FAMILY HERBAL. 319 



The tops of the young branches are used : a 

 decoction of them is good against worms, but it is 

 a very disagreeable medicine. Beaten into a con- 

 uerve with three times their weight of sugar, thev 



Pl 



in this 



rm 



good against nervous disorders, and in all hysteric 



pi 



4 



Sowf HiSTLE* Sonchns asper. 



A COMMON weed in our gardens, and about 

 our houses. It is three feet high ; the stalk is 

 round, thick, green, and upright. The leaves are 

 long, and not verj broad ; they are indented at'the 

 edges, and pricklj between the indentings. When 

 any part of the plant is broken, there runs out a 

 milky juice. The flowers are large, and yellow: 

 they are somewhat like those of dandelion, and 

 stand in a kind of scaly cup. The seeds have 

 down affixed to them. The root is long and 



white. 



The leaves are to be used fresh gathered ; a strong 

 ii^fusion of them works by urine, and opens ob- 

 structions. Some eat them in sallads, but the in- 

 fusion has more power. There are three or four 

 other kinds of sowthistle, common in tome places 

 with this, and they have all the same virtues, but 

 tLis has them most in perfection. 



Speedwell. Vci'onica mas. 



A COMMON little plant in our dry pastures^ 



and on heaths. The stalks are six or eight inches 

 long; the leaves are short, and of an oval figure. 

 The stalks are not upright: they trail along the 

 2:round, only rising at thin upper parts. The 

 leaves are of a pale gr^en colour, a little hiiry> 



