50 FAMILY HERBAL. 



but, because they are so, we foolishly neglect 

 them. 



It is hardly necessary to describe the common bur- 

 dock, [t may be enough to say, that it grows a yard 

 high, and has vast leaves, of a figure approach- 

 ing- to triangular, and of a whitish green colour. 

 The stalks are round, striated, and vcrv tough : 

 The flowers arc small and red, and they grow 

 among the hooked prickles of those heads which 

 we call burs, and which stick to our clothes. 

 Even this seems a provision of nature in kindness 

 to us. In pulling oil' these we scatter the seeds of 

 Which they are composed, and give rise to a most 

 useful plant in a new place. The root of the 

 burdock is long and thick; brown on the outside, 

 and whitish within ; this is the part used in me- 

 dicine, and it is of very great virtues. It is to 

 be boiled, or infused in water, the virtue is diu- 

 retic, and it is very powerfully so. It has cured 

 dropsies alone. The seeds have t!ie same virtue, 

 but in a less degree. The root is said to be 

 sudorific and good in fevers ; hut its virtue in ope- 

 rating by urine is its great value. 



Burnet. Pifiipinclla sanguisorba. 



A COMMON wild plant. It grows by way- 

 sides, and in i\ry places, and flowers in July. The 

 leaves which rise immediately from the root are 

 very beautiful ; they are of the winged kind, being 

 composed of a great number of smaller, growing 

 on each side a middle rib, with an odd one at the 

 end. They are broad, short, roundish, and elegant- 

 ly serrated round the edjrcs. The stalks are a 

 foot high, round, striated, purplish or green, and 

 almost naked ; the few leaves they have are like 

 tha-e at the bottom. On the tops of these stalks 



