FAMILY HERBAL. iOtf 



and distinguished bv its stubborn stalks and low 

 growth. It is not above a foot high, often much 

 less. The leaves are narrow, short, and of a 

 dusky green. The stalk is thick, reddish, some- 

 what flatted, and upright. The ear is flat ; and 

 is composed of a double row of short spikes : this, 

 as well as the stalk, is often of a purplish colour. 

 The root is composed of a great quantity of whitish 

 fibres. 



The roots are to be used ; and they are best dried 

 and given in powder. They are a very excellent 

 astringent ; good against purging, overflowing of 

 the menses, and all other fluxes, and bleeding ; 

 but the last operation is slow, and they must be con- 

 tinued. 'Tis a medicine fitter, therefore, for ha- 

 bitual complaints of this kind, than sudden illness. 



There is an old opinion that the seeds of darnell, 

 when by chance mixed with corn, and made into 

 bread, which may happen, when it grows in corn- 

 fields, occasions dizziness of the head, sickness of 

 the stomach, and all the had effects of drunkenness : 

 they are said also to hurt the eyes ; but we have 

 very little assurance of these effects ; nor are they 

 very probable. They properly belong to another 

 kind of darnell, distinguished by the name of white 

 darnell ; which is a taller plant, and more common 

 in corn-fields than the red ; but this is very much 

 to be suspected upon the faee of the account. The 

 antients make frequent mention of this kind flf 

 darnell, growing, to their great distress, among ^he 

 wheat ; but by the accidental hints some nave 

 given about its height, and the shape of ifs ear, 

 they seem to haye meant the common dogs grass 

 or couch grass, under that name ; though others 

 have seemed to understand the distinction. In this 

 uncertainty, however, remains the matter about 

 which particular kind of grass was really accused 



