FAMILY HERBAL. 319 



The tops of the young branches are used ; a 

 decoction of them is good against worms, but it is 

 a very disagreeable medicine. Beaten into a con- 

 serve with three times their weight of sugar, they 

 are not very unpleasant, and they are in this form 

 good against nervous disorders, and in all hysteric 

 complaints. 



Sowthistle. So?ichus asper. 



A common weed in our gardens, and about 

 our houses. It is three feet high ; the stalk is 

 round, thick, green, and upright. The leaves are 

 long, and not very broad ; they are indented at the 

 edges, and prickly between the indentings. When 

 any part of the plant is broken, there runs out a 

 milky juice. The flowers are large, and yellow : 

 they are somewhat like those of dandelion, and 

 stand in a kind of scaly cup. The seeds have 

 down affixed to them. The root is long and 

 white. 



The leaves are to be used fresh gathered ; a strong 

 infusion of them works by urine, and opens obstruc- 

 tions. Some eat them in sallads, but the infusion 

 has more power. There arc three or four other 

 kinds of sowthistle, common in some places with this, 

 and they have all the same virtues, but this has them 

 most in perfection. 



Speedwell. I eromca ??ias 



A common little plant in our dry pastures, 

 and on heaths. The stalks are six or eight inches 

 long ; the leaves are short, and of an oval figure, 

 The stalks are not upright : they trail along the 

 ground, only rising at thin upper parts. The 

 Jm\cs are of a pale green colour, a little hairy, 



