FAMILY HERBAL. 235 



Moss OF AN Human Skull. Muscus ex cranio 



hmnano. 



THERE is not any particular kind of moss 

 that grows upon the human skull^ nor does any 

 moss by growing upon it acquire any particular 

 virtues^ whatever fanciful people may have ima- 

 gined. In England, we commonly use the moss 

 just described, when it happens to run over an 

 human skull, that has been laid by accident^ or 

 has been laid on purpose in its way : in other 



pi 



that grows 



upon our old apple trees. Both these are in their 

 own nature astringents, but they are as good if 

 taken from trees, or oflf the ground, as if fouud up- 

 on these bones. They have been supposed good 

 against disorders of the head, when gathered 

 from the skull, but this is all fancy. 



■ 



Mother of Thyme. Sevpyllum. 



A 



A COMMON wild little plant, but very pretty, 



of great virtues. It grows in little 

 tufts by way Bides, and on dry hillocks ; the stalks 

 arc round, slender, reddish, and six or eight inches 

 long, but they do not stand upright. Tjbe leaves 

 are very small, and of an oval figure ; they grow 

 two at each joint, and they are smooth, and of a 

 bright green. The flowers arc of a pale red; and 

 stand in little tufts at the tops of the stalks, the 

 whole ptant has a very fragrant smell, and an 

 aromatic and agreeable taste. 



It is a better medicine in nervous cases than 

 iwost that arc used ; the fresh plant or dried, raay 

 be drank as tea ; it is very agreeable io the taste, 

 and by a continuance, will cure the common nerv- 

 ous disorders. The night niare is a very trouble* 



