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 
