xx. INTRODUCTION. 



commodiously by infusion, may be account d 

 many of those which are pectoral, and good in 

 coughs, as colts-foot, ground-ivy, and the like ; 

 the light and aromatic, good in nervous disorders, 

 as mother of thyme, balm, and the like ; the 

 bitters are also excellent in infusion, but very 

 disagreeable in decoction ; thus boiling water 

 poured upon Roman wormwood, gentian root, 

 and orange peel, makes a very excellent bitter. 

 It need only stand till the liquor is cold, and may 

 be then poured off for use. 



It is often proper to add some purging ingre- 

 dient to this bitter infusion ; and a little fresh 

 polypody root excellently answers that purpose> 

 without spoiling the taste of the medicine. 



Several of the purging plants also do very well 

 in infusion, as purging flax, and the like ; and 

 the fresh root of polypody alone is a very good 

 one : a little lemon juice added to the last named 

 infusion does no harm ; and it takes off what is 

 disagreeable in the taste, in the same manner as 

 it does from an infusion of sena. 



Thus we see what a great number of purposes 

 may be answered by infusions, and the are the 

 most familiar of all preparations. Nothing is re- 

 quired, but pouring some boiling water upon 

 the plants fresh or dried, as already directed, and 

 pouring it off again when cold. 



Decoctions are contrived to answer the purpose 

 of infusions, upon plants which are of so firm a 

 texture, that they will not. easily yield forth their 

 useful parts. In these the ingredients are to be 

 boiled in the water, as in the others, the boiling 

 water was to be poured over them. In general, 

 leaves, flowers, and entire plants, whether fresh 

 or dried, are used in infusions ; the roots and 

 barks in decoctions. 



An earthen pipkin, with a close cover, is the 



