XXVI I N T R O.D U C T I O N. 



Some are full of a mucilaginous Juice, asMarfh- 

 mallow, and above all other Roots the Squill, 

 and in jfome Degree many others of that Kind:> 

 thefe muft be cut into thin Slices crofs-wife, and 

 they will dry bed if laid upon a Hair Cloth ftretched 

 acrofs a Frame, they muft be frequently turned ; 

 and be very thoroughly dry, before they are put 

 lip; elfe they will become mouldy; But, rightly 

 prepared, they keep very well. 

 \' Other Roots have Juices, that evaporate more 

 eaQly. Thefe have the Virtue either throughout 

 the whole Subftance, or only in the outer Part, 

 and they are to be prepared accordingly. When 

 Roots are of one uniform Subftance, they gene- 

 rally have the Virtue equal, or nearly fo, in all 

 Parts. Thefe Ihould be fplit opea length- wife, 

 firft cutting off the Head, and the little End; or 

 if confiderably thick, they may be quartered;' 

 when this is done, they are to be ftrung upon a 

 Line, by drawing a Needle threaded with a fmall 

 Twine through their thickeft Part, and they are 

 then to be hung up to dry in the Manner of 



the Herbs ; the Line being ftretched acrofs a Room, 

 the Doors and Windows of which are to be kept 

 open in good Weather. 



When Roots confift of a fort of thick Rind, or 

 flelKy Subftance within the Rind, and a hard 

 fticky Part in the middle ; this fieftiy Subftance 

 under it poficftes all the Virtues, the hard 

 inner Subftance having none ; in this Cafe, the 

 Root is to be fplit long- wife as before, and the hard 

 woody Part is to be taken out and thrown away ; 

 the reft is to be ftrung as before dcfcribed, and 

 dried in the fame Manner. 



. When Roots confift of Fibres, thefe are gene- 

 rally connecled to a Head, if it be ever fo fmall, 



anc^ 



