He XJfeftil Family Herhnl 387 



. iare each divided into three Parts at the Extremity, 

 in the way of Fingers : Thev Hand irregularly on 

 the Stalks, and they are thick, fle{hy,and clammy, 

 in handling. The Flowers ftand at the Tops of 

 the Branched; they are little, but of a very brio-ht 

 white, and look verj^ confpicuous. The whole 

 Plant dies away as foon as it has ripened the Stt^^ 

 and is not to be {^tn again till the next Spring. 

 „ The frefh gathered Plant is to be ufed intire, 

 a flrong Infufion of it is a very great Sweetener 

 of the Blood. It is excellent againft the Scurvy 

 in whatever Form ; and there are Accounts of its 

 curing the King's Evil, that feem very well attefted. 

 A Syrup maybe made of its juice, or of a very 

 ftrong Infufion of it ; or a Conferve of the Leaves : 

 For the dried Plant has very little Virtue, and ic 

 is to be had frelh only a very fmall Part of the 



Year. 



The \y H I T E W I L t o \v. 

 SALIX VULGARIS ALBA; 



Very common Tree in wet Places, and thi§ 

 which is ufed in Medicine, is the mofl com- 

 mon of all the feveral Kinds of it. It is alfo the 

 iargeft. It grows to be a tall Tree, the Bark is 



whitilh, and rough upon the Trunk, and grey 

 upon the Branches ; the Leaves are oblong, nar- 

 row, and whitifh, efpecially on the under Side ; 

 They (land irregularly on the Branches, and are 

 a little ferrated at the Edges, and pointed at the 

 Ends, The Flowers are very inconfiderable, but 

 they are arranged feveral together, in what are cal- 

 led Catkins or Palms. The Seeds are fmall; they 

 ftand in the fame Catkins^ mixed with fine white 

 Down. 



The Bark of the Branches Is ufed, and it is beft 

 dried", it is ^ood againft Purgrirx^s, and the Over- 



C c 2 nowings 



