTHATA. 4 Bie S is a large and beautiful Tree, frequent in South-America. The Trunk is covered with a dufky Bark, the Branches with one that is paler coloured and more fmooth. The Leaves are like thofe of our Bay-Tree, only larger, and when bruifed, they hive a very fragrant Smell : The Flowers are fmal] and blue, and have a white Eye in the Middle. The only Part of this Tree ufed in Medicine, is the inner Bark of the Branches. This is brown, thin, and rolled up like Cinnamon; it is hard in Colour, of a fpicy Smell, and in Tafte it has a mixed Flavour of Cinnamon and Cloves, and is very hot and pungent. | ees __It is good in Diforders of the Stomach, and in Cholics, but it is not fo much ufed as it -de- ferves. : Seen F 3 Cassi- 70 6 The Ufeful Family Herbal. CASSIDONY, OR ARABIAN STACHAS. STACHAS ARABICA. A Very fragrant and pretty Shrub, Native of Spain, and many other warm Parts of Eu- rope. It grows much in the Manner of Laven= der, toa Yard or more in height, and is not un- common in our Gardens. The Branches are frm and woody: The young Shoots are pliable and fquare, and are naked to the Top. he Leaves ftand upon the Bragches two at each Joint, they are long, narrow, and white. The Flowers ftan in little Clufters or Heads, like thofe of Laven- der ; and there are two or three large and beautiful deep blue Leaves upon the Tops of the Heads, which give them a very elegant Appearance. The. Flowers are the only Part ufed: They are of the Nature of thofe of Lavender, but more aromatic inthe Smell: They are very ferviceable in all nervous Complaints, and help to promote 1c .Menfes. They are beft taken dried and The CassuMUNAR PLANT. | CASSUMUNAR. A Common Plant of the Ea/t-Indies, but of which we do not feem to have yet {fo perfect a Defcription as might be wifhed. Its Leaves are “Targe, long, and like thofe of our Flags, and they involve one another in a fingular Manner about their Bafes, The Flowers are fmall, and they are in a Shape fomewhat like thofe of certain of our Orchifes. They are mottled with purple and yellow: The Seed is little and “brown, the Root creeps under the Surface of the Ground, and is of = a ele ~ The Ufeful Family Herbal. 71 a yellow Colour, and fragrant Smell, and of a warm Tatfte. The Root isufed: We have it at the oy dee It is of the fame Nature» with Zedoary, and -by fome been called the yellow Zedoary. It B a very good Medicine in nervous and hyfteric com- plaints. It is warm and ftrengthening to the Stomach: It is remarkably good againft the Head-ach and in Fevers, It operates quick by Urine and by Sweat. CATMINT. NEPETA. A Common wild Plant about our ieee but of very great Virtues ; it grows a Yard high, ahd has broad whitith caves. and white Flowers hike Mint. The Stalks are fquare, whitifh, hairy, and ereét: The Leaves ftand two at a Joint : hey are broadeft at the Bafe, and terminate in an- tufe End ; they are a little indented at the Edges and of a whitith Green on the upper Side, and very white underneath. The Flowers are {mall and white; and they grow in a kind of fpiked Clutfters, farrounding the Stalks at certain Diftan- ces. The whole Plant has a very {trong and not very nape Smell. ___Catmint fhould be gathered juft when the F took are opening, and dried. It is an excellent Woman’s Medicine; an Infufion of it is good againft hyfteric Complaints, Vapours, and Fits, and it moderately promotes the Menfes: It is alfo good to sane the Evacuations after De- ae reds 42 The Ufeful Family Herbal. GREAT CELANDINE. CHELIDONIUM MAJUS. A Common wild Plant with large Leaves, and “™ yellow Flowers : Which, when broken in any Part, Stalk, or Leaves, emits a yellow Juice. It grows three Feet high, but the Stalks are not very robuft, they are round, green, and naked, with thick Joints. The Jueaves ftand two at each Joint, they are large, long, and deeply divided at the Edges, and are of a yellowifh Green. The Flowers are fmall, but of a beautiful Yellow, and they ftand on long Foot-Stalks feveral together. Celandine fhould be ufed frefh, for it loofes the greateft Part of its Virtue in drying. The Juice is the beft Way of giving it ; and this is an excellent Medicine in the Jaundice: It is alfo good againft all Obftructions of the Vifcera, and if continued a Time, will do great Service againft the Scurvy. The Juice alfo is ufed fuccefsfully for fore Eyes. . LirTrre CELANDINE. — CHELIDONIUM MINUS. TH E great and the little Celandine, are Plants fo perfeétly different, that it is hard to con- ceive what could induce the old Writers to call . them both by the fame Name. They hardly a- “gree in any Thing, except it be that they have both yellow Flowers. The great Celandine ap- proaches to the Nature of the Poppy; the {mall Celandine to that of the Crow-foot; nor are they any more alike in Virtuesthanin Form. .— ~° ‘Little Celandine is a low Plant, which is feen almoft ‘every where in damp Places in Spring with broad deep green Leaves, and glofly yellow Flowers. It does not grow to any Height The Ufeful Family Herbal. 73 ‘Leaves are an Inch long, and nearly as broad ; they fomewhat refemble thofe of the Garden He- paticas, and are of a dark Green, and frequently fpotted ; they rife fingly from the Root on long flender and naked Stalks. The Flowers rife alfo fingly from.the Root, on long, flender, and naked Stalks ; they are as broad as a Shilling, of a fine fhining. yellow Colour, and compofed of a Num- ber of Leaves. The Root is fibrous, and has fma]] white tuberous Lumps connected to the Strings. The Roots are commended very much againft the Piles, the Juice of them is to be taken in- wardly ; and fome are very fond of an Ointment made of the Leaves, they chop them in Pieces, and boil them in Lard till they are crifp; then ftrain off the Lard, which is converted into a fine Ointment. The Operation of the Roots is by Tine, but not violently. LITTLE CENTAURY. CENTAURIUM MINUS. A Pretty wild Plant which flowers in Autumn, fe our dry Places. It is eight or ten Inches , the Leaves are oblong, broad, and blunt te Point, the Stalks are tiff, firm, and ereét, and the Flowers are of a fine pale Red. There grow a Clufter of Leaves an Inch long or more the Root ; the Stalks divide toward the Top into feveral Branches, and the Flowers are long and flender, and ftand in a Clufter. This is an excellent Stomachic; its Tafte is a pleafant Bitter, and given in Infufion; it ee Jt is on this laft Account greatly 974. The Ufeful Family Herbal. in Jaundices; and the Country People cure Agues with it dried and powdered. - As there are a greater and leffer Celandine, there is alfo a great as-well as this little Centau- ty, but the large kind is not a Native of our Country, nor ufed by usin Medicine. | CuHasTe TREE. AGNUS CASTRUS. Little Shrub, Native of Italy, and frequent *™ in our Gardens. It is five or fix Feet high; the Trunk is rough, the Branches are fmooth, grey, tough, and long: The Leaves are fingered or fpread like the Fingers of one’s Hand: When opened, five, fix, or feven, of thefe Divifions ftand on each Stalk, they are of a deep Green above, and whitith underneath; the Flowers ate fmall and of a pale reddifh Hue; they. ftand in long loofe Spikes, the Fruit is as big as a Pep- per-Corn. : : Z The Seeds of this Shrub, were once peo to allay Venery, but no that now. A Decoétion of the Leaves and ‘Tops, is good a- gainft Obftructions of the Liver. The Brack CHERRY TREE, | CORASUS FRUCTU NIGRO. THs is a well known tall Tree, and well ~ fhaped. The Leaves are broad, roundith, fharp at the Point, and indented round the Edges, The Flowers are white, the Fruit is well enough known. The medicinal Part of this js the Kernel within the Stone. This has been fuppofed good againft Gpoplene’, Palfies, and all nervous Dif- eafes. 1¢ Water diftilled from it, was for - this Reafon in conftant Ufe as a Remedy for i Children’s The Ufeful Family Herbal. 75 Children’s Fits; But a better Practife:has now obtained: It is highly probable that this Water occafioned the Diforders it was given to remove. Laurel Water when made of a great Strength, we know to-be a fudden.Poifon: When weak, it taftes like Black-Cherry-Water, and is not mor- tal: ‘In the fame Manner Black-Cherry-Water, which ufed to be given to Children when weak drawn, has been found to be poifonous when of great Strength. There is therefore the gréateft Reafon imaginable to fuppofe that in any Degree of Strength, it may do mifchief. Very probably Thoufands of Children have gc by this unfuf- pected Medicine. The Gum which hangs upon the Branches of Cherry-Trees, is of the fame Nature with the Gum Arabic, and may be ufed for the fame es, at in Heat of es —= in Bar- ley-V : AWrivr en Cire er ALKEKENGI. A Very fingular and pretty Plant kept in our Gardens ; it grows two Feet high, not very erect, nor much branched ; the Stalk is thick, ftrong, and angulated: The Leaves are large, broad, and fharp-pointed ; the Flowers are mo- derately large and white, but with yellow Threads in the Middle, the Fruit is a round red Berry of the Bignefs of a common red Cherry, contained 2 as ae green hollow. Hufk round, and as big asa The ‘Berries are the only Part wed, they are to be feparated fram the Hufks and dried, and be then on in Powder or Decoction. 1 $ very good in Stranguries, Heat of Urine, or the Gravel ; They alfo are given in Jaundice , 976 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Dropfies: They will do good in thefe Cafes, but are not to be depended upon alone, CHERVIL. CH@REFOLIUM. A Sallad Herb cultivated in Gardens, but not without its medicinal Virtue. It is like Par- fley in its Manner of Growth, but the Leaves are more divided, and of a paler Colour. The Stalks are round, ftriated, hollow, and of a pale Green ; they divide into feveral Branches, and are about two Feet high: The Leaves on-them are like thofe from the Root, but fmaller: The Flowers are bitter and white, they ftand in large Tufts at the Tops of the Branches, The Seeds are large and fmooth. The Roots of Chervil work by Urine, but mo- derately they fhould be given in Decoétion, The CuHESnNuT TREE, CASTANEA, : thin Skin is the Part ufed in Medicine, it is to be feparated from the Chefhut, not too ripe and dried: It is a very fine Aftringent ; it ftops Purgings and Overflowings of the Menfes. ed Earty The Ufeful Family H Hel, a4 EARTH-CHESNUT, OR EarTu-NvT. BULBOCASTANUM. A Common wild Plant, which has the Name from its Root. This is of the Bignefs of a Chefnut, roundifh, brown on the Outfide, and white within, and of a fweet Tafte. The Plant grows to a Foot high: The Leaves are divided into fine and numerous Partitions: The Stalk is firm, upright, round, ftriated, and green ; the Flowers are white and little, but they grow in great Tufts on the Tops of the Branches. The Root is the Part ufed; itis to be roafted in the Manner of a Chefnut and eaten. It is faid to have great Virtues, as 2 Provocative to Ve- nery, but this is not well confirmed. — CHICK-WEED. ALSINE MEDIA. Pps commonett of all Weeds, but not with- out its Virtue. The right Sort to ufe in Me- dicine (for there are feveral) is that which grows fo common in our Garden-Beds: It is low and branched. The Stalks are round, green, weak, and divided : They commonly lean on the Ground. The Leaves are fhort and broad, of a pleafant Green, not dented at the Edges, and pointed at the Edges, thefe grow two at every Joint. The Flowers are white and {mall. : _ Fhe whole Plant cut to pieces, and boiled dn Lard till it is crifp, converts the Lard into a fine green cooling Ointment. The Juice taken in- wardly, is good againft the Scurvy. a2 58 The Ujeful Family Herbal. The CHINA-ROOT PLANT. SMILAX CUJUS RADIX CHINA OFFICIORUM. A Nailing Plant frequent in the Zaf-Indies. It grows to ten or twelve Feet in Length, but the Stalks-are weak, and unable to ftand erect; they are pe of a brown Colour, and fet with hooked yellow Prickles. The Leaves are ob- long and broad, largeft at the Stalk, and blunt at the Points, of a fhining green Colour, and glofly Surface; the Flowers are fmall and yellowifh ; the Fruit is a round yellowifh Berry. The Root is large, irregular, and knotty; brown on the Outfide, and reddifh within. This is the Part ufed, they fend it over to our Druggifts: It is aSweetener of the Blood, and is ufed in Diet-drinks or the Venereal Difeafe, and the Scurvy. It is alfo faid to be very good againft the Gout, taken for a long Time together. There is another kind of this Root. brought the fame Colour with the other within, fomeé have fuppofed ir of more Virtue than the other, but moft fuppofe it inferior, perhaps neither has much. ieee a Stcy.-- : CHGER, A tittle Plant ‘of the Pea kind, fown in fome #* Places for the Fruit as Peas.. The Plant is low and branched; the Stalks are round and weak, and of a pale Green. The Leaves are like _ thofe of the Pea, but each little Leaf is narrower, and of a paler Green, and hairy like the Stalk: — The Flowers are fmall and white, and refemble = the ~ sine The Ujeful Family Herbal. 79 the Pea Bloffom. The Pods are fhort, thick, and hairy, and feldom contain more than two, often but one Seed or Chich in each. They are eaten in fome ot a and they are gentle Diuretics. CrnqeFott. ‘ PENTAPHYLLUM. AS Creeping wild Plant common about Way- fides, and in Paftures. The Stalks are cui and fmooth, and ufually of a reddifh Colour, they lie upon the Ground, and take Root at the Joints ; the Leaves ftand on long Foot-Stalks, five on each Stalk, they are above an Inch long, narrow, of a deep dufky Green, and indented at the Edges, the Piswers alfo ftand on long Foot- Stalks, they are yellow and of the Breadth of a Shilling, very bright, and beautiful. The Root is large and long, and is Coveted walt: & Pbeown Rind. The Root is the Part ufed, it fhould be dug up in April, and the outer Bark taken off and dried, the reft is ufelefs; this Bark is to be given in Pow- der for all Sorts of Fluxes; It ftops Purgings, and the meet of the Mentes 5 ; few Drugs 3 are of equal Power The CINNAMON TREE. CINNAMON. A Large Tree frequent in the Eaft, and not un- like the Bay-Tree in its Flowers, Fruit, Leaves, or Manner of Growth; only larger. The Bark is r¢ on the Trunk, ‘and imooth on the — Branches; It has little Tafte while frefh, but be- oo aroma and fharp, in that Degree fa er- ve by drying. The Leaves are of the Sh 7 ° 80 The Ufeful Family Herbal, of Bay Leaves, but twice as big; the Flowers are {mall and whitith; the Berries are little oblong, and of a bluifh Colour, fpotted with white. - The Root of the common Tree fmells ftrongly of Camphire, and a very fine kind of Camphire is made from it in the Eaft, the Wood is whité and infipid. The Leaves are fragrant. The Root is the only Part ufed, and this is an excellent Aftringent in the Bowels; it is cordial and good to promote Appetite : It alfo promotes the Menfes, though it aéts as an Aftringertt in other Cafes. The Winters Bark TREF. CORTEX WINTERANUS. A Bark called by many Winters Bark, has been already defcribed under its true Name Ca- nella Alba, in this Place we are to inquire into the ‘true Winters-Bark, called by many Writers Cinnamon. The Tree which affords it is a Tree of twenty Feet high, very fpreading, and full of Branches, th “gk is grey on the Outfide, and brown within. The Leaves are two Inches long, and an Inch broad, fmall at the Stalk, and ob- tufe at the End, and divided a little. The Flow- ers are white and fweet-fcented, the Fruit is a fmall Berry. The Bark is the Part ufed, they fend over the two Rinds together: It is very fragrant, and of a hot aromatic’ Tafte. It is a Sudorific, and a ial, and it is excellent againft the Scurvy.: The oe The Ufeful Family Herbal. . 81 The Camate SHRUB, te which Labdas num is protu CISTUS LADANIFERA. Avex! pretty Shrub frequent in the Greek Hands, and in other warm Climates. It is two or three Feet high, very much branched, and has broad Leaves, and beautiful large Flowers. - Phe Trunk is rough; the Twigs are reddifh; the Leaves are almoft of the Shape of thofe of Sage; they ftand two at ‘every Joint, and are of a dark ereen Colour. The Flowers. are of the Breadth of half a Crown, and of a pale red Colour. The ‘Gum Labdanum is procured from this Shrub, and is its only Produce ufed in Medicine. This is an rs —— from the Leaves in the Manner o ore than of any Thing elfe. They get it off by ae a Parcel of leather Thongs over the. reas “tei t is not much but it is a good Cephalic The CrTRON-I REE. CITRIA SIVE MALUS MEDICA, A Small Tree with prickly Branches, but very beautifu ui in its Leaves, — and Frpis ; met but it is la cand often full of Protu- beranes. The outer ind i is of a pale Lapa a very fragrant, the inner Rind is exceedingly thick, — and white; there is very little Pulp, eae f Fruit be fo large. The Juice is like that of the Si but the pica outer Rind is. = 82. The Ufeful Family Herbal. Part ufed in Medicine: This is an excellent Sto- machic, and of a very pleafant’ Flavour. The Barbadoes Water owes its Tafte to the Peel of this Fruit; and there is a Way of making a Water very nearly equal to it in Exgland, by the Addi- tion of Spice to the frefh Peels of good Lemons ; the Method is as follows. Put into a fmall Still a Gallon of fine Melaffes Spirit, put to it fix Ounces of the Peels of very fine Lemons, and half an Ounce of Nutmegs, and one Dram of Cinnamon bruifed, Jet them ftand all Night, then add two Quarts of Water, and faften on the Head; diftil five Pints and a half, and add to this a Quart and half a Pint of Water, with five Ounces of the fineft Sugar diffolved in it! This will be very nearly equal to the fineft Barbadoes Water. . caer The CITRULL. CITRULLUS. : A Creeping Plant of the Melon kind, cultivated | ~ in many Parts of Europe and the Eaft. The Branches or Stalks pier ta long, thick, an- gular, “Aefhy, and hairy: They trail upon the Ground unlefs fuy . The Leaves are large, and ftand fingly on long Foot-Stalks, they are di- vided deeply into five Parts, and are hairy alfo and of a pale green Colour; the Flowers are large and yellow, and very like thofe of our Cucumbers; the Fruit is alfo like the Melon, and Cucumber kinds, roundifh, often flatted and compofed of a fiefhy Part under a-thick Rind, with Seeds and ge h _ the Seeds are the only Part ufed, our Drug- gifts keep them ; they are cooling, and they eck by Urine gently, they are beft given in Form of ~ an Emulfion, beat up with Barley-Water. CLARY ‘The Ufeful Family Herbal. 83 CLARY: HORMIN UM. ch ary is a common Plant in our Gardens, not very beautiful, but Kept for its Virtues. It grows two Feet dnd a hal high; the Leaves are tough, and the Flowers of a whitifi blue. The Stalks aré thick, flefhy, and upright; they are clammy to the Touch, and 4 little hairy. The Leaves are large, wrinkled, and of a dufky Green, broad at the Bafe, and Smiailer to thé Point, which is obtufe ; the Flowers ftand in long loofe Spikes, they are difpofed i in Circles round the upper Parts of the s, and are gaping and large, the Cups in — they ftand are robuft and in fome Degree prick The ¥ whole Herb is ufed fieth ot dried. It is cordial, and in fome ort It achs, and ftops the Whites, but for this laft pone pofe, it is neceffary to take it a long Tinie; and there are many Remedies more powerful. There is a kind of wild Clary on our Ditch Banks, and in dry Grounds, which is fuppofed to poffefs the fame Virtues with the Garden kind. The Seeds of this are put into the Eyes to take out any little offenfive Subftance fallen into them. As foon as they are put My. they gather a Coat of Muci cilag about them and this catches hold y li it meets with in the Eye. Dr. Perfo = rfectly ve aaa” this . in his aes > Ga 84 The Ufeful Family Herbal. CLEAVERS. APARINE. Awl Herb common in all our Hedges, and known by fticking to Peoples Cloaths as they touch it. The Stalks are fquare and very rough, two Feet long, but weak and unable to fuy themfelves, they climb among Bufhes. i Leaves are re long and narrow c — and of a pale Green, the grow feveral at eve! ig eos epeomp affing the Stalk in the Manner o a ar Spur: They are rough in the fame Soha: with the Stalk, and ftick to every Thing they touch. The Hawes: are fmall and white; the Seeds grow two together, and are roundifh and rough like the reft-of the Plant the Root is fibrous. ~The Juice of the frefh Herb is ufed, it cool’ the Body, and operates by Urine; it is good a- ainft the Srury. and all other outward Difor- ers. Sor geeend. t will cure. the Evil, but Peto ccg ae : : so ee = “The Ciave ie TRI EE. CASSIA CARYOPHYLLATA. At all and beautiful | Tree, Native of the Weff- Indies. "The Trunk is covered with a thick brown Bark, that! of the Branches is paler and — thinner. The aa fpread abroad, and are not very pegpiery difpofed ; the Leaves are oblong, broad, and ‘fharp-pointed ; they are ate thofe of the Bay-Tree, but twice as big, an d of a deep green Colour. The Flowers are {mall and blue, _ they are. d with po! Streaks of Orange Colour, of a fragrant Smell; the Fruit is roundith; we ufe the Bark, which is ‘taken from the larger and are and {maller Braces, by that fom the {maller 4 1s "3 The Ufiful Family Herbal. 85 is beft. Itis of a fragrant Smell, and of a mixed Tafte of Cinnam6én and Cloves: The Cinnamon Flavour is firft perceived, but after that the Tafte of Cloves is predomi and is fo very ftrong, that it feems to burt the’ M fouth. It Peecellent againft the Cholic, and it warms and: ftrengthens the Stomach, and Feri It is alfo a the cel Pica: of Cloves. and Cinnamon, for it ts cheaper than either, The Crove Jury-FLloweR. | CARYOPHYLLUS RUBER. , Common and very beautiful Flower in our it has its Name from the ages tic Smell, whic Be ecee an from the in} kt is a Car Sh ‘an of one Blot, a= Dal fine F Pas le. The Plant grows two Feet high ; the feaves are grafly ; the Stalks are eciuid aad jointed; the. Flower grows at the Tops of the recite and the whole Plant befides is of a blue- The Flowers are ufed; they are cordial, and good for Diforders of the Head; they may be dried, and taken. ae Dawtier. oF in form 0 of Tea, 86 The Ujeful Family Herbal makes the moft. beautiful and pleafant of all] Syrups. The Crove Spice TREE. CARYOPHYLLUS AROMATICUS, A Beautiful Tree, Native of the warm Countries, It grows twenty or thirty Feet high, and very much branched. The Bark is greyifh; the Leaves are like thofe of the Bay-Tree, -but twice as large ; they are of a bright fhining Green, and ftand upon long Foot-Stalks; the Flowers are not very large, but of a beautiful blue Colour, and the Cups that contain them, are oblong and firm ; thefe are the Cloves of the Shops. “They gather them foon after the Flowers are fallen. When they fuffer them to remain longer on the they expel Wind, ‘Remedy forthe Colic.” The Oi mad : Om thefe : by of A th-ach ; a bit of Lint being wetted, th Cacris. PSEUDOMELANTHIUM, ah The Ufeful Family Herbal. 87 are very large, and of a beautiful Red. They have. an elegant Cup, compofed of five narrow hairy Leaves, which are much longer than the Flower. The Seed Veffel is roundifh, and the Seeds are black. They are apt to be mixed among Grain, and give the Flour an ill Tafte. The Seeds are ufed; they work by Urine, and open all Obftructions ; they promote the Menfes, and are good in the Dropfy and Jaundice; the beft Way of giving them is powdered, and ‘put into an Ele¢ctuary to be taken for a Continuance of Time: For thefe Medicines, whofe Virtues are againit Chronic Difeafes, do not take Effe& at once. Many have difcontinued them for that Reafon: And the World in general is, from the fame Caufe, become fond of chymical Medicines, but thefe are fafer, and they are more to be de- pended upon ; and if the two Practices were fairly _tried, chymerical Medicines would loofe their Credit. aie Se eee The Cocutus Inp1 Tree. ARBOR COCULOS INDICOS FE- ENS, : A Moderately large Tree, Native of the warmer Parts of the World. It is irregular in its Growth, and full of Branches; the Leaves are fhort, broad, and of a Heart-like Shape; they are thick, flefhy, fmall, and of a dufky Green ; thé _ Flowers are fmall and ftand in Clufters ; the Fruits follow thefe, they are of the Bignefs of a large Pea, roundifh, but with a Dent on one fide, — wrinkled, firiable, and brown in Colour, and of an ill Smell, 7 , ae pay Le 88 The Ufeful Family Herbal. with Flower and Water, and add a little red Lead: to colour it, add to it two Ounces of the Coculus | Indi powdered. See where Roach and other Fith rife, and throw in the Pafte in {mall Pieces, they will take it greedily, and they will be intoxicated, They will fwim upon the Surface with their Belly upward, and may be taken out with the Hands, They are not the worfe for eating. The Copaca Surve, ; CODAGA PALI. A Little Shrub frequent in the Eaft-Indies, and and narrow, not at all notched at the Edges; an of a beautiful Green on both fides; the Flowers are large and white, and fomewhat refemble thofe of the Rofe-bay, or Nerium, of which fome make ~ ita kind. Each Flower is fucceeded by two long Pods, which are joined at the Ends, and. twift one about the other, phey aye full of a cottony Matter about the Seeds. “Fhe whole Plant is fuil of a milky Juice, which it yields plentifully when broken. ‘ . : The Bark is the only Part ufed, it is but newly . introduced into Medicine, but may he had of the _ Druggifts, it is an excellent Remedy for Purgings, __ It isto be given in Powder for three or four Days, and a Vomit or Bleeding before the Ufe of ‘it, “: = awe The Ufeful Family Fferbal. 101% CowsLip OF JERUSALEM. PULMONARIA MACULATA. A Low Plant, but not without Beauty, kept in oa for the Credit of its ideas which are indeed more and greater than the prefent Neg- leét of it would have one to fuppofe. = gs eight or ten Inches high; the Leaves are lon and broad, hairy, of a deep Green, and fj with white Spots on the upper Side, but of a paler Colour, and not fpotted underneath. The Stalks are flender, angulated, and hairy, and have fmaller Leaves on them, but of the fame Figure with thofe from the Root. The Flowers are Foal an - ith, and grow ‘feveral in a Clutter at the Top of the Stalk. The Root is! cellent in Deco¢tion ~ oe Secs Breath, and all Di s of the Lungs; taken in Powder, they ftop the Overflowings o' the Menfes; and when frefh bruifed and put into a new made Wound, they ftop the Bleeding and heal it Cow-wHEAT. | CRATEOGONUM. |... Common wild Plant in our Woods and Thick= ets, with narrow blackifh Leaves, and bright low Flowers. It is eight or ten Inches high. | oe ae yuare and flender, very brittle, weak, and very fel ite upright, The Leaves are oblong and a. eeecee> of a dufky en Colour, but oftener purplifh or blackifhs- y are deft at the Bafe, and fmall ali the Way to the Point ; and they are commonly, but pot always, indented = little about the Edges. oa 3 pee xo2 TheUfeful Family Herbal, The Flowers ftand, or rather hang, all on one Side of the Stalk in a kind of loofe Spike, they are fmall and yellow, and grow two together. > The Seeds of which follow thefe are large, and have fomething of the Afpeét of Wheat from whence the Plant has its odd Name. 2 Thefe Seeds are the Part ufed, they are to be dried and given in Powder, but in fmall Dofes. They have Virtues which few fee to imagine ; they are a high Cordial and Provogative to Venery; but if given in too large a Dofe, they occafion the ‘Head-ach, and a ftrange Giddinefs. I knew an Inftance of a Woman who had boiled the freth Tops of the Plant in a large Quantity in Water, as‘a Remedy for the Jaundice, I know not by What Information, and having drank this in large Draughts, was as a Perfon drunk and out of het Senfes, fhe complained of Numbnefs in her Limbs, and feemed in Danger of her Life, but Nature recovered her after a few Hours’ with- out other Affiftance. : Shyer eR _- whe Crap Tees. 9 “MALUSSYIEVESTRIS- Common Hedge Shrub, and when in Flower very beautiful.. The Trunk is — and the Bark rough; the Branches are | : Wood is firm, and the Bark of a dark Colour ; the Leaves are broad and fhort, the Flowers are lar and ‘redith, very beauriful and. fweet; and. the Fruit is a {mall Apple. o-4 i ~ Verjuice is made from the Crab, and it is a Remedy for the falling down of the Uvula, bet- ter than moft other Applications ; jt is alfo good againit fore Throats, and in al! Diforders of the Fain ou See . : CRANES- The Use sful Family Herbal, 034 | CRANESBLLL, ' GERANIUM ROBERTIANUM. CRranetbil is alittle Herb very frequent under Hedges, and in uncultivated eae there are many kinds of it, but that which has moit Vir- tue, is the kind called Herb Robert, this is.a. pestty and regularly growing Plant. The F a Foot long, but they feldom ftand quite Up- Soke they are round, branched, and jointed, and are often red, as is frequendy the whole Plant; The Leaves are large, a ad pe into. a. greaty Number of Parts, and they ffand upon long Foot- Stalks, two at every Joint. The Flowers. are moderately large, and of a bright Red, they are Mathias asks and pretty, the Fruit that_fol- aed is ao and flender, and has fome Refem- blance of the long Beak of a Bird, whence the ‘The whole Plant is “to be “gathered Sse and all, and dried for Ufe ; it is a moft excellent Af — tringent: Scarce any Plant is equal to it. It may be given dried and powdered, or in Decoc- tion. It {tops Overflowings of the Menfes, raised Stools, and all other Bleedings. ‘Tris to be obferved that Nature feems to have fet her Stamp upon feveral Herbs which have the Virtue to ftop Bleedings; this and the Tufan. The two beft Remedies the Fields afford for out- ward and inward Bleedings, become all over as red as Blood at a certain Seafon. Name. 164 The Ufeful Family Herbal. ae The GARDEN CRESS. NASTURTIUM HORTENSE. Ee Common Garden Plant raifed for Sallets. It #% is two Feet high: The Stalk is round and firm, and of a bluifh Green; the Leaves are di- vided into Segments, and the Flowers are {mall and white; but the full grown Plant is not feen at our Tables; we eat only the Leaves rifing im- mediately from the Root. Thefe are large, finely divided, ofa bright Green, and fharp, a ae “gn Quantity are very good aan — The Seeds open Obftructions. WaTER-CRESS. NASTURTIUM AQUATICUM. ‘A Wild Plant common with us in Ditches, ail fhallow Rivers. It is a Foot high, the Stalks are round, thick, but’not very upright, of a pale Greens and much: branched ; the Leaves are of a divided in a ee Man- nepabdiabenies the Flowers are fmall and white, and there is generally feen akind of Spike of the Flowers and ‘coed at the Top of the Stalks. ~The Leaves are ufed, they may be eagen in the “Manner of the Garden Crefs, and are full as plea- fant, and they are excellent againft the Scurvy. ‘The Juice expreffed from them has the fame Vir- — as and works alfo powerfully by Uiaw: and Sera- The Ufeful Family Herbal. 05 SCIATICA CREss. IBERIS. A aie ww ik Plant, but not fre a in all arts of the Kingdom. It is a nt eh The Stalk is round, firm, and upright, of a pale green Colour. The "Leaves are {mall, lo and of a pale Green alfo, and the Flowers ftand at the Tops of the Branches, into which the Stalk di- vides in its upper Part, they are white and little. The Leaves that grow immediately from the Root, are four Inches long, narrow, and ferrated about the Edges, and of a deep Green. The Leaves are _ufed, ney are recommended Wart Cresstés, oR SWINES Crete CORONOPUS RUELLII A Little wild Plant very common about our Fields and Gardens. It fpreads upon the Ground. The Stalks are five or fix Inches long, firm, and thick, but ufually‘flat on the Earth, very much , and full of Leaves. The Leaves that rife jesicdiancly from the Root, are long and deeply divided, and thofe on the Stalks refemble them, only they are fmaller: They are of a deep oe oe Colour, and not at all hairy. The lowers. are fmall-and white, they ftand at the Tops of the Branches and among the — = Seed-Veffels are {mall and rough. 31060 =6The Ofeful Family Herbal. This is an excellent Diuretic, fafe and yet very powerful. It is an Ingredient in Mrs. Stephens’s Medicine, the Juice may be taken, and it is good for the Jaundice, and againft all inward Obftruc- tions; and again{t the Scurvy ;- the Leaves may alfo be eaten. as. Sallet, or dried and given in = coction. ere Sheet GLC I-A 'T A; AYP? pretty wild Plant, but not oth fT ftand four at every Joint Star-fafhioned upon the Stalk. The Flowers are lirtleand yellow; they ftand in Clufters round the Stalk at the Joints, il ne — of the Leaves. It is to be fo in n dry Pl x The sila Plant is to be gathered when begin- ning to flower and dried. A tong Decottion of tie good. ent and Styptic,; Overflowings oe the Menkes. Cr 0 w-F OOoT. : RANUCULUS. Beri, 6 wild Plant. There are faveril Sorts et it, but the kind ufed in Medicine, is that moft common in Meadows, and called the com- mon Oech Crow-foot.” It grows a Foot or branched, Stalks are firm, thick, ie oe a ah Green,.,but they feldom ftand quite upright. Mae Seo oe fee ana a vided ina Searow Seoniems the Flowers are yel- ~ = Oe... ; 3} ‘the Breadth of a Shilling, and of a od fhining The Ufeful Family Herbal, 107 fhining Colour; they ftand at the Tops of all the Branches 3 the Leaves which rife from the Roct are large, divided in a threefold Manner, \and of- ten fpotted with white. Some aré fo rath as to mix a few Leaves of this among Sallet, but it is very wrong; the Plant is cauftic and poifonous. ‘They are excellent applied externally in the Palfies and Apopiirite, Jo they act quicker. than Cantharides in i and are more felt. It is a Wonder cr oe are not more ufed for this Purpofe, but we are at prefent fo fond of foreign Medicines, that thefe Things are not minded. There are two other kinds of Crow-foot diftin- guifhed as Poifons, though all of them are with fome Degree of Juftice branded with this Name ; but the two moft pernicious kinds are that called Spearwort, which has long, narrow, and undivided Leaves s and that =e fmall ia aod Leaves fomewhat like Iisrehe Deeikias BE Smallage. Thefe: both grow i in watry Pine The CuBEB PLANT. CUBEBA. A Clambering Plant of the warm Climates, but unknown in this Part of the World, and un- til defcribed by thofe who have been where it fate The Stalks are weak, angulated, and red- the Leaves are broad and fhort, and the Poet fmall, the Fruit is of the Bignefs of a ‘Corn, but a little apiong. and BPW, on a ot and very. flender Foot Stalk Fruit is the Part ufed, the Droggitts cee ep 108 The Ufeful Family Herbal. The CucumBeR PLanrT.. CUCUMIS HORTFENSIS. Acreering ftraggling Plant fufficiently known. The Stalks are a Yard or two long, thick, but fpread upon the Ground, angulated and hairy. The Leaves are broad deeply indentéd, and very rough, and of a bluifh green Colour: The Flow- ers are large and yellow. The Fruit is long and ick; the Seeds are ufed in Medicine, and the Fruit ‘fhould be fuffered to ftand till very ripe be- fore they are gathered. They are cooling and di- uretic, good againft Strangueries, and all Difor- dets of the urinary Paffages ; the beft Way of giving them is beat up to an Emulfion with Bar- Jey Water The Wiirp CucumMmBeER. CUCUMIS ASININUS. THES though called wild, is not a Native of Re oe It fpreads upon the Ground in the of the other Cucumber, and its Branches Pen a confiderable Length : They are thick, hairy, angulated, and of a pale Green and tough. The Leaves are broad at the Bafe, and narrow at the Point, ferrated rounc gs dge reen Raha and whitifh b = epee Pre is prefled o and athick Matter that fubfides from it Se and dried ; the Druggitts keep this and call it Flathe- sec it is 2 violent Purgative, but little ufed. CucKow ‘The Ufeful Family Herbal. 109 Cuckow Flower, or Lapy’s SMock. CARDAMINE. A Very beautiful wild Plant, frequent in our 3 Meadews in Spring, and a great Ornament to them. It grows aFoothigh. The es which rife from the Root, are winged very regularl and beautifully, and are {pread in a circular Man- ner, the Stalk is round, thick, firm, and upright. The Leaves that grow on it are imaller, finely divided, and ftand fingly. The Flowers grow in a little Clufter, on that Spike on the Top, and from the Bottom of the Leaves. They are large, a fine White, often tinged with a Bluth of = The Juice of the frefh Leaves is to be ufed; it is an excellent Diuretic, and is good in the Gravel and all Suppreffions of Urine. It alfo opens Obftructions, and is good in the Jaundice and Green Sicknefs; and a Courfe of it againft the Scurvy. CUDWEED. GNAPHALIUM. A Common wild Plant, but fingular in its Ap- pearance. There are many Species of it. But that ufed in Medicine is the kind called the middle Cudweed, a Herb Impious. It has this laft name from the whimfical obfervation of the x10 The Ufeful Family Herbal. and pointed at the ends, and feldoni'lie very even: The Flowers are a kind of brown or yellowifh Heads, ftanding at the Tops and in the Divifions of the Stalks. The herb bruifed and applied to a frefh Wound ftops the bleeding ; it may te alfo dried and given in Decottion, in which Form, it is good againft the Whites, and will often {top violent Purgings. CuMMIN. 7 CUMINUM. A Plant of the umbelliferous kind, cultivated in every Part of the Eaft for the Value of the Seed. It grows a Foot and a half high. The Stalk is round, ftriated, green, and hollow. The Leaves are large, and very finely divided in the raanner of thofe of Fennel. The Flowers ftand in large Clufters at the Tops ‘of the Branches; and they are fmall and white, with a Bluth of Red: The Seeds are pos amd: flraitedsce eS The Seeds are ui Our Druggifts keep them. They are of a very difagreeable Paver but of excellent Virtues ; they are good againft the Cho- lic and Wind in the Stomach, and applied out- wardly, they will often remove Pains in the Side. _ They muft be bruifed, and a large Quantity laid > The Brack Currant. 3 te: -RIBESIA NIGRA. Hs is a little Shrub, of late brought very ~ _ufiverfally into our Gardens. — It grows three _ or four Foot high. ‘The Brangbes are weak, and the Bark is fmooth. The Leaves are large and broad, and divided in the manner.of thofe of the Common Currants; but they have a ftrong Smell. ‘tes. ene ‘The Ufe ful Family Herbal. 111 The Flowers are greenifh and hollow. The Fruit is a large and round Berry, black, and of a fome- what difagreeable Tafte, growing in the manner of the Currants. The Juice of Black Currants boiled up with Sugar to a Jetty, is an excellent Shag ony fore Throats Lone CYPERUS. GYPERUS LONGUS. A Wild Plant in our Marfhes, Fens, and other damp Places, It is a Foot and a half high. The Leaves are a Foot long or more, narrow, grafly, and of a bright green Colour, flat and fharp at the ends. The Stalk is triangular and green; there are no Leaves on it, except two or three fmall ones at the Top, from which there rifes a Number of fmall Tufts or Spikes of Flowers. Thefe are brown, light, chaffy, and _ in all fefpedts like thole of the other Water Graffes. The Root is ufed. It is long and brown, and when dried, is of a pleafant Smell, and aromatic warm Tafte. It fhould be taken up in Spring. ~ It is good + eg Pains in the Head, and it pro- motes Urin : ; ities Sypekete sy CYPERUS ROTUNDUS. | AY Plant in many refpeéts refembling-the other, but a Native of the warmer Countries. It grows two Foot high. The Leaves are very — numerous, a Foot and a half long, narrow, of @ gules, snd the Edges are tharps seem | t, a12 The Ufeful Family Herbal. tight, and hag lith, efpecially towards. the Bou he Flow sas a are chatty, b2 d they grow fe the Top of the Stalk, with feveral {mall ‘and fhort Leaves fet under them ; they are brown and light. . The Root is compofed of a great ‘Quantity of black Fibres, to which there grows at certain Diftances roundifh Lumps. Thefe are the only Parts ufed in Medicine. Our Druggifts keep them. They are ight, and of a pleafant Smell, and warm fies alte They are good i tiervous Diforders. They are beft taken in Infufion, but as the Virtues are much the fame with the aoe that is beft, be- caufe it may be had frefhe The Ciera ss T REX. GU? FS Sts: A ieee ree kept 1 in our Gardens, an Evergreen, and fingular in the Manner of its Growth. It rifes to twenty or thirty Foot high, and is all the way thick: befet with Branches. Thefe are largett tbe Rowan. and {maller all the way up; fo that the Tree appears naturally of a conic Fi- The Bark is of a redith Brown. The . ene are {mall and fhort, they cover all the like Scales, and are of a beautiful deep Green. The Flowers are fmall and inconfiderable. The Fruit is a kind of Nut, of the Bignefs of a femal Walnut, and of a brown Colour and firm When Le fe divides int6 feveral The Fruit is the a Pant ufed. It is to be before it incite and carefully dried and iven in Powder; five and twenty Grains is the Tt is an excellent Balfamic and Styptic. It ftops the Bleeding of the Nof¢, and is good agus Spitting of Blood, Binody=F ian Over Owing ~*~ a4 “fome Degree tranfparent and horny. It The Ufeful Family Herbal. 113 flowing of the Menfes. We are not aware how , powerful a Remedy it is; few Things are equal ae. 2 D. CoMMoON DAFFODILL. - NARCISSUS. — A Wild Englifa Plant, with narrow Leaves and great yellow Flowers, common in our Gardens in-its own Form, and in a great Variety of Shapes that Culture has given it. In its wild State, it is about a Foot high. The Leaves are long, narrow, grafly, and of a deep Green, an they are nearly as tall as the Stalk. The Stalk is roundifh, but fomewhat flatted and edged. The Flower is large and fingle; it ftands at the Top of the Stalk, and by its Weight preffes it down a little. The Root is round and white. = = The frefh Root is to be ufed, and ’tis very eafy to have it always in Readinefs in a Garden; and very -ufeful, for it has great Virtues. Given in- ternally, in a fmall Quantity, it acts as a Vomit, and afterwards: purges a little; and it is excellent againft all Obftructions. The beft way of giving it is in form of the Juice preffed out with fome White Wine, but its principal Ufes are externally. The Eaftern Nations have a peculiar Way of dry- ing the thick Roots of Plants, efpecially if they are full of a flimy Juice as this is: They put them to foak in Water, and then hang them over the fteam of a Pot in which Rice is boiling; after this they ftring them up, and they become in it4 The Ufeful Family Herbal. caufe of this flimy Juice; we cannot well dry any other way; probabiy this would loofe its vomit- ing Quality when dried, and would aé& only as an Opener of Obftructions, in which Cafe, it might - be given in repeated Dofes; for at prefent no bo- dy will be prevailed upon to take it often. The frefh Root bruifed and applied to frefh Wounds heals them very fuddenly. Applied to Strains and Bruifes, it is alfo excellent, taking away the Swelling and Pain. a3 The GreaT Daisy. ! BELLIS MAJOR. s.a Beautiful and ftately wild Plant, which, if-it were not frequent in our Fields, would doubt- lefS be efteemed in Gardens. It grows to a Foot high. The Stalks are angulated flender, but firm and upright: The Leaves are oblong, narrow, dented round the Edges, and of a beautiful deep Green. The Flowers ftand on the Tops of the Branches. They are white, and an Inch broad; very like the white China Starwort fo much eemed in our Gardens. The Root is flender, The Flowers are the Part ufed. ‘They are to be gathered when newly opened, and dried, and may afterwards be given in Powder or Infufion. They are good againft Coughs and Shortnefs of Breath, _ and in all Diforders of the Lungs, They are - balfamic and ftrengthening. * : Pes Phe Littrtre Daisy, - .. BELLIS MINOR. 