FAMILY HERBAL. 221 



arc round,, striated, hollowed, upright, not very 

 strong". The leaves are each composed of three 

 smaller : they are of a dark green colour, blunt at 

 the points, and indented about the edges. The flow- 

 ers are small and white : they stand in little umbels 

 at the tops of the branches. The roots are Jong, 

 brown, divided,, of astrongsmell,and a sharp aromatic 

 taste. 



The root is the part used : it is good in fevers, dis- 

 orders of the head, and of the stomach and bowels. 

 It is best taken up fresh, and given in a light infu- 

 sion : it promotes sweat, and is a better medicine for 

 that purpose, than most of the foreign roots kept by 

 druggists. 



Maudlin. Ageratum. 



A common plant in our gardens, not without 

 beauty, but kept more for its virtues. It ls a foot 

 high. The stalk is round, upright, firm, single, 

 and of a prJe green. The leaves are very numer- 

 ous, and thev are longish, narrow, and serrated 

 about th. c .f.es. The flowers are small and naked, 

 consisting only of a kind of thrums ; but they 

 stand in a large cluster together, at the top of the 

 stalk, in the manner of an umbel. The whole plant 

 has a pleasant smell. 



The whole is used, fresh or dried ; but it is best 

 fresh gathered. An infusion of it taken for a continu- 

 ance of time, is good against obstructions of the liver : 

 it operates by urine. 



Stinking Mayweed. Coiula foctida. 



A common wild plant in com fields, and waste 

 grounds, with finely divided leaves and white 

 flpweis like daizies. The stalk is round and stria- 



