FAMILY HKRP.AL. 



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in its manner of growing! It is two feet Ini^b^ 

 when it grows ia a firvourable soil^ and Jip.s 

 bushes or any thing else to support it. The stalks 

 are weak and green ; the leaves stand irregularly 

 on them^ and they are oblong, narrow^ and auri- 

 eulated at the bottom. The flowers are small, 

 hollow^ and of a deep dusky purplish colour. 

 The root is composed of a vast quantity of strings, 

 which are of a dusky olive colour, and of ^ 

 strong smell and aromatic taste. The roots of 

 this plant*werc the first that came into use, under 

 the name of Virginian snakeroot, but there are 

 upon the spot two other plants of the same kind, 

 though different species, which have thready roots 

 of the same form, and they are indifferently taken 

 up for use; they all seem to have the same vir- 

 tue, so that there is ho harm in the mixture.* 

 There is sometimes another root mixed among- 

 them ; but that is easily distinguished, for it is 

 black, and these arc all of the same dusky olive 

 colour. This last adulteration should be avoidiuL 

 The Virginian snakeroot is au excellent medi- 

 cine in fevers ; it operates by urine and by sviear^ 

 apd will often take off inveterate hcad-achs. 

 Xi is also given by some as a remedy against 

 worms ; and it was originally tamons against the. 

 poison of the rattle-snake, and was a remedy we 

 learnt from the Indians. It is good again.'vt 

 W-orms in children, and may be given in small 

 doses for a continuance of time. Scarce any 

 thing is more effectual. 



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J**-, 



4 



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The VoMic Nut Tree. Nux vomiea^ 



^ A TALL and spreading tree of the East, \tTv 

 like that which affords the wood called snake- 

 wood in the shops, and by tome supposed the 



