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 