3 A Pretty wild Plant, too common to need much -- cription, but too. much neglected for its Virtues. “Phe Leaves are oblong, broad, and ob- Poa tile. The Stalks are three or tour Inches high, cee. : : and The Ujeful Family Herbal. 118 and have no Leaves, _The Flowers grow one en each Stalk, and are of the Breadth of a Shilling, and whitith or redifh. The Root is compoted of a vaft Quantity of Fibres. The Roots trefh gathered and given ina ftrong Decociion, are excellent againi the Scurvy ; the Ufe of them mutt be continued fome time, but the event will make amends for the Trouble: People give thefe Roots boiled in Milk to keep Poppies from growing, but tlicy have no iuch Effects. DANDELION, DENS LEONIS: A Nother of our wild Plants, too common to need- much Defcription. The Leaves are sad ye oe broad, and deeply indented the Edges. © The Stalks are naked, a: ieee upright, nd fix, eight, or ten Inches h: one Flower ftands. on each, which is large, sa: low, and compofed of a great Quantity of Leaves, and Seeds which follow this, have a downy Mat- ter affixedtothem. The whole Head of them ap- pears globular, The Root is long, large, and white. The-whole Plant is full of a milky Juice,” the Root moft of all. This runs from it when broken, and is bitterifh but not difagreeable. The Root frefh gathered and boiled, makes an excellent Decoétion - to promote Urine, and bring away Gravel. The Leaves may be eaten as Sal- let when very young, and if taken this way in ee mami me are good againft the Somaru Sy Red DARNELL. ~ ~LOLIUM RUBRUM. A Wil Grafs very common about Way. and Se pce As its ftubborn Stalks and | 116. ie Ufeful Family Herbal. low Growth. It is not above a Foot high, often much lefs. The Leaves are narrow, fhort, and of a dufky Green. The Stalk is thick, redith, fomewhat flatted, and upright. The Ear is flat; and is compofed of a double Row of fhort Spikes: This as well as the Stalk, is often of a purplifh Colour. The Root is compofed of a great Quan- tity of whitifh Fibres. The Roots are to be ufed, and they are beft dried and given in Powder. They are a very excellent Aftringent, good againft Purging, overflowing of the Menfes, and all other Fluxes, and Bleeding ; but the laft Operation is flow, and they muft be continued. *Tis a Medicine fitter, therefore, for habitual Complaints of this Kind, than fudden Illnefs. There is an old Opinion that the Seeds of Dar- nell, when by chance mixed with Corn, and made into Bread, which may happen, when it grows in Corn Fields, occafions Dizzinefs of the Head, Sicknefs of the Stomach, and all the bad Effects of Drunkennefgs: They are faid alfo to hurt the Eyes; but we have very little Affurance of thefe Effects; nor are they very probable. They pro- perly belong to another Kind of Darnell; diftin- guifhed by the Name of white Darnell ; which is a taller Plant, and more common in Corn: Fields than the red; but this is very much to be fufpeét- ed upon the Face of the Account. The Antients make frequent mention of this Kind of Darnell, growing to their great Diftrefs among the Wheat; but by the accidental Hints fome have given about its Height, and the Shape of its Ear, they feem to have meant the common Dogs Grafs or Couch Grafs, under that Name; though have feemed to underftand the Diftinétion. _ In this Un- certainty, howgver, remains the Matter about - which The Ufeful Family Herbal. 117 which particular Kind of Grafs was really accufed of pofteffing thefe bad Qualities: But it is moft probable, that they belong to neither; and that Fancy, rather than any thing really known, gave Birth to the Opinion. The Date TREE. . PALMA DACTYLIFERA.,. A tree of the warmer Countries, very unlike thofe of our Part of the World. The Trunk is thick and tall, and is all the way up of the fame Bignefs ; it has no Bark but is covered with the Rudiments of Leaves, and the inner Part of the Trunk when it is young is eatable. At the Top of the Trunk ftand a vaft Quantity of Leaves, fome ereét and fome drooping, and from the Bofoms of thefe grow the Flowers and the Fruit; but it is remarkable, that the Flowers grow upon the Trees only, and the Fruit on fome others. Ifthere be not a Tree of the Male Kind, that is a flowering Tree near the Fruit of the Fe- male, it will never naturally ripen. In this cafe they cut off Bunches of the Flowers, and fhake them over the Head of the Female Tree, and this anfwers the Purpofe. . All Plants have what may be called Male and Female Parts in their Flowers. The Male Parts are certain dufty Particles: The Female Parts are the Rudiments of the Fruits. In fome Plants thefe are in the fame Flowers as in the Tulip. Thofe black Grains which duft the Hands are the Male Part, and the green Thing in the middle of them is the Female: It becomes after- wards the Fruit or Seed Veffel. In other Plants, as Melons, and many more, the Male Parts grow _ in fome Flowers, and the Female Parts in others, — . 3 = OR: 118 The Ujeful Family Herbal. on the fame Plant: And in others, the Male Flowers and the Female grow upon abfolutely different Plarits, but of the fame Kind. This is the Cafe in the Date Tree as we fee, and it is the fame though we do not much regard it in Hemp, Spinage, and many others. The Fruit of the Date is the only Part ufed, Tt is as thick as. a. Man’s Thumb and nearly as Jong of a fweet Tafte, and compofed of a juicy. Pulp, in a tender Skin with a Stone with- in it. . They are ftrengthening and fomewhat aftringent, but we da not much ufe them. Devir’s Bir. 5 Se SUCCISA., | : Wild Piant in our Meadows, with flender Stalks, and globous Flowers. It grows two two Foot high. The Stalks are round, firm, and upright, and divided into feveral Branches: They have two little Leaves at each Joint. . The Flow- = 4 The Ufeful Family Herbal. 119 [2b Shh ge ANETHUM, A® umbelliferous Plant kept in our Gardens, principally for the Ufe of the Kitchen, The Stalk is round, ftriated, hollow, upright, three Foot high, and divided into a great many Bran- ches. The Leaves are divided into numerous, nar- ‘Tow, and long Parts, in the manner of Fennel, but they are not fo large. The Flowers are fmall and yellow; they fland in Clifters on the Tops of the Branches. The Root is long. The Seeds of . Dill are good againft the Cholic, and they are faid to be a Specifie againft the Hiccough, but T have known them tried without Succefs. = DITTANDER, =... ey SS Be SS aE eee : A Tall Plant, with broad Leaves and little white Flowers ; wild in fome places, and frequent in our Gardens. It grows a Yard high. The © Stalks are round, firm, of a pale Green, and very . much branched. The Leaves are large ied the Bottom, fmaller upwards; and the Flowers ftand in a kind of loofe Spikes; the lower Leaves are beautifully indented, the others fcarce at all : The Seeds are contained in little roundith Capfules, and are of a hot and pungent Tatfte. The Leaves of Dittander frefh gathered and © boiled in Water, make a Decoétion that works by _ Urine, and promotes the Menfes: They are alfo d to promote the neceflary Difcharges after - _ Delivery. en, ia pills dasdiaceas ie ae 120 The Ufeful Family Herbal. DITTANY OF Crete. DICTAMNUS CRETICUS. A Very pretty little Plant, Native of the Eaft, and kept in forme of our curious People’s Gardens. It has been famous for its Virtues, but they ftand more upon the Credit of Report than Experience. Itis fixoreight Inches high, the Stalks are fquare, flender, hard, woody, and branched. ‘The Leaves aré fhort, broad, and roundith, they ftand two at every Joint, and are covered with a white woolly Matter. The Flowers are fmall and urple: They grow in oblong and flender fcaly Herds, in the Manner of thofe of Origanum ; and thefe Heads are themfelves very beautiful, be- * ing variegated with Green and Purple. The whole Plant has a fragrant Smell. The Leaves are ufed, our Druggifts keep them dried. The old Writers attribute Miracles to it in the Cure of Wounds; at prefent it is feldom ufed alone; but it is good in nervous Diforders, -and it promotes the Menfes, and ftrengthens ‘the Stomach. 3 Wuitet DITTANY.: a FRAXINELLA. Very beautiful Plant, Native of many of the * warmer Parts of Evrope; but with us kept only in Gardens. It is three Foot high, very much branched and very beautiful. The Stalks are round, thick, firm, and of a green or purplifh Colour. The Leaves ftand irregularly on them, and are like thofe of the Afh Tree, only fmaller. -The Flowers are large and elegant: They are of a pale Red, white or ftripped; and they ae > . a - * The Ufeful Family Herbal. 121 a kind of Spikes at the Top of the Branches, The whoie Plant is covered in the Summer Months with a kind of Balfam, which is gluti- nous to the Touch, and of a very fragrant Smell. is is fo inflamable, that if a Candle be brought near any Part of the Plant, it takes Fire and goes off in a Flafh all over the Plant. This does itno harm, and may be repeated after three or four Days, a new Quantity of the Balfam being produced in that Time. ‘The Roots of this Plant are the only Part ufed, and they are kept dry by the Druggilts. They are commended in Fevers, and in nervous and hyfteric Cafes, but their Virtues are not great, Ihave found an Infufion of the Tops of the Plant, a very pleafant and excellent Medicine in the Gravel; it works powerfully by Urine, and gives eafe in thofe Cholicky Pains which frequently attend upon that Diforder. | SHARP-POINTED Dock. see LAPATHUM FOLIO ACUTO. A Common Plant, like the ordinary Dock but fomewhat handfomer, and diftinguifhed by the Figure of its Leaves, which are fharp-pointed, not obtufe as in that, and are alfo fomewhat nar- gainft the Scurvy t Thing: we know, for what is called {weetening the Bloo 122 The Ufeful Family Herbal. It is beft given in Diet Drinks and Decottions. Ufed outwardly, it Cures the Itch, and other Foulnefs of the Skin; it fhould be beat up with Lard for this Purpofe. GREAT WaTER Dock. HYDROLAPATHUM MAXIMUM. | "THs is the largeft of all the Dock Kinds; they have a general Refemblance of one ano- ther, but this is moft of all like to the lait de- {cribed, in its manner of Growth, though vaitly Fs rt. Itis frequent about Waters, and is five Foot high. ‘The Stalks are round, ftriated, thick, and very upright, branched a little and hollow. The Leaves are vaftly large, of a pale ang Cofour} fmooth, and fharp at the Point, he Flowers are fmall, and of a greenifh Colour with fome white Threads, and they afterwards become brown. The Root is large, long, and of a redifh Brown. Ttisa Remedy in the Scu The Root contains the great Varnes, eS to be given € Seeds of this, and all ober Docks are _aftingens and aos againit PSrEngs. GARDEN Dock, called Monxs Ras BARB. LAPATHUM Se le PATIEN. A ‘Tall Plant of the Dock Kind, a Native of = and kept in our Gardens for its Vir- . h = Stalk is ee ftriated, thick, upright, and firm. : ; e The Leaves are very large, long, and are sage The Ufeful Family Herbal. 123 at the Extremity: They ftand upon thick hollow- ed Foot Stalks; and the main Stalk of the Plant is alfo frequently red. The Flowers are like thofe of the other Docks, greenifh and white ar firft, but afterwards brown; but they are Jarger'than in almoft any other kind. The Root is very large, long, and divided; the outer Coat is of a brownifh Yellow ; within, it is yellow mixed with red. This is the Part ufed; it has been called Monks Rhubarb from its poffefling fome of the Virtues of the true Rhubarb; but it poffefles them only in a flight Degree, it is very little purgative, and lefs aftringent: It works by Urine as well as Stool, and is good in the Jaundice, and other Diforders arifing from Obftructions. There is another Plant of the Dock Kind called Baftard Rhubarb, kept in fome Gardens and mif- taken for this, Thé Leaves of it are roundifh. Tt has the fame Virtues with the Monks Rhu- barb, but in a much lefs Degree, fo that it is ve- ry wrong to ufe it in its Place. : DoDDER. CUSCUTA. A Very ftrange and fingular Plant, but not un- common with us. It confifts of only Stalks and Flowers, for there are no Leaves, nor the leaft Refemblance of any. The Stalks are a Foot or two in Length, and they faften themfelves to other Plants; they are of a purplith Colour, as thick as a fmall Pack-Thread, and confiderably tough and firm. Thefe wind themfelves about the Branches of the Plants, and entangle them- — felves alfo with one another in fuch a Manner, that there is no End of the Perplexity of tr and unfolding them. The Flowers grow im 124 The Ufeful Family Herbal. . Heads, and are fmall and redifh, four little Seeds fucceed to each of them. ‘Dodder is beft freth gathered ; it is to be boiled in Water with a little Ginger and Allfpice, and the Decottion works by Stool brifkly; it alfo opens Obftructions of the Liver, and is good in the Jaundice and many other Diforders arifing from the like Caufe. ; The Dodder which grows upon the Garden Thyme, has been ufed to be preferred to the others and has been fuppofed to poffefs peculiar Virtues from the Plant on which it grows; but this is imaginary: Experience fhews it to be only a Purge as the other, and weaker. The common Dodder is preferable to it with us, becaufe we can gather it frefh, the other is imported, and we only have it dry ; and it often loofes a great deal of its Virtue in the Hands of the Drugzitt, Doc MeRcury. CYNOCRAMBE. A Common and poifonous Plant named here, . not as a Medicine, but that People who ga- _ ther Herbs, for whatever ufe, may guard againft it. It is common under Hedges ; and in the ear- lier Part of the Year makes a pretty Appearance. People might very naturally be tempted to eat of it among other Spring Herbs, for there is nothing forbidding in its Afpect,; and what is much worfe, the Authors ao mes ~ be confulted on fuch an Occafion, might lead thofe into it, whom the Ought to have guarded againtt it, J ee about a Foot high, and has but few Leaves, but they are large. The Stalk is round, _ thick, whitith, pointed, and 4 little hairy; the Leaves fland principally toward the Top, four, ve, ai aed ar * _ The Ufeful Family Herbal. 125 five, or fix, feldom more: They are long and confiderably broad, fharp-pointed, notched about the Edges, and a little hairy. The Flowers are inconfiderable: They ftand in a kind of Spikes at the Tops of the Stalks; and the Seeds are on fe- parate Plants, they are double and roundith. The Herb has been from this divided into two Kinds, Male and Female, but they have in ear- lier Time given the Diftinctions of the Sex wrong. Thofe which bear the Spikes of Flowers are the Male Plants ; the others, notwithftanding any ac- cidental Refemblance, Female. There is not a more fatal Plant, Native of our Country, than this; many have been known to die by eating it boiled with their Food; and pro- bably many alfo, whom we have not heard of: Yet the Writers of Engli/b Herbals, fay nothing of this. Gerard, an honeft and plain Writer, but ignorant as Dirt, fays, it is thought they agree oF the other eatas in Naat Thele ther — Mercuries are eatable,; thetefore, who would fcruple on this Account to eat alfo this. obu/on, who put forth another Edition of this Book, and called it Gerard Emaculated, from the amending the Faults of the original Author, fays nothing to contradict it: But after fome idle Obfer- vations upon other Herbs of the fame Name, but very different Qualities, which yet he feems to fuppofe-of the fame Nature, leaves his Reader to fuppets that he meant equally any of the Kinds of Mercury, for the Purpofes he names; and, like his Predeceffor Gerard, fuppofed them all to be alike; thofe fafe, and thofe poifonous. It is true, Mr. Ray, in his Synopfis of the Briti/h Plants, gives an Account of it as a Poifon, and muft fuf- ficiently warn all who read him, from the But who reads htm? His Book in which — 2 I ee 126 The Ufeful Piva Herbal mentioned, is written in Latin; and thofe who .' - want the Information cannot read it. This is not only the Cafe in one or two Parti- culars, it is fo in all. To fpeak generally, the. Books which contain real Knowledge, are written | in Latin, through an Oftentation of their Authors to fhew their Learning, or a Pride in having them read in other Nations as well as here; and thofe we edt in Exghjp ave ignorant ; defpifed by the ns of Judgment, and fit only to miflead. If hep enumerate Virtues, they give them at ran- _dom, or give too many falfe among the true, that the Reader knows not what to chooie; or their real Ignorance mingles Poifons with Sallets, as we fee _ in the prefent Inftance: Nor is any more Regard to be paid to what they fay of Herbs, from cer- tain great Names they quote. Diofcorides and Ga- den were indeed great Phyficians; but Men like thefe are not qastbed to profit from their Labours. The Names of Plants have been changed ~ often fince their Time, that we do not know what they eee feveral: And it is eafy-for fuch fad Pro- as thefe, to record ef one Plant, what they fpoke of pon Befides, even in their beft Writings, there is a great deal of Error and Fol- _ Ty, as may be feen in a Quotation of this Fobn/on’s from them, added to Gerard in this very Chapter. _ Where fpeaking of one of the kinds of Mercury, oo ig like this poifonous Kind, into Male a he fays, ‘that the Male Kind conduces * to the Generation of Boys, and the Female of * Girls.’ Such is the Matter, that a ‘Superiority in one of thefe Authors over the other, qualified him to add to his Book : Such are the “Engli ifo Books, that are extant upon this Subjeéct and ox Bias Direction offered to the Charitable, confounding — Herbs with Poifons. This has ates Mhe: “ great The Uji eful Family Herbals I 27 great Reafon of ‘writing the prefent Book, that there may be one Guide and Direction at leat, to be depended upon; and this its Author has. thought proper ‘to fay at large upon the imme- diate Occafion, rather than in a Preface; becaufe there it muft have been accompanied with a need- Jefs Repetition, and perhaps would not have been es by many, who-.may have recourfe to the ook Doc TeotH “ DENS CANINUS. A Very pretty little Plant, with two broad Leaves and a large drooping F lower, com=' mon in Jigly and Germany, and frequent in our Gardens. It is five or fix Inches high. The Stalk is round, flender; _ weak, and greenifh to- ~ wards the Top, often white at the Bottom. The Leaves ftand a little Height above the G = They are oblong, fomewhat broad, of a Senate ful Green, not at all dented at the Edges, and blunt at the End: They inclofe the Stalk at the Bafe. The Flower is large and white, but with a Tinge of redifh, it hangs down, and is long, hollow, and very elegant. The Root is roundifh, ‘and has fome Fibres ; growing from its Bottom, it is full of a flimy Juice. The frefh gathered Roots are ufed, for they dry vey a and erg ies loofe their Virtues in- tirely. are Roe saat nft Worms in Chil- . dren, and u rprifing od fpeedy Effect a- gainft chofe wiblent Pains in the Belly, which are | owing to thofe Creatures. ‘The beft W a 128 The Ufeful Family Herbal. erful Remedy, and a {mall Dofe will take Effect, efpecially of the Juice, fo that it is beft to begin with very little, and as that is well born, to increafe the Quantity. DRAGONS. DRACONTIUM. A Fine tall and beautiful Plant, kept in Gar- dens for its Ufe in Medicine, as well as for its Appearance. Iti . a Feet high. The Stalk is thick, round, and firm, perfectly fmooth, and painted on he ie, with feveral Colours, Purple, White, Green, andothers. The Leaves are very large, and ftand on long Foot-Stalks : They are of a deep and ftrong Green, and each is divided into feveral Portions in the Manner of Fingers. The Flower is like that of the com- mon Arum or Cuckow Pint: It is contained in a hollow green Cafe, of a deep Purple within, and the Piftil is ufually alfo of a deep Purple; after this is fallen, appear, as in the Arum, large red Berries in a Clufter. The whole Plant is of an acrid and infi ble Tafte. - The whole fants is to be gathered when in Flower, and dried; it may afterwards be given in oction, Powder, or otherwife. It was vaftly efteemed. for malignant Fevers, and in the Small Pox, but it has of late loft much of its Credit, at prefent i it is only ufed in fome Compofitions. The Dracons BLoop TREE.- - SANGUIS DRACONIS ARBOR. A Very beautiful Tree, Native of the Canaries, and fome other Places. It is of the Palm Kind, and one of the handfomeft of them. The . Frunk is naked all the way to the Top, ge Lhe Ujeful Faniuly Herbal. 129 ftand on its Summit a great Quantity of Leaves, long, narrow, and pointed at the Ends; of a blu- ifh green Colour, and not unlike the Leaves of our Flags. The Fruit is round, and is of the Bignefs of a Walnut with the green Rind upon it The Dragons Blood is a red friable Refin. Our Druggifts keep it: The beft is in fmall Lumps ; there is an inferior Kind in Cakes or Maffes. It is procured by cutting the Trunk of this Tree in the great Heats. There are alfo two other Kinds ~ of Palm, that afford the fame Refin. It is a very excellent Aftringent. It is ufeful in Purgings and in the Overflowing of the Menfes, in Spitting of Blood, and all other Occafions of that Kind. Jt may be given in Powder. Drorpworrt. FILIPENDULA. Very pretty wild Plant, with Tufts of whitith Flower; and Leaves finely divided. It two Feet high. The Stalk is round, ftriated, up- right, firm, and branched. The Leaves are large and divided into a great Number of firm Seg- ments, they rife principally from the Root, and ftand on flender Foot-Stalks: There are few Leaves on the Stalks, and they. are {mall. The Flowers are little, but they ftand in great. Tufts at the Tops of the Branches: They are white on the Infide, and often redifh on the Out- fide. The are flattifh and grow feveral to- . r. The Root is compofed of a great Num- — ber of fmall Lumps, faftened together by Fila- ments. This Root is the Part moft ufed - o is 130 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Root. When dried it may be given in Powder to ftop the Whites and Purgings, it is a gentle and fafe Aftringent. There are feveral other Plants called in Englifh Dropworts, which are very different in their Qua- lities, and one of them is poifonous in a terrible Degree; this laft is called Hemlock Dropwort; care mutt therefore be taken that the right kind is ufed, but this is fuficiently different from all the others. The Flower is compofed of fix little Lees and is full of yellow Threads in the Mid- Flowers of all the others are compofed only of five Leaves each. They are abe um _ nie Plants, but this isnot; the in Clufters, but not in Uinbels ; Tharere grow Shike thofe of the Ulmaria or Meadow Sweet. : DuCK-WEED. LENTICULA. A Small green Herb, confifting of fingle, little at pe OS Leaves, which float upon the Sur- moft all our deine aters in Saereir There are two other kinds of it, one with fmaller Leaves and many Fibres from each, another with only ‘one Fibre from each Leaf: Both thefe are green eer and a third kind with larger Leaves, which are purple underneath, but all thefe have the: fame oe and it is no Matter which is _ The Juice is to be given; and it is to be continued 1 a feveral Days. eae rfully by Urine, and opens Ob- the Liver: Jaundices have “beet cast br it fie | The Ufeful Family Herbal, 131 DwarFf ELDER. EBULUS, A Plant fo much refembling the common Elder Tree, that it may be eafily miftaken for it till examined. It grows four or five. Feet The Stalks are green, round, tender, and upri tt, and they have very much the Appearance of the young Shoots of Elder, but there is no woody art from whence they rife, the Leaves are large, © Se, compofed of feveral Pairs of others, as thofe of Elder, with an odd one at the End; but thefe are longer than in the Elder, and they are ferrated round the Edges. The Flowers are as and white, but they ftand in very large Clufters or Umbels, juft as thofe of the Elder, and they are fucceeded by Berries which are black when ripe, but that is a Condition in which we feldom {fee them, for the Birds are fo fond of them, they eat them as they come to Maturity. The Root is white and creeping, and the whole Plant dies down - every Year to the Ground. — It is wild in England, but not common, a great Quantity of it grows at the Back of Cupers Gar- dens. It may be dried: But the belt Way of giving itis in the Juice. This ap ftrongly both by Stool and Urine, and has often cured Dropfies. Dvyer’s Weep. . LU TFEOLA. Very fingular and pretty wild Plant; it grows A on dry Banks ks and ora Walls, and is known — at fight by its upright Stalks, and very long Sp: kes of greenifh yellow Flowers. It grows to” for Feet or more in ye The Stalk : st Pl 132 The Ufeful Family Herbal. firm, channelled, and in a manner covered with Leaves: They are fmall in Proportion to the Big- nefs of the Plant, oblong, narrow, and pointed at the Ends, of a yellowifh green Colour, and not ferrated at the Edges; a Tuft of the fame kind of Leaves but fomnewtiae larger, furround the Bottom of the Stalk. The Root is long and white. The Flowers are {mall, but very nume- rous. The flowery Tops of this Plant dried, and. iven in Decoétion, are faid to be a Remedy for ae Evil, but the Report is not eftablifhed by any | known Experience. E. ELDER. SAMBUCUS. A Common wild Shrub; it grows irregularly. The Stem or Trunk is covered with a rough whitifh Bark, and the Wood i is firm, but there is a Hollow within, this is fmalleft in the largeft Parts of the Shrub, but it is never quite oblite- rated. The young Shoots are thick, long, — Green ; they grow quick, and are often a Yard long before they begin to change Colour, or grow +e Thefe contain a large Quantity of Pith; and heir Bark -as they ftand becomes brosesath. and — under Surface woody. The Leaves are : odd compofed of feveral Pairs of others, with an one at the ei: The Flowers ftand in vaft Clu- fters, or Umbels, and are fmall and white; they are fucceeded by Berries, which are black when = and are full of a purple Juice. There is a- nother kind of Elder, with Berries white when they — : ee ” * & The Ufeful Family Herbal. 133 are ripe, and another with jagged Leaves, but the common Elder, is the Sort to be ufed. The inner Bark of the Elder, is aftrong Purge; and it has been known to cure Dropfies when taken in Time, and often repeated. The Flowers are made into an Ointment, by boiling them in Lard, till they are almoft crifp, and then pour- ing it off, this is cooling ; the Juice of the Berries is bojled down with a “tittle Sugar, or by fome wholly without, and this when it comes to the Confiftence of Honey, is the famous Rob of Elder, good in Colds and fore Throats. A Wine is made of the Elder Berries, which has the Flavour of Frontignac, ELECAMPAN E. ENULA CAMPANA. | A Tall and robuft Plant, wild in eas Parts of England, but kept in Gardens for the Ufes « Medicine, it grows five Feet high, mad the Flower is yellow, and very large. ‘The Stalk is round, — thick, upright, very robuft, and redifh: The Leaves are long, large, and rough, and they are pointed at the Ends, of a pale green Colour. . The Flowers grow at the Tops of the Branches, and have fomething like the Appearance of a dou- ble Sun Flower. They are two Inches in Dia- meter, yellow, and very beautiful. The Root is long and thick, and is brown on the Outfide, and white within. The Root is the Part ufed, we have it dried from Germany, but it is for moft Purpofes better to take that frefh out of the Garden, which we have here. Hardly any Plant has more Virtues. 3 in all tte ia oie and Lungs, | opens Obftruétions: It operates -by ae | erfully, and alfo 3 ite sage And the Juice ak : : 134 The Ufeful Family Herbal. will cure the Iteh applied externally. Its greateft . Virtue, however, is againft Coughs, and for this Purpofe it is beft taken candied, provided that be well done. A little of it may in this Way be held almoft continually in the Mouth, and fwallowed gently, fo that it will take Effect much better than by a larger Dofe fwallowed at once. Eto. ULMUS, AT™ Tree, Native of our own Country, and fufficiently common in our Hedges. It grows toa ieee Baek. The Bark is brownifh, rough, and irregular; the Twigs are alfo brown, and very tough. “The Leaves are fmall, broad, fhort, rough to the Touch, and finely indented about the Edges, and they terminate in a Point. The Flowers are not regarded, they appear before the Leaves, and principally about the Tops of the Prec, and sahey are only thready; the Seeds are at et inner Parke of the Elm boiled in Water, raat one of the beft sas for a fore Throat, that can be fupplied by the whole Lift of Medi- cines. It fhould be fweetened with Honey of Rofes,; it is extremely foft and healing, and yet at the fame Time very cleanfing. é There are two or see other kinds of ee Smmon in Garden Hedges, they are brow from other Countries, but the Bark of the Engi iB sh Elm is preferable to them all as 3 Medic —— = a i ENnpDIve The Ufeful Family Herbal. 135 ENDIVE, -ENDIVIA. A Cothmon Garden Plant kept for Sallets. It grows two Feet high, and_the Flowers are blue, but we fee it a thoufand Times with only the Leaves for once in Flower, and thefe the Gardeners have the Art of twifting, and curling, and whitening in fuch a Manner, that they are f{carce to be known, as belonging to the Plant. Naturally they are long and narrow, blunt at the End, and deeply notched at the Edges, and of a yellowith green Colour, the Stalks are round and firm, and the Leaves that grow on them, are like thofe from the Root, but fmaller: The Flowers ftand at the Tops of the Stalks and Branches, they are blue, and in Shape and Struéture like thofe of Dandelion: They are very beautiful. = = © The Juice of Endive may be taken. “with great Advantages as Medicine; it cools the Stomach, and operates by Urine ‘very powerfully ; it alfo opens Obftructions of the Vifcera. It is good a- ainft the Jaundice, and conftantly taken 3 dome Time, againft the Scurvy. ErRYNGO. ERYNGIUM. ee Plant, which grows with us by the Sea Side, and is alfo in Gardens, becaufe of ies Virtues. It is prickly luke a Thittle, and the - she Plant appears not green, oe whitits ie Stalk ae yeas round, ftria nd thick — 136 The Ufeful Family Herbal. are broad, oblong, and jagged and prickly. The Flowers grow in “Tittle Heads at the Tops of the Stalks, and there ftands a Circle of fmall Leaves under them. The Flowers, feparately, taken are fmall, and of a pale greenifh White, but the Head of them is tolerabiy large. The Root is long and flender, and of a pleafant Tafte. This is the Parg ufed, the beft Way is to take them candied, Te good again{ft Coughs, and Weaknefies of all kinds. They have alfo caufed noble Virtues, as a Diuretic, and are good againft the Jaundice, for this laft Purpofe a Decoétion made from the frefh Roots is beft. They are balfamic as well as diuretic, The EupHorBiuM PLANT. EUPHORBIUM. i Very ftrange Plant, Native of the hot Coun- acne and unlike every thing that is known in r art of the World. » It is cen or twelve Feet igh. ee is of a folid thick Body, of a triangu- Yar or elfe a fquare Figure as thick as a Man’s Leg, and is divided by Knots placed at Diftan- ces, fo as to feem made up of feveral Joints: The Edges of the Body are all-befet with very tharp Prickles ; the Plant itfelf is compofed only of a pulpy foft Matter, covered with a thick Rind, of 4 green Colour; it abounds with a milky Juice, -but fo acrid that there is_no bearing a Drop of it a Moment on the Tongue. The Plant often con- fitts of one fingle Stem, fuch as is juft defcribed, but fre tly it fends out feveral Branches : Thefe Manner as the main Stem. are naked. in the fame % All that have befide the Prickles, are a kind’ of oe Films or Membranes, fimall and $ gen es siahho Winagt eae phair . The Ufeful Family Herbal. 137 from their Bafes, but the Plant is altogether with- out Leaves. The Flowers grow three together among the Thorns, and the Fruit is a Veffel con- taining three Seeds. The Gum which fweats out from this Plant, 4 is ufed in Medicine ; it is yellowith and comes forth in {mall Drops, its Tafte is fharp and infupporta-~ ble ; itis a violent Purge, and is recommended againit Dropfies, but we {carce ever prefcribe it, it is fo very rough; it is fometimes ufed outward=- ly among other te “hings applied to the Feet in vio- . lent Fevers, EYEBRIGHT. EUPHRASIA. Ate aaa low Herb common in our ‘Mea- dows, with woody Stalks, and aes and little variegated Flowers. It grows fix Inches high. The Stalks are round, hicko# and very hard, the Leaves are flat, broads and very deeply indented at the Edges ; and they aré of a bright. fhining Green. The Flowers are lit- tle, and - they are very bright, their ground Colour is white, and they are ftreaked and fpotted with black and fome other dark Colours. This Plant has been always famous for Dimnefs of Sight, but whether Experience warrants the Chi that “is era of it is uncertain. The Juice is very d 138 Tbe Wfeful Family Herbal 5, FENNEL. FCOENICULUM, Common Garden Plant, kept for its Ufe in the Kitchen, rather than its medicinal Virtues. Tt grows fix or — Feet high. The Stalk is round, hollow, and of a deep ereen Colour; the Leaves are baie. a divided into a. vaft Num- ber of fine flender Segments, and they are alfo of ‘a deep or bluifh green Colour. — The Flowers ftand at the Tops of the Branches, and are fmall and yellow ; but there grow large Clufters of them to- gether ; the Seed is “fmall, dark coloured, and ftri- ated, and i is of a tharp acrid Tafte ; the Root is ng anc q Ww} hi ite, The Root is the Part moft ufed; a Decoétion made of ic with common a Be and given in : ‘Quantities works by Urine, and is good a- soni Gravel and in the Jaundice. See ie | Sweet Fenner. ; FGNICULUM DULCE. A Garden Plant very like the common kind, but of a paler Colour. It grows four Feet high 5 the Staik i is tor hollow, ftriated, upright, and branch nd the Leaves are large and divided invgia great Number of fihe Segments, in the Man- ner of thofe of common Fennel, but both thefe and the Stalks are of a pale yellowith gress Co- lour, not fo fq dark as in the other eA are yellowith fe ftand j in {mall Chufters or eerees the Seeds follow, two after each ae Flowers, The Ufeful Family Herbal. 139 Flower; and they are quite different from thofe ‘of the common Fennel, in Size, Shape, Colour, and Tafte. They are long, flender, of a pale Co- lour, a little crooked, and deeply ftriated. Their Tafte is fweetifh and a little acrid. As the Roots are the Part moft ufed of the common Fennel, the Seeds are the only Part ufed of this. They are excellent inthe Cholic, and are ufed externally ufed with Succefs in Pultices to Swellings. The Seeds of the common Fennel are ufed by fome, but they are very hot and acrid. Thefe are preferable for internal Ufe. FENNEL FLoweER. NIGELLA. A Singular and pretty Plant kept in Gardens. It grows a Foot and half high. The Stalk is firm, round, ftriated, and upright and hollow. The Leaves are divided into 2 Multitude of fine flender Parts like thofe of Fennel, only very {mall - in Comparifon, and thence it had the Englifh Name of Fennel Flower ; they ftand irregularly on the Stalks, and are of a pale Green. The Flowers itand at the Tops of the Branches: They are fin- gular and pretty, -the Colour is whitifh, and they are moderately large, the green Leaves about them give them a very particular Grace. want The Juice of the Plant frefh gathered, is good for the Head-ach; it is to be fnuffed up the Nofe, and it will occafion _fneezing, inwardly taken it works by Urime, and is good in the - 140 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Hocs Frnnen. PEUCEDANUM. A Wild Plant with divided Leaves, and Um- bels of yellow Flowers, and thence bearing a remote Refemblance of Fennel. It grows two Feet high ; the Stalk is round, ftriated, hollow, upright, and branched. The Leaves are like thofe of Fennel, but the Divifions are much broader, and they run in threes. The Flowers are little and yellow, but the Clufters of ‘them are large, and the Seed | is oblong and flat. At the Top of the Root, there is always found a Tuft of hairy Mat- ter. This ts made up of ‘the Fibres of decayed Leaves, but it has a fingular Appearance. The Root is large, long, and brown, and this is the Part ufed as a Medicine. It is to be boiled in Water, and the Decottion drank Night and Morning ; it diffolves tough Phlegm, and helps afthmatic Peo- ple; it alfo works by Urine, and promotes the Mc and is good in all Obftrutions, Fornucr EER. - FQ@NUM GRECUM. | A Elant of, the Trefoilikind, but fingular in its “~ Manner of Growth, cultivated in Fields in = fmall, “and they refemble a Pea Bloffom ; the + _ Pods are flat, and in them is contained a Quanity n irregular Figure, and difa- Mate The Ufeful Family Herbal. 14% Mate FERN. FILIX MAS. Common Weed growing at the Roots of Trees, ‘and in dry Ditches. It has no Stalk for bearing of Flowers, but feveral Leaves rife to- gether from ihe Root, and each of thefe is in itfelf a diftinét Plant. It is two Feet high, and near a Foot in Breadth; the Stalk is naked for fix or eight Inches, and thence is fet on each Side with a Row of Ribs or fimaller Stalks. Every one of which carries a double Row of fmaller Leaves, with an odd one at the End; the whole together making up one great Leaf, as in many of the umbelliferous Plants. On the Backs of thefe finaller Leaves, ftand the Seeds in round Clufters, they look brown and dufty. The Root is long and thick, and the whole Plant has a difagreeable Smell.. The Root is greatly recommended for curing the Rickets in Children. With what Succefs it would be hard to fay. FEMALE FERN. FELIX. FO@MINA. ? A Tall and fpreading Plant, common on our © £% Heaths, and called by the Country People Brakes. It grows four Feet high. The Stalks are. round, green and fmooth ; the Leaves are fet on each fide, and are fubdivided. The whole may indeed be properly called only one Leaf as in the Male Fern; but it has more the Appearance of a Number becaufe it is fo ramofe. The fmall Leaves or Pinnules which go to make u the large one, are oblong, firm, hard, and of a de green Colour, and they arc fo fpread ¢ 142 The Ufeful Family Herbal. whole Plant is often three Feet wide. On the Edges of thefe. little Leaves, ftand the Seeds in fmall dufty Clufters. But they are not fo frequent on this, as on the Male Fern, for Nature has fo well provided for the Propagation of this Plant by the Roots, that the Seeds are lefs neceflary, and where it is fo, they are always produced more fparingly. A certain Quantity of every Species is to be kept up, but the Earth is not to be over- run with any. The Roots of female Fern frefh gathered, and made into a Decoétion, are a Remedy againit that long and flat Worm in the Bowels, called the Tape-Worm, no Medicine deftroys them {0 effec- tually. Prowstind Pix OSMUNDA REGALIS. PT Here is fomething that at firft Sight appears fingular in the Manner of this Fern’s flow- ering, but when particularly examined, it,is not different in any thing secconten [Som the other. It grows three Feet high, and the Leaves are very regularly conftructed, and ve cat 3; they are compofed in the Manner of the other Ferns, each of feveral fmall ones, and thefe are broader and bigger than in any of the other kinds, n at all indented on the F.dges ; and of a bluifh ee lour, and afterwards yellowith. Many Leaves arife from the fame Root, but only fome few of - them bear Seeds. Thefe principally rife about the Middle. and thé Seeds ftand only on the upper Part: They cover the whole Surface of the Leaf, or nearly fo in this Part, and the little Pinnules turn round inwards, and thew their Backs rounded 7 Thefe are brown from being covered with 3 Seeds, and they have fo-different an —: The Ufeful Family Herbal. 143 ance from all the reft of the Plant, that they are called Flowers. The Root is long and covered with Fibres. The Plant grows in boggy Places, but it is not very common wild in England. A Decoétion of the frefh Roots promotes Urine, and opens Obftructions of the Liver and Spleen, it is not much ufed, but I have known a Jaun- dice cured by it, taken in the Beginning. FEVERFEW. MATRICARIA. A Common wild Plant, with divided Leaves, and a Multitude of fmall Flowers like Daifies; it» grows about Farmers Yards. The Stalk is reund, hollow, upright, branched, and ftriated, and grows two Feet high. The Leaves are large, divided into many fmall ones, and thofe roundifh and indented;.they are of a yellowifh green Co- lour, and particular Smell. The Flowers ftand about the Tops of the Stalks, they a white round the Edges, and yellowifh i in the Mid- dle. The Root ts white, little, and inconfiderable. The whole Plant is to be ufed, it is beft frefh, but it preferves fome Virtue dried; it is to be given in Tea, and it is excellent againft Hyfteric Diforders ; it promotes the Menfes. The Fic-FReEE. FICUS. ACT Shrub bascragets | _known in our Gardens. ly at the Epes ik ‘ Flowers are BE 144. The Ufeful Family Herbal. -Fig-Tree produces Fruit twice in the Year; the firft fet in Spring, the fecond ‘towards September, - but thefe laft never ripen with us. The dried Figs of the Grocers, are the Fruit of the fame Tree in Spain and Portugal, but they grow larger there, _ and ripen better. Our own Figs are’ wholefome Fruit, and they are applied outwardly to Swellings with Succefs, they foften and give eafe while the Matter is form- ing within. Fi oweu a SCR OPH AT Tas: Tall and regular growing wild Plant, with fmall deep purple Flowers. It grows four Feet high, and is common in our Woods, and Ditches, where there is little Water; there is ano- er kind of it in wet Places, called alfo Water Betony, which is to be diftinguifhed from it by the round Indentings of the Leaves ; it alfo grows in Water, or juft by it: The right Figwort, only Loves Shade, and Dampnefs, but not abfolute wet. The Stalk is fquare, upright, hollow, and very firm; the Leaves ftand two at each Joins, oppofite one to the other; they are large, broad at the Bafe, narrow at the Point, and fharply in- dented ; they ftand on long Foot-Staiks, and they have the Shape of the Nettle Leaf, but they are face. ee is 3 eae _ The Juice of the frefh gathered Root is an ex- cellent Sweetener of the Blood taken in fmall Dofes, | | a and The Ufeful Family Herbal. 