OflTLriPBR's COMPLETB HBRBAL. 2t3 



flattish and round. The root is long and white, of a firm 

 texture, and has no disagreeable taste. 



Ftace. — It crows every where by way-sides. 



Time. — It flowers in May and June. 



Oovemment and Virtue, — All the Mallows are under 

 Venus. The whole plant is used, but the root has most 

 virtue. The leaves dried or fresh, are put into decoctions 

 for clyuters ; the root may be dried, but it is best fresh, if 

 chosen when there are only leaves growing from it, not a 

 stalk. When boiled in water, the strong decoction is good 

 if drank, to provoke urine, take off the strangury, sharp 

 humours of the bowels, and the gravel Sweetened with 

 syrup of violets, it cures the dysury or pain of making wa- 

 ter with heat ; for which a conserve of Mallow flowers is 

 good, or a syrup of the juice, or a decoction of turnips, or 

 willow, or lime-tree ashes, or the syrup of ground-ivy. 

 There is a smaller kind of Mallow, with white flowers, 

 which lies flat on the ground. It has a more pleasant taste, 

 with all the virtues of the foregoing. A tea made of the 

 roots and tope is agreeable, and gowi to promote urine. 



MALLOWS (COMMON UABSR.)'-(AlthceaOJicinali$,) 



Descrip. — Our common Marshmallows have divers soft 

 hairy white stalks, three or four feet high, spreading forth 

 many branches, the leaves are soft and hairy, smaller than 

 the other Mallow leaves, but longer pointed, cut, for the 

 most part, into some few divisions, but deep. The flowers 

 are many, but smaller than other Mallows, and white, or 

 bluish coloured. After which come long, round cases 2lnd 

 seeds, as in other Mallows. The roots are manv and long, 

 shooting from one head, of the size of a thumo or finger, 

 very pliant, tough, like Liquorice, of a whitish yellow co- 

 lour on the outside, and white within, full of a slimy juice, 

 which if laid in water will thicken, as if it were a jelly. 



P'ace. — It grows in most of the salt marshes, from 

 Woolwich down to the sea, and in other places. 



Time. — It flowers all the summer months. 



Oovemment and Virtues. — I'he leaves and roots boiled 

 in water, with parsley or fennel roots, helps to open the 

 body, C(X)1 hot apues, and other di8teni|)€rs of the Dody, if 

 the leaves be applied warm to the belly. It not only voids 

 hot choleric, ana other ofl'ensive humours, but eases the 

 pains of the belly ccniing thereby ; and are therefore used 

 to all clysters, and for giving abundance of milk to nurswi 



