FAMILY HERBAL. 157 



roach the cause of disorders, that the common gen- 

 Ac ones would not touch ; and the present practice 

 denies the use of many of the best medicines we 

 know. 



Gout Wort. Padagrara herb a gerrardi. 



A common wild plant over-running our gar- 

 dens, and when once it has taken root very diffi- 

 cult to be got out again ; it grows two feet high. 

 The leaves which rise from the roots are large, 

 and they are composed each of several smaller, set 

 on a divided rib, in the manner of those of angelica, 

 of which they have some resemblance. They are 

 of a pale green colour, and are oblong and in- 

 dented at the edges. The stalks are round, up- 

 right, and a little branched, they are slender, stri- 

 ated, and green ; the leaves on these are smaller, 

 and consist of fewer parts than those that rise from 

 the root. The flowers are little and white, and 

 they stand in small round clusters ; each is suc- 

 ceeded by two flat seeds. The root creeps. 



The root and fresh buds of the leaves are both 

 used, but only externally ; they are excellent in 

 fomentations, and pultices for pains ; and the plant 

 has obtained its name from their singular efficacy 

 against the pain of the gout : but it is not advise- 

 ahle to do any thing in that disorder ; the warm 

 applications of this kind are of all others the least 

 dangerous. I have known a quantity of the roots 

 and leaves boiled soft together, and applied to the 

 hip in the sciatica, keeping a fresh quantity hot 

 to renew the other, as it grew cold, and I have seen 

 great good effect from it. Its use should not be 

 confined to this pain alone, it will succeed in 

 there. 