148 and for a long Time together: The frefh Roots ‘bruifed and applied.externally, are faid alfo to be excellent for the Evil. They cool and give Eafe in the Piles, applied as a Pultice: | : The Fir FREE: ABIES. j a es AW id. Tree in Germany and many other Parts of Europe, but with us only kept in Gar- — |: _ dens. We have no kind of the Fir Native: What is called the Scotch Fir, is not a Fir but a Pine. The Fir-tree grows to a confiderable Height, and with great Regularity. The Trunk is covere with a rough and cracked Bark, of a refinous Smell ; the Leaves are numerous, and ftand very beautifully on the Branches. They ftand in two” Rows, one oppofite to the other, and are _ oblong, but fomewhat broad and flat. They are- of a pale Green, and of a whitifh Hue under- death. The Tree is hence called the Silver Fir, and from the Difpofition of the Iseaves, the Yew-leaved Fir, for they grow as in the Yew- Tree. The Fruit or Cones ftand upright ; in this kind, they are long, thick, and brown. The Tops of this kind are great Sweetners of | the Blood, and they work powerfully by Urine: They are beft given in Diet Drinks, or brewed in the Beer, which is commonly drank. The Rep Fir Tree; oR Pitcs REE. At Tree, but not fo regular in its Gr or in the. ifpo. itio its L the oth Branches are numerous, 4! | Se hat Bee The Trunk is thi | Wodd fof. The te 146 The Ufeful Family Herbal. they ftand irregularly. The Leaves are oblong, narrow, and fharp-pointed, and they do not grow in two even Rows, as is in the other, but ftand > irregularly on the Twigs. The Cones are long, flender, and hang downwards. The whole Tree lfas a ftrong refinous Smell. The Tops of this are boiled in Diet Drinks a- gainft the Scurvy as the other, but they make the Liquor much more naufeous; and not at all bet- _ ter for the intended Purpofes. Pitch and Tar are the Produce of the Fir Tree, as alfo the Strafburg and fome other of the Tur- pentines. The Larch Tree and Turpentine Tree furnifhing the others, as will be feen in their Places. The Wood is piled in Heaps, and lighted at the Top, and the Tar fweats out at the lower Parts. This being boiled, becomés hard, and is called Pitch. The Turpentines are balfamic, and very pow- erful Promoters of Urine,. but of thefe more in their Places: The Tar has been of late rendered famous by the Water made from it ; but it was a fathionabic Remedy, and is now out of Repute 3 SWE E + A EA a | ACORUS, CALAMUS AROMATICUS DIC TUS. ACommon wild Plant that grows undiftinguifhed ~* among the Flags and Rufhes, by our Ditch Sides. . The old Phyficians meant another Thing by Calamus Aromaticus: They gave this Name to the dried Stalks of a Plant, but at prefent it is ufed as the Name of the Rootof this, The Ssveet Flag grows three Feet high, but confifts only of Leaves without a Stalk. They are long, narrow, and of a pale green Colour. “A - thefe there _ are commonly three or four in‘all Refpeéts like The Ufeful Family Herbal. 147 the reft, but that they have a Clufter of Flowers breaking out at one Side, within five or fix Inches - ofthe Top. This is long, brown, and thick, and referbles a Catkin of a Filbert Tree, only it is longer and thicker. The Root is long, flattifh, and creeping: It is of a ftrong and rather unpleafant Smell when frefh, but it becomes very fragrant, and aromatic in drying. Our own has its Value, becaufe we can have it frefh, but the dried Root is better had of the Druggifts,; they have it from warmer Countries, where it is more fragrant. _ The Juice of the frefh Root of Acorns is excel- lent to promote the Menfes, it works by Urine moderately, and gives no Offence to the Stomach. The dried Root is cordial and fudorific, it warms _ the Stomach, and is good againft Indigeftions and Fevers. Common Acorus oR YELLOW Fiacs. ACORUS ADULTERINUS. A Common Plant in our Ditches, and by River ~~ Sides, diftinguifhed by its blue-green, Flag like Leaves, and its large yellow Flowers, which in Shape refemble thofe of the Iris, or Flower de Luce. It grows three or four Feet high: The Stalk is roundifh, but alittle fatted, of apale Green, very erect, firm, and not branched. It only fends out two or three Shoots upwards from the Bofom of the Leaves. The Leaves are a Foot and a half long, narrow, flat, and fharp at the Edges. the Flowers ftand ms the Tops of the Stalks, and are large and beautiful. The Seeds are numerous, — and are contained in large triangular Veffels. The — Root creeps. a; The Root of this is the only Part ufed, fome _ ave confounded them with the true Acorus Root, but they are called, Fie of Diftinction, 148° The Ufeful Family Herbal. or baftard Acorus; they are not. at dll like the in Shape, Colour, or Qualities; they are of ar ediflz Brown, have no Smell, and are of an auftere Tafte, » they ate an excellent Aftringent. They thould be . taken up in Spring and dried, and. afterwards given in Powder. They ftop Fluxes and Over- — flowings of the Menfes. ston X. ee Sore HELE : Avery pretty as well as a very ufeful Plant, cul- tivated for the Sake of its Seeds, as well as its Stalks. It is three Feet high, the Stalk is’ round, flender, firm, and upright. The Leaves are {mall, ~~. Oblong, and narrow, and they ftand irregularly, but in great Numbers on it. Toward the Top the Stalk divides into three or four fhort Branches ; and on thefe ftand the Flowers, they are large and of a beautiful Blue. - Each of thefe is fucceeded by a roundifh Seed Veifel ; in which are a Num- ~ This Seed is wliat is called Linfeed:- A Tea made of it is excellent in Coughs and Diforders of fe Puecine Pia be Sesion: A Pretty little Herb that grows ee tin The Ujeful Family Herbal. 149 eaves are little, oblong, broad, and obtufe, and they ftand two at each Joint. ‘The Flowers are {mall and white, and the whole-Plant has very much the Afpect of fome Kind of Chickweed, _ but the Seed Veffel being examined, it appears to ~ be altogether of the Flax Kind. The Root is fmall’and thready. This little Plant is a ftrong but ak Pires the Country People boil it in Ale, and cure them- felves of Rheumatic’ Pains, and “a great many other obftinate Diforders by it. T hey talk of it as a Remedy for Dropfies. Doubtlefs it is ufeful in all Cafes where a ftrong and brifk Purgative is required. Fira se¥ poco . eR RLS Ag ox: sen AP Bes wild Plant frequent about damp Plas with whitifh Leaves and large yellow Flowers = in Autumn. It is twoFeet higl. The Stalk ts round and erect, very firm and ‘itrong, and is of- - ten of aredifh Colour. The Leaves are nume- rous, and ftand irregularly; they ate above an Inch long, moderately broad, of a rough Sur- face, and whitifh Green. The Flowers ftand at - the Top of the Branches; they are broader than. a Shilling, yellow, and compofed of many nar- row Petals. — whole. Plant has a difagreeable or another which is fimaller, and has globous oe the Itch, applied externally ; and the a sm et the sere = is. re create A = this Kind of Fleabane, . _ 150 The Ufeful Family Herbal, FLEAWORT. up Gee regis. p AN Herb of no great Beauty, Native of France, but kept in Gardens here. It has narrow Leaves, and inconfiderable Flowers. It is a Foot high. TheStalks are weak, greenifh, and a little hairy. .The Leaves ftand two or more at every Joints for that is uncertain; they are long, very alfo fomewhat hai There rife from eer ta Bofoms of thefe ge long naked Stalks, on which ftand aKind of Spikes of little Flowers, fomewhat like the Spikes of Plantain, only eorter - ; two Seeds fucceed each Flower, and they are fmooth, blackifh, and of the Shape of _ Fleas, whence the Name, There are many Flow- ers in each Head. A Mucilage is made of the Seeds to cool the Throat in Fevers, Firx Weep. eels CHIRURGORUM. wild Plant, about our wafte Places AS arm Yards, confpicuous for its Leaves, if not much fo for its Flower. It grows two Feet high; and the Stalk is round, erect, very firm, and ftrong, and not much branched, T he L Leaves are moderately large, and moft beautifully divid- -ed into numerous {mall Segments, ess and nar- row, they ftand irregularly upon the Stalks. The Flowers are {mall and yellow, they ftand in a kind of Spikes at the Tops of the Stalks. They are followed by ae Pods. The whole Plant is of a Green. “The Seeds are the Part ufed: They are to be . ee ripe, and boiled whole. The The Ufeful Family Herbat, 151 Decoétion cures. the Bloody Flux, and is good a- gainft the Overflowing of the Menfes. FrowER GENTLE. AMARANTHUS. Garden Flower. “There are many Kinds of it but that ufed in Medicine, is the large one with the drooping purple Spike. It grows to four Feet high. The Stalk is frm, round, and chan- nelled, green fometimes, but often red. The Leaves are oblong and broad, even at the Edges, and pointed at the Ends: They are very large, and are often tinged with red. The Flowers are urple, and they grow in long beautiful Spikes baceun downwards. The Flowers are the Part ufed. . They are to be when not = et isms ae dried, t Purging and Overflowing fe Becodtion. Se ee hey are good agai of the Menfes, in Powder or FLOWER DE Luce. TR ES: Common Flower in our Gardens. The Plant grows three Feet high. The Leaves are a Foot and a half long, narrow, flat, and in all - Refpects like the Leaves of Flags, and of a blu- 5h Green. The Stalks are round, or a little flat- ted, thick, firm, upright, and of a greener Co- lour. ‘Ihe Flowers are large, and of a deep Blue, The Root fpreads about the Surface and is thick, and of a brownith Colour, and marked with, 2. 3 fometimes romit ~ jg a Cure-for Dropfies — L » 152 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Writer, fays if a Dropfy can be cured by the Hand of Man, this Root will effect it. I have found it true in Prattice. FLORENTINE FLOWER DE LUCE. IRIS FLORENTINA. Plant kept alfa in our Gardens, but not fo frequently as the former; it fcaree differs in any Thing from the common Flower de Luce, except that the Flowers are white. The Root fpreads in the fame Manner, and the Leaves are flaggy. The Stalk is two Feet or more in Height, and the Flower is as large as that of the blue Kind, and perfectly of the fame Form. The Root of this Kind when dried, is fragrant. ‘The Druggifts keep it. It is good againft Difor- ders of the Lungs, Coughs, Hoarfenefs, and all that Train of Ils; and it promotes the Menfes, FLUELLIN. carne BEATIN &E. A bw Plant frequent in Corn Fields, and con- , ome for its pretty, though {mall Flower. The Stalks are five or fix Inches long, round, hairy, weak, and trailing upon the Ground. The Leaves are little, hairy, rounded, and placed ir- regularly. The Flowers are very fmall, but they are variegated with purple and yellow, both Co- lours very bright, they have a Heel behind, and each ftands upon a little hairy Foot Stalk, arifing from the Bofom of the Leaf. - ere is another Kind, the Leaves of which have two Ears at their Bafe, in other refoes they -are the fame, and they have the fame Virtues. The Juice of either is cooling and aftringent. It is den =. The Ufeful Fitnily Herbal. 153 given by the Country People in the Bloody Flux and Overflowing of the Menfes. FooLs STONES. SATYRIUM SIVE ORCHIS. A Beautiful wild Plant in our Meadows and Paftures in June. The Leaves are long and fpotted, and the Flowers are purple. It grows ten Inches high. The Leaves are fix Inches long, and three Quarters of an Inch broad, of a very deep Green, with large and irregular Blotches of black in different Parts: The Stalk is round, thick, upright, fingle, and flefhy ; it has two or three fmaller Leaves of the fame Figure, and at the Top ftand the Flowers, in a Spike of an Inch and a half long; they are not very large, and of Shape different from the Generality of Flowers; their Colour is a deep and gloffy Purple; but ite. The whole Plant is fometimes they are white. juicy. The Root confifts of two round Bulbs or — two round Lumps like a Pair of Tefticles, and is white and full of a flimy Juice. The Root is the only Part ufed. It is fuppof- ed to be a Strengthener of the Parts of Genera- tion, and a Promoter of Veneteal Defires; but with what Truth one cannot fay. Externally. plied in Cataplafms, it is excellent in hard Swell - - pe ings. There are a great many other kinds of Orchis in our Meadows, but only this is ufed The Root called Salep by our Druggifts, is — brought from Turkey, and is the Root of a Plant of this Kind. It is ftrengthening and reftorative, _good in Confumptions and all Decays. #e 154 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Fox-GLlove. BiIiGtT T AIS. A Very beautiful wild Plant, in our Paftures, ~ and about Wood Sides, . The Leaves are whitifh, and the Flowers large and red. It is thick, firm, and upright, and of a white Colour, The Flowers hang down from the Stalk, in a kind of Spike: They are hollow, red, Jarge, and a ; - . e } ’ i lil the ther ftubborn Complaints; it works violently up- wards and downwards; and cures alfo Quartan Agues, and as is faid, the Falling Sicknefs: An Ointment made of the Flowers of Fox-glove wee The FRANKINSENSE TREE, ARBOR THURIFERA. All that we ufe is the dry Refin, which is of a yellowith white Colour, and bitterith refinous Tafte, and ftrong Smell. Our Drucoifts | this, Whatever Tree produces this, itis a noble Bath : = = ‘anal The Ufeful Family ly Herbal. 155 diffolved in the Yolk of an Egg, and made into an Emulfien with Barley Water, it will do good in Confumptions, when almoft all other Things fail. It were wellif the common trifling Prattice in that fatal gaat would give way to the Ule 7 this great Medicine Frencn MERCURY. MERCURIALIS MAS ET FCEMINA, A Wi Plant, but not very frequent in Eng- land, confpicuous for little elfe than that it has the Male Flowers on fome Plants, and the Female Flowers on others, in the Manner of Spi- nage, Hemp, and fome others as has been ex- plained already under the article Date Tree. It grows ten Inches high. The Stalks are angular, — ick, but not firm, and ftand but mo- 2 rately upright. The Leaves are oblong, broad-— = eft in the middle, fharp at the ed | the Edges, and of a deep green Colour.” ‘The Female Plants produce two Seeds growing toge- ther at the Top of alittle Spike. “The Male pro- duce only a Spike of dufty Flowers, without any Seeds or Fruit at all. But People commonly mif- take the matter, and cal] the Female the Male. A Decoétion of the frefh gathered Plant purges 2 little, and works by Urine; it is cooling and seed ee or hot Conftitutions and Overfulnefs. The Herb is ufed in Decoctions for Glifters. Froc BIT. MORSUS RAN AZ. A Little Plant, not uncommon on Waters, oie round Leaves and {mall white Flowers, — — has been by the common Writers called a! _ ft = becaufe its Leaves are 1¢ wind, a I 56 The Ufeful Family Herbal. it floats upon the Water, but it is as diftiné (as any Thing can be, when we regard the Flower. Duckweed has round Leaves, and floats upon the Water, and it might be called Water Lily for that Reafon, if that’ were fufficient. The Leaves are of a roundith Figure, and a dufky dark green Colour: They are of the Breadth of a Crown Piece, and they rife many together in Tufts, from the fame Part of the Stalk. This Stalk runs along at a little Diftance under the Sur- face of the Water, and from it defcend the Roots, but they do not reach down into the Mud, but play loofe like the Fibres of Duckweed in the ater. The Flowers ftand fingly upon flender Foot Stalks; they are white, and compofed of three Leaves a Piece, which give them a fingular Appearance. The frefh Leaves are ufed in outward Applica- tions, and are very cooling. _Fumirory. 3 oft F.UMA-RLA. “35 A Pretty wila Plant, with bluith divided Leaves, ~ and Spikes of little purple Flowers, common in our Corn Fields in Fune and July. It grows ten Inches high. © The Stalk is round, ftriated, of a pale Green, thick enough, but not very firm or per- feétly erect. The Leaves are large, but they are divided into a vaft Number of little Parts, which are blunt and rounded at the Ends; their Colour is a faint Green. The Flowers are fmall and purple: They have a Heel behind, and a Num- ber of them ftand together in a kind of Spike. The whole Plant has little Tafte. 2 The Juice exp from this Plant, is excel- fent againft the Scurvy. It opens Obftrudtions of The Ufeful Family Herbal. 157 the Vifera, and is good againft the Jaundice, and all other Difeafes arifing from Obftructions. The Furze Busu. GENISTA SPINOSA. A Wild Bufh, upon our Heaths, and by Road Sides, too common to need much Defcription. The Stem is thick, tough, and of a whitifh Co- lour, covered with Fragments of an irregular Kind. The Branches are extremely numerous, and fpread in fuch a manner, that when the Plant is left to itfelf, it forms a Kind of globular or femi-glo- bular Tuft upon the Ground. The Thorns are very numerous and very fharp, they ftand as it were one upon another. The Leaves are little, and of a pale Green, and they fall off fo quickly, tha for a great Part of the Year, we fee the Shrub without any. The Flowers are yellow and beau- tiful, wee the Seeds are Sapa: in Pods. The Root fpreads a great is not eafily ¢ up, een the Shrub bid once thoroughly fixed it- felf. Every Piece of it left in, will fend up a new Plant. The Root and the Seeds are ufed, but neither much. The Seeds dried and powdered are aftrin- gent and a proper Ingredient in Electuaries, among other Things of that Intention. The Bark of the Root is ufed frefh taken up, and is to be given in Infufion: It works by Urine, and is good a- gainft the Gravel; but we have fo many better Things of our own Growth for the fame Purpofe, that it is {carce worth while to meddle with it; it lofes it Virtues by drying. * 168 The Ufeful Family Herbal PIPL The GALANGAL PLanrT. GALANGA. A Wild Plant in the Eaft, which grows by W4- ters, and has fome Refemblance of the Gene- rality of our Water Plants in its Leaves, and Manner of Growth. It is two Feet and a half high, and has white Flowers. The Roots fpréad about the Surface, and are of an irregular Shape. The Leaves are a Foot long, not half an Inch broad, fharp at the Point, and at the Edges. The Stalk is firm, thick, round, and of a purplifh Green, the Flowers are fmall, and of a Snow White; they confiftof a larger upper Lip, anda fmaller tender one, each divided into three Parts. The leffer Galangal is moft ufed: It is 2 warm and fine Stomachic, we put it in all bitter _ ‘Jinétures. _ Head-achs which arife from Diforders in the Stomach, are greatly relieved by this Root. What is called Engh/s Galangal, is the Root of the Long Cyperus, defcribed already in its Place, GARLIC. a ALLIUM : : = Plant kept in our Gardens for its ufes in Me- se ~ dicine, and in the Kitchen. Ir grows two | eet and a half hich. The Leaves ate broad, The Ufeful Family Herbal. 159 jong, and of a ftrongGreen. The Stalk is round, fmooth, and firm, upright, and of a pale white- _ ith or bluifh Colour, The Flowers are white and {mall, but they grow in a large Tuft at the Top of the Stalk. “Fhe Root is white, or a little redifh ; it is compofed of a great Number of Bulbs, or as we call them, Cloves, joined toge- ther, and covered with a common Skin, and with Fibres at the Bottom. ‘The whole Plant has an extremely ftrong Smell, and an acrid and pungent Tafte. The Root is to be boiled in Water, and the Decoétion made into Syrup with Honey; this is excellent in Afthmas, Hoarfenefs, and Coughs, and in all Difficulties of Breathing. GENTIAN. | GENTIANA. . ead A Robuft and handfome Plant, Native of Ger- and kept with us inGardens. It grow great Lump in the Middle, which is the Rudi- ment of the Seed Vefiel, and a great Quantity of Jour on the Outfide, and yellow within, and is of a very bitter Tafte. : ; The Root is ufed ; our Druggifts keep it dry :. Jt is the great Bitter and Stomachic « the mo- 2 : * 160 6The Ufeful Family Herbal. dern Practice. Garlian Root, and the Peel of Seville Oranges, make the common bitter Tinc- tures and Infufions: Befide ftrengthening the Sto- mach, and creating an Appetite, thefe open Ob- {tructions, and are good in moft chronic Di- forders. The Powder of Gentian will cure Agues, GERMANDER. 7 CHAMEADRYS. A Little Plant, Native of many Parts of Eu- rope, but with us kept in Gardens. It grows a Foot or more iti Height, but rarely ftands quite upright. The Stalks are fquare, green, and a little hairy. The Leaves ftand two at each Joint. They are oblong, deeply indented at the Edges, of a firm Subftance, green on the upper Side, but hairy underneath. The Flowers are {mall and purple, like the Flowers of the little Dead Nettle. _ They ftand ip Clufters about the upper joints of the Stalks, and appear in Fu/y, Gout and Rheumatiim: However that be, it pro- motes Urine and the Menfeés, and is good in all Obftructions of the Vifcera. The Juice is the beft Way of giving it, but the Infufion is more frequent. | : Water GERMANDER. : SCORDIUM. . A Little mean looking Plant, wild in fome Parts of England, but kept in Gardens alfo for its Virtues. ‘The Stalks are {quare, hairy, .of a duf- reen, and fo weak, that ghey feldom ftand: up. ky G he _ ftand: _ Much up. “They are eight or ten inches ong. | The Ufeful Family Herbal. x6t The Leaves are fhort, broad, and indented about the Edges, but not fharply or deep as thofe of the other Germander: They are of afort of wool- ly foft Appearance and Touch, and of a dufky deep green Colour. The Flowers are very {mall and red, and they ftand at the upper Joints of the Stalks, in little Parcels together. The whole Plant has a ftrong and difagreeable Smell. The whole Plant is to be ufed frefh or dried. It has been celebrated greatly as a Sudorific, and for it Virtues againit peftilential Fevers, but it is now little ufed. GINGER: ZINZIBER. AN Eajt-India Plant, found alfo in other places £% and very fingular in its Manner of Growth. It produces two Kinds of Stalks, the one bearing the Leaves, and the other only the Flowers. The firft grow two or three Feet high, and arethem- _ felves compofed in a Manner of the lower Parts of Leaves; fo that they feem to be only Bundles of Leaves rolled together at the Bottom. Thefe are long, narrow, and in fome Degree refemble the Leaves of our common Flags. The other Stalks are tender, foft, and about a Foot high: The: have no Leaves on them, but only a Kind of Films, and at the Tops they produce the Flowers, in a Spike; thefe are fmall, in Shape like thofe of : Purple, White, and Yellow. The Root {fpreads irregularly under the Surface. mes _ The Root is the only Part ufed: We have it _ dry at the Grocers; but the beft Way of taking it, is as it comes over preferved from the ft- Indies. It is a warm and fine Stomachie our Orchis, and of a mixed Colour, ” al ag er snd Mala iciohe, 162 The Ufeful Family Herbal. vents or cures Cholics. It is alfo ‘an- excellent Addition to the rough Purges, to prevent their eriping in the Operation. GLADWYN. XYRIS SIVE SPATULA FQTIDA., A Wild Plant of the Iris Kind, of no great Beauty, but not without its Virtues. The Root creeps about the Surface, like that of the common Flower de Luce. The Leaves are a Foot long, narrow, and fharp-pointed, and of a. {trong and very peculiar Smell. The Stalks are round, firm, upright, and of a bluifh Green. The Flowers are like thofe of the common Flower “de Luce, but fmaller, and of a very dull Colour. There is a little Purple in the upper Part of the Flower, and there are fome Veins and Streaks in the lower; but the reft is of a dull dead Hue, between grey and brown, and op have a faint and. bad Smell. he Juice of the Root promotes Urine, and Be ried Rootin oes or Infu- : 1 againft all hyfteric Diford aint- - Gngs and Pains. Gucvardly, the freth 1 Rox | is _ faid to be an excellent Reme or ae for ne = Rabies. but this we muft seeelt 2 kwon TL ae 2x Al | ye tec 4mon wild Plant, on the Sea Coafts of many | Parts of Europe, but not a Native of . r Countr It is called Cochleated Kali, from He Form os its Seed a which are twifted i in the Manner of aS s Shell. <— at fells and brittle, ae * oe : ae noes The Useful Family Herbal. 163 aid they ftand irregularly ; they are oblong, and blunted at the Ends, and of a bluifh green Co- lour. The Flowers are fmall, inconfiderable, and yellow. _ The Juice of the frefh Plant, is faid to be an excellent Diuretic; but we have no Opportunities of knowing its Virtues here. Some fay the See Veffels have the fame Virtue, and give them in Infufion, but we have better Remedies of the fame Kind of our own Growth. The whole Plant is burnt for its fixed Salt, which is ufed in imaking Glafs. Goats BEARD. _.. TRAGOPOGON. : “ACoion wild Plans dinguited in our . ‘very upright, and towards the Top, divided into ‘two or three Branches. The Flowers ftand at the : Purr - expofed to th like Cream. 164 The Ufeful Family Herbal. The Root is ufed. It is fo pleafant in Tafte, that it may be eaten in the Manner of Carrots, and other Roots at Tabie, but it exceeds them all in its Qualities. It is an excellent Reftorative, and will do great Service to People after long Ill- nefies : The beft Way of giving it for this Pur- pofe, is to boil it firft in Water, and then cutting it to Pieces, boil it again in Milk, which is to be rendered palatable in the ufual Way; it becomes — thus, a moft excellent Medicine, in the form of GoaTs Rue. GH LE GA: A fall Plant, Native of Italy, but kept with us in Gardens. It grows a Yard high. The Stalks are round, ftriated, hollow, not very firm or ftrong, and of a pale green Colour: They are very much branched, and not altogether upright. The Leaves are long and large, each is compofed of fev 1 bai ~ . narrow, and of a yellowifh green Colour, thin, and not at all indented at the Edges. The Flow- ers are {mal], and of a bluifh and whitifh Colour; they ftand a great many upon the fame Pedicle, in a drooping Pofture. ~ The whole Plant is ufed. It is to be gathered when juft come to Flower, and dried, and after- wards given in Infufion: This gently promotes Sweat, and is good in Fevers; fo much is true o the Virtues of this Plant, but much more has faid of it. ; Tee a Go.tpEN The Ufeful Family Herbal. 165 GotpeEN Rop. VIRGA AUREA. A Vy pretty wild Plant, with Tufts of yellow Flowers, frequent on our Heaths in Au- tumn. It is two Feet high. The Stalk is firm, ereét, round, and hairy. The Leaves are long, broadeft in the Middle, indented at the Edges, rough on the Surface, hairy, and of a ftrong green Colour. The Blowers are {mall, and of a bright Yellow, but they grow together in a fort of thick and fhort Spikes, fo that they are very confpicuous. The Root is long, brown, and of an auftere Tafte, as is alfo the whole Plant. rary or wound Herb, given in Decottions. — Gop or PLEASURE. MYAGRUM. Very pretty Plant common in many Parts of England, and known at Sight by the vaft Quantity of Seed Vefiéls. It is two Feet high: The Stalk is round, thick, firm, upright, and toward the Top has a great many Branches, all ftanding upright. The Leaves ftand irregularly, and are not numerous, they are long, not very broad, and of a pale Green; they are indented a- ' bout the Edges, and furround the Stalk at the Bafe, the Flowers are little and white, the Seed | =a M3 <7) — b 166 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Veffels are fhort and roundifh, and they ftand in vait Quantities, forming a kind of Spikes all the Way up the Tops of the Branches, with a few Flowers at the Summit. The frefh Tops of the Plant are to be ufed before it is run to Seed. An Infufion of them fweetened with Honey; is excellent for fore Throats, and Ulcerations of the Mouth. The Seeds yield a great Quantity of Cil on preffing, and they are fo plentiful, that it might feem worth while to cultivate the Plant for them, the Oil is pleafant and well tafted. < oe The Gourp. CUCURBITA. Altse Plant of the Melon or Cucumber kind ~ kept in Gardens, The Stalks are ten or twelve Feet long; thick, angular, rough, and hairy, but unable to fupport themfelves upright: They trail upon the Ground, or climb upon other Things. The Leaves are very large and broad, indented deeply, rough, and of a blackith Green. The Flowers are large, and Bell-fathioned, white and downy on the Infide, and not altogether fmooth on the outer Surface. The Fruit is large, and has a hard firm Shell on the Outfide, and is flefhy and Juicy within, with Seeds in the Manner of the Melons; thefe are flat, - Of an oblong Shape, and hard. __ Thefe Seeds are the only Part ufed: They are cooling and diuretic. They have this Virtue in much the fame Degree with Cucumber and Melon - Seeds, and are given with them in Emulfions. The Ofeful Family Herbal. 167 The BITTER GourRpD, called BiT- TER APPLE. COLOCY ME HES: A Native of the Eaft, and of fome other warm Countries, kept in our curious Gardens, and affording the famous Drug called Coloquintide. It is a fmall Plant of the Gourd kind. The Stalks are thick, angular, hairy, and of a pale Green. They cannot fupport themfelves, but have a Number of Tendrils growing from them, by which they lay hold of every Thing they come near. The Leaves are large, broad, and very deeply divided at the Edges. The Flowers are of a pale Yellow, large, and not unlike the Flowers of Melons. The Fruit is a round Gourd of the Bignefs of the largeft Orange. The Bark is hard, and the inner Part fpung vie Seo among it: Thefe are flat, hard, a aD oF oval Figure. — The Fruit is the Part ufed, tet take off the outer Shell, and fend the dried Pulp with the Seeds among it: but thefe are to be feparated afterwards, and the Pulp ufed alone. Itis a very violent Purge, but it may be given with proper Caution, and it is excellent againft the Rheumatifm, and - violent habitual Head-achs. ‘Thefe rough Purges will reach the Caufe of Diforders, that ~ the com- mon gentle ones would not touch ; and the prefent Practice denies the Ufe of many of the beit Me- dicines we know. Gour Ww ORT. 2 PADAGRARA HERBA GER RARPI_ A Common wild Plant Soe Tehing our Garde: nS and when once» it- -has take n Root, v ery di if- ae et got out gp a 2d nich. 168 The Ufeful Family Herbal. The Leaves which rife from the Roots are large, and they are compofed each of feveral {maller, fet on adivided Rib, in the Manner of thofe of An- gelica, of which they have fome Refemblance. They are of a pale green Colour, and are oblong and indented at the Edges. The Stalks are round, upright, and a little branched, they are flender, ftriated, and green ,; the Leaves on thefe are fmal- ler, seed confit of fuer Parts than gor that rife from the Root. _ The Flowers are little and white, both ufed, but ae externally ; they are arcaici in Fomentations, and Pultices for Pains; and the Plant has obtained its Name from their fingular Efficacy againft the Pain of the Gout; but it is not advifable to do any Thing in that Diforder; the warm Applications of this kind, are of al others the leaft dangerous. I have known a Quan- tity of the Roots and Leayes boiled foft together, and applied to the Hip in the Sciatica, keeping a frefh Quantity hot to renew the other, as it grew cold, and I have feen great good Effect from it. Its Ufe fhould not be confined to this Pain alone, Jt will fucceed in others, GROMVEL, se LIFHOSPERMON. - «A Wild Plant of no great Beauty, but diftinguith- ed by its Seeds, which are hard, gloffy, and refemble fo many Pearls, as they ftand in BS eo Hufk, The Sate cage a ae high The Ufeful Family Herbal. 169 Colour, and placed irregularly , the Flowers are fmall and white: When they are fallen off, the Cups remain, and contain thefe fhining, and as it were ftony Seeds. The Plant is frequent about Hedges. The Seeds are the only Part ufed; they work powerfully by Urine, and are of great Service in the Gravel and all other Obftructions, they are beft given in Powder, with a great deal of Barley Water at theSfame Time. GROUND-PINE. CHAMFPITYS. Avery fingular little wild Plant, of a moffy Ap- row, and divided into three Parts at their Ends, and they ftand two at every Joint of the Stalk, they are rough and hairy like the Stalk. The Flowers are little and yellow, and they ftand at the Joints. The whole Plant is ufed, and it has great Vir- tue; it is to be ufed dry in Powder or Infufion. it works ftrongly by Urine, and promotes the Menfes. It opens alfo all Obftructions of the Liver and Spleen, and is good in Jaundice, the Rheumatifm, and moft of the chronic Diforders. * . GRounDsEL £70 The Ufeful Family Herbal. : GROUNDSEL. ERIGERON SIVE SENECTIO. A Common Weed in our Gardens, and upon *- Walls, with little yellow Flowers, and downy Seeds ; it grows eight Inches high; the Stalk is round, flefhy, tolerably upright, and green or purplith ; the Leaves are oblong, broad, blunt, — and divided at the Edges. The Flowers are fmall and yellow, they grow in a Sort of long Cups, atthe Tops of the Stalks and Branches. The Juice of this Herb is'a gentle and very good Emetic. It caufes vomiting without any great Irritation or Pain; and itis alfo good for cutaneous Foulneffes applied outwardly. — ‘The Guatacum TREE. GUAIACUM. A Great Tree, Native of the Weft-Indies, and to be feen in fome of our ‘curious Gardens. The Fruit is very large, and the Branches are numerous; the Leaves are fmall, each is compofed of two or three Pair of fmaller ones, with no odd Leaf at the End of the Rib. Thef are fhort, broad, roundifh, and of a dufky green Colour. he Flowers are {malt and yellow, but they grow in large Clufters together, fo that the Tree when in Bloom, makes a very pretty Appearance. __ The Bark and Wood are the only Parts of the Tree ufed, they are given in Deco@tion, to. pro- ' mote Sweat, and fo cleanfe the Blood ; they are excellent againft the Rheumatifm, Scurvy, and all other Diforders, which arife from what is com- _ monty called Foulneis of the Blood, but oa es. : muft “ The Ufeful Family Herbal. 171% muft be taken for a confiderable ‘Time ; for thefe Effects cannot be produced at once. What is called Gum Guaiacum, is the Refin poured from this Tree; it is very acrid and pun- nt, and in the Rheumatifm, and many other Cafes is to be preferred to the Wood itfelf.. “s Sx H. Hares Ears. | -BUPLEURON LATIFOLIUM. A Common wild Plant in fome Parts of Europe, “X% but kept here in Gardens. It is two Feet or more in Height. The Leaves are long and . broad, of a ftiff Subftance, and fomewhat hollowed, which gives them the Appearance of a long and hollow Ear, from whence they are named; they are of a whitifh green Colour, and the Ribs upon them are high. There is a Sort with narrow Leaves, but the broad leaved kind is to be ufedin Medicine. The Stalks are round, upright, ftriated, and toward the Top branched. The Flowers are little and yellow, and they ftand at the Tops of the Branches in fmall Umbels. ‘The Root is long/and thick, and has many Fibres. __ The young Shoots of the Leaves which grow ~ from the Root, are efteemed exceedingly in places where they are native, for the Cure of freth Wounds. They cut two or three of thefe off clofe to the Ground, and without bruifing them, te firft clofing the Lips of the Wound, they them on one over the other, making a ki A Ce ap 172 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Comprefs: They then bind them on with Linen Rags, and never take off the Drefling for three Days, at the End of which Time in moft Cafes they only find a Scar: The Cure being perfected. This is the Subftance of a pompous Account fent lately to a Perfon of Diftinction with fome Leaves of the Herb. There is no doubt of the Truth, and the Surgeons will very well underftand the Na- ture of the Cure; the Difcovery however is not new, for the Herb has always been reckoned a- mong the vulnerary Plants ; and fome have pre- tended that it will fingly cure the Kings Evil, but that is not to be expected ; at the fame Time . it may be proper to obferve that we do not want Plants for the fame Ufe in England, we have the Tutfan which is to be applied in the fame Manner, and has the fame Effect; Clowns All-heal, and many othery named in their Places. Hares Foor. LAGOPUS. A ‘Common little Plant, fingular in the Tuft, ~~ which contains its Seeds, ond whence it has its Name, but ‘not fo much regarded as it ought _ to be for its Virtues. The Stalks are numerous, round, flender, and fpread upon the Ground, each is divided i into a Number of leffer Branches. The Leaves are fmall, oblong, narrow, of a pale oS aes and hairy; and th * ftand three the Manner of the Trefoils. The The Ufeful Family Herbal. 173 The whole Plant is to be ufed dried. It is an excellent Agringent. — It {tops the Overflowings of the ‘Menfes, and the Whites, and is good againft Bloody Fluxes and Purgings of all kinds. The . beft Way of taking it is in a ftrong Decottion, which muft be continued fome Time. — HartTs TONGUE. PHYLLITIS: LINGUA CERVINA,; Wild Plant of the Fern Kind, that is con- fifting only of Leaves without a Stalk, the Flowers and Seeds being borne on the Backs of them. But it has no Refemblance to the ordi- nary Ferns in its Afpect. Each Leaf of Harts Tongue is a feparate Plant, but there rife many from the fame Root. The Foot-Stalk is five Inches long, the Leaf an Inch and a quarter broad, largeft at the Bottom, and fmaller to the Top, ufually fimple, but fometimes divided into two or more Parts at the End. It is of a beautiful Green at the upper Side, fomewhat paler under- neath, and the Foot-Stalk runs all along its Mid- die in Form of a very large Rib. The Seed Vef- fels are difpofed in long brown Streaks on each Side of this Rib, on the under Part of the Leaf, and they are more confpicuous than in moft of the Fern kind. The Plant grows in old Wells, and in dark Ditches, and is green all the Year. It is not much ufed, but deferves to be more 1. It is an excellent Aftringent, the Juice of the Plant, taken in fmall Quantities, and for a Continuance of Time, opens Obftructions of the Liver and Spleen, and will cure many of the moft obftinate chronic Diftempers. ae 174. The Ufeful Family Herbal, HAaARTWoOoRT. SESELI. A 7a robuft, and handfome Plant, Native of the Alps, but kept in our Gardens. It grows five or fix Feet in Height: The Stalk is round, thick, ftriated, and hollow, very firm and up- right, and but little branched. “The Leaves are ” very large, and- they are divided into a ereat Number of Parts, by fives and by threes, they are of a yellowifh Green. The Flowers are {mali and white, but they ftand in great Tufts or Umbels at the Tops of the Stalks, the Seeds follow, two after each Flower, and they are oblong, broad, and edged with a leafy Border, they are of a dark Colour, .a {trong Smell, and acrid Tafte. The Seeds are the only Part ufed, they pro- mote the Menfes, and the necefiary Difcharges after Delivery ; and are an excellent warm and. cordial Medicine, they work alfo gently by Urine, and cure cholicky Pains, they are to be given in HAWTHORN. SPINA ALBA. A Shrub too common in our Hedges to need -=* much Defcription. The Trunk js irregular, and feldom ftrait, the Branches are fron g, tough, ane thorny, and the Leaves of a glofly Green and utifully divided. The Flowers are white and itiful, the Fruit is fmall. The Flowers and the dried Fruit are ufed in Me- dicine ; they have the fame Virtue, they work by | Urine, and are good in the Gravel, and all Com- plaints of that kind: But there are { many better - The Ufeful Family Herbal. 175 Things for the fame Purpofe at Hand, that thefe are not much regarded. Hepce MustTaro. ERYSIMUM. Ave common wild Plant, and of no great Beauty; it is frequent about old Walls, ai in Farm Yards, and is diftinguifhed by its | Spikes of Pods, which are lodged clofe upon “ihe Stalk. It grows two Feet in "Height, the Stalk is round, firm, upright, but not always quite {trait, and a little branched. The Leaves are of a pale green Colour, hairy, oblong, and deeply “indented at the Edges. The Flowers are {mall and yellow, and they “commonly ftand at the Tops ~ long alg & of Pods, which have been Flowe wers fore The eck: Plant is ufed, an Infufion of it freth ; is the beft Way of taking it. This diffolves tou ‘Phiegm, and is excellent in Afthmas, Hoarle- nefles, and other Complaints of the Breaft. This fimple Infufion, made into a Syrup with Honey, alfo anfwers the fame Purpofe, and kes all the Year. . HEMLOCK. €lIcurTA. Ales tall, and handfome baa gta Plan and ftand in eae Clufters on the - Stalks. The = are roundly © 176 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Plant has a ftrong Bass rng Smell, and has been called poifonou The Roots are excellent in Pultices for hard Swellings. Hemp. CANNABIS. HE™ is a tall Plant, of a coarfe Aipect, culti- vated in Fields for its Stalk. It grows five Feet high, and is a robuft Plant; the Stalk is thick and rigid; the Leaves are numerous, they are large and each compofed of fix or feven fmal- ler, thefe are difpofed in the Manner of Fingers, and are of a deep green Colour, rough, narrow, and ferrated at the Edges. The Flowers in Hemp grow in fome Plants, and the Seeds on others. The Flowers are inconfiderable, and whitifh, the Seeds are large, roundifh, grey, and have a white Pulp within. The Root is fibrous. The Seeds are ufed in Medicine, an Emulfion made of them cures Fi : Jaundice. Tee Rey. EUPATORIUM CANNABINUM. A [all Plant growing by Waters, with Tufts of red Flowers and Leaves, divided in the Manner of thofe of Hemp. It grows five Feet high, the Stalk is round, thick, redifh, and very upright. The Leaves are large, of a pale Green; at id fingered ; they ftand two at each Joint, the Owers grow in Bunches as big-as a Man’s Fift, on on the Tops of the Branches, and are of a bright The Root freth gathered and boiled in Ale is mits in fome Places as a. Purge, it operates saa PRE: lys The Ufeful Family Herbal. 177 ly, but. without any ill Effect, and Dropfies are faid to have been cured by it fingly. Brack HEnBANE. HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. A Common wild Plant, of a difmal Afpect and difagreedble Smell. The Farm Yards and Ditch Banks in modft Paces are full of it. It grows two Feet high: The Stalk is thick, round, hairy, and clammy to the Touch; but not very upright. The Leaves are larees long, and broad, deeply ferrated at the Edges of a bluifh green Co- lour, hairy and clammy to the Touch, and leave- a a difagreeable Smell upon the Hands. The Flowers are large and ftand. in Rows on the Tops of 4 Branches, which often bend down, the are of a frends, pellowth brown Colour, with pes Veins. Seeds are numerous and “The Seeds are ufed; the reft oF the Pla ant is efteemed poifonous. They are given in {mall Dofes againft the Bloody Flux, and it is faid with great Succefs; I have not known it tried. Wuitt HENBANE. HYOSCIAMUS ALBUS. A of Italy and Germany, kept i in our Gar~ of a of the black Henbane, but not fo Stalk is . thick, and of a Green; the Leaves are large, broad, and a little. i tders cikcy a of 2 yellowifh Green and fomewhat hairy, the Flowers are si ORT gad she Seeodag - 178 The Ufeful Fansily Herbal. The Seeds of this kind are preferred to thofe of the other, as lefs ftrong in their Effects, but if any Harm would happen from the internal Ufe of the others, we fhould have known it, for a are ge- seedy fold for'them, Goop Kine Henry. BONUS HENRICUS. A Common wild Plant, called alfo by fome En- glifh Mercury by way of Diftinction from the other, whith is called French soared A and. has ag geiesbed already. This grows a Foot high, and thick, ‘but rarely ‘ftands quite up sieht it is greenifh and purplifh, and is with a kind a grey Powder unéttous to fhe the Touch. The Leaves are large, ‘broad, and of the Shape of an Arrow-head, they ftand’ on lone Stalks, and are of a pale Green above, an ereyith underneath, being there covered with this ae ss der. ‘The Flowers are icc om The young Shoots are eaten as ‘Spina: the Juice of the-whole Plant works ‘gently, and welt by Urine 3. ‘and the dried Herb is ufed in’ Decoc- tions for Glitters. ba: | ’ : she he Pee cry PLAN Tt ~HERMODACTYLUS. _ = the Point, aad ae a t Sep em Te The Ufeful Fanily Herbal. 