FAMILY HERBAL. , 25 



ders them stupid for some hours^ but no ill con- 

 sequence has attended this. 



The Bay Tree. LauruSr 



THE 



bay is a native of Spain and Italy, where 

 it grows to a large tree: ^^'e keep it in gar- 

 dens, but it seldom rises io more than the figure 

 and height of a shrub with us. The wood is 

 not strong but spongy and friable ; th6 leaves re- 

 main green all winter ; the bark of the large 

 branches is of a dusky brown, that of the twigs 



reddish; the leaves are long and somewhat broad, 

 pointed at the end and very fragrant : the flow- 

 ers are very small and inconsiderable ; their colour 

 is whitish, they appear in May, but are not re- 

 garded : the berries are ripe in the latter end of au- 

 tumn, and are large and blacky consisting of two 



parts w ithin the same skin. 



The berries are dried, and are the pa;rt of the 

 tree mostly used ; but the leaves also have great 

 Tirtue. The berries are given in powd.er or in- 

 fusion ; they are good in obstructions, and ia 

 cholics. They promote urine, and the evacu- 

 ations after delivery. The leaves are cordial and 

 good in all nervous complaints. Paralytic people 

 would find great benefit from small doses of 

 them often repeated ; and four or five doses have 

 sometimes cured agues. They are to be put fresh 



powder 



and, when they are crisp, reduced 



Basil. Ocumiim viilgare mqjus. 



BASIL IS a small herb, native of warmer 

 countries, but not uncommon in our gardens; 

 it is bushy and branched ; the stalk& are square^ 



£ 



