CARROT. 137 



the stone and gravel. Helmont informs us, 

 that he knew a gentleman who was seized 

 with a fit of the stone every fifteen days, 

 freed from the attacks of his disorder for 

 several years, by means of an infusion of car- 

 rot-seed in clear malt liquor. An infusion of 

 them in white wine is excellent in hysteri- 

 cal complaints. 



The roots of the garden carrots are now 

 much used as a poultice for running can- 

 cers, &c. 



Sugar is found in this root, but in less 

 quantities than in the parsnip, or the beet. 

 A very good spirit may be distilled from 

 carrots. An acre of these roots, allowing 

 the produce to be twenty tons, will produce 

 240 gallons of spirits, which is considerably 

 more than can be obtained from five quarters 

 of barley.* 



Parkinson tells us that the gentlewomen 

 of former days, decorated their hats or heads 

 with the leaves of the wild carrot, which in 

 autumn are exceedingly beautiful. This 

 would rather shew the simplicity of our an- 

 cestors than their want of taste ; as we have 



* Hornby in Young's Annals. 



