FAMILY HERBAL. 25 



riers thorn stupid for some hours, but no ill con- 

 sequence has attended this. 



The Bay Thee. Laiirus. 



THE bay is a native of Spain and Italy, where 

 it grows to a large tree : we keep it in gar- 

 dens, but it seldom rises to more than the figure 

 and height of a shrub with m. The wood i* 

 not strong but spongy and friable; the leaves re- 

 main green all winter ; the bark of the large 

 branches is of a dusky brown, that of the twigs 

 reddish; the leaves are long and somewhat broad, 

 pointed at the end and very fragrant : the flow- 

 er? re very small and inconsiderable ; their colour 

 is whitish, they appear in May, but are not re- 

 garded : the berries are ripe in the latter end of au- 

 tumn, and are large and black, consisting of two 

 parts within the same skin. 



The berries are dried, and are the part of the 

 tree mostly used ; but the leaves also have great 

 virtue. The berries are given in powder or in- 

 fusion ; they are good in obstructions, and in 

 cholics. They promote urine, and the evacu- 

 ations after delivery. The leaves are cordial and 

 good in ali nervous complaints. Paralytic people 

 would find great benefit from small doses of 

 them often repeated ; and four or live doses have 

 sometimes cured agues. They are to be put fresh 

 into an oven, and, when they are crisp, reduced to 

 powder. 



Basil. Ocvmum vulgar e majus. 



BASIL i* a small herb, native of warmer 

 countries, but not uncommon in our gardens ; 

 it is bushy and branched ; the stalks are square, 



E 



