MINERAL WATERS. Witrttam Owen, Bookéeller, At the Ori¢1nat Mineral Water- Warehoufe, (Late EY R E’s) No. 11, between the Temple-Gates, Fleet-Street, (Eftablithed in its Reputation near jifty Years, By the Recommendation of the moft eminent PHYsSICIANs) — ELLS Wholefale and Retale (for ready Money only) all forts S ‘of Mineral-Waters, now in ufe, or prefcribed by the Fa- culty, in their utmoft perfection, and at the loweft Prices : wiz. Z German Spa, filled at the Poubon Spring, in whole and half Flatks ; Pyrmont, in three-pint Bottles ; Seltzer, in large Stone Bottles ; Bourn-Water; Nevil Holt Water, from Dr. Short; Briftol Hot-well Water, from Smith and W, oodall; Harrogate Spa Water; Wiltfrire Holt Water; Tilbury Alterative Water, from the Original Spring; Cheltenham, Bath, Scarborough, Malvern, Fiop’s Well, or Stoke; Adon, Dog and Duck; Tar-Water, made agreeable to Bp. Beréley’s Direétions ; and Sea-Water, taken up feveral Leagues at Sea. Where ma be had, Dr. Rufel’s Differtation on the Ufe of the Sea-Water, with D. Speed’s Commentary ; to which is added an Accouut of the N ture, Properties, and Ufes of all the remarkable Mineral-Wa- ters in Great Britain, by Dr. Brookes ; and of Pyrmont, Spa, and Seltzer, from the Latin of Dr. Hoffman, Slare, Linden, and others, Scarborough, Cheltenbam, and AGon Salts. N.B. The Foreign Waters are taken u full vigour, and approved b the p at fuch times onl ar ell in the flrongeft manner the | and long experience of my Agent up the Povbon water in the mo} proper feafon, and at the ring the Flatks after the moft improved method, mo . And as feveral Jour- — mies have been taken to Pyrmont, Spa and Seltzer, to fettle the bef Corref- ence, in order to import the Foreign Waters in the utmoft perfetion, F ie by the following Certificate, to honour - me with their commands, to give ftri& orders, that the m. er do always ne : T H E ‘ AV | UsEFUL FAMILY Hersaz:’ “pe OR, An AccounT of all thofe Exgii/h PLANTS, Which are remarkable for their Virtues: <> -- ND Of the Drucs which are produced by Vegetables of other Countries, With their Descriptions and their UsES, As proved by Experience. Hluftrated with Figures of the moft ufeful Exglj/k Prawns. INTRODUCTIO€ CONTAINING a Gisatans for the ga-) ge Be er tb in cad ng and preferving Rozts, a fs sr keep ait The, phar hiecas Seeds sae | ia Recs 1pts for making of Rethadiea: together wit them diftilled Waters, |! Cautions in the giving them. — Conferves, Syrups, and other AND AN APS. fN op TS Containing a PRopos ar for the farther feeking into the - Virtues of Englifo Herbs, and the Manter of doing it it with Eafe and Safety. or The Whole intended for the Ute of poe And for the Infrattion of thofe who are defirous of relieving . - the diftreffed Sick. x J O HN H i BE ae D. ber of the Imperrat ACADEMY. 4 2S St BEES EDITION, 7 Sai ree ® upon the Jame S: ut sito ; Pe) this, but if one of them had P “areated it in the fame Manner, this «would have been rendered unnecefary, and would never have employed the Attention of its Author. L It is his Opinion, that the true End © of Science is Ufe; and in this View, 2 the prefent Work has been undertaken. - It appears to him @ Matter of more Confequence, and a Subjeét of more Satisfattion, to have dileovered the Vir= © tues of one Herb unknown before, tha 40 have difpofed into their proper € “The PREF AGE; yeas Thoufand; nay fo far. will a’ Senfe of Utility’ get the better of the Pride of mere Curiofity, that he foould fuppofe this a Thing preferable to be fad of him, to the having difcovered forme unknown Species; to having picked Srom the Botiom of fome Pond, an un-. defcribed Conferva, or to having fetched from the moft remote Parts of the World, @ Kind of Tree Mo/s, with Heads arg: er than thofe at Home. It grieves a Man of public Spirit and — Humanity, to fee thofe Things which are the Means alone of the Advantages of cd, whilethe-End, that ntage itfelf, is forgotten. And in “ne ae regard a Cul- pepper, as a more refpettable Perfon, than a Linneus or a Dillenius. ‘That Botany is an ufe ful Study is plain ; becaufe it is in vain that we pw Betony is good for Head-achs, or — 3 | Self-heal for Wounds, unlefs we can _ diftinguifh Betony and Self-heal from one another, and fo it runs fe gh the — aes a i whole Study, “A e are i by at. sis 4 ‘Thee P REE FA GE. ¥ know what Plants belong to what Vi Aes and to know that very diftinly ; and @ 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 Use, and can fay | _ what are the Ends that will be an- — 2 fwered by thofe Plants, which they have = fo accurately diftinguifbed. The Boy colleE#s the Specimens of Herbs wit, great Care, and beflows ten Yea vw Tho PREEAG EE pafing them upon Paper, and writing their. LVames to them: He does well. When he grows a Man, he negleEts bis ufeful Labours; and perhaps de- Spyes bimfelf for the Mifemployment of Jo much Time: But if he has, 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, muf? wifh this Matter un~ derfiood: And this is the Way ta bring aPart of Knowledge into Credit; which, — as it 48. commonly prattifed, is not a : fot above the Studies of a Raifer of Lulips or a Carnation-fanfier. E When we confider the Study of — Plants, as the Search of Remedies for : Difeafes, we fee it in the Light of ‘one. of the moft honourable Sciences in the — World; in this View no Pains are too great to have been beflowed in its Mes quirement; and in this Lntent, the : 7 principal Regard ought to be had to a thofe of our own Growth, The foreign S> : oe ae Planis The PREFACE, Wii Plants brought into our Stoves with fe wiuch Expence, and kept there with fo wich 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 comniins Herb at Home, than to have enriched our Country with an hundred of the others. Nay, 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 ie the neanef Ze which grows: in be next Ditch, ranfac the Earth for fo- Peign W a Does be not oll un der the fame Reproach with the Gene- Pality of thofe, who travel for their Tn- provement, while they are ignorant of all they left at Home; and who aré ridiculous in their Inquiries concerning the Laws and Government of other Gotniries, while they are not able to oo a fatisfattory ifoer toany Que- ; on whith regards théir own? st a have faid thus much to obviate the a f -— to whims ae 4 AQUiry viii The PREFACE. 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 toufe; 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. _. Lhe Intent of Words is to expres our Meaning: Writings are publifbed that they may be underftood; and in this Branch, I fball always Suppofe he writes befty who is to be underftood moft univerfally. Now fo far are we from having had this Point in view in Bo- - World, fhall not be able 1 under- fand three Lines together in bis beft | | Writings, although they are written ia Latin, 2 Language in which be is ever fo familiar. The Author bas not been at the Pains to explain bis : - *Phe-y Ps RoE: PiAGGEE: . “ig mew Words himfelf, but. refers. bis Reader to Nature; he bids him feek them in the Flowers, where he found LDGU, aaa ra As _ The farther we perufe this Conftde- vation, the more we feall find a Book hike the prefent necefjary, It appears, that what are called the Books in Botany, far from being in the Com- pas 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 St eps of the Author 5 in’ nany P. rts perhaps, only by the Author” himfelf. And as for the others which have not thefe fafbionable Innovations, the beft among them fay nothing of their Ofe Or Virtue at all. The Authors efteem 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 be who. defcribes their Virtues ought to be @, Phyfician: He who writes ga VErY GOO & | eee : ee @ Tk PREPACE, — his Power to fpeak knowingly of cheip Virtues oF the Compafs of bis W ork may not give Room for it, or his Rea- ders may not expeét or defire its for this is the Café with many who have only an empiy Curiofity. « He therefore way, with Reafon, omit the Firzues where he deferibes the Forms; but lez him make it a Matter of Confcience, if his Knowledge extend Jo far, to do it himfelf, or if not, to recommend it to be — done by fome other. | ——= We fee, that the moff curious Bota= nifis have wot concerned them/elves a= bout the Virtues-of Plants at ail; that many of the orber sa I have Written well on Plants, have thought it no Part of their Subjel? ; let us examine the others s @ who are of Lefs Repute. Tf we look into the Englith Herbals in’ par- ticular, we find thent large upon thar : ubject, indeed they are tod larce by much. They fay fo many Things, that we know net which of them to credit ; _ tnd therefore in the Untertainty we cre- | dit none of them. There is not the mofe The PREFACE. x trifling 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 Englifh Herbs are full of Virtues, but that they know not what they are. If we add to the Writers on Herbs in our own Country, thofe who ftudy them, we them, he negletts them, and of gets the little he had known fo perfec- ‘ that they fell him Vipers Buglofs for Bugle in the Markets, and he knows it is the right, becaufe the Stalk - m Tho PREPACGSE Knees, that he might creep into the Thick- ets; when I talked with the Man a= bout bis Refearches, they were after fome new Kind of Mofs : He never had confidered Plants, except to know how they differ from one another... in this Situation, when Knowledge is _ perplexed with unintelligible Terms, and the Memory of the Student confounded with a Multiplicity of Names; when the Ignorant only, who have written con= cerning Plants, have given themfelves — any Trouble about their Virtues; when _ Pbyfic isbecoming intirely chymical, and a thoufand Lives are threwn away daily. by thefe Medicines, which might be faved by a better Praétice; it appeared a ufeful Undertaking, to feparate the necefjary. from the frivolous Knowledge; and to lay before thofe who are inclined to do Good to their diftrefjed Fellow-Creatures, «all that it is neceflary for them to know. Of Botany for that Purpofe, and that in the moft familiar Manner ; and to add to this, what Experience has con~ fried of the many Things written by Phe ey The PREFACE. xij others concerning their Virtues, This 7s the Intent of the following Work, The Plants are aranged according to the Englifh Aiphabet, that the Englith Reader may know where to find ae $ They are called by one Name only in Enelifh, avd one in Latin; and chefs are their-moft familiar Names in thofe Languages; no Matter what. Cafpar, or John Bauhine, or Linnzus cal/ them, they are here fet down by thofe Names by which every one fpeaks of them in oa and the Latin Mame is ad- , under which they 2 will be A neridd i = every - Dithonary. + To this is fubjoined, a general Defer iption of oe Plant, if it be a common one, in a Line or two 5: that thofe who already know it, may turn at once to the Ufes; 3 and for. fuch as do not, a farther and morepar- | ticular Account is added. Laff come the Virtues, as they are confirmed bg = Praétice: And all this is delivered in fuch Words as are common, and to be. under food by all, xv The PREFACE. . Every thing that is fuperfiuous is omitted, that the ufeful Part may re-~ main upon the Memory: And to all this is prefixed, in a large Introdu€tion, whatfoever can be necefjary tocompleat the good Intentions of the Charitable in this Way. Thereare Rules for gathering and preferving Herbs, and their feveral Paris, Direétions for making fuch Pre- parations from them, as can conveni- ently be prepared in Families, and ge- _ meral Admonitions and Cautions in their xrefpective Ufes. If I could have thought of any thing Jarther, that could tend to the making the Book more ufeful, I fhould have added it; asit is, the candid Reader is defired to accept it, as written with q real View to be of Service to Mankind, = 11.5, Uteful F gt HER BA L. THE INTRODUCTION. Containing general Rules for. the La- __ thering and preferving Flerbs, Roots, - ~ Barks, Seeds, and Fi, lowers; together with ‘the Methods Of ute hing fuck Preparations from them, as may beft retain their Vi irtues, or. be wot fen iil to be feeb 3 in Families, — Mm me oe ae CHAP. The Defign and Purpofe of the Work, , fe: Method breed 1 1m tt, ALIS HE Intent oF the Author in — Dy? 2G this Book, is to. inform thofe 4a" Hs live in the Country, and are defirous” C8 OF being ufeful to their Families and Friends; or charitable to the Poor, in ) ie Relief of their Diforders; of the Virtues of thofe ‘Plants, which grow wild about them: ‘That | ee eS “they 7 oe contains them in moft Perfe€tion is nam wi INTRODUCTION. they may be able to fupply this neceflary A ffiftance; - in Places where Apothecaries are not at Hand 3. 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 Druggifts 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 her = Neighbourhood, and to remind Apothecaries of — what they had before ftudied: Bnt the firft men- tioned Purpofe is by much the moft ufeful, and, z the moft confiderable, and for this Reafon the - The Plants are difpofed in the Alphabet, -ac- cording to their Exglih Names, that they may be turned to the more readily; and an Account. i given, in two or three Lines, of their general Af- ct and Place of Growth, that thofe whoin part @ now them already,-may underftand them’ at 4 once: If they are not perfeétly known from this, 2 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 fer. _ them down, but the Part of each Plant which» — : d, and the Manner in which they may beft be given. INTRODUCTAON. xvii With Regard to the Virtues of Plants, it has 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 Affurance than others of thefe Things, becaufe he has been accuftomed to the Praétice 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 flightly 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 pote ‘and doubtlefs alfo _ in all others, provided.in the Herbs of its own — Growth, the Remedies for the feveral Difeafes to whichit is moft fubject; 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 neglected. This has been | the Confequence of the great Refpeét fhewn to the others; and befide this, pains 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’ _ Writing this Treatife ; and it is the more neceflary for the Service of thofe, who are intended _mot to be directed in this Matter, fince this is lefs dangerous than the other: Nay it is wii INTFRODUCTION. fay, that this is,dangerous at all-in moft In- ftances. The Apotheearies 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 ce Means; for chemical Medicines, and fome of th Drugs brought from abroad, are not to: be al with thofe who have not great Experience; but there will be no Dan ger of this Kind, when the Fields are the Supply. This | is the Medicine of Na- ture, and as it is moze efficacious. in moft Rain: it is more fafeinall If Opiuma may be rous in an unexperienced Hand, he Lady whos will give in its Place 2 Syrup of the wild Lettuce,, (a Plant not known in ¢ommren Prattice at this Time, but recommended from Experience: in this Treat#fe) will find that it will eafe Pain, and that it will caufe Sleep, in the Manner of that foreign Drug, bus the will: never find any ill Con- ences fromit : a ieeaadiraar tbe faid ine — ee ts W venice riptions in t ork, ve diftinguith what are the real Plants that thould 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 adda C ter or two on thofe Heads, As to the former, I eRe saath waderfioedy: becaufe a 4 wae s brought in a great Meature i this charitable pee, 1 dass have | ae at PS INTRODUCTION. xx Drigeift’s Shop of her own: This fhould be fup- plied from the neighbouring Fields; and from her Gatden. There is no Reafon the Drugs fhould not be as well preferved, and as carefully laid up, as if thé Produét 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 hot retain their Virtues in a dried State, and can be met with only ~ during a {mall Part of the Year ; it will be proper to add the beft Methods of preferving thefe in fome Way, according to the Apothecaries Man- | ner; and thefe Chapters, with tie which fhall lay down the Method of making the Preparations fron» them for reatly Service, will be fufficient to lead to the perfect Ufe of the Medicines of our own G And it will be found up Experience, that Biol vhs fufficiently know to make a pee Ufe of aie need feldom have Deaton to any others. ‘ r : i ven ‘ 4 ~ 4 + CHAP. I. ip ae Concerning the Methods of colleéting and pre frig Ph Par fe fe pes Virtues of diffetent Plates : - prin- cipally in certain Parts of thiats 3 thofé diferent according to the Nature of thé Herb, thefe feveral Parts are to be feleéted, and the reft left; and thefe are in fome to be vufed freth and — xx- INTRODUCTION. -oIn fome only'thé 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, fome the Woods,:and only — the Excrefcences-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 éach Article, as the Part’of the Plant to ‘ be ufed will 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. inethis Place to enter!into the fulk Examination of this Matter, to fave unneceffary. Repetitions:, un- der the-feveral particular Articles. = 3 » The whole of moft Plants, native of our Coun’ try, dies off in Winter, exceptithe Root; and in: many that perifhes alfo, leaving the Species tocbe renewed from the fallen Scola, _.When the whole a wher the Roe. pl a pany Years, and fends up new Shoots in the Spring,'It}commonly has great Virtue. . This may.bea general Rule: For there is very little to be expected in the Roots: of annual Plants: Their Seeds for the. moft Part contain their greateft Virtues. __In. others, the Root livés’ ‘through: the Winter;: be Se there ae pies it large Leaves in the Springs e : . Thefe. are to be diftin=, _ guifhed-fror fe “which afterwards grow onthe — Stalk, for they are more juicy, and for. many Pur-) pofes.much> begter. In the fame. Manner, fome Plants, from their Seeds dropped in Autumn, pro-. duce a Root and Leaves which ftand all the — Winter, and the Stalk + #065: not rife till the fuc- eet il INTRODUCTION. xt ‘ceeding Spring. « Thefe are of the Nature of thot Leaves, which tife fromthe Rootof other Plants bee fore the Stalks: in Spring ;° and .ate ‘in the fame Manner tobe diftinguifhed from thoiewhich crow. upon the Stalks: “They have the full Nourifiy- ment fron: the Root, “whereas the -others» aré ftarved' “by the Growth ‘of ~ thé Stalk ‘and “its Branches; and the Preparations made by Nature and thefe where there is no Stalk, if that can bes! for then only they are fullett‘of Juice, and have! their compleat Virtue; the Stalk a rous before the Stalk grew up,° they ‘die and wi-: ther asit rifes. 995 o> 7 oe 5 ~~ When the’ Juice of the Leavés of'any Plane is required,’ thefe are the Leaves from which it is to be prefled : When they are ordered -in Decov-‘ much done in’ fome* Plants, © that ‘although Leaves Browing from ‘the Root were ve tion, Notice ‘is always’ taken in this'Book, -whe- ther they be beft freth or dried; if frefh, they’ fhould be juft gathered for the Oceafion, they’ ‘Ahould be cue'up clofe from the Root, and only took clean, not wafhed:; for'in'many; that cars. _ Ties off a Part of the Virtue, and they areto be> out into the Pot.” If they are-to be dried, the. fame Caution is to be ufed, and-they are bet dr by {preading them upon the Floor of ‘the _ withthe “Windows open, often turnir a gt = =e) ehh, BU Sen = xii INTRODUCTION, a Drawer, preffing them clofedown, and covered with Paper. When the intire Plant is to be ufed except the Root, Care is to be taken that it be thered at a proper Seafon. Nature in the whole Growth of Plants, tends to the Produdtion 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 exact Time. Si _ 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. * “Wher the intire, Herb is:to be dried, the Seafon for gathering it is to be as juft deftribed, when the Flowers are buding; and the Time of the Day muft be when the Morning Dew js 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. ee it 4 Care muft alfo be ‘taken, to cut them in a dry Day; for the Wet of Rain will do as much harm, Oo: of Dew) Ries hots Sty secs > Ne gare _ When the Herhs are thus gathered, they are to be looked over, th pPilacd Leaves vicloes a and the dead Ends of the Stalks. cut away : = are then to be tied up in fmall Bunctes, the leis the better ; and bing, ipoo Lanes drawn acrofsa Room, where the Wirdows and Doors are we be = alee INTRODUCTION. xxii Rept open in good Weather ; the Bunches are to be halt a Foot afunder, and ‘they are to till perfectly dry. They are then to be taken foftly down, without thaking off the Buds of the Flow- — ers, and laid evenly in a Drawer, preffing them down, and.covering them with Paper. ‘They are thus ready for Intufions er Decoétions, and are better for Diftiliation, than when frefh. The Flowers of Plants are principally ufed frefh, though feveral particular Kinds tetain theit Virtue very well dried; they are on thefe different Occafions to be treated differently. Lavender Flowers, and thofe of Stoecha, keep very well, they are therefore to - ferved dry; the Lavender Flowers are to iped off the Stalks, Hufk and all together, and Spread upon the Floor of a Room to dry: The Stcechas Flowers are to be solerend in she whole Lead ; this is to be cut: ner: Wien the Stalk, and dried in the as pe Stpar™ they are - i kept as the Herbs. When. Rofemary Flowers a¢e “dried, they are generally taken with fome of the Leaves about them, and this is very right, for the Leaves re- aoa Virrue oor Sentlicn bk Some dry Bugiofs, G they retain very little Virtue ie thie Candidied:: Ree Buds are to be dried, and to this Purpofe, their white Heads are to be cut off; and the full blown Flow ers. may be preferved in the fame Manner. The Red Rofe is always meant, when we {peak of the dried Flowers. - ES For the reft of the Floweis ub’ in Medicine; they are beft frefh, but as they remain airs oe {mall Part of the Year i in that State, syn Er * : = 3 . is to proleryt thei in the Form of raps and Pe | a4 + Sie gome piles eet i xxiv INTRODUCTION. — pies, the Conferves of Cowflips, and the like: Of thefe, a dhort general Account fhail be fubjoined, — that nothing may be wanting to make this Book, as ufeful: for Families, as the Nature of fucha> and the like; or in; Pods, : as in Muftard and Gus. to be thook from the Heads Upen.the rare only — in INTRODUCTION. xxv ~ in Pods, a fmart Stroke or two of the Plant upon the Floor, when they are thoroughly ripe, will diflodge them: In’the other Cafe, the Fruit muft be cut open, and they muft be taken out from Ma gi eae es ER el naged according to their tcrerat Naaree4 ees , : do a great deal toward the furnifhing this Drug- - ifs Shop, which fhould be filled with Medicines, the Produce of our own Country. | ae a - firft Buding of Leaves, and the Roots taken’ They are to be'wiped clean, not wafhed; an cording to their several Natures, prepare xxi INTRODUCTION, Some are full of a mucilaginous Juice, asMarfh+ mallow, and above all other Roots the Sguill, and in fome Degree many others of that Kind: _ thefe muft be cut into thin Slices crofs-wife, and they will dry beftif laid upon a Hair Cloth ftretched _acrofs a Frame. they muft be frequently turned; and be very thoroughly dry, before they are put up; elie they will become mouldy: But, rightly prepared, they keep verywell. | _ Other Roots have Juices, that evaporate more eafily. Thefe have the Virtue either ‘throughout the whole Subitance, or only. in the outer Part, and they are to be. prepared accordingly. When Roots are of one uniform Subftance, they'gene- t Parts. Thefe fhould be fplit open length-wife, firft cutting off the Head, ae evan d; or if confiderably thick, they may be quartered; when this is done, they ane to be ftrung upon a Line, by drawing a.Needle threaded with a {mall 4 Twine Erough, their thickeft Part, and they are rally have the Virtue. equal, or nearly fo, in ail hen to be hung in the Manner of the Herbs ; the ne being ftret aRoom, the Doors and Windows-of which are to be kept - Open in good Weather. When Roots confift of a fort of thick Rind, or fticky Part in the middle ; this flefhy Subftance — under. it poffefies 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 —— sf pags out and thrown wel eS the eit is to be ftrung as before defcribed, dried inthe fame Manne. a en Roots confift of Fibres, thefe are gene- tally connected to a Head, if it be ever fo inal gi wwe INTRODUCTION. xxii and the beft Way is to fplit this in two, and then fring up the feparate Parts for drying. It is needlefs to enumerate the Examples of the feveral Kinds of Roots here; they follow in their Places : But if the charitable Lady would on firft I over this Book, to fee what are moft ufe- ful, “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 ; the would be poffef- fed of a Set of Drugs of a new Kind indeed, but they would fave thal Price of many brought ‘from other Crees and might be ufed: with lefs oT “ “Barks of Trees make but a fail Part of the Engl Dnigs, and moft of them are beft freth, but fuch as wil preferve and retain their Virtues. dried, are very eafily prepared that Way: No~ thing more is required, than to cut them inté mo- derate Pieces, and ing them up in ‘the fame Manner as the Roots. xen they are dry” : are to be put up as the others; and they will keep ever fo long; but in all this Time they are: for the moft Part sofas of their Virtues. 3 ita It may be prudent to preferve Drugs brought from abroad Ces at while, becaufe of theit Prices but as thefe coft only the Trouble of gathering: and preferving- heh, I would advife, that the - whole Shop be renewed every Year; what is left’ of ‘the Parcel of every Kind, being thrown’ Mey eit pemae | is collected in its Seafon. _ The Place for keeping thefe frould be a dt Room, neither damp nor hot; and they fhoul now and then te looked at, to fee that they Bee oe in order ; that they do not grow mouldy, or fell os mufty through Damp, or ~ become ihter lofe ene Virtue by too much Bee = bas ~* 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 képt 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 — ‘inthe Houfe, 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- ofed a few Days to the Air upon a Table, and. ae tee may be put up with Safety, (and will ad0NS Timed siloiar bine esis} sero 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 dry leifurely, for elfe they fpoil:,They,muft 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: Se _ Thus may a Druggift’s Shopsof a new Kind as thofe which receive their Furniturefrom abroad; _ and there will be this Advantage in having every” Thing. ready ; that when Cuftom -has made the Virtues of the feveral Things familiar, the Lady: may do from her Judgment: as the Phyfician ini his Prefcription, mix feveral Things of like Virtue* together, and not depend upon the Virtues of any.- ane fingly, when the Cafe requires fomething of. Power. Thefe Roots and Barks powdered, will. make as handfome and as efficacious Bolufes and — Mixtures, as any furnithed by the Apothecary... ~ eek 3 INTRODUCTION. xxix CoH AP. “Titres ime e. Concerning the various Methods of preparing — Simples for prefent Uje. yee TPHERE 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. Eleétuaries 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 the Book itfelf :And in the fame Manner their ~Boluffes may be made, which are only fome of thefe Powders mixed up with Syrup: And their _ diftilled Waters of thefe Herbs, with Spirit or without, thefe Syrups being added, and the Tinc- tures of the Roots and Barks; the Method of making which fhall be alfo annexed in a familiar - But befide thefe feveral Forms of giving them, there are others much more fimple, eafy, and . ready, and thefe are generally more efficacious. I fhall arrange thefe under three Kinds, Juices, In- fufions, and Decoftions. Thefe arethe 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- {wer the Purpofe of the Apothecary, for his Pro- fits would be fmall upon: them; but when the De- txx INTRODUCTION. ; fign is only to do good, they are the moft td be chofen of any::; 73 - Juices are to be -exprefled from Leaves or Roots; ahd in order tothis, they are to be firfe 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 common’ Practice of Phyfic. __ When the thick Juice, fret = | for the Perfon’s Stomach; it may be fuffered' to INTRODUCTION. XXxi To the Roots, it'is often proper to add a little White Wine in the peg and they will operate the better for it. Thus for Inftance, the Juice of the Flower-de-luce Root, will not ftay wu 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- eafion, 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 the fame, as if it had been bruifed and prefied alone. _Infufions are naturally to be mentioned afters the Juices, for they are in many Cafes ufed to fup- ply their Place. Juices can only be obtained from frefh Plants, and there are Times of the Year when the Plants are not to be had in that State. Recourfe is then to be had to the Shop, inftead of the Field, the Plant whofe Juice cannot be had}: is there to be found dried and preferved; and if that have been done according to the preceeding Directions, 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 ities, 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; bur. - then fome others loofe fo much in drying, thae an Infufion fcarce has any thing. But it is not only as a Help in the Place of the other, thar this Preparation is to be wfed, for Infufions are very proper from many frefh Herbs; and are of great Virtue from many dry ones, of which when — _ trefh, the Juice would have been worth little. _ xxxi 6©OIN TRODUCTHEION. : Anfufions 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 inthe Water. From thefe are thus made — what we call Decoctions: And as thefe laft would — not give their Virtues in Infufion, fo the others — would loofe it-all inthe boiling. It would go — off with the Vapour. We know very well, that the. diftilled Water -of any Herb, is only the Vapour; 4 - of the boiled Herb caught by proper Veffels, and. — _ condenfed to Water: Therefore, whether it; bes-9 caught or let to fly away, all that Virtue muft be — loft in boiling. It is from this, that fome Plants _ are fit. for Decottions, and fome for Infufions,. — _ There are fome, which if diftilled give no Virtue — to the Water, and thefe are: fit Br Decotten, a 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 ftrong Tafte, and excellent; Virtue ; whereas,.a nefe Herbs, ls difagreeable or good a There 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 Joft.in the Operation. AnIn-) — 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 gotten, wa itegd ve very little of its Virtues; of Mother of Thyme poffeffes it CLIO} 2 aa cd x ~ = entirel Anfufions are of two Kinds. They are cithes s "prepared iniQuantity, to be drank cold; or they © sare drank as they are made, in the Manner of Tea. Pie ¢ INTRODUCTION, § xxxit This laft Method is the beft, but People will sot 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: SS a. Infufions in the Manner of Tea, are’ to be made juft as Tea, and drank with a little Sugar: The others are to be made in this Manner. 4 __ 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 fcalded out with hot Water, it is to be put in: 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 Plant, or two Ounces of ‘the frefh gathered: The beft Rule is to fuit it to the Patient’s Strength and Pa- late. It is intended not to be difagreeable, and ta have as much Virtue of the Herb as is neceflary : This is only to be known in each Kind by Trial ; and the Virtue may be heightned, as well as the Fla- vour mended, by feveral Additions. Of thefe Su- gar and a 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 Tin@ture of Rofes. Salt of Tartar makes many Infufions ftronger alfo than they would be, but it givesthem eee a very difagreeable Tafte. It is therefore fitonly = - for fuch as are to be taken at one Draught, not foi fuch as are to be fwallowed in large Quantit _ Time after Time. «© e : Ss ee zxxiv INTRODUCTION. Bi - Among the Herbs that yield their Virtues mot ‘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 Decoétion; thus boiling Water _ poured upon Roman Wormwood, Gentian Root, — and Orange Peel, makes avery excellent Bitter. — It need only ftand till the Liquor is cold, and — may be then poured off for Ufe. ——— - Itis often proper to add fome purging In- — gredient, 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 i lifagreeable in the Tafte, in the fame Manner as it does from an Infufion of Sena. : ‘Thus we fee what a great Number of Purpofes _ may be anfwered by Infufions, and they are the - moft familiar of all Preparations. Nothing is re-_ ager but pouring fome boiling Water upon he Plants freth or dried, as already directed, and — pouring it off again when cold. __ Decottions are contrived to anfwer the ol 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 over them. In general, Leaves cient and intire Plants, whether frefh — or dried, are ufed in Infufions; and Roots. and — | Barks in Decottions, => peas Sr INTRODUCTION. xxy . An earthen Pipkin with a clofe Cover, is the beft Veifel for preparing thefe ; for many of thofe— Medicines, which -are little fufpected of it, will take a Tindture from the Metal ; and it would be as improper to boil them in a Copper Pan, as it is too common a Cuftom,: as to beat the Herbs and Roots in a metal Mortar. ee _ Freth Roots are ufed in Decoéion, 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 5 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 be done to them, and in general, they are beft added toward the End of the Deco&ion. -It is always beft to let the Ingredients of a De- coction 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 neceflary. They are then'to be _ ftrained 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 : | they cool; and fweetened with a little mar, quently alfo, it is proper to add to them, ae White-Wine, as to the Infufions. sui INTRODUCTION, Gat AP. IV. a Concerning Diftilled Waters, and other Prepas — rations to be kept in the Houfe. és + T Shall bring the charitable Lady farther in this — Matter than perhaps fhe was aware at the firft ~ fetting out; but it will be with 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 Druggift’s ; but it will be founded upon the fame Materials. No — Drugs brought from abroad, or to be purchafed — ata great Price, will have Place 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 which is called Moloffes Spi- Tit; itis to be bought at a {mall Price at the Dit lers: And as to the Sugar, the moft ordinary loaf _ Kind will do for moft Purpofes: Where other is neceffary, it will be particularly named. _ s Few Families are without an Alembic or Still, and that will be of material Service. With that In- ftrument the fimple Waters are to be made; with no Expence belide the Fire, and it will be proper to keep thofe of the following Ingredients. — ~ Mint W: shoe Pepper-mint Water, et Penn royal Water, are to be made of the dry Hei Three Pound of each is to be put into the St with four Gallons of Water, and two Gallons is to be diftilled off. Milk Water is to be made thus ; a Pound and half of Spear-mint, a Pound of half a Pound of Roman Wormwood, and iy Bes i: z Ms — . : sues inte 4 SE tee INTRODUCTION. xxxvii into. the. Still with five Gallons of Water, and three Gallons are to be diftilled off. Common Mint Water is good in Sickneffes 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 thar for Cholics, it is beft made of ¥amaica Pepper: A Pound of 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 man fimple Waters, but thefe are all that are necef- fary or proper. The other Herbs are better to be given in Infufion and Decoétion. are - As for Cordial Waters, they are made as the only with the Addition of Spirit.. It may. _ be proper to keep the following; and no more are neceflary. va 1. Cinnamon Water; which is made by putting into the Still a Pound of Cinnamon, a Gallon of Spirit, anda Gallon of Water, and the next Day diftilling off aGallon. This is good in Sicknefs at. the Stomach, and isa fine Cordial. 2. Spirituous Milk Water; made froma Pound. of Spear-mint, half a Pound of Angelica, and a Quarter of a Pound of Roman Wormwood, all green, To thefe is to be put a Gallon of = Spirit, and a Gallon of Water, and a Gallon tm be diftilled off; to which is to be added, a Ping 2 of Vinegar: This is good to promote Sweat, and "ig ufed inftead of Treacle Water, being, better - » 3. Strong Pennyroal Water, which is uled i the ae 4 : ftead of Hyfteric Water, in all hyfteri hs and to promote the Menfes, and is made xxxvili INTRODUCTION. a Pound and half of dry Pennyroyal, a Gallon of Spirit, and fix Quarts of Water, drawing of 4 t Gallon. =~ se 4. Annifeed Water, which is good in the Cholic, _ and is made with a Pound of Annifeed, a Pound ' of Angelica Seed, and two Gallons of Spirit, with — one Gallon of Water, diftilling off two Gallons. — No more than thefé are neceflary: But before I | clofe this Article of diftilling, I fhall add the , making of Lavender Water, Spirit of Lavender; and Hungary Water, which are Preparations of — the fame Kind, and very eafy. | — Lavender Water, is made from a Pound of — freth Lavender Flowers, and a Gallon of Molof- | fes Spirit, with two Quarts of Water; five Pints is _ to be diftilled off Hungary Water, is ‘made of — a Pound and half of Rofemary Tops with the Flowers, a Gallon of Spirit, and a Gallon of Wa- ter, diftilling off five Pints: And to make the Spirit of Lavender, or Palfy Drops, mix three _ Pints of Lavender Water, and one Pint of Hun- gary Water, and add to this half an Ounce of innamon, the fame Quantity of Nutmegs, and three Drams of red Saunders Wood, thefe ate to _ ftand together till the Spirit is well coloured. This is all the family Pratitioner will need — with diftilling: A fhort Account, but fuficient. _ As for Tinétures, which are a great Article _ with the Apothecary and Chemift, making a great ‘Shew, and really very ufeful; I would have fe- veral of them kept, and they are as eafily made as the Waters, nay more eafily. Moloffes Spirit is all that is neceffary for this Purpofe.: a 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 INTRODUCTION. xxix thefe, and be often convenient, where the Powder or Decoction could not be given. _It is needlefs to enumerate thefe; and one Rule of making, ferves for them all: —Two Ounces of the Ineredient is to be cut to thin Slices, or bruifed in a Mortar, and put into 4 e of Spirit; it is to ftand 4 Fortnight, in a Place a little warm, and be often fhook ; at the End of this Time, it isto be taken out, ftrained off, and made to pafs through 4 Funnel, lined with whitith brown Paper, and "put up with the Name of the Ingredient. : - To thefe Tinctures of the Englifh Roots, Barks and Seeds; It would be well to add a few made of foreign Ingredients. ; Asi. The bitter Tin@ture for the Stomach, is made of two Ounces of Gentian; an Ounce of dried Orange Peel, and half an Ounce of Carda- mom Sceds, and a Quart of Spirit: Or it may be made in White Wine, allowing two Quarts.’ 2. Tinéture of Caftor, good in hyfteric Com- plaints, and made with two Ounces of Caftor and a Quart of Spirit. | 3. Tincture of Bark, which wiil cure thofe whe 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 Afiafoetida, and a Quart of Spirit. Se s. Tintture of Steel, for the ae of the Menfes, made of Flowers of Irom four Ounces, and Spirit a of Myrrh, and a Quart of Spirit, good for curing he Sao. | Lae 7. Tinéture of Rhubarb, made of two Ounces of Rhubarb, half an Ounce of Cardamom Seeds, and a Specs of an Ounce of Saffron, wi b 4 “=< IN T RODE TION: 1 8. Elixir Salutis, made of a Pound of ftoned it Raifins, a Pound of Sena, an Ounce and 4 half t of Caraway Seeds, and half an Ounce of Carda- 4 moms, in a Gallon of Spirit. =p g: Elixir of Vitriol, made of Gx Drams of : Cinnamom, three Drams. of Cardamoms, two Drams of lang Pepper, and the fame of Ginger; F 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. 4 Laftly, to thefe it may be well to add, the fa- ; mous Fryars Balfam, which is made of three 4 ‘Ounces of Benjamin, two Ounces of {trained Sto- t rax, one Ounce of Balfam of Tolu, half an a Qunce of Aloes, anda Quart of Spirit of Wine, — fuch as is burnt under Lamps. This Spirit may — be made by putting a Gallon of Molo 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 t Camphire in a Quart of the.Spirit: Laftly, we — are to add what is called. the Afthmatic: Elixir, 4 made 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, E ~ As to the Tin@tures: made with White-Wine — inftead of Spirit, a few are fufficient. Steel Wine a is made of a Quarter of a Pound of Filings of — com ee SE Sec of Mace, and the es 4 wantity of Cinnamon, put into two Quarts of Rhenith. Hera Picra” is ale of half 5 Pound of Alocs, two Ounces of Winters-Bark, and five . Quarts of White-Wine, .- The firltis “a Reftoras: tive Cordial and Strengthner ; the latter is faffi- 5 ae : - Sass telengly: q very little Ufe of them; and in the Courfe INTRODUCTION. xi elently 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 Tin@ure of Ipecacuanha for a Vomit, of two Ounces of that Root, half an Ounce, of dry Orange Peel, and a Quart of Sack. Liaftly, what is called Elixir-Proprietatis, is made of Aloes, Myrrh and- Saffron, of each an Ounce, Sal Atmoniac fix Drams, and Salt of Tartar, eight Ounces in a Quart of Mountain-Wine. E ~ Thefe are all the Tinétures 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 fcarce any thing. Books are full of Direc- a tons in particular for every Tincture, ‘as if every od 1g one were to be made a different Way; ‘but the’ beft Method is to give a good deal of Time and frequent fhaking, and that will ftand in the Place of Heat in moft Things of this Kind: Never- thelefs, I advife, that they thould 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 _-Eafy as thefe are, they are by far the moft ee ficult Part of the Tafk, the reft is as were” nothing. Conferves, Syrups, and Ointments, Wilk _ be wanting, but inthe fame Manner one Direc- tion will ferve for the making the whole Affort ment of éach, and the Ingredients will be ai hand. As to Plaifters,- in. general they do me Harm than Good. . Surgeons at this Time ma seh _ Work, many Herbs will be named, th xii INTRODUCTION, Leaves of which are better than all the Plaifters — . inthe World. . —. a 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 Couife of this Work, many Plants will be named, the green Tops of which contain their Virtue, thefe may all be made into Conferves in _ the fame Manner, or 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 tobe 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 — many other Plants mentioned in the following i outer Rinds of Seville Oranges and Lee mons, are alfo to be made into Conferves in the _ fame Manner, beating them firft to a Pulp, and in a Cellar, till they grow very foft; then they are : with the Hand or a wooden Peftle, and rubbed about till all the foft Matter is forced through the hair Cloth, the Seeds and Skins only remaining. 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. 7 tncronsas Sloes are to be gathered when they aré mode- rately ripe, and they aré 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 Quantity 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 exactly. One Rule will ferve for all this Matter, and fave a great deal of Repetition. The Liquor of which a Syrup is to be made, may be the Juice of fome ] fer or Fruit, or a Decoétion, or an Infufion; which ever it be, letic 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 ss uae into an earthen Pan that will go into a large Saucepan, put Water in the — Saucepan, and fet it over the Fire. Let the Pan - ftand in it, till the Sugar is perfe@tly melted, fcuming 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. 3 This being fet down as the general Method < ~et Defcriptions of them will be eafy, They areto be made in this Manner. For Syrup of Cloves, weigh three Pounds of Clove July Flowers picked a xiv INTRODUCTION. : off: Pour upon them five Pints of boiling Water. _ Let them ftand all 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 Rofés, Peach Blof- foms, Cowflip Flowers, and many others which will be recommended for that Purpofe in this _ 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. : ae Soon Eas = _ 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, 2 which is to be melted as in the former Manner, Syrup of Garlic, Leeks, Orange Peel, Lem- mon Peel, Mint, and many other Things, are to be made of {trong Infufions of thofe “Ingre- 4 dients, made as before directed, with the firft men tioned Quantity of Sugar. added to them, when they have ftood to fettle. rears ___Syrup of Marfhmallows, and of Poppy Heads, . ner with the ftrongeft Decoétions that can poffibly be made from thofe Ingredients, with the fame. Quantity of Sugar, as is firft mentioned. Syrup of Balf pete Bags ge eee ? AS agg igs: a i cee = ie aiid : 3 _ andfome others, are to be made in the fame Man- INTRODUCTION. xy - Syrup of Saffron, is made of a-ftrong Tincture of Saffron in Wine. An Ounce of Saffron being put to a Pint.of 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 beex- 7 it may be proper juit to give fome Inftance of it. | _ “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 ina Place where there is a Draught of Air; when they are _ dried, put half a Pound of them into a Stone | Jar, and pour on them three Pints of boiling Wa- _ ter; ftir them well, and let them ftand twelve _ Hours; then prefs off the Liquor, and when it =| has fettled, add to it five Pounds of Honey, boil it well, and when itis: of the Confiftence ofa thick Syrup put it by for Ufe. It is good again fore Mouths, and on many other Occafions: In the fame Manner may be made the Honey of any Flower; or with the Juice of any Plant thus mix ed with Honey and boiled down, may be made what is called the Honey of that Plant. As to the Oxymels, they are alfo made in a very w form Manner. ‘The following are fo ufeful, avi INTRODUCTION. — it will be proper always to keep them in Readi- fs } pegar 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 ano Ounce and half of freth Garlic Root fliced thing Jet it boil a Minute or two longer, then cover it — up to ftand till cold, then prefs out the Liquor, t and add teh Ounces of Honey, and boil it to a . For Vinegar of Squills, put into a Pint of Vir negar, three Ounces of dried Squills, let it ftand 4 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 toges ther to the Confiftence of a Syrup. = - Finally, as to’ Qintments, nothing. can be fe eafy as the making them of the common Herbs, id the Expence is only fo much Hogs-Lard. he Lard is to be melted, and the freth gathered — Leaves of the Herb are to be chopped to pieces, — and thrown into it: They are to be boiled till a the Leaves begin to feel crifp, and then the Lard 4 : is to be ftrained off. It will be green, and will — _ have the Virtues of the Herb, and muit be cal- led Ointment of fuch an Herb, To thefe I thall Mees fours, which though not the Lae Hg ye Kerbs are very ufeful, and our charitable Shop thould not be without them. «1. The White Ointment, called. Unguentum. This is made by melting together four Ounces of See iy EN A INTRODUCTION. dvi white Wax, and three Ounces of Sperma Ceti in a 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 together yellow Wax, Refin, and Burgundy Pitch, of each half a Pound, in a Pint of Oil of Olives, and adding three Ounces of Turpentine. =e ~ 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 all thorougly toge- ther. The Ointment of Tutty is prepared with levigated Tutty, and as much Vipers Fat as will be mixed together upon a Marble, by them with a thin Knife. This is for Difoeders = of the Eyes, the foregoing for the Itch, and ma- hy otherComplaints, 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 __ a aes St. John’s-wort, and that is thus made; pick clean _ @ quarter of a Pound of the Flowers of com- ae mon St. John’s-wort, pour upon them a Quart of Olive Oil, and let them -ftand toget till. the Oil is of a reddith Colour. Oil Elder is made of a Pound of Elder } = and the fame Quantity of Frankincenfe,. Melt “viii INTRODUCTION. which are to be put into a Quart of Olive Oik and boiled till they are crifp, and the Oil is to be then ftrained off: 7 —_ 3. What is called the Green Qil, is thus made; bruife ina 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 eo to-be poured off, and when cold put up for _ Thef Oils are ufed to rib 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 ary 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 — 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 to. Pound of the laft defcribed, two Ounces of Galbanum, and an Ounce of common Turpentine, _ them all together, the Gums firtt then add. INFRODUCTION.