342 FAMILY HERBAL. 



station of the piles, the distilled oil is sometimes 

 dropped on cotton to cure the tooth-ach, applying 

 it to the tooth ; the powder kills all kinds of vermin. 

 As to the custom of chewing 1 and taking it as snuff, 

 little can be said for them, from practice, and nothing 

 from reason : nor much for smoking". If these cus- 

 toms had any good tendency, it would be taken off by 

 the constant practice. 



There is a lesser, greener kind of tobacco, called 

 English tobacco. It has the same virtues with the 

 other, but in a more remiss degree. The leaves are 

 often sold for those of the other. 



Tormentil. Tormenlilla. 



A very common wild plant, but very prettv. 

 and of great virtue. The stalks are eight inches 

 long, but they don't stand upright. They are verv 

 slender, round, and of a brownish colour. The 

 leaves stand seven or thereabout together at a joint, 

 ail rising from one base ; they are narrow, longish, 

 pointed at the ends, and serrated at the edges, and 

 of a dtep green. The iiowers are small, but of a 

 beautiful shining yellow : they grow on slender 

 foot stalks, and are of the shape and colour of the 

 crow-foot flowers, only more beautiful ; and much 

 less. The roots are large, thick, and crooked, brown 

 en the outside, and reddish within, and of an austere 

 taste. 



The root is the part used, and it is best dried ; it 

 may be given in powder, or decoction. The pow- 

 der is excellent against the bleeding of the piles, 

 bloody stools, and the overflowings of the menses. 

 Two ounces of the root added to a quart of hartf- 

 liorn drink in the boiling, gives it a pretty colour, 

 ar.d .ulds to its virtue ; the root is cordial as well as 

 astringent, and operates a little by sweat : this de- 



