FAMILY HERBAL' ^j 



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The Mezereon Shrub, Mezereun. 



A VERY prettj shrubs, native of raanj parts oi 

 Europe^ and frequent in our gardens. It is four 

 feet high^ and Tery much branched. The branches 

 stand irregularly^ and thej are very tough and firm. 

 The leaves are oblong and narrow : they grow in 

 clusters from certain little swellings on the bark. 

 The fiowers are small and red ; they aris hollow^ 

 and are succeeded by oblong berries, which arc 

 black when ripe. The root is woody and creep-^ 

 ing ; and the plant is not easily destroyed, when 

 once well established. 



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The bark of the root^ or the inner bark of the 

 branches is to be used ; but it is a violent medicine^ 

 and must be given with great caution, in small 

 doses, and only to those who have strong constitu- 

 tions. It will cause vomiting, and bloody stools 

 to people that are tender, or to any, in a large dose ; 

 but to robust people, it only acts as a brisk purge. 

 It is excellent in dropsies, and other stubborn dis- 

 orders; and the best way of giving it, is in a light 

 infusion. 



MiLLEt. Miilium. 



A PLANT of the grass kind, large, uprightj 

 and not without i(s beauty. It is, four ft^i high. 

 The stalk is round, hollow, jointed, thick, and firm. 

 The leaves are long and broad, of a pale green, and. 

 hairy.. The flowers and seeds grow at the top of 

 the stalk, in a vast cluster, so heavy that the bead 

 usually hangs down: they are altogether of the 

 grass kind. The flowers are inconsiderable, and 

 the geeds small, hard, and white, , > 



The seeds are used sometimes in Ibc manner of 

 Wiej tft uaate a dciuk, which is gooil in fevers, 



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