- 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. . 65 . 3. For a drawing Plaifter, mele together yellow. * & Fe and the Blifter Plaifter itfelf is made of it, only. by adding half a Pint of Vinegar, and a Pound ters made without Diftillation, which are very = cheap and very ferviceable, and the Family Shop - will then be quite compleat, = 1, Lime Water. ‘This is made by pouring gra- ually fix Quarts of Water upon a Pound of Quick Lime; when it has ftood to be clear, it muft be poured off. If a Pound of Lignum Vite Wood, an Ounce of Liquorice Root, and half an Ounce of Saffafras Bark be added to threeQuarts _ of Lime Water, it is calledcompound Lime Wa- ter; and is excellent in Foulnefies of PE MORR 2 2. The Blue Eye Water. This is madebyput- “ting a Dram of Sal Ammeniac into a Pinvof Lime. T, and letting it ftand in a Brafs Veffel, tilt : Oy ERO, er 3: Alum Water is made by boiling half Ounce of white Vitriol, and the fame Quant : oan in a Quart of Water, till they age di __ Pleafant by fweetening them with Sugar, about a i INTRODUCTION. Thus have we defcribed all the Drugs and Com: a 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 Diftrel- _ 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 defcribed in the i fucceeding Pages. It only remains to fay a few Words about the Manner of puting thefe Things moft conveniently together, and ‘we then efhall 7 have prepared for all that follows, - Concerning the beft Methods of putting Medi cines together for prefent taking. I W the firft Place, although thefe feveral Forms of Syrups, Conferves, and the like, have been named, as what will be fometimes neceflary, The leis in the Country will lie in the Infu- 7 = and Decoétions of the frefh Plants and __ Phe 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 Ounce of which is to be allowed to a Quart 5 oceafionally a litele White Wine, or a {ell Quon tity of fome of the Cordial Waters pase kis tothem. The Dofe of either Deco€ion or Infu fion, will be in general about half a Pint, except __ Where they are intended to purge or vomit ; there & n 2 a INTRODUCTION. 4 they muft be more carefully and exa¢tly propor- tioned to the Strength, than can be told in this » general Manner. gktay! a Of the Simple Waters, about a Quarter of a Pint is a Dofe, and of the Cordial Waters, lefs than half that Quantity. Thefe may be occafion- ally given alone; but they are moftly intended for mixing with other Ingredients. _ hee, The Tinctures are to be given in Drops; from ten to an hundred, according to their Strength and Nature: But to name a general Dofe,’ it is about five and twenty Drops. Thefe howéver will be alfo more ferviceable in Mixtures, than fing- ly. Of the purging Tinétures in Wine, and: the Elixir Salntis, three, four, or more Spoonfuls is the Dofe. It would be well to keep Tinctures of many of - the Roots recommended in nervous Cafes, as Cor- dials, angers ane of many other Kinds; and alfo to keep Powders of thefe Roots in Readinefs : And thus the common Forms of Medicines, as fent from Apothecaries, will be very eafy. _ . Fora 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, let the Simple Water be Pennyroyal, the ftrong Water the ftrong Pennyroyal, the Syrup that of Saffuon, and the Tincture of Caftor, and itis 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 or 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 difclof _ the Myfteries of their Profefiion, but the “<4 iS -* fi INTRODUCTION. Good is of more Confequence than his Ple fure. : 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 Tin@ture, makes a Draught; but to thelé may be added a Simple of fome Power to in- creafe the Virtue. What Waters, Tindtures, Sy- rups or Powders fhall be ufed, will be dete ‘mined from the Cafe itfelf. 3 -. Bolufes are made with thefe Powders in # eertain Dofe. A Scruple or half a Dram, made into a fort of Pafte with Syrrup. The. Cuftom is to cover it with a little Leaf-Gold, _ but this is better let alone: Some ufe L : which is abominable. 3 though the Piece taken be as large ing to the Conk eo tually one aos fe Thus for an EleQuary againft an habirual Loo nefs, when it exceeds the proper Bounds ; ; _ which, of INTRODUCTION. iif 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. aon : In this Manner the charitable Lady may fupply the Place of the A othecary, 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 Doétor 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- feétual 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. One ufeful Obfervation may ferye well to clofe this Introduction. Opiates, and Medicines of that : kind, to compofe Perfons to reft, andto take off = Pain, will be often neceffary; but as they are the co moft powerful Medicines the charitable Praéti- is tioner will have to do withal, they arethe moftca- peble ae hoing Harm: The great Care will there- ore 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 Wi which is called Laudanum, 1 would advife thefe two latter be’ ufed very feldom. A: * =r liv INTRODUCTION. made of the Juice of the wild Lettuce, is an ex cellent Medicine; the Syrup of Diacodium, which is made ‘of a {trong Decoétion of Poppy Heads, is a little ftronger than this; and if fomething more powerful than thefe is required, there is the afthmatic Elixir. One or other of thefe may al- moft 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 Opium or Laudanum be very rarely ufed: Perhaps it might be well to fay, not ufed at all, for the others will be able in al- moft all Cafes, if not univerfally, to anfwer the — Purpofe. ee ; THE Ufeful Family HERBAL. A, ACACIA TREE. ' A c “ ci A Vi R As SIVE SPI INA MH E Acacia is a rece But not tall ee oF Tree, with prickly Branches: The ARK bao Leaves are winged, or compofed of ‘ e EES feveral Poe ones fet on each Side a vie se in of Pes: Bloflamss z - any Prides and together. Thefe are fucceeded by — ‘The Seeds: contained i in ‘The Tree is s frequent i in #ppt, aad t ‘great ey other draco a it. No P; 2 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Acacia Tree is kept in the Shops, but we h from it two Drugs. Oe ae ae 1. The Acacia Juice, and 2. The Gum Ar The Acacia Juice or Succus Acacia is likeL rice Juice, hard and black. They bruife the ut ripe Pods and Seeds, and prefs out the Juice wh they evaporate to this Confiftence. The. Arabick ouzes out of the Bark of the Trun Branges as the Plum-Tree and Cherry-Tree Gu What is called the German Acacia is the J ui of unripe S/oes evaporated in the fame Manner. a Si te ae lll The Ufeful Family Herbal: 3 pofed to be a Remedy againft Poifons, but it is not much regarded at this Time. | ADDER’S-TONGUE. - OPHIOGLOSSUM. Dder’s-tongue is a little Plant common in our Meadows. It confifts of a fingle Leaf, with a little Spike of Sceds rifing from its Bottom, which is fuppofed to refemble the Tongue of -a ent. The Leaf is of an oval Shape, and of a fine bright green Colour; it is thick and flefhy, and has no Ribs or 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-veffel is notched on each Side, The whole — _ Plant is buried among the Grafs, and muft be fought in April and 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 - Ment is made from it. The Leaves are to chopped to Pieces, and four Pounds of them ate 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- Ment is to be ftrained off; it will be ofa beau- sreen. Some give the Juice of the Plant, or — wder of the. dried Leaves, inwardly in — rifling ~ AcRrimoxy. re Eo eee ee 4. The Ufeful Family Herbal, Flowers are yellow. The Root is perennial,” Leaves are hairy, of a pale Green, and notched ¢ the Edges ; the Stalk is fingle, firm, and round the Flowers ftand in’ a long Spike, they are fmall and numerous,. and the. Seed-veffels. which fue- ceed them aré rough like Burrs. The Plant is com- mon about Hedges. 3 The Leaves are ufed frefh or dried; they been recommended in the Jaundice; but they found by Experience to be good in the Diabetes and Incontinence of Urine. The Plant is alfo of of the famous vulnerary Herbs, and an Ingredi ent in the right Arquebufade Water, Buack Auber: ~ ALNUS NIGRA. FRé NGULA, THE black Alder is alittle Shrub: The Shc are brittle, flender, and covered with ab Bark; the Leaves are roundifh, of a bright G and veined ; te i __ The Shrub is frequent in moift Woods, a _ the Berries are fometimes mixt among thofe of t cna by fuch as gather them for Sale, be prevented, The Ufeful Family Herbal. «¢ Vinegar, and ufe it outwardly for the Itch, which it cures very fafely. | -ALenoof-or Grounp-lvy. HEDERA TERRESTRIS. A Low Plant that creeps about Hedges: and . flowers in Spring. The Stalks are hollow and fquare, a Foot or more in Length; the 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 fhould be gathered when in Flower. aes — tis an excellent Vulnerary, outwardly or in- wardly ufed; a Conferve may be made of it in Spring: And it may be given by Way of es. Lungs, and in thofe of the Kidnies, and againtt _ bloody and foul Urine, eee < | — Atxruzat or Clown’s ALLHEAL. $ 6 The Ujefil Pansy HorBal ALMonp-TRE¥. AMYGDALUS. BIITER and fweet Almonds are very dif ferent in Tafte, but the Tree which produ ces them is the fame; it is diftinguifhable at only by the Tafte of the aes as : row Leaves, of ay ead Green, and pot at the Edges ; the Bloffoms are large, of a pa 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: the Almond by Way of Kernel. They cultivatt Almond-Trees in France and Italy: ~ "> F ree: The Ufeful Family Herbal, - 21 ee | Barm. | “MELISSA. A Piant common in our Gardens. It grows to two Feet in Height, and the Stalks are ro- buft, fquare, and hairy. The Leaves are oblong, broad, pointed at the End,-and dentated about the Edges, and they ftand two ata Joint ; the Flowers are {mall and white, but they have large rough Tops, which remain after they are fallen. They ftand in circular Clufters round the Stalk at the upper Joints; the whole Plant is of a fragrant Smell. The Root creeps and fpreads abundantly, the Plant is in Flower in Fuly. . ‘ oles ig peanes ae The bed Way of Fr in drying. The beft Way o! taking it is in Tea; it it sock ir Dilotery OF the Head and Stomach, ~ , ? The Batm or GILEAD SHRUB. BALSAMUM SYRIACUM RUT FOLIO. THs is an eaftern Shrub ; it grows to five or fix Feet high, and the Branches are very ~ tough, and, when broken, have a fragrant Smell. The Leaves are like thofe of Rue, only larger and of a deeper Green, the Flowers are moderately large, and like Pea-Bloffoms ; they are of a pale mn oe oe Hue mixed with white. The Seeds are _ yeliow and very fragrant, they are contained in a kind of aS ee | | No Part of the Shrub is ufed, but or Pe Balfam which is seaoee it; the ' Kernel is fweet ahd of a good Tafte 22 © The Ufeful Family Herbal. runsfrom the Tree, of itfelf: There is afecond Sort. obtained by boiling the Twigs and young Shoots; _ and a third coarfer, which rifes to the Top of the Water, after the purer Sort has been taken off. This laft is almoft the only kind we fee, and : even this is very frequently adulterated. : It is a very fine Balfamic and Detergent; itis | good in the Whites, and all Weakneffes ; anditis Cordial at the fame Time that it aéts as a Balfam; it is beft taken alone upon Sugar. _.. The Batsam Capivi-Treeg. a ARBOR BALSAMIFERA FRUCTU | MONOSPERMO, a Tis is a large Tree. The Wood is of 2 _ ~ red Colour, and fine Grain; the Bark is brown; the Leaves are broad, ‘fhort, and pointed at the End, and are of a dark Green on the u ne per Side, anda mealy White underneath. The ; Flowers are as large as Apple Bloffoms, and of a pale Colour; the Fruit is a Pod containing onlf one Seed, which is as big as a Nut, and the \. The Tree is frequent in the Brafils. We ufe no Part of it, but only the Balfam which runs out at thin like Oj], It has the fame Virtues Turpentine, but is more powerful ; it is excel: Tent in the Whites, and it is good in all Com- - Plaints of the urinary Paffages. “It may be take The Ufeful Family Herbal, 23 The Batsam or Preru-Tree. 3 ARBOR BALSAMIFERA PERUVIANA. | Tis is a Shrub. of eight Feet high, with flender and tough Branches. The Leaves are very long and narrow; the Flowers are yellow and large, and the Fruit is crooked. The whole Plant has a fragrant Smell, efpecially the young Shoots and the Buds. | The Balfam of Peru is procured from the fra- grant Tops of this Shrub, by boiling them in Water; the blackifh Liquor rifes like Oil to the Top, and, when cold, it is the Balfam of Peru, There is a white Balfam of Peru very fragrant and fine, but itis fcarce. This is the Produce of the fame Tree, -but it ouzes naturally from the Cracks in the Bark. The black Balfam of Peru is a Cordial as-well as a Balfam,; it is excellent in Diforders of the Breaft, and in all Obftru@tions of the Vifcera; ten Drops at a Time given on Sugar, and con- tinued daily, have cured Afthmas and beginning _Confumptions. It alfo promotes the Menfes, and is excellent in Suppreffions of Urine. Outwardly applied, it heals frefh Wounds. ; The Barsam or Totu-Trezr. ARBOR BALSAMIFERA TOLUTANA. | THIS is a kind of Pine-Tree. It does not ~~ grow to any great Height, but fpreads into: @ great Quantity of Branches. The Leaves are i ei very flender, and of adeep Green; the ~ Bark is of a reddifh White, and the Fruit is a _ No Part of the Tree is ufed but the Ba only which -comes = it, They wounc i 24 - The Ufeful Family Herbal, balfamic Syrup of the Apothecaries is made from it, and poffefies a great deal of its Virtues. The Bar BERY-BUSH. BERBERIS. prowing, for it is not fo tall, and the Leaves are imalier and narrower, A long Beard grows from se Trunk in hot Seafons, and this liquid Refin — flows out, which they put up into Shells for Ex- _ portation: It is thick, brown, and very fragrant. © It is excellentinConfumptions, and other Diforders of the Breaft, and may be given in Pills. The a a a FP HIS is a wild Buth in fome Parts of Exg: Jand, but it is common every-where in Gar- _ dens; it grows to eight or ten Feet high in an _ irregular Manner, and much branched. The Bark _ is whitifh and there are Abundance of Prickles _ _ about the Branches. The Leaves are of an oval _ The Ufeful Family Herbal. 25 each Grain in the Ear, and the Ear is compofed of two Rows of them. We ule this Grain in two Forms, the one cal- led French Barley, and the other Pearl Barley, The French Barley is fkinned, and has the Ends ground off; the Pearl Barley is reduced by a longer Grinding to~a little round white Lump. The Pearl Barley makes the finer and mare elegant Barley-Water, but the French Barley makes the beft. It is excellent in Heat of Urine, and in -all gravelly Cafes, and is a good Drink in moft acute Difeafes, where Diluting is required : It is alfo in fome Degree nourifhing. a BAREN-WORT. EPIDEMIUM. A Singular and very pretty Plant, Native of Flowers. It is a Foot high. ‘The Leaves are oval and Heart-fafhioned, deeply indented at the Edges, andof a dufky Green. The Stalks which uce the Flowers, are weak, brittle, and gene- rally crooked ; the Flowers ftand in a kindof very . loofe Spike ten or a dozen upon the Top; they ~ are. fmall, but very fingular and confpicuous; they are purple on the Back with a red Edge, and _ yellow in the. Middle, The Root is fibrous and - creeping. Br eee sea a It was’ an Opinion with the old Writers, that this Plant proc ced no Flowers; but the Occa- fion is eafily known. When it ftands expofed to Sun, it feldom does flower; we fee thatinGardens where it is planted in fuch Situations, for ic will ftand many Years without flowering; but our — _ Woods favour it, being dark and damp : | People faw it in warmer Climates, and. 26 The Ufeful Family Herbal: unfavourable Expofure. _ They called it fromthis Circumftance, as well as from its Virtues, by a _ Name, which expreffed being barren and fruit- lefs. a The People in the North give Milk in which the Roots have been boiled, to the Females of the — domeftic Animals when they are running after — the Males, and they fay it has the certain Effet — of ftopping the natural Emotions. Plain Senfe — leads thefe Sort of People to many Things, They — have from this been taught to give it to young Wo- _ men of robuit Habits fubject to violent hyfteric — Complaints, and I am affured with great Succefs; they give the Decoétion of the Root made ftrong — and {weetened. *T'was-a coarfe AlluGon that led — them.to the Practice, but it fucceeds in Cafes that — ‘foil all the Parade of common Praétice. It is faid — that, if ee Saas it in too large Quantity, it ren- ders them ftupid for fome Hours, but no ill-Con= fequence has attended this. ~ a Se ee The Bay-TREE, <— o of ye ee alee Sig eae The Ufeful Family Herbal. 27 The Berries are dried, and are the Part of the Tree moftly ufed; but the Leaves alfo have great Virtue. The Berries are given in Powder or In-° fafion; they are good in Obftructions, and in Cholics, They promote Urine, and the Eva- cuations after Delivery. The Leaves are cordial - and ‘in all nervous Complaints. Paralyti¢ People youd find great Benefit from final] es of them often repeated ; and four or five Dofes have fometimes cured Agues.. They are to be put frefh into an Oven, and, when they are crifp, reduced to Powder. Basi, OCYMUM VULGARE MAJUS. BASIL is a fmall Herb, Native of warmer Countries, but not uncommon in our Gare dens; it is bufhy and branched, the Stalks are " {quare, and the Leaves ftand two at each. Joint. They are broad and fhort, and fomewhat in- dented at the Edges. The Flowers are fmall and white, and are of the Shape of thofe of the Dead- nettle; they ftznd on the upper Parts of the Branches in loofe Spikes, ‘The whole Plant has a very fragrant Smell. ; poe - Bafil is little ufed, but it deferves to be thuch — more. A Tea made of the green Plant is excel- effectual for gently promoting the Menfes, and for fees thofe Complaints which naturally attend | Tice nc ws or three other kinds of Bafil, but ~ they have not equal Virtue, ee lent againft all Obftructions. No Simple is ae 28 The Ufe eful Famil, by Herbal. The aces whee ARBOR BDELLIUM FERENS. “WE are very well acquainted with the Gum, — or rather Gum Refin called Bdellium, but — we know very little of the Tree from which it is produced; the beft Defcription we have of it, amounts to no more than that it is moderate- ly large, bufhy, and full of Branches with Prickles upon them, and with oblong and broad Leaves deeply indented at the Edges, fo that they refemble Oak-Leaves: And that, when the young — Shoots are broken, they yield a milky Juice. But even this does not come upon Certainty, that is, — we are not affured, that this Tree produces the — very Gum we fee. This is of a red brown Colour, © and bitterifh Tafte. ; It is a good Medicine in Obftructions of the ia = Liver and Spleen, but it is not much ufed, - FABA, TH H E cbmmon Garden-Bean is faficently Ee known; it grows to a Yard high, its Stalks are angular, and the Leaves which are of the winged kind, ftand one ateach Joint; the Flowers _ are “white rd with Black, and are finely fcented. £% Pods and their Seeds need not be Tt has been cuftomary to diftil a Water from Bean-Flowers, and ufe it to foften the Skin, but common diftilled Water does as well. It is other= wife with the Water of the Bean-Pods. Thefe are to be bruifed, when the Beans are half ripe in them, and diftied with Water in a common _ ape. The Water is a es: gentle Carmi- ae native, The Ufeful Family Herbal. 29 mative, without any Heat or Acridnefs this. ex» cellent for Children’s Gripes. $ The Maracca Bean-TREE. ANACARDIUM LEGITIMUM. . TH! S is a large Tree, Native of Malabar and _™ the Philippine Ilands ; it grows to the Height and Bignefs of our talleft Elms, and has much of their Manner of Growth, as to the Branches. The Leaves are vaftly large, of an oblong Figure, and obtufe; the Flowers are {mall and white, they grow in Bunches, and have fomewhat of the Smell of the Syringa Flower but fainter. The Fruit is of the Bignefs of a Pear, and much of thé fame Shape ; it is of a deep Red, when ripe, and of a pleafant Tafte; the Kernel is not within this, as is commonly the Cafe in Fruits, but it hangs out loofe at the End. This Kernel or Seed is of the Shape of an Heart it is as big as an Olive, and has a dufky red Coat or Shell, but it is white within. This is the Part ufed in Medi- cine, for the whole Fruit is not regarded. The Anacardium, or Kernel, is faid to be a Cordial, and a Strengthener of the Nerves, but we do not much. ufe it. - There is a very tharp Liquor be- tween the outer and inner Rinds. of the Shell, which will take away Freckles from the Skin, but it is fo fharp that the Ladies. muft be cau- tious how they ufe it. Pacceee 30 The Ufeful Family Herbal. | The West-Inpra-Bean, or Casu EW NutT-TREE. 2 ARBOR ACAJOU VULGO CAJOU. TE appears by the Defcription of the Anacar- ~ dium how very improperly it is called a Nut — for it is the Kernel of a large Fruit, though — growing in a fingular Manner. The Cafe is jut — the fame with Refpeét to the Cafhew Nut, for it is neither a Nut nor a Bean, any more than the — other: But it is neceflary to keep tothe common | Names, and it is proper they fhould be mentioned — together. a The Tree which produces it is large and fpread- _ ings the Bark is of a pale Colour, rough and — cracked, and the Wood is brittle. The Leaves are half a Foot long, and two or three Inches - broad, blunt at the End, and of a fine green Colour. The Flowers are {mall, but they grow in Tufts together. The Fruit is of the Bignefs _ and Shape of a Pear, and of an Orange and Pur- ple Colour mixt together;. the Cafhew Nut © Bean, as it is called, hangs naked from the Bottom of this Fruit. It is of the Bignefs of a Garden-Bean, and indented in the Manner of +5 Kidney ; it is of a * 8 fhelly Covering, and a fine white flethy Sub- Oil, which ferves in the fame Manner as the other to take off ee St it muft be ufed with — great Caution. It aétually " it muft be fuffered to lie _. and, even when ufed ever fo cautioufly, it fome-— <2 fimes. caufes:Mifchief, “© "So - The Ufeful Family Herbal, 31 The Bencat BEAN-TREE, FABA BENGALENSIS. A Large Tree, Native of the Eaft, and not un- .“* like our Plum-Tree. It is thirty er forty Feet high; the Leaves are roundifh, but fharp-pointed, and of a deep Green; they are finely indented and of a firm Texture. The Flowers are large and white; they refemble in all Refpects the Bloffoms of our Plum-Trees. The Fruit is a kind of Plum of a long Shape, with a {mall Quantity of flefhy Matter, and a very large Stone. It is a kind of Myrobolan, but is not exactly the fame with any that we ufe. j _ The Bengal-Bean, as it is called, isan irregu- lar Produétion of. this Tree : It is very ill named a Bean, it is truly a Gall like thofe of the Oak; but it does not rife like them from the Wood or _ Plum. It is as broad as a Walnut, but flatted, and hollowed in the Center; its Original is this: ' There is a little black Fly frequent in that Coun- _ try, which lodges its. Eggs in the unripe Fruit of this particular Plum, as we have Infects in Eng- land, which always choofe a particular Plant, and a particular Part for that Purpofe. The Fly always ftrikes the Fruit while it is green, and has but the Rudiments of the Stone. It grows dif-_ empered from the Wound, and the Stone never -Mipens in it, but it takes this fingular Form. “It is an excellent Aftringent. It is of the Na- tuy of the Galls of the Oak, but lefs violently — binding, « It is good in all Purgings and bloody SS Fluxes, and againft the Overflowing of the 32 «Lhe Ufeful Family Herbal. BEAR’s-BREECH. | : “Bgar’s-roor. - HELLEBORUS NIGER. | A Low and fi ‘ “ Beauty; it The Ufeful Family Herbal. 33 of their having been open; and they ftand each on a fingle Stalk, which rifes from the Root, and has no Leaves on it. It flowers in Fanuary. The Root is an excellent Purge, it works brifkly but fafely ; it deftroys Worms, and is good in Dropfies, Jaundice, and many other Difeafes, and even in Madnefs. But it is very neceflary to keep it in one’s own Garden, for, if the Root be bought, they commonly fell that of the green-flowered wild or baftard Hellebore in its Place, which is a rough Medicine. Lapites BEpsTRAW: GALLIUM LUTEUM, . Pretty wild Plant frequent about Hedges in June and the fucceeding Months. The Stalk _ 1s weak and two Feet high, the Leaves are of a blackith Green and fn Il, and the Flowers are — epi The Stalk is angular and whitith, very _ Srittle and feldom ftraight; the Leaves ftand a great — Many at each Joint, and are {mall, narrow, and difpofed about the Stalk like the Rowels of a _ Spur; the Flowers grow in great Tufts on the ops of the Stalks, fo that they make a very — Confpicuous Appearance, though fingly they are eee ery fmall. This Herb is little regarded, but ithas very at Virtue; it fhould be gathered, when the nade, An Infufion of it will cure the moft Violent = at the Nofe, and almoft all other Evacuations of Blood. jowers are not quite blown, and dried in the = 84 The Ufeful Family Herbal BEET. BETA ALBA. A Common Garden Plant eaten at our Ta but thefe often afford Medicines as well Food. The white Beet, which is the medi kind, rows three or font Feet high. The S is robuft and ftrong, the Leaves are broad -undulated, the Flowers are inconfiderable,. nifk white Colour; the Root is lan a The = of frefh Beet-Root is an excel _ Remedy for the Head-ach and Tooth-ach, é the AS bo is affected; it is to be fnulfed u | promote Sneézing. = ae - he red Beet-Root is good for the fame Pu pofe, but it is not fo ftrong as the white. Waitt BEHEN. 3 but; y are thick enough, round, ofa whieith green-Colour. Fhe Leaves areo _ broad, and of a fine blue green Colour, ‘not ed at all at the Edges, and they grow every Joint a of the Seal where - ore Viretie than Peo le imagine. ) long Sy white er is to. See: and dried. Aa The U/eful Family Herbal, =. fervous Complaints; it will not take Plate ageaintt a violent prefent Diforder; but is an excellent Prefertatives taken ceautioufly. a RED Bruen. -LiMONIUM MAJUS.— A Cominon wild Plant about our es Z "and a very pretty one. It grows to a Foot in Height; the Stalks are naked, and the Flow- ers red; and, in their Difpofition, they fomewhat tefémble Lavender, whence the Plant is alfo — called by fome Sea Lavender.. About ce Bot- si a Root 18 ort perane oe = The People in Effex cure © themnielves of Parg: eas “angs, and of Overflowings of the Ménfes, with an “Anfufion of this Root; and it is a very great Me- - dicine, though little known. It is to be gathered, _ as foon as the young Leaves appear, cleane dried; it may be taken in Powder half a for: aDofe. Thefe are not the white and rec , of the old Writers ¢ on Phyfick, better. ‘The Bew No $7? te. -. BALANUS MYREPSICA, ~ | pris is an Arabian Free, not eon ge. Bakes fingnldt i the N ay fmall biel. Paes “Mities of ed bra 36 = The U/eful Family Herbal. Leaves fall firft, and thefe Foot-Stalks long after — _ When. the Leaves are fallen, and the Stalks re main, the Tree makes a very fingular Appeat- — ance. The Fruit is a Pod long, but flender, and containing two Seeds: Thefe are what we call the Ben-Nuts. They are of an oblong Fi gure, and irregularly rigid; the Shell is hard, but the Kernel fat, fott and oily, and of a bit ter Tafte. The Kernel operates by mater and Stank vie -olently and is feldom aed. It affords an Beith has neither Smell nor Tafte, and whi will keep a long Time without growing rancid. — The BENJAMIN-TREE. : - ARBOR BENZIONIFERA. a Beautiful Tree frequent in the Eaft, and affording the fine fragrant Refin of its Nam It is alfo of the Growth of America, and thriv there, bout it yields no Refin. It is a moderate tall Tre , the Bark is fmooth and brown; # 2 are broad, oblong, and not unlike tho a the Lemon-Tree. The Flowers are whitifh, and very inconfiderable. The Fruit is as big 2 Nutmeg, and confifts of a flefhy Subftance on the Outfide, and a Kernel inclofed in a thin _ and brittle Shell within. The Tree is AP © 3 ae the Bay-Tree kind. - ___ They cut the Branches of the Benj amin Trees the Juice which flows out, Searels baci into that reddith and white fragrant Refit. | exce! lent Medicine i in Diforders. oe :- 1 = aoe of | _ mat h Spirit of Wine m Water 3 ah this Mixture is called ee it good to eleande: the Skin. is The Ufeful Family Herbal. 37 W oop-BeTony. BETONICA SYLVESTRIS. A Common wild Herb, but of very great Virtue, It is frequent in our Woods and oe oe and flowers in June. The Stalks are alm anda Foot high, and the Flowers are pu < There grow many Leaves from the Root; they- have long Stalks, and are broad, above an Inch long, ofa a blackith green Colour ibn hairy, blunt at the Point, and indented about the Edges. The Stalks are fquare, of a dark Colour, hairy, and not very ftrong. The Leaves on them are very 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 ols fhort Spike; they are {mall and Ic | of the Flowers of flower. It is excellent for Diforders of the F ead, and for all nervous Complaints. The habitual “Ule 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 ‘lowers - by Waters, thence and from” thes Shap 2 f the Leaves called Water Betony, but it has none of the Virtues of this Plant; it is a kind — of Figwort and ptf he Vics of thar Plan | 38 The Ufeful Family He ahah Binp-WEEp. CONVOLVULUS MAJOR. 4 Common wild Plant which climbs about of Hedges, and bears very large white Flowers, he Stalks 5 weak and flender, but very tat X or eight Feet long, and twift about any th that can fupport them, The Leaves are large and of the Shape ef an Arrow-Head, bearded at d fharp at the Point: They ftan - fing xl , not in Pairs, and are of a pale reen lour. The Flowers are of the Breadth of poe reece and sens 2 to at Bell- ned, an BORAGO. A Rough Plant common in our Gardens, with “™ great Leaves, and beautiful blue Flowers. It grows two Feet high; the Stalks are thick,. ‘Tound, flefhy, and juicy ; and covered with akind of Mairinefs 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 Sree of the Branches ; they are divided into five Parts of a moft beautiful Blue, and have a black Ey _ a8 it-were in the Middle. © = = ___ Borage has the Credit of being a great _ but, if it poffefs any fuch Virtue 46 The Ufeful Family Herbal obtained only by a light cold Infufion ; fo that Way of throwing it into cold Wine is ‘better. that all the medicinal Preparations, fort in thei it naufeous. W HITe BRY ony. BRYONIA ALBA. fy it Tall, ees V vile “oe which covers 0 355 eS Hedges. in many Pla SES. The Leaves 4 io lider ce ‘ur the ie a a oe a great Shew. oot is Vv 1 ,» FO Sige Sie the Seas are ro a eae pact long ; but 5 : ves; the ete ec ith White ae cath. -but the Berries are ares d el large and full of ae and Stoe¢ poses 2 frhall we aon _ tions cannot bear it, but, for thofe that --€xcellent in many fevere Difeafés, Dro been cured:by it. It isalfo —_ Complaints, but for this in very {mall eoiet dod, : 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- “= ‘fmooth - and fhining, and of a glofiy and ry deep blackifh Green. The Flowers are very fall and of a greenifh White ; the Berries are red. 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- Tent Remedy in the Gravel, and all other Ob- ftructions of Urine, and other Diforders of the met gsi = A Common wild Herb fe ot about thaliow oe Waters, with a thick Stalk, roundifh Leaves, = Spikes of little bright blue Flowers. Brook- Imie grows to a Foot high. The Stalk is — fiefhy and large, yet it “does not grow very u right: It ftrikes Root at the lower Joints. — Th _ Leaves are broad, oblong, blunt at the End, | _— indented on the Edges. The Flowers : _ ftand fingly on fhort Foot-Stalks one over ano- ther, fo that th ey form a kind of loofe Spikes the = Brooklime has ‘great Virtues, but muft be ufed frefh gath ered, for they are all loft in drying. Tie - Juice in Spring i is very good againft the Scu Fs. ay mutt betaken’ for fome Time. It- gently by Urine, but ih one vinnie 3 Be Blod 48 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Broom. GENIST A. A Common naked-looking Shrub that grows on — wafte Grounds, and bears yellow Flowers in 4 May. It is 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 | fender Stalks. e Flowers are numerous, they 7 fhaped like i Pea-Blofism, and are of a beau- tiful bright Yellow. The Pods are flat and hairy. The green Stalks of ho gee infufed in Ale or ies a Pans; ; Rey are peas in the CDoEe and® Jau dice. It is a common Praétice to burn them | Afhes, and infufe thofe Afhes in White-wine thus the fixed Salt is extraéted, and the Wine becsincs a mod of Lee. This alfo works by Urine | OB UTCHERS-BRooM. 7 RUSCUS. = A Litile fhrubby Plant frequent on our wa Grounds and Heaths, dares and _buthy Toy 8. "Branches towards the Top: They are there covered Z ie Leaves. rae op thy ae fhort, b oval, and pointed, the Point running out in S OH Ae: i oy of a bluifh Green, - and very -thick and flefhy. The F lovee are, feldom The Ufiful Family Herbal, 49 earded ; they grow in a fingular Manner upon the Backs of the Leaves, they are very fmall and purplifh: Thefe are fucceeded each by a fingle Berry, which is red, round, and as big as a Pea, The Roots are white, thick, and numerous. The Root is the Part ufed, and it is an excel= lent Medicine to remove Obitruétions. It works powerfully by Urine, and is good in Jaundices, and in Stoppages of the Menfes, and excellent in the Gravel. , BucK-BEANS. : TRIFOLIUM PALUSTRE. ~ ALN 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 _ the Leaves ftand three upon each Stalk, and thefe Stalks rife immediately from the Roots, They _ te thick, round, fmooth, and flefhy; and the 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 whitifh: They are» fmall, but they grow together in a kind of thick hort Spike, fo that in the Clufter they make a Confpicuous Appearance ; they are white with a _ Very faint Tinge of Purple, and are hairy with- ins the Root 1s whitith, long, and thick. _ | The Leaves of Buck-bean are to be gathered x before the Stalks appear for Flowering, and are tobe dried ; the Powder of them will cure Agues, bur their great Ufe is againft the Rheumatifm: — _ For this Purpofe they are to be given for a Con= _ om os of Time in Infufion, or in the Manner — E | : Buek- sie - 50 The Ufeful Family Herbal. BucKTHORN. SPINA CERVINA. A Prickly Shrub common in our Hedges, with pale green Leaves, and black Berries. It ows to eight or ten Feet high. The Bark 1s _ Sarkacelehsoe and gloffy, 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 greenifh Yellow, and grow in little -Clufters.. The Berries which are ripe in Sepi ber, are round, gloffy, black, as big as the large __Pepper-Corns, and contain each three or ‘The Juice of the Berries, boiled up with Suga, ~ makes a good Purge; but it is apt to gripe, um lefs fome Spice be added. in the making: It rough Purge, but a very good one. ue _ Bucksworn Pranrarn. + A Very pretty little Plant which grows in ~“* fandy and barren Places, with the L fpread out in Manner of a Star, all the Way roum from the Root; and in the Heads like other Plan _ tains, although fo very unlike them in its Leaves The Root ts long and fiender: The Leaves wi hie thus flat upon the Ground, are narrow : Sel Gees SE notched and divided fo femble a Buck’s Horn, whence the Name, : pale whitith Green, and a little hairy- Stalks are flender, fix Inches long, but fel e-ere&t : They are round, hairy, and whi- have at the Top a Spike of Flowers of am The Ufeful Family Herbal. 53. 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. Buere. 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 _diftant. Thefe Leaves are of the fame Form _ with thofe which rife immediately from the Root; _ Oblong, broad, blunt at the Point, and of a deep green Colour, fometimes alfo a little purplith, _ and are flightly indented round the Edges. The Blowers 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 oft dis Plant _ efteemed good for _ Mward Bruifes; it is a very good Diuretick. 52 The Ufeful Family Herbals BuGLoss. BUGLOSSUM HORTENSE. A 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 l@ag 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 Flo ers ftand at the Tops of the Branches, and are very retty, though not very large; are red when. they fit ms but they ge become blue. The Root is long and brown. It flowers in Fun 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 oan 0 for there isno Way of maki regular Prep of it, that is 2 eis an ne BARDANA. Roce 2e _it ought. ven the =e ‘made fome of the = Menke the moft. | > | ate becaufe cig fo, we foolifhly The Ufeful Family Herbal. — =° It is hardly neceflary to defcribe the common Bur- dock. It may be enough to fay, that it grows a Yard high, and has yaft Leaves of a Figure approach- ing to triangular, and of a whitifh green Colour. The Stalks are round, ftriated, and ve tough : The Flowers are {mall and red, and they 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, and whitith within ; this is the Part ufed in Me- dicine, and it is of very great Virtues. It is to be boiled, or infufed in Water; the Virtue is diu- retic, and it is very powerfully fo. It has cured Dropfies 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. Pa PIMPINELLA SANGUISORBA. A 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, ing compofed of a great Number of fimaller, Stowing on each Side a middle Rib, with an odd one at the End, They are broad, fhorts. roundith, and elegantly ferrated round the Edges. The Stalks are a fe high, round, ftriated, pur- plith or green, and almoft naked ; the few L they have are like thofe at the Bottom “Tops of thefe Stalks ftand_ the Flowe s4 The Ufeful 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 4 good Aftringent;. dried and powdered, it ftops ' Fluxes, and Overflowings of the Menfes. BURNET Bax ifsc E. _PIMPINELLA SAXIFRAGA. Pretty Plant, wildin our dry Paftures, and ** under Hedges, but not very common in all _ Parts of the Kingdom, it grows two Feet high, _and has the Flowers in Umbels. The Stalk is firm, ftriated, and branched ; the Leaves rifing from the Root are pinnated, and the leffer Leaves of which they are compofed, are hard, of a deep Green, narrow and indented. The Leaves u - the Stalks are fmaller and narrower ; the Flowers ___ are little and white, but they ftand in fo large Clu _ ters, that they make a Figure: The Root _ white of a hot burning Tafte; the § The Root is the only Part ufed ; taken up in Spring before the Stalks fhoot | ; ‘dried ; It is very good in Cholicks, and Di | | d * of the Stomach, and it works by Urine, <2 TT 5 r-Bu 2 a few I The Ufeful Family Herbal. 55 Leaves upon them. On the Top of ‘each ftands a Spike of Flowers, of a pale reddifh Colour ; the whole does not rife to more than eight Inches in Height. Thefe appear in March. When they aredead, the Leaves grow up ; thefe are roundifh, green on the r Side, and whitifh underneath, of a vaft Bignefs, and ftand fingly upon hollowed Foot-Stalks, of a purplith, whitifh, or greenifh Co- lour; 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, as a Remedy in peftilential Fevers; but, _ whether it deferve that Praife or not, it is a good Diuretick, and excellent in the Gravel. BuR-REED. ee ee Pane rough H seds :- ee et Feet high. The Stalk are round, green, thick, and upright. The Leaves are very long and nar- fow, fharp at the Edges, and with a fharp Ridge _ the Back along the Middle: They are of a- Green, and look frefh and beautiful. The wers are inconfiderable and yellowifh - ftand in a kind of circular Tufts about Parts of the Stalk ; Lower down ftand Fruits called Burs, from whence the P tained j its Name; they are of the Bignefs of | .and rough. The Root is pofed bf: a Quantity of white Fibres. — yee ‘The unripe Fruit is wfed; they are aftringen and good ; aint Fluxes of ‘the Belly, and Bi ings of all kinds: The beft Way o ‘giving * 4s infy rough red Wine, with a li called, are | lo 56 The U, UGE ul Family Herbal. externally for Wounds. A Strong Decoétion of them is made to wath old Ulcers, and the Juice is — applied to frefh Hurts, and they fay with great | Succefs. | C, The Cuamaeer. Ner-Trer. oe CACAO, HIS j is s 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 Chocolote Nut. The Tree grows very regularly, The Surface is uneven, for the Bark rifes into Tubereles; the Leaves are half a Foot long, three Inches. broad, of a fine ftrong Green, and poi at the Ends. The Flowers are {mall and yel- _ lowifh, and they grow in Clufters from the Branches, and even from the Trunk of the Tr 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 ri » of a purplifh Colour, with Ting of Yello _. The Cacao Nuts, as they are Soe gee : d within this Fruit; every , << contains between twenty seg ce of them. T =o Ss ee ate es lege Ke ~The common n Way of aking m Coca $s not the only one in which i is The Ufeful Family Herbal. 57 the Nut itfelf may be put into Eleétuaries. Tris is very nourifhing and shies: CALAMINT. CALAMINTHA. A Common wild Plant of great Virtues, but too much neglected. 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- four, a little tinged with purplifh. The Root is compofed of a few Fibres. Calamint fhould be ga- thered when juft com into Flower, and careful-— _ ly dried; it is sina oree given in the Mai " oa ner of Tea, and it will ac greater ‘Service in Weak- neffes of the Stomach, and in habitual Cholicks. I have known effectual and lafting Cures pertone ed a it, PennyRovat CALAMINT. — | ek sa CHA ODORE PULEGIL. a - A Little Plant of the fame kind with the . other, eae = and found in the fame Places, but morecom- 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 ereét and i is lefs recone a very ft 1d Not av eeable 3 the other 38 The Ujeful Family Herbal, — ' This is to be preferved dry as the other, , Sken3 in the fame Manner. It is excellent againft Stoppages of the Menfes, and, if taken conftantly, will bring them to a regular Courfe. “Catves-Snout OR SNAPDRAGON , ANTIRRHINUM. Common wild Plant in many Parts of Ew rope, and is very frequent in our Gardens, and upon the Walls of Gardens: Its natural Situat iso Hills among barren Rocks, and no comes fo near that, as the Top of an old W. with us: The Sceds are light and are eafily*tar- ried thither by the Wind, and they never fail -ftrike, and the Plant flourifhes. It is two F “the Stalks are round, thick, firm, and lerabiy upright, but generally a little bent t wards the Bottom; the Leaves are very nut rous ; they are oblong, narrow, not indented the Edges, blunt at the Ends, and of a blu green Colour. The Flowers are large and _ ret they ftand in akind of loofe Spikes upon the Top of the Stalks; the Root is white and oblon - The frefh Tops are ufed ; an Infufion a: works by Urine, and has been recommended fome in the Jaundice, and in other Difeafes ar from Obftructions of the Vifcera; but we hav! fo many Englifo Plants that excel in this Particu Tar, and the’ Tafte of the ieee is fo. far frot The Ufeful Family Herbal. 3 59. } CAMELS-HAY. ~ SCHENANTHUS. A Sort of Grafs of a fragrant Smell, frequent in many Parts of the Eaft, and brought over to us dried for the Ufe of Medicine. It grows to aFoot high, and in all Refpects 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 grafly 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 Menfes, but it is now very little regarded. ~ : CHAMOMILE. | CHAMG@MELUM. ~ A Common lowwild Plant of a beautiful Green, © ~~ a fragrant Smell, and with Flowers not un- _ Tike Daifies. It is frequent on damp Heaths, and gets no Good by being brought into Gardens. It Srows 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 of a dark blackith green Colour. The Flowers grow upon long Foot-Stalks, and are . : white at the Edge, and yellow in the Middle, — Ze The Flowers are moft ufed. Thofewhich are raifed _ for Sale are double, and they have very little tue in Comparifon of the fingle ones. © T _ tobe taken in Tea, which is a pleafant __ €rin Powderthey are excellent for D: 60 The Ufeful Family Herbal. “ Stomach, and have fometimes cured A many other Bitters will. The Tea made of them is alfo good againft the Cholick, and works by © Urine. ~ - ig The CAMPHOR-TREE. _ ARBOR CAMPHORIFERA,. — THis is a kind of Bay-Tree of the Ea/t-Indit, but it grows to the Height of our tallelt Trees. The Bark is brown and uneven on th 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 at curled at the Edges. The Flowers are {mall ant — white, and the Fruit is a Berry altogether like out Bay-Berries, and of the Bignefs of a large Pea | The Wood of the Tree is white or a little reddif, and veined with black, and fmells of the Camphiit | The Leaves alfo, when they are bruifed, {mell of -Camphire; and the Fruit moft of all. ; _ The only Product of this Tree, ufed in Med cine, is the Refin called Camphire; and this is not -a_natural, but a fort of Chemical Preparati They cvt the Wood to Pieces, and put if! fort of fubliming Veffel, with an earthen I full of Straw. They make a Fire unde and the Camphire rifes in Form of a white and is found among the Straw. This is r wards, and becomes the Camphire we ule. udorifick and works by Urine; it alfo pt Mes, and is good in Diforders of The Ufeful Family Herbal. aS Wuite Campion. 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 is a Plant not much regarded for its Vir- tues, but it deferves Notice; the country Peo- ple gather the Flowers in fome Places, and give “sae in the Whites and other Weakneffes with uccefs, Ags Boe ae eae The Canet BARK-TREE, CALLED THE. WiNTER'S BARK-IT REE. CANELLA ALBA. _ Pretty Figure : ‘The Fruit is a Berry which ftands in the Cup of the Flower: It is of the Bignefs.of . a Medicine ; it is brought to us “ ‘Quills, in the Manner of Cinnamo _ 4picy Fafte, and of a whitifh 62 The Useful Family Herbal. Name is Canella alba, white Canel ; but the Drug- ifts have accuftomed themfelves to call it Cort 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 W: neffes of the Stomach, and in habitual Choli Some recommend it greatly in Palfies ‘and : nervous Complaints, but its Virtues of this kind are not fo well eftablifhed. | _ CANTERBUKY Berts. _.. TRACHELIUM MAJUS. : A Very beautiful wild Plant with Leaves like th ~ Stinging-Nettle, and large and very elegant blue Flowers. It grows by Road-Sides, and indy Paftures, and is two or three Feet high. The Stalks are fquare, thick, upright, ftrong, and hair The Leaves grow irregularly, they are of a dufky The Ufeful Raonihy H eS al. §=6663 for fore Throats, ufed by Way. ‘= ai Gargle. The Plant is fo famous for this Virtue, that one | of its common Luglio Names is Throat-wort >If the Medicine be fwallowed, there is no Harm in its but, in the Ufe of every Thing in this Way, it is beft to fpit the Liquor out together with the Foul- _ which it may have wafhed from the atiested : The CAPER SHRUB. CAPPARIS. Common Shrub in France 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 aifed in Medicine is- the Bark of the Rta The Shrub grows. to no great Peis: 7 eee weak, beberie atc (oe Or felves, are tough and prickly: T AVES _ fland irregularly, ugha oe an per or rounc _ Figure; the Thorns are hooked like thofe Of the ee Bramble ; the Flowers, when full opened, are pur- vs plith and very pretty; the Fruit is roundifh, __~ The Bark of the Root is to be takenin Powder, _ rt Infufion; it is good againft Obftructions of the - _ diver and Spleen, in the Jaundice, and Hypocon- _ driac Complaints: It is we commented ¢ in - di- - geftions, Se : re pg . = = “The ee are pase Pru Peas ‘The Plant weak, and of a pale Green. "The Leaves ave We ___ thofe of the Pea, biit each little Leaf is narroweh and of a paler Green, and Seite the "he Flowers are finall and white and refebl Ufeful Family Herbal. 