S2 FAMILY HERBAL. 



Beet. Beta alba. 



r 



A COMMON garden plant eaten at ouf taa^ 

 lilcs, but these often afford medicines as well as 

 food. The white bcet^ which is the medicinal 

 kindj grows three or four feet high. The stalk 

 is robust and strong, the leaves are broad and 

 undulated^ the flowers are inconsiderable/ they 

 ire of a greenish white colour ; the root is large 

 and long. 



The juice of fresh beet-root is an excellent 

 remedy for the head-ach, and tooth-ach when 

 the whole jaw is affected ; it is to be snuffed up 

 the nose to promote sneezing. 



The red beet-root is good for the same pur- 

 pose^ but it is not so strong as the white. 



White Behen. JBehen album. 



A COMMON wild plant in our corn fields. It 



is two feet high ; the stalks are weak and often 



crooked ; but they are thick enough, round, and 

 of a whitish green colour. The leaves are oblong, 

 broad, and of a fine blue green colour, not dent- 

 ed at all at the edges, and they grow two at 

 every joint ; the joints of the stalks where they 

 graw, are swelled and large, and the leaves have 

 no stalks. The flowers are white, moderately 

 large, and prickly. They stand upon a husk which 

 seems blown up with wind. 



This is one of those plants of our own growth, 

 that have more virtue than people imagine. The 

 Toot, which is long, white^ and woody, is to be 

 gathered before the stalks rise, and dried. An 

 infusion is one of the best remedies known for 

 nervous complaints : it will not take place against 



