880 otjxpbpeb's complete herbal. 



by nibbing in the morning. It is a most gallant tree of the 

 Sun, yery sympathetica! with the body; that is the reason 

 why spirit of wine is the greatest cordial among vegetables. 



VIOLET.— (Fio^a Odorata,) 



Descrip, — The root is perennial ; it is long, slender, 

 crooked, and fibrous ; they are supported on long slender 

 leaf-stalks, of a roundish figure, heart-shaped at the base, 

 slightly notched at the edges, and of a dark green colour, 

 several slender creeping stems rise from among them, which 

 take root at the joints, and so propagate the plant. The 

 flowers are supported singly on long, slender, fruit-stalka, 

 which rise direct from the root; they are large, of a beau- 

 tiful deep blue or purple, and extremely fragrant. The seeds 

 are egg-shaped, numerous, and furnished with appendages. 



Place, — It is common on warm banks, and produces its 

 blossoms in March and April. 



Time. — It flowers until the end of July, but it is best in 

 March, and the beginning of April 



Oovemment and Virtues. — It is a fine, pleasing plant of 

 Venus, of a mild nature, and no way hurtful. It is cold 

 and moist while fresh and green, and is used to cool any 

 heat or distemperature of the body, either inwardly or 

 outwardly, as inflammations in the eyes, in the matrix or 

 fundament, in imposthumes also, and hot swellings, to 

 drink the decoction of the leaves and flowers made with 

 water or wine, or to apply them as poultices to the affect- 

 ed parts ; it eases pains in the head, caused through want 

 of sleep; or any pains arising from heat, if applied in the 

 same manner, or with oil of roses. A dram weight of the 

 dried leaves or flowers pur^^es the body of choleric hu- 

 mours, if taken in a draught of wine or other drink ; the 

 powder of the purple leaves of the flowers, only picked and 

 dried, and drank in water, helps the quinsy, the falling- 

 sickness in children, especially at the beginning of the dis- 

 ease. The flowers of the white Violets ripen and dissolve 

 swellings. The herb or flowers, while they are fresh, or 

 the flowers that are dry, are effectual in the pleurisy, and 

 all diseases of the lungs, to lenify the sharpness of hot 

 rheums, and hoarseness of the throat, heat and sharpness 

 of urine, and all pains of the back, or reins, and bladder. 



VIOLET (WATER.)— (^o«o»ta Palustris,) 



Descrip. — The root is a tuft of long, black, and slender 

 fibres, wnich penetrate deep into the mud. The leaves are 



