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J^AMILV herbal; ^9 



feet andahalf bi^h. The leaves are long, round- 

 ed/of the thickness of a man's finger^ and hollow. 

 The stalk is round also^ and has at the top a round 

 cluster of little flowers, these are of a mixed 

 purplish and greenish colour ; and of a strong 

 smell, as has the whole plant. 



The root is the j)art used ; it is roundish/ and 

 composed of a great multitude of coats laid one 

 over another. A sjrup made of the juice of oniods 

 ftnd honey, is excellent for an asthma. 



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The Opoponax Plant, Opoponax, 

 . A LARGE and robtist plant, of whlcB we hare 



l?ut imperfect descriptions : it is a native of the 

 East and has not been brought into Europe. It 

 is said to be eleven or twelve feet high : the stalk 

 round, thick, and hollovv. The leaves very large, 

 and each composed of a vast number of smaller 

 set upon a divided stalk. The flowers we are in- 

 formed stand in very large round clusters at the 

 tops of the stalksj and that the seeds are broad, 

 browHi and of a strong smell ; striated on the 

 surface and flattish. The root is said to be long 

 and large, and full of an acrid and milky juice. 



We use a kind of resin, which is said to be col- 

 lected from this root, after if has heen wounded 

 to make it flow in sufficient quantity : but the 

 whole account comes to us very imperfect, and 

 upon no Yery sound authority ; however it seems 

 probable. 



The resin is brownish or yellowish, and in <5mall 

 pieces. It is an excellent medicine against nerv- 

 ous complaints ; and particularly against dicorders 

 of the head. It works by urine and promotes 

 |the menses ; and has a tendency to operate, though 



very gently^ by stool. It is not so much used 33 