179 Flowers, are large and of a whitifh Colour veined . and ftriped with Purple; this is the beft Account — we have received of the Plant, but Part of it comes with lefs Authority than one would with to Things of this kind. > Fhe Root is dried and fent - tO US. 9 Ar is, a’ gentle Sargpinn but it is lefS ufed at this Time than mary others. It has been in more -Repute pethaps with Reafon. HotLroak. MALVA ARBOREA. Beommen Garden Flower. © It .grows eight Feet high, the Stalk is round, firm, hairy, and upright. The Leaves are large and round- ith, 08 > dee fares ae! and cut in at st or purp le, and pes kind of long Spi E Root is white, long, aid thick, and is of a fey Nature, and not. difagreeable Tafte. This is the Part ufed, 2 Decottion of it.ope- rates by Urine, and is good i in the Gravel ; it has the fame Virtue with this Mallow and Marfhmal- low, byt in a middle Degree between them more than the re lS: and not fo much as the other, norisit fo pl Honeworm. “SELINUM. SII FOLHIS. | A Common: Plant inCorn Fields, and dey Places, ‘* with extremely beautiful Leaves from the Root, and little Umbels of white Flowers. Ie has its Englifh Name from its Virtues. Painful — Swellings, are in fome Parts of the Kingdom cal- eet and the a ia ingular Bite 180 The Ufeful Family Herbal. in curing them, has received the Name of Hone- wort, that is Hone Herb.. The Root is long and white, thefe rife from it early im the Spring, half a. dozen or more Leaves which lie fpread upon the Ground, in an elegant Manner, and are all that is generally obferved of the Plant.’ The Stalks do not rife till: the End of Summer, and thefe Leaves decay by that time, fo that they are not known to belong to it. Thefe Leaves are eight Inches long, and an Inch anda half in Breadth: They are compofed each of a double Row of fmaller Leaves, fet on a common Rib, with-an odd Leaf at the End; thefe are oblong, tolerably broad, and indented in a _beau- tiful Manner. They are of a frefh green Colour, they are the Part of the Plant moft feen, and the Part to be ufed, and they are not eafily confound- - ed with thofe of any other Plant, for there is fearce any that has what are nearly fo handfome. The Stalk is two- Feet high, round, hollow, up- right, but not very firm and branched toward the Top. The Leaves on it are fomewhat like thofe from the Root, but they have not the Sin- gularity of thofe beautiful and numerous {mall ones ; the Flowers are little and white, and the Seeds are fmall, flattith, ftriated, and two of them follow every Flower. 9 <= The Leaves are to be ufed,: they are to be frefh gathered and beat in a marble Mortar into a kind of Pafte. They are to be laid on a Swelling that is red, painful, and threatens to have badConfequen- ces, and they difperfe it. The Application mult be frequently renewed, and there are thofe who fpeak of its. curing the Evil. + a : Honey The Ufeful Family Herbal. 181 Honey-SuccCLe. PERICLYMENUM.. A Beautiful wild Shrub. The Trunk is feldom more than an Inch thick; the Branches are very long and flender, of a redifh Colour, brittle, and all of the fame Bignefs. ‘The Leaves ftand in Pairs, they are broad, fhort, blunt, of a dark dead green Colour. The Flowers grow in little Clufters, they are long, flender, tubular, and very fragrant, the Berries are red. The frefh Leaves of Honey-Suckle given in De- cogtien, are good againft Obftructions of the Liver and Spleen, they work by Urine, and they are alfo a good Gargle for a fore Throat. PFION EY WORT. =" > CERIN THE. 22" =: A Juicy Plant frequent wild in many Parts o Europe, but with us kept in Gardens. It has its Name from the fweet Tafte of the Flowers. Almoft all Flowers have a Drop of Honey Juice in their Bottom: This is indeed the real Sub- ftance of Honey, for the Bees only pick it out and get it together: The hollow Flowers in ge- neral have more of it, or it is little preferved in them than others, but fcarce any in fo great a | as this Plant named from it. It is two Feet high, when kept erect, but if left to itfelf, it is very apt to lean upon the Ground. The Stalk ‘is round, thick, juicy, and tender; the Leaves are large, oblong, broad, they furround and in- clofe the Stalk at their Bafe; they are of a bluifh green Colour, fpotted or clouded irregularly with — white, and they are full of a Sort of Prickles. The Flowers grow at the Tops of the Stalks,: N 3 ae feveral 182 The Ufeful Family Herbal. feveral together among the Clufters of Leaves; they are hollow, oblong, and very wide, open at the Mouth, their Colour is yellow, variegated with purple in the Middle, and they have a very Thé frefi gathéréd Tops of the Plant, are to bé uféd ; an Infufion of them is cooling, | works by Urine. It is good againft fcorbutic Complaints; arid in the Jaundice. The Hop PEANT. LUPULUS. Colour, and very rough alfo to the Touch. The —_ is fufficiencly known. Jecottion of frefh gathered Hops is goed a- the Jaundice; and the Powder of Hops — bit upon this there is no abfolute Depen- Waiter Hortrounn. MARRUBIUM ALBUM. The Ujeful Family Herbal. 183 jour. The Flowers are white and the Points of their Cups are prickly. . The beft Part of the Plant, for medicinal Uie, is the Tops of the young Shoots, a Decoction of thefe made very ftrong, and boiled into a thin Syrup with Honey, is excellent againft Coughs, Hoarfenefles of long ftanding, and ali Diforders of the Lungs. The fame Decoétion if taken. in large Dofes, and for a Continuance, promotes the Menfes, and opens all Obftructions. Brack HoREHOUND. BALLOTE. Clufters round the Stalk at the Joints, as in the difmal Afpeét. The Root is fibrous. The Plant is to be ufed frefh and dried, and it has more Virtue than moft imagine, It is to be given in Form of Tea, it promotes the Menfes, and is fuperior to moft Things as ¢ Re- medy in hyfteric Cafes, Faintings, Convulfions, and low Spiritednefs, and all the Train of thofe - = HorseETAIL. ~~ “EQUISETUM SEGETALE. | A Common and yet very fingular wild Plar A frequent in our Corn-Ficlds, and coi many other kinds < Horfetail. It is ot = 184 The Ufeful Family Herbal. or more in Height, and is extremely branched ; the Stalk is round, blunt, ridged and. angulated, and compofed of Joints. It is hollow, weak, and feldom fupports itfelf tolerably upright. The Branches are of the fame Structure, and they are again branched; they grow feveral from every Joint of the main Stalk, and have others again, though in lefs Number, growing from their Joints. The whole Plant is of a green Colour, and when brui not of a very agreeable Smell. The whole Plant is to be ufed, and it is beft frefth ; though it retains a great deal of its Virtue dried. Given in Decoétion, it ftops Overflowings of the Menfes, and bloody Stools, and applied ex- ternally, it immediately ftops the Bleeding of Wounds and heals them. Hounps Toncuk. CYNOGLOSSUM. A fl and fingular looking Plant, frequent by "~ our Way Sides, and diftinguifhed by its large whitifh Leaves, ‘and fmall purple Flowers, as alfo by the Particularity of its Smell, which has been fuppofed to refemble that of a Kennel of Hounds. It is two Feet anda half high. The Stalk is an- gulated, firm, and upright: The Leaves are long, confiderably broad,’ of a pale whitith or bluifh green Colour, fharp at the Points, and not at all aoa the or The Flowers are en ac Purple: They grow alone the T the Branches, and see Soloed by oubh Seca The Root is the Part ufed: It is long, thick, and brown, but whitith within; it is balfamic and aftringent. Given in ion, it is excellent gainil Coughs aebng from a thin fharp Humour. : Dried id powdered, it is good a and itops the Overflowings of the Menfes. GREAT © The Useful Family Herbal, 185 Great HovusLeeEk. SEDUM MAJUS. A Plant fufficiently known as well by its parti- cular Manner of growing, as for its.Place of Growth. It forms itfelf into Clufters of a round- ith Figure, thefe are compofed of Leaves, which are largeft toward the Bottom, and fmalleft at the End; they are very thick and juicy, broad at the Bafe, fharp at the Point, flat on the upper Side, a little rounded on the under, and fome- what hairy at their Edges, The Stalk grows to ten Inches high, it is very thick, round, and juicy, upright, of a redifh Colour, and divided at the Top into a few Branches. The Leaves on it are thin and narrow, The Flowers are numerous, they are red and have a green Head in their Mid- dle, which afterwards becomes a Clufter of Seed- Vefiel Vefiels. re The Leaves are the Part ufed ; they are applied externally in Inflammations, and are very ufeful, when cooling Things may be employed. The Juice is alfo cooling and aftringent taken in- wardly, but it is rarely ufed. Some praife it greatly for the Inflammations of the Eyes. ‘There is another kind of Houfleek, very un- like this in Form, but of the fame Virtues, this is called the leffer Houfleek, the Stalks are round, fmall, and redifi, and grow fix Inches high, ‘the Leaves are long and rounded, not fiat as others Leaves; and the Flowers are white, and ftand in a kind of Tufts, like Umbels at the Tops of the Stalks. This grows on old Walls, and the Tops — of Honfes like the other. ; _ a 186 The Ufeful Family Herbal. The Least HousteEtxk, oR WALL EPPER, SEDUM MINIMUM ACRE. A Common Plant on old Walls, of kin to the receding, but very different both in Face and Virtues. The Root is little, from this grow Abundance of Stalks, they are round, weak, and unable to fupport themfelves ; they ‘fpread every way about; and are fix Inches in Length. The fot. every Stalk is covered with Leaves, that it t appease reen Subftance, of the Thick- inger, thefe Leaves are fhort par age ey are of a fine green Colour, and are broad at the Bafe, and fharp at the Point. The Flowers are little, and of a bright Yellow ; grow in great Numbers, from the Tops of thefe Branches, and are of the Shape of thofe of common Houfleek, and rounded by fuch. Seed- Vefiels. The Juice of this kind of Houfleck, is excel- lent t againft the and all other Difeates a- from what is called Foulnefs of the Blood. It is faid that a continued Courfe of it will cure the Kings Evil: but we want Experience to fup- port this. epi The HypocistT, si ot? HYPrOctisi US: A Very Singular Plant, Native of the Grecian ANG, Iflands, and of fome of the warmer Parts of Europe. tis five Inches high, and of a fingular Figure. It does pot gree in tht Barth oe sc : The Ujeful Family Herbal. 187 wee as laree toward the Top, as at the Bottom. Ir is whitith, ot yeowith, ot purplith, and has a Parcel of fhort and broad fkinny Films, by way of Leaves upom it. The Flowers grow at the Top with Leaves of the fame kind among them. They are large and beautiful, and are fucceeded Fruits of 2 roundifh Figure, in A which is a antity of glutinous Liquor, and with it. the Seeds, which are very fimall, and of a brownith Colour We e tft the hardened Juice of the Fruit, it is evaporated over the Fire, to a thick Confiftence, and ther is of a black Colour, like the common Liquorite fuice, called Spanifo Liquorice. 1s ese keep it in this State; it is i UrgingS: with bloody Stools, are in Ovetfiowing the’ Menfes: ft is to be given in an Ele€tuary, with Conferve of red I Rote. HVS sO?: HYSSOPUS. Avy pretty Garden Plant, kept for its Vir- tues. It grows two'Feet high. The Stalks are fquare, robutt, upright, and of a pale green Colour. The Leaves ftand two at each Joint, they are long, narfow, pointed at the Ends, and of a bright green Colour. The ie are — and they ftand in long Spikes at the T Branches, the e of a beautiful blue Pencs The whole Plant has a ftrong, but not difagreea- ble Smell. Hyffop is gathered when ju(t beginning — to flower, aad eet The Cae made it the Manner of Tea, is not unpleafant, and is 1S beft Way of taking it: It is excellent igainft | ohs, Hoarfenefits, and Obftruétions in the A ftrong Infufion fade into a Sap aS 188 The Ufeful Family Herbal. with Honey, is excellent for the fame Purpofes, mixed with an equal Quantity of Oil of Almonds. Hepce Hyssop. GRATIOLA. A Little Plant kept in our Gardens, It grows to a. Foot in Height, the Stalks are fquare, flender, and not very robuft: The Leaves are fong, narrow, and fharp-pointed: they ftand two at every Joint. The Flowers arelong, moderately large, and yellow, they grow from the Bofoms of the Leaves, and are hollow and only a little di- vided at the Ends: They are fomewhat like Fox- glove Flowers. A Decoétion of the frefh Plant is an excellent Purge, but its works roughly ; it is good againtt Dropfies, and Rheumatifms; and the Jaundice has been often cured by it fingly. Jack By Tur HE DGE, ALLIARIA. Ane Plant of Ba ena ti oe nein, San ors ale wih, oat pox Cola and ftand on ore lon Seals. Flowers are little, and white, they ftand = The Ufeful Family Herbal. 189 or a dozen together, at the Tops of the Branches, and are followed by long Pods. he freth Leaves eaten as Sallet work by Urine pov werfully, and are recommended in Dropfies. e Juice of them boiled into a Syrup with Ho- ney, is good to break tough Phlegm, and to cure Soughe and Hoarfneffes. - The JACINTH, OR leis soma HYACINTHUS VULGARIS. H E common Spring Plant our Children ga- ther with their Cowflips, and Aézy Flowers, and call Blue Bells. The Root is white and roundifh; the Leaves are narrow, and long, like Grafs, but of a deep green Colour, and {mooth Surface : The See are eons rs and Flowers are large, and of of a r Beaetifal Bive they are hal, oblong, and poche vas the Rim. The Root is the Part ufed. ’ pe. ft abounds in a flimy Juice, but it is to be dried, and this muft be done carefully, the De- coction of it operates well by Urine; and the Powder is balfamic, and fomewhat ftyptic. It is not enough known. There is hardly a more powerful Remedy for the Whites. The Jarap PLranr. JALAPIUM. 7 A Ching Plants, Native of America, and not ala into our Gardens. The Root is long, arly fha and thick. The Stalks are oe tough, and firm, bur flender and unable to fupport themfelves. They grow to. ten or twelve Feet in Length, and wind among x the Bufhes. The Leaves are oblong, broadelt tc 2 199 «The Ufeful Family Herbal. ward the Bafe, of a,duiky Green, and not dented about the Edges. The Flowers are large, and of the ‘Shape of a Bell, and their Colour is purplith or white. The Seed Veffel is large and oval. ‘The Root is the Part ufed, and Druggitts fell at. Given in Powder with a little Ginger to pre- _vent its griping, it is an excellent Purge. A ftrong Tincture of it made in Brandy, anfwers the fame Purpofe, it is\good in Dropfies; and ‘is in general a fafe and ‘excellent Purge. pe Sarg BSSAMIN, A Sinner Shrub. in 5 per Seaviea and a great fland two at oor Joint, and they ae very peeve tiful; each is made up of about-three Pair of nar- row, » oblong, aed pensive r= with avery ives each Gralla nd fragrant Smell, thefe are aed by Berries, which ripen in the warmer Countries. The Temes wers are the Part ufed. Pour a Pint of bailing Water upon fix Ounces of the freth ered and clean picked Flowers of Jeflamin ; it: ftand - ‘twelve Hours, then pour it _ add enough to make the cawoe Seep a thin Syrup, bere itis an excelent Medicine i The Ofefud Family Herbal. «9% Rose OF JERICHO. ROSA HICRACONTEA. A Little woody Plant, named.a Rofe from no- thing but its Size, and its Manner of fald- ing itfelf up, by bending in the Tops of the Branches, fo that it appears hollow roundifh, We are accuftomed to fee it dry, and in, that.Con- dition, it is always thus drawn together. It is of the Bignefs of a Man’s Fift, and is compofed of a Quantity of woody Branches, interwoven with one another, and all bending inward, When it is put into warm Water, it expands and becomes flattifh, but.on drying it, acquires the old Form Ottis ie meals a Kind oe tae pe as we ice the Stalks of our “Birds Foot, and many other little Plants. Thefe Stalks are thick and woody, and about four Inches in length: They lie upon the Ground toward the Baie, but lay turned up a little at the Tops, and _ each of them has a Number-of Branches. ~The wore are long, narrow, and of a pale Green ; ‘are very numerous, and they ftand irregular- feed aoa ere and white like thofe ps Shepherd’s Purfe. The Seed Veflels are fmall, and contain feveral Seeds like thofe of the eommon Treacle Muftard. This is the Appearance of the Plant, as it gro frequent in the warmer Climates; and thus it has nothin ¢ fingular in it, while in its Per- fection of Guowel: but after a Time, ee cd and _ off, and the Stalks as — 192 The Ufeful Family Herbal: the Heat; draw up more and more, till by de- grees they get into this round Figure, from which, warm Water will exparid them, but they recover it again as they dry. This is the real Hiftory of that little Kind of Treacle Muftard, which is called the Rofe of Feriche, and concetning which fo many idle, ‘as well as ftrange Things have been faid. Our good Women have many ways of trying many Experi- ments with it, by way of deciding future Events, but nothing can be fo foolifh: The Nature of the Plant will make it expand, and open its Branches, when put into warm Water; and draw them together again, as it grows dry. This wilf always happen, and it will be more quick or more flow, according to the Condition of the Plant: Where it is to be had frefh, it does not want medicinal Virtues. The young Shoots are good in Infufion againft fore Throats, but we have the Plant without its Leaves, and in reality, little more than a Stick; fo that it would be idle, te poe any Good in it. ‘The Jesuits Bane TREE. : ARBOR PERUVIANA. | Small Tree, Native of ‘South-America, which has not yet got into our Gardens. Trunk is as ticks as a Man’s Leg, and its Bark grey. _ The Branches are numerous and irregular, and their Bark is of a browner Colour, but with pect Tinge of Grey. The Leaves are long and large, three Inches in Length, and half as much in Breadth, and of a pale green Colour : ou e Edges, © The Flowers are and their Colour is a pale Purple: in great Clufters together, they are long, hollow, ‘The Ufeful Family Herbal. 193 and open at the End, where they are a little di- vided. The Fruit is a dry‘Capfule, of an oblong Fi The Bark is the Part ufed. Befides its certain Efficacy againft Agues, and intermitting Fevers, it is an excellent Stomachic and Aftringent; no- thing is better to ftrengthen the Appetite, and in Overflowings of the Menfes, and all other Bleed- ings, it is of the greateft Efficacy. It is beft given in Powder. ‘The Tincture is to be made in Brandy, but it is not nearly fo good as the Sub- ftance, when it is given for Diforders of the Sto- mach, the beft way is to pick fine Pieces of the Bark and chew them. Jews Ears. AURICUL&E JUDZ. A Kina of Fungus, or as the common Phrafe is of Toads-Stool, g old Elder Trees. It is about an Inch and a long, and nerally an Inch broad, and is fomewhat of the Sh hape of an Far. It grows by a broad Bafe to the Bark of the Tree, and from this, it gradual ly f{preads into a flat, hollow Since with fe- veral Ridges in it, running irregularly, whence it is fuppofed to have the PH mee: ‘of the Ear moft perfectly. Its Colour is a pale Grey on the Outfide, it is darker within, and there run feveral Ribs along it. Itisto be dried. Boiled in Milk, = is —— greatly it it Throats and ui Thefe Remedies of the Vulgar, have come eoriginally from Phyficians, and they com- monly have rts Te to fupport them. The i a see 194. The Useful Family Herbal. in damp Places. They get it off the Water Pipes _ at the new River Head at [/ington, to fupply Co- vent-Garden Market. The St. Ienarius’s BEAN: TABA SANCTI IGNATIL A Plant common in the We/t-Indies, and very ilf called a Bean, being truly a Gourd. The Name Bean was given to the Seeds of this Plant, before it was known hew they were produced, and fome have continued it to the Plant. It ws to a great Height, when there és a Tree to upport it, for it cannot fupport itfelf. It has-a Stalk as thick as a Man’s Arm, angulated, light, and not firm. The Leaves are very large, ob- long, and undivided, and they have the Ribs ve- ry high upon them: They are broad at the Bafe, and grow narrower to the Point, and are of a deep Green Colour. The Flowers are very large, and of a deep blood Red; at a Diftance, they have the Afpect of a red Rofe. The Fruit is large, and roundifh; it has a woody Shell, and over that.a thin Skin, bright and fhining. Within there are Twenty or Thirty Seeds; they are of the Bignefs of a fmall Nutmeg, when we fee them:. They are roundifh, and very rough up-— on the Surface: Each is of a woody Subftance, and when tafted, is of the Flavour of Citron Seeds, but extremely bitter and naufeous. The Colour is of all Grey or brownith. Thefe Seeds are what we ufe in Medicine, and call the St. Jgnatius’s Bean. It is a Medicine to be given with = Caution, but it has many Virtues: The moft powerful Remedies, when in ill Hands, are naturally the moft dangerous; the Powder given into a fmall Dofe, occafions Vomit- - ing-and Purging, and often, if the ee The Ujeful Family Herbal. xs ‘be tender, Convulfions; it is much better to give it in Tinéture, when no fuch Effects happen from it, ’Tis of an excellent Effeét againit nervous Complaints : It will cure the failing Sicknefs, given in proper Dofes, and continued for a long Time: The Tincture is the beft for this Purpofe. Some have given the Powder in very fmall Quan- tities againft Worms, and that with Succefs; its extreme Bitter makes it very difagreeable, and the Tafte continues in the Throat a long Time, whence it occafions Vomiting. We neglect i it very much at prefent, becaufe of its Roughnefs, but it would be better we found the Way of giving it with Safety. There are gentler Medicines, but none of them fo efficacious: It will do Service, in Se that the common ds do not’. St. Joun’s Worr. mir eel UM. A Robuft and pretty Plant, frequent in our Paftures; and other dry Places. The Height is a Foot and a half. .The Stalk is round, thick, firm, and very upright, and divided towards the Top into feveral Branches. The Leaves are fhort’ and blunt at the Points: They are of a bright green Colour, and if held up againft the Light, they feem to be full of Pin-holes. The Flowers grow in Abundance on the Tops of the Branches: They are large, and of a. bright and beautiful * Yellow, full of yellow Threads, which if rubbed upon the Hand, ftain it red like Blood. = Fruit is a dry Seed Veftel. ae The Part ufed is the Flowery, ve of the Plant juft as they begin to ripen. A Dee ne of thefe works powerfully by Urine,: and 4s Soe cellent againft the see a and ine Ulcenetions “% é tne 196 ©The Ufeful Family Herbal. the Ureters. The fame Tops, frefh gathered and bruifed, are good for Wounds and Bruifes ; they ftop Bleeding, and ferve as a Balfam for one, an they take off Blacknefs in the other. The Juyuse TREE. ZIZY PHUS. Tree of the Bignefs of our Plumb Trees, and not unlike to them in Shape. The Bark is grey on the Trunk, and brown on the Branches. The Leaves are moderately large, and each is compofed of a Number of fmaller ones, fet on each fide of a middle Rib, but not oppofite to one another, and with an odd one at the End: Thefe are oblong, obtufe, and ferrated round the Edges, and the odd Leaf at the End, is the largeft and longeft. The Flowers are {mall and_ yellow. The Fruit is oval, and of the Bignefs of a mo- derate Plumb; it has a foft Subftance on the Out- fide, and a Stone within, which is large and long, d pointed at both Ends. - The Fruit is pfed. It was at one Time brought over to us dried, but we fee little of ir now; it was efteemed balfamic, and was given to cure Coughs, and to work by Urine. The Wuite Stock Jury Flower. LEUCOIUM ALBUM. -Robuft Garden Plant, kept for its Flowers, which Art variegates and makes double. It grows two or three Feet high. The Stalk is thick, firm, round, and of a greyifh Colour. The Leaves are long, narrow, hairy, and whitifh. The Stalks which bear the Flowers, are alfo of a whitifh Green, and tender. The Flowers are as _ broad as a Shilling, white, and fweet oa The Ufeful Family Herbal. 197 The Flowers are the Part ufed, and they are to be frefh gathered, and only juft blown. A Tea made of them, is good to promote the Menfes, and it operates alfo by Urine. ~ An Ointment is to be made, by boiling them in Hogs Lard, which is excellent for fore Nipples. > The Juniper SHRUB. JUNIPERUS. A Common Shrub on our Heaths. It grows to — no great Height in England, but in fome other Paks of Europe, rifes toa confiderably large Tree. The Bark is of a redifh Brown. The Branches are tough. The Leaves are longifh, very narrow, and prickly at the Ends. The Flowers are of a yellowith Colour, oo teal and inconfiderable. The Berries are large, and when ‘kifh : agreeable Smell, and of a : : Tafte. The Leaves are ok: a faint ‘pluifh Gin Colour The “Betries are the Part moft ufed. We have them from Germany principally. They have two excellent Qualities, they difpel Wind, and work by Urine, for which Reafon, they are excellent in thofe Cholics which arife from the Gravel. and Stone. With thefe is alfo made the true Geneva, but the Liquor our poor People drink under that Name, is only Malt Spirits, and Oil of Turpen- tine. 198 The Ufeful Family Herbal, Ivy. HEDER A. A Very common. Shrub, crawling about old Trees, or upon old Walls ; it fometimes runs upon the Ground for want of fuch Support, but then it rarely bears any Fruit; The Trunk is thick, brown, and covered with a peculiar Rough- nefs, The Branches are numerous and brittle. The Leaves have a ftrange Variety of Shapes, _ oblong, “angular, cornered, or divided.’ The Flowers ftand in little round Clufters, and they are fmall, and inconfiderable : They are fucceeded by large Berries. The Leaves upon the young Shoot that bear the Flowers, are always oblong ; thofe on the Trunk are angulated. They are all of a deep gloffy Green. © The Leaves and Berries are both ufed, but nei- | ther much. A Decottion of the Leaves deftroys Vermin in Childrens Heads, and heals the Sore- nefs that attendsthem. The Berries are purging; an Infufion of them will often work alfo by Vo- mit, but there is no Harm in this: They are an excellent Remedy in Rheumatifims, and Pains of all Kinds, and it is faid, have cured Dropfies ; but this is perhaps going too far. — . _ The Ivy in the warm Countries fweats out 2 Kind of Refin, which has been ufed externally at fome ‘Times, on various Occafions; but at this Time, it is quite unknown in Pra&ife. oe 4 The Ufeful Family Herbal. 199 = KiDNEY-WORT. UMBILICUS VENERIS. Avey fingular Plant, which grows on old ‘Walls in fome Parts of England. It is exght Inches high, and is diftinguifhed at Sight, by a Clufter of round Leaves which grow about the <=3 Stalk. The Root is roundifh, ~and its Fibres ae from the Bottom. The Leaves ftand on longifh and thick Foot Stalks, which are, except in the loweft of all, inferted not at the Edges of The "stalk which bears the Flowers, is. round, thick, and towards the T op, divided into two or three Branches; on at og crow the Flowers, in a Kind of Spikes: They are oblong, hollowifh, and of a greenifh white Colour. The Leaves are the Part ufed. Externally, they are cooling, and good againft Pains. They are applied bruifed to the Piles, with great Suc- cefs. The Juice of them taken inwardly, ope- rates by Urine, and is excellent acainft Strangu- ries, and good in the Gravel, and Inflammiations of the Liver and Spleen. KNAP-WEED. eee hole “of hie tals ae Jee Be ” The Stalks are roundifh, but ribbed: en "O , 200 The Ufeful Family Herbal. pale Colour, very firm and ftrong, upright, and divided into Branches. The Leaves are long, and of the fame Breadth: Thofe which grow im- mediately from the Root, are but little jagged or cut at the Edges: Thofe which ftand upon the Stalk, are more fo. ‘The Flowers are large, they ftand in fcaly Heads, one of which is placed at the Top of every Branch; and at a Diftance, they have fomething of the Appearance of the Flowers of Thiftles, but when examined nearer, they are more like thofe of the Blue Bottle, The Flowers themfelves, are of a bright red and large The young Plant is ufed freth: ‘A Decoction of it is: the Bleeding of the Piles, againtt Loofeneffes with bloody Stools, and all bther Bleed- ings. A flight Infufion is recommended againft fore Throats, to be ufed by way of Gargle. There are fo many of thefe gently aftringent Plants, common in our Fields, as Yarrow and the like, that lefs Refpect is to be paid to one of lefs Power in the fame Way. Knapweed may be ve ty properly added to Decoctions of the others ae iid not be fo well to truft to its Effects Y KNnoT-GRass. POLYGONUM. A Moft Bienes wild Plant in our Fields, a ways, and Hedges: There are two or Kinds of its ‘a they pretty much refernble’ one another in Form, and in Virtues: The largeft is the beft. Fhe Stalks of this are ten Inches long, round, jointed, and of a dufky Green. The Stalks lie vpn the Greand, and one of thefe only grows at each Joint. The Flowers are {mall and The Ufeful Family Herbal. 20% white, but with a Tinge of redifh, The Seed is fingle, black, and three cornered. It has been obferved before, that Providence has in general made the moft common Plants, the moft ufeful. A Decoction of Knot-Grafs Roots, Stalks, and Leaves, is an excellent Aftringent. It ftops bloody Stools, and is good againft all Bleed- ings, but in particular, it is a Remedy againtt the bleeding Piles, and againft the Overflowing of the Menfes. af eee em L. The Gum Lac TRer. _ ~LACA ARBOR. | Tree of the Bignefs of our Apple Tree, fre- 4% quent in the Eaft, but not yet known in Ex- rope. The Trunk is covered with a rough redifh Bark. The Branches are numerous and tough. They have a fmoother Rind, of a Colour incline- ing to Purple. The Leaves are broad, and of 4 whitifh Green, on the upper Side, and of a filvery White underneath. The Flowers are fmall and yellow. The Fruit is of the Bignefs of a Plumb, and has in it a large Stone: The outer or pulpy st a is of an auftere, and not very agreeable ‘The Gum Lac is found upon the Branches of this Tree, but it is pretended by fome, that a Sort of Flies, depofite it there, and on other Sub- ftances ; and that it is a Kind of Wax; however, there are Perfons of Credit, who fay they have obtained it by cutting the Branches of this i and a like Subftance from the Branches of the fe- de rat | : veral 202 The Useful Family Herbal. veral kinds of .Jujubes to which this belongs, ‘in the hot Conntries. Probably the Flies get it off this Tree, and lodge it for their Purpoies upon Sticks, and other Subftances as we fee it. Our Druggifts have three kinds of this Refin, for it is ill called a Gum. The one they call Stick Lac, becaufe it is brought: round Sticks: The other Seed Lac in fmall Lumps, and the other Shell Lac, which. is thin and tranfparent, and has been melted; of this Refin the fealing Wax is made with very little Alteration more than the colouring it, which is done by Means of Ci- nabar or coarfer Materials. Taken inwardly, Gum Lac is good _— ft Obftructions of the Liver: It operates by Urine and Sweat, and is good in moft chronic Cafes ariding from fuuch Obftruétions. Lapies ManTLeE. ARCHIMILLA.: AYE pretty little ant, Native of fome’ Parts » but not very common wild. ‘The ves are numerous is very beautiful, they are broad and of a roundifh Figure, but divided deeply into eight Parts, and cach. of thefe ele- gantly indented about the Edges. They are of 4 yellowifh green Colour, nearly as broad as the Palm. of ones Hand, and they ftand upon Foot- of an Inch or two in Length. The Stalks from the Midit, they are round, a little balry, eight Inches long, not very upright, and Colour. The Flowers ftand in eonfiderable Numbers at their Tops, they are fmall and of a greenifh Colour, but have a great many yellow Threads in the Middle. The Root is long, thick, and dark coloured. Flowers, are fquare, green, and naked; are fmall, blue, and vi fragrant; the Cups of the Flowers are whitith. oe es __ Thefe Flowers are the Part ufed; the are good -againit all Diforders of the Head aa Nerves, ae They The Ufeful Family Herbal. 205 They may be taken in the Form of Tea. The famous Spirit of Lavender called Palfy Drops, and the fweet Lavender Water are made with them. The Spirit of Lavender called Palfy Drops is thus made beft. Put into a fmall Still a Pound of Lavender Flowers, and five Ounces of the tender Tops of Rofemary, put to them five Quarts of common. Melaffes Spirit, and a Quart of Water: Diftil off three Quarts, put to this Cinnamon and Nutmegs, of each three Quarters of an Ounce, red Sanders. Wood half an Ounce, let thefe ftand together a Week, and then ftrain off the Spirit. The Lavender Water is thus made. Put a Pound of frefh Lavender Flowers into a ftill with a Gallon of Melaffes Spirit, and draw off five Pints. This is Lavender Water. : LAVENDER COTTON. ABROTONUM FGQ@MINA. A little fhrubby Plant, frequent wild in ltaly, but with us kept in Gardens. It grows two Feet or more in Height, the Stem is whitifh: The Stalks growing from it, are tough and firm, ofa whitith Colour alfo, and very numerous; the Leaves are oblong, flender, of a fquare Shape, and indented, they are alfo whitifh, and of a ftrong Smell. The Stalks which fupport the Flowers are long and naked ; they are round, ofa greenifh Colour and each has at its Top a fingle Flower, which is yellow and naked, and of the Bignefs of an Horfe-Bean. The Leaves are the Part ufed, they are beft frefh gathered. They are to be given infufed in Water againft Worms, they are a difagreeable Medicia but a very efficacious one. They alfo promote the Menfes, and open Obftruétions of the Liver. 206 The Ufeful Family Herbal. _ They have been recommended greatly in the Jaun- dice, see “SPuRGE LAvr2e 3 LAUREOLA. AWild little Shrub of a fingular Afpect and of confiderable Virtues, it is three Feet high, the Stem is half an Inch thick, and divides into a great many Branches. The Bark is of a brown- ifh Colour, and they are not very ftrong, The - Leaves ftand at the Tops of the Branches, they are long, narrow, and of a bright and fine Green; they are of a firm Subftance, and are not indented at the Edges. The Flowers are very fmall, and inconfiderable, they are green with fome’ yellow Threads, and have a fweet Smell, the Berries are fmall, roundifh, and black. The Leaves are a powerful Remedy againft the Dropfy, but they are fo violent they muft be given with Caution ; a {mall Quantity of a flight {nfufion of them in Water, works by Vomit and Stool in a powerful Manner. It is not every Con- ftitution, that can bear fuch a Medicine. The Le ex. PORRUM. Common Plant in our Kitchen Gardens. It “grows three Feet high ; the Stalk is round, green, and thick, the Leaves are large, long, an of a deep Green, and the Flowers grow in a round Clufter at the Top of the Stalk, they are of a purplith Colour, with a Tinge of Green, the Root is white, oblong, thick, and roundifh, with Fibres at the Bottom. _An Infufion of the Roots of Leeks made in _ Water, and boiled into a Syrup with Honey, ks is : ~ Me The Ufeful Family Herbal. 207 is good againft Afthmas, Coughs, and Obftruc- tions in the Breaft and Lungs. It anfwers the fame Purpofes, with Syrup of Garlic, but it will agree with fome, who cannot bear that Me- dicine. The LEMON TREE. LIMONIA MALUS. A Shrub, Native of the warmer Countries, and frequent in our Green-houfes, very beauti- ful and fragrant. The Trunk is moderately thick; and covered with a brown Bark, the Branches are numerous, irregular, and befet with Prickles. The Leaves are large, and very beautiful, of an oval Figure, and fet upon a naked Stalk ; they are of a beautiful Green, and remain on the Tree all Shape is oblong, and its Rind of a pale yellow Colour, it has a Part like a Nipple at each End. ts Smell is very fragrant, and its Juice four. _ The Peel and the Juice of the Fruit are ufed. The Peel is ftomachic and warm, it is a good In- gredient in bitter Infufions. The Juice made into a Syrup with twice its Weight of fine Sugar, is. excellent for fweetening Juleps and Drinks in Fe-_ vers, and mixed with Salt o Wormwood, it ftops. Vomitings. LEADWORT. : DENTILLARIA SIVE PLUMBAGO. , Little Plant, Native of fome Parts of £ te and keptin our Gardens. It is two Feet i « 208 The Ufeful Family Herbal. are of a pale bluifh green Colour, oblong, not very broad, and they furround the Stalk at the Bafe. The Flowers are red, they are fingly, very fmall, but they ftand in thick, oblong Clufters, on the Tops of the Stalks, and each is fucceeded by a fingle Seed which is very rough, and ftands naked. The dried Root is to be ufed ; a Piece of it put into the Mouth, fill it with a great Quantity of Rheum, and is often an almoft inftantaneous Cure for the Head-ach. It alfo cures the Tooth- ach in the fame Manner as Pellitory of Spain does: ~ is more hot and acrid, than even that fiery oot. . = . The Inpian DEAF TREE. MALABATHRUM. Atl and beautiful Tree of tne Ea/t-Indies, not unlike the Cinnamon Tree in its Manner 0 Growth. The Trunk is as thick as our Elms, nd it grows as tall, but the Branches are difpofed with lefs Regularity ; the Wood is brittle, and the young Shoots are of a pale Brown. The Leaves are very large, nine Inches long, and feven in Breadth, and not at all indented. The Flowers ‘ftand in Clufters, on the Tops of the Branches: They are fmal! and greyifh: and the Fruit is of the Bignefs of our red Currant. It is common in the mountainous Parts of the Eatft. : e Pie thee are the Part ufed, we have them dried at the Druggifts, but they commonly keep them till they are decayed. It io cece Me- dicine, it ftrengthens the Stomach, and is good Diforders. in nervous Di LENTEL. ‘The Ufeful Family Herbal. 209 LENTILE | LENS, AKind of little Pulfe, fown in Fields in fome Parts of England. It grows.a Foot and a half high, but does not ftand very upright. The Stalk is angulated, of a pale Green, and branched; the Leaves are like thofe of the common Pea: They confift each of feveral Pairs of fmall ones, fet on a Rib, and there is a Tendril in Place of an odd Leaf at the End. Thefe {mall Leaves are of a palggreen Colour, and oval Shape. The Flowers are white and fmall, but in Shape like a Pea Bloffom, they ftand fingly on long Stalks. The Fruit is a Pod of a flattifh Shape, in which there generally are two Seeds alfo a little flatted, and of the Bignefs ofafmall Peas The Fruit is ufed; it is ground to Powder to make into Pultices for Swellings, but it is not much re RRS he ae Let Trex. LAC Pw CA. A Common Plant in our Kitchen Gardens, which. we eat raw. When it rifes to Flower it is two Feet and a half high. The Stalk is round, thick, firm, very upright, and of a pale Green. The Leaves are oblong, broad, and fomewhat waved at the Edges: The Flowers ftand on the Tops of the Stalks, and are of a pale Yellow, the Seed is winged with a light white Down. ~The Juice of Lettice, is a good Medicine to procure Sleep, or the thick Stalk ae LS ferve, _ 210 ©The Ufeful Family Herbal. Witp LETTICE. LACTUCA SYLVESTRIS MAJOR. A Common Plant in our Hedges, and having fome Refemblance to the Garden Let- tice in its Flowers, though not in its Man- ner of Growth. It is fix or feven Feet high. The Stalk is thick, round, vey upright, branched, and — of a pale yellowith green Colour. The Leaves at the Bottom are very large, a Foot long, and five | Inches broad, and of a pale green Colour; thof higher up the Stalks are {maller, they are deeply sented at the Edges, and either thefe, the Stalk, or any other Part of the Plant being wounded, there fows out a milky Juice, which has the Smell of Opium, and its hot bitter Tafte: The Branches are very numerous, and the Flowers are alfo very numerous, but they are fmall and of a pale Yel- ow. This is a Plant not introduced into the common Prattice, but very worthy of that Notice. Ihave known it ufed in private Families, with great Succefs. A Syrup made from a ftrong Infufion of it, is an excellent Anodyne ; it eafes the moft violent Pain in Cholics, and other Diforders, and gently difpofes the Perfon to fleep. It has the good Effect of a gentle Opiate, and none of the bad ones of that violent Medicine. | The WuitTe Lrtiy. eo = LILIUM ALBUM. i A Tail, fragrant, and beautiful Garden Plant. Ie “© grows four or five Feet high; the Stalk 1s round, green, thick, firm, and very uprights a oe many Leaves furround it at the Bottom, and a great many grow u) it all the Way: Thefe are of the fame Shape, long narrow, and— 2 | ine ie ' and full o The Ujeful Family Herbal. 21% {moth, and of a pale Green upon the Stalk, and The Roots ribs the greafeft Virtue; they are excellent mixed in Pultices, to apply to Swel- lings. The Flowers poffefs the fame Virtue alfo, being emollient and good againft Pain. An Oil is made of the Flowers fteepéd in common Oil of Olives; but the frefh Flowers are much better in the Seafon; and the Root may be had frefh at all Times, and it poffeffes the fame Virtueée Lity of THE VALLeEY. LILtue CONVALLIUM. ASS little Plant, but fo different from ormer, that one would wonder how it - Bo: - be called by any Part of the farrie Name. It is fix or eight Inches high. The Leaves are large, long, and broad, of a deep green Colour; és very thick Ribs or Veins. The Stalks are weak, flender, angular, and green, they bend towards the Top, and on each there in or ra- ther hangs, a Row of white Flowers, they are roundifh, hollow, and of a delicate and pleafing Smell ; thefe are fucceeded by Bertfes, which are red when they are ripe. The Flowers are ufed: A Tea made of them and drank for a Conftancy, is excellent againft - all nervous Complaints, it will cure nervous Head-. achs, and Tremblings of theLimbs: A great deal too much has been {aid of this Plant, for People Bae call it a , Renee for Apoplexies and the dead Palfies, but though all this is not a ough is to give the Plant a Reputation, and bri ae into ufe, : 2 212 The Useful Family Herbal. Fhe Water Lity. : NYMPHAA ALBA. Ai#s¢ and elegant Plant, the broad Leayes of which we fee floating upon the Surface of the Water in our Brooks not unfrequently ; and in the Autumn large white Flowers among them. The Root of the Plant is very long, and ex- tremely thick, and lies buried in the Mud. The Leaves rife fingly one on each Stalk, the Stalks are round, thick, and of a fpungy Subftance, having a white Pith in them; and the Leaves alfo are thick and fomewhat fpungy; they are of a roundifh Figure, and they lie flat upon the Surface of the Water. The Flowers ftand upon fingle Foot Stalks, arifing like thofe of the Leaves {e- parately from the Root, and being like them, light, round, gloffy, and full of a white Pith; the Flow- ers are large and white, and have fome yellow Threads in the Middle; the Seed-Veffel is large and roundifh, and the Seeds are numerous. _ Fhe Root is the Part ufed, and it is beft frefh, and given in a ftrong Decottion. It is a power- ful Remedy in the Whites, and in thofe Weaknel- fes left after venereal Complaints: It is alfo good _ againft violent Purgings, efpecially where there are bloody Stools. There are other Kinds of Water Lily in our Ditches, particularly a large yellow flowered one, whofe Roots poffefs the fame Virtues with the others but in a lefs De- The Ufefil Family Herbal. 