FAMILY HERBAL; 201 



out ot the ground, the sweetness of its taste renders 

 it agreeable, and it is excellent against coughs, 

 hoarsenesses, and shortness of breath. It also 

 works gently by urine,, and is of service in ulcera- 

 tions of the kidneys and urinary passages, acting 

 there as in lungs at once, as a detergent and balsa- 

 mic. 



The best way of taking it is by sucking or chewing 

 the fresh root : but it may be taken in infusion, or in 

 the manner of tea. The b!ack substance called 

 liquorice juice, and Spanish liquorice, is made by eva- 

 porating a strong decoction of this root. But the 

 fresh root itself is better. 



Noble Liverwort, or Hepatica. Hepatica, 

 7iobilis. 



A commox garden flower, which makes a very 

 pretty figure in spring, and is little regarded, ex- 

 cept as an ornament in our borders ; though it is 

 not without considerable virtues. The leaves are 

 supported each on a single foot-stalk, white, slender, 

 and reddish, they are near an inch broad, and of 

 the same length, and divided each into three parts. 

 The flowers rise early in the spring, before these ap- 

 pear ; they also stand singly on long foot-stalks, and 

 are moderately large and blue, with a greenish head 

 in the middle, the root is fibrous. 



An infusion of the leaves of this plant is good 

 against obstructions of the liver and spleen ; it works 

 gently by urine, and is a good medicine in the jaun- 

 dice, taking it in time. 



Green liverwort. Lichen vulgaris* 



A common low plant, composed wholly of 

 feaves, which spread themselves on the ground, and 



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