The Ufeful Family Herbal. 393 
bitter Tafte, but not difagreeable, and it has a 
pleafant aromatic Smell. on aeaieate 
The Tops frefh gathered, and the whole Plant 
dry, are ufed. They call it Roman Wormwood 
at the Markets, and in the Shops; and it is ufed 
for the other: It is of the fame general Virtues, 
All the three Kinds indeed pofieis them in com- 
mon, but the common. Wormwood is the moft 
difagreeable to the Tafte, and fits worft upon the 
Stomach: This is better than that, but it is much 
more difagreeable than the true Roman Worm- 
wood. It is very ftrengthening to the Stomach, it 
affifts Digeftion, and prevents Wind. It is com- 
monly an Ingredient in the bitter Infufions, and 
Tinctures of the Shops, but it does very well 
alone, boiling Water poured upon it, and fuffered 
to ftand till it is cold, then ftrained off, is an 
excellent Medicine to caufe an Appetite. Put 
into white Wine, it alfo gives a pleafant bitter 
Flavour, with the fame Virtues. 
RoMAN WoRMWOOD. 
ABSYNTHIUM ROMANUM. 
A Very delicate Plant of the Wormwood Kind, 
Native of the warmer Parts of Europe, but . 
kept in our Gardens. . It is two Feet and a half . 
high, the Stalk is round, and {mooth, hard, up- 
right, of a brownifh Colour, and fomewhat woody, 
The Leaves ftand irregularly on it, and they are 
{mall and divided into very fine Segments: They 
are more like the Leaves of the common Southern- 
wood in Figure, than thofe of either of the other — 
- Wormwoods. ‘The Flowers are little and brown, 
like thofe of common Wormwood, but vaftly 
fmaller; they are very numerous, and ftand at 
the Tops of the Stalks in a Kind of long and thick 
Spikes. The Root is creeping and fpreading, and 
Lae Sage ~  compofed 
