FAMILY HERBAL. 299 



Turkey. They have a peculiar method of curing 

 it, ; they make it clean and then soak it four and 

 twenty hours in water ; after this, they hang a 

 quantity of it in a coarse cloth, over the steam of a 

 pot in which rice is boiling ; this softens it, but it 

 gives it a sort of transparence, and qualifies it for 

 drying ; these juicy roots, otherwise growing" moul- 

 dy. When they have thus far prepared it, they 

 string it upon a thread, and hang it in an airy place 

 to dry ; it becomes tough as horn, and transparent. 

 This is a practice common in the East with the roots 

 they dry for use, and it would be well if we would 

 practise it here ; the fine transparent kind of ginseng, 

 which we have from China, is dried in this manner. 

 It is highly probable, nay it is nearly a certainty, 

 that the roots Oi' our common orchis have all the 

 qualities and effects of this salep, but we do not 

 know how to dry them. If we tried this method, 

 it might succeed ; and in the same manner, our own 

 fields and meadows might afford us many medicines, 

 what at present we purchase at a great price, from 

 the farthest parts of the earth. 



The dried root is the part used ; and it is an ex- 

 cellent restorative, to be given to persons wasted 

 with long illnesses : the best way is to put a small 

 quantity of it in powder, into a bason of warm 

 water, which it instantly turns into a jelly, and a 

 little wine and sugar are to be added. The Turks 

 use it as a provocative to vencry : they take it dis- 

 solved in water, with ginger and honey. 



Sampshire. Crithmum maritimum. 



A plant not uncommon about sea coasts, with 

 much of the appearance of fennel, only not so tall : 

 some have called it sea fennel. It is two feet high. 

 The leaves arc large, and divided in the manner 



