KLDER. 147 



in general will browse upon. The whole plant has a narcotic 

 smell, and it is thought not prudent to sleep" under its shade. 

 It is probable that this tree, particularly when in blossom, 

 may inhale more impure .air than many others of slower 

 growth. This would naturally be exhaled in the night 

 and possibly to the injury of those who continued to 

 breathe the immediate air of the tree ; but the author has 

 resided in a cottage nearly surrounded with these trees 

 without perceiving any ill effects, although his children 

 were daily playing and sitting beneath their shade, at a 

 time when the branches were covered with blossom. We 

 shall, in a future work, notice how this tree may be made 

 exceedingly ornamental in the shrubbery. 



The berries are esteemed cordial, and useful in hysteric 

 disorders ; and are often put into gargarisms for sore 

 mouths and throats. 



The fungous excrescences, which are often found 

 growing on the trunk of the elder-tree, bearing the re^ 

 semblance of an ear, black in the inside and of a whitish 

 colour on the outside, (called auricula Judaorurri) are ac- 

 counted good for inflammations and swellings of the 

 tonsils, sore throats, and quinsies. 



The wine made from elder-berries is too well known by 

 families in the country to require any encomiums : it is 

 the only wine the cottager can procure, and, when well 

 made, is a most excellent and wholesome drink, taken 

 warm before going to bed. It causes gentle perspiration, 

 and is a mild opiate ; and may be taken safely and with 

 advantage, by those of costive habits. 



If a rich syrup be made from ripe elder-berries and a 

 few bitter almonds, when added to brandy it has all the 

 flavour of the very best cherry-brandy. 



The white elder-berries, when ripe, make wine much 

 resembling rich grape-wine. 



