166 CITLPSPSB'S COMPLETE HEBBAL 



leaves growing alternately on the joints, consisting of six 

 or eight pair of long oval pinnae, smooth and not indented 

 about the tdges, which are apt to be folded together. The 

 flowers grow in long spikes, hanging downwards in the 

 shape of pea-blossom, but less, of a pale whitish blue co- 

 lour J the seed grows in long erect pods : the root is thick, 

 spreading in the earth, and abiding long. 

 Pla/ce, — It is a native of Italy, but grows in our gardens 

 Tifnt, — It flowers in June and July. 

 Oovemment and Virtttes. — Goat's- Kue is under Mer- 

 cury in Leo, and is accounted cordial, sudorific, and alexi- 

 Eharmic, and good against pestilential distempers, expel- 

 ug the venom through the pores of the skin ; and is of 

 use in all kinds of fevers, small-pox and measles ; it like- 

 wise kills worms, and cures the bites of all kinds of veno- 

 mous creatures. Some commend a decoction of it for the 

 gout ; and a bath made of it is very refreshing to wash 

 the feet of persons tired with overwaJking. In the north- 

 em countries they use this herb for making their cheeses, 

 instead of Kennet, whence it is called also Cheese- Rennet: 

 the flowers containing an acidity, which may be ^ot by 

 distillation. This plant is selddin used in the shops. 



GOAT'S THORN, or TBAQAlirr.-^Astragalu* 

 Tragaccmtha. ) 



Desorip, — It grows with a woodv tough root, the stem 

 is moderately thick, and furnished with branches which 

 are covered with dark green leaves ; the flowers are pro- 

 duced in clusters at the tops of the branches, and they are 

 small and white. The blossom, when it appears, is but- 

 terfly-shaped ; the standard or upper petal, is longer than 

 the rest, reflected on the sides, and notched at the end ; 

 the winffs, or side petals, are shorter than the standard, 

 and the Keel, or lowermost of all, is notched at the end. 



Place.— A native of the East, but grows in our gardens. 



Time, — It flowers here in August 



Oovemment and Virtues. — It is under the dominion of 

 Mars. A gum, known by the name of gum dragant, or 

 tragacanth, is the produce of this little shrub, and sweats 

 out at the bottom of the stem during the heats of summer. 

 It is good for tickling coughs; arising from sharp acrid 

 humours, and against the strangury and heat of urine i 

 but it is far from being a pleasant medicine. 