76 the Pea Bloffom. The Pods are fhort, thick, and hairy, and feldom contain more than two, often but one Seed er Chich in each. : They are eaten in fome Places, and they are gentle Diuretics. Se -€tnorroit. trem | APH i..5 one A Creeping wild Plant common about Way- *™ fides, and in Paftures.. The Stalks are round and fmooth, and ufually of a reddith 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 Flowers alfo ftand on long Foot-. Stalks, they are yellow and of the Breadth of a Shilling, very bright, and beautiful... The Root . large and long, and is covered with a brown ~The Root is the Part ufed, it fhould be dug up in 4pril, and the outer Bark taken off and dried, the reit is ufelefs; this Bark is to be given in Pow- der for all Sorts of Fluxes; It ftops Purgings, “and the Overflowings of the Menfes ; few Drugs are of equal Power. The CINNAMON TREE. CINNAMON. AA Large Tree frequent in the Eaft, and not un; _ eeive by drying. The Leaves are of like the Bay-Tree in its Flowers, Fruit, é : : eaves, or Manner of Growth; only larger. The Bark is rough on the Trunk, and fmooth on the Branches ; It has little Tafte while freth, but comes aromatic and fharp, in that Degree 80 The Ufeful Family . ae of Bay Leaves, but twice as “bigs the Flowers fmall and whitifh; the Berriés are little obl and of a bluifh Colour, {potted 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 wins and infipid. The Leaves are fragrant. The Root is the only Part ufed, and this isan excellent Aftringent in the Bowels; it is cordial — and good to promote Appetite : It alfo promotts — the Menfes, though it acts as an Aftringert i ih a other Cafes. m4 The Winters Bark TREE. CORT a 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 ~ vi i” of twenty Feet high, very fpreading, an 0. Braiinlies- the Bark i is ate 4 Sh Cutlides and brown within. The Leaves are two Inches longs and an Inch broad, fall at the Stalk, and ob- tufe at the End, and divided a little. The Flow- ers are white and fweet-fcented, the Fruit is a3 Berry. ahs Bark is the Part ufed, they fend —s te two Rinds together: It is very fra and 0 a hot se Tafte. It os a acne, and ial, and — me = the Scurvy: _ The Cistus Surus, from which Labda- | num is procured. eee CISTUS LADANIFERA.. AYey pretty Shrub frequent in the Greek Iflands, and in other warm Climates. It is two or three Feet high, very much branched, and has broad Leaves, and beautiful large Flowers. The 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 green 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 Exudation difcharged from the Leaves in the Manner of Manna, more than of any Thingelfe. They get it off by drawing a Parcel of leather _ Thongs over the Shrubs. It is not much ufed, — but it is a good Cephalic. | The CrTRON-TREE: CITRIA SIVE MALUS MEDICA. A Small Tree with prickly Branches, but very — 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 England, by the Addi- tion of Spice to the frefh Peels of good Lemons: the Method is as follows. oe Put into a fmall Still a Gallon of fine Melafles 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, let 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 fine# Barbadoes Water. The CErrrep Try, CTERULLES A Creeping Plant of the Melon kind, cultivated in many Parts of Europe and the Eaft. The = Branches or Stalks are ten Feet long, thick, a? / gular, “flethy, and hairy: They trail upon the like the Melon, and Cucumb 1, often flatted and compofed of ' under a thick Rind, with Seeds Fe ts, ee The Ufeful Family Herbal. 83 CLARY: « | HORMINUM. Chay is a common Plant in our Gardens, not very beautiful; but kept for its Virtues. It grows two Feet and a half high; the Leaves are rough, and the Flowers of a whitifh blue. The Stalks are thick, flefhy, and upright; they are clammy to the Touch, and a little hairy. The Leaves are large, wrinkled, and of a dufky Green, broad at the Bafe; and fmaller to the Point, which is obtufe ; the Flowers ftand in long loofe Spikes, they are difpofed in Circles round the upper Parts of the Stalks, and are gaping and large, the Cups anes they ftand are robuft and in fome Degree Prickly. = << te whole Herb, is ufed frefh or dried. It 2 Cordial, and in fome Degree aftringent. It ftrengthens the Stomach, is good againft Head-— _ achs, and ftops the Whites, but for this laft Pur- pole, it is neceffary to take it a long Time; 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 . _ +OUut any little offenfive Subftance fallen into them. As foon as they are put in, they gather a Coat Of Mucilage about them, and thjs catches hold Of any little thi it meets with in the Eye _ Dr. ; x iée: has perfectly explained this in his Book of Seeds. | Tied tp 84 The Ufeful Family Herbal. CLEAVERS. APARINE. e ‘Wild Herb commen in all our Hedges, and “ known by fticking to Peoples Cloaths as pr 4 touch it. The Stalks are fquare and very rough, two Feet long, but weak and unable to ee “a themfelves, they climb among Buthes. The | Leaves are long and narrow, and of a pale Green, the grow feveral at every Joint, encompaffing the — alk in the Manner of the Rowel of a aut! They aret in the fame Manner with the Stalk, and flick to every Thing they touch. The — _ Flowers are fmall and white; the Seeds grow s two together, and are roundifh and rough like a the reft of the Plant ; the Root is fibrous. me The Juice of the frefh Herb is ufed, it cools the Body, and ‘operates by Urine ; it is good a gainft the Scurvy, and all other outward Difor ders. Some pretend it will cure the Evil, but ‘The Crove BarK-TrRer. _ €ASSIA CARYOPHYLLATA. “The Ufefud Family Horbah 85 is beft. _ It is of 2 fragrant Smell, and ofa mixed _ "Tafte of Cinnamon and Cloves: -The Cinnamon _ Flavour is firft perceived, but after that the Tatte ‘of Cloves is predominant, and is fo very ftrong, that it feems to burn the Mouth. It is excellent againft the Cholic, and it warms and ftrengthens the Stomach, and affifts Digeftion: It is alfo a Cordial,’ and in fmall Dofes joined with other _ Medicines promotes Sweat. It is not much ufed fairly in Praétice, but many Tricks are played with it by the Chymifts, to imitate or adulterate the feveral Productions of Cloves and Cinnamon, for it is cheaper than either. . The Crove Jury-Frower. -” os CARY OPTPYLEUS RUBE. : A Common and very beautiful. Flower in our Gardens; it has its Name from the aroma- tic Smell; which refembles the Clove Spice, anc from the time.of its flowering which is in Fu, It is a Carnation only of one Colour, a deep and fine Purple. The Plant grows two Feet highs the Leaves are grafiy ; the Stalks. are round and ‘Jointed; the Flower grows. at the Tops of. the Branches, 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 in Powder or in form of Tea, but the beft Form is the Syrup. This is made __ by pouring five Pints of boiling Water upon three Pounds of the Flowers picked from the Hufks, _ Liquor without preffing, and diflolving in it t : Pound of the fineft Suget to every Pint. 3 tae 2 t Ria iae ~ and with the white Heels cut off: After they have flood twelve Hours; ftraining off the clear 86 =The Ufeful Family Herbal. 4 makes the moft beautiful and pleafant of all E : Syrups. | a The Crove Spice TREE. a CARYOPHYLLUS AROMATICUS, 4 A Beautiful Tree, Native of the warm Countries, E It grows twenty or thirty Feet high, and — very much branched. The Bark is greyith; 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 ther them foon after the Flowers are fallen. hen they fuffer them to remain longer on the Tree, they grow large, and fwell into a fruit as big as an Olive. es The Cloves are excellent again{t Diforders of the Head, and of the Stomach; they are warm, cordial, and ftrengthening; they expel Wind 2 ne _ are a good Remedy for the Cholic. The Oil of Cloves is made from thefe by Chymifts ; cures the Tooth-ach ; a bit of Lint being wetted, with it, and laid to the Tooth, _ Se a CocKtkg. a Joint, 4 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. 3 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 Eleétuary to be taken for a Continuance of Time: For thefe Medicines, whofe Virtues are againit Chronic Difeafes, do not take Effect 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 wee chymerical Medicines would loofe their i oc Semsrt ‘The Cocutuvs Inpr TREE. ARBOR COCULOS INDICOS FE- . RENS. 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 ; the Flowers are {mall and ftand in Clufters ; the Fruits follow thefe, they are of the Bigneis of a large Pea, roundifh, but with a Dent on one fide, wrinkled, firiable, and brown in Colour, and of an ill Smell, Pee er tae. age The Powder of thefe ftrewed upon Children’ _ Heads that have Vermin deftroys them, P - alfo intoxicate fith by ie Make a Pound « oa 88 TU, Ve ful 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 Fifh 7 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 SuHrus. ae POP AGA PALI. = ie A Little Shrub frequent in the Eaft-Indies, and very beautiful, as well as ufeful. It grows ten or fifteen Feet high ; the Branches are. brittle, — and the Wood is white. The Leaves are keg a and narrow, not at all notched at the Edges, and - of a beautiful Green on both fides; the Flowets: are large and white, and‘fomewhat refemble s of the Rofe-bay, or Nerium, of which fome make Aa ita kind. Each Flower is fucceeded by two fe : - Pods, which are joined at the Ends, and of one about the other, they are full of a igs ‘ _ Matter about the Seeds. The whole Plant is Me ofa milky Juice, which ic ‘yields plentifully w when broken. : The Bark is the only Part ufed, it is but newly: . introduced into Medicine, but may be had of the — Druggifts, it is an excellent Remedy for Purgings: — __ ris to be given in Powder for three or four Days: _ and a Vomit or Bleeding behare: ee Be at = a Id, in many of our Stoves he and which en its. er It 2 — we The Ufeful Family Herbal. 89 grows eight or ten Feet high, the Branches are lender and weak; the Leaves are large, oblong, and broad, fomewhat like thofe of the Bay-Tree, but bigger and thin. The Flowers are white, mo- derately large, and like Jafmine ; the Fruit is a large Berry, black when it is ripe, and in it are ~ two Seeds, which are what we call Coffee; t are whitifh, and of a difagreeable Tafte when raw. Coffee helps Digeftion, and difpels Wind: And it works gently by Urine. The beft Way of tak- ing it is as we commonly drink it, and there are Conftitutions for which it is very proper. Sra CoreworT or Sea BinDweeD. SOLDANELLA. A® ty wild Plant that we have on the Sea Coafts in many Places, and that deferves to’ be much more known than it is as a Medicine. The Stalks are a Foot long, but weak and unable to fupport themfelves upright. ‘They are round and green or purplifh : The Leaves are roundifh, but fhaped a little Heart fathioned at the Bottom; they ftand upon long Foot-Stalks, and are of a fhining Green. The Flowers are large and red, they are of the-Shape of a Bell; the Roots are white and fmall, a milky Juice flows from the Plant when any Part of it is broken; efpecially from the Root. seme: e _ * "Phe whole Plant is to be gathered frefh when about flowering, and boiled in Ale with fome Nutmeg and a Clove or two, and taken in Quan- vee _ tities proportioned to the Perfon’s Strength, itisa _ fttong Purge, and it fometimes operates alfo b Urine, but there is no harm in that. It is fit for country People of robuft Conftitutions, meee 90 }6The Ufeful Family Herbal. known a Clap cured on acountry Fellow, by — only two Dofes of it. The Juice which ouzes — from the Stalk and Roots may be faved, it har- dens into a Subftance like Scammony, and is an excellent Purge, CoLTsFoomT. TUSSILAGS: A Common wild Herb of excellent Virtues, but fo different in its Spring and Summer, as that — it is fcaree to ede for the fame. The Flow- — ers appear in Spring without the Leaves they _ _ grow on Stalks fix ee eight Inches high, round, — thick,. flefhy, and of a redifh Colour, on which — _ there ftand a kind of Films inftead of Leaves. The — Flowers grow one at the Top of each Stalk, they — are yellow, and as large as thofe of Dandelion, — and like them. a: The Leaves come up after thefe are deca _ they are as broad as ones Hand, roundith, and fup- ported each on a thick hollowed Stalk, they are green on the yee fide, and white and downy inderneath. The Flowers are not minded, thefé - Leaves only are ufed. 7 CoLuMBINg,. AQUILEGIA. — 3 A Common Garden F lower, but a Native alfa = the of our Country. It grows two Feet highs The Ufeful Family Herbal. 9% Obftruétions, and are excellent in the Jaundice, and other Complaints from like Caufes. ComFrRey. SYMPHY TUM. A Common wild Plant of great Virtue, it is frequent by Ditch fides ; it grows a Foot and half high: The Leaves are large, long, not very broad, rough to the Touch, and of a deep dif- agreeable Green: The Stalks are green, thick, angulated, and upright. The Klowers grow a- long the Tops of the Branches, and are white, fometimes redifh, not very large, and hang, often _ downwards. The Root is thick, black, and ir- regular ; when broken it is found to be white within, and full of a flimy Juice. This Root is the Part ufed, and it.is beft frefh, but it may be beat up into a Conferve, with three times its - Weight of Sugar. Itis a Remedy for that terri- ble Difeafe the Whites. It is alfo good againft fpitting of Blood, bloody Fluxes, and Purgings, and for inward Bruifes. ~The ConTRAYERVA PLANT. — CONTRAYERVA. A Very fingular Plant, Native of America, and. not yet got into our Gardens. It confifts only of Leaves rifing from the Root, upon fingle Foot- Stalks, and Flowers of a fingular kind ftanding alfo weveeend feparate Foot-Stalks, with no Leaves upon them. The Leaves are large, oblong, very broad, and deeply divided on each Side, their Co- lour is a dufky Green, and the Foot-Stalkson which they ftand are {mall and whitifh, and often bend under the Weight of the Leaf. The _ Which fupport the Flowers, are fhorter and 92 The Ujeful Family Herbal: than thefe; and the Flowers. are of a very pecu liar kind , they are difpofed together in a kind of flat Form, and are very {mall and inconfiderable. The Bed on which they are fituated is of an oval Figure, and is called the Placenta of the Plant; it is of a pale Colour and thin. : We are told of another Plant of the fame kind; the Leaves of which are lefs divided, and the — Placenta is fquare, but the Roots of both aré — _ allowed to be exactly alike, and it is thereforé more probable, that this is not another Plant, but the fame in a different Stage of Growth. i - We ufe the Roots, our Druggifts keep them, and they are the principal Ingredient in that fe mous Powder, called from its being rolled up into Balls, Lapis Contrayerva. It is an excellent Cor dial and Sudorifie, good in Fevers and in nervous Cafes, and againft Indigeftions, Cholics, and Weaknefies of the Stomach. It may be takeni@ Powder or in Tincture, but it is better to give alone, than with that Mixture of Crabs Claws and other ufelefs Ingredients, which go into the — _ Contrayerva Stone. In Fevers andnervous Di _ _- orders, it is beft to give it in Powder, in Weak- — nefles of the Stoinath. it is beft'in Finéiure. It — is alfo an excellent Ingredient in bitter Tintures; — and it is wonderful the prefent Pra@tice has not put it to that Ufe. All the old Prefcribers of Forms — for thefe Things, have put fome warm Root into them, but none is fo proper as this, the moft -ufual has been the Galangul, but that has a moft reeable Flavour in Tinéture : The Contray- as all the Virtues expected to be found it eye The Ufoful Family Herbal, 98 The Copat TREE. ARBOR COPALIFERA. A Large Tree of South-America. It grows toa "* great Heighth, and is tall, ftrait, and tole- rably regular; the Bark of the Trunk is of a deep Brown. The Branches are bitter. The Leaves are large and oblong, and they are blunt at the Ends; they are deeply cut in at the Edges, and if it were not that they are a great deal lone- er in Proportion to their Breadth, they would be very like thofe of the Oak; the Flowers are mo- derately large, and full of Threads; the Fruit is round, and of a Blood Red when ripe. 7 - We ufe a Refin which ouzes from the Bark of large Trees of this Species in great Plenty, and is called Copal; it is of a pale yellow Colour, fome- ‘times brownifh, and often colourlefs, and like Gum Arabie ; we have a Way of calling ita Gum, but it is truly a Refin; and the yellow Pieces of itare fo bright and tranfparent, that they very much refemble the pureft Amber. | It is good againft the Whites, and againft Weakneffes left after the venereal Difeafe, but it is not fo much ufed on thefe Occafions as it de- ferves, It is excellent for making Varnifhes; and what is commonly called Amber Varnith among’ our Artifts is made from it. Amber will make a very fine Varnifh, better than that of Copal, er any other kind; but it is dear. ee ‘We fometimes fee Heads of Canes of the co- ~ lourlefs Copal, which feem to be of Amber, only _ Bee they want its Colour, thefe are made of the fame. Refin, in the Eg/t-Jndies where it grows harder. 94. The Ufeful Fainily Herbal. CoRAL. CORALLIUM. Sea Plant of the Hardnefs of a Stone, and 2 with very little of the Appearance of an — Herb. The red Coral, which is the Sort ufed in 4 Medicine, grows a Foot or mote in Height, the — Trunk is as thick as a Man’s Thumb, and the ~ Branches are numerous. It is faftened to the S Rocks by a Cruft which fpreads over them, and is covered all over with a Cruft alfo of a coare Subftance and ftriated Texture. Towards the 3 Tops there are Flowers and Seeds, but very fmall, — from thefe rife the young Plants. The Seeds have — _ 4 mucilaginous Matter about them, which fticks them to the Rocks. The whole Plant appears like a naked Shrub without Leaves or vifible Flowers. oe ‘It has been fuppofed lately that Coral is made — by fall Infeéts, but this is an Error; Polypes — live in Coral as Worms in Wood, but thefe don’t — _ make the Trees nor the other. The Plant Coral _i8 to be reduced to fine Powder, by grinding it — ona Marble, and then it is given to ftop ~~ es ings, to deftroy acid Humours in the Stomat ys and to fweeten the Blood. They fuppofe it alfo. @ Cordial. Probably for all its real Ufes, Chalk _ | There are feveral Sorts of white Coral, fe — Conarsine. The Ueful Family i ae CoRALLINE. CORALLINA. A Little Sea Plant frequent about our own Coafts, and of a fomewhat ftony Texture, but not like the red or white Coral. It grows to three Inches high, and is very much branched, and young Shoots arife alfo from different Parts of the Branches: There are no Leaves on it, nor vifible Flowers, but the whole Plant is compofed of fhort Joints. Itis commonly of a greenifh or redifh Colour, but when it has been thrown a Time upon the Shores, it bleaches and becomes white; it naturally grows to Shells and Pebbles. The beft is the frefheft, not that which is bleached. It is given to Children as a Remedy againit _ Worms ; a Scruple or half a Dram for a Dofe. fe oe DE Re oa ce aoe = | CORIANDRUM. A Small Plant cultivated in France and Germany, - for the Sake of its Seed. It is two Feet high, and has Clufters of white or redifh Flowers upon the Tops of the Branches. The Stalks are round, upright, and hollow, but have a Pith in them; the Leaves, which grow from the Root, have _ - rounded Tops, thofe on the Stalks are divided. into narrow Parts ; the Seeds follow twoaftereach __ Flower, and they are half round. : oe The Seed is the only Part ufed, the whole = es when frefh has a bad ae but as od Seeds ee dry, they become fweet and fragrant. ey are > pel oef difpel Wind; they warmand ftrength- , eeethe Stomach and affift Digeftion. It is good” -—againft Pains in the Head, and has fome 96 «The Ufeful Family Herbal. The CoRNEL-T REE. CORNUS MOS, A Garden Tree of the Bignefs of an Apple Tree, \ and branched like one; the Bark is greyifh, 4 the Twigs are tough, the Leaves are oblong, — broad, and pointed, of a fine green Colour, but not ferrated at the Edges.. The Flowers are {mall — and yellowifh, the Fruit is of the Bignefs of a Cherry, but oblong, not round; it is redand — lefhy, of an aftringent Bark, and has a large Stone. The Fruit is ripe in Aurumn ; the Flowers ap-_ pear early. We The Fruit is the Part ufed, it may be dried and — ufed, the Juice boiled down with Sugar, cither Way it is cooling and moderately aftringent; itis a gentle pleafant Medicine in Fevers with Purgings. ae, There is a wild Cornel Tree, called the female Cornel in our Hedges, a Shrub five Feet high; with broad Leaves, and black Berries, it is not 1 Medicine. In fome Parts of the //’¢?-Jt- § the ao Fifh with the Bark of : 7 Ol this kind, by only putting a Quantity of it in the Water of a Pond . oe ei wheth - this of ours will do the fame. ee aia a” io Fit tal’ _ JAN Indian Plant which bears two kinds of Stalks, ~~ one for the Leaves, and the other for the Flowers and Seeds; thefe both rife from the fan The Ufeful Family Herbal. 97 and.Jarger at the End, and they aré deeply cut in at the Sides. The Flowers are as broad as a half Crown, and of a very beautiful Yellow; — they have a Clufter of Threads in the Middle. — The Root is fibrous. | : The Flowers frefh gathered and juft opened, - contain the aac Virtue. They are good a- gainft all Obftructions, and work by Urine. An Infufion of them given in the Quantity of half a Pint warm three Times a Day, has been known to cure a Jaundice, without any other Medicine ; the dried Herb has the fame Virtue but in a lefs Degree. CosTMARY, COSTUS HORTORUM. A Garden Plant kept more for its Virtues than its Beauty, but at prefent neglected. It grows a Foot and half high, and has Clufters of naked yellow Flowers like Tanfy. The Stalks are firm, thick, green, and upright; the Leaves are oblong, Harrow of a pale Green, and beautifully ferrated, the Flowers confift only of deep yellow Threads. __ It was once greatly efteemed for ftrengthening the Stomach, and curing Head-achs, and for o- pening Obftructions of the Liver and Spleen, but 3 More feems to have been faid of it than it de- — ag The Costus Pian tes: CGETURS sige eae 98 The U/eful Family Herbal. _ The Leaf-Stalks are four Feet high, thick, hollow, round, upright, and of a redifh Colour. _ The Leaves are like thofe of the Reed kind, — Jong, narrow, and pointed at the Edges, and they — are of a bluifh green Colour. The Stalks which — bear the Flowers, are eight Inches high, tender, — foft, round, and as it were fcaly. The Flowers are — fmall and redifh, and they ftand in a kind of Spikes — intermixed with a great Quantity of fcaly Leaves. _ The Root is the only Part ufed; it is kept by — eur Druggifts ; it is oblong and irregularly thaped. ‘Tt is a very good and fafe Diuretic, it always rates that Way, fometimes alfo by Sweat, it epens Obftructions of the Vifcera. But unlefsit be new and firns it has no Virtue. — : The Corton TREE. : GOSSYPIUM SIVE XYLON : Small Shrub, with brittle and numerous ~~ Branches, and yellow Flowers: It does not Stow more than four Feet high; the Leaves - far e and divided each into five Parts, and of auiky green Colour. ‘The Flowers are large an¢ beautiful, they are of the Bell-fafhioned kind, broad asa half Crown, deep, of a yellow Colo and with a purple Bottom; the Seed-Veflels 7 large; and of a roundith Figure, and they com _ tain the Cotton with the Seeds among it. ‘Wheo pe, they burft open into three or four Parts. _ The Seeds are ufed in Medicine, but not © 2 Kpe toration, ’ The Ufef ul F amily Herbal. 99 The CoTToNn TaisTiE “ACANTHIUM. A Tall and ftately wild Plant, common by our Way fides, and known by its great white prickly Leaves and red Flowers. It is four or five Feet high. The Leaves which grow from _ the Root are a Foot and a half long, a Foot _ broad, deeply indented at the Edges, and befet _ with yellowifh Thorns; they are of a whitith _ Colour, and feem covered with a downy Matter _ ofthe Nature of Cotton. The Stalks are thick, _ found, firm, and upright; and winged with a Sort _ _ of leafy Subftances which rife from them, and _ have the fame Sort of Prickles that are upon the _ Leaves. The ordinary Leaves upon the Stalks re like thofe which grow from the Root, only _ they are more deéply indented, and more prickly; __ the Flowers are purple, they ftand in long prick- dy Heads, and make a beautiful Appearance. he Root is very long, thick, and white. en 3 - _ The Root, is the Part ufed, and that fhould be freth gathered. It opens Obftructions, and is good -againft the Jaundice, and in Dropfies, and other Diforders arifing from Obftructions. It alfo mo= Gerately promotes the Menfes. It may be dried and given in Powder for the fame Purpofes: — But the Virtues are’ much lefs. | i Nee Coutn GRAS 8:, ) GRAMEN CANINUM = © A Very troublefome Weed in Fields and Gar- ‘dens, but very ufeful in Medicine. Nature made thofe Plants which may be moft ufefu us the. moft common, and the moft diffi f d. Couch Grafs grows two F 106 « The Ufeful Family Herbal, and is a robuft kind of Grafs, the Stalk is round and pointed; the Leaves are grafly, but broad, — and of a frefh green Colour ; the Spike at the Top — is like an Ear of Wheat, only thin and flat. It q confifts of ten Rows of Grains. The Root is . white, flender, very long and jointed, and it takes = frefth hold at every Joint; fo that if but a piece is left in pulling it up, it grows and increafes very — guickly. i 8 The Roots ate ufed, and they are to be frefh taken up and boiled. The Decoétion is excellent _ in the Gravel and Stone, it promotes Urine ftrong- ly, yet not forcibly or rou hly. Taken for a Continuance, the fame Decoétion is good dgaini Obftructions of the Liver, and will cure the Jaundice, ay CowstLip: PARALYSIS. . A fretty wild Plant in our Meadows. — _ ~~ Leaves are broad, oblong, indented, rou _ and of a whitith green Colour; the Stalks round, upright, firm, thick, and downy ; they art fix or eight Inches high, and are naked of Leaves. At the Top of each ftand a Number of pretty yellow Flowers, each upon 4 feparate Foot-s and in its own feparate Cup. ee _ The Flowers are the Part ufed. They have been _ Celebrated very much againft Apoplexies, Palfies, and other terrible Difeafes, but at prefent in Cafes we do not truft fuch Remedies. - They ha’ | Tendency to procure fleep, and may be give ‘Fea or preferved in Form of a Conferve. The U/eful Family Herbal. 101 CowsLip oF JERUSALEM. PULMONARIA MACULATA. Low Plant, but not without Beauty, kept in Gardens for the Credit of its Virtues, which are indeed more and greater than the prefent Neg- lect of it would have one to fuppofe. It grows to eight or ten Inches high; the Leaves are long and broad, hairy, of a deep Green, and fpotted 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 fimaller Leaves on them, but of the fame Figure with thofe from the Root. The Flowers are fmall and red- ith, and grow feveral in a Clufter at the Top of the Stalk. The Root is fibrous. ' The Leaves are ufed, they fhould be gathered before the Stalks grow up, and dried, they are ex- + cellent in ‘Decstton for Coughs, Shortnefs of _ Breath, and all Diforders of parties a taken in Powder, they ftop the Overflowings of the Menfes; _ and when frefh bruifed and put into a new made ‘Wound, they ftop the Bleeding and heal it. Cow-w HEAT. : CRATEOGONUM. Common wild Plant in our Woods and Thick- ~ €ts, with narrow blackifh Leaves, and bright sy Flowers. It is eight or ten Inches high, the Stalks are fquare and flender, very brittle, — = weak, and very feldom quite upright. The bkaves 2 re oblong and narrow, fometimes of a dufky = &reen Colour, but oftener purplith or blackith; ee they are broadeft at the Bafe, and fmall all ¢ Way to the Point ; and they are common _ Rot always, indented < little about ¢ 102 The Ufeful 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 Afpect of Wheat from whence the Plant has its odd Name. Thefe Seeds are the Part ufed, they are tobe | dried and given in Powder, but in_ fmall Dofes, a They have Virtues which few feem to imagine; oo area high Cordial and Provogative to Venety; 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, asa Remedy for the Jaundice, ] know not by what Information, and having drank this in large Draughts, was as a Perfon drunk and out of het Senfes, the complained of Numbnefs in het Limbs, and feemed in Danger of her Life, se Nature recovered her after a few Flours” out other saree, . PE 2ethe RAB TRE ae ee 3 = is ~MALUS SYLVESTRIS. Acoma Hedge Shrub, and when i in Flower ~ very beautiful. . The Trunk is uneven, and the Bark rough ; the* ‘Branches are knotty, the Wood is firm, and the Bark of a dark Colour 3 the _ Leaves are broad and fhort, the Flowers are large and redifh,. -yery beautiful and Bet, and Ee isa fmall” Apple. . -_ Verjuice is ‘made from the Crab, “ad it Remedy for the falling down of the Uvula,. ter than moit other Ay plications 5 it. is alfo good againit fore aoe 5: ind of Mouth ae Pee: The Ujeful Family Herbal, +03 CRANESBILLE. GERANIUM ROBERTIANUM. CRranefbil i is a little Herb very frequent under Hedges, and in uncultivated Places: there are many kinds of it, but that which has moft Vir- tue, is the kind called- Herb Robert, this is a pretty and regularly growing Plant. The Stalks are a Foot long, but they feldom ftand quite up- right, they are round, branched, and jointed, and are often red, as is frequently the whole Plant: ‘ The Leaves are large, and divided into a great Number of Parts, and they ftand upon long Foot- Stalks, two at every Joint. The F lowers are | moderately Jarge, and of a bright Red, they are very confpicuous and pretty, the Fruit that fol- “lows is long and flender, and has fome Refem- blance of the dong Beal of a Bird, whence the Name. : tte whole Dieta, to be | athe race aad 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, bloody Stools, and all other Bleedings. | ‘Itis 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, | 104 The Ufeful Family Herbal. . The GARDEN CrEss. NASTURTIUM HORTENSE. 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 ivided, of abright Green, and fharp; Creffeseaten Quantity are very good againft the Scurvy. Seeds open Obftrudtion.” ene WaTER-CRESs, _.- NASTURTIUM AQUATICUM. — A Wid Plant common with us in Ditches, and fhallow Rivers. It is a Foot high, the Stalks are round, thick, but not very upright, of a pale — Green, and much branched; the Leaves are of a _ Treth and bright Green, divided in a winged Man- _ ner and obtufe; the Flowers are fmall and white, and there is generally feen a kind of Spike of the. Flowers and Seeds at the Top of the Stalks. _ The Leaves are ufed, they may be eaten in the ‘Manner of the Garden Crefs, and are full as pleaes = fant, and they are excellent againft the Scurvy, The Juice expreffed from them has the fame Wie tue, “and works alfo powerfully by Urine, and — ee Cee ee Re 25 Sei a © Saat Berar The Ufeful Family Herbal. 105 SCIATICA Cress. IBERIS. A Pretty wild Plant, but not frequent in afl ~ Parts of the Kingdom. It is a Foot high. The Stalk is round, firm, and upright, of a pale green Colour. The Leaves are fmall, longifh, 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 ofadeep Green, ee: The Leaves are ufed, they are recommended greatly in the Sciatica or Hip-Gout; they are to be applied externally, and repeated as they grow dry. The beft Way is to beat them with a little Lard. It is an approved Remedy, and it is ftrange that it is not more in Ufe. sags _ Warr Cresses, on Swines CRESSEsS. -- CORONOPUS RUELLIL 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 branched, and full of Leaves. The Leaves that rife immediately from the Root, are long and deeply divided, and thofé on the Stalks refemble _ them, only they are fmaller: They are of a deep gloffy green Colour, and not at all hairy. The © Flowers are fmall and white, they ftand at the — ‘Tops of the Branches and among the Leaves, the _Seed-Veffels are fmall and rough. eS 106 §=6The Ufeful Family Herbal. This is an excellent Diuretic, fafe and yet very powerful. It is an Ingredient in Mrs. Stepbens’s Medicine, the Juice may be taken, and it is good for the Jaundice, and againft all inward Obftruc- tions, and againft the Scurvy ; the Leaves may alfo be eaten as Sallet, or dried and given in Dee | coction. CRoOSS-wORT. wtp eBies CRUCIATA. : A Very pretty wild Plant, but not very common: — a grows a Foot and an half high, The Stalks are fquare, hairy, weak, and of a pale Green, The Leaves are broad and fhort, they " ftand four at every Joint Star-fathioned upon the — Stalk. The Flowers are littleand yellow; they ftand- in Clufters round the Stalk at the Joints, rifir from the Infertion of the Leaves. Itis to be foun in dry Places, sn _ ,_ The whole Plant is to be gathered when begin+ "Ming to flower and dried. A ftrong Decoétion of od Reftringent and Styptic; it ftops- a av Overflowings of the Men = ys | AS The Ufeful Family Herbal. 107 fhining Colour; they ftand at the Tops of all the Branches ; the Leaves which rife from the Roct are large, divided in a threefold Manner, and of- ten fpotted with white. Some are fo rafh 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 Apoplexies, for they aét quicker than Cantharides in raifing Blifters, and are more felt. It is a Wonder they are not more ufed for this Purpofe, but we are at prefent fo fond of foreign Medicines, that thefe Things are not minded. grtae _ There are two other kinds of Crow-foot diftin- Leavess and that with very fmall Flos Leaves fomewhat like the Divi f thofe of Smallage. Thefe both grow in watry 1 ere ; The Cusnes PLAN Ti = Poe: G8 EB BSS: SS "3 A Clambering Plant of the warm Cli vate “but “* unknown in this Part of the World, and un-— til defcribed by thofe who have been where it grows. ‘The Stalks are weak, angulated, and red- ith; the Leaves are broad and fhort, and the Flowers fimall, the Fruit is of the Bignéfs of a Pepper Corn, but a little oblong, and grows on | along and very flender Foot Stalk. = a a Fruit is the Part a ses Druggifts k it. It is a warm and pleafant Spice good aga __ Weakneffes of the Stomach, in Cholics, an _. Palfies, and alk nervous Diforders. But 108 The Ufeful Family Herbal. The CucuMBER PLAnrtT. CUCUMIS HORTENSIS. Creeping ftraggling Plant fufficiently known, A The. Steiks a a Yard or two long, thick, but fpread upon the Ground, angulated and hairy. “3 The Leaves are broad deeply indented, and very rough, and’ of a bluith green Colour: The Flow- ers are large and yellow. The Fruit is long and thick; 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- ders of the urinary Paffages; the beft Way of giving them is beat up to an Emulfion with Bar- ley Water. The Wiitp CucumBer, CUCUMIS ASININUS. | THs though called wild, isnot a Native of ~ England. t{preads upon the Ground in’the mner of the other Cucumber, and its Branches grow to 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 round the Edges, and of a pale _ Green above, and whitith below. The Flowers _ are yellow, and moderately large ; the Fruit is of an oval Fi » and full of Juice. Care muft i ee preffed out, and a thick Mater that fablides from it is feparated and dried; the. s keep this and call it Elathe- um, itis a violent Purgative, but littleufed. The Ufeful Family Herbal. 109 Cuckow Frower, or Lapy’s SMock. CARDAMINE, Very beautiful wild Plant, frequent in our Meadows in Spring, and a great Ornament to them. It grows a Foot high. The Leaves which rife from the Root, are winged very regularly and beautifully, and are fpread in a circular Man- ner, the Stalk is round, thick, firm, and upright. The Leaves that grow on it are fmaller, 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, of a fine White, often tinged with a Bluth of Red. 1S. . 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- | ce. There are many Species of it. _ Bur 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 young Flowers rifing above the old ones, which 4s called the Son’s growing above the F ather. This Cudweed is a little low Plant, it feldom ri 110) 6 The Ufeful Family Herbal. and pointed at the ends, and feldom lie very even. The Flowers are a kind of brown or yellowith Heads, ftanding at the Tops and in the Diviftons of the Stalks; The herb bruifed and applied to a frefh Wound ‘flops the bleeding ; it may be alfo dried and given in Decottion, in which Form, it is good againft the Whites, and will often ftop violent Purgings. CuMMIN. aoe SO MTN ON 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, andhollow. The Leaves are large, and very finely divided in the manner of thofe of Fennel. The Flowers ftand in large Clufters at the Tops of the Branches, and they are {mall and white, with a Bluth of Red. The Seeds are long and ftraited. The Seeds are ufed. _Our Druggifts keep them. They are of a very difagreeable Flavour, 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. ag ers aie | The Brack Currann Lin the Oe i ae To a a ae | ‘The Ufeful 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 Jelly, is an excellent Remedy againft fore Throats. Lone CyrreRor CYPERUS LONGUS A Wild Plant in our Marfhes, Fens, and other damp Places. It is a Faot and a half high. The Leaves are a Foot long or more, narrow, affy, and of a bright green Colour, flat and tp at the ends. The Stalk is triangular and green; there are no Leaves on it, except two or three {mall ones at the Top, from which there rifes. a Number of fmall Tufts or Spikes of © Flowers. i Riis ol in all refpects like thofe of the other _Grafies. ~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 on is good againft Pains in the Head, and it pro- - Motes Urine. Mage eto ior ee Rounp Cyperus. — 112 The Ufeful Family Herbal. right, and often purplifh, efpecially towards the Bottom. The Flowers are chaffy, and they grow from the Top of the Stalk, with feveral fmall 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 light, and of a pleafant Smell, and warm fpicy Tafte. They are good in all nervous Diforders. They are beft taken in Infufion, but as the Virtues are much the fame with the other, that is beft, be- caufe it may be had frefher. The Cypress TREE. . ~ CUPRESSUS. A Tree kept 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 largeft _ towards the Bottom, and fmaller all the way Ups fo that the Tree appears naturally of a conic Fi- gure. The Bark is of a redith Brown. The caves are fmall and fhort, they cover all the Twigs like Scales, and are of a beautiful deep Green. The Flowers res The Ujeful Family Herbal, 113 flowing of the Menfes. We are not aware how powerful a Remedy it is; few Things are equal to it. D. Common DArFFopitt. NARCISSUS,. A Wild Exgh/b 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, and 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, an wins purges a little; and it is excellent _againft all Obftructions. The beft way of giving _ It is in form of the Juice prefied out with fome — White Wine, but its principal Ufes are externally. _ The Eaftern Nations have a peculiar Way of dr /~ 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 ae fteam os of a Pot in ome ees" bliess after _ this they ftring them up, and. they become - fome Degree etaceearac horny. Bis wi _-be worth while to try the Method upon thi 2 Sabie 114 The Ufeful Family Herbal. caufe of this flimy Juice, we cannot well dry any other way; probably this would loofe its vomit- ing Quality when dried, and would act only as an Opener of GhitriGions, 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. The Gazat Daisy. BELLIS MAJOR. A Beautiful and ftately wild Plant, which, if it were not frequent in our Fields, would doubt: lefs be efteemed in Gardens. It ws to a Foot — Sieh The Stalks are angulated flender, but firm — upright: The Leaves are oblong, narrow; seat init the Edges, and of a beautiful a Green. The Flowers ftand on the Tops of the Branches. They are white; and an fick chen like the white China Starwort fo much ed in our Gardens. The Root is flender. The Flowers are the Part ufed. They are to be ~~ A 3 gathered when newly opened, and dried, and may a afterwards be given in Powder ¢ or Infufion. They "are good againit Coughs and Shortriefs of Breath, and in all Diforders of the Lungs. They ORs 3 palfenic and ftrengthening. = =< ote Litt pate Y. _ BELLIS MINOR. | <= = Virose Ze Leaves = aul The alk stobbong; Eeoad wad : iption, ‘biitzoc-tauch Se ltint for its — | are yas or four acai _ 2 Lhe Ufeful Family Herbal. 116 and have no Leaves. The Flowers grow one on tach Stalk; and are of the Breadth of a Shilling, and whitifh or redifh. The Root is compofed of a vaft Quantity of Fibres. 328 The Roots frefh gathered and given ina ftrong Decoétion, are excellent againft the Scurvy ; the Ufe of them muft be continued forne time, but the event will make amends for the Trouble; People give thefé Roots boiled in Milk to keep Poppies from growing, but they have no fuch Effeéts. DANDELION. DENS LEONIS. A Nother of our wild Plants, too comtnon ~~ to need much Defcription. The Leaves are very long; fomewhat broad, and deeply indented at the Edges. The Stalks are naked, hollow, ight, and fix, eight, or ten Inches high 5 __ low, and compofed of a reat Quantity of Leaves. _ and Seeds which follow thes savegame lat-' _ teraffixedtothem. 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. a _ The Root freth gathered and boiled, makesan _ €xcellent Decoétion to promote Urine, and bring away Gravel. The Leaves may be eaten as Sal= det when very young, and if taken this wayin =, _ fufficient Quantity, they are good againft the : > ieee DARNELL. - tat, POLIUM RUBROM = -— A Wild Grafs very common about Way- ~~ and diftinguifhed by its ftubborn Sta 116 The 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 purplihh Colour. _ The Root is compofed of a great Quan- tity of whitifh Fibres. a4 The Roots are to be ufed, and they are beft dried and given in Powder. They are a very excellent — Afttingent, good againft Purging, overflowing of _ the Menfes, and all other Fluxes, and Bleeding; but the laft Operation is flow, and they muftbe continued. *Tis a Medicine fitter, therefore, for — ‘ habitual Complaints of this Kind, than fudden IlInefs. : e 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 Drunkennefs: They are faid alfo to hurt the yes; but we have very little Affurance of tl : nor are they very probable. They ee ee rly bi sy to another Kind of Darnell, diftin- __ guithed by the Name of white Darnell; whichis __ a taller Plant, and more common in Corn Fields 2 than the red; but this is very much to be fufpect- . _ ed upon the Face of the Account. The Antients make frequent mention of this Kind of Darnell, wing to their great Diftrefs among the. Wheat; by the accidental Hints fome have given about ight, and the Shape of its Ear, they feem to meant the common Dogs Grafs or Couch als, under, that Name; though others have “to. underftand the Diftinéion, In thisUn- rtainty, however, remains the Matter end : eee Sees ee os The Ufeful Family Herbal. 17 which particular Kind of Grafs was really accufed - of poffefling 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. 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 3 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 droo ing, and from _ the Bofoms of thefe grow die: Flonase . Fruit; but it is remarkable, that the: : grow upon the Trees only, and the Fruit on fome ‘Others, Ifthere be not a Tree of the Male Kir id; 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 ree, andthis anfwers the Purpofe. ~~ *.2 4a Aes S. All Plants have what may be called Male | _ Female Parts in their Flowers. The Aale Parts ~ fe certain dufty Particles: The Female Parts are > Rudiments ‘of the Fruits. In fome Plants thefe ‘are in the fame Flowers as in the Tulir hole black Grains which duft the are the Male Part, and the green Thing in _ Middle of them is the Female: It becomes 2 -_ wards the F “Tn othe Sees 118 The Ufeful Family Herbal, on the fame Plant: And in others, the Male — Flowers and the Female grow upon abfolutely different Plants, but of the fame Kind. Thisis — the Cafe in the Date Tree as we fee, and it isthe fame though we do not much regard it in Hemp, — Spinage, and many others. e: The Fruit of the Date is the only Part ufed, — It is as thick as a Man’s Thumb and nearly as long of a fweet Tafte, and compofed of a juicy. Pulp, in a'tender Skin with a Stone with- in it. They are ftrengthening and fomewhg aftringent, but we do not much ufe them. cia Devit’s Bir. SUCCISA. Wild Plant in our Meadows, with beads | Stalks, and globous Flowers. It grows two two Foot high. The Stalks are round, firm, = _ upright, and divided into feveral Branches: They have two little. Leaves at each Joint. The Flow- _ ers are as big as a {mall Walnut, and compofed of ny little ones; their Colour is very ftrong and beautiful. " The Leaves which grow from. the Root are four Inches long, an Inch broad, of a dark Green, and a hitle hairy, not at all di- vided, or fo much as indented at the Edges. The Roots are white, and compofed of a thick Head; eee shenely 4 if bad eco Bae and of a Multitude of Fibres. The omen fay, bit it aw2y envying, : are to gathered before the Stalks are good againft Coughs, and the ae Sa een Deion, The : ig in Owder, promotes Sweat, = is a good Reticioe nk suet but we neglect Dae The Ufeful Family Herbal, ise & ts Cae ANETHUM. A N 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- row, and long Parts, in the manner of Fennel, but they are not fo large. The Flowers are fmall. and yellow ; they ftand in Clufters on the Tops of the Branches. ‘Che Root is long. The Seeds of Dill are good againft the Cholic; and they are faid to be a Specific againft the Hiccough, but I have known them tried without Succefs. — DITTANDER. A Tall Plant, with broad Leaves and little whit **% Flowers; wild in fome places, and frequent ‘in our Gardens. It grows a Yard high. The Stalks are round, firm, of a pale Green, poe Much branched. The Leaves are large 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 roundifh Capfules, and are of a hot and pungent Tafte, = The Leaves of Dittander frefh gatherec atid boiled in Water, make a Decoétion that works by — _ Urine, and promotes the Menfes: They are alfo good to promote the neceffary Difcharges : 120 The Ufeful Family Herbal. DiTTANY oF CRETE. DICTAMNUS CRETICUS. A Very pretty little Plant, Native of the Eaft, — and kept in fome of our curious People’s — Gardens. It has been famous for its Virtues, but they ftand more upon the Credit of Report than Experience. Itisfixoreight Incheshigh, the Stalks are fquare, flender, hard, woody, and branched. The Leaves are fhort, broad, and roundifh, they ftand two at every Joint, and are covered with a white woolly Matter, The Flowers are fmall and purple: They grow in oblong and flender fcaly Heads, 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 toit in: the Cure of Wounds; at prefent it is feldom _ fed alone; but it is good in nervous Diforders, : praca romotes the Menfes, and ftrengthens the ; WHITE DiTTAny. Bi = >) FRAXINELLA. ns A Very beau The Ufeful Family Herbal. ro 221 a kind of Spikes at the Top of the Branches. The whole 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: This is fo inflamable, that if a Candle be brought near any Part of the Plant, it takes Fire and goes off in a Flafh alf 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 Druggifts. They are commended in Fevers, and in nervous and hyfteric Cafes, but their Virtues are not great. I have 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. LAPATHUM FOLIO ACUTO. A Common Plant, like the ordinary Dock but * foinewhat handfomer, and diftinguifhed by — the Figure of its Leaves, which are fharp-point not obtufe as in that, and are alfo fomewhat nar- — rower and longer. The Plant grows three Foot high. The Stalks are erect, green, round, ftri- ated and branched. The Leaves are of a fine mn : = Hie Leer ery Ton 122 The Ufeful Family Herbal. It is beft given in Diet Drinks and Decostions, 4 Ufed outwardly, it Cures the Itch, and other Foulnefs of the Skin; it fhould be beat up with Lard for this Purpofe. GreaT WaTeER Dock. HYDROLAPATHUM MAXIMUM. THis 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 laft de- ribed, in its manner of Growth, though vaftly Targer. It is frequent about Waters, and is five or fix Foot high. The Stalks are round, ftriated, thick, and very upright, branched a Tittle and hollow. The Leaves are vaftly large, of a pale” a Colour, fmooth, and fharp at the Point. — e Flowers are fmall, and of a greenifh Colowt with fome white Threads, and they afterw become brown. The Root is large, long, and 0 a redifh Brown. It is a good Remedy in the Scurvy. TheRoot contains the greateft Virtues, and it isto be given Diet Drinks. _ The Seeds of this, and all d other Docks are aftringent, - and good Purgings. GarpEn Peex; called isin Ruv- S . — B A RB. ; . LAPATHUM SATIVUM, PATIEN- a = aie sae: S #9 | ae had by of the Dock Kind, a Native of The Ufeful Roel Herb 103 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 at firft, but afterwards brown; but they are larger 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 poffeffes 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. j There is another Plant of the Dock Kind called Baftard Rhubarb, kept in fome Gardens and mif- taken for this. The 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. Cw SG-U.T A. A Very ftrange and fingular Plant, but not un- | common with us. oe onfifts of only Stalks _ and Flowers, for there are no Leaves, nor the leaft Refemblance of any. The Stalks area Foot or two in Length, and they faften themfelves to Other Plants; they are of a purplifh Colour, as thick as a fmall Pack-Thread, and confiderably - felves alfa with one another in fuch a Manner, — | that there is no End of the Perplexity of = and unital ing them, - he aterr r ough and firm. Thefe wind themfelves about the Branches of the Plants, and entangle them- ther Herbs, for whatever ufe, may 124 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Heads, and are fmall and redifh, four little Seéds fucceed to each of them. | - Dodder is beft frefh gathered ; it is to bé boiled in Water with a little Ginger and Allfpice, and the Decoction 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. Ae 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 tt 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 Druggitt. S: eae oD Doc MeRcurRyY. we CY NOCRAMBE. A\ Common and poifonous Plant named here” it. It is common under Hedges; and in the ear- yearance. to eat of Spring Herbs, for there is notht . inted, - ‘ick, wh nd principally ad The Ufeful Family. . : b 6 aes five, or fix, feldom more:. They are lo. Bi confiderably broad, mage cinieds notched about the Edges, anda 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 roundifh. 