70 FAMILY HERBAL 



pleasant bitter, and given in infusion ; it strength- 

 ens the stomach, creates an appetite, and is good 

 also against obstructions of the liver and spleen. 

 It is on this last account greatly recommended in 

 jaundices; and the country people cure agues with 

 it dried and powdered. 



As there are a greater and lesser celandine, there 

 is also a great as well as this little centaury ; but 

 the large kindis not a native of our country, nor 

 used by us in medicine. 



Chaste Tree. j4gnus castrus. 



A LITTLE shrub, native of Italy, and frequent 

 in our gardens. It is five or six feet high; the 

 trunk is rough, the branches are smooth, grey, 

 tough, and long; the leaves are fingered or spread 

 like the fingers of one's hand when opened : five, 

 six, or seven, of these divisions stand on each stalk, 

 they are of a deep green above, and whitish under- 

 neath ; the flowers are small and of a pale reddish 

 hue ; they stand in long loose spikes ; the fruit is 

 as big as a pepper-corn. 



The seeds of this shrub were once supposed 

 to allay veuery, but no body regards that now. A 

 decoction of the leaves and tops is good against 

 obstructions of the liver. 



The Black Cherry Tree. Corasusfructu nigra. 



THIS is a well known tall tree, and well shaped. 

 Tin leaves are broad, roundish, sharp at the point, 

 and indented round the edges. The flowers are 

 -white, the fruit is well enough known. The medicinal 

 part of this is the kernel within the stone. This lias 

 b/co supposed good against apoplexies, palsies, 

 and all nervous diseases. The water distilled from 



