(xx ) 
is called poor Robins plantain ; and faid to fruftrate the bite both of the 
rattle fnake, and of his fuppofed precurfor the pilote/nake. Erigeron, 
likewife called Roberts plantain in Pennfylvania, is defcribed by Dr. 
Schoef thus (radix repens; folia radicalia ovata, bafi attenuata, dentata 
dentibus paucisa medio ad apicem glanduliferis, obtufa, pilofa, venis 
paucis. Scapus biuncialis, pedalis, {triatus, villofus, uniflorus etc. etc.) 
Dr. Otto, a refpeétable practitioner, informed him that the herb ought 
to be given in a plentiful deco€tion, and alfo applied with. the root to the 
wound. The herb of Solidago virga aurea, Golden rod, is ufed in the 
fame manner. * The root of Aletris farino/a is taken in powder, or bruifed 
and fieeped in liquor : this root is called /far-root, blazing flar, devil's bit; 
and greatly efteemed, both by the Indians and the people of feveral ftates, 
for many qualities. + The Polygala Senega is wellknown. ‘The plantain 
of Negro Ceefar I juft mention with a with, than an authentic account 
could be obtained of the experiments for which he obtained a public re- 
ward. Many credible teftimonies agree.in the fact that Indians have 
extraordinary {kill in curing the bites of ferpents;. but whether any fpe- 
cific antidote is known, appears doubtful: the plantsin ufe act however 
as powerful fudorifics and abforbents: a narrative of my own obfervati- 
ons on this matter would here be too prolix.. 
Of late years madnefs of dogs has been more frequent: the Swertia. 
difformis recommended by Clayton, fhould be tried.* 
In the fearch of new medicines, fpicy trees and balmy ever-greens are 
particularly inviting. ‘The fwamps of the low country sbound in plants 
of aromatic feent: the magnolia glauca fo frequent in them feems to hold 
out her fragrant lillies and crimfon-berries to the fkeleton-prey of Stygian 
vapours; probably her lovely fifters are alfo compaflionate.} 
Indigenous efculents claim attention in feveral views. Thofe roots, 
herbs, grains, and barks, that in cafe of need can fupport life, may be 
ufeful to travellers in the wildernefs and to troops that carry on an Indi- 
an war: the favages, make this ufe of the inner bark of the elm, and the 
roots of Aralia nudicaulis. ‘The fallads of many kinds, gathered in di- 
verfe parts of the country during {pring, fhould be generally ; known. 
Several wild, fruits might be improved by culture; as walnuts, crab-ap- 
ples, 
* Schoef defcribes it as birfuta, radice amara: Bartram as “‘ having flender purple italks, 
rifing a foot high, with a {pike of fine yellow flowers, for near one third part of the length 
of the plant.” fays it is much extolled. 
+ Bartram {peaks of it principally as a ‘‘ remedy in grievous pains of the bowels;” and 
fays it has a ftalk cighteen inches long with a fine {pike of white flowers fix inches, blooming 
in June, growing plentifully in the back parts of the country. * See Gron. Virginia. 
} Serpent. Virg. Sarfaparilla, etc. want no mention; feveral cannot here find room, 
