35* FAMILY HERBAL. 



powdered, are good against agues, and have th 

 same virtue with wormseed in killing worms ; 

 indeed thej are much better than the wormseed 

 that is commonly to be met with, which is gene-' 

 rally too much decayed. The juice of the large 

 leaves of wormwood, which grow from the root 

 before the stalk appears, is good against the dropsy 

 and jaundice, for it opens obstructions, and works 

 fay urine powerfully. 



Sea 'Wormwood. Absinthium seriphium. 



A PLANT common in our salt-marshes, and 

 about ditches, where salt water comes. It has 

 somewhat the aspect of wormwood, but the leaves 

 are much narrower in the divisions, and the whole 

 plant is smaller. The stalks are woody, firm, up- 

 right, very much branched, and afoot and a half 

 high. The leaves arc whitish and small. The flow- 

 ers stand in loose spikes at the tops of the stalks ; 

 they are little and brown ; and they very much, 

 resemble those of the common wormwood, except 

 for the size. The whole plant has a bitter taste 

 but not disagreeable, and it has a pleasant aroma- 

 tic smell. 



The tops fresh gathered, and the whole plant 

 dry, are used. They call it Roman wormwood 

 at the markets and in the shops ; and it is used 

 for the other : it has the same general virtues. 

 Ail the three kinds indeed possess them in com- 

 mon ; but the common wormwood is the most dis- 

 agreeable to the taste, and sits worst upon the 

 stomach : this is better than that, but it is much 

 more disagreeable than ihc true Roman worm- 

 wood. It is very strengthening to the stomach; 

 it assists digestion, and prevents wind. It is com- 

 monly an ingredient in the bitter infusions, and 