23 The Lime TRet. TILIA. AtTree common enough in Parks and Gardens, and when in F lower very beautiful and fra- grant ; the Trunk is thick, and the. Branches grow with a tolerable Regularity. The Leaves are fhort, broad, of a Figure approaching to round, but terminating in a Point, and ferrated about the dges. The Flowers grow on long yellowifh Stalks, with a yellow, oblong, and narrow Leaf upon them. ‘They are themfelves alfo of a yel- lowith white Colour, and extremely delicate and feet. Smell: The Fruit is roundifh ee fmall. The Flowers are the only eas aad ie againft Giddinefs of the Head, Tre: Limbs,-an@ all the other eo nervous * Difor- ders. They aré beft taken as T The Lrquip Aude? Ther: € LIQUID AMBAR. Avery beautiful Tree of the American Iands, which we have brought of late into. our Gar- dens ;' it grows fifty Feet ~ high, and the Baaaichics are numerous and difpofed with a tolerable Re larity. The Leaves are large and very beautiful, ess ate broad and are divided minh i in the Man- the Tipe 0 ° ve a : Fragranc Smell. The lowers are 3; the Fruit nifl . is of the Bignefs of a {mall Walnut,- roundith m and rough upon the Surface, with feveral within. 4 We ufe a Refin in which runs from the T ot shis Tree in great ae It i is of a redil 3 214 The Ufeful Family Herbal. ~ Jour, foft, and extremely fragrant, nearly a Per ume. It is an excellent Balfam, nothing ex- ceeds it as a Remedy for the Whites; and for the Weaknefies left after venereal Diforders. It is alfo gand in Diforders of the Lungs; and it works by Urine, and diflodges Gravel. There was a Cuftom -at one Time of mixing it among Pér- fumes, but of late it has been neglected, and is grown {carce. The Liquip Storax TREE. STYRAX LIQUIDA ARBOR. ALaee Tree, fo much we hear of it, is Native of ~ the Laft- Indies, but very ill defcribed tous. We are told the Leaves are large, and the Flowers fragrant, but of what Form they are no Body has told us, or what is the Fruit: All that we ufeis a liquid Refin of a very peculiar kind, which we are told is obtained by boiling the Bark, and the young Shoots of this Tree in Water; the Refin fwims at the Top, and they {cum jt off and ftrain it, but it will not all pafs through. It is from hence that we fee two kinds; the one finer, thinner, and purer, the other thicker and coarfer; this laft kind is more common than the better Sort, and it is generally ufed. | It isa Balfam. of the Nature of the Turpentines; - and is good againft the Whites, and the Weak- nefies that follow venereal Diforders. Some have ufed it alfo in Difeafes of the Lungs, but it has never been in great Repute on_thofe Occafions. It is fornetimes. put into Ointments intended for eld Ulcers; and it is faid to be ufed this Way with great Succefs, Bae eee me Liqvo- The Ufeful Family Herbal. 215 [olsen =~ GLYCYRRHIZA. Rough looking Plant, cultivated in many Places for the Sake of the Root. It is a ted and branched: The Leaves are long and large, each is compofed of a great many’ Pairs of fmaller, ftariding on a middle Rib, with an odd one atthe End; thefe are of an oval Figure, of a dufky green Colour, and they are clammy to the Touch. The Flowers are very fmall and blue, The beft Way of taking it is by fueking or chewing the frefh Root: But it may be taken in Infufion, or in the Manner of Tea. Theblack , quorice, is made by evaporating 3 ng tion of this Root. But the frefh Root itfelf is = ; -__ rife up among thefe Leaves a 216 The Ufeful Family Herbal. : NoBLE LiIVERWORT, OR HEPA- T LCA, | HEPATICA NOBILIS. A Common Garden Flower, which makes @ very pretty Figure in Spring, and is little regarded, except as an Ornament in our Borders; though it is not without confiderable Virtues. The Leaves are Sipsatied each on a fingle Foot- Stalk, white, flender, and redifh, they are near an Inch broad, and of the fame Length, and di- vided each into three Parts. -The Flowers rife early in the Spring, before thefe appear; they alfo ftand fingly on long Foot-Stalks, and are mode- rately large aid blue, with a greenifh Head in the Middie, the Root is fibrous. An Infufion of the Leaves of this Plant is good againft Obftructions of the Liver and Spleen; it works gently by Urine, and is a good Medicine in the Jaundice, taking it in Time. GREEN LiveRworvT. LICHEN VULGARIS. A Common low Plant, compofed. wholly of Leaves, which fpread themfelves on the Ground, and are of a beautiful green Colours Authors refer it to the Kinds of Mofs. It grows: on old Walls, in Wells, and other damp Places. The Leaves are oblong, blunt, and thin, they fpread one over another and take Root, where- ever they touch the Ground. They often cover a Space of a Foot or more in one Clutter. This is all that is ufually feen of the Plant, but in Spring when the Place and the Weather favour, there imperfect ee : Flowers, The Ufefiil Family Herbal. 217 Flowers, as they are called, fmall, roundifh, and refembling the Heads of little-Mufhrooms. The whole Plant. is ufed, and it is beft green and fréth gathered.” It is to be givén in a ftrong Decoétion. Tt opens Obftructions of the Liver, and works by Urine. It is good againft the Jaun- dice, and is an excellent Medicine in the fir Stages of Confumptions. Tt is not “nearly fo much regarded as it ought to be. It is alfo ufed externally for Foulnefs of the Skin. = : Grey Grounvp LIvERWORT. LICHEN CINEREUS TERRESTRIS. Arlene very common by our dry Wood-fides, -* and in Paftures, in fome Degree refembling the laft defcribed, but differing in- ‘, and in its Fruétification. This confifts alfo intirely of Leaves ; they are of a bluifh grey Colour, on They are two Inches long, and an Inch and a-half broad’; and grow in Clufters together, often ws are lefs diftinct, and therefore appear larger. Thefé do not fend up any Stalks, to bear a kind of Flowers in Heads. The Tips of the Leaves turn up, and are redifh, and in thefe Parts are ¢con- wine the Seeds. The whole Plant feems dry and “Eh whole Plant is ufed, and it has been of late very famous, Its Efficacy is againft the Bite of a mad ; it is mixed with Pepper, and the Perfon is at the fame Fime to bathe in the Sea. here. have been Inftances of its Succefs, when given to Dogs, but perhaps no Cure was ever ge: Aer eed his Sk as 218 The Ujeful Family Herbal. The LogGwoop TREE. ARBOR CAMPECHIANA. A Tree Native of the Southern Parts of America, "the Wood of which has been ufed in dying, longer than in Medicine, but is very ferviceable in the latter Capacity. The Tree is large and makes a beautiful Appearance. The Branches are numerous, and. they {pread with a Sort of Regu- larity. The Leaves are compofed each of feveral Pairs of fmaller, fet on the. two Sides of a‘com- mon Rib; with an odd one at the End. The Flowers are of the Shape of Pea Bloffoms, but they are yellow; the Pods which fucceed them, are very large, and the Boughs of the Tree are very, thick fet, with fharp Thorns of a redith Colour, | : We ufe only the Heart of the Wood which is of a deep red Colour. It is of an auftere Tafte,” but with fomething of Sweetnefs in it at laft, in this it refemble sgreatly what is called Japan Earth, and it refembles that Drug alfo in Vir- tues. It is a very powerful Medicine to ftop Fluxes of the Belly, and Overflowings of the Menfes. The beft Way of giving it is in Form of an Extract, which is to be made by boiling down a ftrong Decoétion of Wood to the Con- fiftence of Honey. In this Form it will keep 2 long Time, and is always ready for Ufe, Purpre LoosesrrirFe; LYSIMACHIA PURPUREA, | ..@ Wild Plant, _ that decorates the Sides of ~~~ Ditches, and Rivers, and would be an Or- Mament to our Gardens. It grows to three Feet ‘high, and is very regular; the Stalk js fquare, i ee Saget brectgrinhe. 3 The Ufeful Family Herbal. 219 hairy, and generally of a redifh Colour. The Leaves ftand two at each Joint, and they are long and narrow; of a dufky Green, and alittle rough. The Flowers ftand in very lomg Spikes at the Tops of the Stalks, and are ee and of a ftrong purple Colour. The Spikes are often a Foot or more in Length. The Seed is very little and brown. The Leaves are ufed. They are a fine Balfam for frefh Wounds, and an Ointment is to- be made of them boiled in Lard, which is alfo cooling and deterfive, but it is not of a fine green Colour. Yrtrow LOosEsST RIFE. LYSIMACHIA LUTEA. Wild Plant not uncommon in our watery Places, but for its Beauty, very wees a Place in our Gardens. If it were. America, it would be called one of the aa gant Plants in the World. It is four Feet high, the Stalks are rigid, firm, upright, and very re-~ gular in their Growth: A little hairy; and to- ward the Ese divided into feveral Branches. The Leaves are as long as ones Finger, and an Inch and half Ay in the Middle, and {mall at each End; they are a little hairy, and of a yeHowifh Green, The Flowers are large and of a beautiful Yellow, they grow feveral together on the Tops of the tee genes ied The Seed-Veflels are full of fm The Root dried and given in — is good againft the Whites, and againft Bloody Fluxes, Overfiowings of the Menfes, and Purgings; itis — aftringent and balfamic. The young Leaves bound ~ about Cuviwieeies ae ind p form a Cure in a fhort Time. —* s&s a “Lavace, 220 The Ufeful Family Herbal. | LovAce: LEVISTIE€UM. A Tall Plant of the umbelliferous kind, kept in our Gardens for its Ufe in Medicine. The Stalk is round, thick, hollow, and deeply ftri- ated or channelled. The Leaves are very large; and they are, each compofed of a Number of {maller , thefe are fet on a divided Stalk, and are fhort, broad, and indented at the Edges. The Flowers are fmall and yellow, the Seed is ftriated, the Root is brown, thick, and divided, and the Fibres from it are numerous; it is of a hot aromatic Tatte. The Roots frefh dug work by Urine, and are _ good againft the Jaundice. The Seeds have the fame Effect alfo, and they difpel Wind. The dried Root is a Sudorific, and is good in Fevers. - Tree LuNGWORT. MUSCUS PULMONARIUS. A Brod and large Kind of Mois, in Form fomewhat refembling the green and grey Liverwort, but bigger than either. It grows om the Barks of old Oaks; and Beech. Trees,, but is not common. It is principally found in large Woods. © Each Leaf, or feparate Plant, is oe or ten Inches long, and nearly as much in Bread a yellowifh Colour, and of a Subftance ba te bling Leather: It is divided deeply at the Edges, and is rough, and fullof high Veins on the Sass face. At the Seafon of flowering there alfo a Bone fmall red Heads, which contain for a new Succeffion of Plants. = te Mg not fo much known as it deferves ? S to t is an excellent Aftringent, a ftrong The Ufeful Family Herbal. 22% Decoétion of it ftops the Overflowings of the Menfes, and all other Bleedings ; it is remarka- ble againft a Spitting of Blood, and hence it has got into general Ufe in Confumptions, but that not fo properly. It may be given in Powder, but the other Way is better. “hrs The LuPINE. - LUPINUS SATIVUS ALBUS. WHERE are many Lupines kept in Gardens, but the beft kind for Ufe is the white-flow- ered, it grows to a Yardhigh, the Stalk is round, thick, firm, and of a pale Green. The Leaves ftand on long Foot-Stalks, and are each compo- fed of feven, eight, or nine long narrow ones difpofed in the Manner of Fingers, thefe are alfo. of a whitifh Colour. The Flowers are lar and white, of the Shape of a Pea Bloflom. The Pods are hairy, a Decoétion of the Seeds of Lu- ines drank in the Manner of Barley Water, not only works by Urine, but is good to bring down the Menfes, and open all Obftructions. It is ex- cellent in the Beginning of Confumptions, ' Jaun- dices, and Dropfies, but when thofe Difeafes are advanced to a Height, more powerful Remedies are to be employed. A Decoétion made very ftrong is bit to wath the Heads of Children that ings out upon them, they cleanfe and | to heal. _ Gorden Luncworr. PULMONARIA AUREA. AT ereét, and beautiful Plant of the 1 weed kind, with yellow Flowers, a hairy Leaves, it is frequent in the mo Eases of Europe, Saag are ee 222 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Placés in England, upon Walls and in very dry Places, but with us it is not common. It is two Feet high, the Leaves dre large and oblong, they: grow half a Dozen or therea- bout immediately from the Root, and have thick Foot-Stalks, they are oblong, broad, of a deep and often a purplifh Colour, and are extremely hairy, the Hairs being long, white, and fet fo thick, that they give it an Afpect of Woollinefs. The Stalk is round, flender, tolerably firm, up; right, of a putplith Colour, and alfo hairy: The Leaves onit are fmaller than thofe-from the Root, but like them in Shape, and they are in the fame Manner very hairy. The Flowers are not very but they are of a beautiful Yellow, and they have the more fingular Afpeét, as the Plant has fo much Whitenefs. The Seeds are winged with a white Down: Be. The young Leaves rifing from the Root, are the Part ufed. They are of the fame Nature with thofe of Coltsfoot, but they poffefs their Virtues in a much greater Degree. In many other Parts of _ £urope, where the Plant is more common it is .>~@ conftant Medicine in Difeafes of the Lungs, im Coughs, Afthmas, and the firft Stages of Con- fumptions : It is beft given in Form of a ftrong Infufion; and I have known it tried here witli more Succefs than could be expected from fo fimple a Remedy, in Cafes of fuch Confequence.. Tt is fcarce wild, but it is eafily propagated in Gardens. Let but one Plant of it ripen its Seeds - . and leave them to the Chance of the Winds, and _ the Garden, the Walls, and neighbouring Places | bei be without a. fufficient Supply of it, _ for all Purpofes, — : 2 MM The Ufeful Family Herbal. 223 M. Macrt. MAG LS: HE Spice we call Mace, is the Covering of the Stone or Kernel of a Fruit, within which, is the Nutmeg. The Tree will therefore mtained in a hard Shell, and on the Outfide ‘that Shell, is laid the and very fragrant; more fo, than the Nutmeg itfelf. : : Mace is a noble Spice, it warms and ftreng- thens the Stomach, and is good againft Pains in the Head, arifing from Faults there: It is alfo good againft Cholics; and even outwardly appli- ed, will take Effect. The Mace bruifed may be ufed for this Purpofe, or its Oil by Expreffion. MADDER. RUBIA TINCTORUM. A\ Rough and unhandfomé Plant, cultivated for the fake of its Root, which is ufed by the — _ Dyers, and alfo in Medicine. It is a Foot and a — ef half high. The Stalk is fquare and weak. Th eee Leaves ftand fix or eight at every Joint, difpofed Star-fafhioned, and they are of Y eee. niga ¥ 204 The Ufeful Family Herbal. lour, and very rough, they feel almoft prickly. The Flowers are little and yellow; and they grow from the Bofoms of the Leaves. The Root is long, flender, and of a red Colour. A Decoétion of the frefh Roots of Madder, works gently by Urine, but it very powerfully opens Obftructions of the Liver and Spleen. It is very good againft the Gravel and Jaundice. ° The True MaAIpENHAIR. ADIANTUM VERUM. A Very beautiful Plant, of the fern Kind, but | exceeding ing the ordinary Ferns very much in Delicacy. The Stalks are fmall, black, and glof- fy; each divides toward the Top, into a great many Branches, and on thefe ftand the {maller Leaves, which make up the complete one, or the whole Plant; (for in this, as in the Fern, every Leaf is an intire Plant;) thefe are fhort, blunt, rounded, and notched very beautifully and regu- larly at the Edges, and they are of a pale green Colour. The Seeds are fixed to the Edges of the under Side of the Leaves, in form of a brown Powder. The whole Plant is ufed: Our Drug- gifts have it from France. A Decoétion of the frefh Plant, is, gently diu- retic, and opens Obftructions, efpecially of the Lungs; but as we cannot eafily have it frefh, an it lofes a great deal of the Virtue in drying, the beft Expedient is to ufe the fine Syrup of Capel- laire, which is made of an Infufion of the Plant, when in its Perfeeétion, with fine Narbonne Ho- ney. We fuppofe this a Trifle, but Barley Water ___ fweetened with it, is one of the beft known Re- _EnoGLis#® The Ufeful Family Herbal. 225 ENGLIsH MAIDENHAIR. TRICHOMANES. A Very. pretty little Plant, of kin to the true Maidenhair, and frequently ufed in its Place; but this is very wrong, for its Virtues are no greater, and it is unpleafant. It grows eight Inches, and each Leaf, as in the reft of the Fern kind, is an intire Plant. This Leaf con- fifts of a vaft Number of {mall ones, fet on each Side a middle Rib, and they are very fhort and obtufe, of a roundifh, but fomewhat oblong Fi- - gure. The Stalk is flender, black, and fhining, and the little Leaves are of a bright and ftrong ore Colour. The Seeds are lodged as in the reft, in form of a*brown Duft, on the under Part of thefe J.eaves. The Plant grows secquenty on the Sides of old Wells, and on damp Walls, and it is ufed intire. AS yrup, made from an Infufion of it, is the beft fhift we could make, for the true French Capil- laire; but that is fo eafy to be had, that no fuch fhift is neceffary: An Infufion of the dry Plant may alfo be ufed. WuiTe MAIDENHAIR. ADIANTUM ALBUM. Ave little Plant of the Fern Kind, and of the Nature of the two others juft defcribed. Some will be furprized at the calling it a very - an Impofition: They fella Kind of Water Ferns under this Name. The real white Mai _ is not above two Inches high. The Stalks are very lender, and of a whitith Green, not = 2 226 The Ufeful Family Herbal. as in the others. The Leaves are divided into a great many fmall Parts, and at firft Sight, they have fome Refemblance of the Leaves of Rue. The Seeds are contained in brown Lumps, be- hind the Leaves, covering the greateft Part of the Surface. . This is not uncommon in old Walls: It, has the fame Virtues with the others againft Coughs, and a Decoétion of it is alfo ftrongly. diuretic, and good againft the Gravel, and all Stoppages of Urine. . Brack, MAIDENHAIR. ADIANTUM NIGRUM. A Nother of the fmall Plants of the Fern | Kind, and more of the fhape and form of the common Ferns, than any yet defcribed. It is like the common Fern, of the divided kind, only ~ very fmall. It grows to eight or ten Inches high. The Stalks are thick, black, and gloffy. The Leaves are very beautifully divided into a great many Parts: Thefe are fhort, of a dark fhining Green,- and deeply notched at the Edges, and. they terminate in a fharp Point, not blunt’ as fome of thofe already mentioned. The Seeds lie on the Edges of the under Part of the Leaves, in form of a brown Duft. It is not uncommon by. Wood Sides, and in fhady Lanes, A Decoétion of it works powerfully by Urine, and it has the fame Virtue with the reft in the Cure of Cough The Ufeful Family Herbal. 227 the common Ufe in Coughs and Hoarfenefles, it is the leaft efteemed of all. There is another Plant, called by the Name of Maidenhair, which is yet to be defcribed, it makes one of what are commonly called the fyve Ca- pellary Herbs, but itis fo diftinét from the others, that it is beft kept feparate. They are all Kinds of Fern: This is a fort of Mofs. Gortpen MAIDENHAIR. ADIANTUM AUREUM. A Little upright Plant, but confidered as a Mofs, one of the lareeft of the Kind. It grows four or five Inches high, when in Perfection. The lower Part of the Stalk i mo Beta rin Re Inch or mor with thick, fh pn the Point, and of a ae geet Cals fand in fuch aor that the Stalk ; from the Top of hele Hie che Pecos fupporting the Heads: They are naked three or four Inches high, flender, and of a brownifh, redifh, or blackith Colour: The Head upon the Summit of thefe is fingle, fquare, and is ae with a woolly Cap, of the Fi igure of an guifher, which falls off when the Head is inti ripe: This Head is full of a fine Duft. The Plant is frequent in boggy Places, and} is to be ufed intire. Some talk of its in Coughs, but the more frequent at of it is externally: They boil it in Water, and wath the Head with it, to make the Hair grow thick, Qi gee 228 The Ufeful Family Herbal. The Common MALLow. MALV A. Wild Plant, every where about our Hedges, Fields, and Gardens. It is one among ma- ny Inftances, that God has made the moft ufeful Plants, the moft common. The Mallow grows three or four Feet high. The Stalk is round, thick, and ftrong. The Leaves are roundifh, but indented and divided at the Edges. The Flowers are numerous, large, and red. The Root is long and white, of a firm, tough Sub- ftance, and not difagreeable Tatfte. The whole Plant is ufed, but the Root has moft _ Virtue. The Leaves dried, or frefh, are put in. Decoétions for Glifters; and the Root may be dried, for it retains a great deal of Virtue, but it is beft frefh, and fhould be chofen when there are only Leaves growing from it, not a Stalk. It is to be boiled in Water, and the Deco¢tion may be made very {trong, for there is nothing difagree- able in the Tafte: It is to be drank in Quantities, and is excellent to promote Urine, and to take off the Strangury. It is good alfo in the fame Man- ner, againft fharp Humours in the Bowels, and for the Gravel. There is a little Kind of Mallow, that has whitifh Flowers, and lies flat upon the Ground. This is of a more pleafant‘Tafte, than the com- mon Mallow, and has the fame Virtues. A Tea made of the Roots and Tops of this, is V¢Y agreeable to the Tafte, and is excellent for pro moting the Difcharges by Urine. The Ufeful Family Herbal. 229 Marsu MALLow. AJsT Bw A- AT! wild Plant, of the Mallow kind, fre- quent with us about falt Marfhes, and the Sides of Rivers where the Tides come. It grows to four Feet in Height. The Stalk is round, upright, thick, and fomewhat hairy. The Leaves are large, broad at the Bafe, fmall at the Point, of a Figure approaching to triangular, and in- dented round the Edges: They are of a whitifh green Colour, and foft to the Touch like Velvet. The Flowers are large and white, with fometimes a faint Bluth of redifh. They are of the fame Size and Shape with thofe of the common Mal- low. ae og ge The Root is moft ufed. It is white, long, and thick, of an infipid Tafte, and full of a mucilaginous Juice. iled in Water, and the Decoétion made ftrong, it is excellent to pro- mote Urine, and bring away Gravel, and {mail Stones; it alfo cures Stranguries, and is good in Coughs. Its Virtues are the fame with thofe of the common Mallow, but in a greater Degree, Vervain MALLOwW. ALCEA, AYev beautiful Plant, both in its Flower and &% Manner of Growth; common in Paftures, and worthy to be cherifhed in our Gardens. It grows two Feet high. The Stalks are round, moderately thick, a little hairy, and very upright. The lower Leaves are rounded, and divided flight- ly at the Edges: Thofe on the Stalk are cut in- to very fmall Parts, and in a very beau iful Man- ner, The Flowers are of a very bright Rrd,and ay 2.3 ee are 230 The Ujeful Family Herbal. are three Times as large as thofe of the common Mallow, and very beautiful. The Seeds are dif- pofed in the fame circular Manner, as in the com- mon Mallow. The Root is white. The Root is the Part ufed. It has the fame Virtue with that of the common Mallow, but in a lefs Degree. The Leaves alfo have the fame Virtue, and are very pleafant taken in Tea. Musk Mattiow. ~BAMIA MOSCHATA. eo. see unlike the Vervain Mallow in its &, but a Native only of the hotter Coins It is two Feet high. The Stalk is fingle, round, thick, hairy, and upright. - The lower Leaves are roundifh, only indented a little at the Edges; the upper ones are divided into five Parts, pretty deeply. The Flowers are of the Shape of thofe of the common Mallow, and are large, but their Colour is yellow. The Seedvis contained in a long Hufk, or Cafe, and is of a erect Shape, and ‘of -a {weet perfumed Smell. The Seed is the only Part ufed, and that, very rarely. It is faid to be good againft the Head-ach, _. - but we feldom meet with it freth enough, to have » any Virtue. MANDRAKE: MANDRAGORA, A Elan about which there have been a Multi- tude of a but in which, there is in rea- ve es : The Ufeful Family Herbal. 23% rower Leaves, called the Female: Their Virtues are the fame, but the Male is generally preferred. They are Natives of Italy, where they grow in Woods, and on the Banks of Rivers: We keep them in Gardens ; but they grow there as freely as if native. . The Mandrake has no Stalk, The Leaves rife immediately froma the Root, and they are very large: They are a Foot long, four Inches | in the Middle, and of a dufky green Colour, and bad Smell. The Flowers ftand upon Foot Stalks, of four Inches high, flender, and hairy, and rife- ing immediately from the Root: Thele Flowers are large, of a dingy purplifh Colour, and of a very bad Smell. . The Fruit which follows, is of the Bignefs and Shape of a fmall Apple, or like a {mall Pear, according to the Male or Female Kind: his is yellow when ripe, and is alfo of a very bad Smell. The Root. is long and thick, it is largeft at the Head, and all the way down ; fometimes it is divided into two Parts, from the Middle downwards, if a Stone have lain in the _ Way, or any other Accident occafioned it; but ufually it is fingle. This is the Root, which is pictured to be like the human Form; _ it is when fingle, no more like a Man tham a Carrot or a Parfnip is, and when by fome Accident it is divided, *tis no more like, than any long Root, which happens to have met the. fame Accident. Thofe Roots which are fhown about for Money, and have the Head, Limbs, and Figure, of a human Form, are made fo by Art, and they fel- dom ufe the real Mandrake Root for that Pur- pofe: They are often made of white Briony Root, — fometimes of Angelica. The People cut them : - into this Shape, and put them into the G ‘ound © again, where they will be fometimes in Part co— vered with a new pee folook natural. All 232 The Ufeful Family Herbal. the Story that they fhriek, when they are pulled up, and they ufe a Dog to draw them out of the Ground, becaufe it is fatal to any Perfon to doit, and the like, are idle, falfe, and groundlefs; cal- culated only to furprife ignorant People, and get Money by the Shew: There is nothing fingular in the Root of the Mandrake; and as to the Terms of Male and Female, the two Kinds would be better diftinguifhed, by calling the one, the broader leaved Mandrake, with round Fruit, and the other, the narrower leaved Mandrake, with oval Fruit. There are Plants which are feparate- ly Male and Female, as Hemp, Spinach, the Des Tree, and the like: But there is nothing of this Diftinction in the Mandrakes. The frefh Root of Mandrake, is a violent Me- dicine; it operates both by Vomit and Stool, and few Conititutions are able to bear it. The Bark of the Root dried works by Vomit alone, but very roughly. The Fruit may be eaten, but it has a fleepy Quality, though not ftrong. Leaves are in Fomentations and Pultices, to allay Pains in Swellings, and they do very well. Moft of the idle Stories concerning the Man- drake, have taken their Origin, from its being named in Scripture. And from the Account there iven of it, fome have imagined, it would make omen fruitful; but this Plant does not feem to be the Thing intended by the Word, nor has it any fuch Virtues. What the Vegetable is, which is named in the Scripture, and tranflated Man- drake, we do not know. SwEET The Ufeful Family Herbal. 233 Sweet MaArjoraM. MAJORANA, Ff Commas Garden Plant, of no great Beauty, but kept for the fake of its Virtues and Ufe. It is a Foot high. The Stalks are firm, upright, and a little hairy. The Leaves are broad, and fomewhat hairy, of a pale green Colour, * not indented at the Edges, and of a fine Smell. At the Tops of the Branches, ftand a Kind of foft fcaly Heads, three Quarters of an Inch long, and from thefe grow the Flowers, which are {mall and white. The Seeds are very {mall; and the Root is fibrous. The whole Plant has a fine Smell. The whole Plant is to be ufed frefh; and it is beft taken by way of Infufion. It is good againft the Head-ach, and Dizzinefs, and all the inferior Order of nervous Complaints; but they talk idly who call it a Remedy for Apoplexies. It gently promotes the Menfes, and opens all Obftructions. The dried Herb may be given for the fame Pur- pofe in Powder, but it does not fucceed fo well. Witp MaRjoRAM. ORIGANUM. Wild Plant, frequent about Way-fides, in many Places, but fuperior to the other in Beauty and in Virtues. It very well deferves a Place, on both Accounts, in our Gardens. It grows a Foot and a half high. The Stalk is firm, very upright, a little hairy, and of a purplifh brown Colour, extremely £ ay in its Growth. The Leaves are broad and fh of the Bigne of one’s Thumb Nail, and of a dark goa lour; two ftand at every Joint, and the et : ong 234 The Ufeful Family Herbal. long Foot Stalks. The Flowers grow on the Tops of the Branches: There ftand on thefe long fcaly Heads, of a beautiful Form, and purple Colour; and from different Parts of thofe, arife the Flowers, which are little, but of a beautiful red Colour. The whole Plant has a fragrant Smell, and an aromatic Tatte. The frefh Tops of the Herb are to be ufed, They are beft taken in Infufion: They ftrengthen the Stomach, and are good againit habitual Cho- ~ lics: They are alfo good in Head-achs, and in all nervous Complaints; and they open Obftruc- tions, and are good in the Jaundice, and to pro- mote the Menfes. Chymifts fell what they call Oil of Origanum, but its commonly an Oil made from Garden Thyme, it is very acrid: A Dropof it put upon Lint, and laid to an aching Tooth, often gives Eafe. a Cretic Marjoram. ORIGANUM CRETICUM. A Beautifiul Plant, of the wild Marjoram Kind, | frequent wild in the Eaft, and kept in our Gardens. It grows a Foot high. The much of their Virtue, that the frefh Tops of .our own wild Marjoram, or the dried ones of the laft Seafon, are better, : i Mary: * The Ujeful Family Herbal. 235 MARIGOLD. CALENDAL A. A Plant too common in our Kitchen Gardens; to need much Defcription. It is a Foot high. The Stalks are thick, angulated, and not very up- right. The Leaves are long, narrow at the Bafe, and broader toward the End. The Flowers are large and yellow, and they ftand at the Tops of the Branches. The whole Plant is of a pale blu- ifh green Colour, and feels clammy. The Root is fibrous. A Tea made of the frefh gathered Flowers of Marigold,. picked from the Cups, is good in Fe- vers: It gently promotes Perfpiration, and throws out any Thing that ought to appear on the Skin. The Mastic TREE. LEN TISeCUus-: A Native of the warmer Countries, but not un- common in our Gardens. It grows to the ' Bignefs of our Apple Trees, and is as irregular in the Difpofition of its Branches. They are co- vered with a greyifh Bark, and are brittle. The Leaves are compofed, each of about four Pairs of fmall ones, without any odd Leaf at the End: They are affixed to a Kind of Rib or Pedicle, which has a Film running down it, on each Side. They are oblong, narrow, and pointed at the Ends. The Flowers are little, and yellowifh; and they grow in Tufts, The Fruit is a bluifh We ufe the Refin which drops from the wound- ed Branches of this Tree. The Tree itfelf is common in France and Italy, but it yields no Re- fin there; we have that from Greece: It is whitilh aa pee and whitih, The Leaves ftand two at 236 The Ufeful Family Herbal. hard, and in little Lumps. It is good for all nervous Diforders, and aéts alfo as a Balfam. There is fcarce any Thing better for a Spiting of Blood, or in the firft Stage of a Confumption: It is alfo good againft the Whites, and in the Gleets, after Gonorrhceas. Some have a Cuftom of chewing it, to preferve the Teeth and fweeten the Breath. Hers Mastic. MARU M. A Pretty little Plant, Native only ef the warmes Climates, but common in our Gardens. Itisa Foot-high, and the Stem and principal Branches are fhrubby or woody in their Texture: The {maller Shoots are whitifh. The Leaves grow two at cach Joint: They are little, oblong, and pointed; of a pale Cc olour, and fragrant Smell like Matftic, refinous, and very agreeable, At the Tops of the Stalks, fiand a Kind of downy; or isd Spikes or Ears, of a peculiarly odd Ap- and from out of thefe come the Flowers, | which are little and white. The Root is fmall. The whole Plant is ufed dry. It may be given in Infufion, or in Powder: It is ag eng- thener of the Stomach, and an Aftringent. It ftops the Overflowings of the Menfes : The Pow- der of the Tops is beft given for this Purpofe in red Wine, a Scruple for a Dofe. Syrran Mastic Tuyrme. | MARUM SYRIACUM. A Beautiful little Plant, Native of the warm 2s Countries, but not eesti our Gardens. It grows a Foot high. The Stalks are brittle, each The Ufeful Family Herbal. 237 each Joint: They are fmall, in Shape very like thofe of Thyme, and of a pale green Colour on the upper Side, and white and hoary underneath. The Flowers are fmall and red: They grow ina Kind of little Spikes, or oblong Clufters at the Tops of the Stalks, and have hoary white Cups. The whole Plant has a very penetrating, but plea- fant Smell, and an aromatic Tafte. Cats are fond of this Plant, and will rub it to Pieces in their Fondnefs. It is good for all Diforders of the Head and Nerves: It may be given in Powder, but the moft common Way, is to take it in Snuff. MASTERWORT. IMPERATORIA. A Elser of no Beauty, kept in our Gardens for * its Virtue. . It se two Feet high. The Stalks are rou riated, hollowed, upright, not very ftrong. The Leaves are each compofed of three fmaller: They are of a dark green Co-_ lour, blunt at the Points, and indented about the Edges. The Flowers are {mall and white: They ftand in little Umbels at the Tops of the Branches. The Roots are long, brown, divided, of a {trong Smell, and a fharp aromatic Tafte. | The Root is the Part ufed: It is good in Fe- vers, in Diforders of the Head, and of the Sto- mach and Bowels. It is beft taken up frefh, and , iven in a light Infufion: It promotes Sweat, and is a better Medicine for that Purpofe, than moft of the foreign Roots kept by Druggifts. Maupin 238 The Ufeful Family Herbal. MAUDLIN.- AGERATUM: JA Common Plant in our Gardens, not without Beauty, but kept more for its Virtues. It is a Foot high. The Stalk is round, upright, firm, fingle, and of a pale Green. The Leaves are very numerous, and they are longifh, narrow, and ferrated about the Edges. The Flowers are fmall and naked, confifting only of a Kind of Thrums; but they ftand in a large Clufter to- gether, at the Top of the Stalk, in the manner of an Umbel. The whole Plant has a pleafant Smell. The whole is ufed, frefh or dried; but it is beft freth gathered. An Infufion of it taken for a Continuance of Time, is good againft Obftrue- tions of the Liver: It operates by Urine. ~~ STINKING MAYWEED. COTULLA FCTIDA. A Common wild Plant in Corn Fields, and watte -** Grounds, with finely divided Leaves, and white Flowers like Daizies. ‘The Stalk is round and ftriated. The Herb grows a Foot high. The Leaves are like thofe of Cammomilt, only of a blacker Green, and larger. The Flowers ftand ten or a Dozen near one another, at the Tops of _ the Branches; ‘but they grow feparate, not in 4 Clufter. The whole Plant has a ftrong Smell. _ The Infufion of the frefh Plant is good in all hyfteric Complaints, and it promotes the Menfes. Seg. boiled foft, is an excellent Pultice for (ed | —. MEADOW ae Ne ‘The Ufeful Family Herbal. 239 Merapbow SweEeEtT. ULMARIA. D - Ghicees Plant, frequent about the Sides. of Ri- vers, with divided Leaves, and beautiful Tufts of white Flowers. It is four Feet ee The Stalk is round, ftriated, upright, firm, and of a pale Green, or ister _ a purple Co- lour. The Leaves are each compofed of about three Pair of {maller, fet on a thick Rib, with an odd Leaf at the End: They are of a fine Green on the upper Side, and whitifh underneath, and they are rough to the Touch. The Flowers are fmall and white, but they ftand fo clofe, that the whole Clutter looks like one large F lower. he Seeds are fet in a twifted Order. Infufion of the frefh Tops of Mixon Sweet, is ‘an excellent Sweat, and it is a little Aftringent. It is a good Medicine in Fevers, at- tended with Purgings. It is to be given a Bafon once in two Hours, The MECHOACAN PLANT. MECHOACANA, A Climbing Plant, Native of the We Indies: It is capable of running to a great when it can be fupported: “It will climb to che | Tops of tall Trees: The Stalks are angulated, flender, greene and battles ; and when broken, they yield of an acrid, milky Juice. The! sis fand f ngly: They are broad, and not very long, and of a beautiful Shape, ter-. minating in a Point. The Flowers are large, and. of the Shape of a Bell: They are of ‘a deep Purple. on the ss and of a pale Red y without 5 240 The Ufeful Family Herbal. and the Seed-Veffels are large, as are alfo the Seeds. The Root is whitifh, and very thick. The Root is the Part ufed: Our Druggifts keep it dry. It is in Slices, and is whitifh and brittle. It is an excellent Purge, but there re- quires a large Dofe to work tolerably; this has occafioned its being much lefs ufed than worfe Medicines, that operate more ftrongly, and can be taken with lefs Difguft; but it is to be lamented, that fo little ufe is made of it. The MepitarR TREE. MES PLEUS A Common Tree in our Gardens. It is of the Bignefs of an Apple Tree, and grows in the fame irregular Manner: The Branches have Thorns on them. The Leaves are longer and narrower than in the Apple Tree, and they ter- minate in a Point. The Bloffoms are large and white. The Fruit is roundifh, and open at the Bottom: And till very much mellowed, is of an auftere Tafte. A ftrong Decoétion of unripe Medlars, is good to ftop violent Purgings. The Seeds work by Urine, and are good againft the Gravel ; but there are fo many more powerful Things at hand, they are feldom ufed. MELILoT. Vomiting, an tite 5 it is beft pee in the fimple diftilied Wank wel i made, or elfe in the Form of Tea. The frefh Herb bruifed, and applied outwardly to the Sto- mach, will ftop Vomitings. WaTER MinrT. MINTHA AQUATICA. Common wild Plant of the Mint Kind, not » much regarded as it deferves. I “que by Ditch Sides. It is a Foot and half high. ~ The Stalks are {quare, upright, firm, and ftrong, and eenerally of a brown Colour : The Leaves are broad and fhort, they ftand two at a Joint, and Med ee le red Colour ; ant | in round d ck Chifters at the Zope ot He e Stalks, and round the — upper Joints. T Smell, not difagreeable, But of a. R 3 oe 246 The Ufeful Family Herbal. tween that of Mint, and Penny-royal: And the Tafte is ftrong and acrid, but it is not to be cal- led difagreeable. A diitilled Water of this Plant is excellent a- gainft Cholics, Pains in the Stomach and Bowels, and it will bring down the Menfes, A fingle Dofe of it often cures the Cholic. The Ufe of Pepper-Mint has excluded this kind from the pre- fent Practice, but all threeought to be ufed. Where a fimple Weaknefs of the Stomach is the Com- plaint, the common Mint fhould be ufed,; when cholicky Pains alone, the Pepper Mint; and where Suppreffions of the Menfes, are in the Cafe, this _ wild Water-Mint: They may all be given in the Way of Tea, but a fimple Water diftilled from * them, and made fufficiently ftrong, is by much the moft efficacious, 3 PEPPER Miyr, MENTHA PIPERATA.,. A Plant kept in our Gardens, but much more _refembling the wild Mint laft defcribed, than the Spear Mint, both in Form and Qualities. It grows two Feet and ahalf high. The Stalk is {quare and firm, upright, and of a pale Greens the Leaves ftand two at each Joint: They are broad, not very long, of a dark Green, and fer- rated ee at the Edges. The Flowers grow in thick Spikes, but not very long ones, they are darge, and of a pale Red. The whole Plant has ereeable ee cane and a hot Taifte like Ce eee ee a2 if the beft Way ive the diftilled cures the Cholic often almoft inftantaneoufly, and itis good againft the Gravel, The Ufeful Family Herbal. 247 Lonc LeEavepD WILD Mint. ; MENTHASTRUM. A Singular wild Plant, of the Mint Kind, but not without its Beauty; it 1s two Feet high, and grows with great Regularity. The Stalk is {quare, firm, and of a pale Green, very upright, and at the Top full of young Shoots. The Leaves are long and narrow; they are of a whitifh Green, deeply indented about the Edges, and pointed at the Ends: The Flowers {tand in Spikes, at the Tops of the young Shoots; they are pale, red and large, and very numerous. The whole Plant ter is. difagreeable. It nnd promores the Menfes. It is in this latest E ES M ji se : The MYRTLE. MYR TUS. A Little Shrub very beautiful in its Manner of Growth, a Native of Italy, but common in our Gardens. The Trunk is covered with a rough brown Bark. The Branches are numerous, flender, tough, and redifh. The Leaves are very NEE and full of Threads: The Fruit is a round bli ss : Crown at the Top. The L whet have an extremely aie ng Smell. The; ‘ise a. re they are fmall, fhort, of-a fine Green, } 248 The Ufeful Family Herbal. will bear our Climate better than is imagined, there are, in fome Places Hedges, of it five or fix Feet high that ftand the Winters, without the leaft The Leaves and Berries of the Myrtle are ufed, they are cordial and aftringent. A ftrong Infufion of the frefh Leaves is good againft a flight Purg- ing, ftrengthning the Stomach at the fame Time that it removes the Complaint. The dried Leaves powdered, are excellent againft the Whites. The Berries are good againft Fluxes, Overflow- ings of the Menfes, and in Spitting of Blood. MIstetTor. VISCUS. A Singular Plant, Native of our own Country, but growing not on the Earth as other Herbs, but upon the Branches of Trees; on which it makes a very confpicuous Figure. It grows two Feet high, and its Branches are fo numerous, and fpread in fuch a Manner, that the whole Plant is as broad as tall, and appears a round yellow Tuft of that Diameter, quite unlike to the Tree on which it grows, in Fruit, Leaves, and Bark. The main Stem is half an sie Diameter, the Branches divide always: by two’s, and eafily break at the Joints or Divifions, The ee is throughout _of a yellowith Colour, though with fome Mixture of eran on the young Shoots; the Leaves are alfo yellowifl grow two at each Joint: — re flefhy, oblong, narroweft at the Bottom toward the Top. The Sewer are i » but they are fmall and inconfiderable ; ee white Berry, round, and of te Bie = pha Fee thie fall oF a ouch » clammy Juice. sed cg The Useful Family Herbal. 249 The Leaves of Mifletoe dried and powdered are a famous Remedy for the falling Sicknefs. They are good in all nervous Diforders, and have been known to perform great Cures taken for a Continuance of Time. The INDIAN MYROBALAN TREE, MYROBALANUS INDICA. Tree Native of the warmer Climates, and not yet gotinto our Gardens. It grows to twenty Feet high. The Branches are numerous, and very itregularly difpofed. The Leaves are long and narrow: The Flowers are white, and like the Blof foms of our Plum-Trees ; and the Fruit refembles a Plum, oblong and flefhy, with a long Stone or Kernel, but the Fruit is generally gathered before the Stone hardens, fo that it feems to have none. We ufed os have the Fruit brought over, and it was given as a Purge, but at preene mone. re- gard it. There are alfo four others of the fame Kind, the Names of which we fee in Books of Me- dicine, but the Fruits are not to be met with, nor is it much Lofs, for we have better Things to anfwer their Purpofes.. They were called the Cis trine, Chebule, Belleric, and Emblec Myroba- laus, they are all ufed. as gies but cORGDE Sena is worth them all. Moonwort. LUNARIA. ¥ Very fi pays and very pretty Plant, frequent * in fome Parts of the Kingdom, but in moft very fearce. It grows fix Inches high; and con-_ fifts of the Stalk one Leaf and the Flowers. age: Stalk is round, firm, and thick. aked to < the oo and there eed the Leaf, 250 The Ufeful Family Herbal. compofed as it were of feveral Pairs of {mall ones, or rather is a whole and fingle Leaf divided deeply, fo as to refemble 2 Number of fmaller; thefe are rounded and hollowed, and thence came its Name of Moonwort; from the Bafe of this Leaf, the the Stalk is continued up an Inch or two, and then rife the Clufters of Flowers and Seeds, thefe are very fmall, and like Duft, and of a brown Colour. The Leaves of Moonwort dried and given in Powder, ftop Purgings, and the Over- flowings of the Menfes. The frefh Plant bruifed and laid to a Cut, ftops the Bleeding, and heals it in a Day or two. | Harry TREE Moss. USNEA. Very fingular Plant, of the Mofs Kind, fre+ uent in our large Forefts, but rare elfewhere it grows to the Branches of old Oaks and Bufhes, and hangs down from them in long Strings. The Tufts oe it are often a Foot long, and in the whole two or three Inches thick, they are com- pofed of a great Quantity of Stalks and Branches, the largeft not bigger than a large Packthreads thefe are of a grey Colour, and are compofed of a foft Bark, and a firm white Fibre within, this Bark is often cracked, and the Branches appear jointed, the fmall Fibres of the Plant refemble Hairs: On the larger grow at certain Seafons, little Se Bodies. Thefe contain the ra . they are too minute to be diftinguifhed fingly. The whole Plant is dry, and faplefs as it grows, and has not the leaft Appearance of Leaves upon it, ie ¢ The Ufeful Family Herbal. 