FAMILY HERBAL 161 



ous account sent lately to a person of distinction 

 with seme leaves of the herb. There is no doubt 

 of the truth, and the surgeons will very well under- 

 stand the nature of the cure ; the discovery how- 

 ever is not new, for the herb has always been 

 reckoned among the vulnerary plants ; and some 

 have pretended that it will singly cure the king's 

 evil., but that is not to be expected ; at the same 

 time it may be proper to observe, that we do not 

 want plants for the same use in England ; we have 

 the tutsan which is to be applied in the same man- 

 ner, and has the same effect ; clown's all-heal, and 

 many others, named in their places. 



Hare's Foot. Lagopus, 



A common little plant, singular in the tuft, 

 which contains its seeds, and whence it has its 

 name, but not so much regarded as it ought to be 

 for its virtues. The stalks are numerous, round, 

 slender, and spread upon the ground, each is 

 divided into a number of lesser branches. The leaves 

 are small, oblong, narrow, of a pa'e green colour, 

 and hairy ; and they stand three together, in the 

 manner of trefoils. The flowers are small and of 

 a faint red, they stand several together in a short 

 spike, and the cups which receive them at the 

 base, are downy ; this gives the singular aspect of 

 hairiness to these heads, and their softness to the 

 touch. 



The whole plant is to be used dried. It is an 

 excellent astringent. It stops the overflowings of 

 the menses and the whites, and is good against 

 bloody fluxes, and purgings of all kinds. The best 

 way of taking it is in a strong decoction, which 

 must be continued some time. 



