FAMILY HERBAL. 37 



r.nd notched about the edjres. The flowers are 

 inconsiderable ; the fruit is a little scaly globule, 

 preceding the leaves in spring 1 . 



The juice of the birch-tree, procured by boring 

 a hole in it in spring-, is diuretic, and good against 

 the scurvy. The leaves, fresh gathered, and boil- 

 ed in water, afford a decoction, which acts in the 

 same manner, and is good in dropsies : and in all 

 cutaneous disorders, outwardly used. 



ROUND-ROOTED BlRTHWORT. Aristolocllicl TV- 



t unci a. 



A WILD plant in Italy, and the south of 

 Fiance ; but with us found onlv in the gardens of 

 the curious. It has no great beautv, or even sin- 

 gularity in its appearance, till examined. The 

 stalks are a foot and a half long, but weak ; 

 they are square, and of a duskv green colour. The 

 leaves are short, broad, and roundish, of a dusky 

 green ; also the flowers are long, hollow, and of 

 ati odd form, not resembling the flowers of other 

 plants : they are of a duskv greenish colour on 

 the outside, and purple within : the fruit is fleshy, 

 and as big as a small walnut. The root is large 

 and roundish. 



The root is the only part used in medicine, 

 and that we have from countries where the plant 

 is native ; it is a rough and disagreeable medicine ; 

 it often offends the stomach, but it is an excellent 

 'hug for promoting the necessary evacuations after 

 deliverv. 



There are two other kinds f birthwort, the 



root of which are also kept in the shops ; the one 



illed the lone: birthwort ; the other the climbing 



! ,-i ribwort. They possess the same virtues with tbs 



