xxxw INTRODUCTION. 



Among the Herbs that yield their Virtues mof!: 

 commodiouny by Infufion, may be accounted 

 many of thole which are perioral, and good in 

 Coughs, as Colts-foot, Ground-ivy, and the like-, 

 the light and aromatic, good in nervous Difor- 

 ders, or Mother of Thyme, Baum, and the like ', 

 the Bitters are alfo excellent in Infufion, but very 

 difagreeable in Decoftion j thus boiling Water 

 poured upon Raman Wormwood, Gentian Root, 

 and Orange Peel, makes a very excellent Bitter. 

 It need only ftand till the Liquor is cold, and 



may be then poured off for Ufe. 



It is often proper to add fome purging In- 

 o-redient to this bitter Infufion, and a little fre/h 

 Polypody Root excellently anfwers that Purpofe, 

 without ipoiling the Tafte of the Medicine. 



Several of the Purging Plants alfo do very well 

 m Infufion, as purging Flax, and the like; and 

 the frefh Root of Polypody alone is a very good 

 one"; a little Lemon Juice added to the laft named 

 Infufion does no Harm i and it takes off what is 

 difagreeable in the Tafte, in the fame Manner as 



it does from an Infufion of Sena. ,^ 



Thus we fee what a great Number of Purpofes 

 may be anfwered by Infufions, and tjiey are the 

 , moft familiar of all Preparations. Nothing is re- 

 quired, but pouring fome boiling Water upon 

 the Plants freih or dried, as already direded, and 

 pouring it o*f again when cold. 



Decodions are contrived to anfwer the Purpofe 

 of Infufions upon Planes which are of fo firm a 

 Texture, that they will not eafily yield forth their 

 ufeful Parts. In thefe the Ingredients are to be 

 boiled in the Water -, as in the others, the boiling 

 Water was to be poured over them. In general. 

 Leaves, Flowers, and intire Plants, whether freih 

 or dried, are ufed in Infufions » and Roots and 

 Basks in Decodbions* ' 



*" . An 



