INTRODUCTION. xvih 



To the roots it is often proper to add a little 

 white wine in the bruising, and they will operate 

 the better for it. Thus, for instance, the juice 

 of the flower-de-luce root will not stay upon 

 many stomachs alone ; but with a little white wine 

 added in the bruising, all becomes easy, and 

 its effects are not the less for the addition. The 

 same addition may be made to some of the cold- 

 er herbs; and if a little sugar, and, upon occa- 

 sion, a few grains of powdered ginger be added, 

 there will be scarce any fear of the medicine dis- 

 agreeing with the stomach, and its effects will 

 be the same, as if it had been bruised and pressed 

 alone. 



Infusions arc naturally to be mentioned after 

 the juices, for they are in many cases used to sup- 

 ply their place. Juices can only be obtained from 

 fresh plants, and there arc times of the year when 

 the plants are not to be had in that state. Re- 

 course is then to be had to the shop, instead of 

 the field ; the plant whose juice cannot be had, 

 is there to be found dried and preserved ; and if 

 that has been done according to the preceding 

 directions, it retains a great part of its virtues ; 

 in this case it is to be cut to pieces, and hot wa- 

 ter being poured upon it, extracts so much of its 

 qualities, as to stand in the place of the other. 

 Often, indeed, the virtues are the same : in some 

 plants they are greatest from the infusion ; but 

 then some others lose so much in drying, that 

 an infusion scarce has any thing. But it is not 

 only as a help in the place of the other, that 

 this preparation is to be used, for infusions are 

 very proper from many fresh herbs ; and are 

 of great virtue from many dry ones, of 4 which, 

 when fresh, the juice would have been worth 

 little, 



