, FAMILY HERBAL I6l 



ear. It g-rows by a broad base to the bark of the 



tree^ and from this, it gradually spreads into a 

 flat, hollow, substance, with several ridges in it, 

 running irregularly, whence it is supposed to have 

 the resemblance of the car njosl perfectly. Its 



colour is a pale grey on the outside, it is darker 

 within^ and there run several ribs along it. It ia 



to be dried. Boiled in niilk, it is recommended 

 greatly in sore throats and quinsies. These reme- 

 dies of the vulgar, have come originally front 

 physicians, and they commonly have something to 

 support them. The Jew's ear is at this time out 

 of repute, but that seems owing to sophistication. 

 They commonly sell under the name of it^ another 

 fimgus that grows to a great bigness, overspreading 

 wood, in damp places. They get it oft' the water 

 pipes at the New River head at Isliirgton, to supply 

 jTovent Garden market. 



The St. Ignatius's Bean. Taba sancti Ignattu 



A PLANT common in the West Indies^ and verj 

 ill called a bean, being truly a gourd. The name 

 bean was given to the seeds of this plant, before it 

 was known how they were produced, and some 

 have continued it to the plant* It grows to a 

 great height, when there is a tree to support it, for 

 it cannot support itself. It has a stalk as thick 

 as a man's arm^ angulated, light, and not firm. 

 The leaves are very large, oblong, and undivided, 

 and they have the ribs very high upon them : they 

 are broad at the base, and grow narrower to the 

 point, and are of a deep green colour. The flow- 

 ers are very large, and of a deep blood red; at a 

 distance, they have the aspect of a red rose. The 

 fruit is large and roundish ; it has a woody shell> 

 «nd over that a thin skin, bright and shining. 