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 isnot 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 Englifh Herbals, fay nothing of this. Gerard, an honeft and plain Writer, but ignorant as Dirt, fays, it is thought they agree with the other Mercuries in Nature. Thefe other -~Mercuries. are eatable; therefore, who would feruple on this Account to eat alfo this. ‘Fobnfon, 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 -yery different Qualities, which yet he feems to fuppofe of the fame Nature, leaves his Reader to _ fuppofe, that he meant equally any of the Kinds _ of Mercury, forthe Purpofes he names ; and, like his Predeceffor Gerard, fuppofed them all-t0. be alike; thofe fafe, and thofe poifonous, Itistrue, _ Mr. Ray, in his Synopfis of the Briti/> Plants, gives an Account of it as a Poifon, and muft fuf- ficiently warn all who read him, from the But who reads him? His Book in which =. Fae Pee Se Me Tee oe age sh ae ee 326 The Ufeful Family Herbat mentioned, is written in Latin; and thofe> want the Information cannot read it. This is not only the Cafe in one or two Partie culars, it is fo in all. To fpeak generally, the i = ficients as thefe, to record of one Plant, what Where {peaking of one of the kinds of Mercury, i 3 diftinguifhed like this poifonous Kind, into Male oe eee FemaleheRys, ‘that the Male Kind conduces thefe Authors od hin sie, Sse The Ufeful Family Herbal. 127 great Reafon of writing the prefent Book, that there may be one Guide and Direction at leaft, 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- lefs Repetition, and perhaps would not have been obferved by many, who may have recourfe to the Doc TooTru. DENS CANINUS. A Very. pretty little Plant, with two broad Leaves and a large drooping Flower, com- — mon.in Italy and Germany, and ee, 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 — S 4 Leaves ftand a little Height above the G They are oblong, fomewhat broad, of a beauti-— aoe 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 @ 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 full of a flimy Juice. at ee The frefh gathered Roots are ufed, for they dry very ill, and generally loofe their Virtues in- rely. They are good againft Worms in Chil- dren, and take a urprifing and fpeedy Effect a- __ Gainft thofe violent Pains in the Belly, which are ot ing them is in the expreffed Juice; or if Chil _ Will not take that, they may be boiled in ! __Owhich they give very hile Tate, Tea ‘to thofe Creatures. The beft Way of giv- 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. =H DRAGONS, | DRACONTIUM. A Fine tall and beautiful Plant, kept in Gar- dens for its Ufe in Medicine, as well as for it Appearance. It is four Feet high. The Stalkis thick, round, and firm, perfeétly fmooth, and painted on the Surface 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 @ 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 at acrid and infupportable Tafte. a7 ~The whole Plant is to be gathered when im Flower, and dried; it may afterwards be given in - Decoétion, 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, a The Ufeful Family 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. 5 The Dragons Blood is a red friable Refin. Our Druggifts keep it: The beft is in {mall ‘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 Occafiens of that Kind. It may be given in Powder. DROPWoORT. FILIPENDULA. A Very pretty wild Plant, with Tufts of whitith ~* Flowers, and Leaves finely divided. It grows two Feet high. The Stalk is round, ftriated, up- - right, firm, and branched. The Leavesare 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 fmall. 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 Seeds are flattifh and grow feveral to- gether. The Root is compofed of a great Num- - ber of fmall Lumps, faftened together by Fila; é ments. This Root is the Part moft ufed; it is good in Fits-of the Gravel, for it promotes U: sts an fafely. For this Purpofe the, Je thowid- be given, or a eps Decoction 4 130 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 Engl 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 muft therefore be taken that the right kindis ufed, but this is fafficiently different from all the others. “The Flower is compofed of fix little Leaves, andis full of yellow Threads in the Mid- de, the Flowers of aH the others are ome ‘only of five Leaves each. ‘They are all umbelli ferous Plants, but this is not; the Flowers grow in Clufters, but not inUmbels: They grow like thofe of the Ulmaria or Meadow Sweet. DuUCK-WEED. LENTICULA. * * face of the Water, and fend their Roots into it for Nourifhment, without fticking them into Mud. It isthe {mall green Herb that coversa- moft all our ftanding Waters in Summer. are two other kinds of it, one with fmaller Leaves 5 and many Fibres from each, another with only _ one Fibre from each Leaf: Both thefe are gree? all over; and a third kind with larger Leaves which are purple underneath, but all thefe have __ the fame Virtue, and it is no Matter which is ae verfully by Urine, and opens Ob- ‘A Small green Herb, confifting of fingle, little “* roundifh Leaves, which float upon the Sur-. the Liver: Jaundices have been cure? * Cg nee ee, "-Dwark 2 .. Fe of greenifh yellow Flowers. It The Ufeful Family Herbal, 131 DwarRP Etper. 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 hi The Stalks are green, round, tender, and uprigke 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, and 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 fmall and 3 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 aré fo fond of them, they eat them as they come to Maturity. The Root is white and creeping, and the whole Plant dies down 3 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 beft Way of rene in the Juice, This works ftrongly | by Stool and Urine, and has often ¢yred Dr fi | : ; = Pegs” ~ Dver’s WEED. LUTFEOL A: & Ver fin lar and pretty wild Plant; it grows A tay anks and upon Wallis, andis known at fight by its upright Staiks, and very PER ADEE ot mane th ar The Stalk is thick, ree 132 The Useful Family Herbal. firm, channelled, and ina manner covered with Leaves: They are {mall 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 fomewhat Jarger, furround ” the Bottom of the Stalk. The Root is long and white. he Flowers are fmall, but very nume- rous. oa The flowery Tops of this Plant dried, and given in Decoction, are faid to be a Remedy for the Evil, but the Report is not eftablifhed by any known Experience. Oe gh ELDER. : edt - SAMBUCUS: 7 : A Common wild Shrub ; it grows irregularly. *% ‘The Stem or Trunk is covered with a rough whitith Bark, and the Wood is firm, but there is a Hollow within, this is fimalleft in the largett Parts of the Shrub, but it is never quite oblite- rated. The young Shoots are thick, long, and Green ; they grow quick, and are often 2 Yard ly. ‘Thefe contain a lar: uantity of Pith; d their Bark as they ftand | eee brownith, their under Surface woody. The Leaves are pofed of feveral Pairs of others, with an odd : _ nother kind of Elder, with Berries white when they a Se a ee ee long before they begin to change Colour, or grow _ one at the End: The Flowers ftand in vaft Clu- -fters, or Umbels, and are fmail and white; they. — are fucceeded by Berries, which are black whe? ripe, -and are full of a purple Juice. ‘There is 3 ‘The Ufeful Family Herbal. 133 “are ripe, and another with jagged Leaves, but the common Elder, is the Sort to beufed. => The inner Bark of the Elder, is a ftrong 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 boiled down with a little 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-Wiheé'is made of the Elder Berries, which has. the Flavour of Frontignac. Bo ¢ . ELECAMPANE. ENULACAMPANA.* A Tall and robuft Plant, wild in fome Parts of England, but kept in Gardens for the Ufes of Medicine, it grows five Feet high, and the Flower is yellow, and very large. The Stalk is round, thick, upright, very robuft, and redith: ~The Leaves are long, large, and rough, and they are pointed at the Ends, of a pale green Colour. as a lowers grow at the.Tops of the Branghess 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. | | m 5 tet __ The Rootis 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. : ag Fiardly any Plant has more Virtues. It is in all Diforders of the Breaft and Lungs, ar Opens Obftructions : It operates gE e £rfully, and alfo by sh : And the Je 134 The Ufeful Family Herbal. will cure the Itch 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 an by a larger Dofe fwallowed at once. ~ Erm. ULMUS,. Atl Tree, Native of our own Country, and fufficiently common in our Hedges. It grows . to a great Bignefs. 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 dst and they are only thready; the Seeds are ~ The inner Bark of the Elm boiled: in Water, makes one of the beft Gargles for a fore Throat, that can be fupplied by the whole Lift of Medi- eines.” It — = oe with Honey of ne It Is extremely and healine, and yet at the fame Time very cleanfing. Pa: There are two or three other kinds of Elms common in Garden Hedges, they are broug! from other Countries, but the Bark of the Engii/t sare ‘Elm is preferable to them all as a Medi- EwpivE The Ufeful Family Herbal. 135 ENDIVE. ' ENDIVIA. A Common 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 fcarce 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 yellowifh 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 Objtructions of the Vifcera. It is good a- Loin the Jaundice, and conftantly taken for me Time, againft the Scurvy. ine — Eryneo. : ) ERYNGIUM. Wild Plant, which grows with us by the Sea ~~ Side, and is kept alfoin Gardens, becaufe of its Virwes. It is prickly like a Thiftle, and the _ Whole Plant appears. not green, but whitith. The Stalk is firm, woody, round, niee, an lee hot very upright, ched, an read irre- — gularty Page te Leaves are fmal and of a Pale blujth Green, approaching to White; they = 136 The Ufeful Family Herbal. are broad, oblong, and jagged and prickly. The Flowers grow in little 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 tolerably large. The Root is long and flender, and of a pleafant Tatte. This is the Part ufed, the beft Way is to take them candied, they are goog againft Coughs, and Weaknefles of all kinds.. They have alfo caufed noble Virtues, as a Diuretic, and are good againft the Jaundice, for this laft Purpofe a Deco¢tion made from the frefh Roots is beft. They are balfamic as well as diuretic. ‘The EvpuorsBium PrantT. EUPHORBIUM. A Very ftrange Plant, Native of the hot Coun- *™* tries, and unlike every thing that is known 19 this Part of the World, Tt is ten or twelve Feet _ ‘high, and is.of a folid thick Body, of a triangv- _ TaFor elfe a fquare Figure as thick as a Mans 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 fharp Prickles ; the Plant itfelf is compofed only of 4 pulpy foft Matter, covered with a thick Rind, of a green Colour; it abounds with a milky Juice but fo acrid that there is no bearing a Drop of it _ Moment on the Tongue. The Plant often con- but frequently it fends out feveral Branches : Thefe are naked in the fame Manner as the main Stem. _ All that have befide the Prickles,’ are a kind of _ thin Films or Membranes, fmall and sai stg oe ES a ee hirer 3 z “ ; : Soe a pee The Ufeful Family Herbal. _137 from their Bafes, but the Plant is altogether with- out Leaves. The Flowers grow three usd among the Thorns, and the Fruit is a Veffel con- taining three Seeds. The Gum which fweats out from this Plant, is ufed in Medicine ; it is yellowifh and comes forth in {mall Drops, its Tafte is fharp and infupporta- ble; it is a violent Purge, and is recommended againit Dropfies, but we fcarce ever prefcribe it, dt is fo very rough; it is fometimes ufed outward- ly'among other Things applied to the Feet in vio- lent Fevers. ai EYEBRIGHT. EUPHRASIA, A Very pretty low Herb common in our Mea- dows, with woody Stalks, and bright and little variegated Flowers. It grows fix or eight Inches high. The Stalks" are round, thick, firm, -and very hard, the Leaves are flat, broad, and very deeply indented at the Edges’; and they are 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 {potted with black and fome other dark Colours, noe This Plant has been always famous for Dimnefs _ of Sight, but whether Experience warrants the Character that is given of it is uncertain. The Juice is very diuretic. - | 138 ©The Ufeful Family Herbal. F, FENNEL. FCONICULUM. Common Garden Plant, kept for its Ufe in ~ the Kitchen, rather than its medicinal Virtues. It grows fix or eight Feet high. The Stalk is round, hollow, and of a deep green Colour; the Leaves are large, and 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 {mall and yellow ; but there grow large Clufters of them to- gether; the Seed. is fmall, dark coloured, and ftri- ated, and is of a fharp acrid Tafte; the Root is long and white. | The Root is the Part moft ufed; a Decoétion a of it with common. Water, and a in > Quantities works by Urine, and is ar pelo ae Sa the Jaundice, | Sweer Fenne.. . FCQENICULUM DULCE. A Garden Plant very like the common kind, but S: of a paler Colour. It grows four Feet highs | the Stalk is round, hollow, ftriated, upright, and _ branched; and the Leaves are eae divided | ___ Intoa great Number of fine Segments, in the Man- _ _ her of thofe of common Fennel, but both thefe and the Stalks are of a pale yellowith green Co- lour, not fo dark as in the other kind. The Flowers are yellowifh, and ftand in fmall Clufters -.,of Umbels; the Seeds follow, two after each r. | Flower; The Ujeful 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 in the 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 a Multitude of fine flender Parts like thofe of Fennel, only very {mall in Comparifon, and thence it had the Engi Name of Fennel Flower ; they ftand irregularly on the Stalks, and are of a pale Green. The Flowers ftand at the Tops of the Branches : They are fin- gular and pretty, the Colour is whitith, aad they are moderately large, the green Leaves about them Give them a very particular Grace. The Juice of the Plant freth 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 Urine, and is good in the Jaundice. gah ones Se = 140 The Ujeful Family Flerbal. HocGs FEennet. PEUCEDANUM. 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 is 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 Decoétion drank Night and Morning ; it diffolves tough Phlegm, and helps afthmatic Peo- Pes it alfo works by Urine, and promotes the Menies, and is good in all Obftructions. = Foren UG REE E. FQ2NUM GRACUM. A Plant of the Trefoil kind, but fingular in its “~~ Manner of Growth, cultivated in Fields in __ many Places for the Sake of the Seed. It is emol- _Tient, It grows a Foot and half high ; the Stalks are round, — ftriated, and branched. The Leaves are Short and broad: They ftand three upon every Sa as in the common Trefoils; and are indented {mall - Edges. The Flowers are white and Pode and they refemble a Pea Blofiom ; the CS Of an i ila~ greeable Smell. pee 2 beara ae as Mate The Ufeful Family Herbal, 141 Mate Fern. _ FILIX MAS. = A Common Weed growing at the Roots of Trees, and in dry Ditches. It has no Stalk for bearing of Flowers, but feveral Leayes -rife to- gether from the 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 fmaller 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 fmaller 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. wee FELIX F@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 fimall Leaves or Pinnules which go to make _ eC, large one, are oblong, firm, hard, and o _ green Colour, and they are fo fpread * YS aee 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 againft that long and flat Worm in the Bowels, called the Tape-Worm, no Medicine deftroys them fo effec- tually. | FLOWERING FERN. OSMUNDA REGALIS, IT 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 material from the other. It grows three Feet high, and the Leaves are very regularly conftruéted, and very beautiful; 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, not at all indented on the Edges ; and ofa bluifh green Colour, and afterwards yellowifh. Many Leaves _ arife from the fame Root, but only fome few of _ them bear Seeds. Thefe principally rife about the Middle; and the 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 théir Backs rounded up. Thefe are brown from being covered with the Seeds, and they have fo-different an Appear- ance 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 bogey 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 {mail Flowers like Daifies; it grows about Farmers Yards. The Stalk is round, 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 yellowith green Co- jour, and particular Smell. The Flowers ftand about the Tops of the Stalks, they are {mall, white round the Edges, and yellowifh in the Mid- die. The Root is white, little, and inconfiderable. The whole Plant is to be ufed, it is beft freth, but it preferves fome Virtue dried; it is to be_ given in Tea, and it is excellent againft Hyfteric Diforders ; it promotes the Menfes. ee The Fic-TREE. FICUS. A Shrub fufficiently known in our Gardens. The Trunk is thick, but irregular, and the Branches, which are very numerous, grow without any fort of Order. The Leaves are very large, and of a deep blackifh Green, broad divideddeep~ Ipat the Edges, and full of a milky juice. - Flowers are contained within the Fruit 144 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Fig-Tree produces Fruit twice in the Year ; the fift 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. pak Gww.ORT, 7 SGROPHULARI A: Tall and regular growing wild Plant, with — A {mall deep nent tents, At. grows four Feet high, and is common in our Woods, and Ditches, where there is little Water; there is an0- ther kind of it in wet Places, called alfo Water Betony, which is to be diftinguithed from it by the round Indentings of the Leaves ; it alfo grows in Water, or juft by it: The right Figwort, only — “oves Shade, and Dampnefs, but not abfolute — Wet. ‘The Stalk is fquare, upright, hollow, and _ Very firm; the Leaves ftand two at each Join — —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-Stalks, and they — have the Shape of the Nettle Leaf, but they are _, _ perfeétly fmooth, and of a fhining Colour ; pc - _ are fometimes green, but often brown, as is alf - _ the whole Plant. The Flowers. are ag ee oS aping, their Colour is a blackifh Purple. ‘Root is long, white, and full of little Tu face. bat fpreads @ great Way under the Sur- The Juice of the freth gat thered Root is an ex- cellent Sweetener of the Blood taken in fmall tt sf whole “The Ufeful Family Herbal. 145 and for along Time together. The frefli Roots — _ bruifed. and applied externally, are faid alfo to be excellent for the Evil. They cool and give Eafe . _. inthe Piles, applied as a Pultice. eee Fe T RES. tee AB EB S.S. | Wild 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 covered 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 Leaves, 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 — ‘he Beer, which is commonly drank. ns The Rep Fir Tree, or Pitcu ete TREE. 3 % ae 5 ‘ Wr ab. one i. Shee : * Ret 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 — has a ftrong refinous Smell. ee The Tops of this are boiled in Diet Drinks a- 4 gainit the Scurvy as the other, but they make the — Liguor much more naufeous; and not at all bet- ter for the intended Purpofes. : Pitch and Tar are the Produce of the Fir Tre, as alfo the Strafburg and fome other of the Tut- a pentines. The tack 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, becomes hard, and iscalledPitch. ~ The Turpentines are balfamic, and very pow: erful Promoters of Urine, but of thefe more i0 2 their Places: The Tar has been of late ren q famous by the Water made from it ; but it was = we ees and is now out of ies i oe See mee ACORUS, CALAMUS AROMATICUS 7 DICTUS. = — wild Plant that grows undiftinguifaed A mon 3 the. Bisgs and Rufhes, by our Ditch ~ Pheold - 5 Phyficians meant asaulae Thing. mus Aromaticus: They gave this Name t Stalks of a Plant, but at prefent ons od ‘asthe Name of the Root of this. The Sweet : Feet igh, but confifts oe = a see SS “Among t , thie ‘ite _ commonly: three or * four inall Re fone as like The Useful Family Herbal. 144 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 _ refembles a Catkin of a Filbert Tree, only it is longer and thicker. The Root is long, flattith, and _ creeping: Itis 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. po | Common Acorus or YeLLow Fracs: ACORUS ADULTERINUS. 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 dé | Luce. It grows three or four Feet high: The Stalle 1s roundifh, but alittle flatted, of oa een, Very — ereét, firm, and not branched. It only fends out two or three Shoots upwards from the Bofom of = Leaves. The Leaves are a F vee as half ong, narrow, flat, and fharp at tl dges. the Flowers ftand at the Tops of the Stalks, and_ are large and beautiful. The Seeds are numerous, and are contained in large triangular Veffels. The = Oot Creeps. The Root of this is the only Part ufed, ° have confounded them with the true Acorus: but they are called, by way of Diftir : ee ee a cree 148 The Ufeful Family Herbal. or baftard Acorus ; they are not at all like thera in Shape, Colour, or Qualities; they are of ar edifh Brown, have no Smeil, and are of an auttere Tatte, they are an excellent Aftringent. They fhould be taken up in Spring and dried, and afterwards given in Powder. They ftop Fluxes and Over- flowings of tle Menfes. a ie. SF : os -LINUM. Ay 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 largeand of a beautiful Blue. Each of thefe. is fuicceeded by: acon Seed Vefiel ,; in which are a Num- ‘his Seed is what is called Linfeed. A Ts made of it is excellent in Coughs and Diforders the Breaft and Lungs, and the Seed bruife alfo good in Cataplafms and Fomentations f Swellings. ‘lhe Oil drawn from it given in Ple _-tifies and Perippeumonies, with great Succefs, it is alfo ellent in the Gravel and Stone. — ght Inches hi the Top divided i The Useful Family Herbal. ag Leaves 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 Afpeét-of fome Kind-of Chickweed, but the Seed Veflel being examined, it’appears to be altogether of the Flax Kind, The Root is {mall and thready.-*= - 3 This little Plant is a ftrong but fafe Purge, the Country People boil it in Ale, and cure them- felves of Rheumatic Pains, and a great many -other- obftinate Diforders by it.. They talk of it as a Remedy for Dropfies. Doubtlefs it is ufeful tall Cafes where a {trong and brifk Purgative is . tequired.. “oF LE ABANE. -EON.Y ZA. } A Pretty wild Plant frequent about damp Places, — ““ with whitifh Leaves and large yellow Flowers in Autumn. It is two Feet high. The Stalk is found and ereét, very firm and {trong, and is of- ten of a redifh Colour. The Leaves are nume- tous, and ftand irregularly; they are above an Inch long, moderately broad, of a rough Sur- _ face; and whitith Green. ‘Ihe Flowers ftand at’ the Top-of the Branches; they. are broader-than’ — _ @Shilling, yellow, and compofed of many nar- a Ress The whole Plant has a difagreeable mell. : . , wets _ tis difputed whether this Kind of Fleabane, _ &F another which is fmaller, and has globous Flowers, have the greater Virtue, but moft give — ltfor this, The Juice of the whole Plant cures the Itch, applied externally ; and the very Smell. of the Herb is faid'to deftroy Fleas. as 150 Lhe Ufeful Family Herbal, FLEAWORT. | | PSYLLEIUM, 2 AN Herb of no great Beauty, Native of France, but kept in Gardens here. It has narrow ,a Leaves, and inconfiderable Flowers. It is a Foot j high. The Stalks are weak, greenith, and alittle hairy. The Leaves ftand two or more at every Joint, for that is uncertain ; they are long, very narrow, and alfo fomewhat hairy: There rife from the Bofoms of thefe Leaves, long naked © Stalks, on which ftand aKind of Spikes of little Flowers, fomewhat like the Spikes of Plantain, * only fhorter; two Seeds fucceed each Flower, and 7 they are {mooth, 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. ee . ee Frix WEEeEpD. +, SOPHIA CHIRURGORUM.. ». A Pretty wild Plant, about our wafte Places 4 ~. and Farm 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. The Leaves ee _ are moderately large, and moft beautifully divid- = Sree imal] Segments, long and oy _ Tow, they ftand irregularly upon the Stalks. | =< _ Blowers are fmall and yellow, ‘they ftand ina kind _ of Spikes at the Tops of the Stalks. ‘They are __ sollowed by fhort Pods. The whole Plant is of ene Seeds are the Part ufed: ‘They are to be: ___ gollected when juft ripe, and boiled whole. ‘The ~ Decoétion. = ge ey eee * — Lhe Ufeful Family Hvlad, I 5t Decoétion cures the Bloody Flux, and is good a- gainft the Overflowing of the Menies. : FLOWER GENTLE. ' AMARANTHUS. 3 A 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 purple, and they grow in long beautiful Spikes hanging downwards. 3 The Flowers are the Part ufed. They are to be gathered when not quite full blown, and dried. They are good again{t Purging and Overflowing of the Menfes, in Powder or Decoction. Frower pe Luce. saree! pete & as ~ A 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 _ Refpeéts like the Leaves of Flags, and of a blu- ith Green. The Stalks are round, or a little flat- ted, thick, firm, upright, and of a greener Co- dour. The Flowers are large, and of a deep Blue, - The Root fpreads about the Surface and is thick, = and of a brownifh Colour, and marked with _ a “The Juice of the frefh Roots of this Plant - lometimes alfo vomit ; but that is not hurtfu et _ 48 a Cure for Dropfies.. Gordon, an ol bruifed with White Wine, is a ftrong Purge, it will _ 152 The Ujeful 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 Practice. FLORENTINE Flower De Luce. IRIS FLORENTINA. A Plant kept alfo in our Gardens, but not fo ~~ frequently as the former; it fcarce differs in any Thing ftom the common Flower de Luce, except. that the Flowers are white. The Root fpreads in the fame Manner, and the Leaves are - flags The Stalk is two Feet or more inHeight, and the Flower is as large as that of the blue Kind, and perfectly of the fame Form. cao -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 Ills; and it promotes the Menfes. FLUELLIN. ~ AQ Low Plane frequent in Corn Fields, andcon- re Spicuous 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 3 ‘There is another Kind, the Leaves of. which ae have two Ears at their Bafe, in other refpects they. are the fame, and they have the fame Virtucs. aie The Ufeful Family Herbal: 163 given by the Country People in the Bloody Flux and Overflowing of the Menfes. = Foois SToNEs. : SAT YRIUM SIVE ORCHIS.-.~ - A Beautiful -wild Plant in our Meadows and’ Paftures in Zune. The Leaves are long and’ fpotted, and the Flowers are purple. Tt grows- ten Inches high. ‘The Leaves are fix Inches long, and three Quarters of an Inch broad, of a ve 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 F igure, 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 glofty Purple; but fometimes they are white. The whole Plant is- juicy. “The Root confitts of two round Bulbs or two round Lumps like a Pair of Tefticles, and is” white and full of a flimy Juice. x 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 Venereal Defires ent with what, Truth one cannot fay. Externally: <3 plied in Cataplafms, it is excellent in hard Swell-_ ings. There are a great many other kinds of | Orchis in our Meadows, but only this is Hed. The Root called Salep by our Druggitts, is os = brought from Turkey, and is the Root of a Plant of this Kind. It is ftrengthening and reftorative, good in Confumptions and all Decays, r 154 The Ofeful Family Herbal. Fox-GLove. ets t T AE YS: A Very beautiful wild Plant, in our Pattures, and about Wood Sides. The Leaves are whitifh, and the Flowers large and red. It is Feet high. The Leaves are large, long, rough on the Surface, pointed at the Ends, and ferrated round the Edges, The Stalks are round, — thick, . firm, and upright, and of a white Colour. The Flowers hang down from the Stalk, ina kind of Spike: They are hollow, red, large, and a little Spotted with white, they are fhaped like the End of the Finger of a Glove. _ The Plant boiled in Ale, is taken by People of robuft Conftitutions, for the Rheumatifm. and o- ther ftubborn Complaints it works violently up- wards and downwards; and cures alfo Quartan gues, and as is faid, the F alling Sicknefs, An Ointment made of the Flowers of Fox-glove boiled in May Butter, has been long famous in {crophulous Sores. _ os The PRANK iwebven Tavs, ARBOR THURIFERA. A Large Tree, as is faid, a Native of the warm- _ er Countries, but we know very little of it. Thofe who defcribe it moft, only fay that the he Leaves they fay are narrow, and of sare filent. Some fay it is thorny. - and ftrong ‘Smell. Our Dru ifts kee this. | _ Whatever Tree produces this, it ae noble Balfam, 7 ee ~ diffolved teen: But as to the Flower and Fruit, The Ufeful Family Herbal. 155 diffolved in the Yolk of an Ege, and made into an Emulfion with Barley Water, it. will do good in Confumptions, when almoft all other Things fail. It were well if the common trifling Praétice in that fatal Diforder, would give way to the Ufe of this great Medicine. Frenco MERCURY. MERCURIALIS MAS ET FG@:MINA. : A Wild 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 jhe high. The Stalks are angular, green, thick, but not firm, and ftand but mo- derately upright. The Leaves are oblong, broad- eft in the middle, fharp at the Point, ferrated at the Edges, and of a deep green Colour. The Female Plants produce two Seeds growing toge- ther at*the Top of a little Spike. The Male pro- duce only a Spike of dufty Flowers, without any or Fruit at all. But People commonly. mif- take the matter, and call the Female, the Male. _- _ A Decoétion of the freth gathered Plant purges alittle, and works by Urine; it is cooling and good for hot Conftitutions and Overfulnefs. The dried Herb is ufed in Decoétions for Glifters. . ~ | Froc Bit. Ss = OR SUS aN eee A Little Plant, not uncommon on Waters, with “ round Leaves and {mall white Flowers. It _ has been by the common Writers called a Water Lily; becaufe its Leayes are r 156 The U, feful Family Herbal. it oats upon the Water, but it is as diftinét as any T’hing can be, when we regard the Flower. Duckweed has round Leaves, and floats upon. the Water, and ‘it might be called Water Lily Sa St es ea Water. The Flowers ftand fing] upon flender Foot Stalks; they are white, a compofed of iece, which give them a fingular Appearance. = ies bi wow The freth Leaves are ufed in outward Appliea- tions, and are very cooling. ee FumirTory. 2 A Ftetty wild Plane, with bluith divided Leaves, _ >and Spikes of little p ‘ple Flowers, common ta our Corn Fields in Fane and July. It grows ten Incheshigh. The Stalk is tound, ftriated, of a pale Green, thick enough, but not very firm or per= fectly 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 7 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, = 25 The Juice exprefied from this Plant, is excel- Jent againft the Scurvy. It opens ObftruG@tions of eee ta he The Ufeful Family Herbal, 157 | the Vifera, and is good againft the Jaundice, and all other Difeafes arifing from Obftruétions. = The Furze Busn. SS 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- dour, 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, that for a great Part of the Year, we fee the Shrub . Without any. The Flowers are yellow and beau- tiful, and the Seeds are contained in Pods. The Root fpreads a great Way, and is not eafily got up, when the Shrub has 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- ent 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 fcarce worth while to meddle with it ; it lofes it Virtues by drying: 158 The Ufeful Family Herbal. OG. The GALANGAL PLANT. GALANGA. A Wild Plant in the Eaft, which grows by Wa- ~*~ 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 fpread 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 confift of a larger upper Lip, anda fmaller tender one, each divided into three Parts. The Seed Veffels are oblong, and have each three Divifions, containing many Seeds. The Roots have a very acrid Tafte, and are redifh: As we have two Sorts of Galangal Roots at the Drug- gifts, it might be expected there fhould be found two Galangal Plants, but they are both the Roots ~ of the fame. ieee The leffer Galangal is moft ufed: It is a - Warm and fine Stomachic, we put it in all bitter Tinétures. Head-achs which arife from Diforders in the Stomach, are greatly reliéved by this Root. _ What is called Enghjh Galangal, is the Root of the Long Cyperus, defcribed already in its Place. Geeio > “ALLIUM. — Plant kept in our Gardens for its ufes in Me- "~ dicine, and in the Kitchen. Tt grows two > Feet and a half high, The Leaves are broad, lone. The Ufeful Family Herbal. 159 long, and of a ftrong Green. The Stalk is found, fmooth, and firm, upright, and ef a pale white- — ifh or bluifh Colour. The Flowers are white and fmall, but they grow in a large Tuft at the we little of the Stalk. The Root is white, or a 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 {trong 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.. GENTIAN Avicsie ic gui A Robuft and handfome Plant, Native of Ger- many, and kept with us in Gardens. It grows two Feet and a half high. The Leaves that rife from the Root, are oblong, broad, of a yellowifh — green Colour, and pointed at the Ends. The Stalk is thick, firm, upright, and brownifh or yellowith. At every Joint there ftand two Leaves like the others, only fmaller; and towards the Tops at every Joint, alfo, there ftand a Number of Flowers: Thefe are fmall, yellow, with a _ great Lump in the Middle, which is the Rudi- ment of the Seed Veffel, and a great Quantity of yellow Threads about it. The Root is large, long, and often divided. It is of a brownifh Co- lour on the Outfide, and yellow within, andisof ~ ; Pee ls Leela ee 160 The Useful Family Herbal. dern Practice. Garlian Root, and the Peel. of Seville Oranges, make the common bitter Tine: tures and Intfufions: Befide {trengthening the Sto- mach, and creating an Appetite, thefe open Ob- ftruétions, and are good in moft chronic Di- forders. The Powder of Gentian will cure Agues. . GERMANDER. - = CHAM AD RY S. A Hite Plant, Native. of. many. Parts of. £x- ~ rope, but with us kept in Gardens. It grows a Foot or more in 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 fmall and purple, like the Flowers of the little Dead Nettle. They ftand in Clufters about the upper Joints of _ the Stalks, and appear in Yuly. ee _ . Sermander is an’ Herb celebrated for many _ Virtues. *Tis faid to be excellent againit . the Gout and Rheumatifm: However that be, it pro- motes Urine and the Menfes, and. is cood in all Obftructions of the. Vifcera, The Juice is the beft Way, of giving it, but the Infufion is more frequent. . | < Water GreRMANDER. A fittle mean looking Plant, wild in fome Parts i of England, but kept in Gardens alfo for its Virtues. The Stalks are {quare, hairy, of a dui- ky Green, and fo weak, that they ee ftand Much up. They are eight or ten Inches ns Ae Sateen yeea ar. The Ufefil Family Herbal. 161 The Leaves are fhort, broad, and indented about the Edges, but not fharply or deep as thofe of the other Germander: They are of a fort of wool- ly foft Appearance and Touch, and of a dutky 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 freth or dried. It has been celebrated greatly as a Sudorific, and for it Virtues againft peftilential Fevers, but it is now little ufed. GINGER. ZINZIBER. AN Eaft-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 rft grow two or three Feet high, and are them- felves compofed in a Manner of the lower Parts of | ves; 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: They. ave no Leaves ‘on them, but only a Kind of Films, and at the Tops they produce the Flowers, 4M a Spike; thefe are fmall, in Shape like thofe of our Orchis, and of a mixed Colour, _ Purple, White, and Yellow. The Root fpreads _ Uregularly under the Surface. — 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 Eaf- Indies, It is a warm and fine Stomachic,. and- Difpeller.of Wind. It afte Digettion; aad wpre- 162 The Ufeful Famrily Herbal. vents or cures Cholics. It is alfo an excellent Addition to the rough Purges, te prevent their griping in the Operation. | GLADWYN. XYRIS SIVE SPATULA FC:TIDA. 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 2 ftrong 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 2 very dull Colour. Fhere 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 they have a faint ard bad Smell. _ The Juice of the Root promotes Urine, and Se ee ee ee eS oe ae ae Oe ea ee a a. ee er cd the Mentes. The dried Root in Powder, or Infu- _ | fion is good againit all hyfteric Diforders, Faint- : args Outwardly, the frefh Root is to be an excellent Remedy for fcrophulous — Swellings ; but this we mutt take upon Truft. GLasswort. SES oe theese 4 many Parts of Europe, but not a Native of our - tis called Cochleated Kali, from 5 the Form of its Seed Veffels, which are twifted in A Common wild Plant, on the Sea Coaits of Foot and a half in Height, The Stalk is round, thick, flefhy, and brittle. The Leaves are ex or 363 and 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. eee 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 Seed 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 making Glafs: The Ufeful Family Herbal Goats BEarRp. TRAGOPOGON: “A Common wild Plant, diftinguifhed in our * Meadows, by its narrow and frefh greert Leaves, and the long Leaves of the Cup, about, its yellow Flowers. It grows a Foot and a half in Height. The Leaves are very narrow; they are broadeft at the Bafe, and fmaller all the Way to the Point. The Stalk is round, thick, firm, very upright, and towards the Top, divided into — two or three Branches. The Flowers ftand at the Extremities of the Stalks ; they are of a beautiful pale Yellow, very large, and furrounded by a Cup, compofed of long, and narrow green Leaves, which, for the greateft Part of the Day, are clofed over it, fo that it feems only in Bud. The Seeds are winged with a fine white Down, in the Manner of thofe of Dandelion, and when ripe, they ftand upon the Tops of the Branches, in 4 round Head, in the fame Manner. The Root is. tong, and white; And the whole Plant is full of © a milky Juice, which, after it has been a little _ time expofed to the Air, becomes yellow and Mt pe ERE 164 Lhe Ufeful Family Herbal. The Root is ufed. . It is fo pleafant inTatte, that it may be eaten in the Manner of Carrots, and other Roots at Table, but it exceeds them all in its Qualities. It is an excellent Reftorative, — _and will-do great Service to People after long IIl- 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, whichistobe _tendered palatable in the ufual Way; it becomes” thus, a moft excellent Medicine, in the form. of Goats Rue. | ae: “GHELEG A: A Tall 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 feveral Pairs of fimaller Leaves, with anodd - One-at the End of the Rib; thefe are oblong, — narrow, and of a yellowifh green Colour, thin, and not at all indented at the Edges. The Flow- ers are imall, and of a bluifh and whitifh Colours 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 trueof the Virtues of this Plant, b ich more has: been faid of Ghia ens ut much mo . hen i Naps Bere ee and are ae The Ufeful Family Herbal x6 Goitpen Rov. VIRGA AUREA.. | _ A Very pretty wild Plant, with Tufts of yellow ~~” Flowers, frequent on our Heaths in Au- tumn. It is two Feet high. The Stalk is firm, erect, 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 Flowers are fmall, 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. | | The Root taken up in Spring and dried, is an . €xcellent Medicine given in Powder for Purgings, and for Overflowing of the Menfes, bloody Stools, or any other Hemorrhage whatfoever. The whole _ Plant has been at all Times famous, as a vulne- tary or wound Herb, given in Decottions. GoLtpd oF PEEASURE. eee MYAGRUM. are, ~ A Very pretty Plant comnmion in many Parts of ~~ England, and known at Sight by the vait Quantity of Seed Veffels. It is two Feet high: The Stalk is round, thick, firm, upright, and toward the Top has a great many Branches, all ing upright. The Leaves ftand irregularly, not numerous, they are long, not very _ ‘Broad, and of a pale Green; they are indented a- a bour the Edges, and furround the Stalk at the. — _ Bafe, the Flowers are little and white, the Seed Se eee 166 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Veffels are fhort and roundifh, and they ftand in vaft 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 Th: and Ulcerations of the Mouth. The Seeds yield a great Quantity of Oil on preffing, and they are fo plentiful, that it might feem worth while to cultivate the Plant for them, the Oil is pleafant The Gourp, | Ee CUCURMITA = 2. Js A tatse Plant of the Melon or Cucumber kind kept in Gardens. The Stalks are ten of 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 blackifh Green. _ The Flowers are large, and Bell-fafhioned, 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. _ Te _ The Ufeful Family Herbal. 167 The Birrer Gourp, called Brr- TER APPLE. | COLOCYNTHIS. 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 {mall 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 hear. ‘The Leaves are large,, broad, and very deeply divided at the Edges. The Flowers are of a pale Y@llow, large, and not unlike the Flowers of Melons. ‘he Frait is a round Gourd of the~ Bignet of the Jarpeft Orange. The Batk is hard, and the inner Part fpungy, with Seeds among it: Thefe are flat, hard, and of an oval Figure. ‘The Fruic is the Part uled, they take off the Outer Shell, and fend the dried Pulpwith the Seeds pie Be : but thefe are to be feparated afterwards, _ and Pulp ufed alone. It is 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 Prattice denies the Ufe of many of the beft Me- - ES Gott Wort. PADAGRARA HERBA GERRARDI, A Common wildPlant over-running our Gardens, . and when once it has taken Root, very dif~ ficult to be got out again ; it grows two Feet high. M 4 The 168 The Ufeful Family Herbal. The Leaves which rife from the Roots are large, and they are compofed each of feveral {maller, fet on a divided 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 {mal- Jer, and confift of fewer Parts than thofe that rife from the Root. The Flowers are little and white, and they ftand in fmal! round Clufters ; each is fucceeded by two flat Seeds. The Root creeps. _ - The Root and frefh Buds of the Leaves are — both ufed, but only externally; they are excellent © 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 all others the leaft dangerous. I have known a Quan- tity of the Roots and Leaves 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 TI have feen great good Effect from it. Its Ufe fhould not be confined to this Pain alone. It will fucceed in others. GROMVEL,. LITHOSPERMON.. Wild Plant of no great Beauty, but diftinguifh- ~~ ed by its Seeds, which are hard, glofly, and refemble fo many Pearls, as they ftand in the open ~ Hufk. The Plant grows a Yard high. The Stalk is round, thick, firm, very upright, and branched. The Leaves‘ are oblong, not very broad, rough and hairy, ofa deep blackith green Colour, The Ufeful Family Herbal. 165 Colour, and placed irregularly ; the Flowers are fmall and white: When they are fallen off, the Cups remain, and contain thefe fhining, and = it were ftony Seeds.. The Plant is frequent about Hedges. RT 3 % 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 the fame Time. GROUND-PINE. CHAMPITYS. : Avery fingular little wild Plant, of a moffy Ap- pearance, and refinous Smell: It grows four Inches high, the Stalks are hairy, and feldom ftand upright, the Leaves are very clofe fet, and the young Shoots which grow from their Bofoms perfectly obfcure the Stalk; it feems a thick round Tuft. Thefe Leaves are fhort, nar- tow, 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. ; en oe 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: Rheumatif, and moft of the chronic Diforders,.. GRoUNDSEL 170 The Ufefal Family Herbal. GRounpset. fiza ERIGERON SIVE SENECIO, 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 ereen of pops 3 the Leavés are oblong broad, blunt, and divided at the Edges. 1¢ Flowers are fmall and yellow, they grow in a Sort of long ‘Cups, at the Tops of the Stalks and Branches. ~The Juice of this Herb isa gentle and very good Emetic. It caufés vomiting without any great Irritation or Pain; and itis alfo good. for ~ ‘ cutaneous Foulnefles applied outwardly, ~The Guatacum TREbr. - 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 _ ‘Mumerous; the Leaves are fmall, cach is compofed _ Of two or three Pair of fmaller ones, with no odd Leaf at the End of the Rib. Ther ‘are fhort, _ broad, roundifh, and of a dufky green Colour. The Flowers are finall and yellow, but they grow in — together, fo that the Tree when i Bloom, €s avery pretty Appearance. _The Bark arid Wood are the only Pats of the Tree ufed, they are given in Décoétion, 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- monly called Foulnefs of the Blood, but sae . mutt 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- gent, and in the Rheumatifm, and many other — afes is to be preferred to the Wood itfelf, nei Stine , we me Fi. : Hares Ears, BUPLEURON LATIFOLIUM. A Common wild Plant in fome Parts of Europe, “= but kept here in Gardens. It is two Feet or more in Height. The Leaves are long and broad, of a itiff 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 tobe 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 ig long and thick, and has many Fibres. _ Fhe young Shoots of the Leaves which : from the Root, are efteemed exceedingly in pce where they are native, for the Cure Wounds. They cut two or three of thefe off clofe to the Ground, and without bruifing them, firft clofing the Lips of the Wound, they lay them’ on ‘one over the other, making a a of ; Lom- 1¥2 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Comprefs: They then bind them ‘on with Linen Rags, and never take off the Dreffing 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 Diftinétion 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, ee Hares Foor. _LAGOPUS. soon on little Plant, fingular in the Tuft, A which contains its Seeds, and 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 into a Number of leffer Branches. The Leaves are f{mall, oblong, narrow, of a pale. _ green Colour, and hairy; and they itand three together in the Manner of the. Trefoils. The “towers are {mall and of a faint Red, they ftand fe- veral ‘ogether ina thort Spike, and the Cups ; whick _ teceive them atthe Bafe are downy, this gives the fingular Afpeé&t of Hiairinefs to. thefe Heads, and their Softnefs to the Touch, “ xt 2s ent 8 The Ufeful Family Herbal. x73 The whole Plant is to be ufed dried. It is an excellent Agringent. . It &ops-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 Decoétion, ‘which muft be continued fome Time. | Harrs TONGUE, PHYLLITIS. LINGUA CERVINA, ‘A Wild Plant of the Fern Kind, that is con- ~~ fitting 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- Mary Ferns in its Afpecét. Each Leaf of Harts - Tongue is a feparate Plant, but there rife many from the fame Root. The Foot-Stalk is five Inches Jong, 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- _Aeath, and the Foot-Stalk runs all along its Mid- dle in Form of a very large Rib. The Seed Vef- els 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. | tis not much ufed, but deferves to be more _ “town. — Tt is an excellent Aftringent, the Juice of the Plant, taken in fmall Quantities, and for a ‘Ontinuance of Time, opens Obftructions of the iver and Spleen, and will cure many of the moft . obftinate. chronic Diftempers. ‘Harr- 174 The Ufeful Family Herbal. | HaRTWORT. SESE LL A fall, 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 great Number of Parts, by fives and by threes, they are of a yellowith Green. The Flowers are {mall 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 4 _ dark Colour, a ftrong Smell, and acrid Tafte. The Seeds are the only Part ufed, they pro- mote the Menfes, and the neceflary 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 m wder or Infufion. — ~ ee HAWTHORN. SPEN A ALBA: A Shrub too common in our Hedges to need much Defcription. Fhe Trunk is irregular, and feldom ftrait, the Branches are ftrong, tough, and thorny, and the Leaves of a .glofly Green and beautifully divided. The Flowers are white and _ The Flowers and the dried Fruit are ufed in Me- dicine ; they have the fame Virtue, 7 Urine, and are good in the Gravel, and all Com- _ plaints of that kind: But there are fo many better : Thi The Ufeful Family Herbal. x76 Things for the fame Purpofe at Hand, that thefe are not much regarded, ave Hrepce MustTarp. ERYSIMUM. A Very common wild Plant, and of no great Beauty; it is frequent about old Walls, and in Farm Yards, and is diftinguifhed by its dong Spikes of Pods, which are ledged clofe upon the Stalk. -It grows two Feet in Height, the Stalk is round, firm, upright, but -not always quite ftrait, and a little branched. ‘The Leaves are of @ pale green Colour, hairy, oblong, and deeply indented at the Edges. The Flowers are {mall and yellow, and they commonly ftand at the Tops of long Spikes of Pods, which have been Flowers . ore them. _ _ The whole Plant is ufed, an Infufion of it freth Is the beft Way of taking it. This diffolves tough Rhlegm, and is. excellent in Afthmas, Hoarfe- nefles, and other Complaints of the Breaft. This fimple Infufion, made into a Syrup with Honey, = anfwers the fame Purpofe, and keeps all the HEMLOCE. CICUTA, A L2tee, tall, and handfome umbelliferous Plant, — _ -* frequent in our Hedges. It grows to fix Feet in Height, the Stalk is round, frm, hollow, _ and upright; it is of a dark Green, and often Mtained with purple and yellow. The Leaves are Very large, and divided into very fine and nume= Tous Partitions. The Flowers are fmall and white, and ftand in large Clufters Gx the Bo : Stalks, The Seeds are roundith, The pee : 2 pore en ant 476 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Plant has a ftrong. difagreeable Smell, and has “been called poifonous. , Bil The Roots are excellent in Pultices for hard Swellings. Hemp. ae CANNABIS. HE=p is a tall Plant, of a coarfe Afpedt, 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 {mal- 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 the Jaundice... ; oH ~, Hemp Acrimowny. es EUPATORIUM CANNABINUM. A fall 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, and fingered ; they ftand two at. each Joint, the +Owers grow in Bunches as big as a Man’s Fifty iy of the Branches, and are of a bright The : Root frefh gathered and boiled in Ale is ufed in fome Places as a Purge, it operates wets ; : Meee — Feces? 