CUI^EPKK'8 completb hebbal. 161 



which it aboQDda, discussiye : it seldom agrees with drj 

 constitationa, but it performs almost miracles in phleg- 

 matic haWilfi of body. It wonderfully opens the lungs, 

 and gives relief in asthmas ; nor is it without its merit in 

 wind colick" ; and is a good diuretic, which appears by the 

 smell it communicates to the urine. It is very useful in 

 obstructions of the kidneys, and dropsies, especially in that 

 which IB called anasarca. It may oe taken in a morning 

 fasting, or else the conserve of Garlic which is kept in the 

 shops may be used. 



GEin:iAN,—( Sivtrtia Perennis.) 



Called also Baldmony, and Felwort. 



It is confessed that Gentian, which is most used among 

 Qfl, was brought from beyond the sea, yet we have several 

 sorts of it growing frequently in this country, which, be- 

 sides the reasons so often alleged, why English herbs should 

 be fittest for English bodies, has been proved, by the ex- 

 perience of divers physicians, not to be a whit inferior in 

 virtue to that which comes from beyond sea ; therefore be 

 pleased to take the description of them as follows : — 



Descrip. — There are two sorts, the greater of which has 

 many small long roots thrust deep down into the ground, 

 and abides all the winter. The stalks are sometimes more, 

 sometimes fewer, of a brownish green colour, and frequent- 

 ly two feet high, if the ground oe fruitful, having many 

 long, narrow, dark green leaves, set by couples up to the 

 top : the flowers are long and hollow, of a purple colour, 

 ending in fine comers. The smaller sort, which is to be 

 found in this country, grows up sundry stalks, not a foot 

 high, parted into several smaller branches, whereon grow 

 divers small leaves together, very like those of the leaser 

 centuary, of a whitish green colour ; on the top of these 

 stftlks grow divers perfect blue flowers, standing in long 

 busks, but not so big as the other : the root is very small 

 and full of threads. Autumnal Gentian, or Lung-flower, 

 with large bell-Bhaped blue flowers ; Perfoliate Gentian, 

 and Centaury Gentian, with small blue flowers, constitute 

 all the species natives of Britain ; and their difference has 

 occasioned some to divide them into several imaginary 

 sorts ; but their virtues are alike, and their flowers declare 

 them of the same genus. 



Place. — They are common on hilly pastures, but are 

 kept in botanic (;arden^ 



