892 The Ufeful Family Herbal. 
= F-OR MER FOF 
3 CURCUMA. 
A Native of the Haf-Indies, and a very fin- 
*™ gular Plant. The Leaves rife immediately 
from the Root, and are long, broad, pointed at 
the Ends, not dented at the Edges, and of a very 
deep green Colour. On other Parts of the Root, 
ftand the Stalks, which bear the Flowers, thefe 
are a Foot high, and of the Thicknefs of a Goofe 
Quill. They have only a kind of Films inftead of 
Leaves, the Flowers ftand in fhort thick Spikes, 
and are of a red Colour, longifh and flender ; they 
look very pretty in the Spike, but do not laft . 
long, the Root is oblong, thick, and of an irre- 
gular Figure, whitifh on the Outfide, and of a 
deep Yellow within, it creeps under the Surface of 
the Ground. = 
Our Druggifts keep thefe Roots dry. They 
are good againft the Jaundice ; they open all Ob- 
paces and promote the Menfes, and work by 
. Urine: 7 
TURPETH. 
TURPETHUM. 
A Plant of the Bind-weed Kind, Native of the 
~~ Haft-Indies. It grows to twelve Feet in. 
Length, but the Stalk is flender and weak, and | 
cannot fupport itfelf upright. _The Leaves. are 
oblong, broad, and obtuiely pointed. The Flow- 
ers are white, and large; they very much refem- 
ble thofe of the common great Bind-weed, and the — 
Seed-Veffel is large and full of little Seeds ; the 
Root is very long and flender. — Se ae 
The Bark of the Root is fent us dry. It is 
properly indeed the whole Root, with the hard 