3 ed 4 rat =! * a The Ufeful Family’ Herbak 177 ly, but without any ill: Effect, and» Dropfies are faid to have been cured:by it fingly, = = 4 ee NE. = HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. | A Common wild Plant, of a difmal Afpect and difagreeable Smell. The Farm Yards and Ditch Banks in moft Phaces 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 large, long, and broad, _ deeply ferrated at the Edges of a bluith green Co- q lour, hairy and clammy td. the Touch, and ley-- _ ing a difagreeable Smell upon the Hands. The _ Flowers are large and ftand in Rows on the Tops _ ofthe Branches, which often bend down, they ate of a ftrange yellowifh brown Colour, with : nt Veins. The-Seeds are numerous and ; rown, 4 rik ss : « os : = bd + Fat Celaie ot The Seeds are ufed; the reft of the Plant. is efteemed poifonous. They are given in {mall _ Dofes againft the Bloody Flux, and it is faid with _ Sreat Succefs; I have not known it tried. : WuttTe Hen BANE: oe “HYOSCKAMUS ALAS * : Native of Italy and Germany, kept in our Gar- _~ dens. It isa Foot high, and has fomething E of the’ Afpect of the black Henbane, but not fo difmal. The Stalk is round, thick, and of a _ Pale Green; the Leaves are large, broad, but - fhort, and a little indented at the Edges, they are Of yellowith Green, and fomewhat hairy, the : sires are fmall- and-yellow, and the Seeds are = 178 The Ufeful Family 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 they are ge- nerally fold for them. Goop KING frie ee BONUS HENRICUS. Common wild Plant, called alfo by fome En- - glifh Mercury by way of Diftin&tion fromthe other, which is called French Mercury, and has _ been defcribed already. This grows a Foot high, — the Stalk pity. and. thick, but rarely ftands quite upright ; it is nifh and ifh, and is: covered. ah kind of geet 2a we regen to the Touch. The Leaves are large, broad, and _ of the Shape of an Arrow-head, they ftand on long Stalks, and are of a pale Green above, and greyifh underneath, being there covered with this grey. Powder. The Flowers are inconfiderable, they are of a greenifh Yellow, and they ftand in long Spikes» at the Tops of the Branches, the Plant is common in Farm Yards. ‘ The young Shoots are eaten as Spinage, the Juice of the whole Plant works gently, and well by Urine; and the dried Herb is ufed- in Decot- tions for Glifters. 3 > _ The Hermopactyr Prant. - _.. HERMODACTYLUS.. A Beautiful Plant having more:the Afpes of ™ Garden Flower, but it is common wild in the Eaft. The Root is roundith but and in- dented at Bottom, Siren sage The ae are large and broad, they are fharp at oint, and of a deep green Colour. The Flowers - a a ae * Oe ee er 2 va 2 9's Ere ee | The Ufeful Family 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. hash2. ' It is a gentle’ Purgative, but it is lefs ufed at this Time than many others. It has been in more Repute perhaps with Reafon. HotLloak. MALVA ARBOREA. A, Common Garden Flower. (It .grows eight > Feet high, the Stalk is round, firm, hairy, and upright. The Leaves are large and round- - ih, of a deep Green, hairy and cut in at the Edges ; the Flowers are very large, red, white, _ Or purple, and ftandin a kind of long Spike. The Root is white, long, and thick, and is of a flimy’ Nature, and not difagreeable Tafte. This isthe Part ufed, 2 Decottion of it ope- _ Yates by Urine, and is good in the Gravel ; it has the fame Virtue with this Mallow and Marfhmal- low, but ina middle Degree between them more than the Mallow, and not fo much as the other, Nor is it fo pleafant. ont HonEworR?’T. _ SEELINU™M, SII FOLIIS. “A Commo n Plant inCorn Fields, and dry 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- led Hone s, and the Herb from its fingular Fifect N 2 = * . follow. every. Flower. - 180 The Ujeful Family Herbal. in curing them, »has received the. Name of Hone- wort, that is/Hone Herb. + Dew The Root. is long and white, thefe rife. fromzit early-in 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 donot rife till the End of Summer, and thefe Leaves decay-by that times fo that they are not-known-to belong to it. Thele 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 4 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 fcarce any that has what are nearly fo handfome. The Stalk is-two Feet high,‘ round, hollow, nape right; -but not.very firm and branched*toward _ the Top. The-Leaves on it are fomewhat like xe Root, but they’ have not the Sin- gularity. of thofe beautiful and numerous {mall oness the Flowers are ‘little and white, and the Seeds are fmall, flattith, ftriatéd, and-two of them: ~ The Leaves are to be ufe gathered and beat in a marble Mortar into a ki : of Pafte. They are to be laid on a Swelling that 1s pplication mult — UY, ee: ‘al Fa est iby. Ho ba _ leBeF pe | oy oN ees CLE. Hod as Te PERICLYMENU, ee aw A Beautiful wild ‘thrib: The Pronk 4 is. éfehdoia : ~~ more than an Inch: thick;~ thes ‘Branches*are very long!and flender,’ of a redith’ Colour, brittle, and all of ‘the fame Bignefs. ‘Phe 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- — edétion; are good againft Obftrudctions of the Liver and Spleen; ‘they work ‘by. Urine,” and ' they ; are ponds aie Serle eB a fote Throat.” sig FOE | ape} i * og cmp pees = oy es So WC ° -R Cin oa a 3 a ~CERINTHE. ~ pa A Juicy Plant frequent wild in miany’ me “of Europe, but with us kept'in Gardens.”It has ame from: the fweet Tafte of the Flowers. Almott all Flowers havea Drop” of Honey Juice in-their Bottom: This is indeed the ‘real Sub- flance of Honey, for the Bees only pick if?out. and get it together: The hollow Flowe rs in ge- neral have more of it,~or “it is little: preferved in them than others, but fearce any in*{o great a gree as this Plant named from it. It is two Feet high, when kept erect,” but if left to itfelf, itis very apt to lean upon the ‘Ground. The Stalk is round, thick, juicy, and tender ; ‘the Leaves. are large, oblong, broad, age furround and in- — Clofe the Stalk at their Bate; they are of a bluifh, green Colour, fpotted or clouded irregularly ith Wate, and they are full of a Sort of P Se | cee Flowers: grow at the Tops of the Stalks, | N 3 _ 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 i in the Middle, and they have a vay A nce.» Pr The ae Tops of the Plant, are to be ufed ; an Infufion of them is cooling, and works. by Urine. It is. good. againft {corbutic isd omsche and in the a | The Sia Se LUPULUS. ‘Climbing Plant, ‘with very long Stalks, com ** mon in our Hedges, and cultivated alfo in ‘many Places. The Stalks are roundifh, roughte the Touch, and of a purplifh Colour often, fome-_ times onlyGreen, The Leaves are very large, - aroundifh Figure, deeply indented, of a ne: green Colour, and very rough ’alfo to the Touch. Fruit is fufficiently known. tion of freth gathered Hops i is ie gainit the Jaundice: and the Powder of Hops : an Oven, has been:often known to cure Agaet pve “upon this there i is no abfolute pec dence. WHITE Ree ee MARRUBIUM ALBUM. A White hoary Plant, with little Flowers if Tufts round the Stalks, frequent in dry Places in many Parts of the Kj on. It grows fixteen oe i ae Staley are {quare, and very ro ry, pale calo and Leaves ftand two at ee fe and broad, blunt at the Ends, and widely in at the Edges, of a rough Surface, and ie ug The Ufeful Family Herbal. 183 jour. The Flowers are white and the Points of _ The beft Part of the Plant, for medicinal Ufe, is the Tops of the young Shoots, a Decoction of a made a ftrong, = Sage on thin Hoarfenefles* Sits ftanding, and all Ditordens of the Lungs. The fame Decoction if taken in large Dofes, and for a Continuance, promotes the Menfes, and opens all Obftructions. ~~ . BLACK HOREHOUND. “J BALLOT E. : A Common wild Plant, of a difagreeable Smell, “thence alfo called by fome. ftinking Hore- hound. The Stalks are fquare, the Leaves grow two at every Joint, and are broad, fhort, and of a blackifh green Colour, but in Shape not unlike thofe of the white kind. The Flowers ftand in Clufters round the Stalk at the Joints, asin the other, but they are red. The whole Plant has 2 difmal A 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 pag me a Re- medy in hyfteric Cafes, Faintings, Convulfions, and low Spiritednefs, and all the Train of thofe Diforders.. coaroae . Se Sr HORE ET AE. EQUISETUM SEGETALE. ACommon and yet very fingular wild Plant, ~” frequent in our Corn-Fields, and compofed of Branches only, without Leaves, there are alfo Many other kinds of Horfetail. It is a Foot 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 Struéture, and. they are again branched; they grow feveral’ from -every Joint of the main Stalk, and-have, others. again, _ though in Jefs-Number, growing from their Joints. The-whole Plantiis:,of a green Colour, and when bruifed, not ofa very agreeable Smell.. 7 aie he whole Plant is to be ufed, and it is beft refh ; 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- ernally, it immediatély ftops the Bleeding of Hownps Tone ur. — ge} CYNOGLOSSUM? =. ag ep Tall-and fingular looking Plant, frequent, by *.our Way Sides, and diftinguithed: by its large eavess~and fmall purple Flowers, as allo it y of its ‘Smell,: which has been uppoied to-refemble-that of a Kennel of Hounds: It is two Feet anda half high. The Stalk. is an- gulated, firm, and upright :) ‘Lhe Leaves gee 2 confiderably broad, ot a pale whitifh or bluifh en Colour, tharp at the Points,.and not. at all errated at the Edges. The Flowers are fmall and ofa deep Purple: ‘They grow along the Tops of The Root is the Part ufed : Ip is long, thick, and brown, but whitifh within; it is balfamic and aftringent... Given: in Decoétion, it is excellent againit Coughs arifing from athin fharp Humotr. - Dried and powdered, it is good againft Purgingsy and ftops the Overflowings of the Menfes., > : ee The Ufeful-Family Herbat. 3 Great-Hovsterk.. = SEP, SEDUM MAJUS. Plant oe known as well ‘by its parti- -)) -cular, Manner. BF BOT as for. its Place. Growth. ‘lpi: itfelf into Clufters of a ro ith Figure, thefe are: compofed of Leaves, whieh are Saar toward the Bottom, and . Amalleft, ar the. End; they.are very thick. and -juicy,- broad at the Bafe, fharp at the Point,. flat on, the u 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, peshe of a. redifh Colour, .and, divided: at ‘the ae ins a few Branches. .'Fhe Leayes on it are thin and narrow.» .The Flowers. are numerots, they are red and have a ereen.Head in rei Mid- . wae afterwards becomes a Clutter. ob Stods Site = he 4aehGeli £0: Brass *The Leaves are the Part ufed ; they are externally in ._Inflammations, eel are, very ufeful, when cooling ‘Things; may be.-employed. . The dices is alfq coolingyand aftringent taken in- pee but it is. rarely. ufed., Some praife it greatly for the Infammations of the Hyesaitt ods There j is another kind of Houfleek, ver - like this in Form, but of the fame Virtues, this is called the leffer Houfleek, - the Staiks are round, fmall, and redifh, and grow fix Inches high; the Leaves are long and rounded, not flat as others ; and the Flowers are white, and ftand in akind of Tufts, like Umbels at the Tops of the ‘This grows on old Walls, and the ee of Hout like the other. | 386 The Ufeful Family Herbal. The Least Houstret®xK, or WALL oP REP P!G.C TC _SEDUM MINIMUM ACRE, © } A Common Plant on old Walls, of kin to the ~"™ preceding, 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 {pread every way about; and are fix Inches in Length. The greateft Part-of every Stalk is covered with Leaves, > that it appears a green Subftance, of the Thick- nefs of ones little Finger, thefe Leaves are {hort and thick, they 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; they 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. be ie ae . The Juice of this kind of Houfleck, is excel- dent againft the Scurvy and all other Difeafes a- iling 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. 3 | The Hy pocistT. ataxy POCIST US. "~~ Iflands, and of fome of the warmer Parts of Europe. t is five Inches high, and of a fingul Figure. It does not grow in the Earth at large as other Plants, but to the Root of fome Species of Ciftus ; as Mifletoe grows to the Branches Trees. The Stalk is thick and flefhy,- and is oe ae. es ssi The Ufeful Family Herbal. 187 twice as large toward the Top, as at the Bottom. It is whitifh, or yellowith, or purplith, :and has a Parcel of fhort and broad fkinny Films, by way of Leaves upon it. - The» Flowers grow at the Top with Leaves. of the fame kind among them. They are - and beautiful, and are fucceeded by Fruits of a roundifh Figure, in which is a Quantity “of glutinous Liquor, and with it the Seeds, which ‘are very finall, and ofa brownith \ We ufe the hardened Juice of the Fruit, it is evaporated over the Fire, to a thick Confiftence, and then ‘is ofa black Colour, like the common Liquorice Juice, called Spanifh Liquorice. “The Druggifts keep it in this State; it is good in violent Purgings, with bloody Stools, and in Overfiowing of the Menfes : It is to be given in Hyssop. Bice FEY SSOP HS er Breaft. A ftrong Infufion made into a sche : wi 188 Lhe UfefulFamily Herbal. with; Honey, isvexcellent for theofame*Purpofes) ats maith an “omnes of Oil of Almonds, Hepce Hy 6s oy 29¥f 1% GRATIOLA.” he Pa Little Plant kept in our Gardens, It sto to a. Foot in Height, the Stalks :are fquare; flender, and. not. very robuft: The; Leaves’ are long, narrow, and fharp-pointed: they ftand two. at ei! Joint... The Flowers are long, | moderately 2, and yellow, ne grow from. the Bofoms.of eaves, and. are ow, and. only, a little di- vided at the Ends ;. They, are. jomseyaat like Font. glove Flowers, 5 | A’ tion, of the. freth. Piso is ‘an excellt Purge, “but i its works. roughly ; it is. good Dropfies, and Rheumatifms; and the Jaundice has been often cured as it fingly. s Jack BY THE, “Hier. : | att jie ALLIARIA,* ee A Spring Plant of a confpicuois Fig Frequent win out Hedges. The Stalk, ef ick Sher gad ‘and of a ‘pale —— three Feet in : fees very Mrait, “The Leaves: are large : broad, and ‘fhort, of a Figure approaching t rouindifie but fomewhat pointed at See ae | notched atthe Edges ; ‘they are of a pale ye lowifh — green Colour, and ftand on long Foot-Stalks. Be Plowers are little,” and. white, they { ftand a The Ufeful Family Herbal. -189 or a dozen together, "at the Tops of the: "Branches, and are followed by long Pods. . = ods Senex -The frefh Leaves eaten as Sallet’ work by Urine powerfully, and are recommended in Dropfies. _ The Juice of them boiled into-a Syrup with Ho- ney, is good to break tough: ee foass tocure se and Hoarinefies. 3 “The aeciwrk, OR Hye opwrn. HYACINTHUS VULGARIS. f 3 H E common Spring Plant our Children ga- ther with their.Cowflips, and May 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 fmooth- Surface : The Stalks are round, ‘upright, and: fmooth, they have ‘no Leaves’on them. “The Flowers are large, and of a: beautiful Blue, they are hollow, oblong, and turn: aps as Sone nae The Root is the Part ufed. ; ‘Tt abounds in a flimy saice; 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 isnot’ enough known. ‘There is pe soe mare» ‘Powerful Remedy for the Whites. = The: JALAP Prawn. -JALAPIUM. A Climing. Plants, Native of America; and not © yet got into ourGardens. The Root is long, — irregularly fhaped, and thick. .The Stalks are- round, are and firm, but flender and unable to fupport “themfelves. They grow to ten or twelve Feet in Length, and wind among the Buhies, - The Leaves. are oblong, broadett to- a3 ward rg0 The Ufeful Family Herbal. ward the Bafe, of a dufky 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. ‘TheSeed Veffel is large and oval. The Rooris the Part ufed, and Druggitts fell it. Given: in Powder witha little Ginger to pre- vent its griping, it is an excellent Purge. A ftrong Tinéture of it made in Brandy, anfwers the fame Purpofe, it-is good-in Dropfies; and. is in gees a fafe and excellent Purge. . | Th AS SM INU M. ie? Ayan Se in. our Gardens, Se Ornament to them. It. does. not well fup- port itfelf, fo that it is commonly nailed againft Walls The Trunk. is covered with a greyifl — Bark: The young Shoots are green. The Leaves ftand two at eek oo and they are very beau- tiful; each is made up of about three. Pair of nar- row oblo : » and poloteseeanres, 3 with Nees long, e End. ‘They are of a deep green Colour: “he Flowers: ‘are long, hollow, nae the End,. . and white, half a Dozen or thereabout, grow 02 each Stalk, and. they are of a very delicate and fragrant Smell, thefe are fucceeded by Berries which ripen in the warmer Countries. oe The Flowers are the Part. ufed.. Pour a Pint of boiling Water upon fix Ounces of the freth athered and clean picked Flowers of Jeffamin 5 a Sears ftand twelve Hours, then: pour it off, add ‘to make the Liquor into at syrpra an itis an excellent Medicine in The Ufeful Family Herbal. Rosg oF Jertcwo. sit ets ROSA HICRACONTEA. : A Little woody Plant, named a Rofe from no- ing but ig Size, and its Manner of fold- ing itfelf up, by bending in the Tops of the Branches, fo that it appears hollow Ae pBiie 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 ig put into warm Water, it expands and becomes. flattith, but on drying it, acquires the old Form. Str is in. reality, a Kind of Thlafpi, or Treacle: _ Moftard, but of a peculiar woody Texture. The. Root is long, and pierces deep into the Ground; _ there grow. from this eight or ten Stalks, which read themfelves upon the Ground, in a circular tanner, as we fee 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 Bale, but lay turned up a little at the Tops, and Leaves are long, narrow, and of a pale Green ; ~ they are very numerous, and they ftand irregular- * The Flowers are fmall, and white like thofe ‘Our Shepherd’s Purfe. -The Seed Veffels are . fmall, and contain feveral Seeds like thofe of the ’ ‘This is the Appearance of the Plant, as it _ 8fows very frequent in the warmer Climates; and_ thus it has nothing fingular in. it, while in its Per= “ton of Growth, but after a Time, the Leaves ay and fall off, and the Stalks as es 3 5 eee 3 the 192 The Ufeful:Fainily Herbal. the Heat, draw up more and more, till by de- ’ grees they get into this round Figure, from which, warm Water will expand them, but they recover it again as they dry. This is the real Hiftory of that little Kind of Treacle Mutftard, which is called the Rofe of Fericho, and concerning which ‘fo many idle, as well as ftrange Things have been faid. Our good Women have many ways of trying many Experi- i with it, by way of deciding future Events, othine can’ be fo foolifh. The Nature of Tae make it expand, and open its Branches, when put into warm Water, and draw _ them together again, as it grows dry. This will always happen, and it will-be more quick or more flow, according to the Condition of the Plant. Where it is to be had freth, it does not want medicinal ‘Virtues. “The young Shoots are- in Infufion againft fore Throats, but we have the Plant without its Leaves,’ and in reality, hele, boo more than a Stick; fo that it would be idle, to 7 | any eohe 3 in it. fe - Sai Ee JEserrs Bene TREE. a 2 Be ARBOR. PERUVIANA. ot AS Small Tree, Native of South-America; whigh has) not. yet got into our Gardens. The ~ Trunk is as thick as a Man’s cage a ics Bat te ‘grey. The Branches are numerous and i o and their Bark is of a browner Colour, but with | the fame Tinge of Grey. The Leaves are. long” and large, three Inches. jeLengthy: and half 2° much in ese and of a pale green Colotts The Flowers are fma and their Colones a ae Purple: They andl pe eet Clufters together, - they are: eng hollens* E 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 — Figure. : . 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 Efficaty. It is beft given in Powder. ‘The Tinéture 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- _. iach, the beft way is to pick fine Pieces of the Bark and chew them. | “jews. EaAxs... - =. ABMRICULA JUD Ay. a, 3 A Kind of Fungus, or as the common Phrafe is _ ©* of Toads-Stool, wing upon old Elder Trees. It is about an Inch and a half long; and generally an Inch broad, and is fomewhat of the ee Shape oF an Ear. It gtows by a broad Bafe to the Bark of the Tree; and from this, it gradual- ly fpreads into a flat, hollow Subftance, with fe- __ Yeral Ridges in it; runing itregularly, whence it is: fuppofed to have the Refemblance of the Ear thoft S agnee 8 Its Colour is a pale Grey on the Utfide, it is darker within, and there run feveral Ribs along it. It isto be dried. Boiled in Milk, it is recommended greatly it fore Throats and ~ Quincies. Thefe Remedies of the ys r, have ome originally from Phyficians, and they com- ~ Monly have piacieon - fupport them. The _ Jews Ear is at this Time out of Repute, butthat _ feems owing to Sophiftrication. They commonly — fell under the Name of it, another Fungus that _ Bfows toa great Bignefs, overfpreading Wood, ‘ 7 ae Oo 194 The Ufeful Family Herbal. in damp Places. They get it off the Water Pipes — at the new River Head at J/ington, to fupply Co- vent-Garden Market. a The St. Ienarrus’s BEAN. TABA SANCTI IGNATII AA Plant common in the Weft-Indies, and very ill : “ called a Bean, being truly a Gourd. The Name Bean was given to the Seeds of this Plant, before it was known how they were produced, nd fome have continued it to the Plant. It elena great Height, when there is.a Tree to upport it, for it cannot fupport itfelf. It hasa 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 Bale, — 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 Tange, and romndith ; “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 {mall Nutmeg, when we fee them: They are roundish, 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 brownifh. ui _ Thefe Seeds are what we ufe in Medicine,” all'the St. Zgnatius's Bean. It is a Medicine to be given with gi eat Caution, but it has many Virtues: Bie nibs liasos Set Be cade ke ies, when ill Hands, are naturally the moft dangerous; t! Powder given into a fmall Dofe, occafion Vomit~ ing and Purging, and often, if the Conft ‘ | “195 “be tender, Convulfions; it is much better to give it in Tinéture, when no fuch Effects happen from it. °Tis of an excellent Effeé& againft nervous Complaints: It will cure the falling Sicknefs, given in proper Dofes, and continued for a long Time: The Tinéture is the beft for this Purpofe. Some have given the Powder in very {mall 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 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 Cafes, that the common Methods do not The Ufeful Family Herbal. Sr. Jeune WORT. 3 = HYPERICUM. Cre 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. The tuit is a dry Seed Veffel. et The Part ufed is the Flowery, Tops of the Plant juft -as they begin to ripen. A Decoction — Eseteeke works powerfully by Urine, and is ex- cellent againft the Gravel, and in Uleerati =, O 2 the 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, and — they take off Blacknefs in the other. 3 The Jujuse Tree. 5 Ae ee ae ie ST Se At ree of the Bignefs of our Plumb Trees, and | not unlike to them in Shape. The Bark is rey on the Trunk, and brown on the Branches. ? Leaves are moderatel large, and each is ‘compofed of a Number of f{maller ones, fet on each fide of a middle Rib, but not oppofite to One another, and with an add one at the Thefe are oblong, obtufe, and ferrated round the Edges, and the odd Leaf at the End, is the largeft and longeft. The Flowers are fmall and yellow. The Fruit is oval, and of the Bignefs of a ma-— derate Plumb; it has a foft Subftance on the Out- fide, and a Stone within, which is large Bie pointed at both Ends. oe Fruit is ufed. It was at one Time broug hi + vel Sige ceometn but we fee little of it now; ! te famic, and was given to | Coughs, and to work by Urine. - The Wuite Stock Jury FLower. pee OHM ALBUM. The scl ee narrow, hairy, wg The Ujeful Family Herbal. x _. The Flowers are the Part ufed, -and are to be frefh gathered, and only juft ion oe Tea _ made of them, is good to promote the Menkes, and it operates alfo by Urine. An Ointment is to be ‘made, by boiling them in Hogs Fad. which is excellent for fore Nipples. 4 4 "The JunipER SuRup. 3 | JUNIPERUS. : A Common Shrub on our Heaths. It grows to *~ no great Height in England, but in fome Other Parts of Europe, rifes to a 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 Filo are of a yellowifh Colour, but-¢mall and ‘Inconfiderable. ‘The Berries are large, and when Tipe blackifh: They are of a ftrong, but not dif- zreeable Smell, and of a fweetifh, but refinous ~Tafte. The Leaves are of a faint bluifh Green . The Berries are the Part moft ufed. We have from Germany principally. They have two — Ste ualities, they, difpel Wind, and. work ‘in thofe Cholics which arife from the Gra and _ With thefe is alfo made the true Geneva, but the Liquor our poor People drink under ha | 3 Name; is = Malt aes and Oil of aan vs 5035 5 eee Urine, for which Reafon, they are excellent he (Of a deep gloffy Green. og , Time, it is quite unknown in Pradtife. 3 Vermin in Childrens Heads, and heals the Sore- : 198 The Ujeful Family Herbal. Ivy. : HEDER A. A Very common Shrub, crawling about old — Trees, or upon old Walls; it fometimes runs F upon the Ground for want of fuch Support, but Ve then it rarely bears any Fruit: The Trunk is He thick, brown, and covered with a peculiar Rough- — 4 nefs. The Branches are numerous and brittle. 2a The Leaves have a ftrange Variety of Shapes, blong, 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 you Shoot that bear the Flowers, are always oblong; thofe on the Trunk are angulated. They are The Leaves and Berries are both ufed, but. ther much. A Decoétion of the Leaves defth s that attends them. The Berries are purgings - ifion of them will often work alfo by VO. ut there is no Harm in this: They are xcellent Remedy in Rheumatifins, and Pains all Kinds, and it is faid, have cured Dropfies; 0 this is perhaps going too far. | oe The Ivy in the warm Countries fweats out 4 Kind of Refin, which has been ufed externally at fome Times, on various Occafions, but at this 3 < a ee The Ufefudl Family Herbal Naw oat. S UMBILICUS VENERIS. 3 A Very fingular Plant, which ¢ grows on old Walls in fome Parts of England. It is eight © Inches high, and is diftinguithed at Sight, by a _ Clufter of round Leaves which grow about the Stalk. The Root is roundith, “and its Fibres ow from the Bottom. The Leaves ftand on and thick Foot Stalks, which are, except in the loweft of all, inferted not at the Edges of : Bon but. in the Middle: Thefe are round, thick, flefhy, and indented about the Edges.. = The Stalk which bears the Flowers, is round, thick, and towards the Top, divided into ‘two or three Branches ; on thefe grow the Flowers, in a Kind of Spikes: They are oblong, hollowifh, — and of a greenifh white Colour. pie The Leaves are the Part ufed. Externally, they are cooling, and good againft Pains. They rates by Urine, and is excellent againft Stra ngu- ties, and good in the Gravel, and In immiation: of dhe ne and Spleen. eras Fe JACEA. at ees A Yep cn wild Plant, with dark colour ei ed ith Leaves, and purple Flowers, like = thofe of hides tues, The Ujeful Family Herbal. 29 tues, and neither is minded, except as Ingr os _ in Compofitions. ak The Myrru TREE, MYRRHA. : Ale concerning which we have but very im: - *4 perfect Accounts, and thofe not well warrants edfor 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 — aftrong Smell, and that the Bark of the Trunk isrough, and of a greyifh Colour. _. The Gum Refin called Myrrh, is certainly pro- - tured 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 _ great Medicine, it opens all Obftructions of the Vifcera; is good in Confamptions, Jaundices, and _ Dropfies; and is excellent for promoting the Men- _ fes, and affifting in the natural and neceflary Dif- charges after Delivery : It is to be given in Powder, the Tin@ture diffolves it but imperfectly ; but this et againft Diforders of the Teeth and ms, Sweet Nave w. nee ee N APU Sines ss Plant kept in fome Gardens, and not unlike the common Turnip in its Ajpect and Ap> eee Pearance. It grows a Yard high. — The Stalk is Tound, fmooth, andofapaleGreen. Fhe Leaves S25 Be comm 260 The Ufeful Family Herbal. ftand irregularly on it, and they are oblong, broad at the Bate, where they furreund 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 round Shape of the Turnip, for it is rather like a ~The Seeds are ufed, but not much. A Decoc- tion of them is faid to promote Sweat, and todrive _ any thing out to the Skin, but it does not feem — te deferve any great Regard. tie a “es 29Witp Navew~ ar BUNIAS. ee THE Plant which produces what we call 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 anOil ~ is made for mechanical Purpofes. The Plantistwo ‘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 deeply divided at the Edges, and of a pale or bluifh een Colour. Thofe on the Stalk are of the — fame Colour, but fmall, narrow, and little divided: The Flowers are fall and of a bright Yellow. — _ The Pods are long, and the Seeds are round, large, and black, they are of fomewhat hot, and sharp Tafte. The Seeds are ufed for the fame Purpofes as the other, and: are fuppofed to have more Vit- tue, but probably neither have much. - ; een = ee ae The Ufeful Family Herbal; 261 — (Co Leeda iS : io sas NARDUS-CELTICA, A Little Plant of the Valerian Kind, frequent in ~~ many Parts of Europe, but not a Native of England. It is fix or eight Inches in Height, the Stalks are round, ftriated, and greenifh: The Leaves the Bottom, are oblong, narrow at the Bafe, and founded at the End, and of a yellowifh green Co- lour. Thofe on the Stalks ftand in Pairs, they - are {mall 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 creeping. __ The Root is the Part ufed, our Druggifts keep itdry. It is beft taken in Infufion. It operates _by Urine, and in fome Degree by Sweat, but that very moderately, it is commended in Fevers and in the Jaundice, Sek se ay me Nerre f= oe URTTeS!R A 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 Tound 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 and Pain that follows. The naked Fye may = diftinguith thefe Bags atthe Bottomof the Prickles On the Stalk of a full grown Nettle, but aMi-= crofcope fhews them over. The dase ee 262 The Ufeful Family Herbal. the Nettle are yellowifh, little, andinconfiderable, the Seeds are fmall, and round, the Root is long and creeping. : The Juice of the Nettle is good againft Over- . flowings 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 Wild 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, the Fruit is a round ball, as big as a large Pea, 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 “Shorter 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 pee a aa gainft Coughs, Shortnefs of Breath, and neffes, the Seeds of the Common Nettle are com- mended for this Purpofe, but thefe are greatly ° : referable. ‘The beft lay of givi ‘them is in : i. ComMoN — a. a The Useful Family Her bal. 263 s + Common NIGHTSHADE. SOLANUM VULGARE. ~ ‘A Wild 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 Root-Stalks. The Flowers, grow in little Clu- fters, ten or a Dozen in a Bunch, they are white, witha yellowifh Center, and they are fucceeded by round black Berries. in ‘The Leaves are ufed frefh, and only external- They are very Cooling, and are applied bruifed Inflammations, Scalds, Burns, and troublefome Eruptions on the Skin. = a DEADEY NIGHTSHADE. _ SOLANUM LETHALE. 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. _ Tt grows five Feet high. The Stalks are angu-— lated, and of a deep Green. The Leaves are very large, broad, and flat, and they alfo are of a dull dead Green, The Flowers ftand fingly on long- oot-Stalks, ariling from the Bofom of the Leaves, and they alfo have the fame difmal Afpect, they are large, hollow, and green, and within they are of a very deep And fall of 2 pulpy “Matter, of a fweetifh and and hang down. On the Out- — : fide they are of a dufky Colour, between brown Purple. Thefe are fucceeded by Berries of the ie Bignefs of Cherries, black and fhining when ripe, 264 The Useful 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. - oe The NutmMec TREE, ao NO A MOSCHATA. A Tall, fpreading Tree, Native only of the © 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 uregularly, 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 Bienefs 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 generalForm, when cut open there appears firft the flefhy Coat which is a Finger _ thick, and of arough Tafte, then the Mace fpread - -Weoften have the whole Fruit fent over pre- TI e] utmeg is an excellent Spice, it ftrength- ens the Stomach, and affifts Digettion. Tt will {top Vomitings, and is good againit the Cholic, _ When roafted before the Fire. and mixed gt BS 3: ‘over a woody Shell, in which is the Nutmeg. — ‘The Ufeful Family Herbal. 265 fmall Quantity of Rhubarb, it is the beft of all Remedies againft Purgings. E O. The Oak. ~~ QUERCUS. 4 wy Noble and ftately Tree, Native of our Coun- _ ©” try, and no where growing to fo great Per- feétion. It is very tall, and though irregular in the _ Difpofition of its Branches, that very Irregularity has its Beauty, the Trunk is very thick; the Bran- ches are alfo thick, and often crooked: The Bark is brown and rough: The Leaves are large, ob- long, broad, and deeply cut in at the Edges, and they are of a fhining Green. The Flowers are Inconfiderable. The Fruit is the Acorn well ‘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 Decoétion 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, e 266 The Ufeful Family Herbal. The SCARLET OaK | Be oe S . Ay Shr not much regarded on its own Account, but from the Infect called Kermeés, 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. ‘Fhe Branches are tough, and covered with afmooth greyifh Bark. The Leaves are an Inch long, three Quarters of an Inch broad, of a Figure approaching to oval, ferrated about the Edges, nn in a little prickly. The Flowers are {mall and inconfiderable, the Fruit is an Acorn like that of the common Oak, but fmaller, ftanding in its Cup. TheKermes, or fcarlet Grain, is a fmall round Subftance of the Bignefs of a Pea, of a fine ged Colour within, and of a purplifh Blue with- out, covered with a fine hoary Duft, like a Bloom upon a Plum. It is an Infect at that Time full _ of young, When they intend to preferve it in its . own Form, they find Ways of deftroying the Prin- ciple 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 of fine Sugar to it, and fend it over to us under the Name of Juice of Kermes ; this is ufed in be much more than the Grain jee ~ It is a Cordial, good againft Faintings, and to - drive out the 8 perce for: Woman in Childbed. It fupports the Spirits, and at the fame Time promotes the neceflary Difcharges. — Oak The Ufeful Family Herbal. 265 uae de = ae ee a ae Oak oF JERUSAEEM. ~~ ; BOTRYS. | eae A little 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 fall yellowith Flowers. The Stalk is a Footand half high, round- ith angulateda little, 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 long Spikes on the Tops of the Branches, they are very {mall and inconfiderable. ~The whole Plant _hasapleafant Smell, particularly the young Shoots, which are to bear the Flowers. re _ Fhe freth Plant is to be wfed, and it is beft taken in the Manner of Tea, or in Infufion. It is good in Afthmas, Hoarfenefs, and Coughs, and itpromotes the Menfes and Difcharges after De- __tivery, : > The O_rive TREE. : OLEA.- ee ae, ee A Latge Tree, Native of the warmer Parts of - Europe and the Eaft. ‘Fhe Trunck is thick — and rough. The Branches are numerous, and _ ftand irregularly, their Bark is grey and fmooth. The Leaves are longifh and broad, of a deep _ Green on the upper Side, and whitifh ur and of a firm ‘Textures the Flowers are fall and 3 yellow 5 the Erui is of the Bignelt of a fall Plum, but of a longer. Shape, and has averp ee ee ee ae 268 The Useful Family Herbal. The Oil is the only Produce of this Tree ufed i Medicine, it is prefled 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 frefh prefied is preferable, and for the firft Linfeed Oil; fo that Oil of Olives, or as it is called fallad Oil is feldom riers in Medicine, unlefs thefe others cannot be serie. ON Ton. so CEPA Common Plant in ‘our Gardens, known at “™ Sight by its hollow tubular Leaves. It grows . two Feet and a half 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 around Clufter of little Flowers, thefe are of - a mixed purplifh and greenifh Colour; and of a {trong 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 OPoponax PLanT, ss OPOPONAX. : A Large and robuft Plant, of which we have ~~ but imperfect Defcriptions: it is a Native of the Eatt, and has not been brought into Europe. It is faid to be eleven or twelve Feet high : The ‘Stalk round, thick, and hollow. The Leaves very large, and each compofed of a vaft Number of fmaller fet upon a divided Stalk. The Flowers we are informed ftand in -very large round Clufters _at the Tops of the Stalks, and that the Seeds are The Ufeful Family Herbal. 269 broad, brown, and of a ftrong Simell, ‘ftriated on the Surface, and flatith. The Root is faid. to be long and large, and full of an acrid and milky Juices 3; We ufe a Kind of Refin, which is faid to be collected 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 {mall 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 deferves to be. I have experi- enced excellent Effects from it. saa The ORANGE TREE. AURANTIA MALUS. A Beautiful and valuable Tree, Native of Spain, Italy, and the Eaft. It grows to a confidera- =a 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- __. long 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 Fruit is enough known. The four or Sevile Orange, is the Kind ufed in , ~Medicine, but the Peel of this more than the Juice _ ° or pulpy Part. A pleafant Syrup is made of Sevile | * Orange Juice, by melting in it twice i s Weight ae of the fineft Sugar ; and a Syrup equally pleatant, — nyo The Ufoful Ramily Flerball though of another Kind, is made of an Infufion of the Peel: But the great Ufe of the Peél is in Tin@ure or Infufion asa Stomachic. It is for thig Purpofe to be pared off ag thin, only the yellow Part being ufeful, and to be put into Brandy or Wine, or to have boiling Water poured on it freth ordry. Ifa little Gentian and a few Cardamom Seeds be added to this Tin@ture or Infufion, it is aes Bitter as can be made, it prevents Sick- nefs of the Stomach and Vomitings, and is excel: aS ae te 0 UEN By TELEPHUM A Very beautiful. wild Plant of a Foot high of - More, with frefh green Leaves, and Tutts of bright 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 isa bluith Green. The Flowers are fmall, but ey are very beautiful, the Root is white and » The whole Plant has a fiefhy Appearance, _ and it will grow, out of the Ground, a long Time, _ taking it Nourithment from the Air. ee The Juice of Orpine is good againft the Bloody | Flox: The beft Way of giving it 4s made into a in Syrup, with the fineft Sugar, and with the Addition of fome Cinnamon, vais e. 2 eee Se ae _. BUPHTHALMUM. A Ysr¥ beautiful wild Plant, common in the , North of Bagland, but not in other Parts of the Kingdom. It grows a Foot anda half high. The Stalk is round, firm, and hranted »..the Rees Leaves ‘are numerous, they are divided ath into a Multitude of fine Segments, fo that at a Dit 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 ae it as a Remedy for the Jaundice, it works by rine. Ae sf : Parma CuristTt. i ae ee 5. AToup Plant, kept in our Gardens more for its Beauty, than Ufe. The Stem is thick, and looks woody 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 aré large, and very beautiful. They are fomewhat like thofe of the Vine, but they aré _ divided deeply into feven or more Parts, which are alfo fharply ferrated at the Ed, and they. _ ftand upon long Foot Stalks, which are not in- ferted at the Edge, but in the middle of the Leaf. : he Flowers are fmall: They grow in Bunches toward the Top of the Plant. The Seeds grow n the Trunk of the Plant in different Places : ree are contained in Hufks, and they nie Over them feverally a hard Shell. okt The Kernels of thefe range are Ce Part. ci fled, ut are very little regarded at prefent. There — ess Mach or oe Kina pigoice cept by the Pmt ‘under different Saat but m 3 272 The Ufeful Family Herbal. ik a body now minds them: They are very violent is their Operation, which is both upwards and downwards, and have bech given in Dropfies and ~Rheumatifms. _ B The Orry 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 so ai 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. ie 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 Weakneffes ; 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. af ss Pantc. erie 2 et PPANEOUMA< o> oer A Very fingular and pretty Plant of the Grafs - "kind, : cultivated in fome Parts of Europe. The Stalk is very thick and firm, round, jointed, anda Yard high. The Leaves are grafly, but they are large and broad. The Flowers and Seeds are contained in a long Ear, which is broad and The Ufeful Family F flat: It is compofed of feveral fmaller Ears, =< ranged on the ae Sides of the Stalk, hee | Spikes are hairy. The Seed is round, and ce much like Millet, only fmaller. = _ The Seed is the only Part ufed. It is good -againft fharp Purgings, bloody Fluxes, and Spitting ‘of Blood. 3 The ParieRA BRAVA. 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 : eee if there be Trees or Bufhes to fupport it, _elfe it lies upon the Ground, and is fhorter... The’ Stalks are woody, light, ‘and coveted 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; . the Berries are round, and when ripe black. c Root, is large, woody, and very long and. Creeping The Root is ufed. It is of a brownith Colour, Tough 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 in” Pleurifies, and Peripneumonies. It works the -moft powerfully, and the moft fuddenly, by Urine, any Medicine: And is fo excellent in forcing away Gravel and fmall Stones, that fome have nded it a Remedy for the Stone, and faid it. would diffolve and break it. This is going too Tar; no Medicine has sie ee po has that _Effeét,, nor can it be fuppofed, that any can. Great Good has been aoe by thofe is ines. ‘Which the Parliament pens of Mrs. At Dk 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 needs no more to be affured of this, than to examine 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. EARS ti } PETROSELINUM. : Aver ‘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 fmall and white; and they ftand in large Tufts at the Tops of the Branches. — _ The Seeds are roundifh and ftriated. The Root The Roots are the Part ufed in Medicine. A. ftrong Decoétion of them is good againft the — Jaundice. It operates powerfull rine, and. opens Obftructions. e ye si : : PARSLY PIERT. okie SOP EROCI CAG RB. : A Little wild Plant, common among our Corn, ~ and in other dry Places, with fmall 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. round and whitifh. The Leaves ftand irregular- ly: They are narrow at the Bafe, and he | 3 The Ufeful Family Herbal, 275 the End, -where they are divided into three round- ed Parts. The’ Flowers are very {mall: They grow in Clufters at the Joints, and are of a green- _ ith Colour. The Seed is fmalland round. The _ — Root is fibrous. “2 3 | The whole Plant is ufed; 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 Obftruétions 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 ta _ be done in nephritic Cafes, by Medicines which — ~ have not this Power. : 3 - . Macrepontan PArsty. 