4 



The Ufeful Family Herbal 4 1 



Medicine •, they arc of the fame Virtues with thefe 

 ibut are lefs ufed. They have a more fpicySmeJl. 



Bl ST O RTA, 



BISTORT. 



'Very beautiful wild Plant : It grows in our 

 Meadows, and, when in Flower in May and 

 June^ is very confpicuous, as well as very ele- 

 gant in its Appearance. It is about a Itoot and a 

 half high-, the Leaves are broad and beautiful, 

 and the Flowers grow in a thick Spike or Ear at 

 the Top of the Stalks, and are or a bright red 

 Colour. There rife immediately from the Root 

 a Number of large and beautiful Leaves, long, 

 broad, and of a fine green Colour. The Stalks 

 on which they fland, have alfo a Rim of the 

 Leaf running dow^n them ; the Stalks are round, 

 firm, and ere(5t, of a pale Green, and have two or 

 three Leaves, like the others, but fmaller, on 

 them, placed at Diftances. The Spike of the Flow- 

 ers is as long and as thick as a Man's Thumb : 

 The Root is thick and contorted, blacldfh on the 

 Outfide, and red within. 



If we minded our own Herbs, we Ihould need 

 fewer Medicines from abroad. The Root of Bif- 

 tort is one of the beft Aflrringents in the World : 

 Not violent but fure. The Time of gathering it 

 \s in Marchy when the Leaves begin to f}ioot. 

 String: feveral of them on a Line, and let them 



dry in the Shade. The Powder or Decodion of 

 them will flop all Fluxes of the Belly, and is one 

 of the fafeft Remedies known for Overflowings of 

 the Menfes. They are alfo good in a Diabetes. 

 The Uie of this Root may be continued without 



Pangep, till it effe«5ls a perfec't Cure. 



V 



Bitter- 



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