25% The Powder of this Mofs, is an excellent Af- fringent ; it is to be dried in an Oven, and beat ina Mortar: The white Fibres will remain, when the foft Part has gone through theSieve, they are of no Ufe, the other has all the Virtue. — It is good againft the Whites, againft Overflowings ef the Menfes, and bléody Fluxes, and againit Spitting of Blood, it deferves to be much more regarded, than itis in the prefent Practice. “The Dofe is half a Dram. Cup Moss. MUSCUS PYXIDATUS. A Common little Plant on Ditch Banks, by Wood Sides, and in y barren Places. It confifts @f a thin Coat of a r Matter, fpread si n the Surface of the Ground, and of a kind of little y_ i | inclines ie grow one from the Edge ofa ano- ther, up to the third or fourth Stage: They have alfo many other accidental Varieties; and fome- times they bear little brown Lumps, which are fuppofed to contain the Seeds. Spe whole Plant is to be ufed, it is to be taken | a : is 3 of the Liquor, and it is to be fweetened with — Honey, It is an excellent Medicine for Childrens "Cong 2 252 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Coughs: It is recommeded particularly in that called the Chincough, . Common Grounp Moss, MUSCUS TERRESTRIS VUL- = Mae ARTS, A Pretty but very fmall Plant. It creeps on ' the Ground, or rifes in Tufts two or three Inches. high, eee the Place. The Stalks are very flender, but they are thick covered with Leaves, and their Branches are difpofed in fuch a Manner, that they in fome Degree refemble Fern. The Leaves are very fall, of a triangular Shape, and of a bright Green ; they ftand loofely on the Part of the Stalks, but on the upper, they ie clofe and cover them. It very rarely produ- is ufed, it is to be dried and powdered, and is UY with Succefs againft Over- lowing enfes, and all Bleedings, it is - it acquire any parti- Pas been laid by Accident, The Ufeful Family Herbal. 253 or has been laid on Purpofe in its Way: In other Places, they ufe the Sort of white Mofs, that grows upon our old Apple-trees. Both thefe are in their own Nature Aftringents, but they are as good if taken from Trees, or off the Ground, as if found upon thefe Bones. They have been fuppofed good againft Diforders of the Head, when gathered from the Skull, but this is all Fanfy. MoTHeR or THYME. SER PYLiLUM: A Common wild little Plant, but very pretty, very fragrant, and of great Virtues. It grows in little Tufts by Way-fides, and.on dry Hillocks ; the Staks are round, flender, redifh, and fix or ight Inches long, but they do not ftand upright. The Leaves are very fmall, and of an oval sure, they grow two at each Joint, and they are iia 1, and of a bright Green. The Flowers are of a pale red, and ftand in little Tufts at the Tops of the Stalks, the whole Plant has a very fragrant Smell, and an aromatic and agreeable Tafte. It is a better Medicine in nervous Cafes, than moft that are ufed, the frefh Plant or dried, may be as Tea, it is very agreeable to the Tafte, and by a Continuance will cure all the common nervous Diforders. The Nightmare is a very trou- blefome Difeafe, and often puzzles. the Phyfician, but it will be perfectly cured by a Tea made of this Plant. 254 The Ufeful Family Herbal: MoTHERWoRT. CARDIACA. Tall and not unhandfome wild Plant. I¢ grows wild about Farm-yards, and in dry Places. It is a yard high, the Stalk is fquare, thick, upright, and firm. The Leaves ftand on long Foot-Stalks, two at each Joint. They aré divided into three Parts, the Middle one being the longeft, and are deeply indented at the Edges; of a dark green Colour, and bad Smell. The Flowers are of a pale Red: They grow in a Kind of prickly CUPS from the Bofoms of the Leaves, furrounding the Stalks. The Root creeps, and is w. ‘ ~The whole Plant may be ufed dried, but the Tops frefh cut are beft; they are to be given in a ftrong Infufion or Decoétion. It is good againft hyfteric Complaints, and it promotes the Menfes. It is famous for curing the Palpitation of the Heart, when that arifes from an hyfteric Caufe: For there are Palpitations, which nothing can cure. MouSE-EAR. - PILOSELLA. 7 neath, ally feen, that the whole looks whitifh. The Stalks trail upon the and Root at every eg Ao! ye have long Hairs upon them. a: s which fupport the Flowers rife fingle. , They are hairy, they have no Leaves, and each The Ufeful Family Herbal. 255 bears only one Flower, this ftands on the Top, and is large, fomewhat of the Form of the Dan- delion Flower, but of a beautiful pale Yellow. The Seeds are winged with Down, and the Stalks when broken yield a milky Juice, but in no great Quantity. The Plant has fearce any Smell, but an auftere bitterifh Tafte. A Decoétion of the frefh gathered Herb is ex- cellent againft the Bleeding of the Piles: And the Leaves boiled in Milk, may be applied externally. It is good alfo in the Overflowimgs of the Menfes, and in all other Bleedings, and in the Whites. Mucwor’m. ARTEMISIA. high or more: The Stalk is round, ftriated, often purplifh, firm, upright, and branched. The Leaves ftand irregularly upon it, they are large, and compofed of a Number of {mall Parts, which are fharply indented and pointed. They are of a dufky Green on the upper Side and white under- neath. The Flowers are little and brownifh, they _ ftand in fmall Tufts all along the upper Parts of the Branches, but. they ftand upright, whereas thofe of Wormwood hang down. They often have a Tinge of Purple before they are quite i which adds greatly to the Beauty of the t. The Leaves of Mugwort are to be ufed frefh or dried, they are beft given in Infufion, and they are excellent to promote the Menfes, and againft © all the common hyfteric Complaints. ~ ree 2c6. The Ufeful Family Herbal. The MuLBERRY TREE. MORUS. a Large and irregularly growing Tree, com mon in our’Gardens. The Branches are nu- merous and fpreading, the Leaves are very beau- tiful, large, broad, of a bright Green, pointed at the End, and delicately ferrated round the Edges. The Flowers are fmall, and inconfiderable: The Fruit is fufficiently known, it is large, oblong, juicy, and compofed of a great Number of {mall Granules: It is ufually black when ripe. But there is a Kind with white Fruit. The Bark of the Root of the Mulberry Tree frefh taken off and boiled in Water, makes an excellent Decoétion againft the Jaundice, it opens Obftruéctions of the Liver, and works by Urine. A very pleafant Syrup is made from the Juice of the ripe Fruit, with twice the Quantity of Sugar. It is cooling, and is good for fore Mouths, and . to quench Thirft in Fevers. WritTe MuLLIEN. | VERBASCUM ALBUM. | At and ftately wild Plant, fingular for its ™ white Leaves, and long Spike of yellow Flowers and frequent on our Ditch Banks, and in ‘dry Places. It grows fix Feet high; the Leaves tifing from the Root, are a Foot long, as broad _ @s one’s Hand, fharp-pointed, ferrated about the Edges, and covered with a white downy or wool- ly Matter. - The Stalk is thick, firm, and very Upright wand is covered with fmaller Leaves of the fame Kind: The Flowers ar yellow and large, __ they ftand in Spikes, of two Feet long, three or ee won four oe oe =3 3 ‘. The Ufeful Family Herbal. 257 four only opening at a Time, the Seeds are fmall and brown, the Root is long and fhaggy. The Leaves are ufed, and thofe are beft which grow from the Root, hed there is no Stalk. They are to be given in Decottion againft the Overflowings of the Menfes, the Bloody Flux, the Bleeding of the Piles, and Spitting of Blood ; Boiled in Milk, they are alfo excellent by way of Pultice to the Piles, and other painful Swellings. MusTARD. oF Pods of the Seed follow them. The whole Plant is of an acrid pungent Tafte. The Root is white. The Seeds are the Part ufed ; what we call Mu- © ftard, is made of them, and it is very wholefome , it itrengthens the Stomach, and procures an Appetite. The Seed bruifed and taken in large Quantities, works by Urine, and is excellent againtt Rheu- matifms, and the Scurvy. It alfo promotes the Menfes. Laid upon the Tongue it will fometimes teftore Speech in Palfies, 258 The Ufeful Family Herbal. “"TREACLE MUSTARD. THLASPI DISCORDIS, “A bittle wild Plant with broad Leaves, white Flowers, and flat Pods, common in dry Places. It is eight Inches high, the Stalk is round, and ftriated. The Leaves are oblong, and broad, of a pale green Colour, and dentated round the Edges. They ene irregularly on the Stalks, and have no Foot-St “The Flowers are very fmall, a little Tuft of them ftands at the Top of the Stalk, and the Pods follow them, fo that the ufual Appearance, when the Plant is in Flower, is a fhort Spike of the Pods, with a little Clutter, of Flowers on the Top; the Pods are large, flat, roundifh, and edged with a leafy Border. The Seeds are fmall, brown, and of a hot Tafte. The Seed is the Part ufed, but our Druggifts gene-— rally fell the Seeds of the Garden- Crefs, in the Place of it. It is not much regarded. Mituripate MustTarpD. THLASPI INCANO FOLIO. At Little wild Plant common in Corn Fields. It at narrow, a little hairy, and of a dufky Green. The Flowers are fmall and white, a and. = Pods d of this is ufed alfo, oi tole a chins The Matter is for shi Crefs Seed ferves tor bodes a for they feem to have the fame Vir- ae tues, - The Useful Family Herbal. i 59 tues, and neither is minded, except as Ingredients in Compolitions. The Myrru TREE, MYRRHA. A tree concerning which we have but very im- perfect Accounts, and thofe not well warrant- ed for genuine. All that we hear of it is, that the Branches are numerous, and have Thorns on them, that the Leaves are oblong, broad, and of a ftrong Smell, and that the Bark of the Trunk isrough, and of a greyifh Colour. The Gum Refin called Myrrh, is certainly pro- cured from fome Tree in the hot Countries, but Whether this be a true Defcription of that Tree, there is no Certainty. The Gum itfelf is a very t Medicine, it opens all Obftructions of the ifcera; is good in Confumptions, Jaundices, and Dropfies; and is excellent for promoting the Men- fes, and affifting in the natural and neceffary Dif- charges after Delivery : It is to be given in Powder, the Tincture diffolves it but imperfectly ; but this peeccliece againft Diforders of the Teeth and ums. N, SweeT Navew. ee NAPUS. : ~ the common Turnip in its Afpeét and Ap- Pearance. It grows a Yard hi The Stalle is” _ Found, fmooth, and ofa pale Green. The Leaves oe ee $2 _ ftand 260 The Ufeful Family Herbal. ftand-irrecularly on it, and they ase oblong, broad at the Bafe, where they furround the Stalk, and narrower all the Way to the Point. The Leaves, which grow from the Root, are much larger, and deeply cut in at the Sides; and they are all of a pale or bluifh green Colour. The Flowers are {mall and yellow, and the Pods are long. The Seed is round and black. The Root is white and large, and has the Tafte, but not the sa Shape of the Turnip, for it is rather like a Parfni hip. The Seeds are ifed, but not much. A Decoc- tion of them is faid to promote Sweat, and to drive any thing out to the Skin, but it does not feem to deferve any great Regard. Witp Navew. BUNIAS. at ERE Plant which produces what we cal] Rape- Seed, and in fome Places Cole-Seed. Tho’ wild on our Ditch Banks; it is fown in fome Places for the Sake of its Seed, from which an Oil is made for mechanical Purpofes. The Plant is two or three Feet high, the Stalk is round, upright fmooth, thick, firm, and of a pale Green, the lower Leaves are long and narrow, very deepl divided at the Edges, and of a pale or blu green Colour. Thofe on the Stalk are of the = ee Colour, byt fmall, narrow, and little divided: ‘The Flowers are fmall and of a bright Yellow. - The Pods are long, and the Seeds are round, large, The Ufeful Family Herbal. 261 Coric NarRp. NARDUS CELTICA. A title Plant of the Valerian Kind, frequent in 4 many Parts of Europe, but not a Native of England. It is fix or cight Inches in Height, the Stalks are round, ftriated, and greenifh: The Leaves the Bottom, are oblong, narrow at the Bafe, and rounded at the End, and of a yellowifh green Co- lour. Thofe on the Stalks ftand in Pairs, they are fmall and deeply cut; the Flowers ftand in a little Clufter'at the Top of the Stalk; they are fmall and white, the Root is long, flender, and very moderately, jt is commended in Fevers ar in the Jaundice. by Urine, and in fome Degree by Sweat, but hae NETTLE. RL a RB Plant too common to need much Defcription. It is three Feet high, the Stalks are angu- lated and rough ; the Leaves are large, and of a beautiful Shape, regularly from >a broad Bafe diminifhing to a fharp Point, and nicely ferrated round the Edges; the Colour of thefe and of the Stalks, is a dufky Green, and they are both co- vered with a Kind of Prickles, which eafily make their Way into the Skin, and have at their Bafe, a hollow Bag of fharp Juice, which gets into the Wound, occafioning that Swelling in Inflamma- tion pee ie te os The oe es may res diftingt 1ifh 1 hefe_ ag: at the Bottom rt e Prickles f = onthe Stalk of a full grown Nettle, but aNi == = Pee oe s aS kage os 262 The Ufeful Family Herbal. the Nettle are yellowith, little, and inconfiderable, the Seeds are fmall, and round, the Root is long and creepin The Tice ‘of the Nettle is good againft Over- flowin ngs of the Menfes. The Root is to be given in Infufion, and it works powerfully by Urine, and is excellent againft the Jaundice. The Roman NETTLE. URTICA ROMANA. A Wil Plant of the Nettle Kind, but not com- “mon. It is two Feet high, the Stalks are round, and of a deep green Colour. The Leaves are large, and of a deep green alfo; broad at the Bafe, narrow tothe Point, and deeply ferrated. The Flowers are fmall, and inconfiderable, Fruit is a round ball, as big as a large i= it ftands on a long Foot-Stalk, and is of a deep green Colour, and full of {mall brown Seeds. All the Plant is covered with the fame Sort of Prickles as the common Nettle, but they are fhorter and finer, they are filvery white at the Tips, and have the fame Bag of Liquor at the Bafe, and they fting very terribly ; more a great _ deal than the common Nettle. The Seeds are the Part ufed, they are £8 neil ea Coughs, Shortnefs of Breath, and Hoarfe- nefles, the Seeds of the Common Nettle are com~ The Useful Family Herbal. 263 CoMMON NIGHTSHADE. SOLANUM VULGARE. A Wile Plant, that over-runs Gardens, and all other cultivated Places, if not continually weeded out. It grows two Feet high, the Stalks are roundifh, thick, but not very erect or ftrong, and of a dufky Green. The Leaves are broad and roundifh, but they terminate in a Point. They are of a dark green Colour, and ftand on Foot-Stalks. The Flowers, grow in little Clu- fters, ten or a Dozen in a Bunch, they are white, with a yellowifh Center, and they are fucceeded by round black Berries. The Leaves are uled frelbe id only external- ly. They are very cooling, and are applied bruifed to In oo ee Scale Burns, gy career a Eruptions on the Skin. 7 DreapLy NIGHTSHADE. SOLANUM LETHALE. I T may feem ftrange to mix a Poifon among Medicines, but a Part of this Herb has its Ufes. This is a wild Plant of a dull and difmal Afpect. - It grows five Feet high. The Stalks are angu- lated, and of a deep Green. The Leaves are very Jarge, broad, and flat, and they alfo are of a dull dead Green. The Flowers ftand fingly on long- Foot-Stalks, arifing from the Bofom of the Leaves, and they alfo have the fame difmal Afpect, they are large, hollow, and hang down. On the Out- 264 The Ufeful Family Herbal. mawkifh Tafte. The Root is long. The Berries are fatal, Children have often eat them, and pe- rifhed by it. The Leaves externally applied are cooling and foftening; they are good againft the Ringworm and Tetters, and againft hard Swel- lings. They have very great Virtue in_this Re- fpect, but the Plant fhould be kept out of the Way of Children, or never fuffered to grow to Fruit, as — the Leaves only are wanted. - woe sine NUTMEG ER Ex. NUX MOSCHATA. Tall, fpreading Tree, Native only of the _ 4% warm Climates: The Trunk is large, and the Branches are numerousand irregular ; the Bark is of a greyifh Colour, and the Wood light and foft. The Leaves are large, long, and fomewhat broad: they are not unlike thofe of the Bay Tree, but bigger, and are of a beautiful Green on the up- per Side, and whitifh underneath. They ftand irregularly, but often fo nearly oppofite, that _ that they feem in Pairs, as we fee in the Leaves of fome of our Willows. The Bloffom is of the Shape and Bignefs of that of our Cherry Tree, but its Colour is yellow. The Fruit which fucceeds this, is of the Bignefs of a fmall Peach, and not ~ unlike it in the general Form, when cut open there . ‘appears firft the flefhy Coat which is a Finger thick, and of arough Tafte, then the Mace fpread over a woody Shell, in which is the Nutmeg. We often have the whole Fruit fent over pre- ferved. ; The Nutmeg is an excellent Spice, it ftr er 3 Stomach, ane affifts Digeftion. aa _ ftop Vomitings, and is good againft the Cholic. © When roafted before the Fire, and mixed with 2 The Ufeful Family Herbal. 265 {mall Quantity of Rhubarb, it is the beft of all Remedies againft Purgings. O. : The Oax. QUERCUS. fy Noble and ftately Tree, Native of our Coun- try, and no where growing to fo great Per- known. Galls are produced upon the Oak, not as Fruit, but from the Wounds made by an Infect. The Bark of the Oak is a very powerful Aftrin- gent, it ftops Purgings, and Overflowings of the Menfes. Given in Powder, a Decoction of it is excellent for the falling down of the Uvula, or as it is called the falling of the Palate of the Mouth. Whenever a very powerful Aftringent is required, Oak Bark demands the Preference over every thing: If it were brought from the Ea/-Indies, it would be held ineftimable, | 266 The Ufeful Family Herbal. The ScARLET OAK. Li & a. A Shrub not much regarded on its own Account, but from the Infeét called Kermes, which is found upon it; and has at fometimes been fuppo- fed a Fruit of it: The Shrub thence obtained its Name of the Scarlet Oak. It grows only fix or eight Feet high. The Branches are tough, and covered with a fmooth greyifh Bark. The Leaves are an Inch long, three Quarters of an Inch broad, of a Sa approachin to oval, ferrated about the nd in a fickly. The Flowers are fmall oad inconfiderable, the Fruit is an Acorn like that of the common Oak, but fmaller, ftandin in its Cup. The Kermes, or fcarlet Grain, is a imal round Subiftance of the Bignefs of a Pea, of a finé red Colour within, and oF a purplifh Blue with- out, covered with a fine hoary Duft, like a Bloom oyu a Plum. It is an Infect at that Time full oung. — When they intend to preferve it in its vn I they find Ways of deftroying the Prin- apie oF Life within, elfe the young come forth, and it is fpoiled: When they exprefs the Juice, they bruife the whole Grains, and fqueeze it through a Hair Cloth; they then add an equal Weight fine Sugar to it, and fend it over to us under tl ame of Juice | of Kermes ; this is The Ufeful Family Herbal. 267 Oak OF JERUSALEM. BOTRYS. .. Abitle Plant, Native of the warmer Countries, and kept in our Gardens, with Leaves which have been fuppofed to refemble thofe of the Oak Tree, whence it got its Name, and fmall yellowifh Flowers. The Stalk is a Footand half high, round- ith angulatedalittle, or deeply ftriated, and of a pale Green, the Leaves are of a yellowifh Green, and of a rough Surface; they are oblong, fomewhat broad pointed at the Ends, and deeply cut in on the Sides. The Flowers ftand in abundance of The frefh Plant is to be ufed, and it is beft taken in the Manner of Tea, or in Infufion. It is good in Afthmas, Hoarfenefs, and Coughs, and it promotes the Menfes and Difcharges after De- livery. The OLt1iveEe TREE. OLE A; ie 268 The Ufeful Family Herbal. The Oil is the only Produce of this Tree ufed in Medicine, it is prefied out of the Fruit, and is excellent in Diforders of the Lungs, and againft Cholics, and Stoppages of Urine. But in the latter Cafes the Oil of fweet Almonds frefli prefied referable, and for the firft Linfeed Oil; fo that Of of Olives, or as it is called fallad Oil is feldom ufed in nbsestiace a unlefs thefe others cannot be e "The Onron. “et te he. S fi Gommon: Plant in our Gardens, known at Sight by its hollow tubular Leaves. It grows two Pet and ahalf high. The Leaves are long, rounded, of the Thicknefs of a Man’s Finger, and hollow. The Stalk is round alfo, and has at the ‘Top a round Clufter of little Flowers, thefe are of a mixed pyrplifh and greenifh Colour; and of a ftrong Smell as has the whole Plant. The Root is the Part ufed, it is roundifh and compofed of a great Multitude of Coats laid one over another. A Syrup made of the Juice of Oni- ons and Honey, is excellent for an Afthma. The Ororenkx Eee: OPOPONAX. A Large and robuft Plant, of which we have ** but imperfect Defcriptions: it is a Native of the Eaft, and has not been brought into Europe. It is faid to be eleven or twelve Feet high: The Stalk round, _ Sarg and hollow. The Leaves fed of a vaft Number — repent ace oe The Ufeful Family Herbal. 269 broad, brown, and of a {trong Smell, ftriated on the Surface, and flatifh. The Root:is faid to be long and large, and full of an acrid and milky Juice. Ss We ufe a Kind of Refin, which is faid to be colleéted from this Root, after it has been wounded to make it flow in fufficient Quantity: But the whole Account comes to us very imperfect, and upon no very found Authority, however it feems propable. The Refin is brownifh or yellowifh, and in fmall Pieces. It is an excellent Medicine againft nervous Complaints ; and particularly againft Dif- orders of the Head. It works by Urine and pro- motes the Menfes ; and has a Tendericy to ope- rate, though very gently by Stool. It is not fo much ufed as it fiver ad Be. Ihave experi- enced excellent Effects from it. a The ORANGE TREE. AURANTIA MALUS. _ A Beautiful and valuable Tree, Native of Spain, Italy, and the Eaf. It grows toa confidera- ble Bignefs, and its Branches fpread irregularly. The Bark of the Trunk is brown and rough, that of the Branches is fmooth and greyifh. The Leaves are large, and very beautiful, they are ob- jong and moderately broad, and the Foot-Stalk has an Edge of a leafy Matter on each Side, giv- ing it a Heart-like Appearance. The Flowers are _ white, large, fragrant, and very beautiful. The | ~~ The four or Sevile Orange, is the Kind ufed — = Medicine, but the Peel of ris more than t a 270 ©The Ufeful Family Herbal. though of another Kind, is made of an Infufion of the Peel : But the great Ufe of the Peel is in Tinéture or Infufion asa Stomachic. It is for this Purpofe to be pared off very thin, only the yellow Part being ufeful, and, to be put into Brandy or Wine, or to haveboiling Water poured on it frefh or dry. If a little Gentian and a few Cardamom Seeds be added to this Tinéture or Infufion, it is as good a Bitter as can be made, it prevents Sick- nefs of the Stomach and Vomitings, and.is excel- lent to amend the Appetite, ORPINE. -TELEPHUM. NW Very beautiful wild Plant of a Foot high ot more, with frefh green Leaves, and Tufts of ee. red Flowers, common in our Hedges, in Autumn in many Parts of England. The Stalk is round, and flefhy; the Leaves, are oblong, broad, and indented round the Edges, and their Colour is a bluifh Green. The Flowers are fmall, but they are very beautiful, the Root ie white: and , thicks- The he whole Plant has a flefhy Appearance, and it will grow, out of the Cantu a one: ae taking it Nourifhment fromthe Air. — The Juice of Orpine is good againft the Flux: The beft Way of giving it is made into a thin Syrup, with the fineft Sugar, and with the Addition of fome Cignamibr: Oxey E. ut if 1 wild Plane, common in the gland, but not in other Parts of grows a Foot and a half =e h. = over them feverally a hard Shell. The Ufeful Family Herbal. 27% Leaves are numerous, they are divided each into a Multitude of fine Segments, fo that at a Dif tance, they fomewhat refemble the Leaves of Yarrow, but they are whitifh, The Flowers are large and yellow, they fomewhat refemble a Marigold in Form, and they ftand at the Tops of the Branches. _ The frefh Herb is ufed, they boil it in Ale, and bs itas a Remedy for the Jaundice, it works by rine. i PaLMA CuristTr, _ ae . RICINUS.. SEO Hos A Foreign Plant, kept in our re more. £ hp its Beauty, than Ufe. The Stem is thick, and looks wee toward the Bottom. It grows fix Feet high, and on the upper Part, is covered with a fort of mealy Powder, of a bluifh Colour. The Leaves are large, and very beautiful. They are fomewhat like thofe of the Vine, but they are divided deeply into feven or more Parts, which | are alfo fharply ferrated at the Edges, and they ftand upon long Foot Stalks, which are not in- _ ferted at the Edge, but in the middle of the Leaf. _ The Flowers are fmall: They grow in Bunches _ + toward the Top of the Plant. The Seeds crow | n the S- of the Plant in different Places : are contained in Hufks, and they ae Kernels of thefe Seeds are the Part | fed a . = Eager: little regarded at es 3 Phere d to be hee oF four Kind ofa h 3 272 The Ufeful Family Herbal, body now minds them: They are very violent in their Operation, which is both upwards and downwards, and have been given in Dropfies and Rheumatifis. The O1ty Patm TREE. PALMA OLEOSA. A Very beautiful Tree, Native of Africa and America. It grows moderately high. The Trunk is naked all the Way to the Top, where the Leaves grow in vaft Quantities: They are long and narrow, and the Foot Stalks on which they ftand are prickly. The Flowers are fmall and moffy. The Fruit is of the Bignefs of a Plum, oblong and flattifh, and is covered over with a tough and fibrous Coat. From this Fruit the Native exprefs, what they call Palm Oil: It is a Subftance of the Confiftence of Butter, and of a pleafant, tho’ very little Tafte. This Oil is the only Produce of the Tree ufed: They eat it upon the Spot, but we apply it exter- nally againft Cramps, Strains, Pains in the Limbs, and Weaknefies ; but we feldom meet with it frefh enough, to be fit for Ufe; and at prefent, it has given Place to the famous Opodeldoc, and to fe- _ veral other Things, which have the fame Quali- ties, in a much greater Degree. Panic. PANICUM. AY. fingular and pretty Plant of the Grafs *™ kind, cultivated in fome Parts of Europe. The Stalk is very thick and firm, round, jointed, and a Yard high. The Leaves are graffy, but = _ they are large and broad. The Flowers and Seeds Oe are contained in a long Ear, which is broad and a | flat s The Ufeful Family Herbal. 272 ‘flat: It is compofed of feveral fmaller Ears, ar- ranged on the two Sides of the Stalk, thefe Spikes are hairy. The Seed is round, and is much like Millet, only fmaller. The Seed is the only Part ufed. It is good againft fharp Purgings, bloody Fluxes, and Spitting of Blood. The PariERA BRaAva. PAREIRA BRAVA. A Climbing Shrub of South-America, the Root of which has lately been introduced into Medicine. It grows to twelve or fourteen Feet in Height, if there be Trees or Bufhes to fupport it, elfe it lies upon the Ground, and is fhorter. The Stalks are woody, light, and covered with a rough Bark, which is continually coming off in _ fmall Flakes. “The Leaves are large and broad. The Flowers are fmall, and of a greenifh Colour; and the Berries are round, and when ripe black. The Root is large, woody, and very long and creeping. The Root is ufed. It is of a brownifh Colour, rough on the Surface, and woody, but loofe in its . Texture. It is to be given in Infufion. It is an excellent Medicine in the Gravel, and in Sup-_ preffions of Urine, as alfo in the Quinzy, and it Pleurifies, and Peripneumonies. It works the moft powerfully, and the moft fuddenly, by Urine, of any Medicine: And is fo excellent in forcing away Gravel and fmall Stones, that fome have pretended it a Remedy for the Stone, and {aid it would diffolve and break it. This is going too far; no Medicine has been found that has that . Effect, nor can it be fuppofed, that any can. Great Good has been done by thofe Medicines: ~ which the Parliament purchafed of Mrs. Stephens, : $y = rt Morr 274. The Ufeful Family Herbal. more than perhaps, by any other whatfoever, in this terrible Complaint; but they never diffolved a large and hard Stone. Indeed: there necds no more to be affured of this, than to éxamine one of thofe Stones; it will not be fuppofed, any Thing that the Bladder can bear, will be able to diffolve fo firm and folid a Subftance. PARSLY. PETROSELINUM. AY common Plant in our Gardens, ufeful - in the Kitchen, and in Medicine. It grows to two Feet in Height. The Leaves are com- pofed of many fmall Parts: They are divided into three, and then into a Multitude of Sub-di- vifions: They are of a bright Green, and’ in- dented. The Stalks are round, angulated, or deeply ftriated, flender, upright, and branched. The Flowers are {mall and white; and they ftand in large Tufts at the Tops of the Branches.” The Seeds are roundifh and ftriated. The Root is long and white. The Roots are the Part ufed in Medicine. A ftrong Decoétion of them is good againft the Jaundice. It operates powerfully by Urine, and opens Obftruétions, = = . Parsty PIERT. PERCICIER. A litle wild Plant, common among our Corn, ™* and in other dry Places, with {mall pale — Leaves, and hairy drooping Stalks. It does not _ grow to more than three or four Inches in Length, and feldom ftands well upright. The Stalks are _ yound and whitifh. The Leaves ftand irregular- ly: They are narrow at the Bafe, and broad = =e 3 ties The Ufeful Family Herbal. 275 the End, where they are divided into three round- ed Parts. The Flowers are very fmall: They grow in Clufters at the Joints, and are of a green- ith Colour. TheSeed is fmall and round. The Root is fibrous. : ) The whole Plant is uféd; and it is beft freth; An Infufion of it is very powerful againft the Gravel. It operates violently, but fafely, by . Urine, and it opens Obftructions of the Liver; whence it is good alfo in the Jaundice. ‘There is an Opinion in many Places, of its having a Power of diffolving the Stone in the Bladder, but this is idle: There is, however, a great deal of good to be done in nephritic Cafes, by Medicines which have not this Power. | -_. R200) Maceponian Parsty. © | PETROSELINUM MACEDONICUM. | A Plant kept in fome of our. Gardens. It is two Feet high. The Stalk is flender, branch- td, and hairy. The Leaves are compofed of Many Parts, and thofe are {mall and: rounded: Thofe on the upper Part of the Stalk, are’ more finely divided. The Flowers are {mall and whité like thofe of common Parfly; and they ftand like. them, in Clufters.on the Tops of the Stalks. The Seeds are finall, fomewhat hoary, and of a Sufky Colour. - "od a & _. Phe Seed is ufed; and it it beft given:in Pow- der. It operates powerfully by Urine, «and it is) Sood againft Stoppages of the Menfes, and in the: Gravel-and Cholics, arifing from that Caufe. It ese recommended againft the Dropfy and J aur ie 2 76 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Witp PARSNEP. PASTINACA SYLVESTRIS. Wild Plant, common about our Road Sides. Iris three Feet high. The Stalk is ftrait, upright, round, ftriated, and yellowifh. The Leaves are compofed of many broad Divifions, and refemble thofe of the Garden Parfnep, but they are fmaller. The Flowers are little and yel- low: They grow at the Tops of the Stalks, in large rounded Tufts, and the Seeds are flat, and of an oval Figure. The Root is long, white, and well tafted. . The Root is to be ufed. A ftrong Deco¢tion of it, works by Urine, and opens all Obitructi- ons. It is good againft the Gravel and the Jaun- dice, and will bring down the Menfes, The Pavana SHRUB. | PAVANA. A Shmbby Plant of the Ea/t-Indies, of a beau- tiful, as well as fingular Afpect. It is fix or feven Feet high. The Stem is woody, firm, and naked almoft to the Top. The Leaves grow up- on long Foot Stalks, and they all rife nearly toge- ther, at the upper Part of the Stem: They are large, of a rounded Figure, and divided at the 2 a pg deeply, into feveral Parts: Their isa deep Green. The Flowers are fmall, and of a greenifh Colour. The Fruit is of the Bignefs of 2 Hazle Nut. The Wood is not very firm, and when cut, yields a milky Juice, of 4 very di e Smell. The Wood and the Seeds are ufed; and the have both the fame violent Operation, by Vomit and Stool; but the Wood given in Infufion, and in The Ufeful Family Herbal. 277 ina moderate Dofe, only purges, and that though brifkly, -without any Danger. It is good in Dropfies, and in other ftubborn Diforders ; and is excellent againft Rheumatic Pains. Some re- commend it as a Specific againft the Sciatica. The Seeds are what are called Grana Tigha; but though much fpoken of by fome Writers, they are at this Time very little ufed in the Shops. — The Peacu TREE. PERSICA MALUS. A Tree very frequent againft our Garden Walls. The Trunk is covered with a brown Bark. The Branches grow irregularly. The Leaves are beautiful: They are long, narrow, and ele- gantly ferrated at the Edges. ‘The Bloffoms are large, and of a pale Red. The Fruit is too well known, to need much Defcription: It confifts of a foft pulpy Matter, covered by a =e and inclofing a hard Stone, in which is a Kernel of a -pleafant bitter Tafte. 3 The Flowers are to be ufed. A Pint of Water is to be poured, boiling hot, on a Pound Weight of Peach Bloffoms; when it has ftood four and twenty Hours, it is to be poured off, through a Sieve, without fqueezing, and two Pound of Loaf Sugar is to be diffolved in it, over the Fire: This makes an excellent Syrup for Children. It purges gently, and fometimes will make them puke a little. They have fo frequent Occafion for this; that People who have Children, have rontinual Dfe for ir, 2 * 3 ES ‘PELui- 478 The Ufeful Family Herbal. PELLITORY of THE WALL. PARIETARIA. - 34 Wild Plant frequent on old Walls, ‘with weak Branches, and pale green Leaves... It grows a Foot high, but feldom : altogether erect. The Stalks are round, tender,’ a littlechairy, jointed, and often purplith. The Leaves ftand irregular- ly on them, .and are an Inch’ longy broad in the Middle, and fmaller at each Ne a ‘The Flowers ftand clofe upon the Stalks, and are fall and in- confiderable, of a whitifh green Colour when open, but redifh in the ‘Bud. “The whole Piant is eA, ae it is beft freth. ‘An Infafion of it works well by Unite “Tris ve- Ty! ferviceable in the Jaundice, and is often found a prefent Remedy in Fits of the Gravel, the Infu- fion being taken largely. PEELITORY OF SPAIN. = id YRETHR UM. Aver pretty ‘fittle Plant kept in Our Gardens. It is eight Inches high. ‘The Stalk is round and thick. The Leaves are very finely divided, fo that they refemble thofe of the Camomile, but they are of a pale Green, thick, and ficthy, and the Stalk is purple. The Flowers ftand ‘at the Tops of hie Branches, ‘and are very pretty: _ Whey are of the Shape and Size of the Great Daily or Ox-Eye, White at the Edges, yellow in the Middle, and red on the Back or Underfide. - The Root is long, and fomewhat thick, of a very ~ hot Tafte. The Root is ufed: We have it at the Druggitts. Its great Acridnefs fills the Mouth with Rheum on newing, and it is good againft the Tooth-ach. It The Ufeful Family Herbal. -279 It is alfo good to be sput into the Mouth ‘in Pal- fies, for it will fometimes alone, by its Stimula- tion, reftore the Voice. Penny-ROYAL. PULEGIUM. A Wild Plant, creeping about on marfhy Places, with little Leaves, and Tufts of fed Flowers at the Joints. The Stalks are a Foot long, round, and often of a redth Colour. The Leaves are finall, broad, and pointed at the Ends, and of a pale Green Colour, The Flowers ftand round the Joints in thick Clufters: They are like thofe of Mint, and of a pale Red, and the Cups in which they ftand are ecere a little hairy. The whole Plant has a cae trating Smell, and an acrid but not dilagrecable afte. © os The whole Plant is ufed, freth or dried; but that which grows wild, is much ftronger than the larger Kind, which “is cultivated in Gardens. The fimple Water is the beft Way of takin it, Sshough it will do very well in Infufion, or by ¥ way of Tea. Itis excellent againft Seppe: of the Menfes. a Brack PrEpper.- PIPER NIGRUM. N_ Eaftern Plant, of a very fingular Kind. It grows fix or eight Feet in Length, but.the Stalks are not able to fup rt themfelves upright: They are round, green, jointed, and thick, and when they trail upon the Ground, Roots are fent forth from thefe Joints. The Leavés.are larg “a an Oval Figure, of a firm ee and Ti d highly-: The ftand-on fhort Pedi ‘one at each midpint.. Pee Hlowegs are {mall.and inconfi- < derable’: eS 880 The Ufeful Family Herbal. derable: They grow to the Stalk. The Fruit fucceeds, which is what we call Pepper: They hang upon a long Stalk, twenty or forty together: They are green at firft, but when ripe they are red: They grow black and wrinkled in drying. The largeit and leaft wrinkled on the Coat, are: the beft Grains. The Fruit is ufed, and it is excellent againft all Coldneffes and Crudities upon the Stomach. It gives Appetite in thefe Cafes, and affifts Digeftion. It is alfo good againft Dizzineffes of the Head, and againft Obftructions of the Liver and Spleen, and againft Cholics. We are apt to neglect Things as Medicines, that we take with Food; but there is hardly a more powerful Simple of its ‘Kind than Pepper, when given fingly, and on an empty Stomach. WuitTe Pepper. PIPER ALBUM. ‘THE common White Pepper we meet with, is made from the Black, by foking it in Sea Water till it fwells, and the dark wrinkled Coat falls off; but this though the common, is not the true White Pepper: There is another Kind, which is natural, and has no Affiftance from Art. The White Pepper Plant, has round, thick, and whitifh Stalks: They lie upon the Ground, and _ have large Joints: At each Joint ftands a fingle “Leaf, which is long, and narrow, fharp at the End, and ribbed. The Flowers grow on little ‘Stalks, hanging down from the Joints: They are {mall and yellow. The Fruit is round; at > green, and when ripe white, which is gathe ‘and dried for Ufe. es S ___-This Fruit is ufed. The common White Pep- per is milder than the Black; that is, it is Black ments : Pepper, The Ufeful Family Herbal. 28x Pepper, which has loft a Part of its Virtue: This poffeffes all the Qualities of the other, and yet it has not fo fharp a Tatfte. The Lonc Peprer PLANT. PIPER LONGUM. AN American Plant, in fome Degree refembling the other Peppers, in its general Growth, but not at all in its Fruit. The Stalk is round, thick, jointed, and of a deep green Colour: It is not able to fupport itfelf, but climbs upon Bufhes. . The Leaves are long and narrow: They ftand one at each Joint, upon long Foot Stalks. The Flowers grow upon the Outfide of the Fruit: They are fmall and inconfiderable. The Fruit which is what we call long Pepper, is an Inch and a half long, and as thick as a large Quill, marked with fpiral Lines, and divided into Cells within, in each of which is a fingle Seed, This has the fame Virtues with the common Black Pepper, but in a lefs Degree, it is not fo hot and acrid, and therefore will be borne upon the Stomach, when that cannot. It is excellent to affift Digeftion, and prevent Cholics. The JAMAICA PEPPER TREE. PIPER JAMAICENSE. AN American Tree, in all Refpects different -from the Plants which produce the other Kinds of Pepper, as is alfo the Fruit altogether different. It fhould not be called Pepper: The round Shape of it was the only Thing that led People to give it fuch a Name. The Famaica Pepper Tree is large and beautiful. The Trunk is covered with a fmooth brown Bark. The Branches are numerous, and they are =. = Wi 282 The Ufeful Family Herbal. with Leaves. The Tree is as big and high as our Pear Trees. The Leaves are oblong and broad, of a fhining green Colour: They grow in ‘Pairs, and they ftand on long Pedicles. The _ Flowers grow only at the Extremities, of the Branches: They ftand a great many together, and are fmall. The Fruit which fucceeds, is a Berry, green at firft, and afterwards becoming of a redifh Brown, and in the end black: They are when ripe, full of 2 pulpy Matter, furrounding the Seeds; but they are dried when unripe for our Ufe. . eu The Fruit thus gathered and dried in the Sun, 3s what we call Famaica Pepper, Piamenta, or Allfpice. Tt is an excellent Spice: It ftrengthens the Stomach, and is good againft thesCholic. The beft way to take it is in Powder, mixed with a little Sugar. It will prevent vomiting, .and Sicknefs after Meals, and is one of the :beft known Remedies for habitual Cholics. # GuINEA PEPPER. eo CAPSICUM. “s _ on Plant in our Gardens, diftinguifhed : by its large Scarlet Pods. It grows a Foot and a half high. The Stalk is angulated, thick, and green, tolerably erect, and branched. The Leaves ftand irregularly, and are longifh, pret- a and of a deep green Colour. The Flowers are moderately large and white, witha yellow Head in the Middle: They grow at the Divifions of the Branches. The Fruit follows, and is an Inch and a half long, an Inch thick, and biggeft at the Bafe, whence it grows fmaller te the Point: The Colour is a fine Red, and its Sur- _ face is fo fmooth, that it looks like polifhed Coral: - Itis-a Skin containing a Quantity of Seeds. ae ae The Ufeful Family Herbal. 