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 
