234 FAMILY HERBAL. 



green, of a dusty surface ; sometimes they c:rofa 

 one from the edge of another, up to the third or fourth 

 stage : they have also many other accidental varieties 

 and sometimes they bear little brown lumps, which 

 are supposed to contain the seeds. 



The whole plant is to be used ; it is to be taken 

 fresh from the ground, shook clean, and boiled 

 in water, till the decoction be very strong ; then 

 there is to be added as much milk as there is of 

 the liquor, and it is to be sweetened with honey. 

 It is an excellent medicine for children's coughs : 

 it is recommended particularly in that called the 

 chincough. 



Common Guolnb Moss. Mmsciis tcrrestrls vul- 

 garis. 



A pretty, but very small plant. It creeps on 

 the ground, or rises in tufts two or three inches 

 high, according- to the place. The stalks arc very 

 slender, but they are thick, covered with leaves, 

 and their branches are disposed in such a manner 

 that thev in some degree resemble tern. The leaves 

 are very small, of a triangular shajie, and of a bright, 

 green ; they stand loosely on the lower part of 

 the stalks, bat on the upper, they lie close and cover 

 them. It very rarely produces its seeds ; btrt 

 when it does, there rise naked and very slender pedi- 

 cles an inch long from the bosoms of the leaves, and 

 at the top of each of these stands a little oblong; head, 

 of a brownish red colour, covered with a cap like 

 an extinguisher in shape, and full of a fine green 

 dust. 



The whole plant is used ; it is to be dried and 

 oovvdered, and is given with success against overflow- 



ng;s of the mouses, and all bleedings ; it is also good 



<rain < st the whites. 