282 The Fruit is the Part ufed: ‘Heldin the Mouth, it cures the Tooth-ach, for its Heat and Acrimo- ny are greater than in Pellitory of Spain, and it fills the Mouth with Water. ‘Applied externally, bruifed, and mixed with Honey and crumbied Bread, itis good fora Quinzy. ~ PERIWINKLE, VINCA PERVINC A. Very pretty~ creeping Plant, wild in fome ~*~” Places, but kept in Gardens alfo. The Stalks are numerous, and a Foot or more in Length, but they do not ftand upright: They are round, green, and tough, and generally trail upon the Ground.. .The Leaves are oblong, broad, of a fhining green Colour, fmooth ‘on the Surface, and placed two at each Joint. The Flowers are large and blue: They ate Bell-fa-_ fhioned, and ftand on long Foot Stalks: The Fruit Tucededing.. Each is compofed of two longifh Pods; each containing feveral Seeds. The whole Plant: is ufed -freth. It is to be ‘boiled in Water, and the Décoction-drank with a little red} Wine init. It {tops the Overflowing of the Menfes, and the Bleeding of ‘the Piles, Spetr, or St. PeTeRs CORN, | ee Ee : JA Plant of the Corn Kind, refembling, Barley, ~~ fown in fome Parts of Earope, but not much known. in! England. It grows a Foot anda half. high. The Stalk is round, hollow, jointed, and green; the Leaves are oraffy, but broad. At the Tops of the Stalk ftands an Ear like that of Barley, but fmaller and thinner, though with long Beards; the Grain is not unlike py ron? : > 284 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Shape, or between that and Wheat, only much fmaller than either. The Seed or Grain is the Part ufed, it is fup- pofed to be ftrengthening and in fome Degree af- tringent, but we know very little of its Qualities, - nor are they confiderable enough to encourage us to inquire after them. PIMPERNEL. ANAGALLIS FLORE RUBRO. A Pretty little Plant common in Corn Fields and Garden Borders, The Stalks are fquare, fmooth, green; but not very upright: They are five or fix Inches long. The Leaves ftand two at each Joint, and they are of an oblong Figure, confiderably broad in the Middle, and pointed at the End. The Flowers ftand fingly on long flender Foot-Stalks, they are fmall, but of a moft bright fcarlet Colour. The whole Plant is ufed, and the beft Method of giving it, is in an Infufion, made by pouring boiling Water upon it frefh gathered: This is an excellent Drink in Fevers; it promotes Sweat, and throws out the Small Pox, Meafles, or any other Eruptions: The dried Leaves may be given in Powder or a Tea made of the whole dried Plant, but nothing is fo well as the Infufion of it frefh, thofe who have not feen it tried this Way do not know how valuable a Medicine it is. “There is another Kind of Pimpernel, perfectly Tike this, but that the Flowers are blue, this is cal- Jed the female, and the other the male Pimpernel, but the red flowered Kind, has moft Virtue. The The Ufeful Family Herbal. 285 The Pine TREE. PINUS. A Large and beautiful Tree, Native of Italy, but. kept in our Gardens. We have a wild Kind of Pine in the North, called Scotch Fir, but — it is not the fame Tree. The Trunk of the true Pine, is covered with a rough brown Bark, the Branches with a fmoother, and more redifh. The Leaves are long and flender, and they grow al- ways two from the fame Bafe, or out of the fame Sheath, they are of a bluifh green Colour, and are a little hollowed on the Infide: The Flowers are {mall and inconfiderable, they ftand in a kind of Tufts on the Branches ; the Fruit are Cones of a brown Colour, large, long, and blunt at the Top. Thefe contain between the Scales certain white Kernels of a fweet Tafte, and covered with a thin Shell. pete Thefe Kernels are the Part ufed, and they are excellent in Confumptions, and after long Illnefs, given by way of Reftorative. An Emulfion may be made by beating them up with Barley Water, and this will be of the fame Service with com- mon Emulfions for Heat of Urine. The Witp Pine TREE. ‘PINUS SYLVESTRIS. Tree Native of many Parts of Germany, very much refembling what is called the manured Pine, or fimply the Pine before defcribed. ft, grows to be alarge and tall Tree, the Trunk is covered with a rough brown Bark, that of the Branches is paler and fmoother. The Leaves are very narrow, and fhort, they grow two out of a Cafe or Hufk, as in the other, and are of a bluifh green 286 The Ujeful Family Herbal. green Colour. They differ principally in being fhorter. The Flowers are yellowifh, and like the others very fmall and inconfiderable, the Cones are fmall, brown, and hard, and fharp at the Tops, they contain Kernels in their Shells, among. the Scales as the other. but they. are fmaller. The Kernels have the fame Virtues as thofe of the other Pines, but being little, they are not re- garded. ‘The Refin which flows from this Tree, either naturally, or when itis cut for that Purpofe, is what we call common Turpentine. It is a thick Subftance like Honey, of a brownith Co- lour, and very ftrong and difagreeable Smell. When this Furpentine has been. diftilled, to make Oil of Turpentine, the Refin which remains, is what we call common Refin, if they put out the Fire in Time, it is yellow Refin,; if they continue it longer, it is black Refin. They often boil the Turpentine in Water without diftilling it for the _ common Refin; and when they take it out boiled for this Purpofe, it is what we call Bur- undy Pitch. And the whitith Refin which is called Pbus or Frankincenfe, and isa Thin quite different from Olibanum, or the fine Incenie is the natural Refin flowing from the Branches of this Tree, and hardening into Drops upon them. It - does not differ much from the common Turpen- tine in its Nature, but is lefs offenfive in Smell. The feveral Kinds of Pitch, Tar, and Refin are rincipally ufed in Plaifters and Ointments. The etpendiic produced from this Tree alfo, and called common Turpentine, is principally ufedin the fame Manner, the finer Turpentines being pen inwardly. Thefe are procured from the _ Turpentine Tree, the Larch Tree, and the Silver Fir. The yellow Refin and the black are ~ fometimes taken inwardly in Pills, and they are very good againft the Whites, and the zag ead ter The Ujeful Family Herbal. 287 after Gonorrhceas ; but for this Purpofe it is better to boil fome better Sort of Turpentine, to the Confiftence and give it. Prony. PAONIA. Flower common in our Gardens, but of great Ufe as well as Ornament. The common double Piony, is not the Kind ufed in Medicine: This is called the female Piony, the fingle fowered one called the male Piony, is the right Kind. This grows two or three Feet high. The Stalk isround, ftriated, and branched: The Leaves are of a deep Green, and on each compofed of feveral others: The Flowers are very large, and of a deep Purple with a green Head in the Middle. When they are decayed, this Head fwells out into two or more Seed Veffels, which are whitith and hairy. _ on the Outfide, and red within, and full of black Seeds. The Root is compofed of a Number of longifh or roundifh Lumps connected by Fibres to the main Source of the Stalk, thefe are brown on the Outfide, and whitifh within’ The Roots are ufed; an Infufion of them pro- motes the Menfes. The Powder of them dri is good againft hyfteric and nervous Complaints. It-is particularly recommendedagainft the falling _Sicknefs. The Pisracnia TREE. = PISTACHIA. A Tree common in the Eaft. The Trunk is co- vered with a brown rough Bark, theBranches w irregularly, and their Bark is redifh. The aves are each compofed of feveral Pairs of fmalt pnes; thefe are oblong, broad, and of a beautiful ‘ern 3 green 288 The Ufeful Family Herbal. green Colour, and firm Texture. The Flowers grow in Tufts, they are white and fmall, the Fruit which fucceeds is what we call the Piftachia Nut ; it is as big as a Filbert, but long and fharp-point- ed, and it is covered with a tough wrinkled Bark. The Shell within this is woody, and tough, but it eafily enough divides into two Parts, and the Kernel within is of a greenifh Colour, but covered with a red Skin. It is of a fweet Tafte. The Fruit is eaten, but it may be confidered as a Medicine, it opens Obftructions of the Liver, and it works by Urine. It is an excellent Refto- rative to be given to People wafted by Confump- tions, or other long and tedious Illneffes, PitcH TREE. PICEA. A Tree of the Fir Kind, and commonly called the redFir. Itis a tall Tree of regular Growth, the Bark of the Trunk is of a redifh Brown, and it is paler.on the Branches ; the Leaves are very numerous, fhort, narrow, and of a ftrong Green, they ftand very thick, and are fharp, or almoft prickly at the Extremities. The Flowers are yel- lowifh, and inconfiderable ; and the Fruit is a long and large Cone, which hangs down, whereas that of the true Fir Tree, or the -Yewleaved Fir ftands upright. © The Tops of the Branches and young Shoots are ufed: They abound with a Refin of the Tur- - pentine Kind. They are beft given in Decottion, or brewed with Beer. They are good againft the Rheumatifm and Scurvy, they work by Urine, and heal Ulcers of the urinary Parts. | Pitch and Tar are produced from the Wood of this Tree, the Tar {fweats out of the Wood in oes burning; The Ufeful Family Herbal. 289 burning, and the Pitch is only Tar boiled to that Confiftence. To obtain the Tar, they pile up great Heaps of the Wood; and fet Fire, to them at Top, and the Tar fweats out of the Ends of the lower, and is.catched as it runs from them. Burgundy Pitch.is made of the Refin: of, the wild Pine Tree, which is. common. ‘Turpentine: boiled in Water toa certain Confiftence,. if they boil-it longer, it would be Refin, for, the com- mon Refin is only this Turpentine boiled to ai Hardnefs. The AMMONIACUM PLANT. AMMONTACUM. A Tall Plant, Native of the Zaf, and very im- perfectly defcribed to us. yews hear of it is, that it grows on the Sides of Hills, and is five or fix Feet high ; thé Stalkis hollow and ftriated, and painted with various Colours like that of our Hemloc. The Flowers, we are told, are fmall and’ white, and ftand in great round Clufters at the! Tops of the Stalks, the Leaves are very large and’ compofed of a Multitude of {mall Divifions: One Circumftance we can add from our own’ Know-. ledge to this Defcription, and it gives great Proof of the Authenticity of the reft; this:is, that the Seeds are broad, flat, ftriated,and have ai folia-- nous Rim, as thofe of Dill. We could know by. thefe which are found very frequently among. the: Gum, that it was a Plant of this Kind which pro-_ duced it: So that there is great Probability that. the’ reft of the Defcription, which has been given us by thofe who did not know we had this Con-_ firmation at Home, is true. Thefe Seeds often ap~? pear very fairand found. I have caufed a great Number of them to be fown, but they have never gtown. Though oné of the Sagapenuin Seeds grew — 290 The Ufeful Family Herbal. up a little when fown among them: It would be worth while to repeat the Experiment, for fome times it might fucceed. / We ufe a Gum or rather Gum Refin, for it is _ of amixed Nature between both, which is procured from this Plant, but from what Part of it, or in what Manner we are not informed; it is whitifh, of an acrid Tafte, with fome Bitternefs, and is an excellent Medicine. It is fuperior to all other Drugs in an Afthma, and is good to promote the Menfes, and to open Obftructions of all Kinds. The beft Way of giving it is diffolved in Hyffop Water. It makes a milky Solution. "It is ufed externally alfo in Plaifters for hard Swellings, and Pains in the Joints. Broapd LEAVED PLANTAIN.™ PLANTAGO MAJOR. Common Plant by our Way-fides, with broad = fhort Leaves, and long flender Spikes of ' brown Seeds. The Leaves rife all from the Root, | for there are noné upon the Stalk. They are of a fomewhat oval Figure, and irregularly indented at the Edges, fometimes fcarce at all. They have feveral large Ribs, but thefe do not grow fide- ways from the middle one, but all run length- ways, like that from the Bafe of the Leaf toward the Point. The Stalks grow a Foot high, their lower half is naked, and their upper Part thick fet, firft with fmall and inconfiderable Flowers, of a greenifh white Colour, and afterwards with Seeds which are brown and fimall. ; This is one of thofe common Plants, which have fo much Virtue, that Nature feems to have made them common for univerfal Benefir. The whole Plant is to be ufed, and it is beft frefh. A De- — ae I 2 COCUOR The Useful Family Herbal, 2Q1 Coction of it in Water is excellent again{t Over- flowings of the Menfes, violent Purgings with bloody Stools and Vomiting of Blood, the bleeding of the Piles and all other fuch Diforders. The Seeds beaten to a Powder, are good againit the Whites. : There is a broad leaved Plantain. with fhort flowery Spikes, and hairy Leaves, this has full as much Virtue as the Kind already deferibed : The narrow leaved Plantain has lefs, but of the. fame Kind. , PLrowMan’s § PIKENARD, BACCHARIS MONSPELIENSIUM. A Tall robuft wild Plant with broad rough Leaves, and numerous fimall yellowith Flow- - ers, frequent by Road-fides, and in dry Paftures. The Plant grows three Feet high. The Stalks — are round, thick, upright, and a fittle hairy. The Leaves are large, broad from the Root, and nar- rower on the Stalk, they are blunt at the Points, and a little indented at the Edges. The Flowers grow on the Tops of the Branches, fpreading out into a large Head from a fingle Stem, they are little and yellow: The Seeds have Down fixed to them. The Root is brown and woody, the whole _ Plant has a fragrant and aromatic Smell. The Leaves and Tops given in Decoétion, are ‘Sood againft inward Bleedings. The Root dried, and powdered, is a Remedy for Purgings, and is Sood againft the Whites. 292 The Ufeful Family Herbal. PoOLEYMOUNTAIN. POLIUM MONTANUM. A Pretty Plant, Native of the warmer Parts. of Europe, and kept in our Gardens. It is ten Inches high. The Stalks are fquare and whitifh: The Leaves are oblong and narrow, of: a white Colour, and woolly Surface, they ftand two at a oint, and they are indented at the Edges, The lowers are fmall and white. They grow in a Kind of woolly Tufts at the Tops of the Branches. The whole Plant is ufed, it is beft dried; given in Infufion, it promotes the Menfes, and removes Obftructions of the Liver, hence it is recom- mended greatly in the Jaundice. It operates by Urine. Canpy PoLEYMOUNTAIN, POLIUM CRETICUM. A Little Plant of a woolly Appearance, Native. ™* of the Grecian IMands, and kept in fome Gar- dens. It grows but about fix Inches high. The Stalks are fquare, white, weak, and feldom up- right. The Leaves ftand two at each Joint: They are narrow, oblong, and not at all indented at the Edges. They are of a white woolly Af- pet, and of a pleafant Smell. The Flowers are {mall and white, and they grow in Tufts at the Tops of the Stalks: Their Cups are very, white. _ The whole Plant is to be ufed dried. It ope- rates very powerfully by Urine, and is good a- -__ gainft all hyfteric Complaints, but it is not to be ea — to Women with Child, for it has fo much — Efficacy in promoting the Menfes, that it may ~occafion Abortion. == : PoLypopy. The Ufeful Family Herbal. 293 PoLypopy. POLYPODIUM. A Small Plant of the Fern Kind. ‘It is a Foot high, and confifts only of a fingle Leaf. Several of thefe commonly rife from the fame Root, but cach is a feparate and intire Plant. The Stalk is naked for five Inches, and from thence to the Top ftand on each Side, a Row of fmall, oblong, and narrow Segments, .refembling fo many fmall Leaves, with an odd one at the End. The whole Plant is of a bright green Co- lour, but the Backs of thefe Divifions of the Leaf, are at a certain Seafon toward Autumn, ornament- ed with a great Number of round. brown Spots, thefe are the Seeds: Thofe of all Ferns are car- ried in the fame Manner. The Root is long, flender, and creeps upon the Surface of old Stumps of Trees among the Mofs. The Root is ufed, and ~ it is beft frefh, it is a fafe and gentle Purge, the beft Way of giving it is in Decoction, in which Form it always operates alfo by Urine. It is good in the Jaundice, and Dropfies, and is an excellent — Ingredient in Diet-drinks againft the Scurvy, but befide thefe Confiderations, it is a fafe and good Purge, on all common Occafions, The PoMEGRANATE TREE. GRANATUS. Common wild Tree in Spain and Italy, kept with us in Gardens. It grows to the Bignefs of our Apple-trees. The Branches fpread irregu- larly, they have a redifh brown Bark, and have here and there afew Thorns. The Jieaves 2re — : | numerous ; on the Extremities of the Branches they are fmall, oblong, narrow, and of 4 fine 204 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Green. The Flowers are large, and of a beauti- ful deep Red: The Fruit is as big as a large Apple, and has a brown woody Covering ; it con- tains within, a great Quantity of Seeds, with a fweet and tart Juice about them. The Rind of the Fruit is ufed, it is to be dried and given in Decottion; it is a powerful Aftrin- gent: It ftops Purgings and Bleedings of all Kinds, and is good againit the Whites, The WitD PoMEGRANATE TREE. BALAUSTIA. A Smaller Tree than the former, but like it in its Maftner of Growth; except that the Branches aré more crooked and irregular, and are more thorny. The Leaves are oblong, fmall, and of a bright Green, and they are fet in Clufters towards the End of the Branches. The Flowers are beautiful, they are double like a Rofe, and of a fine Purple. - = =a The Flowers are the Part of the wild Pome- granate ufedin Medicine, our Druggifts keep them -. and call them Balautftines. They, are one in Powder or Decoétion to ftop Purgings, bloody Stools, and Overflowings of the Menfes. A {trong Infufion of them cures Ulcers in the Mouth and Throat, and is good a Thing to wafh the Mouth _ for faftening the Teeth. The Pompxtiy, a. Per 0, A Very large and ftraggling Plant, cultivated by our poor People. The Stalks are very long _ and thick, but they lie upon the Ground, they are angulated and rough. The Leaves are ex- tremely large, and of a roundifh Figure, but . te 300 The Ufeful Family Herbal. little Honey and Red Wine, is excellent to wath the Mouth and Throat when there are little Sores in them, and when the Gums are apt to bleed. PuRSLAIN. PORTULACA; A Common Plant in our Gardens, and of a_ve- ry fingular Afpect: We have few fo fuccu- lent. It grows a Foot long, but trails on the Ground. The Stalks are round, thick, and flefhy, of a redifh Colour, and very brittle. The Leaves are fhort and broad: They are of a good Green, thick, flefhy, and broad, and blunt atthe End. The Flowers are little and yellow: They ftand among the Leaves toward the Tops © of the Stalks. The Root is {mall, fibrous, and _ whitith. Purflain is a pleafant Herb in Sallads, and fo wholefome, that ’tis Pity more of it is not eaten: Tt is excellent againft the Scurvy. The Juice freth preffed out with a little White Wine, works by Urine, and is excellent againft Stranguries and violent Heats, and alfo againft the Scurvy. Q The Quince TREE. ORE +s CYDONITIA. A Common Tree in our Gardens, of irregular Growth. The Trunk is thick, and has a brown Bark. The Branches are opaeene” 2 gling, and fpreading. The Leaves are roundifl _ of a dufky Green on the upper Side, and whitith underneath. The Flowers of Bloffoms are large and The Useful Family Herbal. 30% and beautiful, of a pale flefh Colour. The Fruit is of the Shape of a Pear; and has a large Crown: It is yellow when ripe, and of a pleafant Smell : ‘Its Tafte is auftere, but agreeable. The Seeds are foft and mucilaginous. ks The Fruit and Seeds are ufed. The Juice of the ripe Quince made into a Syrup with Sugar, is excellent to top vomiting, and to ftrengthen the Stomach. The Seed, boiled in Water, gives it a. Softnefs, and mucilaginous Quality, and it is an. excellent Medicine for fore Mouths, and may be ufed to foften and moiften the Mouth and Throat in Fevers. R. The Rapisn. RAPHANUS. A Common Plant in our Gardens, the Root of: -* which is eaten abundantly in Spring. In this State we only fee a long and flender Root, of a purple or fearlet Colour, (for there-are thefe Vari- eties) mingled with white; from which grow a Quantity of large rough Leaves, of a deep green Colour, and irregularly divided: Amidft thefe in- Summer, rifes the Stalk, which is a Yard high, round, and very much branched. The Leaves on it are much fmaller than thofe from the Root. The Flowers are very numerous, {mall and white, with fome Spots of red. The. Pods are. thick, long, and fpungy. Sica oes The Juice of the Radith Roots frefh gathered, with a little White Wine, is an excellent Remecy againft the Gravel. Scarce any Thing ‘operates: 302 The Useful Family Herbal. more fpeedily by Urine, or brings away little Stones more fuccefsfully. Horse RaApIsu. RAPHANUS RUSTICANUS. Aliant as well known in our Gardens as the other, and wild alfo in many Places. The Root is very long, and of an exceedingly acrid Tafte, fo that it cannot be eaten as the other. The Leaves are two: Feet Jong, and half a Foot broad, of a deep green Colour, blunt at the Point, and a little indented at the Edges: Sometimes there are Leaves deeply cut, and divided, but that is an accidental Variety. The Stalks are a Yard high: The Leaves on thém are very fimall and narrow, and at the Tops ftand little white Flowers, in long Spikes: Thefe are followed by ~ little Seed-Veflels. The Plant feldom flowers, and when it does, the Seeds fcarce'ever ripen. It - is propagated fufficiently by the Root, and where- ever this is the Cafe, Nature is lefs careful about Seeds. : The Juice of Horfe Radith Root operates ve- _ ry powerfully by Urine, ahd is good againft the Fagulice and Dropfy. The Root whole, or cut to Pieces, is put into Diet Drink, to fweeten the Blood; and the eating frequently and in Quanti- ties; at Table, is good againft the Rheumatifm, oe RAGWORT. eae as JACOB EA: Wild Plant, very common in our Paftures, and diftinguifhed by its ragged Leaves, and _- Clufters of yellow Flowers. It is two Feet high _ The Stalk is robuft, round, ftriated, and often. purplifh. The Leaves are divided in an odd Ps “ eSeeeeees Y ~ nefits and Reachings. The Ufeful Family Herbal. 303 Manner, into feveral Parts, fo that they look torn or ragged: Their Colour is a dark dufky Green, and they grow to the Stalk without any Foot- Stalk, and are broad and rounded at the End. The Flowers are moderately large and yellow, and the Tops of the Branches are fo covered with them, that they often fpread together to the Breadth of a Plate. “The whole Plant has a dif- agreeable Smell. ‘The Root is fibrous, and the Seeds are downy. The frefh Leaves are ufed; but it is beft to take thofe that rife immediately from the Root, for they are laroer and more juicy than thofe on the Stalk: They are to be mixed in Pultices, and ap- plied outwardly as a Remedy againft Pains in the Joints: They have a furprifing Effect, Itis faid that two or three Times applied, they will cure the Sciatica, or Hip Gout, when ever fo violent. _ The RASPBERRY Bus. | RYUBUS IDHA US. A Little Shrub, common in our Gardens,° but wild alfo in fome Parts of the Kingdom. The Stalks are round, weak, tender, of a pale Brown, and prickly. The Leaves are each com-— pofed of five others: They are large, of a pale Green, indented about the Edges, and hairy. “The Flow-_ ers are little, of a whitifh Colour, with a great Quantity of Threads in the Middle. The Fruit is the common Rafpberry, compofed like the Blackberry of feveral Grains: It is foft to the Touch, and of a delicate Tafte. The Colour va-— ries, for white ones are common. - - The Juice of ripe Rafpberries, boiled up with Sugar, makes an excellent Syrup. It is pleafant, _ and agreeable to the Stomach, good againft The 304 The Ufeful Family Herbal, The RaTTie-Snakxe Roor Pranr. SENNEKKA. Small Plant, Native of America, with weak Stalks, little Leaves, and white Flowers: - It grows 2 Foot high. The Stalks are numerous, weak, and round, few of them ftand quite: up- right, fome generally lie upon the Ground. . The Leaves ftand irregularly: They are oblong and fomewhat broad, and of a pale Green. The Flowers are little and white: They ftand in a Kind of loofe Spikes, at the Tops of the Stalks, and perfectly refemble thofe of the commont Plant we call Milkwort, of which it is indeed a Kind: The whole Plant has very much the A fpect of the taller Kind of our Exgli/s Milkwort. The Root is of a fingular form: It is long, irregular, flen- der, and divided into many Parts, and thefe have on each Side, a Kind of. membranous Margin hanging from them, which makes it diftinét in its Appearance, from all the other Roots ufed in the Shops... =. | We owe the Knowledge of this Medicine, ori- _ ginally to the Indians: They give it as a Remedy again{t the Poifon of the Rattle-Snake, but it has been extolled, as poffeffing great Virtues. Dr. Tennant brought it into Exgland, and wé received - it.as a powerful Remedy againft Pleurifies, Quin- - ‘ies, and all other Difeafes where the Blood’ was fizey, it was faid to. diffolve this dangerous Tex- ture, better than-all other known Medicines, but = does not feem to have warranted alto- gether thefe Effects, for it is at prefent neglected, after a great many and very fair Trials. When this Remedy was difcovered, to be the Root of a Kind of Polygola, which Difcovery was ~ ewing to the Gentleman who brought it over, and The Ufeful Family Herbal. 333 SELF-HEAL. PRUNELLA. A Little wild Plant common about Way-Sides, with dark green Leaves, and fhort Tufts of blue Flowers. It grows fix Inches high; the Stalk is fquare, and a little hairy, the Leaves ftand in Pairs upon it, but there are feldom more than two or three Pair, the great Quantity of them rife immediately from the Root, they are oblong, broad, blunt at the Point, and not at all indented at the Edges. The Flowers are fmall, they ftand in a Kindof fhort Spikes or Heads: The Cups of them are often purplifh. The Root is fmall and creeping, and full of Fibres. The Juice of Self- heal is aftringent, it is good againft Purgings, with very fharp or bloody Stools, and againft Overflowings of the Menfes. The dried Herb made into an Infufion, and fweetened with Honey, is good againft a fore Throat, and Ulcers-of the _ Mouth. The SENA SHRUB. SEN A. Little Shrub, three or four Feet high, Na- tive of the Eaft. The Trunk is covered with a whitifh and rough Bark, the Leaves are compofed each of three Pair of fmaller, difpofed on a com- mon Rib, with an odd one at the End: They are oblong narrow and fharp pointed, of a fmooth Surface, a thick Subftance, of a pale Green Colour, and not indented at the Edges. The Flowers are like a Pea Bloffom in Shape, but they are yellow, marked with purple Veins. T he Pods are fhort and flat, and the Seeds are fmall and brown.. : 3 es %. - 334 The Ufeful Family Herbal. We have the dried Leaves from the Eaf, thé Druggifts keep them. They are given ih Infufion, and are an excellent-Purge, but as they are apt to gripe in the working, the common Method is to throw in a few Cardarnom Seeds, or fome other warm Medicine into the Water. BASTARD SENA, COLE TE A- A Common Shrub ‘kept for Ornament in our Gardens: The Trunk is not very robuit, but it keeps upright, and is covered with a whi- _tifh rough Bark. The Leaves are compofed each of feveral Pairs of fmaller, fet on 2 common Rib, with an odd Leaf at the End; but they are rounder, and broader, in Proportion to their length, than thofe of the true Sena. The Flow- ers are yellow: They are but fmall, but they. hang in long Bunches, and are fucceeded by Pods, which look like Bladders, of a greenifh Colour. | bates The Leaves are ufed, fome give an Infufion of them as a Purge, but they are very rough: They work both upwards and downwards, and are only fit for very robuft Conftitutions. For fuch as can bear) them, they are good againft Rheumatic Pains. The SENEGA TREE. ac SENIC A, A Tree frequent in the Zaf, and named from 2 Gum which it affords and which is brought in great Quantities into Europe. The Tree is = large and fpreading, its Trunk is covered with a rough’ Bark, its Branches with a fmoother of a _ pale Brown, and they are very full of on, The Useful Family Herbal. 335 The Leaves are large, and they are compofed of many fmaller fet in Pairs, very beautifully and evenly about a common Rib, with an odd one at the End of each Rib: They are oblong, and of a beautiful Green. The Flowers are white, and of the Shape of a Pea Bloffom, the Fruit is a large and flat Pod jointed or divided into feveral Parts with Seeds in them, the Tree is of the Acacia Kind, in many Things very like that which pro- duces the Gum Arabic, and the Gum which is obtained from it, is in the fame Manner very like that. This Gum is the only Product of the Tree heard of in Medicine, and this is not much. It is brought over, however, in great Quantities, for theDyers ufe a great deal of it. It is in large Lumps of the Bignefs of an Egg; rough on the Surface, but gloffy and fmooth when broken, and of a pale brown Colour. ~ It_ is as eafily and in- tirely diffolved in Water as Gum /rabic, and has the {ame Virtues. It is very feldom called for by Name in Medicine, but it is neverthelefs ’ often ufed, for the Druggifts have a Way of breaking the Lumps to pieces, and putting them among the Gum Arabic; they may be diftinguifhed by their brown Colour, the true Gum Arabic being white ; or yellowihh, if coloured at all, and never having any brown in it: Some pick thefe brown Pieces out, but, upon a feperate Trial, they are found to be fo perfeétly of the fame Nature, that it is a needlefs Trouble. : 336 6The Ufeful Family Herbal. The RicuTr SERVICE TREE. SORBUS LEGITIMA. A Tree wild in fome Parts of this Kingdom, but not known in others, nor even in many of our Gardens. It grows twenty Feet high or more, and the Branches ftand very irregularly. The ‘Leaves are each compofed of feveral Pairs of fmaller, fet on a common Rib, with an odd one at the End; thefe are long, narrow, and ferrated, fo that they have fome Refemblance of the Ash- Tree. The Flowers are not large, they are white, and ftand in Clufters. Each is fucceeded by a Fruit of the Shape of a Pear, and of the Bignefs of fome Pears of the fimaller Kind, thefe are green, except where they have been expofed to the Sun, where they are fometimes redifh ; the Tafte is very pleafant, when they are ripe. ' The unripe Fruit is ufed; they prefs the Juice, and give it againft Purgings, but it is little known. | The Common SERVICE TREE. SORBUS VULGARIS. A Large Tree and very beautiful, its Growth being regular, and the Leaves of an elegant Shape, the Bark of the Trunk is greyifh, and to- lerably fmooth; on the Branches it is brown: The Leaves are fingle, large, and of a rounded Figure, but divided into five, fix, or feven Parts, ~ pretty deeply, and ferrated round the Edges, they are of a bright Green on the upper Part, and whitifh underneath. The Flowers are little and _ yellowifh, and they grow in Clufters; the Fruit is fall’ and brown when ripe. It grows in 3 The The Ufeful Family Herbal. 337 The unripe Fruit of this Service is excellent againft Purgings, but it can only be had Recourfe to when in Seafon, for there is no Way of pre- ferving the Virtue in them all the Year. SHEPHERDS PURSE. BURSA: PASTORIS: THE moft common almoft of all wild Plants, ~ over-running our Garden-Beds, and Court- Yards. The Leaves be fpread upon the Ground, and are long, fomewhat broad, and more or lefs indented at the Edges, for in this, there is great Variation: The Stalks are round, upright, and eight or ten Inches high, they have few Leaves onthem. The Flowers ftand at the Tops in little Clufters, and they ate fmall and white: Below there is commonly a Kind of Spike of the Seed- Veffels; thefe are fhort, broad, and of the Figure of a Bag, or Pouch, and are divided.a little ar the End. The Seeds are fmall and yeHlowith, and the Roots white. The Juice of Shepherds Purfe is cooling and aftringent ; it is good againft Purgings, with fharp and bloody Stools, againft the Bleeding of the Piles, and the Overflowings ot the Menfes. SKIRRET. SISARUM. A Plant kept in our Kitchen Gardens. It grows three or four Feet high. The Stalk is round, hollow, ftriated, and fomewhat branched: The Jeaves are each compofed of three or five {maller, two or four fet oppofite and one at the End; they are oblong, ferrated at the Edges, and fharp pointed; the End Leaf is longer than the others. — The Flowers are little: They ftand. in round | ‘ Z ——— Clufters 338 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Clufters on the Tops of the Branches. The Root is of 2 fingular Form: It is compofed -of feverat long Parts like Carrots. They are of a good’ Taite, and fome People eat them-at their Tables. A Decoétion of them works by Urine, and is good againft the Gravel. The Roots boiled in Milk, are an excellent Reftorative to People who have fuffered long IIlneffes. : The Srozr TREE. “PRUNUS SYLVESTRIS. . 6 ee E. common low Shrub in our Hedges, “ which we call the black Thorn. It is a Plum Free in Miniature. It grows five or fix: Feet high, the Trunk and Branches are all covered with a dark purplifh or blackifh Bark. The Leaves’ -are roundifh, and of a good Green, elegantly den- tated about the Edges. The Flowers are fmalt and white.- The Fruit is a little Plum, of a very’ auftere Tafte. when unripe, but pleafant when mellow. Fhe Juice expreffed from unripe Sloes, is a very good Remedy for Fluxes of the Belly. It may’ be boiled down to a firm Confiftence, and will fo keep the whole Year. We ufed to find this dried~ Juice kept by Druggifts under the Name of German Acacia, but they neglect it. ae SMALLAGE. Sie APIUM. A Common wild Plant, about Ditch Sies, with the Appearance of Celery. Thefe are very numerous and large. The Stalk rifes two Feet and a half in Height, and is round, fmooth, ftriated, and branched. The Leaves on it are like thofe from the Root; compofed of oa sscestcgehesdineliie dattidl — Lhe Ufeful Family Herbal. 339 - {mall Parts, which are broad and indented, but they are fmaller. The Flowers ftand in little Um- bels at the Divifions of the Branches: They are fmall, and of a yellowifh White. The Seeds are fmall and ftriated. The Roots are long, not very thick, white, and of a ftrong, but not difagreea- ble Tafte. tt The Roots are moft ufed, a ftrong Infufion of them frefh gathered, works brifkly by Urine. It is good againft the Gravel, and in Jaundices and other Difeafes arifing from Obftructions in the Liver and Spleen. The Seeds dried are good _ the Cholic, and ftrengthen the Sto- mach, : m The CotuRINE-wooD, OR SNAKE- a at EW OSED-.-1 RRBs Bae LIGNUM COLUBRINUM. | ‘Tall Tree of the £a/, irregular in its Growth, but not without Beauty. The Bark is rougy and brown; the Leaves are large, broad in the Middle, oblong, and’fharp at the Point. They are of a deep green Colour, and firm Subftance : The Flowers aré fmall, they grow in Clufters upon the Branches, not at their Extremities, but in dif- ferent Parts of them. The Fruit is large, and much of the Shape of a Walnut. It is yellow when ripe, and contains a great many round flat Seeds. Thefe are éxaétly of the Shape and Form of what we call Nux Vomica, but they are not half fo big. Some have, for this Reafon, fuppofed the real Nux Vomica to be the Fruit of this Tree; but it is produced by another of the fame Genus. The Wood of the fmaller Branches is uied: This — is what we called Lignum Colubrinum, Adder> Wood, and Snake-Wood. - It-is famous im the, Eoff, for curing Fevers, and deftroying Worms, : Z2 | they 340 The Ufeful Family Herbal. they alfo fay it is a Remedy againft the Bites of Serpents, and hence comes its Name. We have been tempted to give it in fome Cafes, but it feems better fuited to the Conftitutions of the Peo- ple among whom it grows, than to ours : It brings on Convulfions, if given in too large a Dofe, or if too frefh.. It loofes its Strength by Degrees in keeping ; but I don’t know how it can be pof- fible to determine what Dofe to give of fucha Medicine. . SNEEZE-WORT: J) gdtPEA RMICA Very pretty wild Plant, with daify-like Flow- ers, and narrow dentated Leaves. It grows two Feet high. The Stalk 1s round, firm, Up- right, and but-little branched. The Leaves are very numerous, and they ftand irregularly, they are an Inch or more in Length, and very narrow, rough to the Touch, and of a bright Green. The Flowers ftand at the Tops of the Stalks, fo that they form a Kind of round Head, they are lefs than Dafies, and their Leaves broader. The Leaves of Sneezewort dried and powdered; taken by Way of Snuff, are excellent againft the Head-ach. The Roots dried are almoft as fery as Pellitory of Spain, and they cure the Tooth- ach in the fame Manner. A Piece held in. the Mouth, fills it with Rheum in a Minute. “SOLOMONS SEAL, POLYGONATUM. "Pretty Plant wild in fome Places, and frequent ‘din Gardens. It grows a Foot and half high. ‘The Stalk is round, ftriated, and of a pale Green, orna- waked half Way up, and from thence to the Top oe ‘ The Ufeful Family Herbal. 341% ornamented with large oval Leaves of a paleGreen, blunt, fmooth, ribbed, and not at all indented at the Edges. The Flowers hang from the under Part of the Stalk, they are fmall and white, the Fruit is a Berry as big as a Pea, and black when ripe. ©The Root is white, oblong, irregular, and creeps under the Surface of the Ground. The Root is the Part ufed: It is commended. extremely, for an outward Application againft Bruifes. The Root dried and powdered, is good againft Purgings, with bloody Stools, and the frefi Root beat up into a Conferve with Sugar, againft the Whites. . SoPEWORT. SAPONARIA. A Wild Plant, but not very common. It is: two Feet high. The Stalk is round, thick, jointed, and of a pale Green, the Knots are large. The Leaves ftand two at each Joint, they are of | an oval Figure, and dark green Colour; {mooth, not dentated at the Edges, and full of large Ribs. The Flowers ftand in a Kind of Clufters at the Tops, they are white or redifh, and not very large: The Root is knobbed, and has a great many Fibres running from it: Itis of a difagreeable mawkifh Tatfte. The Root is ufed, and it fhould be frefh taken up, a Decoétion of it opens Obftructions, and pro- motes Urine and Perfpiration. It is an excellent { weetener of the Blood. Z 3 SoRREL. 342 The Ufeful Family Herbal. SoRR EL ACETOSA. A Common Plant in our Meadows, with broad and oblong Leaves, ftriated Stalks, and red- ifh Tufts of Flowers. It is a Foot and half high. The Stalk is round, not very firm, upright, and little branched. ‘The Leaves are of a deep Green, angulated at the Bafe, blunt at the Point, and not at all indented about the Edges. The Flowers ftand on the Tops of the Stalks, in the Manner of thofe of Docks, of which Sorrel is indeed a fmall Kind. They are redifh and hufky, the Root is oe and fibrous, the whole Plant has a four Tafte. : The Leaves eaten as a Sallet, or the Juice taken, - are excellent againft the Scurvy. The Seeds are aftringent, and may be given in Powder for Fluxes. The Root dried and powdered, is alfo good againft Purgings, the Overflowings of the Menfes, and Bleedings. ) There are two other Kinds of Sorrel, nearly of Kin to this, and of the fame Virtue: One fmall, called Sheeps Sorrel, common on dry Banks; the other large, with broad Leaves, called Garden - Sorrel, or round leaved Sorrel: This is rather preferable to the common Kind. Befides thefe, there is a Plant called in Englifh a Sorrel, fo different from them all, that it muft be defcribed fepa- rately. : : _ The Ufeful Family Herbal. 343 o~ Woop SoRREL. LUIULA: - A Very pretty little Plant, common. about our Wood Sides, and diftinguifhed by its bright green elegant Leaves, and pretty Flowers.. The - Teaves rife in confiderable Number. from the fame Root ; they ftand three together upon fepa- _ ate long, and very flender Foot-Stalks, of a red- ith Colour, each is of a Heart-like Shape, the broad and indented Part hanging downwards, and the three {fmaller Ends meeting on the Summit of the Stalk. The Flowers are whitifh, tinged with Purple, very bright and delicate, they ftand alio on fingle. Stalks, and rife immediately on the Root. The Seed-Vefféls are large, and when ripe, they burft afunder with the leaft Touch, and the Seeds fy about. The Root. is {mall and. irre- gular. — at 5 eae on The Leaves are ufed, they are to be frefh ga- thered, their Root is very agreeably acid, and the Juice of them makes a pretty Syrup. The Leaves alfo beat up with three Times their Weight of Sugar, make an excellent Conferve. They are good to quench Thirft in Fevers, and they have the fame Virtue with the other, againft the Scur- vy and in fweetening, the Blood. SouTHERNWOOD. ~- ABROTANUM MAS. , A Shrubby Plant, Native of many Parts of Eu- rope, but kept in our Gardens. The Stem ts woody, and tough, and is covered with a brown Bark. The Leaves are divided into fine flender Parts, and are of a pale green, whitifh gee and {trong Smell. Se Flowers are fmall an og 4 £4 344 The Ufeful Family Herbal. yellowifh, they grow in great Numbers on the Top of the Stalk, and are naked, and of a rough Appearance. The Seeds are longifh, and of a pale Brown. : The Tops of the young Branches are ufed: A Decoction of them is good againft Worms, but it is a very difagreeable Medicine. Beaten into a Conferve with three Times their Weight of Sugar, they are not very unpleafant, and they are in this Form good againit nervous Diforders, and in all hyfteric Complaints. SowTHISTLE. SONCHUS ASPER. A Common Weed in our Gardens, and about our Houfes. It is three Feet high, the Stalk is round, thick, green, and upright. The Leaves are long, and not very broad, they are indented at the Edges, and prickly between the Indentings. When any Part of the Plant is broken, there runs out a milky Juice. The Flowers are large, and sllow: They are fomewhat like thofe of Dande- ion, and ftand in a Kind of fcaly Cup. The Seeds have Down affixed to them. The Root is long and white. The Leaves are to be ufed frefh gathered, a ftrong Infufion of them works by Urine, and opens Obftructions. Some eat them in Sallets, but the Infufion has more Power. Thére are three or tour other Kinds of Sowthiftle, common in fome Places with this, and they have all the fame Vir- tues, but this has them moft in Perfection. oo Laces: SpEED- The Ufeful Family Herbal. 3.4.5 SPEEDWEL. VERONICA MAS, A Common little Plant in our dry Paftures, and on Heaths. The Stalks are fix or eight Inches long; the Leaves are fhort, and of an oval Figure. The Stalks are not upright: They trail along the Ground, only rifing at thin upper Parts. The Leaves are of a pale green Colour, a little hairy, and-dentated at the Edges: The Flowers are {mall and blue, they grow in flen- der Spikes, arifing from the Bofoms of the Leaves; the Root is fmall and fibrous. The whole Herb is ufed, and it is beft freth.. An Infufion of it drank in Quantities, works by Urine, and opens all Obftrugtions: It promotes’ the Menfes. There was an Opinion lately that this Plant would cure the Gout. The dried Leaves picked from the Stalks, were fold in our Markets, and People made a Tea of them. The Opinion was fo prevalent, that the Plant was in a Manner deftroyed for many Miles about London, but like all other Things, that want Truth for their Foun- dation, it came to nothing. | SPIGNEL. MEUM. Wild Plant not altogether unlike Fennel. It A grows two or three Feet high. The Stalks. are round, ftriated, and branched, The Leaves are Jarge, and divided like thofe of Fennel, but into narrower, and finer Parts, and they are of a very dark green Colour. The Flowers are little and white, but they fland in Clufters at the Tops. of the Stalks, and are confpicuous by their Num-- ber. The Root is long and brown, and the Flowers of Lark-Spur: They ‘grow in a Spike at the Tops of the Stalks, the « Seed-Vefiels: are notched, and the Seéds - rough. - 2 it cre Te sw nde Sagi . ‘Fhe Seeds até ufed. Some venture to ‘give them inwardly in fmall Dofes againft the Rheuma- tif, and the Venereal Difeafe.” They operate by Vomit and Stool; and bring a great Quantity of Water from the Mouth. The Powder of them is moft. ufed to kill Vermin, by: fprinkling it.ori Childrens Heads, that have been kept. uncleaaly.. 