SCOTCH PINE 



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thereby, the Remedy is to drink Goat's Milk, Honeyed 

 Water, or Pine Kernels with Sweet Wine. These do all 

 help to free them from danger, or restore them to their 

 right temper again." It is interesting to see that whether 

 the case be one of suicide or mere carelessness, the pine 

 kernels are equally willing to do their best for the 

 sufferer. Another old writer declares that "the woody 

 scales whereof the Pine Apple is composed and wherein 

 the Kernels lie, do very much resemble the foremost teeth 

 of a Man ; and therefore Pine leaves boyled in Vinegar 

 make a good decoction to gargle the mouth for asswaging 

 immediate pains in the teeth and gums." Another ancient 

 prescription teaches how to distil a water from the young 

 green cones for the removal of one's wrinkles. Yet another 

 venerable author discourses with enthusiasm on this tree, and 

 advises us that " the whole Coiie or Apple being boyled 

 with fresh Horehound til the decoction become to the 

 thicknesse of Hony maketh an excellent medicine for the 

 clensing of the chest." Linna;us states that in Siberia 

 the Pine buds, given in decoction with milk, whey, wine, or 

 beer, are believed in as a remedy for scurvy ; and we need 

 scarcely remind our readers what faith our grandfathers had 

 in tar-water. One old author, Thomas Bartolinus, pro- 

 tests against the use of hops in beer as " pernicious and 

 malignant," declares they induce plague and other evils, 

 and recommends in their stead " shavings of deal boards 

 to give a grateful odour to the drink." Coles, in 1657, 

 would have us add fir-cones to our dessert, declaring that 

 they "are wholsom and much nourishing, whilst they are 

 fresh, and although they be somwhat hard of digestion 

 yet they do not offend : especially if they be steeped three 



