354 FAMILY HERBAL.' 



in its manner of growing. It is two feet high, 

 when it grows in a favourable soil, and has 

 bushes or any thing else to support it. The stalks 

 are weak and green ; the leaves stand irregularly 

 on them, and they are oblong, narrow, and auri- 

 culated at the bottom. The flowers are small, 

 hollow, and of a deep dusky purplish colour. 

 The root is composed of a vast quantity of strings, 

 which are of a dusky olive colour, and of a 

 strong smell and aromatic taste. The roots of 

 this plant were the first that came into use, under 

 the name of Virginian snakeroot, but there arc 

 upon the spot two other plants of the same kind, 

 though different specie^, which have thready roots 

 of the same form, and they are indifferently taken 

 up for use; they all seem to have the same vir- 

 tue, so that there is no harm in the mixture. 

 There i3 sometimes another root mixed among 

 them ; but that is easily distinguished, for it is 

 black, and these are all of the same dusky olive 

 colour. This last adulteration should be avoided. 

 The Virginian sn.ikeroot is an excellent medi- 

 cine in fevers ; it operates by urine and by sweat, 

 and will often take off inveterate head-achs. 

 It is also given by some as a remedy against 

 worms ; and it was originally famous against the 

 poison of the rattle-snake, and was a remedy we 

 icarnt from the Indians. It is good against 

 worms in children, and may be given in small 

 doses for a continuance of time. Scarce any 

 thing is more effectual. 



The Vomic Nut Tre*. Nux vomica^ 



A TALL and spreading tree of the East, very 

 like that which affords the wood called snake- 

 wood in the shops, and by some supposed th 



