FAMILY HERBAL. 367 



to be described in its place. The leaves of the 

 zedoary plant are large, very broad, and not 

 vastly long ; they stand in clusters, encircling 

 one another at the bases : the flowers stand on 

 separate stalks : these are only eight or ten inches 

 high. They are small, of an irregular shape, 

 and purplish. 



The root is the only part used ; our drug- 

 gists keep it dry ; it is a warm cordial, and 

 stomachic medicine : it strengthens the stomach, 

 assists digestion, and expels wind. It is good 

 also in all nervous complaints, such as lowness of 

 spirits, faintings, tremblings of the limbs, and 

 restlessness. An ounce of zedoary, sliced thin, 

 and put into a quart of wine, makes an excellent 

 tincture for these purposes, and is very good 

 taken in the quantity of a small glass, on going 

 into a damp, or what i* suspected to ba a taint- 

 ed air. 



The Zerumbeth Plant. Zcrmnl-eiha. 



THE zemmbeth plant in same respects re- 

 sembles that which affords the zedoary, but it 

 is larger. It is a native of t'he East, and baa 

 not been yet got into our gardens. The leaves grow 

 together in such a maimer as to farm a kind" of 

 stalk ; this is six feet high or more ; but it is 

 only formed of their lower parts wrapped round 

 one another, m t'ie manner of the leaves of our 

 flags. The loose part of each leaf is long, nar- 

 row, and of a bluish green. The flowers stand 

 upon separate stalks ; these rise about a foot 

 high, and arc of a brownish colour : they have 

 only a ort of films upon them in the place of 

 leaves. The flowers stand in a short and thick 

 ipike, at the tops of these, they are oblong, 



