X. INTHODUCTION. 



as Useful for faraiiies, as the nature of sucli an 

 one will admit. 



* 



Among the fruits of plants, sercral are to he 

 used fresh, as the hip for conserve, and the 

 quincCj niulberr}., and black currant ; from the 

 juices of \^liich^ syrups are made. As to those 

 which are to be dried, as tfae juniper berries, the 

 bay berries, and the like, they are only to be ga- 

 thered when just ripening, not when quite mel- 

 low, and spread upon a iable or floor, often 

 turning them till they arc dry. But of these 

 we use very few of our own growth ; most of the 

 fruits used in medicine are brought from abroad, 

 and must be purchased of the druggist or apothe- 

 cary. 



With respect to the «eeds and plants, it is 

 otherwise : many of them are of our own growth, 

 and nothing is so easy as to preserre them. These 

 are all to be .used dry ; but nature has in a man- 

 ner dried them to our hands : for they arc not 

 to be gathered till perfectly ripe, and then thej 

 need very little farther care. They are only to 

 be spread for three or four days upon a clean floor, 

 where the air has free passage^, but where the sun 

 does not come ; and they are then r^dy to be 

 put up. 



The seeds used in medicine may be referred 

 to three general kinds. They either grow in 

 naked neads or umbels; as in fennel, parsley, and 

 the like ; or in pods, as in mustard and crosses ; 

 or in large fleshy fruits, as in melon and cu- 

 cumbers. In each case they must be left upon 

 the plant till perfectly ripe ; then they are only 

 to be shook from the heads upon the floor^ or if 

 in pods, a smart stroke or two of the plant upon 

 the floor, >ftr hen they arc thorongblj ripe, wUl 