3 PETROSELINUM MACEDONICUM. A Plant kept in fome of our Gardens. It is “* two Feet high. The Stalk is flender, branch- ed, and hairy. The Leaves are compofed of many Parts, and thofe are fmall and rounded : _Thofe on the upper Part of the Stalk, are more finely divided. The Flowers are {mall and white like thofe of common Parfly; and they ftand like them, in Clufters on the Tops of the Stalks. The Seeds are fmall, fomewhat hoary, and of a dufky Colour. = 5% : __ The Seed is ufed; and it it beft given in Pow- — der. It operates powerfully by Urine, and it is good againft Stoppages of the Menfes, and in the Gravel and Cholics, arifing from that Caufe. It es againft the Dropfy and Jaun- Witp PaRsnep. PASTINACA SYLVESTRIS. Wild Plant, common about our Road: Sides, It is 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, 4 and of an oval Figure. . The Root is long, — white, and well tafted. > The Root is to be ufed. A ftrong Decottion — of it, works by Urine, and opens all Obftruéti- _ ons. It is good againft the Gravel and the Jaun- — dice, and will bring down the Menfes. The PAVANA SHRUB. PAVANA. feven Feet high. The Stem is woody, firm, and naked almoft to the Top. The Leaves grow up-. E on long Foot Stalks, and they all rife nearly toge- ther, at the upper Part of the Stem: They are A | large, of a rounded Figure, and divided at the — Edges pretty deeply, into feveral Parts: Their Colour is a deep Green. The Flowers are finall, — and of a greenifh Colour. The Fruit is of the — Bignefs of a Hazle Nut. The Wood is not very — firm, and when cut, yields a milky Juice, of @ very difagreeable Smell. a The Wood and the Seeds are ufed; and they have both the fame violent Operation, by Vomit " 5 7 * ah Be nik a AM a oe da sn | A Shrubby Plant of the Eaft-Indies, of a beau- ‘ ~ tiful, as well as fingular Afpect. Itis fixor — and Stool; but the Wood given in Infufion, and The U/eful Family F 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 again{ft the Sciatica, The Seeds are ‘what are called Grana Tiglia; but _ though much fpoken of by fome Writers, they -_ are at this Time very little ufed in the Shops. ie 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 _ afoft pulpy Matter, covered by a hairy Skin, and inclofing a hard Stone, in which is a Kernel of a _ Ppleafant bitter Tafte. _. The Flowers are to be ufed. A Pint of Water 18 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 tontinual Ne fobie 5 Pe ae | T 3 298 The Ufeful Family Herbal. PeLLITORY oF THE WALL. PARIETARIA. A 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 little hairy, jointed, and often purplifh. The Leaves ftand irregular- ly on them, and are an Inch long, broad in the Middle, and fmaller at each End. The Flowers ftand clofe upon the Stalks, and are fmall andin- _ €onfiderable, of a whitifh green Colour when open, but redifh in the Bud. ; | . The whole Plant is ufed, and it is beft frefh. — Ain Infufion of it works well by Urine. It is ve- ty ferviceable in the Jaundice, and is often found — ‘a prefent Remedy in Fits of the Gravel, the Infu- fion being taken largely. a PELLITORY OF SPAIN. Ss PYRETHRUM. A Very pretty little 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 Gamomile, but they are of a pale Green, thick, and flefhy, and the Stalk is purple. The Flowers ftand at the — _ Tops of the Branches, and are very pretty: ' They are of the Shape and Size of the Great Daify or Ox-Eye, white at the Edges, yellow in = = Middle, ba Boot the Back or Underfide. _ Root is long, an , i a ver a g fomewhat thick, of avery — The Root is ufed: We have it at the Druggitts. ‘Its great Acridnefs fills the Mouth with Rheum on chewing, and it is good againft the Soon 3 ee The U Toful Family Flerb J : 279 At is alfo good to be put into the Mouth in Pal- fies, for it will fometimes alone, by its Stimula- tion, reftore the Voice. Riese = Penny-Rovat, aS PULEGIUM. Wild Plant, creeping about on marfhy Places, * with little Leaves, and Tufts of red Flowers at the Joints. The Stalks are a Foot long, _ round, and often of a redifh Colour. The Leaves are {mall, 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 green, and a little hairy. — The whole Plant has a ftrong penetrating Smell, _ and an acrid but not aifagreeable Tafte. The whole Plant is ufed, frefh_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 taking it, though it will do very well in Infufion, or by way _ of Tea. It is excellent againft Stoppages of the Menfes, ~ Brack PEPPER. =: PIPERNIGRUM. AN Eaftern Plant, of a very fingular Kind. = A It crows fix or eight Feet in Length, but the ‘Stalks are not able to fupport themfelves upright: They are round, green, jointed, and thick, and when they trail upon the Ground, Roots are fent forth from thefe Joints. The Leaves are large, x of an oval Figure, of a firm Subftance, and rib- bed highly: They ftand on fhort Pedicles, one at éach Joint. The Flowers are fmall and inconfi- 280 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 largeft 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. _ Itis alfo good againft Dizzineffes of the Head, and againft Obftru€tions of the Liver and Spleen, and againft Cholics; We are apt to neglect ‘Things as Medicines, that we take with Food; a but there is hardly a more powerful Simple of its Kind than Pepper, when given fingly, and on an a ‘empty Stomach, WHuiTeE Pepper. PIPER AFR as TH E 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 fing: : —" Leaf, which is long, and narrow, fharp at the — End, and ribbed. “The Flowers grow on little — ks, hanging down from the Joints: They are and yellow. The Fruit is round; at firft green, and when rip white, which is gathered as and dried for Ufe. RS = bias | ee po" __ This Fruit is ufed. The common White Pep- ___ per is milder than the Black; that is, it is Black = a * The Ufeful Family Herbal. 4 Pepper, which has loft a Part of its” irtue : _ ‘This poffeffes all the Qualities of the other, an yet it has not fo fharpa Tafte. So Seis The Lone PEPPER 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 {mall 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 Refpets different — 42% fom the Plants which produce the other Kinds of Pepper, as is alfo the Fruit altogether gin . different, It fhould not be called Pepper: The round Shape of it was the only Thing that led Ee People to give it fuch a Name. The famawa Pepper Tree is large and beautiful. The Trunk So is covered with a fmooth brown Bark. th Branches are numerous, and they are well Coveted 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 fiand 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 2 Berry, green at firft, and afterwards becoming of a redifh Brown, and in the end black. They are when ripe, full of a pulpy Matter, furrounding the Seeds; but they are dried when unripe for our Ufe. . | _. The Fruit thus gathered and dried in the Sun, 4s what we call Famaica Pepper, Piamenta, or Allfpice. It is an excellent Spice: It ftrengthens the Stomach, and is good againft the Cholic. 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 belt known Remedies for habitual Cholics. GuINEA PEPPER. CA PSEC UM. A Common Plant in our Gardens, diftinguithed by its large Scarlet Pods. It grows a Foot and a half high. The Stalk is angulated, thick, and green, tolerably erect, and branched. Leaves ftand irregularly, and are longifh, pret- ty broad, and of a deep green Colour. - Aes 33 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 to the Point: The Colour isa fine Red, and its Sur- face is fo fmooth, that it looks like polifhed Coral: I is a Skin containing a Quantity of Seeds. Hee The Ujeful Family Herbal. 283 » The Fruit is the Part ufed. Heidin the’ flout 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 crumbled Bread, it is good for a Quinzy. PERIWINKLE. VINCA PERVINCA. Avery 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, {mooth on the _ Surface, and pi: +i two at each Joint. The Flowers are large and blue: They are Bell-fa- _ fhioned, and ftand on long Foot Stalks: The Fruit fueceeding. .Each is compofed of two Tongifh Pods; each containing feveral Seeds. The whole Plant is uféd frefh. It is to be boiled in Water, and the Decottion drank with a little red Wine in it. It ftops the Overflowing. of the Menfes, and the Bleeding of the Piles. Spent, on Sts PeTERS CORN. Sere 2 7 Bi _ _A Plant of the Corn Kind, refembling Barley, ** ‘fown in fome Parts of Europe, but not much x green; the Leaves are grafly, bro: : the Tops of the Stalk ftands an Ear like that of Barley, but fmaller and thinner, though with : 2 = Jong Beards; the Grain is not unlike Barley in ~ known in England. t grows a Foot and a half = high. The Stalk is round, hollow, jointed, and | but broad. At a 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. SANAGALIAS FLOR E“RU BRO: A Fretty little Plant common in Corn Fields and _ Garden Borders. The Stalks are fquare, fmooth, green, but not very ypright: 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 xcellent Drink in Fevers; it promotes Sweat, and rows 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 freth, thofe who have not feen it tried this Way do not arse how valuable a Medicine it is. | : ___ There is another Kind of Pimpernel, perfectly like this, but that the Flowers cei! his is cal- = led the female, and the other the male Pimpernel, _ but the red flowered Kind, has moft Virtue. i ae oan , del ag The Ufeful Family Herbal, q The PINE TREE. z i Rn Bho A Large and beautiful Tree, Native of Staly, : * but kept in our Gardens. We have a wild _ Kind of Pine in the North, called Scotch Fir, but -° itis 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 bluith 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 .abrown 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. Pe ee Thefe Kernels are the Part ufed, and they are — _ excellent in Confumptions, and after long Llnefs, ; pice 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. ar The Witp Pine Tree. —oa3 ‘PINUS SYLVESTRIS. A Tree Native of many Parts of Germany, very. | much refembling what is called the manured- Pine, or fimply the Pine before defcribed. It _ 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 : he narrow, and fhort, they grow two out of a Cafe or Hufk, as in the other, and are of a bluith “greeo 286 The Ufeful 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 {maller. The Kernels have the fame Virtues as thole of the other Pines, but being little, they are not re: garded. The Refin which flows from this Tree, either naturally, or when it is cut for that Purpofe, is what we call common Tu ntine. It is 4 - thick Subftance like Honey, of a brownifh Co- lour, and very ftrong and difagreeable Smell. When this Turpentine 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- : _ gundy Pitch. And the whitifh Refin which is called Thus or Frankincenfe, and is a Thing quite ent from Olibanum, or the fine Incenfe 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 offenfivein Smell. The feveral Kinds of Pitch, Tar, and Refin are principally ufed in Plaifters and Ointments. Turpentine produced from this Tree alfo, and called common Turpentine, is principally ufed in — the fame Manner, the finer Turpentines being - inwardly. Thefe are procured from the — u rpentine 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 fhe Whites, and the Runrimgs ss aft cee ee ee The Ufful Family Herbal. 287 after Gonorrhoeas ; but for this Purpof itis} e t : é: = to boil fome better Sort of Turpentine, to the Confiftence and give it. Bi a Prony. P HONIA. ee A 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 flowered _ One called the male Piony, is the right Kind. _ This grows two or three Feet high. The Stalk is round, ftriated, and branched: The Leaves are of adeep 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 whitifh and hairy on the Outfide, and red within, and full of black ~ Seeds. The Root is compofed of a Number of loncith or roundifh Lumps connetted 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 dried is good againft hyfteric and nervous Complaints. — It is particularly recommended againft the falling. Sicknefs. : The PrsTACHIA TREE, PISTACHIA. Tree common in the Eaft. The Trunk is co- + vered with a brown rough Bark, the Branches” grow irregularly, and their Bark is redifh. The Leaves are each compofed of feveral Pairs of fmall gnes; thefe are oblong, broad, and of a beautiful . 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 Tatfte. 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 Inefies. Regis Se Pircu TREE. sy PICEA. Tree of the Fir Kind, and commonly called the red Fir. It isa tall Tree of regular Growth, the Bark of the Trunk is of a redifh Brown, and on the Branches ; the Leaves are very rous, fhort, narrow, and of a {trong Green, ey ftand very thick, and are fharp, or almoft a a cly at the Extremities. The Flowers are yel- wifh, and inconfiderable ; and the Fruit is a long ___ and large Cone, which hangs down, whereas that or sighe true Fir Tree, or the Yewleaved Fir ftands. “ Upright, eS The ops of the Branches and young Shoots ed: They abound with a Refin of the Tur- _ Kind. They are beft given in Decottion, with Beer. They are. againft the y work by Urine, and mae © The Ufoful Family Fe burning, and the Pitch is only Tar boiled to that — - Confiftence. To obtain the Tar, they pile up — great Heips 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 to a certain Confiftence, if they boil it Ionger, it would be Refin, for the com- __ mon Refin is only this Turpentine boiled to a. Hardnefs. The AMMONIACUM PLANT. AMMONIACUM,., ~ A Tall Plant, Native of the Eaf, and very: im= 3 perfectly defcribed to us. What we hear of it is, that it grows on the Sides of Hills, and is five orfix Feet high ; the Stalkis hollow and ftriated, ~~ and painted with various Colours like that of our - - Hemloc. The Flowers, we are told, are {mall and white, and ftand in great round Clufters at the Tops of the Stalks, the Leaves are very large and. _ €ompofed of a Multitude of fmall Divifions: One -Circumftance we can add from our own Know- _ ledge to this Defcription, and it gives great a _ Of the Authenticity of the reft; this is, t Seeds are broad, flat; ftriated, and have a folia nous Rim, as thofe of Dill. . We could: know by thefe which are found very frequently ameng 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 thisCon- _ firmation at Home, is true. Thefe Seeds often ap- pear very fair and found. I have caufed_ | _ Numberof them to be fown, ‘but they hav _ Srown. -Thoughone of a Sagapenum Seeds gr os ae : coat . -~ 290 The U, eful Family Herbal. up a little when fown among them: It would be worth while to repeat the Experiment, for fome times it might fucceed. a We ufe a Gum or rather Gum Refin, for it is of a mixed 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 whitith, 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 Hyflop Water. It makes a milky Solution. It is ufed _ externally alfo in Plaifters for hard Swellings, and Pains in the Joints. Broap Leavep PLanrTain. PLANTAGO MAJOR. A Common Plant by our Way-fides, with broad {. ‘fhort Leaves, and long flender Spikes of _ Brown Seeds. The Leaves rife all from the Root, se re are none upon the Stalk. They are of = the Edo oval Figure, and irregularly indented e > ; dges, fometimes fearce 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 {mall and inconfiderable Flowers, of 2 greenith white Colour, and afterwards with Seeds which are brown and {mal!. Pate _ Thisis one of thofe common Plants, which have fo much Virtue, that Nature feems to have made them common for univerfal Benefit. The whole Plant is to be ufed, and it is beft freth, A De- I : coction The Ufeful Family Herta), | 291 Coction of it in Water is excellent againft Oyer- _ 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 againft 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 defcribed : The narrow leaved Plantain has lefs, but of the fame Kind. PLOW MAN’s SPIKENARD. BACCHARIS MONSPELIENSIUM. A Tall robuft wild Plant with broad rough Leaves, and numerous fmall yellowifh Flow- ers, frequent by Road-fides, and in dry Paftures. _ The Plant grows three Feet high. The Stalks are round, thick, upright, and a little 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 — Brow 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 Decottion, are good againft inward Bleedings. The Root dried, _ and powdered, is a Remedy for Purgings, and is — _ good againft the Whites. ae aie. y oe ee “5 Poury- 292 The Ufeful Family Herbal. PoreeMGunt xa POLIUM MONTANUM. -fA Pretty Plant, Native of the warmer Parts of Europe, and kept in our Gardens. It is ten © Inches high. The Stalks aré fquare and whitifh: ‘The Leaves are oblong and narrow, of a white Colour, and woolly Surface, they ftand two ata Joint, and they are indented at the Edges. The Flowers are fmall and white. They grow ina Kind of woolly Tufts at the Tops of the Branches. The whole Plant is ufed, it is beft dried; civen in Infufion, it promotes the Menfes,. and. removes Obitructions of the Liver, hence it is recom- mended greatly in the Jaundice. It operates by Candy POLEY MOUNTAIN, POLIUM CRETICUM. : A pide Plant.of a woolly Appearance, Native = the Grecian Iflands, and kept in fore Gar- _ dens. It grows but about fix Inches high, The Stalks are {quare, white, weak, and feldem up- right. The Leaves ftand two at each Joint: They are narrow, oblon » and not at all indented at the Edges. They are of a white woolly Af — Pett, and of a pleafant Smell. The Flowers are -- dmall and white, and they grow in Tufts at the _ Tops of the Stalks: Their Cups are very white. ‘The whole se? is to. be ufed dried. It ope- ‘ates very powerfully by Urine, and is good a- ainft all hyfteric Complaints, but it is ae to be pe to Women with Child, for it has fo much cacy in promoting the Menfes, that it ma occafion Abarton Se es es : ee Potypopy.. Foe YPoD ve : = = ~ ae POLYPODIUM. ie 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 each 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 freth, it is a fafe and gentle Purge, the belt Way of giving it is in Decoétion, in whith _. 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 PomMEGRANATE TRE Ess 3 GRANATUS. Common wild Tree in Spain and Italy, kept : with us in Gardens. It grows to the Bignefs ~ of our Apple-trees. The Branches fpreadirregu- larly, they have a redifh brown Bark, and have here “and theré-a few Thorns. The J.eaves, are, numerous ; on the Extremities of the Branches. they are finall,. oblong, narrow, and of a-fine oe Ce ee ae 294 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 againft the Whites. * The Wiitp PoMEGRANATE TREE. = BALAUSTIA. A Smaller Tree than the former, but like it in its Manner of Growth; except that the — Branches are 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. | The Flowers are the Part of the wild Pome- granate ufed in Medicine, our Druggifts keep them and call them Balauftines. They are given 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 PoMPKIN. | =o PE PO. | A Very large and ftrageling 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 7 | cornered The Ufifel Family Herbal. 295 - cornered and angulated, and they are of a d os ae Qe rae eS ee green Colour, and rough to the Touch. The Flowers are very large, and yellow, of a Bell-like — Shape, but angulated at the Mouth, and the Fruit is of the Melon Kind, only bigger and round; of a deep Green when unripe, but yellow at laft, in this, under the flefhy Part, are contained many large flat Seeds. The poor People mix the flefhy Part of the Fruit with Apples, and bake them in Pies. The Seeds are excellent in Medicine, they are cooling and diuretic, the beft Way of taking them is in Emulfions, made with Barley Water. They make an Emulfion as milky as Almonds, and are prefe- rable to them, and all the cold Seeds in Stranguries and Heat of Urine. ; The Brack Poplar. POPULUS NIGRA A Tall Tree, frequent about Waters, and of a very beautiful Afpectt. The Trunk is co- vered with a fmooth pale Bark, the Branches are numerous, and grow with a Sort of Regularity. The Leaves are fhort and broad, roundifh at the — Bafe, but ending in a Point; they are of a glofly fhining Green, and ftand on long Foot-Sfalks. The Flowers and Seeds are inconfiderable, they appear in Spring, and are little regarded. The young Leaves of the black Poplar are ex- ¢ellent mixed in Pultices, to be applied to hard painful Swellings. . =~ The WwW it EP OPP Y. : -PAPAVER ALBUM. A Tl and beautiful Plant, kept in our Gar- “~ dens, a Native of the warmer Climates. It. __ - grows a Yard and half high: The Stalk is round, _ dmooth, upright, and of a bluith Green; the ‘Leaves are very long, confiderably broad, and deeply and irregularly cut in at the Edges, they are alfo aof bluifh green Colour, and ftand irregu- + larly on the Stalk.” The Flowers are very large. _ and white, one ftands at the Top of each Divi- 1 of the Stalk, when they are fallen, the Seed- ffel, or Poppy Head, ‘grows to the Bienefs of _ a large Apple, ‘and contains within it a very great eee of {mall whitith Seeds, with feveral _ fkinny Divifions, == S “When any Part of the Plant is broken, there flows out a thick milky Juice, of a ftrong, bitter, and hot Tafte, very like that of Opium, and full __ as-difagreeable. : _.. The Heads are ufed with us, and fometimes h - Of the Heads boiled in Water, is _ ‘made the Syrup-of Diacodium. The Heads are eer be dried for this Purpofe,’ and the Decoétion isto be made as ftrong as poffible, and then boiled up with Sugar. The Seeds-are beaten up into Emul- ~. fions with Barley-Watér, and they are good a- gainit Strangurics, and Heat of Urine; they have thing. of the fleepy Virtue of the Syrups, nor 5 = other Parts or Preparations of the “Poppy. © ly, and is fafer than Opium or Laudanum. _ _,prum is nothing more than the milky Juice _ of this Plant concreted, it is obtained from the _ Heads: They cut them: while. upon the Plant in the warmer Countries, andthe Juice which flows ons ~ out p of Diacodium,: puts People to fleep; ‘but The Uiifal Fou out of the Wound, hardens and b They make an inferior Kind, alfo by bruifing f{quéezing the Heads. Laudanum i is: a Tiné of this Opium made in Wine. Either one or other is given to compofe People to fleep, and abate the Senfe of Pain, they are alfo cordial a: promote Sweat; but 225 are to be given with great Care and Caution, for they are very po ful, and therefore they may be very dang -Mediéines. It is good to ftop violent Purgings and-Vomiting, but this muft be effected by {mall Dofes carefully given. The prefent Practice de- pends upon Opium, and Bleeding for the Cure of the Bite of a mad Dog: But it is not eafy to fay,’ that any Perfon ever was cured, who became tho- ° roughly diftempered from that Bite. One of the s rongeft Inftances we have known, was in a Per- . fon at St. George’s Hofpital, under the Cure of — Dr. Hoadly, there was an Appearance of the : Symptoms, and the -Cure was: ae yak this | : petiiod, 3 : a Brack Poppy. PAPAVER NIGRUM. A Tall and fine Plant, but not fo poe Former. It is a Yard-high.” round, upright, firm, and Pe rot Aes ee the Top divides into fome Branches. T he Lenves ec are long, and broad, of a bluifh green Colour and deeply and irregularly cut in at the Edge The Flowers are large and fingle : ‘They. are of ; dead purple Colour, with a black Bottom. Th Heads or Seed-Veffels are round, and of the E Bi ~hefs of a Walnut. The. Seed is black. “A Syrup of the Heads of this Pappy. i ftronger Soporific than-the common Diacodit but it is not BEES: Te Sentinels of that = tas.t 298 The Ufeful Family Herbal. cine is its Merit: When fomething more powerful is ufed, it is better to have recourfe to Opium, er Laudanum. eee Rep Poppy. PAPAVER ERRATICUM. A Common wild Plant in our Corn Fields, di- ftinguifhed by its great fearlet Flowers. It is a Foot high. The Stalk is round, fender, hairy, of a pale Green, and branched. The Leaves are long and narrow, of a dufky Green, hairy, and very deeply, but very regularly in- dented. The Flowers are very large, and of an extremely bright and fine fcarlet Colour, a little blackith toward the Bottom. The Head is fmall, not larger than a Horfe Bean, and the Seeds are. fmall, and of a dark Colour. The whole Plant is full of a bitter yellowith Juice, which runs out when it is any where broken, and has fomething of the Smell of Opium. The Flowers are ufed. A Syrup is made from __ them by pouring as much boiling Water on them as will juft wet them, and after a Night’s ftanding, _ ftraining it off, and adding twice its Weight of Sugar: This is the famous Syrup of red Poppies, It gently promotes Sleep. It isa much weaker Medicine than the Diacodium. It is greatly re- commended in Pleurifies and Fevers; but this upon no good Foundation. It is very wrong to depend upon fuch Medicines: It prevents having recourfe to better. — = ween The Ufeful Family Fertak 299 3 ey The PRIMROSE. PRIMULA VERIS. i A Very pretty, and very common Spring Plant. — The Leaves are long, confiderably broad, of apale Green, and wrinkled on the Surface: They grow immediately from the Root in confiderable Numbers. The Stalks which fupport the Flowers are fingle, flender, four or five Inches high, a little hairy, and have no Leaves on them: One Flower ftands at the Top of each, and is large, white, and beautiful, with a yellow Spot in the Middle. ‘The Root is fibrous and whitith, The Root is ufed. The Juice of it, fnuffed up the Nofe, occafions Sneezing, and is a good Re- __ medy againft the Head-ach. The dried Root ' ——— has the fame Effect, but not fo power- lly. Privette. ’ LIGUSTRUM. Little wild Shrub in our Hedges. It grows | four Feet high. The Stalks are flender, tough, and covered with a fmooth brown Bark. The Leaves are oblong and narrow: They are _ fall, of a dufky green Colour, broadeft in the Middle, and placed in Pairs oppofite to one ano- ther, and they are of a fomewhat firm Subftance, and have no indenting at the Edges. The Flow- ers are white and little, but they ftand in Tufts at the Ends of the Branches, and by that make a good Appearance. The Fruit is a black Berry, one fucceeds to every Flower in the Clufter. _ The Tops are ufed; and they are beft when the Flowers are juft beginning to bud, A ftrong In- fufion of them in Water, with the Addition iF a . se ittle 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 ficfhy, 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 at the End. The Flowers are little and yellow: They ftand among the Leaves toward the Tops of the Stalks. The Root is fmall, fibrous, and — Purflain is a pleafant Herb in Sallads, and fo wholefome, that ’tis Pity more of it is not eaten: It is excellent againft the Scurvy. The Juice frefh preffed out with a little White Wine, works __ by. Urine, and is excellent againft Stranguries ent Heats, and alfo againft the Scurvy. -ieacaglll The Quiet. tee ees RY DONE Anbar cn eos A Common Tree in our Gardens, of irregular ea = A Growth. The Trunk is thick, and has a brown Bark. ‘The Branches are numerous, ae : gling, and fpreading. The Leaves are roundih, of a dufky Green on the upper Side, and whitifh underneath. - The Flowers or Bloffoms A om = ates bag < {aS Se ad - - Lhe Ufeful Family Herbal. 30: and beautiful, of a pale flefh Colour. The Fruit * is of the Shape of a Pear, and has a large Crown: Be Tt3s yellow when ripe, and of a pleafant Smell - Its Tafte is auftere, but agreeable. The Seeds are foft and mucilaginous. — _. The Fruit and Seeds are ufed. The Juice of the ripe Quince made into a Syrup with Sugar, is excellent to ftop vomiting, and to. ftrengthen the Stomach. ‘The Seed, Bored ii Water, gives ita Softnefs, and mucilaginous Quality, and it is an _ excellent Medicine for fore Mouths, and may be ufed to foften and moiften the Mouth and Theoat in Fevers. Re: The RapisnH. RAPHANUS. 2 ——_ 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 fcarlet 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 ve much branched. The Leaves : faces than thofe from the Root.- _ The Flowers are very numerous, {mall andwhite, — with fome Spots ceca? The Pods are thick, - Tong, and fpungy. — : The Juice of the Radifh Roots freth gathered, ~ with a little White Wine, is an excellent Reme - againft the Gravel. Scarce any Thing ’ operates more : 302 The Ufeful Family Herbal. more fpeedily by Urine, or brings away little Stones more fuccefsfully. . Horse RapDIsuHu. RAPHANUS RUSTICANUS. A Plant 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 long, 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 them are very fimall and narrow, and at the Tops ftand little white Flowers, in long Spikes: Thefe are followed by little Seed-Veffels. 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 _ The Juice of Horfe Radifh Root operates ve- — ry powerfully by Urine, and is good againft the Jaundice 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, kee RaGworT. SS econpien 3 Wild Plant, very common in our Pajftures, _and diftinguithed by its ragged Leaves, and Clufters of yellow Flowers, It is two Feet high. The Stalk is robuft, round, ftriated, and © purplith. The Leaves are divided in an odd | Manner 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 or 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 larger 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 . Rint: 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 BuswH. RUBUS IDEAUS. = 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 fiveothers: They are large, ofa 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 arecommon. =———- __ The Juice of ripe Rafpberries, boiled up with Sugar, makes an excellent Syrup. It is pleafant, _and agreeable to the Stomach, good againft Sick- The. ; 304 | The Ufeful Family Herbal, The RaTTLe-SnNake Root PLanty, SENNEKKA. i Small Plant, Native of America, with weak Stalks, little Leaves, and white Flowers. It erows a 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 toofe Spikes, at the Tops of the Stalks, _and perfettly refemble thofe of the commont Plant we call Milkwort, of which it is indeed a Kind: The whole Plant has very much the Afpeét of the taller Kind of our Englifb 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 ae hanging from them, which makes it diftinét in its ‘0 the Indians: They give it as a Remedy sae againit the Poifon of the Rattle-Snake, but ithas been extolled, as pofleffing great Virtues. Dr. Tennant brought it into England, and we received it as a powerful Remedy againft Pleurifies, Quins | _zies, 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 ixperience does not feem to have warranted alto- oer * thefe Effects, for it is at prefent neglected, after a gr it many and very fair Trials. When this Remedy was difcovered, to be : Appearance, from all the other Roots ufed in the 4 the Knowledge of this Medicine, ori- __ Root of a Kind of Polygola, which Difcovery was __ Owing tothe Gentleman who brought it over, and ‘The Ufeful Family Herbal. 30% with it fome of the Plant, for the Infpe@ion of — _ the Curious. The Roots of the Englifh Polygala were tried; thofe of the common blue or white: flowered Milkwort, for that Variety is purely ac-— cidental, and they were found to have the fame Effects: They were given by fome in Pleurifies, with great Succefs. It was faid at that Time, they had lefs Virtues than the Sennekka Root, * though of the fame Kind; but it muft be remem- bered, the Virtues of the Sennekka Root were then fuppofed to be much greater than they really” were.. The Novelty adding to the Praife. © The CoMMON REED. ARUNDO. A Tall Water Plant fufficiently known. The Stalks are round, hard, jointed, and fix or eight Feet high. The Leaves are long and broad, _ but otherwife like thofe of Grafs, of a pale green Colour, and highly ribbed. The Flowers are brown and chaffy, and ftand in prodigious Num- bers at the Tops of the Stalks, in a Kind of Panicle: . The Roots are knotty and jointed, and © _ fpread vaftly. ee The Juice of the frefh Roots of Reeds pro- - - motes the Menfes powerfully, but not violently. —Ttis an excellent Medicine: It works by Urine —alfo; and is good againft Stranguries and the — _ Gravel. : Prickry REsTHARROW.- ANONIS SPINOSA. A Little, tough, and almoft fhrubby Plant, com-" “4% mon in: our dry Fields, and by Road Sides. —ItisaFoot high. The Stalks are round, redifh,~ tough, and almoft woody. The Leaves are nu~ Prpreic x 7 merous ; ee 306 The Ufeful Family Herbal. merous: They ftand three on every Foot-Stalk,, and grow pretty clofe to the Stalk. There are ‘feveral fhort and fharp Prickles about the Stalks,, principally at the Infertions of the Leaves. The Leaves are of a dufky Green, and ferrated about the Edges. The Flowers are {mall and purple: They ftand among the Leaves, towards the Tops: of the Stalks, and are in Shape like Pea Bloffoms, but flatted: Each is followed by a {mall Pod. The Root is white, very long, tough, and woody... : : The Root is to be taken up frefh for Ufe, and the Bark feparated for that Purpofe. It is to be . - boiled in Water, and the Decoétion given in large Quantities. It is good againft the Gravel, and in. all Obftructions by Urine ; and it is.alfo good in the Dropfy and Jaundice. a. RHAPONTIC. : RHAPONTICUM, SIVE RHA. : A Tall robuft Plant, Native of Scythia, but _ =* Kept in many of our Gardens. It grows four’ Feet hig h. The Stalk is round, ftriated, an Inch thick, fometimes hellow, and very upright. The Leaves are large and broad: Thofe from the Root are about a Foot and a half long, and a Foot broad, of a deep green Colour, with large Ribs, and blunt at the Ends. The Flowers are fmall and white: They ftand in Clufters at the Tops of the Stalks, and are fucceeded by trian- gular Seeds. aS ewes __. The Root is the Part ufed, and this is what the - Antients ufed, under the Name of Réa. It is _ of the Nature of Rhubarb, but different in this, that it is lefs purgative, and more aftringent ; for this Reafon, there are many Purpofes, which: it would anfwer much better. We have it ae Lhe Ufeful Family Herbal gos the Druggifts, but there is no dependi 1g upon 1 2 what they fell, for they feldom keep it genuine, Rete; ie ORYZA: Very common Plant, in the Za/, fown in the- : Fields for the Sake of the ae or Gane _ It grows four Feet high; the Stalk is round, hol- low, and jointed; the Leaves are long-and grafly, _ and of a pale green Colour, but they are broader than thofe of any of our Kinds of Corn. The _ Flowers are inconfiderable, the Seeds or Grains - are contained in Bufhes of a brown Colour, each having a long Beard to it, ufually curled at the . Bottom, and divided at the Top into two Parts. We eat Rice as @ Food rather than Medicine; but it is excellent for thofe who have habitual . Purgings or Loofeneffes; it is to be eaten any Way for this Purpofe, only it muft be continued, and it will do more than all the Medicines in the World. The Rice-Milk is excellent for this Purpo: fe. GARDEN ROCKET. ERUCA SATIVA. Common Plant in our Gardens, two Feet ** high, and very ereét. The Stalk is round and of a deep Green ; the Leaves are oblong, con- fiderably broad, of a deep green Colour, and divided at the Edges: The Flowers are mode- A 308. The Useful Family Herbal. Infufion of the Leaves made into a Syrup is good againft Coughs, it caufes Expectoration, and eafes the Lungs. The Doc RosezE, on Witp ROSE. CYNOSBATUS, SIVE ROSA SYL- — VES DISS, : Common Bufh in our Hedges. The Stalks *~ or Stems are round, woody, and very prickly. “The Leaves are compofed each of feveral. fmaller; ‘thefe ftand in Pairs on a Rib, with an odd one at the End; and they are fmall, oblong, of a bright gloffy green Colour, and regularly indented at the “Edges. The Flowers are fingle, large, and very beautiful: There is fomething fimple and elegant in their Afpeét that pleafes many, more than all the double Roles raifed by Culture. They are white, but with a Blufh of Red, and very beauti- ful. The Fruit that follows thefe, is the com- mon Hip, red, oblong, and containing a great _ Quantity of hairy Seeds. Sere <2 ~The Fruit is the only Part ufed, the Pulp is = feparated from the Skins and Seeds, and beat up into. a Conferve with Sugar; this is a pleafant Medicine, and is of fome Efficacy againft Coughs. _ Tho’ this is the only Part that is ufed, it is not the only that deferves to be. The Flowers, ga- thered in the Bud and dried, are an excellent Aftringent, made more. powerful than the red Rofes that are commonly dried for this Purpofe. — A Tea, made ftrong of thefe dried Buds, and fome of them given with it twice a Day in Pow- der, is an excellent Medicine for Overflowings of the Menfes, it feldom fails to effet a Cure. The Seeds feparated from the Fruit, dried and pow-. dered, work’ by Urine, and are good againit the _ Gravel, but they-do not work very powerfully- ~ — A Ait 3 - os es Upon | Upon the Branches of this Shrub, there : a Kind of fpungy fibrous Tufts, of (a green or ~ redifh Colour, they are called Bedeguar. They — are caufed by the Wounds made by Infeéts in the ~ Stalks, as the Galls are produced upon the Oak. - They are aftringent, and may be given in Powder. againft Fluxes. ‘They are faid to work by Urine, © but Experience does not warrant this. P THE DAMASE ROSE, ce ROSA DAMASCENA. f Common Shrub in our Gardens, very much * refembling that in our Hedges laft mentioned.- t grows five or fix Feet high, but the Stalks are ot very ftrong, or able to fupport themfelves.’ ey are round, and befet with fharp Prickles. ‘he Leaves are each compofed of two- or three- airs of fmaller ones, with an odd one atthe- nd: They are whitifh, hairy, and broad, — ard re indented at'the Edges. The Flowers are large : ad very beautiful, of a pale red Colour, full Leaves, and of an extremely fwect Srnell, the it is like the common Hip... he Flowers are ufed. The beft Way of iving them is in aSyrup thus made. Pour boil-- ng Water upon a Quantity of frefh gathered Da-' — nafk Rofes juft enough to cover them, let them four and twenty Hours, thenprefs off the Li-- or; and add to it twice the Quantity of Su-. melt this, and the Syrup is completed. [t cellent Purge for Children ; and there is etter Medicine for grown People, -who are to be coftive. A little of it taken every — ht will keep the Body open continually: Me-. licines that purge ftrongly, bind afterwards. Rofe: ater is diftilled from this Kind. = Se eee 3 yi pee 310 Lhe Ufeful Family Herbal, The WHITE Rose. “ROSA ALBA. A Common Shrub alfo in our Gardens. It grows ten or twelve Feet high, but is not very able to fupport itfelf upright. The Stalks are round, prickly, and very much branched, The Leaves are of a dufky Green, each com- _ pofed of feveral Pairs of fmaller, with an odd one at the End. The Flowers are fomewhat {maller, than thofe of the Damafk-Rofe, but of the fame Form: and their Colour is white, and they have leis Fragrance than the Damafk. The Flowers are ufed. They are to be ga- thered in the Bud, and ufed frefh or dry. A ftrong Infufion of them is good againft Overflow- — ings of the Menfes, and the Bleeding of the Piles. < The Rep Rose, ‘ ROSA RUBRA,. E _ (Nother Shrub common in our Gardens, and _ = * the leaft and loweft of the three Kinds of and prickly, but they have fewer Prickles, than thofe of the Damafk-Rofe: The Leaves are large, they ‘are compofed each of three or four Pair of fmaller which are oval, of a dufky Green and ferrated round the Edges.. The Flowers are- of the Shape and Size of thofe of the Damafk- Rofe, but they are not fo double, and they have _@ great Quantity of yellow Threads in the Middle. They are of an exceeding fine deep red Colour, and they have very little Smell ; The Fruit is like the common Hip. | pete ees The Flowers are ufed. They are to be gathered hen in Bud, and cut from the Hufks without the ox an | The Ufeful Family Herbal, gir: white Bottoms and dried. - The Conferve of red : Rofes is made of thefe Buds prepared as for the drying ; they are beaten up with three Times their Weight of Sygar. When dried, they have more Virtue; they are given in Infufion, and _ fometimes in Powder againft Overflowings of the _ Menfes, and all other Bleedings. Half an Qunce __ of thefe dried Buds are to be put into an earthen Pan, and a Pint of boiling Water poured upon | _ them after they have ftood a few Minutes, fifteen _ Drops of Oil of Vitriol are to be dropped in upon _ them, and three Drams of the fineft Sugar in Powder is to be added .at the fame Time, then the whole is to be well ftirred about and covered up, that it may cool leifurely : When cold, it is to be poured clear off. Itis called Tin&ture of Rofes; it is clear, and of a finered Colour. It ftrengthens the Stomach and prevents Vomitings, and is a : Nabe g as well as a pleafant Remedy againft all uxes. : The RosEt-Woop TREE RHODIUM. WHERE are two Kinds of Wood known tm- = der the Name of Rofe-Wood, the one from the Eaf, which, when frefh brought-over, has a very fragrant Smell, exceedingly like that of the Damafk-Rofe, and from the Wood is diftilled the Oil, which is fold under the Name of Effence of Damafk-Rofe, we have no Account of the Tree which affords this. The other Rofe-Wood is the Produce of ¥amaica, and has very much of the fragrant Smell of the Zaffern Kind, but it is not the fame, the Tree which produces this is fully ‘efcribed by that great Naturalift Sir Hans Sloane, in his Hiftory of the Hand of Famaica. The ‘Tsee grows twenty Feet or more in Height, and = X4 its 312 > The Ufeful Family Herbal, its Trunk is very thick in Proportion. The | Leaves are each compofed of three or four Pairs. of fmaller, thefe ftand at a Diftance from one another on the common Stalk, the Flowers are little and white, and they grow in Clufters, fo’ that at a Diftance, they look like the Bunches of Elder Flowers. The Fruit isa round Berry often, each of the Bignefs of a Tare. The Wood of this Tree is lighter, paler coloured, and of a loofer Grain than the Eafern Rofewood. The Wood is faid to be good in nervous Dif- ‘ders, but we feldom make any Ufe of it. ~ Rosemary, ROSMARINUS. JA Pretty Shrub, wild in Spain and France, and ™ kept in our Gardens. It is five or fix Feet high, but weak and not well able to fupport it- felf. The Trunk is covered with a rough Bark. — The Leaves ftand very thick on the Branches, which,are brittle and flender: They are narrow, an Inch long, and thick, and they are of a deep Green on the upper Side, and whitith underneath. The Flowers ftand at the Tops of the Branches among the Leaves, they are large and very beau-. tiful, of a greyifh Colour, with a fomewhat red- ~ ifh Tinge, and of a very fragrant Smell. Rofe- mary, when in Flower, makes a very beautiful Ap- pearance. : “ib _ The flowery Tops of Rofemary, freth gathered, contain its greateft Virtue. .If they are ufed in the Manner of Tea for-a Continuance of Time, ‘they are excellent againft Head-achs, Tremblings of the Limbs, and all other nervous Diforders. A Conferve is made of them alfo, which very. well anfwers this Purpofe: But when the Conferve ~ is made only of the picked Flowers, it i lefs Senne elebiin s The Ufeful Family Herbal. 313 © Virtue. The Conferve is beft made by beating up the frefh gathered Tops with three Times their Weight of Sugar. The famous Hungary Water . is made alfo of thefe flowery Tops of Rofemary. Put two Pound of thefe into acommon Still, with — two Gallons of Melafies Spirit, and diftill off one - Gallon and a Pint. This is Hungary Water. > Rosa Soris, oR SUNDEW. ROS SOLIS. pet A Very fingular and very pretty little Plant, common in boggy Places on our Heaths. It grows fix or feven Inches high. The Leaves all - rife immediately from the Root, they are roundifh ‘and hollow, of the Breadth of a filver Two-pence, and placed on Foot-Stalks of an Inch long, they arc covered in a very extraordinary Manner with - long red Hairs, and in the midft of the_hotteft Days, they have a Drop of clear Liquor, ftanding -onthem. The Stalks are flender and naked; at their Tops ftand little white Flowers, which. are fucceeded by Seed-Veffels, and of an oblong Form, containing a Multitude of {mall Seeds, The Root is fibrous. ‘The whole Plant is ufed frefh gathered. Itis efteemed a great Cordial, and good againft Con- vulfions, hyfteric Diforders, and T remblings of the Limbs; but it is not much regarded. — RuvuBARB. RHABARBARUM. A fall robuit, and not unhandfome Plant, 2. : Native cf many Parts of the Z/f, and of late got into our Gardens, after, we had received many others falfly called by its Name. - 314 The Useful Family Herbal. _ It grows to three Feet in Height. The Stalk is round, thick, ftriated, and of a greenifhColour, frequently ftained with Purple. The Leaves are very large, and of a Figure approaching to tri- angular; they are broad at the Bafe, {mall at the Point, and waved all along the Edges. Thefe ftand on thick hollowed Foot-Stalks, which are frequently alfo redifh. The Flowers are whitifh, {mall, and inconfiderable, they ftand at the Tops of the Stalks in the Manner of Dock-Flowers, and make little more Figure, the Seed is triangulated. The Root is thick, long, and often divided to- ward the Bottom, of a yellow Colour veined with Purple: But the Purple appears much more plainly in the dry, than in the frefh Root, The Root is-ufed: Its Virtues are fufficiently known, it is a gentle Purge, and has an after “Aftringency. It is excellent to ftrengthen the Stomach and Bowels, to prevent Vomitings ; and carry off the Caufe of Cholics, in the Jaundice alfo it is extremely ufeful. Rhubarb and Nutmeg — _ toafted together before the Fire, make an excel- lent Remedy againft Purgings. There is fcarce any chronic Difeafe in which Rhubarb is not ferviceable. fie “The Rhapontic Monks Rhubarb and falfe Monks Rhubarb all approach to the Nature of the true Rhubarb, they have been defcribed al- yeady in their feveral Places, - “Rove, a ee A Pretty little Shrub frequent in. our Gardens. | “It grows three or four Feet high. The, Stem is firm, upright, and woody ; very tough, _ covered with a whitifh Bark. The Branches are _ Sumerous, and the young Shoots are round, green, :. ° 2 é = " : a me a0 and fmooth, the Leaves are compofed of ma ny _ fmaller Divifions, they are of a blue green Colou . and flefhy Subftance; and each Divifion is fhore, obtufe, and roundifh. The Flowers are yellow, not large, but very confpicuous, they have a Quantity of Threads in the Center, and they are fucceeded by rough Seed-Vefiels. a ____Rue is to be ufed frefh gathered, and the Tops of the young Shoots contain its greateft Virtue. © _ They are to be given in Infufion; or they may be beaten up into a Conferve with three Times their Weight of Sugar, and taken in that Form. _ The Infufion is an excellent Medicine in Fevers, it raifes the Spirits, and promotes Sweat, drives any thing out, and is good againft Head-achs, and all other nervous Diforders which’ attend cer-= _ tain Fevers. The Conferve is good againft Weak. neffes of the Stomach, and Pains in the Bowels. It is pleafant, and may be taken frequently by People fubject to hyfteric Diforders with great _ Advantage. . eat RuPTuRE-WORT. 4 HERNIARIA. A Little low Plant, wild in fome Parts of the _ **% Kingdom, but not common, and kept in the Gardens of the Curious. It grows three or four Inches long, but the Stalks he on the Ground: _ Many grow from the fame Root, and they {pread _ into a kind of circular Figure. They are flender, - yound, jointed, and of a pale Green. The Leaves “ are very fmall, and nearly of an oval Figure, they — _ ftand two at each Joint; and are alfo of a pale Green. The Leaves are very fmall, the Rootis — very long, but not thick. _ | ~ The Juice of the freth gathered Herb, externally - applied, has been much celebrated againft Rup- — | tures: 316 The Useful Family Herbal. tures: Perhaps without any great F oundation.’ . An Infufion of it, taken inwardly, works by Urine,. and is very good again{ft the Gravel, and in the Jaundice. eee a? SAFFRON, ROCs A Very pretty Plant, of the fame Kind with — "What are called Crocus’s in our Gardens, It is planted in Fields, in fome Parts «f England, and yields a very profitable Kind of Produce. The Flowers of this Plant appear in Autumn, but the Leaves not till fometime after they are fallen. _ Thefe Flowers have, properly fpeaking, no Stalk;" — they rife immediately from the Root, which is _ Toundifh, and as big as a large Nutmeg, and they ftand a little Way above the Surface of the Ground; they are of a purplifh Blue, and very large, the Yower Part is covered with a fkinny Hufk. In the. Center of thefe ftand three Stamina, or Threads, with yellow Tops, which are ufelefs, but in the _ Midft between thefe rifes up what is called the Piftil of the Flower. This is the Rudiment of - the future Seed-veffel, it is oblong and whitifh, ~ _ and at its Top feparates into three Filarients: _ thefe are long, and of an Orange fearlet Colour; _ thefe three Filaments are the only Part of the _ Plant: that is ufed, they are what we call Saffron. They are carefully taken out of the Flower and Prefled into Cakes, which Cakes we fee underthe es LEER een ge a eee bee anes “Name : be i han ae Ag The Ujeful Family Herbal. 317 Name of Englifh Saffron, and which is allowed to be the heft in the World. eS ~The Leaves are long and graffy, of a dark — green Colour, and very narrow. ‘They are of no ‘Ute. eS Sea ae Saffron is a noble Cordial. — - “BASTARD SAFFRON. CARTHAMUS. A Plant in its whole Afpect as unlike to that _which produces the true Saffron, as one Herb can be to another; but called by this Name, becaufe of the yellow Threads, which grow from the Flower. It is of the Thiftle Kind, two Feet and a half high, and very upright. The Stalk is round, angulated, and branched, but it is not prickly.. The Leaves are oblong, broad, round at the Points and prickly about the Edges. The Flowers ftand at the Tops of the _ Branches: They confift of roundifh, fealy, and — ext Heads, with yellow Flowers -growing - from:amongft them: Thefe are like the Flowers ~ in the Heads of our Thiftles but narrower and longer. Thefe Flowers are ufed by the Dyers in fome Parts of Europe.- The Seed is the Part taken into the Shops: It is longifh, covered, and white with. a hard Covering, it is to be given in Infufion, which works both by Vomit. and Stool, : a er not violently. It is good againft Rheumatifms,. ~ and the Jaundice. : 3 Saca- 418 The Ujeful Family Herbal. SAGAPENUM PLanrt. 