34 FAMILY HERBAL. 



the tree makes a very singular appearance. The 

 fruit is a pod, long, but slender, and containing two 

 seeds : these are what we call the ben-nuts. They 

 are of an oblong figure, and irregularly rigid ; the 

 shell is hard, but the kernel fat, soft, and oily, and 

 of a bitter taste. 



The kernel operates by vomit and stool violently, 

 and is seldom used. It affords an oil which has nei- 

 ther smell nor taste, and which will keep a long time 

 without growing rancid. 



The Benjamin Tree. Arbor benzionifera. 



A BEAUTIFUL tree frequent in the East, and 

 there affording the fine fragrant resin of its name : 

 it is also of the growth of America, and thrives 

 there, but it yields no resin. It is a moderaccly 

 tall tree ; the bark is smooth and brown ; the 

 leaves are broad, oblong, and not unlike those 

 of the lemon-tree. The flowers are whitish, 

 and very inconsiderable. The fruit is as big as 

 a nutmeg, and consists of a fleshy substance on 

 the outside, and a kernel inclosed in a thin and brit- 

 tle shell within. The tree is properly of the bay- 

 tree kind. 



They cut the branches of the benjamin trees, 

 and the juice which flows out hardens by de- 

 grees into that reddish and white fragrant resin 

 we see. It is an excellent medicine in disorders of 

 the breast and lungs : and a tincture of it made 

 with spirit of wine makes water milky, and this 

 mixture is called virgins '-milk ; it is good to cleanse 

 the skin. 



Wood Betony. Butonica sylveslris. 



A COMMON wild herb, but of very great vir- 



