The Ufeful Family Herbal. 10 
is the Part ufed in Medicine, and it is faid to 
be good againft all Obftruétions, particularly a- 
gainft thofe of the Menfés, _ ao 
There is another kind of Afphodel with yellow » 
Flowers, the Root of which is faid to poffefs the 
fame Virtues, but it is more rarely ufed than the 
othere 9 aera SC Pes 
_ The ASSAFOETIDA PLANT. ~ co 
ASSAFOETIDA HERBA. 
"THIS is a Perfian Plant, and is a very tall 
~~ and robuft one, It grows to nine Feet high, 
and the Stalks are as thick as a Child’s Leg; : 
they are hollow and divided toward the Tops into. _—- 
feveral Branches. The Leaves are very large, 
_ and compofed of many {maller fet upon.adivided 
Rib. They refemble in fome Degree the Leaves. 
of the Piony. The large ones rife immediately 
from the Root, and fmaller of the fame Form — 
ftand at Diftances upon the Stalks one at each _ oie 
Joint. The Flowers are fingly very fmall, but —— 
they ftand in vaft Clufters or Umbels at the Tops 
_ Of the Stalks; and the Seeds follow two after each 
Flower ; they are large broad and ftriated, and 
have the fame Smell with the Gum, but not fo ~ 
ftrong. The Root is very long and thick; it is 
black on the Outfide and white within, and is _ a 
full of a thick Juice of a ftron Smell, which, 
_ When hardened, is Affafcetida fuch as we fee. 
No Part of the Plant is ufed but only this 
Gum or hardened Juice of the Root. They 
Cut off the Top of the Root, and let the Jui 
that rifes from the Wound dry: It be 
age on the Outfide, and white within, — 
alone rolled 
—— 
Way 
‘it ma’ 
