FAMILY HERBAL. 73 



arstmdisb, brown on (be outside, and white within, 

 and of sweet taste. Tbe plant grows to a foot 

 high ; the leaves are divided into fine and nume- 

 rous partitions ; tbe stalk is firm, upright, round, 

 striated and green ; the flowers are white aad 

 little, but they grow i-n great tufts ou the tops of 

 tbe branches. 



The root is the part used ; it is to be roasted in 

 tbe manner of a chesnut and eaten, it is s?.id to 

 have great virtues as a provocative to venery, but 

 tbis is not well confirmed. 



Chick-weed. Alsint media. 



THE commonest of ail weeds, but not without 

 i.fi virtue. The right sort to use in medicine ( for 

 there are several) is that which grows so common 

 v.\ our garden-b^ds : it is low and branched. Tbe 

 stalks arc round, green, weak, and divided ; they 

 commonly lean on the ground. The leaves are 

 short and broad, of a pleasant green, not dented 

 at tbe edges, and pointed at the end : these grow 

 two at every joint. The flowers are white and small. 



The whole plant, cut to pieces and boiled in 

 lard till it is crisp, converts the lard into a fine 

 green cooling ointment. Tbe juice taken inward- 

 ly, is good against the scurvy. 



The China-root Plant. Smilax ciyus racks 

 China officiorum. 



A NAILING plant frequent in the East Indies, 

 It grows to ten or twelve feet in length, but tbe 

 stiiks are weak and unable to stand erect ; they 

 are ridged, of a browH colour, and set with hook- 

 cd yellow prickles. Tbe leaves are oblong ajid 

 broad, largest at the stalk, aud blunt at the points. 



