tOB l^AMILY HERBAG 



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described under the article nutmeg ; but it maf 

 be proper to say here, that the fruit of it is largo, 

 and roundish^ and has someTvliat the appearance of 

 a peachj being of nearly its bigness ; the outer part 

 is more like the green rind of a walnut, than the 

 flesh of a peach : within is the nutmeg contained 

 in a hard shell; and on the outside of that shelly is 

 laid the mace; in a kind of thin, divided, yellowish 

 leaves. It is of a soft and unctuous nature, and 

 very fragrant ; more so than the nutmeg itself. 



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Mace is a dobJe spice, it warms and strengthen 

 the stomach, and is good against pains in the head, 

 arising from faults there : it is also good against 

 colics ; and even outwardly applied will take 

 effect. The mace bruised may be used for this 

 purpose, or its oil by expression. 



Madder. Rubia iinctorum. 



K ROUGH and unhandsome plant, cultivated for 

 the sake of its root, which is used by the dyers^ 

 and also in medicine. It is a foot and a half high. 

 The stalk is square and weak. The leaves stan^ 

 six or eight at every joint, disposed star-fashioned; 

 and they are of a dusky green colour, and very 

 rough, they feel almost prickly. The flowers are 

 little and yellow ; and they grow from the bosonTS 



of the leaves. The root is long, slender, and of a 

 red colour. 



A decoction of the fresh roots of madder, works 



gently by urine, but it very powerfully opens oli- 



structions of the liver and spleen. It is very goo4 



against the gravel and jaundiceJ 



The True Maidenhair. Adiantum vei^um. 



A VERY beautiful plant of the fern kind, but 