3 s r . erry ~ GoipeEN STOE CHA So oot - STOECHAS CITRINA- A Petty Plant, Native in the warmer Parts of 4% Europe, and kept in our Gardens. ‘It is a fhrubby Herb, two - Feet high, and keeps. its Leaves all the Year. The Stem 1s woody 3. He Leaves ftand thick on the lower Branches and they are longifh, narrow, and whitifh, efpecialy Aa cg ae 354 The Ufeful Family Herbal. on the under Sidé. The Flowers are yellow, and ftand at the Tops of the Stalks, they are dry and chaffy, and may be kept fora long Time. The whole Plant has an agreeable Smell, when rubbed between the Fingers. 3 The leafy Stalks are ufed, their Tops are beft, and thofe frefh gathered: An Infufion of them works by Urine, and opens Obftructions. It is good in Jaundices, and Obftructions of the Menfes. 4 : There is another Plant called Arabian Stoechas, or, French Lavender. It has been defcribed already under the Head of Lavender, to which it belongs, for it is altogether different from this Plant. _ The Strorax TREE. ST YRAX ARBOR. A Small Tree, Native of the Laff, and fome Parts'of Europe, but in Europe it yields. none of the Refin we call Storax. We have it in fome Gardens. ~-It-is twenty Feet high, the Trunk is covered with a brown Bark: That on the Branches is greyith, the Leaves are of a brown- ith or a dufky Green on the upper Side, and whitifh underneath: The Flowers are white and large, the Fruit is like a Nut, roundifh and lit- tle, and is covered with a woolly Coat, three of the Flowers grow together ufually, and are fucceeded by three of thefe. a We ufe no Part of the Tree, but @refinous Subftance, which is produced from it. This is kept at the Druggifts, and is redifh and of a fragrant Smell, but very foul. It is good in all Difeafes of the Breaft and Lungs, being an ex- cellent Balfam. It is alfo good in all nervous and. hyfteric Complaints, and it promotes the \ ~ x * The Ueful Farhily Herbal. 355 The STRAWBERRY Pianr. FRAGARIA. Avy common little Plant, both in our Woods “and Gardens, The Leaves ftand three upon each Stalk, and they dre large, broad, fharp at ‘the Point, and ferrated about the Edges; the the Stalks trail upon the Ground, and take Root _at the Joints: The Flowers are white, they ftand four or five together upona long Foot-Stalk rifing from the Root and without any Veins: They are white, and moderately large, the Fruit is well known. When ripe it is red, and of an agreea- ble Tatte. $i _ The freth 1 cae oe Bit = inion : pe them is good Liquor to 1 a fore Mouth or Throat; taken in large Quantities, it works by Urine, and is good agai Jaundice. Peete SuCCORY. CICHOREUM. A Common Plant in our Gardens... It.is near a Yard high, but of no great Beauty. The Stalk is round, ftriated, thick, green, .and ftrong. The principal Leaves.grow from the Root, they are long, narrow, and deeply indented, and arg of a bluifh Green, and hairy, thofe on the Stalks are fmaller, and have no Foot-Stalks. The Flowers are of the Shape of thofe of Dandelion, but they are blue; the Seed is winged with Down. The Flowers gtow to the Sides of the Stalks, not at the Tops, as in Dandelion. The Root is long and brown on the eg it is full of a milky | uicey and white within. scien : The Root is ufed ; an Infufion of it oper a, ftructions, it is good againft the Jaundice, aon tt Aa2 356 The Ufeful Family Herbal. coétion of the whole Plant frefh gathered, works . powerfully ‘by Urine, and, is good’ agdinft the Gravel. It alfo gently promotes the Menies. TO EPS 0 Cee ee “B ARUNDO SACCHARIFERA... Kind of Reed, Native of ithe Ea/ .and‘We- ~% Indies, cof the Cawary Iflands, and ‘of: fome ‘other Places} ‘and cultivated inallour Plantations. It isieight or ten Feet thigh: “The Stalk 'is:round, hollow, hard, jointed, an@ upright, it isvery like that of aicommon Reed, only4o much» thicker. /Fhe-LeaveS are like thofesof the Reed, but vaftly larger, and the Flowers are in the fame:Manner, _ dry, brown,/and:chaffy, ‘but the Clufter: of athem ” js aYard:long:; the Roots dre long, creeping; and — jointed in the Manner of the Stalk. In very hot Countries, the Sugar will fweat out at the Cracks of the Stalks, and ftandin Form of a bright Pow- der ; this is Native Sugar, andis what the Antients meant when they talked of Honey growing upon Reeds. We prefs out the Juice, and boil it to the Confiftence of brown Sugar, which: is after- wards refined, and becomes the white Powder or Loaf-Susar:822ty cit Bais fewe: «> S ~~ It were idle to talk of the Virtues of Sugar, its Ufes are fufficiently known, and are very great. iene SuMACH. ae — RHUS. The Ufsful Fariily Herbal x57 {maller Leaves, with an odd one at the End; thefe are fingly, oblong, and of a dark Green, and ferrated at the Edges. -Ehe Flowers are white, they grow in very large thick and long Clufters, and are fucceeded by flat Seeds, hairy and roundith, and ofan auftere aftringent’ Tafte. There are feveral other Kindsjof Samach in the Gardens of curious People, fome. of, them much more beau- tiful,, ‘but this is the. Kind that is to be preferred. for.its medicinal Virtues, ee i “The Seeds, dried and, powdered, ftop Purgings, - and’ the Overflowings of the Menfes. The frefh , Tops have alfo great Effect in ftrengthening the - Stomach and Bowels, they are beft taken in In-_ fifion: “The Bark of the Root’ has the.fame Vir- - tue, but the Seeds have it in the greateft Degree. oO Swattow-wort ee ASS LESILAS..3 er AeCommon Plant in Gardens, but* Native of the ‘warmer Climates. It is two Feet high. The Stalkes'are round, flender, of a’dark Colour, and jointed; the Leaves are large, and longifh, and of ‘a déep Green; they ftand two at each Joint. The Flowers are {mall and white, and each is fucceeded by two Pods growing together, the Root is fibrous and fpreading. Meta The Root is ufed, an Infufionof it frefh is good againft the Jaundice; it works by Urine and opens - Obftructions. Dried and given in Powder, it operates by Sweat, and is good in Fevers. | 338 The U/eful Family Herbal. T. The TAcCAMAHAC TREE. TACAMAHACCA. Large and beautiful Tree, Native of the - Eafe and of America, It is fifty or fixty Feet high, The Bark is brown on the Trunk, and greyifh on the Branches. The Leaves are large and longifh, fharp-pointed, and dentated at the Edges, they are of a dufky Green on the up- per Side, and brownifh underneath. The Flowers are inconfiderable, and yellowifh. The Fruit is fmall and round. The Buds of the Tree are very fragrant, a brown Kind of Refin iffues from them, wwhich fticks to the Fingers, and this has that pleafant Smell. We ufe no Part of the Tree, but a Refin which is produced from it. The Druggifts keep this. It is brown, fome of it is in Grains, and fome in a Mafs. It is ufed only externally, a Plaifter made of it, fpread on Leather, is applied ta the ~ Forehead againft the Head-ach; and to the Na- vel in hyfteric Cafes, but it does not feem to have much Efficacy. | The TAMARIND TREE. TAMARINDUS. Very pretty Tree, Native both of the Ea? ". and Weft-Indies, and kept in many of our Gardens. The Trunk is covered with a pale eoloured rough Bark, the Branches with a fmoo- ther. The ves are each compofed of a great _ many Pairs of fmaller, depofed on a common ae = The Ufeful Family Herbal. 359 with no odd one at the End. They are fmall, oval, and of a very pale or whitifh Green. The Flowers are large, and very pretty, they are part yellow, and part white; the white Leaves of them ftained often with red. They ftand in Clu- fters, half a dozen together. The Fruit is a flat Pod, broad, brown, and hard, thefe contain a pulpy Subftance, and the Seeds a ftringy Mat- ter with them. The Pulp, Strings, and Seeds are brought over to us, and the Pulp is feparated for Ufe: It is of a pleafant acid Tafte, and is a gentle and excellent Purge; it works alfo by Urine. It is good in the Jaundice. The Pulp is ufeful alfo to cool the Mouth, and quench Thirft in Fevers. It is not much ufed fingly as 4 Purge. pie ie te io cei : TAMARISK. TAMARISCUS. Little Tree, frequent wild in France, and kept in our Gardens: It grows, however, much larger in its native Climate than here. The Bark is brown on the Trunk, and paler on the Branches, and the young Shoots are red and very flender, The Leaves are very beautiful, they are of a fine bright Green, delicately divided into {mall Parts, and regular. The Flowers are very fmall and red, but they ftand in Spikes, and very clofe to- gether; and as four or five of thefe Spikes alfo Do often ftand — , they are very confpicuous ; the Seeds are {mall and lodged in a downy Sub- ftance. se The Bark is ufed dried, and the Tops of the Branches freth, both have the fame Virtues the one is beft in Decoétion, the other in 4 oe: th- fufion, made in the Manner alt ipa Obftruétions. ey promote goon to open rier Pp Maiks, 360 ©The Ufeful Family Herbal. Menfes, are good in the Jaundice, and is {aid a- gainft the Rickets. } < : oe TANS Y¥.. —" TANACETUM. A Common. Plant in our Gardens. It is a Yard high: The Stalks. are round, firm, upright, and of a pale Green; the Leaves are large, - ob- long, broad, and very beautifully formed, they are each compofed of feveral Pairs of fmaller, fet on each Side of a common Rib, with an.odd Leaf atthe End. Thefe are narrow, long, pointed, and ferrated at the Edges. The Flowers ftand’in large Clufters at the, Tops of the Stalks, and they are roundifh, yellow, and naked. The Root is a Clufter of large creeping Fibres. The whole Plant has a {trong Smell. : The Leaves are to be ufed frefh gathered, a ftrong Infufion of them opens Obftructions, it works powerfully by Urine, and gently promotés the Menfes. .. The Flowers dried, powdered, and nixed with Treacle, are a common Medicine for Worms, and they vifibly deftroy them, ic Wi op PA rex : ARGENTINA. | AA. Common wild Plant about. our Way-fides, ~~ and a great Ornament to them. It rifes to no Height. The Stalks creep upon the Ground, and take Root at the Joints, but it is eafily di- ftinguifhed by its filvery Leaves and yellow Flow- ers. The Stalks are round: and redifh, The Leaves rife from thefe, they are very large, and each compofed of a great many Pair of imaller,. fet on both Sides of a common Rib, with.an odd much — One at the End, They are of the. Shape, and The Ufeful Family Herbal. 36% much of the Size, of the Leaves of Tanfy, and the fimaller Leaves, of which they are compofed, are oblong, narrow, and ferrated, but they are of a moft beautiful Colour, a fine filvery Green ‘on the upper Side, and a perfect filvery White on the under. The Flowers ftand on fhort Foot-Stalks, and are large and yellow, fomewhat like the Flowers of the Crow-foots, but more beautiful. — The Leaves are'ufed ; a ftrong Infufion of them is given with Succefs againft the Bleeding of the - Piles, and bloody Stools: And made lefs ftrong and fweetened a little with Honey, it is excellent for a fore Throat. The Women ufe it alfo to take away Freckles, but this feems idle. | sg ERG OR er” A ON Aa 4 A Common Plant in our Gardens. It is two Feet high. The Stalk is round, upright, firm, and green; the Leaves are very numerous, and ftand irregularly. They are longifh and very narrow, and of a deep green Colour; the Flowers are little and greenifh, in Form like thofe of Wormwood, they ftand in Spikes at the Tops of the Stalks. The whole Plant has a ftrong Smell, fomewhat like Fennel. 3 : An Infufion of the frefh Tops works by Urine, and gently promotes the Mentes. ne BAS = THEA. i nee 4 Shrub, Native of the Eaff, and cherifhed there meh, y= sats great Care. It is fix or feven Feet high, the Branches are flender, the Leaves are numerous, oblong, férrated round the Edges, and fharp~_ pointed, The F lowers are as big as Orange- poieiet Flowers, 362 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Flowers and white; they ftand in a very {mall Cup: The Fruit is dry, and of the Bignefs.of a Nut, ‘containing one, two, or three Cells. All the Kinds of Tea are the Leaves of this Shrub, they only differ as they are gathered in in different States, the Bohea Tea is gathered when the Leaves are in the Bud, and more Heat is ufed in drying it. The feveral Sorts of Green are got from the young Shoots or older Branches, in Spring, in Summer, or in Autumn, and dried wen different Degrees of Care, according to their alue. Good n Tea, drank moderately, ftrengthens the Stomeck and affifts Digettion, i is good a- gainft Sickneffes, and will prevent the Cholic : But when bad Tea is drank, and a great deal of it, nothing is more pernicious. Bohea-Tea is more aftringent, and it is reftorative and ftrengthning, this fhould be drank with Cream, but with only a moderate Quantity of Sugar, TEAZLE. DIPSACUS SYLVESTRIS. _ Tall and ftately Plant, common by Road-fides, with large burr-like Heads, and little red Flowers, growing out of them. It is fix Feet high, the Stalk is fingle, thick, white, and very ftrong. The Leaves grow two together, encompafling the Stalk at their Bafe, and make a hollow there,. which will hold Water: They are prickly on the under Part along the Rib. The Heads are as big as an Apple, and fomewhat oblong, they are of a pale Colour, The Root is long. Fhe Root is ufed, it is bitter, and given, in In- fufion, ftrengthens the Stomach, and creates an> _ Appetite. It is alfo good againft Obftructions of a the Liver, and the Jaundice, People haye an Soo ae Opinion The Ujeful Family Herbal. 363 Opinion of the Water that ftands in the hollow of the Leaves, being good to take away Freckles. There is another Kind -of Teazle, called the manured Teazle. “The Heads‘ are ufed in dref- fing of Cloth, the Virtues are the fame, and they ditfer very little, in their general Form. 5 BLESSED THISTLE. CARDUUS BENEDICTUS.' A Plant, once in great Efteem, and at prefent not altogether neglected. It is a Native of the warmer Countries, and is raifed with us in Gardens. It is two Feet high; the Stalk is redifh, flender, and weak, very much branched, and fcarce able to keep upright, under the Weight of Leaves and Heads. . The Leaves are long, narrow, cut in on both Sides, and of an obfcure Green. The Flowers are yellow, they ftand in a Kind of green leafy Heads: The little Leaves compofing thefe Heads, are prickly, and each of the Cups of the Flowers, ends in a long brown Spine, dented on both Sides. It is a Bitter and Stomachic. An Infufion of it, taken in large Quantities, will excite Vomiting : In fmaller Draughts, it is good to create an Ap- petite, and prevents Sicknefles, and Reachings. The Leaves dried and powdered, are on againft Worms. It was at one Time, fuppofed to poffefs very great Virtues againft Fevers of all Kinds, but that is now difregarded. Mins a J 36% The Ufeful Family Herbal. 2obiosts Wa 17% THISTLE. ot bl ¢CARDUUS MARTA. A Very beautiful Plant, common by Road-fides, * but wanting only to have been.a Native. of Greece, or the Indies, to be efteemed one of the moft elegant Vegetables in the, World. The Leaves, rifing from the Root,..are two Feet long, and more than a Foot broad, of a beautiful deep Green, variegated’all'over with irregular Lines of aimilk: White, dentated deeply at the Edges, and prickly. They fpread themfelves into a Round of re than a Yard Diameter, and when they grow out of the Way of 'Duft,; make a moft charming Appearance. A fingle Salk rifes in the midft of thefe.. It is five Feet high, round, thick, very® firm, upright, and divided at'the Top intoa few Branches: The Leaves on it are like thofe from the Root, and variegated with white in the fame Manner. At the Tops ftand the Flowers, which - arerof the Nature of thofe of other Thiftles, but twice as big, and vaftly more beautiful. The flowery Part is‘of a deep and fine Purple, the Head itfelf is compofed of ‘beautiful Scales arrang-— ed with great Regularity, and each terminating in a fingle and very ftrong Prickle, the Root is long and thick, the: Seeds are wigged with Down. _ “Phe Root and’Seeds are uféd:» An Infufion of the frefh Root removes fs ei a and works © by Urine, it is agai e Jaundice. The- nas beaten Let an Emulfion with Barley- Water are good in Pleurifies. The young Leaves with the Prickles cut off, are excellent boiled in the Way of Cabbage, they are very wholefome, and exceed all other Greens in Tatfte, the eF THORN The Ufeful Family Herbal. 365 “cA Ta ORN APPLE, t STRAMONTUM. | A Very. beautiful Plant, Native of warmer ‘> Glimates, but frequent in our Gardens, we fometimes meet with it, as itis called, wild; but it is no Native of our:Country, Seeds have been {cattered from Gardens, we “Ct as ~ It is three Feet high; the Stalk is round, thick, and divided into many Branches. ‘The,Leaves are very large, oblong, broad, and of a bright Green ; divided at the Edges, and of a pretty Ap- pearance, but a very ill Smell. .. The Flowers are very large, and white, they are hollow, and long: Open, and angulated at the Brim. The Fruit is as big as a large Walnut, and is covered with Prickles; the Root is very long, and thick, white, and of an ill Smell. ' = ‘The Leaves are ufed externally; the Country People lay them upon Burns and Inflammations, but this is not always fafe.. The Root and: Seeds are of a fleepy Quality, but they are not thought fafe to be given inwardly. Opium is a lefs dan- gerous Medicine, fo they are not ufed. _ GoaTs-THORN.: TRAGACANTHA. |. A Little white looking prickly Shrub, Native +2 of the Eaf, but kept in our Gardens. It is not above two or three Feet high, very ipreedlings and fall of Branches. The Stem is of a tough and very firm Subftance, covered with a whi- tith rough Bark: The Branches are_as tough, and the Bark is pale but fmoother. The Leaves are long and narrow; they are each compofed of 2 great many Pairs of {mailer fer on a middle-Rib, 3 366 The Ufeful Family Herbal. which is continued into a Thorn, and when thefe Leaves fall off, remains a white Thorn of that Length. The Flowers are white and fmall, they are of the Shape of a Pea Bloffom, but flatter ; the Pods which follow are fhort and fat. No Part of the Shrub itfelf is ufed, but we — have a Gum produced by it, and called’ by its Name in the Shops; this is what they alfo call Gum Dragant, it is white and tough, and is in long twifted Pieces, it fweats out of the Bottom of the seers Sos see of Summer. It is in rifing from a fharp Humour; and in Shacpas of Unine, and fharp Stools, but it is a difagreeable Medicine ; it is very difficultly owdered, and the Solution is not pleafant. =~ THOROUGHWAX. PERFOLIATA. A Very beautiful wild Plant among our Corn, diftinguifhed by the Stalk growing through the Leaves. It is three Feet high. The Stalk is round, firm, upright, whitifh, and toward the Top divided into fome Branches: The Leaves are broad and oval, the Stem runs through them toward the Bottom, for they have no Foot- Stalks, and they furround it in their largeft Part, ending in a blunt Point. They are of a bluifh green Colour, and not dented at the Edges. The Flowers are little and yellow, they ftand in Clu- fters, or a Kind of Umbels at the Tops of the Branches, with a parcel of fmall Leaves placed under them. The Root is white, oblong, and flender, : The Leaves are ufed by the Country People _ againft Wounds and Bruifes externally, the Seeds are given inwardly, to prevent the ill Effects of THYME The Ufeful Family Herbal. 367 THYME. THYMUS. A Common: Plant in our Kitchen Gardens, with hard and woody Stalks, fmall Leaves, and _pale red Flowers. The Height is eight or ten Inches, the Branches are numerous. The Leaves ftand two ateach Joint, and are of a dufky Green; the Flowers are difpofed in a Kind of fhort Spikes at the Tops of the Stalks; the. whole Plant = a {trong Smell, and an aromatic Tafte. A Tea made of the frefh Tops of Thyme, is good in Afthmas, and Stuffings of the Lungs: It is recommended againft nervous Complaints ; but for this Purpofe the wild Thyme called Mo- ther of Thyme is preferable. "There is an Oil made from Thyme, that cures the Tooth-ach, a Drop or two of it being put upon Lint, and ap- plied to the Tooth; this is commonly called Oil of Origanum. - eee Tap F2Ax. LINARIA. A Common wild Plant, with narrow bluifh ™ Leaves, and thick Spikes of yellow Flowers. It grows on dry Banks, and is a Foot and half high. The Stalk is round and thick, firm, up- right, and fingle. The Leaves ftand irregularly, they are oblong, narrow, fmooth, not dented at the Edges, and pointed at the Ends: The Flow- ers ftand in a fhort and thick Spike, they are large, .and many of them are generally open together, they have a Spur behind; and their Forepart is of two Yellows, a darker in the Middle, anda paler on each Side, | : oe 368 The Ufeful Family Herbal. The Tops are ufed frefh gathered, or the whole Herb dried. . An Infufion of them is ex- cellent againft the Jaundice, and all inward Ob- ftruétions ; it gently promotes the Menfes, and works by Urine..-‘A «fine cooling: Ointment “is imade by boiling the frefh Plant chopped to pieces in Lard, till it-be ‘crifp, the Lard is then to be ftrained off, and is of a fine green Colour. 907 Toxspacco. , NICOTIANA. A Tall and beausifal Plant, Native of the 1¥/- * * Indies, but. kept in our Gardens.» It is, five fingle, anda little hairy. Ithas a.clammy Damp- nefs about it, ‘by which it fticks to the Hands. in touching. . The Leaves are very large, obleng, and pointed at the Ends. They are of 2 dufky green Colour, and feel alfo clammy, like the Stalk, The Flowers are red and large, they are long, ~ hollow, and open at the Mouth. ‘Fhe Seed-Vel- fel is oval, and the Seeds are fmall. The Leaves are good frefh or dried. A flight Infufion of them frefh gathered is a powerful Vo- mit; it is apt:to,work too roughly, but for Con- {titutions that will bear it, is a, good Medicine*a- gainft Rheumatic Pains. An Ointment made of the freth ones with Lard, is good againft the In+ flammation of the Piles, the diftilled Oil is fome- times dropped on Cotton to cure the Tooth-achy applying it to the Tooth; the Powder kills all Kinds of Vermin. As to the Cuftom of Chewing and taking it as Snuff, little can be faid for them, from Praétice; and nothing -from-Reafon:_ Not much for Smoking. If thefe Cuftoms had-any_ good Tendency, it would be taken off by the _ gonftant Practice. : ae - There Lhe Ufeful Family Herbal. 369 There is a leffer greener Kind of Tobacco, cal- led Englifh Tobacco. It has the fame Virtues with the other, but in a more remifs Degree. The Leaves are often fold for thofe of the other. TORMENTILE. TORMENTILLA. A Very common wild Plant, but very pretty; and of great Virtue. The Stalks are eight Inches long, but they don’t ftand upright. They ate very flender, round, and of a brownith Colour. The Leaves ftand feven or thereabout together at a Joint, all rifing from one Bafe; they are narrow, longith, pointed at the Ends, and ferrated at the Edges, and of a deep Green. The Flowers are finall, but of a beautiful fhining Yellow: They grow on flender Foot-Stalks, and ate of the Shape and Colour of the Crow-Foot Flowers, only more beautiful ; and much lefs. The Roots are large, thick, and crooked, brown on the Outfide, and redifh within, and of an auftere Tafte. _ The Root is thé Part ufed, and it is beft dried; it may be given in Powder, or Decoction.. The Powder is excellent againft the Bleeding of the Piles, Bloody Stools, and the Overflowings of the Menfes. Two Ounces of the Root added to ‘a Quart of Harts-horn Drink in the boiling, gives it a pretty Colour, and adds to its Virtue; the Root is cordial as well as aftringent, and a” rates afittle by Sweat : This Decottion is therefore very ferviceable in Fevers, attended with Purgings. It checks this moderately, and is good againft the Fever at the fame Time, 2 Pee Bb Tret 370 ©The Ufeful Family Herbal. TREE OF LIFE. ARBOR VITZ&. A Small Tree of irregular Growth, a Native of America, but common in our Gardens. The Trunk is covered with a rough brown Bark: The Branches are numerous, -and irregular; the young Twigs are flatted, and the Leaves on them are very flat, and of a fealy Texture; they are ofa bright Green, narrow, and fomewhat like the Leaves of Cyprus, only not prickly; the Flowers are whitith, fmall, and inconfiderable: They ftand towards the Tops of the Branches. The whole free has a ftrono and not agreeable Smell, it “~ Brings into one’s Mind old bad Cheefe. The young Shoots, and Tops of the Branches, are ufed frefh. An Infufion of them is good a- gainft Obftructions of the Lungs, but. it muft be flight, and the Ufe continued. , -Fhe Gum ANIME TREE. “ANIME ARBOR. A i .aree and beautiful Tree, Native of America. fts Trunk 1s covered with a tough brown Bark; the Leaves are large and oblong, they are aot unlike thof of the common Bay-Tree in Form, and they always grow two at a Joint, one oppo- fite to the other. They are very numerous; and _ the Branches of the Treé fpread a great Way, they are not at all naked, but the Head feems at a iftance a folid Mafs: The Leaves are of a firm ‘Texture, bur when held up'to the Light, innumera- : ble Holes are feen in them, as they are in the -. Leaves of St. Fobn’s-wort. The Flowers are thaped like Pea Bleffoms; they are of a purple ror Colour, Lhe Ufeful Family Herbal. 439% Colour, and ftand at the Tops of the Branches. The Fruit is a large Pod. | The only Subftance we owe to this Tree, is what we commonly call Gum Anime, but that is a very ill Name, it is propertly a Refin. It is whitifh, brittle, and very fragrant. We fometimes alfo fee at the Druggifts a greenifh, brownifh, or redifh Refin, called Gum Anime; this comes from the Eajf, arid is what was originally known by that Name; but at prefent the other only is ufed. It isa fine Balfam, good in Confumptions, and apainft the Whites: And it is put into fome Ointmients, for old Ulcers, with great Advan tage. 3 een ESPON TRIFOLIUM PURPUREUM.. A Common wild Plant, in our Meadows. It is eight Inches high, the Stalk is round, and» not very upright : The principal Leaves rife im- mediately from the Root, they ftand three toge- ther upon long Foot-Stalks, and are of an oval Figure, but pointed; of a pale gréen Colour, 2 little hairy, and have generally a white Spot in the Center of each. The Leaves on the Stalks, are of the fame Form, but little : The Flowers ftand at the Tops, ina Kind of fhort thick Spikes, they are fmall and red, and are followed by little flat Pods. pce The Flowers are ufed; they are beft frefh ga- thered, and given in Infufion. They are 3 againft the Bleeding of the Piles ; and while they i r Bhs Turmeric. 372 The Ufeful Family Herbal. TURMERIC. CURCUMA. _ Native of the Eaft-Indies, and a very fin- gular Plant. The Leaves rife immediately from the Root, and are long, broad, pointed ac the Ends, not dented at the Edges, and of a very deep green Colour. On other Parts of the Root, ftand the Stalks, which bear the Flowers, thefe are a Foot high, and of the Thicknefs of a Goofe Quill. They have only a kind of Films inftead of ‘Leaves, the Flowers ftand in fhort thick Spikes, and are of a red Colour, longifh and flender; they look very pretty in the Spike, but do not lait Jong, the Root is oblong, thick, and of an irre- gular Figure, whitifh on the Outfide, and of a deep Yellow within, it creeps under the Surface of the Ground. Our Druggifts keep thefe Roots dry. They are good againit the Jaundice; they open all Ob- 'ftructions, and promote the Menfes, and work by Lirinies 5: : TuRPETH. TURPET HUM: | A Plant of the Bind-weed Kind, Native of the Eaft- Indies. t grows to twelve Feet in Length, but the Stalk is flender and weak, and cannot fupport itfelf upright. The Leaves are oblong, broad, and cbtulcly pointed. The Flow- ets are white, and large; they very much refem- ble thofe of the common great Bind-weed, and the Seed-Veffel is large and full of little Seeds ; the Root is very long and flender. Sheu, The Bark of the Root is fent us dry. It is properly indeed the whole Root, with the hard ec | rt woody The Ufeful Family Herbal. 373 woody Part taken out of its'Center. It is kept by our Druggifts, it is. a brifk Purge given in a proper Dofe, but it is very rarely uted at this ime. | The TuRNEP. RAPUM. A Plant too common in our Gardens, to require a curious Defcription. The Root is round and white, or purplifh, The Leaves are large, long, rough, and of a deep Green, they are dee ly cut at the Edges, and large and round at t e Ends: The Stalks are a Yard high, round, fmooth, firm, upright, and branched ; the Leaves on them are fmall and fmooth; the Flowers are little and yellow, and they ftand in a Kind of long Spikes, they are followed by long Pods. ~ Sloe The Roots are fo frequently eaten, that few would think of their poffeffing any medicinal — Virtues, but being cut into Slices, and ftewed with Sugar, till their Juice with the Sugar be- - comes a Syrup; this is a very good Medicine againft a Cough. The TuRPENTINE TREE. | TEREBINTHUS. A Tall Tree in the Eaf, where it is Native; we have it in Gardens, but it never arifes to any great Height here. The Bark is brown, and rough: The Branches are numerous and ftand ir- regularly, the Leaves are each compofed of a double Row of fmaller fet on 2 common Rib, with an odd one at the End. Thefé are oval, and of a deep fhining Green. The Flowers are {mall and purple; they appear in Form of Clu- fters of Threads before the Leayes; the Fruitis . 374 The Ufeful Family Herbal. long, but with a Kernel of a refinous Tatfte. The whole Shrub has alfo a refinous Smell. ‘Weare no Part of the Tree, but the fine Chio Turpentine, the moft efteemed of all thofe Bal- fams, is obtained from it in the Ifland whence it has its Name. It is a pleafant and an excellent Me- dicine, it works by Urine, and is an univerfal, Balfam. It is good in Coughs and all other Difor- TuTsAn, ANDROSZAMUM. | A Very fingular and beautiful Plant, and of great Virtues. It grows in our Woods and under Hedges, but not very common : It is kept in many Gardens. It grows two Feet in Height. The Stalks are firm and fmooth, of a redith Colour, tolerably upright, and not at all branched, except for fome young Shoots near the Top. The Leaves ftand two at each Joint, oppofite to one another, and at'no great Diftance; they are very -_ Jarge, and of a Shape approaching to oval. Their Colour is a brownifh Green, they are fmooth and “Mot ferrated at the Edges. “The Flowers are not- The Ufeful Family Herbal. 375 very large, but of a beautiful Yellow, they re- femble thfo of St. Fobn’s-wort, and are like them full of yellow Threads, which, when rubbed, ftain the Hands red. The Fruit is a Kind of Berry, black when ripe, and containing-a-great Quan- tity of fmall Seeds. The whole Plant in Autumn, frequently appears of a Blood-red Colour, very fingular and beautiful.- The Root is fmall, redith, and irregular, it creeps under the Surface. The Leaves are an excellent Cure’ for- frefh Wounds. Scarce any thing is equal to them.” The > young and tender ones at the Tops of the Branches are to be chofen, they are to be bound upon the Wound, and they ftop the Bleeding, and per-_ form a very fpeedy Cure. I have had very late © and very fineular Inftances of the Effects of this Herb. Manyofthe common Plants are celebrated for this Virtue, but the Effect of this is furpri- — Twy Brapbe. BIFOLIUM. A Very fingular and pretty Plant, common - in our Meadows, in the Beginning of Sum- mer. Itis a Foot-high, the Stalk is round, green, tender, and upright ; it has only two Leaves on it, and they grow trom the Root. They are very large, broad, of an oval Figure, and ftand oppo- fite to one another, about the middle of the Stalk, or fomewhat lower. The Flowers are imall and n, they are of an uncommon Figure, fome- ‘what like that of the Orchis’s, and they ftand in a long Spike, the Seeds are very {mall, and the Root is fmall, fender, and white. es The freth gathered Plant is ufed, an Infufion of it made ftrong, is good againft the Bleeding of ~&Bb4 oe 376 The Ufeful Family Herbal. the Piles, and the Juice is recommended to he applied to them externally. V. i GARDEN VALERIAN. WVALERIANA HORTENSIS. A Tall and beautiful Plant, Native of the moun- “ tainous Parts of Jtaly, and c6mmon in our Gardens. It is three Feet high, The Stalk is upright, round, ftriated, and hollow. The Leaves which grow from the Root, are long and fome- what broad; fome of thefe are divided deeply on each Side, others are intire, all have a broad and round End. Thofe on the Stalks are fmaller, and they are all deeply divided. The Flowers ftand in large Tufts, in the Form of Umbels; at the Tops of the Stalks and Branches, they are fmall and white. The Root is long, irregular, and mo- derately thick ; it creeps under upon the Surface of the Ground, and hasa ftrong Smell; its Co- lour is brown, and it is full of Fibres... This Root is ufed dry, the Druggifts call it Phu, it is good in Fevers, and in Suppreffions of the Menfes, for it is: diaporetic, and good a- gainit all Obftructions. It works alfo by Urine, and it is warm upon the Stomach, and good a- yainft Diforders of the Nerves, ; Witp The U/feful Family Herbal. 377 “Wiip VALERIAN. VALERIANA SYLVESTRIS. . 3 A Tall and handfome Plant, frequent in otr Woods,’ and upon Heaths, not unlike the Garden Valerian in its Form and. Manner of Growth, and of greater Virtues. It is a Yard high, The Stalks are round, ftriated, upright, hollow, and of a pale Green. The Leaves are large and beautiful, they are each compofed of feveral Pairs of fmaller, fet on a common Rib, and with an odd one at the End. Thefe are long, narrow, dentated at the Edges, of a faint green Colour and a little hairy. The Flowers ftand in large Tufts, like Umbels, at the Topsof the Stalks, and are fmall and white, with a Bluth of redith. The Root is of a whitifh Colour, and is compofed ofa great many thick Fibres. It is of a very ftrong and difagreeable Smell. The Root is ufed ; it is beft dried and given in Powder, or in Infufion. [tis an excellent Medi- cine in nervous Diforders. It is faid that it wil? cure the falling Sicknefs, but its good Effects againft Head-achs, Low-fpiritednefs, and Trem- blings of the Limbs, are well known. male The VANILLA PLANT. VANILLA, A Climbing Plant, Native of America. It grows * ¢o thirty Feet or more in Length, but the Stalk is lender and weak, and climbs upon Trees to fupport it. It is round, ftriated, green, tough. The Leaves are numerous and placed irregularly ; they are a Foot long, confiderably broad, and like thofe of the common Plantain, of a dufky Green, and have high Ribs. The a : Flowers 378 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Flowers are fmall in Shape like a Pea Bloffom, but of a greenifh white Colour. -The Pods are long and flatted, of a brown Colour, of a very fragrant Smell, and full of exceedingly {mall Seeds : 2 This Pod is the Part ufed; it is a Cordial and Reftorative, it opens Obftruéctions, and promotes the Menfes, it operates by Urine, and. by Sweat, but it is not much ufed. Some put them into Chocolate, to give ita Flavour, and to make it more cordial and reftorative, this is done in the grinding up the Nuts to the Cake, and we buy it by the Name of Vanilla Chocolate. VEeRrvaine s* VERBENA. 2 oes wild Plant, about our Path-ways, with flender Spikes, and a few little Flowers. It is two Feet high, the Stalks are numerous, fquare, very ftrong, a little hairy, and often pur- plith. The Leaves grow two at each Joint, they are oblong, narrow, notched at the Edges, ofa - dufky Green, and of a wrinkled and rough Sur- face. The Flowers are white, with a Tinge of _ purplifh: ‘There is a long Spike of their Buds and of the Remaining Cups, but only two or three Flowers are open at a Time. The freth gathered Tops are ufed; an Infufion of them is good againft Obftructions of the Liver and Spleen: It is warm upon theStomach, anda continued Ufe of it will reinove nervous, Com- SO eee The Ufeful Family Herbal. 379 The Vi NEL = VITIS. A Weak Shrub too familiar in our Gardens, to 4% need much Defcription. The Trunk is co: vered with a rough Bark, the Branches are long, weak, and ftraggling ; the Leaves are roundifh in the whole Figure, but indented deeply into five or feven Divifions, the lower are inconfiderable: The Fruit is round or oblong, juicy, and produced im great Bunches, _ aE “We ufe no Part of the common Vine, as it ows with us; but not to mention the. feveral Kind inds of Wine that are ufeful on different Occa- fions, the dried Fruit in the Form of what we call Raifins and Currants, is in conftant Repute Raifins of the Sun, Malaga Raifins, and Currant all have the fame Virtues, they are good in Coughs, and Soarnefs of the Lungs, and in Confump- tions. : Vinegar is alfo 2 Product of the Grape: It is Wine become four, and Spirit of Wine and Brandy of the very beft Kinds, are made from Wine: alfo by Diftillation. The Subftance called Tartar, of which the Cream of Tartar is made, is only a Salt of the Grape, which fticks to the Wine Cafks. So that we owe to the Grape, more Medicines than to any one Simple whvatfoever. ny ViIoLet. VIOLA. | A Common haga Plant in os Woods an Hedges, but of a Fragrance uperior to all that we receive from the rich Eaf. It ts a Jittle low creeping Plant, obfcure even when it flower, the Stalks are round, green, and = = 380 The Ufeful Family Herbal. they do not rife up, but fpread themfelves along the Ground, taking Root at the Joints, the Leaves rife from thefe rooted Parts, they are large and ftand each on a long Foot-Stalk. They are of a Heart-like Shape, and dented round the Edges, and of a deep Green. The Flowers are {mall and of a deep and beautiful Purple, they ftand fingly on fhort Foot-Stalks arifing among the Leaves, and covered by them. The Flowers are the Part ufed, boiling Water is to be poured upon them juft enough to cover them, and it is to ftand all Night; when ir is ftrained clear off, the Sugar is to be added to it, at the Rate of two Pounds to each Pint, and it is to be melted over the Fire, this makes Syrup of Violets, an excellent gentle Purge for Children. The Leaves are dried alfo, and are ufed in the Decoétions for Glyfters. An Infufion of them works by Urine. Vipers GRASS. . SCORZONERA, Tall and handfome Plant, Native of the warmer Parts of Europe, but kept in our Gardens. Itis threeFeet high ; the Stalk is round, thick, upright, and firm, the Leaves are nyme- rous and ftand irregularly, they are long, nar- row, of a pale green, fharp-pointed, and not den- tated at the Edges. Thofe from the Root are long and narrow alfo, but they are confiderably large. The Flowers grow at the Top of the Branches, they are large like Dandclion Flowers in Shape, and of a moft beautiful pale Yellow, the Seed has a white Down annexed to it: The Root is long, thick, and brown. The | The Uleful Family Herbal. 381 The Root is the Part ufed, and it is beft frefh taken up. It is given in Infufion, and it is cor- dial, and operates by Sweat; it is good in Fevers, but little ufed. ViPERS BUGLOSS. ECHIUM. A Common wild Plant, about our Path-ways, 4% ‘and on Ditch-Banks, known by its {potted Stalks, and fine blue Flowers. Itis a Foot and half high, the Stalk is round, thick, firm, hairy, ‘and upright; it is of a whitifh Colour, ftained with Spots and Lines of Blue, Red, and Purple. The Leaves are longifh and narrow; they are rough, and of a deep dufky Green, broad and blunt at the Point, and have no Foot-Stalks. The Flowers are large, and of a beautiful Blue, with red Stamina in the Middle. _ ; ~The Leaves are ufed; thofe growing from the Root, are beft; an Infufion of them is cordial, and operates by Sweat; it is good in Fevers, and againft Head-achs, and all nervous Com- plaints. The VIRGINIAN SNAKEROOT PLANT. SERPENTARIA VIRGINIANA. A Little Plant, of the Birthwort Kind, but dif- ferent from the feveral Sorts of that Plant defcribed already in their Places, in its Roots, and in its Manner of growing. It is two Feet high, when it grows in a favourable Soil, and has Buthes or any thing elfe to fupport it. The Stalks. are weak and green, the Lea -ftand irregularly on them, and they are oblong, narrow, and auri- culated at the Bottom. The Flowers gitar, 382 The Ufeful Family Herbal. hollow, and of a deep dufky purplith Colour. The Root is compofed of a vaft Quantity of ~ Strings, which are-of a dufky Olive Colour, and of a {trong Smeil and aromatic Tate. The Roots of this Plant were the firft that came into Ufe, under the Name of Virginian Snakeroot, but there are upon the Spot two other Plants of the fame Kind, though different Species, which have thready Roots of the fame Form, and they are indiffe- rently taken up for Ufe; they all feem to have the fame Virtue, fo that there is no harm in the _ (Mixture. There is fometimes another Root mixed among them, but that is eafily diftinguifhed, for it is black, and thefe are all of the fame dufky Olive Colour. This Jaft Adulteration fhould be avoided. es _ The Virginian Snakeroot is an excellent Me- dicine in Fevers, it operates by Urine and by Sweat, and will often take off inveterate Head- achs. It is alfo given by fome as a Remedy a- gainft Werms; and it was originally famous a- rainft the Poifon of the Rattle-Snake, and was 2 temedy we learnt from the Indians. It is good - againft Worms in Children, and may be given in - {mall Dofes for a Continuance of Time. Scarce any Thing is more effettual. = a The Vomrc Net Tree. NUX VOMICA. A Tall and fpreading Tree of the Ea/f, very ike that which affords the Wood called Snakewood in the Shops, and by fome fup- yofed the fame with it, but that is an Error: The Kernels of the Fruit of that Tree, ‘are indeed of the Shape of the Vomic Nuts, but they are not half fo big. The Tree is large and fpreading: _ The Branches are numerous, and the — are a aree, The Ujeful Family Herbal. 383 large, they ftand in Pairs oppofite to one ano- _ ther; and are oblong, broadeft in the Middle, and rounded or blunt at the End, and of a very bitter Tafte; the Flowers are {mall and ftand in Clufters at certain Parts of the young Branches : The Fruit is of the Bignefs of an Apple, and is yellow when ripe. The Kernels in this are what we call Nux Vomica; there are fifteen of them in each Fruit, and they are lodged in three Divi- fions. Thefe Kernels are the only Part ufed; our Druggifts keep them, they are round, flat, and of a whitifh Colour, very firm, and tough. They have been ufed as Poifon to Dogs, Cats, and other Animals, but there are thofe who give them to the humo ecies eal EE eg ao Mif- h sefe's cies eee : Effeét ~ Quart A en sat have food it againtt the Bark, have been cured by them; but if the Dofe be too large, they “bring on Convulfions, and there is great Reafon — to believe, that in very large ones they would kill. At prefent we have Choice of fo many Medicines for every Diforder, that it is almoft unpardonable, to give fuch as are fufpicious. Some People have ventured to give even Ratfbane, as a Medicine mixed with other Things, and in the twentieth Part of a Grain for a Dofe; but Reafon condemns this rafh Way of Practice, and doubly as there is no Neceffity to authorize it. 384 The U/feful Family Herbal. | W. The WALNUT TREE. JUGLANS. A Common Tree in our Gardens, it grows to a great Bignefs, and is very much branched. The Leaves are very large, and long, each is compofed of a double Row of fmaller, and has an odd one at the End. Thefe are each of an