\ 



19 



The Ufeful Family HerhaL 



is the Part ufed in Medicine, and it is faid to 

 be good againll all Obllruftions, particularly a- 

 gainft thofe of the Menfes. 



There is another kind of Alphodel with yellow 

 Flowers, the Root of which is faid to poflefs thei 

 :fame Virtues, iDut it is more rarely ufed than the 

 other. 



as thick as a Child's Leg ; 



The AssafoeTida Plant* 



ASSAFOETIDA HERBA. 



■ ^ 



N^HIS is a Perjian Plant, and is a very tall 

 "^ and robufl: one. It grows to nine Feet high, 

 and the Stalks are 



they are hollow and divided toward the Tops into 

 feveral Branches. The Leaves are very large, 

 and compofed of many fmaller fet upon a divided 

 Rib. They refemble in fome Degree the Leaves 

 of the Piony. The large ones rife im mediately 

 from the Root, and fmaller of the fame Form 

 ftand at Diftances upon the Stalks one at each 

 Joint. The Flow^ers are fmgly very fmall, but 

 |;hey Hand in vafl Cluflers or Umbels at the Tops 

 of the Stalks ; and the Seeds follow two after each 

 Flower ; they are large broad and llriated, and 

 have the fame Smell with the Gum, but not fo 

 ftrong. The Root is very long and thick ; it is 

 black on the Outfide and white within, and is 

 full of a thick Juice of a ftrong Smell, which^ 

 when hardened, is AlTafcetida fuch as we fee. 



No Part of the Plant is ufed but only this 

 Gum or hardened Juice of the Root. They 

 cut off the Top of the Root, and let the Juice 

 that rifes from the Wound dry. k becomes 

 reddilli on the Outfide, and white within, and is 

 the Alfafcetida of the Shops. An excellent Me- 

 dicine in all nervous Diforders ; it may be given 

 alone rolled up into Pills, no Way better. 



C 2 



AVEN'S* 



