84 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



and against the bite of poisonous animals. 

 It has always been esteemed as an excellent 

 cooling cordial in all febrile cases ; and may 

 be justly regarded as a proper simple to be 

 used in an over-heated state of the blood : it 

 is generally administered in decoctions and 

 infusions with other cooling medicines. 



Coles, and M. Valmont Bomare, say, these 

 flowers have no virtue when dry, therefore it 

 is better, in the winter, to use the roots, 

 which, being fresh, possess all the qualities 

 of the blossoms. 



Water distilled from both the leaves and 

 flowers of this plant, has been formerly kept 

 in the shops, as well as a conserve of the 

 blossoms ; but these are very little regarded in 

 modern practice, especially in England, where 

 most diseases (says Brown) proceed rather 

 from inaction and the viscidity of the juices. 



By the experiments of M. Margraaf, in 

 1747, it appears, that the juice of this plant 

 affords a true nitre. The clarified juice of 

 borage evaporated by a water-bath, in a con- 

 sistency of thick honey, becomes saponaceous, 

 and will dissolve in part in spirit of wine. 

 The juice of the borage, distilled at a naked 

 fire, bloats itself out considerably, and yields 

 an insipid phlegm, which is soon followed by 