3 SAGAPENUM. Large Plant, Native of Perfia and the Ea/- Indies, and defcribed but imperfectly to us; however, fo that we have Confirmation, that the Defcription is authentic, if not fo finifhed in all its Parts as we could wifh. It grows upon the — Mountains, and is eight Feet high, the Leaves are very large, and are compofed of a great Mul- titude of little Parts, which are fixed to a divided Rib, and are of a bluifh green Colour, and when bruifed, of a ftrong{mell. TheStalkis thick, ftriated, _ round, hollow, and upright, purplifh toward the Bottom, but green upwards. The Leaves which ftand or it are like thofe which rife from the Root, only fimaller. The Flowers are little and yellow- ifh, they ftand in very large Umbels at the Tops of the Stalks; and each of them is fucceeded by two Seeds, thefe are flat, large, brown, and ftriat- ed. The Root is long, thick, of a yellowifh Colour, and of a difagreeable Smell. This is the Account we have from thofe who have been of Jate in the Ea#: And there is a great dea] to con- firm it. We find among Refin which is brought over to us, pieces of the Stalk and many Seeds of the Plant: Thefe agree with the Defcription. I procured fome of the Seeds picked. out of fome Sagapenum, by young Mr. Siffoz, to be fowed with all proper Care at the Lord Petres, whofe principal Gardener was an excellent Perfon at his Bufinefs, and with them fome Seeds of the Am-_ -moniacum Plant, picked alfo out of a large Quan- - tity of that Gum. Thofe of the Ammoniacum Plant all perifhed ; from the Sagapenum Seeds, though more than an Hundred were fown, we had only one Plant, and that perithed by —Z Rate oc. : | Acci- The Ufeful Family Herbal 31 Accident very young, but what we faw of the Leaves, gave credit to the Account given of the Plant by Mr. Williams, who told us he had feen it in Perfia. Thefe are curious Parts of Knowledge, and they are worth profecuting by thofe who have Leifure: The Succefs of this Ex- periment fhews the Poffibility of raifing fome of thofe Plants at home, which we never have been able to get truly or fully defcribed to us. _ We ufe a Gum Refin obtained from the Roots: of this Plant, by cuting them and catching the Juice, we call this, when concreted into Lumps, Sagapenum. We have it either finer in fmalk Pieces, or coarfer in Maffes; it is brownifh with ~acaft of Red, and will grow foft with the Heat of the Hand; it is difagreeable both in Smell and Tafte, but it is an excellent Medicine. It is _ good for all Diforders of the Lungs arifing from atough Phlegm, and alfo in nervous Cafes. It has been found a Remedy in inveterate Head-achs,’ after many other Medicines have failed. “It is one! of thofe Drugs, too much neglected by the Pre- _ fent Practice which encourages the Ufe of others that have not half their Virtue: But there are Fafhi~ ons in Phyfic, as there are in all other Things. Rep Sack” SALVIA HORTENSIS. HE common Sage of our Gardens. It is _* a Kind of thrubby Plant a Foot or two high, and full of Branches. The Stem is tough, hard, - Woody, and covered with a brown rough Bark, the - fmaller Branches are reddifh, the Leaves are ob- long, and broad; they ftand on long Foot-Stalks, and are of a fingular rough Surface, and of a redifh Colour. The Flowers grow on Stalks that rife only at that Seafon of the Year, and ftand up a great ~ g20 The Ufeful Family Herbal. a great deal above the reft of the Surface of the Plant, they are large and blue, and are of the Figure of the dead Nettle Flowers, only they gape vaftly more. The whole Plant has a plea- fant Smell. The Leaves and Tops are ufed, and they are beft frefh, the common Way of taking _ them, in Infufion, or-in Form of what is called Sage-Tea, is better than any other: They are cordial, and good againtft all Difeafes of the Nerves, they promote Perfpiration, and throw any Thing out which ought to appear upon the Skin. The Juice of Sage works by Urine, and promotes the Menfes. | 7 | SAGE OF VIRTUE. | eee EA MINOR. Nother fhrubby Plant, very like the former in its Manner of Growth, but wanting its red Colour. It is a Foot or two in Height, and very bufhy. The Stem is woody. The Branches are: numerous. The Leaves are oblong, narrower than incommon Sage, and of a whitifh green Co- Jour: There is often a Pair of {mall Leaves at the Bafe of each larger. The Flowers grow in the fame Manner as in the red Sage, but they are » fmaller. The whole Plant has a pleafant Smell. The green Tops are ufed; and their Virtues are much the fame with thofe of the former, but, they are lefs. It got into Ufe, from an Opinion that the other was too hot, but this was idle. The Ufeful Family Herbal, Woop SaGeE. ~ ; SALVIA AGRESTIS. A Wild Plant, common in Woods and Hedges, . “4 with Leaves like Sage, and Spikes of finall - _ Flowers. It grows to two Feet and a half high. ~The Stalk is fquare, firm, flender’ and upright. The Leaves ftand two at each Joint: They are fomewhat fhorter and broader than thofe af Sage, of a green Colour, and ferrated about the Edges. The Flowers are numerous, and very fmall : They _ ftand in long Spikes, and are of a greenifh _ yellow Colour, with fome red Threads in them. — a The Plant has a fingular Smell, with fomething * of the Garlic Flavour, but that not ftrong. ~ _.. The Tops are to be ufed frefh. Made into an _ Infufion, they promote Urine andthe Menfes : The Juice of them drank for a Continuance, is excel- 4 dent againft Rheumatic Pains. The SALEP PLANT. -ORCHIS ORIENTALIS. * A ‘Very pretty Plant, of the Nature of our _ ** common Orchis, Native of the Eaft, but grow- ingto agreater Height and producing larger Roots” than with us, tho’ it feems very nearly allied to what we call the Tall Female Orchis, with large _ Flowers, which is frequent in our Meadows. It al in damp Ground, andis a Foot high. The . Stalk is round, juicy, and tender. The Leaves are eight Inches long, and not an Inch broad, of a dark green Colour, and alfo juicy. The Flow- ers ftand at the Tops of the Stalk, in a Spike of two Inches long: They are moderately large, — and of a palered Colour. The Root is compofed Pigeon’s - of two roundith Bodies, of the Bignefs of a “ ae : Y ‘ 2 ; 322 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Pigeon’s Egg, and of a white Colour, with forme Fibres. : We ufe the Root, which we receive dry from Turkey. “They have a peculiar Method of curing it: They make it clean, and then foke it four and twenty Hours in Water; after this, they hang a = of it in a coarfe Cloth, over the Steam of a Pot in which Rice is boiling, this foftens it, but it gives it a fort of Tranfparence, and qua- lifies it for drying; thefe juicy Roots otherwife rowing mouldy. When they have thus far pre- dared it, they ftring it upon a Thread, and hang it in an airy Place to dry: It becomes tough as Horn, and tranfparent. This is a Prattice com- mon in the Eaft, with the Roots they dry for Ufe, and it would be well if we would praétife it here: The fine tranfparent Kind of Ginfeng, which we have from China, is dried in this Manner. It is highly probable, nay it is nearly a Certainty, that the Roots of our common Orchis have all the Qualities and Effects of this Salep, but we don’t know how to. dry them. — If we tried this Method, Pea, acne and in the fame Manner, our own Fields and Meadows might afford us many Medicines, which at prefent we purchafe at a great Price, from the fartheft Parts of the Earth. The dried Root is the Part ufed; and it is an excellent Reftorative, to be given to Perfons waited with long Hlnefles: The beft Way is to a a fmall Quantity of it in Powder, into a _ Baion of warm Water, which it inftantly turns into a Jelly, anda little Wine and Sugar are to be added. The Turks ufe it as a Provocative to Reet ce Shey take it diffolved in Water, with inger and Honey. ead ~ Soo Ape ¥ The Ufeful Family Herbal. 42 3 SAMPHIRE: CRITHMUM MARITIMUM. A Plant not uncommon about Séa Coafts; with much of the Appearance of Fennel, only nbt fo tall: Some have called it Sea Fennel. It is two Feet high. The Leaves are large, and di- vided in the Manner of thofé of Fennel, inte flender and fmall Parts, but they are thick and flefhy. The Stalk is round, hollow, ftriated, and a little branched. The Flowers are fmall and yellow, and they ftand at the Tops of the Stalks in great Clufters or Umbels, in the Manner of thofe of Fennel. The whole Plant has a warm and agreeable Tafte, and a good Smell. TheLeaves are ufedfrefh; but thofe whichgrow ‘immediately from the Root, where there is no Stalk, are beft: They are pickled, and brought to our Tables; but they are often adulterated, and other Things pickled in their Place. The Juice of the frefh Leaves operates very powerfully by Urine, and is good againft the Gravel and Stone, againft Suppreffions of the Menfes, and the Jaundice, SANICLE. SANICULA. . r Pretty wild Plant common in our Woods, and diftinguifhed by its regular Leaves, and {mall Umbéls of Flowers. It grows a Foot and _ ahalf high. The Leaves are numerous, and they __ allrife immediately from the Root: They ftand 6n long Foot-Stalks, and are very confpicuous : They are of a roundifh Shape, but cut in fo, as to appear five cornered, ferrated about the Edges, and of a very deep gloffy green Colour, and __ fhining Surface. The Stalk i Bec a is ftriated, upright, 3 naked; 324 The Ufeful Family Herbal. naked: On its Top grows a little round Clufter of Flowers: They are fmall and white, and each is fucceeded by two little rough Seeds. The Root is fibrous. The Leaves are ufed.. A ftrong Decottion of them is good againft the Overflowing of the Menfes, and the Bleeding of the Piles. It has been vattly celebrated for the Cure of Ruptures, bur that is idle. | ‘The SarRSAPARILLA PLANT. Set: SARSAPARILLA. Plant of the climbing Kind, Native of the “* warmer Countries. The Stalks run to ten or twelve Feet in Length, but are weak, and fupport themfelves among Bufhes: They are whitifh, an- gular, and ftriated, and are full of fmall. Prickles. The Leaves are an Inch long, or more, and above half an Inch broad, of an oval Figure, of a deep Green on the upper Side, and white un- _ derneath, firm in their Texture, and very Beer. the Flowers are little and yellowith. The Ber- ries are black, round, and of the Bignefs of @ fmall Pea. The Root is very large and flender. The Root is ufed. Our Druggifts keep it: They fplit it in two, It is brown on the Outfide, and white within; and its Tafte is infipid. It is fuppofed to have great Virtues, but they are not perfectly eftablifhed, T hey have been- at Times _ difputed, and at Times fupported. Given in De- ottion, it promotes Sweat’ and Urine. It has been efteemed good againft the Scurvy, anc i 2 ae m general, accounted a Sweetener of the Blo ood , fa mous in the Cure of the Venereal Difeafe. It is.” wie i ; oe a The Ufefil Family Herbal, The SASSAFRAS* TREE ~ ae _ SASSAFRAS: : . Beautiful Tree, Native of- America, and to "* be met with in fome of our Gardens. T¢ grows twenty-five or thirty Feet high. - The Trunk is naked till it-comes near the Top. The Branches grow near together, and fpread frregu- larly. . The Leaves are of two Kinds: Thofe on _ the older Parts of the Twigs are oblong and pointed, fomewhat like Bay Leaves; and thofe on the Tops of the Branches are larger, broader, and divided into three Parts, like the Leaves of _ Maple, or they carry fome Refemblance of the fmaller Leaves of the Fig Tree. ‘The Flowers are {mall and yellow. The Fruit are Berries like- Bay Berries. The Wood is of a redifh Colour, and perfumed Smell, gee ane The Wood is ufed. Our Druggifts receive it in Logs, and cut it out into Shavings. The Wood of the Root is beft, and its Bark contains moft Virtue of all. It is beft taken: in Infufion, _ by way of Tea, for itis very pleafant: It pro- - motes Sweat, and is good againft the Scurvy, and all other Foulnefies of the Blood. It is a _conftant Ingredient in Diet Drinks, againft the ~Venereal Diteafe. woes SAVINE. ee SABINA. A Little Garden Shrub, green all the Winter. ~~ The Trunk is covered with a redifh brown Bark. The Branches are numerous, and ftand _ confufedly. The Leaves are fmall, narrow, of a dark green Colour, and prickly. The Flowers are very fmall, and of a yellowifh Colour; and | se the 326 The Useful Family Herbal. the Fruit is a fmall Berry, of a black Colour ‘when ripe, and covered with a bluifh Duft like the Bloom of a Plum, _ The Tops of the young Branches are ufed: — They are beft frefh, and given in the Manner of Tea. They very powerfully promote the Menfes ; and if given to Women with Child, will frequent- ly caufe a Mifcarriage. The Country People ive the Juice mixed with Milk to Children, as a Remedy againft Worms: It generally works by Stool, and brings Worms away with it. SUMMER SAvoRY. SATUREIA HORTENSIS. A Common little Plant in our Kitchen Gardens, It is ten Inches or a Foot high. The Stalks are numerous, and very hard, and woody toward the Bottom. The Leaves are oblong and narrow: They ftand two at each Joint, with a Quantity of _ young ones in their Bofoms. The Flowers 6n the upper Parts of the Stalks among the Leaves: They aré white, with a little Tinge of bluith or redifh. The whole Plant has a pleafant Smell, and an agreeable Tafte. The whole Plant is ufed. An Infufion of it, drank in the Manner of Tea, is good againft cholicky Pains, and it opens Obftruétions, and ‘promotes the Menfes. _~ ae There is another Kind of Savory, with more woody Stalks, called Winter Savory; This has much the fame Virtues. — = 327 The Rep SauNDERS ‘een? = 4 SANTALUM RUBRUM. A Tree, Native of the We/t-Indies, but of which we have feen nothing but the Wood, and have received very imperfect Defcriptions. They fay it grows forty Feet high: That the Leaves are fmall, but many fet near together: Their Colour is a dufky Green; and their Subftance thick and flefhy. The Flowers are like Pea Blofloms, and the Fruit is a Pod, containing three or four Seeds. This is all we have been informed con- soning the Tree, and Part of this by Hearfay only. The Wood jis ufed. It is of a deep red Co- tour. It is aftringent, and is good againft vio- ~ lent Purgings, and Overflowings of the Menfes: _ For the former Purpofe, it is beft given in Pow- den in fmall Dofes ; and for the latter, it is give in Decoétion. But itis mot much ufed. The Ujeful Family Herbal The Yettow anv WuiTe SAUNDERS ve TREE. ; SANTALUM FLAVUM ET ALBUM. = A Beautiful Tree, Native of the Laf-Jndies. It grows forty or fifty Feet high, and is very much branched. The Leaves ftand two or three Pairs upona Stalk, in the Manner of thofe of - the Lentifk, and are not unlike thofe of that Tree ~ in Shape, they are of adark green Colour, {mall, _ oblong, and fiefhy. The Flowers are moderately = and of a deep dufky Blue, the Fruit ts a Berry of theBignefs of a large red Cherry, which is black when ripe. The Wood is white in the outer Part, and yellow at the Heart, and thefe ~ gwo Parts are kept feparate, and were long fup- ae Y 4 poled: 228 The Ujoful Family Herbal. ofed the Woods of two different Trees. They tv the ‘fame Smell and Tafte, only that the | yellow has them both in greateft Perfection: And in the fame Manner, their Virtues are the fame, but the yellow is fo much fuperior, that the white deferves no Notice. . The yellow Saunders is beft taken in the Man- ner of Tea, it is this Way not unpleafant, and is cordial, good againft Diforders of the Nerves, and hyfteric Complaints, and opens Obftructions, it alfo gently promotes Perfpiration, and works WuHITe SAXIFRAGE. SAXIFRAGA ALBA. 3 ry pretty Plant in our Meadows, diftin- ‘guithed by the regular Shape of its Leavés, ‘and its white fnowy Flowers. It grows ten Inches high, the Stalk is round, thick, firm, upright, * and a little hairy. The Leaves are of a pale green Colour, and flefhy Subftance: They are of _ a roundifh Figure, and indented about the Edgeéss __ and they ftand upon long Foot-Stalks. ‘The Flowers are large and white; they grow in confi- derable Numbers onthe Tops of the Stalks. The Root is compofed of a Parcel of {mall white or redifh Granules. Ls aM as The Root is ufed, and thefe {mall Parts of which it confifts have been ufed to be called: by _ ignorant Apothecaries Saxifrage Seed. It is diu-— _ retic, and good againft the Gravel. The Roots — are beft frefh, and the beft Way of giving them = is in Decoétion. - Meapow * ‘The Ufeful Family F MEADOW SAXIFR A G E. * eh SESEEPYPRATENSE, <)— A Wild Plant alfo, -but though known by the fame Engii/fo. Name with the other, very. dif- ferent in Form and Flower. It grows to more than two Feet in Height. . The Stalks are round, deeply ftriated, of a dark green Colour, and con- fiderably branched. The Leaves are large, but they are divided into: a Multitude of. fine narrow Segments. The Flowers ftand at the Tops of the Stalks in little Umbels or round Clufters, and they are fmall and yellow. .The Root is brown, long, and flender, and is of an aromatic and acrid Tafte. as pee * The Root is ufed: It is beft frefh taken up. Given in a ftrong Infufion, it: works powerfully by Urine, and brings away Gravel. It alfo eafes thofe Cholics, which are owing .to the fame - Caufe. SCABIOUS. y = SCABIOSA. a A Common wild. Plant in our Corn-fields, di- ‘% ftinguithed by its tall round Stalks, and round blue Flowers. It grows to three Feet in Height: The Leaves rife principally from the Root, and they lie fpread upon the Ground. They are ob- long, and irregularly divided at the Edges ; they are of a pale Green, hairy, and rough to the Touch, The Stalks are round, upright, hairy, of the fame. pale green Colour, and they have a few Leaves on them, placed two at a Joint; thefe are more deeply divided, than thofe on the Ground. The Flowers ftand at the Tops of the Branches, they are of a deep blue Colour, and each is ponies of 330 The Ufeful Family Herbal. of a Number of fmaller Flofucles, colleéted into a Head. The Root is song and brown. The Leaves growing from the Root, are to be gathered for Ufe before the Stalks appear. They’ are beft frefh. A ftrong Infufion of them is good againit Afthmas, and Difficulty of breathing, and the fame Infufion made into Syrup, is good a- gainft Coughs. The Flowers are faid to be cor- dial, and an Infufion of them to promote Sweat, - and carry off Fevers, but this is lefs authentic, the Juice externally applied is good againft Foul- ‘The Scammony PLanr, SCAMMONIA, A Stenbing Plant, Native of the Ea/fern Parts of the World. The Stalks are numerous, green, flender, and angulated, they are five or Feet long, but unable to fupport themfelves, without the Help of Bufhes. The Leaves ftand ety: and not very clofe to one another; _ they are of a triangular Figure, and bright green - Colour, and they Baten long F oes: The Flowers are large and Bell-fathioned, they refemble very much thofe of our common little Bind-weed being whitith, but they oftener have a * aealag than a redifh Tinge. The Root is 2 oot and half long, and as thick as a Man’s Arm, full of a milky Juice. They wound the Roots and catch the milky Juice as it runs out in Shells; and this when it has concreted into a hard Mafs is the Scammony we ufe. , It is a rough Purge, but a very powerful and ufeful one. ‘Tt is good againft the Rheumatie Pains, and will reach the Seat of many Diforders that a common Purge does not affect. However, ‘it is feldom given glane: And a great Misfortune ts ‘ = ioe is, “The U) Heful Family Herbal. 33% js, that the Compofitions made with it aré never to be perfectly depended upon, becaufe there is fo much Difference in feveral Parcels of S¢ that they feem hardly the fame Médicine, fome Are fo very trong, and fome fo weak. Tre GARDEN SCURVY-GRASBsS, COCHLEARIA HORTENSIS, a Common wild Plant about our Sea Coa A but _ alfo in Gardens for its Virtues gs a Foot high; the Stalks are round, weak, and green; the Leaves that rife from the Root, make the moft confiderable Appearance, ft in a large Tuft, and are of a ound Piccre, : and a bright green Colour, tender, juicy, and fupported on long and flender Foot-Stalks, There are but few Leaves on the Stalks, and they are rot fo round as thofe from the Root, but are a fittle angular and pointed. The Flowers ftand at the Tops of the Stalks, in little Clufters, they aré white, fmall, and bright, they are fucceeded by fhort roundifh Seed-Vefiels. ~The frefh Leaves are ufed, and the beft way of all is to drink the exprefled Juice of them, this igexcellent againft the Scurvy, and all other Foul~ defies of the Blood. It may be mixed with Se« ville Orange Juice to make it pleafant, and fhould be taken every Day for fix Weeks or two Months _ fogether in Spring. Sza ScuRvy-GRASS. ~- €COCHLEARIA MARINA. | 6.3 Common Plant alfo about our Sea Coafts, and by the Sides of Rivers, where the Tdée - - gomes. The Leaves are not fo numerous as of the other, and they are oblong, of a redith green 332 The Ufeful Family Herbal. . - green Colour, pointed at the Ends, and indented at the Edges in an irregular Manner, they are confiderably larger than thofe of Garden Scurvy Grafs, and more flefhy. The Stalks are eight or ten Inches high, they are tender, round, and ftriated ; they have few Leaves on them, but the Flowers are {mall and white, and ftand in Clufters at the Tops of the Stalks, asin the other. The Leaves’ are to be ufed frefh gathered, or their Juice is to be. taken. Their Virtues are the fame as thofe of the other. But it is the general Opi- nion that they are greater, though the Tafte be not fo agreeable. : The SEBESTEN TREE. os NYXA,SIVE SEBESTEN, — A Te of the Bignefs and Form of our com- "~~ mon Plam Tree, and producing a Fruit not . altogether unlike it. The Trunk is covered with a rough Bark, the Branches grow irregularly and _ are crooked, and are generally fo flender toward the Ends, and fo full of Leaves that they bend — downward, the Leaves are broad and fhort: The owers are white, fmall, and fweet {cented, they ftand in Tufts or Clufters, and the Cup in which they ftand, remains and inclofes the Fruit. This is fomewhat Jike a Plum, and has a Kernel in the _ fame Manner : Its Shape is oblong; and the pulpy art of it is fo tough and clammy, that being beaten with Water, it makes good Birdlime. - s This ‘ruit is the Part ufed; it is fent over to us dried in the Manner of a Prune. It ufed to be a conftant Ingredient in Decoétions for Coughs, and Diforders of the Lungs, but it is now dif- ba Goat The Ufeful Family Herbal. 333 SELF-HEAL. — pero | PRUNELLA. er 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 Cy 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 fimall, they ftand - in a Kindof fhort Spikes or Heads: The Cups of ther 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 againf Overflowings of the Menfes. The dried Herb ~ made into an Infufion, and fweetened with Honey, ig good againft a fore Throat, and Ulcers of the Mouth. The SENA SHRUB. Ss SEN A. oe _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. The Pods are fhort and flat, and the Seeds are fmall and _ 334 The Useful Family Herbal. We have the dried Leaves from the Eaf, the- Druggifts keep them. They are given in Infufion, and are an excellent Purge, butas they are apt to gripe in the working, the common Method is to throw in a few Cardamom Seeds, or fome other warm Medicine into the Water. BASTARD SENNA. COLUTEA. A Common Shrub kept fer Ornament in ouf *™ Gardens. The Trunk is not very robuft, but it keeps upright, and is covered with a whi with rough Bark. The Leaves are compofed each of feveral Pairs of fmaller, fet en a common Rib, with an odd Leaf at the End; but they are rounder, and broader, in Proportion to their Jength, than thofe of the true Sena. The Flow- ers are yellow: They are but fimall, but they hang in long Bunches, and are fucceeded by Less, which look like Bladders, of a greenifh ur. ‘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 a them, they are good againft Rheumatic The SENEGA TREE. | : SENIC A. : Tree frequent in the Ea, and named from 4 ~~ Gum which it affords and which is brought in great Quantities into Europe. The Tree is _ Targe and fpreading, its Trunk is covered with a a ‘Tough Bark, its Branches with a fmoother of 3 pale Brown, and they are very full of Thorns. — Po oh a te MOOR Me ca eae y The Ufeful Family Herbal, 33 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 the Dyers 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 Arabic, and has the fame Virtues. “It is very feldom called for by Name in Medicine, but it is neverthelefs often fed, 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 yellowith, 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 Selly of the fame Nature, that it is a needlefs Trouble. 336 The U, [feful Family Herbal. ~The RicHut 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 coinpofed of feveral Pairs of fmaller, fet on a common Rib, with an odd one. at the End; thefe are long, narrow, and ferrared, fo that they have fome Refemblance of the Afh- 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 fmaller 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 againit Purgings, but it is little Large Tree and very beautiful, its Growth being regular, and the Leaves of an elegant ne te 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 fe five, fix, or feven ee 2 pretty deeply, and ferrated round the Edges, they bright Green on the upper Part, and See are. ___ yellowifh, and they grow in Clufters; the Fruit _ is fmall and brown when ripe. It grows in th. The Flowers are little and 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 Purst. : - 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 are {mall 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 at _ the End. The Seeds are fmall and yellowifh, 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 of the Menfes. SKIRERF ~ SISARUM. | A Plant kept in ur Kitchen Gardens. It grows three or four Feet high. The Stalk is round, — hollow, ftriated, and fomewhat branched: The — Leaves are each compofed of three or five fmaller, — two or four fet oppofite and one at the End; they are se ferrated at the Edges, and fharp pointed; the End, Leaf is longer than the others. - ‘The Flowers -are little: They ftand in round - 338 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Clufters on the Tops of the Branches. The Root is of a fingular Form: It is compofed of feveral: long Parts like Carrots. They are of a good Tafte, 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 Sroe Trert. PRUNOGS SYLVESTRIS. eh E common low Shrub in our Hedges, which we call the black Thorn. It is a Plum Tree in Miniature. Ft grows five or fix Feet’ high, the Trunk and Branches are all covered. with a dark purplifh or blackifh Bark. The Leaves are roundish, and of a good Green, elegantly den- tated about the Edges. The Flowers are finall and white. The Fruit is a little Plum, ef a very: auftere Tafte when unripe, but pleafant when mellow. : ___ The Juice expreffed from unripe Sloes, isavery _ good Remedy for Fluxes of the Belly. It may” ‘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.. \ a ftriated, and branched. like thofe. from the Root, compofed of many: oe The Ufeful Family He 339 finall 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 Tatfte. 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 againft the Cholic, and ftrengthen the Sto- mach. The CoLuRINE-WOOD, OR SNAKE- | woop TREE. LIGNUM COLUBRINUM. ~ A Fall Tree of the af, irregular in its Growth, but not without Beauty. The Bark is rough 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 are 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 exaétly 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 ufed: This is what we called Lignum Colubrinum, Adder- - Wood, and Snake-Wood. It is famous in the Eoff, for curing Fevers, and deftroying Worms, : Lee Fee eas | - 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. = oPTARMICA. | A V«ry pretty wild Plant, with daify-like Flow- ers, and narrow dentated Leaves. It grows — two Feet high. The Stalk is 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. a _ The Leaves of Sneezewort dried and powdered, taken by Way of Snuff, are excellent againft the Head-ach. The Roots dried are almoft as fiery as Pellitory of Spain, and they cure the Tooth- ach inthe fame Manner. A Piece held in the Mouth, fills it with Rheum in a Minute. SoLoMon’s SEAL. - POLYGONATUM. = A Pretty Plant wild in fome Places, and frequent in Gardens. It grows a Foot and half high. The Stalk is round, ftriated, and of apale Green, naked half Way up, and from thence tothe Top ‘The Ufeful Family He Gl. 34h ornamented with large oval Leaves ofa 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 uled: It is commended extremely, for an outward Application againit Bruifes. The Root dried and powdered, is good againft Purgings, with bloody Stools, and the tefh Root beat up into a Conferve with Sugar, againft the Whites. SoPEWORT. SAPONARIA. : A.Wia 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; {fmooth, 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: It is of a difagreeable - mawkifh Tafte. oo ae ~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 Tweetener of the Blood. ee SorreL, 442 The Ufeful Family Herbal. SORREL. ACETOSA. A Common Plant in our Meadows, with broad and oblong Leaves, ftriated Stalks, and red- ith 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 fmall and fibrous, the whole Plant has a four hatte: The Leaves eaten as a Sallet, or the Juice taken, are excellent agai ayes The Seeds are aftringent, and may be given in Powder for Fluxes. The Roor-dried and powdered, is alfo good againft Purgings, the Overflowings of the Menfes, and _ Bleedings. ___ “There are two other Kinds of Sorrel, nearly of y this, and of the fame Virtue : One fmall, called SheepsSorrel, common on dry Banks; the other large, with broad Leaves, called Garden Sorrel, or round leaved Sorrel: This is rather _ preferable to the commen Kind. Befides thefe, there is a Plant called in Engle a Sorrel, fo. different from them all, that it muft be deferibed fepa- . rately. The Ufeful Funil Fete 343 _ Woon S.onr Ei. LUIULA, fA Very pretty little Plant, common about our oe: Wood Sides, and diftinguifhed by its bright ‘green elegant Leaves, and pretty Flowers. The Lueaves rife in confiderable Number from the fame Root ; they ftand three together upon fepa- rate long, and very flender Foot-Stalks, of a red- ifh 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 alfo on fingle Stalks, and rife ammediately on the oot. The Seed-Veffels are large, and when ripe, _ ‘they burft afunder with the leaft Touch, and the E oem fly about. The Root is dmall and irre- 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 Shmubby Plant, Native of many Parts of Eu- “rope, but kept in our Gardens. The Stem is 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 Colour, and ftrong Smell. he Flowers are fmall and 3 Z 4 ___ yellowith, 344 The Ufeful Family Herbal. yellowith, 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, : | 2% The Tops of the young Branches are ufed: | A Decottion 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 gocd ‘agajnft nervous Diforders, and in all hyfteric Complaints, - SowTuisT tue. 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 bite. Sey are indented at the Edges, and prickly between the Indentings. When any Part of the Plant is broken, there runs outa milky Juice. The Flowers are large, and _ yellow: They are fomewhat like thofe of Dande- hon, and ftand jn a Kind of fcaly Cup. The Seeds have Down affixed to them. The Root islong and whit. = | The Leaves are to be ufed frefh gathered, 2 ftrong Infufion of them works by Urine, and opens Obftructions. Some eat them in.Sallets, but the Infufion has ‘more Power. There are three or four other Kinds of Sowthiftle, common in fome Places with this, and they have all the fame Yir- fues, but this has them moft in Perfection, ‘The Ufeful Family Herbal. 345 SPEEDWEL. easier oe ' VERONICA MAS. 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 fmall and blue, they grow in flen- . der Spikes, arifing from the Bofoms of the Leaves the Root is final! 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 Objtructions: It promotes the Menfes. There was an Opjnion. lately that 3 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- : ‘ 2 : _ dation, it came to nothing. sai 2S aie SPIGNEL, “MEUM. - | A Wild Plant not altogether unlike Fennel. It + crows two or three Feet high. The Sralks. are round, ftriated, and branched. ‘The Leaves are large, 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, ie they ftand in Clufters at the Tops. of the Stalks, and are confpicuous by their Num-_ ber, The Root is long and brown, and there are SS 3 always _ this Plant would cure the Gout. The dried Leaves 346 The Ujfeful Family Herbal. always a Quantity of Filaments at the Head of it like Hairs: Thefe are the Fibres of the Stalks of former Leaves. The Root is ufed, and it is beft frefh taken up. An Infufion of it is an excellent Medicine in the Gravel, it alfo opens Obftructions, and promotes the Menfes. The Root dried and given in Pow- _ der ftrengthens the Stomach, creates an Appetite, and is good againft the Cholic. ; SpINAGr. , - SPINACHITA., A Common Herb in our Kitchen Gardens. It grows two Feet high, the Stalk is round, thick, and juicy, the Leaves are-broad, and cleft at the Bafes, fo that they refemble a broad arrow Head: The Flowers are inconfiderable, the Seeds grow on other Plants of the fame Kind, and are niet and prickly, the Root is white and ob- The Leaves are eaten at our Tables; but their _ Juice may very well be recommended as a Medi- cine. It works by Urine, and is good againft the Gravel. The Leaves eaten frequently; keep the Body open. 3 ee: SPLEENWORT. ASPLENIUM. A Singular Plant, of the Nature of the Ferns, — but not like any of them in Form, The — Root is fibrous. From this the Leaves rife in great Numbers together, each being a diftin® and feparate Plant, they are narrow, and five Inches long, deeply indented on each Side, but — very irregularly; and covered on the under Part with fmall Seeds. When they firft grow ee The Ufeful Family Herbal. 347 _ the Root, they are folded inward fo that only the _ under Part appears, and they have a very pecu- _ tiar Afpect, more like fome Infeét, than the Leaf | Ofa Plant. It s on old Walls, and is green all the Winter, but it has moft Virtue in Spring. . The whole Plant is ufed. It is beft given in | Infufion, and muft be continued for fome Time, _ it opens all Obftructions of the Liver and Spleen, and is excellent in Diforders arifing from that ” Caufe. They fay the Powder of the dried Leaves © cures the Rickets, but this wants Proof. INDIAN SPIKENARD. NARDUS INDICA. * N Eaft-Indian Plant, of the Grafs Kind, with ** triangular Stalks, and yellowifh Flowers. It refembles not a little that common yellow tufted Grafs, which is frequent in our Meadows in. Spring. It is fix or eight Inches high. The Leaves are long, narrow, and of a pale Green, they are very numerous, and ftand in a thick ‘uft almoft growing together at the Bafes. The talks rife among thele,, they are_ naked, triangu=, and of a pale green Colour; the Flowers ftand: Tufts, of the Bignefs of an Horfe-bean; on the Tops of the Stalks, they are blackifh, but orna- mented with yellow Threads, which give the whole Wi earance, ‘This is the Plant, fome ich have been of late brought over, Spikenard, and there is Reafon and - ity for yan they are fo. The Tops = Roots have that Sort of Tuft of hairy Mat- which we call Jndien Spikenard growing ta , and it is of the Nature of the hairy Top. : Spignel Root, owing to the Fibres of de- | Leaves. Breynius alfo calls the Plant — :: : allo 348 The Ufeful Family Herbal. affords the Jndian Spikenard, a Kind of Cyperus Grafs. | : ‘The Tuft of Fibres at the Tops of the Root of this Plant, is what we call Indian Spikenard ; they are brown, flattifh, matted together, and of © a pleafant Smell: They are good in Diforders of the Nerves, and hyfteric Cafes, but fo many bet- ter Medicines are at Hand, that this is rarely ufed. i ; SPONGE. SPONGIA. A Sea Plant of a very fingular Kind and Form. It has neither Leayes, Stalks, nor Branches, nor has it the Colour or Afpect, of our ordinary Plants. It more approaches to the Nature of the Muthrooms, than of any other of the Vegetable Kinds. It grows to the Rocks, and {wells out into an irregularly fhaped Maf{s, of Matter, full of Holes, of a yellowifh Colour, and _rétaining a gteat deal of Water, which is eafily prefled out, — _ ands recieved again on dipping it again in the. Wet. It is of a foundifh F igure, and fometimes hollow. Sponge in the Shape of a Funnel is fre- quently feen, and has been defcribed as a particu- Jar Species; but this is only an Accident in the.. Growth. It would be very im rudent to fwallow Sponge . in its natural Form; but calcined, it is of excel-~ brittle and fit for powdering, but if it be calcined Jent Service to fweeten the Blood,’ and is good a- ainft the Scurvy, and the Evil : Great Careisto taken in the burning it. It muft be made . too long, all the volatile Parts will be driven off, and it will be worth nothing. (Great The Ufeful Family Herl al 349°: Great SPurce. | ESULA MAJOR. E have many Kinds of Spurge wild in Eng- land, and fome of re ee aes this ufed in Medicine is a different Species. It is Native of Germany, and is kept in our Gardens, - It grows a Yard high, the Stalk is round, thick _ redifh, and divided into Branches. ‘The Leaves are numerous, and ftand irregularly, they are nar- row and of a pale Green, and are broadeft at the End. The Flowers are little, and of a pale yellow, but the Seed-Veffels are large, and make a confpicuous Figure on the Tops of the Branches: The Root is very thick and long, it confifts of a firm Heart, covered with a thick Rind. The s i Plant when broken, affords. a milky. acrid © Sipe. : | re, SS ~The Bark of the Root is ufed dry, and even in = that State it is very rough in its Operation. It works by Stool and Vomit, and is good in the _ Rheumatifm and Dropfy, but it is not every Conftitution that can bear the Ufe of fuch Re- : ~_ medies. ‘ * The LEsser S PURGE. ESULA MINOR. A Lefer Plant than the former, but fufficiently ; robuft; it is a Native of the fame Part of the - World, but is common in our Gardens. It is a Foot high. The Leaves are longilh and very Narrow, but rounded at the End: The Stalks are thick round, and red, the Flowers are {mall and yellow, and the Seed-Veffels large and three cor- nered. The whole Plant is full of a fharp milky Juice, but moft of all the Root. as 350 The Useful Family Herbal. The Bark of the Root is ufed. It works ty Vomit and Stool as the former, but tho’ with lefs Violence, yet too rough for moft Conftitutions. It is good in the Rheumatifm. SQUILL. SCILL A; A Very common Plant by the Sea Side in aly, and other Parts of Europe, but not Native of this Country.. It grows a Yard high, and when in Flower, is very beautiful; the Stalk is thick, round, flefhy, and green, or elfe red- ith. The Flowers are white; they are fmall, but they have their Beauty. They ftand in a long Spike down a third Part of the Stalk, the Leaves are very large and long, they are of a deep green Colour, and grow immediately from the Root; the Root is round, and of a Pound Weight, it is- compofed like an Onion of many Coats, one over another, and is full of an acrid flimy Juice. The Colour is white or red, and they call it the white ~The Root is ufed dried or infufed in Vinegar or Wine, and that afterwards made into a Syrup, with Honey. Thefe three Preparations are called the Wine of Squills, Vinegar of Squills, and Oxy- mel of Squills; they are all good againft Afth- mas, and Difficulty of Breathing. The Oxymel 1s moft given for this Purpofe, the Vinegar caufes Vomiting, and cleanfes the Stomach, the Wine of Squills works b Urine, and is good againft the Sins a : The Ufeful Family Herbal. 35% : STAR-WORT. 3 | AS THES IC US, A Common wild Plant, in many Parts of Europe and inthe Grecian Iflands, but not here: We have it in Gardens. It is a Foot and half high, _ The Stalk is round, hairy, and branched, the Leaves are oblong, moderately broad, and round- ed at the Ends, and of a dufky Green. The Flowers are yellow and large, they refemble the Marigold ; it is fingular, that there ftand fome Leaves under this Flower difpofed in Rays like 2 Star; the Root is long. The frefh Leaves are ufed, and that only ex- ternally. Bruifed, and laid on as a Pultice; they are a Cure for Buboes, and other hard Swellings. The Plant is called alfo Ingunialis from its pecu-. liar Effect in diffipating Buboes of the Groin. | ~The Star THISTLE. CALCITRAPA. Wild Plant on our Heaths, but not very common. It is two Feet high; and extremely branched, the Stalks are round, hard, and whitifh. The principal Leaves rife from the Root, and are’ difpofed in a circular Manner on the Ground. They are oblong, and divided along the Sides, quite to the middle Rib, there are fome fimaller on the Stalk, but few. The Flowers are numerous: Fhey are red, and of the Form of the Flowers of Thiftles. ‘They grow out of a fcaly and thorny Head. The Seeds are winged with Down. The Root is oblong. ‘The Root is ufed; a ftrong Infufion of it is ex-— eellent againft theGravel, and is good alfo in the Jaundice. It opens Obftruétions, and works by Urine. oe 5 — I The 352 The Ufeful Family Herbal, - The STARRY HrabDED ANISE pik Se So — ANISUM STELLATUM. A Tall and very beautiful Tree, Native of the Eajt, and much efteemed there. The Trunk is covered with a thick Bark: The Branches are uregular, and fpreading. The Leaves are very large and beautiful, they are compofed each of ten or twelve Pair of others fet on a common Rib, with an odd one at the End; they are longith, broad, ferrated at the Edges, and pointed at the Ends, and are of a. beautiful pale green Colour, and of a fragrant Smell when bruifed, fuch as that we perceive in the young Leaves of the Walnut- Tree, but with a Mixture of fomewhat aromatic. The Flowers ftand at the Tops of the Branches, on divided Pedicles, they are white and very fragrant. The Fruit is ofa fingular Figure, of the Shape of a Star, and of a woody Subftance ; it is compofed _ of five or more Rays, and in each is a fingle -fmooth brown Seed. Thefe have the Smell of - Anifeeds, and thence shave: been called by the Name, for there is not the leaft Refemblance be-’ tween the Plants which producethe two, one being a {mall Herb,-and the other a large and fine: Tree, ete “ The Fruit is only ufed, and we fometimes fee it. _ at the Druggifts, if the prefent Practice encouraged it, we might have it common enough; and it is one of thofe Drugs which we negleét, while we are fond of fuch as do not deferve the Diftinétion. It is an excellent Medicine againft Coldnefs of the Stomach, Cholics, and thofe Head-achs which arife from Indigeftion. It alfo works powerfully by . _ Urine; and with it poffeffes all the Virtues of Asnifetcd and many others, and even thefe in a : very “ Very. fuperior Degree, it has not its difagreeabk Flavour. An Oil drawn from it by Diftillation, is fweet and excellent, it has all the Virtues Soy Oil of Anifeed, but not its difagreeable Tafte and it does not congeal like it in cold Weather, > mstiz STAVES*ACRE, Cee Oe Lee ee A Very pretty Plant, Native of /taly, and kept ~* in our Gardens.;.It is two Feet and a half igh The Stalk is round, thick, firm, and up- | right, and a little hairy. The Leaves are of a toundifh Figure, but divided. deeply into feven _ Parts, and thefe ferrated at the Edges, they are large, and of a.deep Green, and ftand on long Foot-Stalks. The Flowers are of a deep Blue, large and very like the Flowers of Lark-Spur: They ‘grow in a Spike at the Tops of the Stalks; the Seed-Veffels are notched, and the Seeds . . rough, tga y mt _ » ‘Fhe Seeds: are ufed. Some venture to give thenrinwardly in fmall Dofes againftthe Rheuma- | tifm, 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 mofteufed: to kill Vermin, by fprinkling it_on _ Childrens Heads, that have been kept uacleanly. a GoLDEN STOECHAS. “STOR CHAS CITRINA. A Petty. Plant, Native in the warmer Parts of ** Europe, and kept in our Gardens. It. is.@ fhrubby Herb, two Feet high, and keeps its Leaves all the Year, The Stem is woody 5 the Leaves ftand thick on the lower Branches, and, "they are longifh, narrow, and whitith, efpecially i 354 The Ufeful Family Herbal. on the under Side. 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. The leafy Stalks are ufed, their Tops are eft,” and thofe frefh: gathered : ‘An Infufion of them. works by Urine, and opens Obftructions. _ It is 7 eo in Jaundices, and Obftructions of. the entes. - - There is another Plant called Arabien Steechas, 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. eae The StrorRax Pipe e.’ a : STYRAX ARBOR. : Senall Tree, Native of the Eaft, and fome Parts of Ewrope; 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 —-* ae with a brown Bark: That on the 7 ‘is gre ith, the Leaves: are of a-browh= “ri é. Green. en the: upper Side; and whitith pak ~The ie are white and ° large, the Fruit is like a Nut, roundifh and lit= they and is covered. witha woolly Coat, three of the Flowers grow together utually, a are fucceeded by three of thefe. : We ufe no Part ef the Tree, . a a.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. Difceles of the Breaft and Lungs, being an ex- cellent Balfam. ‘Tt is alfo good in all nervous ‘aad hyfteric SOPIRINE, tha and it —— — Mente, as ‘Lhe Ufeful Fanity Herb Hs The STRAWBERRY PLan Tr. = FRAG@ARIAG 2 oe = A Verycommon little Plant, both in.our Woods and Gardens. The Leaves ftand three upon 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 ox five together upon.a long Foot-Stalk rifing romthe Root and without any Veins: They are Pieieni Ae, mmPASTALAR ‘ares Bi Fruit is well known. | ipe it is red, and of an aeree ble Tafte... er ; Eareet seed __ The fresh Leaves are ufed; an Infufion of them 4s good Liquor to wath afore Mouth or Throat; taken in large Quantities, it works by Urine, and is good againft the Jaundice... 1 SUCCORY. pei CICHOREUM: Common Plant in our Gardens. It is near a Yard high, but of ‘ro great Beauty. The Stalk is round, ftriated, thick, green, and ftrong. The principal Leaves grow from the Root, they are Jong, narrow, and deeply indented, and are of a blutth 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 Tops, asin Dandelion. The Root ts long nd browa on the Surface, it is full of a milky. ce, and white within. ee The Root is ufed ; an Infufion of it opens Ob- ions, it is good againft the Jaundice. A De- Bes Ua en pa oS : coction each Stalk, and they are large, broad, fhafp at 1e Flowers grow to the Sides of the Stalks, not — BS 356 The Ufeful Family Herbal. co¢tion of the whole Plant frefh gathered, works powerfully by. Urine, and is good: againft the Gravel. It alfo gently promotes the Menfes. \ raat The Sucar Cane. ARUNDO SACCHARIFERA. a. Kind of Reed, Native of the Zaf and Wef- “* Indies, of the Canary Wands, and of fome other Places; and cultivated in all our Plantations. It is eight or ten Feet high. The Stalk is round, hollow, hard, jointed, and upright, it is very like that of a common Reed, only fo much ‘thicker. The Leaves are like thofe of the Reed, but vaftly eae aks of the Stalks, and ftandin Form of a bright Pow- ~ der ; this is Native Sugar, and is 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 Foa-sise ~ It were idle to talk of the Virtues of Sugar, its Ufes are fificiently known, and are very great. _ = a. 3. SUMAGH, | A Shrub, Native of warmer Countries, but com- ~“~ mon in our Gardens. It is of a fingular Ap- pearance. It does not grow to more than ten or — ‘twelve Feet high, the Wood is brittle, and the Bark is brown. The Leaves are long-and very ~ beautiful, each confifts of a great many Pairs of — SSeS os : fmaller ye eer . The Ufeful Family Haig {maller Leaves, with an odd one at the eS -thefe are fingly, oblong, and of a dark Green, and ferrated at the Edges. The Flowers are white, they grow in very large thick and long Clutters, and are fucceeded by flat Seeds, hairy and roundifh, and of an auftere aftringent Tafte. There are feveral other Kinds of ae 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. - . The Seeds, dried and owdered, ftop Purgings, nd the Overflowings of the Menfes. The frefh _ Tops have alfo great Effect in ftrengthening the Stomach and Bowels, they are beft taken in In- _ The Bark of the Root has the fame Vir- emt: SwALLow-wortT. ASCLEPIAS. A Common Plant in Gardens, but Native of he warmer Climates. It is two Feet high. The Stalks are round, flender, of a dark Colour, and « inted; the Leaves are large, and longifh, and of a deep Green; they ftand two at each Joint. The lies are {mall and white, and each is fucceeded by two Pods growing together; theRootis fibrous and fpreading. ; ~The Root is ufed, an Infufionof it frefh is sohd ainft the Jaundice; it works by Urine and opens Obftructions. Dried and given in Powder, it tes 2 — and is good in Fevers. iis Se : = Ss : 38 § The Ufeful Family Herbal, aE. “The TacAmanac Trer, TACAMAHACCA. A Large and beautiful Tree, Native of the Eaft, and of Americg., It is. fifty or fixty | Feet: high. he Bark is brown on the Trunk, © and greyith on the Branches... The Leaves, are. large and longith, 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, abrown Kind of Refin iffues from them, which 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 Drugeifts ke ne BN = _-ftis brown, fome of it is in Grains, and : it is ufed only externally, a Plaifter made of it, on Leather, is applied to the Forehead pee the Head-ach; and to the Na- vel in hyfteric Cafes, but it does not feem to haye much Efficacy. . The TAMARIND TREE. Zs TAMARINDUS. se a | Men prey i Tree, Native both of the. Eah in man our A Phe Trank ‘is eee cd ee pale coloured rough Bark, the Branches with a fmoo- ther. The Leaves are each compofed of a great many Pairs of fmallsr, depoled o ona common at. 2 | wit! | Tbe Ufeful Family Herbat. 