FAMILY HERBAL. 157 



reach the cause of disorders^ that the comnion gen- 

 tie ones would' not touch ; aud the present prac- 

 tice denies the use of man J of the best medicUies 

 we know. - v 



Gout Wort. Padas^rara herha gerrardi 



A COMMON wiW plant over-running 



dfens. and 



very diffi 



Cult to be got out again ; it grows two feet liigh. 

 The leaves which rise from the roots are lara^e, 

 aud thev arc composed each of several smaller^ set 

 on a divided rib, in the manner of those of angeli- 

 ca, of which they have some resemblance. Tliey 

 areof a paljegreen coh)urj aud are obh^ng and in- 

 dented at the edges. . The stalks are round, up- 

 tight, and a little branched, they are slender, stri- 

 ated, and green ; the leaves on these are smaller; 

 and consist of fewer parts than those that rise from 

 the root. The flowers are little and white, and 



I 



they stand in small round chisters ; each is suc- 

 ceeded by two flat seeds. The root creeps. 



The 



both 



used, but only externally ; they are excellent in 

 fomentations, and pultices for pains ; and the plant 

 has obtained its name from their singular efticacy 

 against the pain of the gout : but it is not advise- 

 able to do any thing in that disorder; the warm 

 appHcations of this kind are of ail others the least 

 dangerous. I have known a quantity of the roots 

 and leaves boiled soft together, and apph'ed to the 

 hip in the sciatica, keeping a fresh quantity hot 

 to renew the other, as it grew cold, and I have seen 

 creat irood effect from it Its use should not be 



fined to this pain alone, it will succeed in 



others. 



