FAMILY HERBAL, 71 



tt was, for this reason, in constant use as a remedy 

 for children's fits. But a belter praciice has now 

 obtained : it is highly probable that this water oc- 

 casioned the disorders it was given to remove. 

 Laurel water, when made of a great strength, we 

 know to be a sudden poison: when weak, it tastes 

 like black-cherry-water, and is not mortal ; in the 

 same manner black-cherry-water, which used to 

 be given to children when weak drawn, has been 

 found to be poisonous when of great strength. There 

 is therefore the greatest reason imaginable to sup- 

 pose that in any degree of strength, it may do mis- 

 chief. Very probably thousands of children have 

 died by this unsuspected medicine 



The gum which hangi upon the branches of 

 cherry-trees, is of the same nature with the gum 

 arabic, and may be used for the same purposes, as 

 in heat of urine, dissolved in barley-water. 



Winter Cherry. Alkekengi. 



A VERY singular and prelty plant kept in our 

 gardens ; it grows two feet high, not very erect, 

 nor much branched ; the stalk is thick, strong, 

 and angulated : the leaves are large, broad, and 

 sharp pointed ; the flowers are moderately large, 

 and white, but with yellow threads in the middle ; 

 the fruit is a round red berry, of the bigness of a 

 common red cherry, contained in a green hollow 

 husk, round, and as big as a walnut. 



The berries are the only part used, they are to 

 be separated from the husks and dried ; and may be 

 then given in powder or decoction. They are verv 

 good in stranguries, heat of urine, or the gravel : 

 they are also given in jaundices, and dropsies : 

 they will do good in these cases, but are not to be 

 depended upon alone. 



