OTTLPBPES't OOlfPLSTI RSBBAL. 188 



Poifionous Water Hemlock, CtciUa Virota, and Thick Wa- 

 ter Hemlock, are but accidental yariatiouB which situation 

 and soil naturally produce, they are thought to be poivon- 

 OQB, but there is nothing certain on this head. 



B.'EM'?,-^ Cannabis Sativa.) 



Descrip. — The stalks grow to five or six feet high, an- 

 gular, covered with a strong tough bark : and clothed with 

 many digitated or fingered leaves, each leaf composed of 

 five, six, or seven parts, long and narrow, sharp- pointed, 

 and serrated about the edges, the middlemost being long- 

 est, set together upon one long footstalk ; they are green 

 above, hoary underneath, and rouffb in handling. The 

 flowers grow toward the tops of the stalks, in that they 

 call the male, in small and staminous bunches, which per- 

 ish without bringing any seed ; that being produced by 

 the female only, without any previous flowers. 



Place. — It is cultivated in many counties. 



Time, — It is sown at the end of March, or beginning of 

 April ; and is ripe in August or September. 



Government and Virtues. — It is a plant of Saturn. The 

 ■eed expels wind, and too much use of it dries up the seed 

 for procreation ; yet being boiled in milk, and taken, helps 

 such aa nave a hot or dry cough. The emulsion of the 

 seed is good for the jaundice, if there be ague accompany- 

 ing it, for it opens obstructions of the (?all, and causes di- 

 gestion of choler. The emulsion or decoction of the seed 

 itays the lax and continual fluxes, eases the colic, and al- 

 lays the troublesome humours of the bowels, it also stays 

 bleeding at the mouth, nose, or other placea It is good to 

 kill worms in man or beast ; and the juice dropped into 

 the ears kills worms in tbem, and draws forth earwig or 

 other living creatures. The decoction of the root allays 

 inflammations of the head, or any other parts ; the herb 

 or the difltilled water of it, does the same. The decoction 

 of the root eases the pains of the gout, the hard hu- 

 mours of knots in the joints, the pains and shrinkings of 

 the sinews, and the pains of the hips. The fresh root mix- 

 ed with a little oil and butter, is good for burns. 



HENBANE (COMMON.)— ('^yo^cyamta Niger,^ 



Descrip. — Our Common Henbane has very large, thick, 

 soft, woolly leaves, lying on the ground, much cut in, or 

 torn on the edges, of a dark, ill greyish green colour ; 



