FAMILY HERBAL. 151 



the} - stand at the upper joints of the stalks., in little 

 parcels tog-ether. The whole plant has a strong* and 

 disagreeable smell. 



The whole plant is to be used fresh or dried. , 

 It has been celebrated greatly as a sudorific, and for 

 its virtues against pestilential fevers, but it is now 

 little used. 



Ginger. Zinziber. 



An East India plant, found also in other places, 

 and very singular in its manner of growth. It 

 produces two kinds of stalks, the one bearing the 

 leaves, and the other only the flowers. The first 

 grow two or three feet high, and are themselves 

 composed in a manner of the lower parts of leaves ; 

 so that they seem to be only bundles of leaves rolled 

 together at the bottom. These are long, narrow, 

 and in some degree resemble the leaves of our com- 

 mon flags. The other stalks are tender, soft, and 

 about a foot high : they have no leaves on them, 

 but only a kind of films, and at the tops they 

 produce the flowers, in a spike : these are small, 

 in shape like those of our orchis, and of a mixed 

 colour, purple, white, and yellow. The root spreads 

 irregularly under the surface. 



The root is the only part used : we have it diy 

 at the grocers ; but the best way of taking it, is 

 as it comes over preserved from the East Indies. 

 It is a warm and fine stomachic, and dispeller of 

 wind. It assists digestion, and prevents or cures 

 cholics. It is also an excellent addition to the 

 rough purges, to prevent their griping in the 

 operation. 



Gladwyn. Xyris sivc spatula fcotida. 



S wild plant of the iris kind, of no great 



