\ 



348 jIdb Ufeful Family I^erhah 



affords the Indian Spikenard, a Kind of Cyperus 

 Grafs. 



The Tuft of Fibres at the Tops of the Root 

 of this Plant, is what we call Indian Spikenard ; 

 they are brown, flattifli, matted together, and of 

 a. pleafant Smell : They are good in Diforders of 



the Nerves, and hyfteric Cafes, but fo many bet- 

 ter Medicines are at Hand, that this is rarely 



fifed. 



Sponge. 

 SPONGIx\. 



- \ 



w 

 w 



A Sea Plant of a very fingular Kind and Form. 

 •^^ It has neither Leaves, Stalks, nor Branches, 

 flor has it the Colour or Afpecft, of our ordinary 

 Plants, It more approaches to the Nature of the 

 Mufhrooms, than of any other of the Vegetable 

 Kinds. It grows to the Rocks, and {wdh out 

 into an irregularly fhaped Mafs of Matter, full of 

 Holes, of a ycllowilh Colour, and retaining a 

 great deal of Water, which is eafily preiled out, 

 and is recieved again on dipping it again in the 

 Wet. It is of a roundifh Figure, and fometimes 



hollow. Sponge in the Shape of a Funnel is fre- 

 quently feen, and has been defcribed as a particu- 

 lar Species; but this is only an Accident in the 

 Growth. 



It would be very imprudent to fwallow Sponge 

 in its natural Form ; but calcined, it is of excel- 

 lent Service to Rvceten the Blood, and is good a- 

 gainfl- the Scurvy, and the Evil : Great Care Is to 

 be taken in the burning it. It muft be made 

 brittle and fit for powdering, but if it be calcined 

 too long, all the volatile Parts will be driven off, 

 arzd it will be worth nothinfr. 



Great 



