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, 
