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y' 



1 1 6 The tJfeful Faintly Herhal. 



low Growth. It is not above a Foot high, often 

 much lefs. The Leaves are narrow, Ihof t, and of 

 a dufky Green. The Stalk is thick, redifh, 

 fomewhat flatted, and upright. The Ear is flat, 

 and is compofed of a double Row of fhort Spikes: 

 This as well as the Stalk, is often of a purplifh 



Colour. The Root is compofed of a great (^lan- 

 tity of whitifh Fibres. 



The Roots are to be ufed, and they are befl dried 

 and given in Powder. They are a very excellent 

 Aftringent, good againft Purging, overflowing of 

 the Menfes, and all other Fluxes, and Bleeding ; 

 but the lail Operation is flow, and they muft: be 

 continued. 'Tis a Medicine fitter, therefore, for 

 habitual Complaints of this Kind, than fudden 

 Illnefs. 



There is an old Opinion that the Seeds of Dar- 

 nell, when by chance mixed with Corn, and made 

 into Bread, which may happen, when it grows in 

 Corn Fields, occafions Dizzinefs of the Head, 



Sicknefs of 



bad 



of Drunkennefs : They are faid alfo to hurt the 

 Eyes ; ^ but we have very little Ailurance of thefe 

 EfFedls*-, nor are they very probable. They pro- 

 perly belong to another Kind of Darnell, diflin- 

 guifhcd by the Name of white Darnell j which is 

 a taller Plant, and more common in Corn Fields 

 than the red ; but this is Very much to be fufped- 

 ed upon the Face of the Account. The Antients 



make frequent mention of this Kind of Darnell, 

 growing to their great Diftrcfs among the Wheat; 

 but by the accidental Hints fome have given about 

 its Height, and the Shape of its Ear, they feem to 

 have meant the comm.on Dogs Grafs or Couch 

 Grafs, under that Name; thous;h others have 

 feemed to underftand the Dillinaion. In this Un- 

 certainty, however, remains the Matter about 



which 