359 with no. odd one at the End. They are fmall, ~ 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 q Pod, broad, brown, and hard, thefe contain — a pulpy Subftance, and the Sceds 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 . i ufeful alfo to cool the Mouth, and quench ~ ‘Thirft in Fevers, It is not mucit ufed fingly as a Purge. TAMARISK. TAMARISCUS. A Little Tree, frequent wild in France, and kept ~~ in our Gardens: Jt grows, however, much larger in its native Climate than here. The Bark is brown onthe 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 {mail Parts, and regular. Thé 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’ - often ftand together, they are very con{picuous; _ the Seeds are {mall and lodged in a downy Sub- The Bark is ud dried, and the Tops of the Branches frefh, both have the fame Virtue; the one is beft in Decoétion, the other ina light In- - fufion, made in the Manner of Tea. Either is good to open Obitructions. They promote the ae : fas Menfes, - oval, and of a very pale or whitith Green. The 360 The Ufeful Family Herbal. “Menfes, are good in the Jaundice, and is faid’a- gainft the Rickets. i. ye Tan s¥2 “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 acommon 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 ftrong Smell. Be The Leaves are to be ufed frefh gathered, a {trong Infufion of them opens Obftrudtions, it works powerfully by Urine, and gently promotes the Menfes.' The Flowers dried, powdered, and mixed with Treacle, are a common Medicine for Worms, and they vifibly deftroy them. : Witt TANsY.: ARGENTINA, | A Common wild Plant about our. Way-fides, ““ and a great Ornament ta 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 fmaller, — fet on both Sides of a common Rib, with an odd — @ne at the End, They are of the Shape, ae . 25 ae eee — much The Uyeful Family Herbal. mutch of the Size, of the Leaves of. Tanty,” and the fmaller Leaves, of which they are compofed, are oblong, narrow, and ferrated, but they are of a mott beautiful Colour, a fine filvery Green ‘on the upper Side, and a perfect filvery White on the under.’ The‘ Flowers ftand or fhort Foot- head and are large and yellow, fomewhat like the Flowers of the Crow-foots, but more abe ~The Leaves‘are ufed ; a {trong Infufion of ahs is given with Succefs againit the Bleeding of the Piles, and bloody Stools: And safe lefs ftrong and fweetened a little with Honey, it is excellent for a fore Throat. The Women Ufe it alfo 1 to take away I reckles, but this feers idle. TARRAGON. DRACUNCULUS. Common Plant in our Gardens! | It is two . Feet high. The Staik 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 oreenith, in Form like thofe of Wormwood, they ftand in Spikes at the Tops of the Stalks, The whole Plant has a ftrong Smelly ' fomewhat like Fennel, - An Infufion of the frefh Tops works by Uri = and gently promotes the Menies, | oak Beles 22 THEA, Shesk. Native of the Eaft, and cheriicd thee Se with great Care. It is fix or feven Feet high, _ the Branches are flender, the Leaves are numerous, oblong, ferrated round the Edges, and fharp-— se The Flowers are as big as Orange- Flowers, 362 The Ufeful Family Herbal, Flowers and: white; they ftand ina very fmall 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 isufedin 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 _ with different Degrees of Care, according to their Value. oT ge ee Good green Tea, drank moderately, ftrengthens the Stomach, and affifts Digeftion, it is good a- gainft Sickneffes, and will prevent the Cholic : But when bad Tea is drank, and agreat 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. os eae Ex Az. xi - DIPSACUS SYLVESTRI Ss. A Tall and ftately Plant, common by Road-fides, _,.. With large burr-like Heads, and little red F lowers, growing out of them. Itis fix Feet high, the Stalk is fingle, thick, white, and very ftrong, The Leaves grow two together, encompaffing the Stalk at their Bafé, 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 - 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 ditter very little, in their general Form, SBress: tS Taster. t= “ CARDUUS BENEDICTUS, ~ AA 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 redith,: flender, and weak, very much branched, and fearee 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- te and prevents Sicknefles, and Reachings. he Leaves dried and powdered, are againft — ‘Worms. It was at one Time, fuppoied to poffefs very great Virtues againft Fevers of all Kinds, but that is now difregarded, | Mirx 364 The Ufeful Family Herbal. Mix TurstTre. ois CARDUUS MARTE. A Very beautiful Plant, common by Road-fidesy 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 itregular Lines of amilk White, dentated deeply at the Edges, and prickly. They fpread themfelves into a Round of more than a Yard Diameter, and when they grow out of the Way of Duft, make a moft charming” Sealers: A fingle Salk rifes in the midft of thefe. It is five Feet. high, round, thick, very firm, upright, and divided at the Top into a 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 _ are of the Nature of thofe of other Thiftles, but _ twice as big, and vaftly more beautiful. The. lowery 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 winged with Down. . The Root and Seeds are ufed. An Infufion of ~ aaa Rose removes Obftructions, and works Tine, it is good againft the Jaundicé. The - Seeds beaten’ up into an Eales 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 Tafte, re THORN © y The Ufeful Family Herbal. 365 THOR nN APPLE. _STRAMONIUM. =A Very. beautiful Plant,.. Native: of. warmer “Climates, but frequent in our Gardens, we fometimes ‘meet with it, as it-is.called, wild; but it is no Native of our Country. Seeds have been feattered from Gardens. pe cee _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, andof a pretty Ap- pearance, but a very ill Smell: The Flowers are very large, and white, they are hollow, and Jong = Open, and angulated at the Brim. The Fruit is as big as a.Jarge Walnut, and is covered with Prickles; the Root is.very.leng, and thick, white, and of an ill Smell, © The Leaves are ufed externally; the Countty People lay them upon Burns and Inflammations, but this is not always fafe.' The Root and Seeds are of a fléepy’Quality, but they are’ not. thought fafé to be given inwardly--Opium is a lefs dan- gerous Medicine, fo they are not ufed. oe) 9» Go ARSE HORN: 8 eee fits PR KER CAN TIA @ 3 A Little white looking prickly Shrub, Native +2 of the Eaf, but kept in our Gardens. Ir is not above two or three Feet high, very ipreaclings nd full of Branches. The Stem is of a tough i 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 a great many Pairs of fimaller fet on a middle Rib, 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 Bloflom, but flatter ; the’Pods which follow are fhort and flat. ‘No Part of the Shrub itfelf is ufed, but we have a Gum produced by it, and called by its - Name jn the Shops; this is what they alfo call Gum Dragant, it is white and tough, and is in Jong twifted Pieces, it fweats out of the Bottom of the Trunk, -in the Heat of Summer. It is good: in Coughs arifine from a fharp Humour; and in Sharpnefs of Urine, and fharp Stools, but it is a difagveeable Medicine ; it is'very difficultly _ powdered, and the Solution is not pleafant. So TwoRdt'é HWAx. PERFOLIATA, ae A Very anes wild, Plant among.our Corn, — ~~ diftinguifhed by the Stalk growing .through the, Leaves. It is three Feet high. “he Stall is round, firm, upright, whitifh, and towatd the Top divided into fome Branches. The Jeaves 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 per out, and not dented at the Fdees. The > owers are little and yellow, they ftand in Cli- fters, or a Kind of Umbels at the Tops of the Branches, with a parcel of fimal} Leaves placed under them. The Root is white, oblong, and The Leaves are ufed the Country People againft Wounds and Ties enmpaboe the Seeds are given inwardly, to prevent the ill Effects of - internal Hurts. | , | | TuyMeE The Ufeful Family Herbal. °367 a ab co slogiy THYMUS. : A Common Plant in our Kitchen Gardens, with “* hard and woody Stalks, fmall Leaves, ‘and le red Flowers. The Height is eight or ten nches, the Branches are numerous. ‘The Leaves ftand two at each 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 has a ftrong Smell, and an aromatic Tatte. A Tea made'of the frefh Tops of Thyme, is 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 sa ew that cures the oor a _ Drop or two of it being put upon Lint, and ap- - plied to the Tooth; io a eb avant aliseoee See Oriomnim. es oa see OA tLe Ss. Si; LINARIA. aes ‘Ac Common wild Plant, with narrow ‘bluith #2 Leaves, and thick Spikes of yellow Flowers. It grows on dry Banks, andis 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 ina 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, and a _ paler on each Side. . s The. 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- ftructions ; it gently promotes the Menfes, and works by Urine. A fine cooling Ointment ‘is made. 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. 2O-BA C COS © NICOTIANA. AV Tall and beautiful Plant, Native of the /e/f- . Indies, but kept. in our Gardens. It is five Feet high, the Stalk is round, thick, upright, ingle, anda little hairy. Ithas.a clammy Damp- nefs about it, by which it fticks to the Hands in touching. The Leaves are very large, oblong, and pointed at the. Ends. They are of a 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. The Seed-Vet- -, felis oval, and the Seeds are fmall. _— - The Leaves are good frefh or dried. A flight Infufion of them freth gathered is a powerful Vo- mit; it is apt to work too roughly, but for Con- ftitutions that will bear it, is a good Medicine a~ - gainft Rheumatic Pains. _ An Ointment made. of the frefh ones with Lard, is good agairift the In-— _flammation of the Piles, the diftitled Oil is fome- times dropped on Cotton to. cure the Tooth-ach; _ applying it to the Tooth; the Powder kills alb ‘Kinds of Vermin. As to the Cuftom of Chewing ~ and taking it as Snuff, little can be faid for them, from Practice, and nothing from Reafon: Nor much for Smoking. . If thefe Cuftoms ‘had any good Tendency, it would be taken off by. the —_conftant Practice. te ce a | : The Ufeful Family Herbah. 360 There is a leffer greener Kind of Tobacco, cals led Englifb Tobacco; It has the fame Virtues with the other, but in amore remifs Degree. The Leaves are often fold for thofe of the other. TORMENTIL. 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 are very flender, round, and of a brownith Colour. The Leaves ftand feven or thereabout together at a Joint, allrifing from one Bafe; they are narrow, longifh, pointed at the Ends, and ferrated at the _ Edges, and of a deep Green. The Flowers are fmall, but of a beautiful fhining Yellow: They _ grow on flender Foot-Stalks, and are 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._ ee . The Rodt is the 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 Qunces 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 oe - rates alittle by Sweat : This Deco¢ction is therefore _ very ferviceable in Fevers, attended with Purgings. Te checks this moderately, and is good againft the Bb - Heee 370 The Ujeful Family Herbal. fiV=oen TREE or Lire’ i suse eS Pee OR VIT oe He Small Tree of irregular Growth, a Native of America, but common in our Gardens. The Trunk is covered witha. rough brown. Bark: The Branches are numerous, -and irregular; the young a very flat, and of afcaly Texture; they are of a bright Green, ‘narrow, “and fomewhat like the Leaves of Cyprus, only not prickly ; the Flowers are whitifh, fmall, and inconfiderable - They ftand towards the Fops of the Branches. “The whole Tree has! ‘a -ftreng and not! acréeable Smell, it _ brings into one’s. Mind old Had-Cheefe?*: <= to make it tmofe cordial and»reftorative, this is done in the gtinding up the Nuts to the Cake, and we buy it by the Name of Vanilla Chocolate, a ne “VER VAT Reo = = : » : ellisc 2 to gop papa peetytiae oth ait Sorte ee fetid eR ae § Siuyr east hr hey rs Pees ae A Common wild Plant, about our. Path-ways, = with flender Spikes, and a. few little Flowers, It is two Feet high, .the Stalks are. numerous | {quare, very ftrong, .a'little hairy, .and often pur- plith, The Leayes.grow two at each Joint, they are oblong, natrow, ,notched..at the Edges, of a uiky Green, and. of 2 wrinkled and rough Sur- ‘face. ‘The Flowers. are.white,. with a Tinge of purplith : There is'a long Spike of their Buds and of the Remaining Cups, but only two or three Flowers are open ata Time. -- The freth gathered Tops are ufed; an Infufion of them is good againft Obftraations of the Liver _ and Spleen: It.is warm upon: the Stomach, and’a ‘continued Ufe of it will remove nervous Com: . The Ufeful Family Herba ; me B79 The Vine. fae oa | VITIS. eet A Weak Shrub t6o familiar in our Gardens, -to “> need much Defcription. The Trunk is co- vered with a rough Bark, the Branches are long, _ weak, and ftraggling; the Leaves are roundih 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 in great Bunches. ph We ufe no Part of the common Vine, as it ows with us; but not to mention the feveral 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 Currants all have the fame Virtues, they are good in Coughs, and Soarnefs of the Lungs, and in Confump- tions.’ Ey FP Vinegar is alfo a 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 whatfoever. ar ~TLTOLe SF: a ie the A Common wild Plant in our Woods and 4% Hedges, but of a Fragrance fuperior to all that we receive from the rich Zaf. It is a little low creeping Plant, obfcure even when in flower, the Stalks are round, green, and areepine a 3 _ they 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 fmall 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 it is {trained 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. ae A Yall 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 nume-., rous and itand irregularly, they are long, nar- tow, of a pale green, fharp-pointed, and not den-. tated at the Edges. Thofe from the Root. are Jong and narrow alfe, but they are confiderably large. The Flowers grow at the Top of the Branches, they are large like Dandelion Flowers: in Shape, and of a moft beautiful pale Yellows the Seed has a white Down annexed to it. The Root is long, thick, and brown. » he. ‘The Ufeful Family Herbal, 38% The Root is the Part ufed, and it is bef fret taken up. It is given in Infufion, and it is cor- dial, and operates by Sweat ; it is good in Fevers, but little ufed. te Vipers BuGtoss. ons ECHIUM. Common wild Plant, about our Path-ways, and on Ditch-Banks, known by its fpotted Staiks, and fine blue Flowers. It is 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 VirGin1tan $ NAKEROOT. 2 PLANT | SERPENTARIA VIRGINIANA.. @ 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 Leaves ftand irregularly on them, and they are oblong, narrow, and auri- . gulated at the Bottom. The Flowers are fmall, | hollow, Pgs ~ 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 ftrong Smell and aromatic Tafte. The Roots of this Plant were the firft that came into Ufe, under the Name of Virginiaz 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 ere, 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 verpided: °- SY CURE SRR FORE eae ~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 Worms; and it was originally famous a- gainft the Poifon of the Rattle-Snake, and wasa . _ Remedy we learnt from the Jndians. It is good _ againft Worms in Children, and may be given in fmall Dofes for a Continuance of ‘Time. Scarce any Thing is more effectual. ‘The Vomrc Nut TRe®: as NUX VOMICA. | A Tall and fpreading Tree of: the. Eaft, very ‘dike that which affords the Wood called _ Snake-wood in the Shops, and by fome fup- 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, andthe Leaves are Re eas = ee. Jarges The Ufeful Family Her oe ae ail tea large, they ftand in Pairs oppofite to one ano- _ and rounded or blunt at the End, and of a ve bitter Tafte; the Flowers are {mall and ftand in 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 < Fruit, and they are lodged in three Divi- ~ Thefe Kernels are’ the only Part ufed; our Druggifts’ keep them, they are round, flat, and of a whitith Colour, very firm, and tough. They _ Rave been ufed as Poifon to Dogs, Cats, and other _ Animals, but there are thofe who give them to the human Species in {mall Dofes without Mif- chief, and with very good Effect. Quartan Agues hat have ftood it-againft 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 evert Ratfbane, as a Medicine mixed with other Things, and in the twentieth Part of a Grain for a Dofe; but Reafon condemns this rath Way of Practice, and:doubly as there is “To Neceffity to authorizeit, ~ jy" i ’ > ther; and are oblong, broadeft in the Middle, Clufters at certain Parts of the young Branches : | 384 The Ufeful Family Herbal, W. The WatnuT TREE. JUGLANS. A Common Tree in our Gardens, it grows toa great Bignefs, and is very much branched. The Leaves are very large, and: long, each is _ compofed of a double Row of {maller, and has an odd one atthe End. Thefe are each of an oval, Figure, and yellowith green Colour, and of a pleafant Smell. The F lowers are little, they are yellowith, and aranged in loofe Katkins. The Fruit is covered with a green thick Coat, and has within a Kernel divided ‘into Parts, and of an un- even Surface. . The Bark of the Walnut Tree is a good Eme- tic, it may be given in Infufion, or dried and. aaa it vomits eafily and plentifully. The Skin that covers the Kernel, is good againft- WariFrower. LEUCOIUM. The Stalks are woody, half high; the Leaves are very - The Seeds are contained in long Pods. — _ The The Ufeful Fanily Herbal. 386 - The Flowers are uféd, and an Infufion of them ~ frefh is good againft the Head-ach, and in all nervous Diforders, They are alfo good to fteep in Oil, to which they give a cordial Warmth, and make it good againft Pains in the Limbs. a they are not either way much ufed at pre- nt. WATER AtkowW Hwan, SAGITTA AQUATICA: Very prétty Plant, common in our Ditches; with Leaves like the bearded Heads of Ar- rows, and with pretty white Flowers. It is two Feet and ahalf high, but generally the greateft Part of the Stalk is buried in Water, very little appearing above, except the Spike of Flowers. The Leaves: ftand each upon a Pedicle, which is round, -thick, and very long, they are of a beauti- - fulGreen, and are broad, and bearded at the Bafe, and fharp at the Point, the Flowers are white, to- lerably large, and very bright; and the Stalk, on which they are fupported, is alfo round and thick. ~The common, People in many Places have a Cuftom of applying thefe Leaves. bruifed to In- flammations, they cool and give Eafe, but it is not always right. . _ WATER PLANTAIN. PLANTAGO AQUATICA. Avey Common tall Plant in Ditches, and having “& not the leaft Refemblance of any Kind of Plan- tain, except in the Leaves, from which, however, if has received its Name. The Root is compofed of a great Quantity of Fibres. From this, there rife in Spring a Number of Leaves,. oblong, broad, cs Cz f{mooth, 386 The Ufeful Family Herbal. fmooth, and of a beautiful green Colour, and having in Shape, though not at all-in Colour or Confiftence, fome flight Refemblance of Plan- tain: They are perfectly fmooth, of a gloffy Sur- face, and brittle. Thefe ftand for many Months without the Stalk; and doubtlefs in this State it got the Name. The Stalk is two Feet or more in Height, round, firm, and upright, and at the Top it fends out a vaft Number of Branches, which fend out other fmaller, and even thefe laft are again divided. On the Tops of the laft Divi- fions ftand the Flowers, with their Buds, and the Seed-Veffels; fo that the whole has the Appearance ofa Cone. The Flowers are little and white ; and confift of three Leaves each, they ftand but a little Time, and only a few are feen together. - The Seed is the Part ufed: The Plant is to be fuffered to ftand, till this is thoroughly ripe, and then cut up gently, and laid to dry two or three Days upon a Table, a fmart Stroke or two, will diflodge a great Quantity of the Seeds, they are very good againft the Overflowings of the Menfes, - and ail other Bleedings; and are but given in Powder in Eleétuaries, {mall Dofes being to be - taken at a Time, and often repeated. | Rue LEAVD WHITLOW-GRASS.- PARONYCHIA RUTACCO FOLIO. ACommon little Plant, early in Spring, on our _ “2 Walls and Houfes, and of a very - Afpeét; it is red and has pretty white Flow- ers. It isnot more than four Inches high; the Stalks are round, upright, and a little hairy,. and: they are coyered with an unétuous Clamminefs, which makes them ftick to the.Fingers in hand- ling. The Leaves are little, and alfo reds they The Ufeful Family Herbal. 387 are each divided into three Parts at the Extremity, in the way of Fingers: They ftand irregularly on theStalks, and they are thick, flethy,and clammy in handling. The Flowers ftand at the Tops of the Branches; they are little, but of a very bright white, and look very confpicuous. The whole Plant dies away as foon as it has ripened the Seed, and is not to be feen again till the néxt Spring. The frefh gathered Plant is to be ufed intire, a ftrong Infufion of it is a very great Sweetener of the Blood. It is excellent againft the Scurvy in whatever Form; and there are Accounts of its . curing the King’s Evil, that feem very well attefted. A Syrup may be made of its Juice, or of a very ftrong Infufion of it ; or a Conferve of the Leaves : For the dried Plant has very little. Virtue, and it is to be had frefh only a very fimall Part of the Yeaty es The WuH1TE WILLow. SALIX VULGARIS ALBA. : A Vv common Tree in wet Places, and this which is ufed in Medicine, is the moft com- mon of all the feveral Kinds of it. It is alfo the — largeft. It grows to be a tall Tree, the Bark is whitifh, and rough upon the Trunk, and grey upon the Branches; the Leaves are oblofg, nar- row, and whitifh, efpecially on the under Side: — They ftand irregularly on the Branches, and are a little ferrated at the Edges, and pointed at the -Ends. The Flowers are very inconfiderable, but they are arranged feveral together, in what are cal- led Catkins or Palms. The Seeds are fmall, they ftand in the fame Catkins, mixed with fine white Down. | aN Ss The Bark of the Branches is ufed, and it is beft dried; it is good againft Purgings, and the Over- se Sta : flowings 388 The Useful Family Herbal. flowings of the: Menfes, and is moft conveniently given in Powder, half 2 Dram fora Dofe. WENTER4GREEN. PYROLA, A® extremely pretty Plant, wildin fome Parts of England, but not common. The Stalk: is round, thick, upright, and ten Inches high. The Leaves all grow from the Root, for the Stalk is naked, they are broad, roundifh, and of a deep green Colour, they are of a flefhy Subftance, and and each on a feparate Foot-Stalk of three or four Inches long. ‘The Flowers are {mall, and of a very bright White, they ftand in a Kind of loofe Spike on the Tops of the.Stalks. The Root: is eompofed of a Quantity of thick whitifh Fibres. The Leaves are ufed. “A Decoétion of them with a Piece of Cinnamon, and a little red- Wine, is given againft the Overflowings of the Menfes, bloody Stools, and all Hamorrhages, and a- _ gain#t Ulcers in the urinary Paffages, and bloody | iimgess ooo: Woan. 7 GCEASTUN = 7 A Plant cultivated in Fields, in many-Parts of ~~ England, for the Ufe of the Dyers; and com-= monly met with in Places near thole where it was fown, as ifawild Plant; but it is not properly a Native of our Country. Itisatall,ere&, and hand= fome_ Plant ; the Stalk is round, thick, firm, “Upright, and fous Feet high; but it is ufually fo covered with the Leaves, that fearce any Part of oe to des ose Leaves are long and. | OF a coniiderable Breadth. They are large at the _ Bafe, where they grow to the Stall, ’ thou any The Ufeful Family Herbal, 589 Foot-Stalks; and narrower all the Way to the Point. ~ They are of a bluifh green Colour, and the. whole Plant is covered with them, fo the Top has a pretty Afpect. The Flowers are little and yellow; they ftand in great Numbers about _ the Tops of the Stalks, which are divided into a Multitude of fmall Branches ; and they are fuc- ceeded by finall Seed-Veffels. The Root is long and thick. : Although the Dyers are the People, who pay moft Regard to Woad, and for whofe Ufe it is cultivated, it has Virtues that demand for it 4 reat deal of Refpect in Medicine. The Top of Stalks, before the Flowers appear, contain the greateft Virtue, and they are beft frefh. They are to be given in Infufion, and they are excellent againft Obftructions.of the Liver, and Spleen; they work by Urine, and fo take Effect, the Ufe of this Infufion muft be continued a confiderable Time : Thefe are Diforders that come on flowly, and are to be flowly removed. W ooDRUFFE, ASPERULA. A Common little wild Plant, in our Woods, and - Thickets : It is ten Inches high. . The Stalk is {quare, fender, weak, and not able to fupport itfelf perfe@tly upright. The Leaves ftand feveral at each Joint, encompaffing the Stalk in the Man- ner of a Star; they are oblong, broad, and of a deep Green. In their Form and Manner of Growth, they much refemble thofe of common Cleavers, but they are larger, though the Plant is fo much lefs, and they are not rough as in that Plant, but nearly fmooth. The Flowers ftand at the Tops of the Stalks in little Clufters, they are {mall and \ 390 ©The Ufeful Family Herbal. white, the Seeds ftand two together in a globular: Form. The Roots are little and fibrous. ~ The frefh Herb is ufed, and is beft given in a firong Decoction; it opens Obftructions of the Liver and Spleen, and is a Cordial, and Stoma= chic. It is good in the Jaundice. The Wormsirp PLANT. : ABSYNTHIUM SANTONICUM. A Kind of Wormwood, Native of the Ea, and ~ not known fo much as in our Gardens... The Plant is two Feet high. The Leaves are very finely divided, like thofe of the true Roman Worm- wood, and of a pale Green on the upper Side, and — a filvery White below. The Stalks are ftiff, firm, woody, and branched ; they are of a whitith Co- lour, and have a loofe downy Skin upon them: — The Flowers are fmall and brownith, they refem- ble thofe of Wormwood, and ftand in a Kind of loofe Spikes at the Tops of the Stalks. ___ The Seeds are ufed: Our Druggifts keep them, and very often the unripe Buds of the Flowers in their Place, are mixed with them. They are good againit Worms in Children, the good Women give them mixed with Treacle; and few Medi- Cines for this Purpofe have better Effeét. For People of nicer Palates, they may be powdered, and made into Bolufes, 3 - -'TREacite Wormseep. ees eae MELINA. oz TH TS is not the Plant which produces what the Druggifts fell under the Name of Wormfeed, that is the Produce of an E- Hptian Kind of Wormwood, juit defcrib- ¢d. This is an Engiih Herb of the -podded Kind; The Ujeful Family Herbal, 391 _ Kind, and very diftin& in its whole upper Ap- pearance from that, and all of its Sort. Tt is two Feet high. The Stalks are round, upright, firm, and toward the Top divided into Branch- es, the Leaves are very numerous, and ftand irregularly. They are longifh, narrow, point- ed at the Ends, not at all dented at the Edges, and of a dufky green Colour. The Flowers are little and yellow, they ftand in fmall Clufters at — the Tops of the Branches, and under them is a. Kind of Spike of Pods, thefe are long and flender, green at firft, but of a Kind of brown Colour when ripe; and in each is a great Number of Seeds; thefe are round, fimall, and of an extremely bitter Tafte, much more bitter than the common Wormfeed. This Seed is the Part ufed. The good Women bruife it, and mixing it with Treacle, give it to the Children of robuft Conftitutions againft Worms. {t operates powerfully by Stool, and is given in too large a Quantity by Vomit. It is therefore to be ufed with Difcretion, but it will anfwer the _ Purpofe, and is preferable for many Reafons, to thofe mercurial Medicines, which it is the Fafhion of the Times to give to People for thofe Diforders, efpecially in the Country, where there feldom is Skill enough in the Pra¢titioner to manage as he ought Medicines, which may be the Occafion of fo much Mifchief. , Common WoRMWOOD, ABSYNTHIUM VULGARE. 3 A Wild. Plant frequent by Way-fides, and on Ditch-Banks. Itis a Yard high. The Stalks are round, ftriated, white, firm, and branched. The Leaves are large, but they are divided into a great Number of fmallParts. They are of a pale Cc4 . whitifh e 392 The Ufeful Family Herbal. whitifh Green, and ftand irregularly on the Stalks; many larger, but of the fame Kind, rife from the Root. The Flowers ftand in a Kind of loofeSpikes, _at the Tops of the Stalks; they are fmall and brown. The whole Plant is of a very bitter Tafte.. . The Tops of the Plant are to be ufed freth gathered, a very flight Infufion of them is excel- Jent for all Diforders of the Stomach, and will pre- vent Sicknefs after Meals, and create an Appe- tite; but ifit be made ftrong, it will not only be difagreeable to the Tafte, = will difguft. the Stomach, The Tops with the Flowers on them dried and powdered, are good againft Agues, andhaye the fame Virtue with Wormfeed in killing Worms, indeed they are much better than the Wormfeed that is commonly to be met with, which is gene- rally too much decayed. The Juice of the large Leaves of Wormwood, which grow from the Root, before the Stalk appears, is good againft the _Dropfy and Jaundice, tor it opens Obftructions, The Ufeful Family Herbal. 393 bitter Tafte, but not difagreeable, and it has a pleafant aromatic Smell. on aeaieate The Tops frefh gathered, and the whole Plant dry, are ufed. They call it Roman Wormwood at the Markets, and in the Shops; and it is ufed for the other: It is of the fame general Virtues, All the three Kinds indeed pofieis them in com- mon, but the common. Wormwood is the moft difagreeable to the Tafte, and fits worft upon the Stomach: This is better than that, but it is much more difagreeable than the true Roman Worm- wood. It is very ftrengthening to the Stomach, it affifts Digeftion, and prevents Wind. It is com- monly an Ingredient in the bitter Infufions, and Tinctures of the Shops, but it does very well alone, boiling Water poured upon it, and fuffered to ftand till it is cold, then ftrained off, is an excellent Medicine to caufe an Appetite. Put into white Wine, it alfo gives a pleafant bitter Flavour, with the fame Virtues. RoMAN WoRMWOOD. ABSYNTHIUM ROMANUM. A Very delicate Plant of the Wormwood Kind, Native of the warmer Parts of Europe, but . kept in our Gardens. . It is two Feet and a half . high, the Stalk is round, and {mooth, hard, up- right, of a brownifh Colour, and fomewhat woody, The Leaves ftand irregularly on it, and they are {mall and divided into very fine Segments: They are more like the Leaves of the common Southern- wood in Figure, than thofe of either of the other — - Wormwoods. ‘The Flowers are little and brown, like thofe of common Wormwood, but vaftly fmaller; they are very numerous, and ftand at the Tops of the Stalks in a Kind of long and thick Spikes. The Root is creeping and fpreading, and Lae Sage ~ compofed 394. The Ufeful Family Herbal. -€ ed of Fibres. The whole Plant has a bit- ter T'afte, but not at all like that of Wormwood, extremely aromatic and pleafing. The Flowers are.very bitter, and have little of this aromatic Flavour. Be _. ‘The frefh Tops are ufed, and the whole Plant dried. It is excellent to ftrengthen the Stomach; but that is not all its Virtue, the Juice of the frefh Tops is good againft Obftructions of the Liver and Spleen, and has been known fingly toe eure the Jaundice, — 7 YARROW. MILLEFOLIUM. A Common Plant in our Paftures, and by Way- ' =~ fides. It is two or three Feet high; the Stalk is round, upright, firm, and ftriated: The Leaves are long, and not very broad, and they are the moft beautifully divided of thofe of any _ known Plant. _ Their Colour is a deep Green, and the Parts: into which they are divided, are exceedingly fine, flender, and ‘regularly arranged: The Flowers fland at the Tops of the Branches, in the Manner of Umbels, in round and large Tufts; they are white, but they often have a Bluth of Red. The Root is white and creeping, and the Seeds are a por and flar, == = aa _. The whole Plant is ufed frefh gathered, but the beft Part is the Tops of the Saors thele . . are to be boiled in Water, and the Decoétion Lhe Ufeful Family Herbal. 39% fweetened with fine Sugar; it is excellent againft ‘the Bleedings of the Piles, and bloody Fluxes, and the Overflowings of the Menfes. It is alfo healing and good in Ulcerations of the Ureters : And it operates gently by Urine. ~ : pn t The ZEDOARY PLANT. ZEDOARIA., AN Eajtern Plant, very fingular, and very beau tiful. The Root creeps under the Surface, _ and has'many tuberous Lumps, fome long, and — fome round, but the long are preferred ; the round, ‘have by many been called Zerumbeth; though — the Zerumbeth is properly another Root to be defcribed in its Place. The Leaves of the Zedoary Plant are large, very broad, and not vaftly long; they ftand in Clufters, incircling one another at the Bafes: The Flowers ftand on feparate Stalks, thefe are only eight or ten Inches high. ‘They. are fmall, of an irregular Shape, and purplifh. ‘The Root is the only Part ufed; our Druggifts keep it dry; it is a warm Cordial, and ftoma- chic Medicine; it ftrengthens the Stomach, af- fifts Digeftion, and expels Wind. It is good alfo in all nervous Complaints, fuch as Lownefs of Spirits, Faintings, Tremblings of the Limbs, and Reftlefsnefs.. An Ounce of Zedoary fliced thin, and into a Quart of Wine, makes an_ excellent Tinéture for thefe Purpofes, andis very srood taken in the Quantity of a fmall Glafs, on - going 396 The Ufeful Family Herbal. oing into a damp, or what is fufpected to bea tainted Air. : The ZERUMBETH PLANT. ZERUMBETHA. TTHE Zerumbeth Plant, in fome refpects re- fembles that which affords the Zedoary, but it is larger. It is a Native of the Eaf, and has not been yet got into our Gardens. The Leaves grow together in fuch a Manner as to form a Kind of Stalk; this is fix Feet high or more, but it is only formed of their lower Parts, wrapped round one another, in the Manner of the Leaves of our Flags. The loofe Part of each Leaf is Jong, narrow, and ofa bluifh Green. The Flow- ers {tand upon feparate Stalks, thefe rife about a Foot high, and are of a brownifh Colour: They have only a Sort of Films upon them in the Place ~ of Leaves. The Flowers ftand in a fhort and thick Spike, atthe Tops of thefe, they are oblong, hollow, moderately large, and of a beautiful Scars fet. - The Root is long and irregular. isn _ The Root is ufed, our Druggifts keep it ; it is warm and good in all nervous Cafes. Its Virtues are very nearly the fame with thofe of Zedoary 5 and in general the round Roots of Zedoary are fold _ under its Name, though in Reality it be a much Onger as well as larger Root, than the Zedoary ~~ “A PPEN- APPENDIX. _ Concerning the Virruss of PLANTS, which have not yet been tried, S the Intent of this Work is truly to be of Ufe to Mankind, the Author, © who is defirous of making that Utility, pyo-Of) Oe. as extenfive as poffible, cannot clot SX it without obferving, that notwith- anding the great deal that is known of the Vir- tues of Engi/h Plants, there is certainly a great _ deal more unknown; and there is Room for great of » Difcoveries. The Plants mentioned in this Work are only. four or five hundred, and not.all thefe of Englifp Growth: If they were, they would yet be but a very fmall Number in Proportion to the whole. The Catalogue of thofe native of our own Coun-. try, as publifhed by Mr. Ray, amounting to many thoufands: Great Numbers therefore remain yet untried. : ae — To what Purpofe can a Man devote the Hours: of his Jueifure better, than to the difcovering a- - mong the Number of the unregarded Virtues: whick ‘may farther fupply the Catalogue. of our own Remedies, and make the Roots and Seeds brought from remote Countries, lefs_neceffary. ee What 398 APPENDIX. What Encouragement to the Attempt, that there are fuch Multitude of Objects for the Tryal; and ‘that the difcovering but one Remedy among them all, for a Difeafe we knew not how fo well to cure before, is a Source of more true Ho- nour, than can be derived from all the ufelefs Knowledge in the World. If any fuppofe the Tryal dangerous, they mif- lead themfelves ; and to encourage fo laudable an Undertaking, I fhall obferve how little is the Hazard, and how confiderable the Advantages, from what we know already. If a Man were to be turned loofe upon an Ifland where no Perfon had fet Foot before, he might dread to tafte of any Plant he faw, be- caufe he might not know, but every one he faw was fatal > And fuppofing him to have got over this Fear, the Ienorance of the Virtues of all would keep him backward: But this is not at all the Cafe with him, who fhall at this Time fet a- _ bout inquiring into the Virtues of Plants in Eng- -fand. ‘The poifonous Plants, native of our Soil, are hardly a dozen, and thefe are charaétered even to the Eye, by fomething fingular or difmal in _ the Afpect. “They are well’ known ; and he has nothing to do, but to avoid them. For the reft, he has fo many, whofe Ufes and Qualities are already perfectly known, that he has a great Foun- _ dation to go upon in the Search, becaufe he can compare thofe he does not know with them. _ Their Taftes will go a great Way toward inform- ing him; but this is not all, their very outward oe ~— him: For in general thofe Plants Which agree in t al Aff 4 ikewife ‘s hee : © extern pers agree likewife -_ To give an Inftance in the Marfhmallow. It is known to work by Urine, and to be good a- APPENDIX. 399 gainft the Gravel. We will fuppofe no more known concerning this Kind. A Perfon defirous of extending this ufeful Knowlege, finds that by the Tafte of the Root, which is infipid, and its mucilaginous Quality, he might have gueffed this to be its Virtue, from what he before knew of Medicine. The next Plant he meets, we will fuppofe is the common Mallow, and afterwards the little white flowered Mallow, which lies upon the Ground; he taftes the Roots of thefe, and he finds they are like the other: He will therefore guefs, that they have the fame Virtues, and upon Tryal, he will find it is fo. ; ; . But this is not all: If he had examined the Flower of the Marfhmallow, in what Manner it was conftructed, and how the little Threads grew within it, he would have found that the Flowers of thefe other two Mallows, were in all refpects, like thofe of the other; and farther, he would have found, that the Seeds of thefe two Kinds, were in the fame Maaner: difpofed in circular Bo- dies: From this he might, without tafting their Roots, have been led to guefs that their Virtues were the fame; or having gueffed fo much from this, he might have been thence led to-tafte them, — and by that have been confirmed:in it: But he might be carried farther; he would find the fame Sort of round Clufters of Seeds in the Holly oak Gn his Garden; and upon examining the fingle Flowers, he would fee they were alfo like: And . = hence he would difcover that it was of this Kind; ~ and he would rightly judge, that the Holly - gak, alfo poffefled the fame Virtues. a ~ ‘This is a Method by which many of the Plants mentioned in-this Book, have been found to have -‘Wirtues, which others neglected; for there are ~ many named in the preceding Pages, and named ee Bee with goo APPENDIX. | with great Praife, of which others have made lits tle Account : Thefe are the Means by which the firft Gueffes have been made about their Virtues 3 and Experiments have always confirmed them. It has not always happened, that the Virtues of a Plant thus tried, have been in a Degree worth fetting in a Light of Confequence: ‘They have been fometimes flight, and the Plant has been dif. regarded ; but they have fcarce ever miffed to be found. of the fame Nature. pats _ Thefe Experiments, I have always thought Ho- nefty required of me to make upon myfelf, and I never found Harm from the Tryals. I had no Right to bring into the leaft poffible Danger the Health of others ; as to my own there was no Pro- bability of Harm; but if it had happened, the Intent would have fanétified the Accident, and’ I fhould have been contented. There is this great Ufe in examining other Plants _ which have the fame Sort of Flowers and Fruits ° _ with thofe, which we know to have Virtues, that _ Wwe may in this Way difcover Plants at Home, to’ upply the Place of thofe we have from other Countries. It is certain the Sun in warmer Cli- mates does ripen the Juices of Vegetables farther than in ours, but yet we find the Plants of the fame Kind from whatever Part of the World they come, to poffefs nearly the fame Kind of Virtues; generally indeed they are the fame, only differing — in Degree. Thus all the Mallows of Spain and italy, to bring the Tryal to the before named nftance, poffefs the fame Virtues with the Maxh- mallow, Mallow and Holyoak of England; and the Cafe is the fame with thofe which are truly Mallows of the Zaft and Weft-Indies; though this do not hold good with refpect to fome of 2 APPENDIX. 401 he Plants of thofe Countries, which have been: brought hither under that Name. : cee Thus alfo, that Root which was at one Time about to be brought very much into Ufe, under ~ the Name of the Seneka Rattle-Snake Root, but of which little Mention has been made_ here, becaufe the Attention has not been turned upon Novelty but Ufe, being found to belong to a kind. of Milkwort, or Polygala. The Roots of the common Milkwort of our Paftures being tried, _ have been found to poffefs the fame Virtues, though in a lefs Degree. This Plant would not have _ been regarded, ifthe other had not been found to be of the fame Kind, but to that we owe the Knowlege of its Virtues. There is this great Reafon for feeking in ourown Climate, Plants of the fame Nature, and Form, and Kind, with thofe which in other Countries _ afford us Remedies; that they are generally of the fame Kind, and may be fitter for our Conftitu-— tions. This is certain, that as the Sun ripens the : Juices of Plants in hotter Countries to more Vir- tue than with us, fo it makes Mens Conttitutions “more able to bear their Effects. The Chine/e will fwallow fuch Dofes as are Poi- fon toone of us. This we know in many In- -ftances, and it ought to encourage us in the pre- fent Refearch, becaufe if the fame Dofes which a- gree with them, are too much for us ; we may -alfo find, that other Medicines of the fame kind _of Virtues, though in a leffer Degree, may alfo be found to agree better with our Conftitutions. would not carry fo far as fome have done, that Opinion, of Nature’s havin provided in every Country the Remedies for the Difeafes of that Country: God. is the Author of Nature, and he knowing there arnlats aaa among Man- kind, £02, AZ*P'PLEN Do 1X. : kind, knew that’ would not be neceffary. ‘But notwithftanding that it may be neceflary in fome Cafes, and ‘convenient in many, for us to have | Drugs from abroad, yet in general, it wil] be ‘better for ‘us to be cured by thofe Herbs we may find at home, and they will be found upon Trial” more fufficient for that Purpofe, than we at pre- fent imagine. ‘The Means are at hand, but we have made very little Ufe of them, proportioned to their Number and their Value. | The Obfervation already made, that the exter- nal Form of Plants, may very well give the Hint for a Conjecture about their Virtues, is much more general than might be imagined. Almoft all the Plants of the fame Kinds are of the fame Virtues. But that is notall: For in general, thofe of the fame Clafs poffefs the fame Qualities; though different in Degree: And this is a prodi- gious Help to him, who fhall fet out upon the _ generous and ufeful Plan of adding to the Number of the ufeful Plants. It is alfo fingular, that what might appear Objections in this Cafe, . being brought to the Trial, will often be found Con- firmations of the Truth there is in the Obferva- Ton. = R Thus fuppofe a Man, obferving that Lettuce is eatable, fhould inquire into all the Plants like « Lettuce, which are thofe that have Flowers com- pofed of many Parts, and have the Seeds wi - with a white downy Matter, ‘to find whether they. were eatable; let us examine, how he would fuc- ceed. The Plants of this Clafs native of England, _ are the Sowthiftle, the Hawkweeds, the Dandeli- Ons, Goats-beards, Succory, and Endive, all Eatables. The Hawkweeds are lefs agreeabl in the Tafte, but wholefome, and as to the wild Lettuces, thofe who would bring the Opiate APPRENDEX 403 of the My rincipal. of them as an Objetti on, - ftrengthen the Obfervation; for the Gardén Let- tuce.alfo has an Opiate Quality. This wild ond pofieffes it in a greater Degree, but ftill in fuch 3 Yegree, that it is an excellent Medicine, not at all - dangerous. Its bitter Tafte would prevent Peo- gles.eating it, for itis difagreeable; but its Virtues are the famie with thofe of Lettuce, only greater, There are fome Kinds of Hawkweed alfo, which have a bitter milky Juice, altogether like to that ofthis Lettuce; and they alfo have this Opiate Quality. I have tried many of them, but as they are none of them equal to the great wild Lettuce : in this Refpect, it would have been. idle to have {pent many Words about them. -This.general Obfervation may be carried a great deal farther ; but it were the Bufinefs of a Volume, not of a fhort Appendix, to explain it atlarge. In general, the Seeds of umbelliterous Plants, that is, thofe which have little Flowers in rounded lufters, each fucceeded by two Seeds, are good a- gainftCholics; thofe of Carraway, Anife, Cummin, r, and all of that Kind, are produced by Plants of this Figure. In the fame Manner the verticillate Plants as they are called, that is, thofe which have the Flowers furrounding the Stalks, as “Mint, and Thyme, are of a warm Nature; and however they differ in Degree and Circumftance, they have the fame general Virtues. Farther, fuch Plants as are infipid to the Tafte and Smell, have generally little Virtues; and on the contrary, thofe which have the moft fragrant Smell ; and fharpeft ie, have the greateft Virtues of whatever In general alfo, thofe Plants which have a ftrong it an agreeable Tafte, are moft worthy to be are Dac 8 4o4 APPENDIX. are generally the moft valuable ; and on the con- trary, when a very ftrong Tafte is alfoa very difagreeable one; or in the fame Manner, when the {trong Smell of a Plant has alfo fomething heavy, difagreeable, and overpowering in it; there is Mif- chief in the Herb, rather than any ufeful Quality. The poifonous Plants of this Country are very few, but they are for the moft Part characteris’d after this Manner: So that they are known as it were at Sight, or by the firft Offer of a Trial. _ Thus we fee how very little can be the Danger of inquiring farther into the Virtues of our own Plants, by Experiments; and how ufeful fuch an Inquiry may be to Mankind is fufficiently prov- ed by the Matter of the preceeding Volume. | _ What I have here written, is with Intent to en- — courage fome who have Opportunities to make the Trial; and for my own Part, I fhall not be wanting. Way, I am pleafed to fee makes no inconfiderable Addition to the prefent Publication; what I hall ~ difcover farther, or learn from the Experience of others, fhall have its Place in the fucceeding Edi- 4 +e . ae : tion 3. S se besne ee: ey, ay : See eps cpp atapic lpg sop igus | vlieve: ae . ‘. aie : eo Se uae a oe a8 3 : What I have already difcovered inthis _ W232 = Mall Mountain. “Wort = Cine Ground Liver Polypo ay of the Oak. ge os ~~ ~ Spurge Laurel Swines Crefses