210 FAMILY HERBAL 



in the rest, in form of a brown dust, on the under part 

 of these leaves. 



The plant grows frequently on the sides of old 

 wells and on damp wails, and it is used entire. A 

 syrup, made from an infusion of it, is the best shift 

 we could make for the true French capellaire ; but 

 that is so easy to be had, that no such shift is neces- 

 sary ; an infusion of the dry plant may also b# 

 used. 



White Maidenhair. Adiantum album. 



A very little plant of the fern kind., and of 

 the nature of the two others just described. Some 

 will be surprised at the calling it a very little plant, 

 having seen leaves a foot long, sold in Covent Gar- 

 den, under that name ; but this is an imposition : 

 they sell a kind of water fern under this name. 

 The real white maidenhair, is not above two inches 

 high. The stalks are very slender, and of a whitish 

 green, not black as in the others. The leaves 

 are divide into a great many small parts, and at 

 first sight u. have some resemblance of the leaves 

 of rue. The . <is are contaiaed in brown lumps, 

 behind the leaver :overing the greatest part of the 

 surface. 



This is not uncommon in old walls : it has the 

 same virtues with the otht - against coughs, and a de- 

 coction of it is also strong! v diuretic, and good against 

 the gravel, and all stoppages of mine. 



Black M udenhair. Adiantum nigrum. 



Axo.m.i? of the small plant* of the fern kind, 

 and more of the shanc and form of the common, 

 fei is, than am vet described II is like the com- 



