FAMILY HERBAL.' 269 



and it gives great proof of the authenticity of the 

 rest ; this is, that the seeds are broad, Hat, striated, 

 and have a foSianous rim, as those of dili. We 

 could know by tl. .e which are found very fre- 

 quently among the gum, that it was a plant of this 

 kind which produced it : so that there is great pro- 

 bability that the rest of the description, which has 

 been given us by those who did not know we had 

 this confirmation at home, is true. These seeds 

 often appear verv fair and sound. I have caused a 

 great number of them to be sown, but they have 

 never grown. Though one of the sagapennm seeds 

 grew up a little when sown among them : it would 

 be worth while to repeat the experiment, for some 

 times it might succeed. 



We use a gum or rather gum resin, for it is of 

 a mixed nature between both, which is procured 

 from this plant, but from what part of it, or in 

 what manner we are not informed ; it is whitish, of 

 an acrid taste, with some bitterness, and is an ex- 

 cellent medicine. It is superior to all other drugs 

 in an asthma, and is good to promote the menses, 

 and to 0[)?.n obstructions of all kinds. The best 

 way of giving it is dissolved in hyssop water. 

 Ic makes a milky solution. It is used externally 

 also in plaistcrs for hard swellings, and pains in 

 the joints, 



Kroad Leaved Plantain. Plant ago major. 



A COMMON plant by our way-sides, with 

 broad short leaves, and long slender spikes of brown 

 seeds. The leaves rise all from the root, for 

 there are none upon the stalk. They are of a some- 

 what oval figure, and irregularly indented at the 

 edges, sometimes scarce at all. They have several 

 large ribs, but these do not grow side-ways from 



