SI 4 OULPSPBB'S OOXFLBTX wimnAT^ 



which is much better, taken in drink, purges downward! 

 phle^atically, whitish, melancholy, and a^ust humours, 

 and IS eflfectual for the dropsy, to provoke urine, and ex- 

 pel the dead child. It opens stoppings of the liver and 

 and spleen, and wastes the hardness thereof ; but it must 

 be used with discretion, as a great quantity is hurtful and 

 dangerous. The ashes are sharp and biting, like a caustic, 

 and the lye that is made thereof is so strong that it will 

 fetch off the skin from any part of the body ; but it may 

 be mixed with other moderate medicines, to take away 

 scabs, leprosy, and to cleanse the skin. 



SAMPHIRE (PBlCKLY.)-{Ihhinoph(}ra Spinosa.) 



Called also Sea Fennel 



Bescrip. — It is a much lower plant than the common 

 Fennel, having, broader, shorter, thicker leaves, of a dull 

 green colour; the stalk grows scarcely a foot high, having 

 the like leaves on it ; and on the top it bears umbels of 

 small yellowish flowers, and after them roundish seed, like 

 fennel seed, but larger. The root is thick and long, con- 

 tinuing several yeara It has an aromatic smell and taste. 



Place. — It grows on rocks by the sea-side, in many parts 

 of England, as in liancashire, Sussex, and Faversham. 



Oovemmerit and Virtiies. — This is a martial plant, and is 

 more agreeable as a pickle than useful as a medicine. It 

 is, however, strengthening to the stomach, and procures an 

 appetite, provokes urine, opens obstructions of the bowels, 

 and helps the jaundice. 



SAMPHIRE (RCM:JK or SMALUy^Crithmum 

 Maritimv/m.) 



Descrip, — It grows up with a tender ffreen stalk about a 

 half yard or two feet high at the most, branching forth al- 

 most from the bottom, and stored with sundry thick and 

 almost round leaves, of a deep green colour, sometimes two 

 together, and sometimes more on a stalk, sappy, and of a 

 pleasant hot and spicy taste. At the tops of the stalks and 

 branches stand umbels of white flowers, and after them 

 come the seed larger than fennel-seed, but somewhat like 

 it. The root is great, white, and long, continuing for 

 many years ; and is of a hot and spicy taste likewise. 



Place, — ^It jgrows on rocks that are washed by sea- water, 



TifM, — It flowers and seeds in July and August. 



Government and Virtues. — It is an herb of Jupiter, and 

 was formerly used more than it is now. It is well-knowB 



