394 CULPEPEB'8 COMPLETE BEBBAL. 



the top are long, narrow, and a little indeDted. The flow- 

 era rise among these in a kiud of loowe spikes at the tops 

 of the stalks, and look naked ; they are orownish yellow, 

 ^wing many together, banging dovrn their heads, inclos- 

 ing small seed. The whole plant has a very bitter taste. 



Place, — A wild plant, and frequent by way-sides, ditch- 

 banks, and in church-yards. 



Time, — It flowers in July and August. 



OovemmerU and Virtiies. — It is a martial herb, as before 

 observed. The tops of the plant are to be used fresh ga- 

 thered ; a very slight infusion is excellent for all disordera 

 of the stomach, prevents sickness after meals, and creates 

 an appetite ; but if made too strong, it dingusts the taste. 

 The tops with the flowers on them, dried and powdered, 

 are good a^inst agues, and have the same viitues with 

 wormseed in killing worms ; in fact, they are much bet- 

 ter than the wormseed sold in the shopti, which is gener- 

 ally too much decayed. The juice of the large leaves of 

 Wormwood, which grow from the root, before the stalk 

 appears, is the best against the dropsy and jaundice, for it 

 opens obstructions, and works powerfully by urine. It ia 

 good in all agues, in decoction or infusion, in water, ale, 

 wine, or in the juice only ; but its infusion in wine or ale 

 is an easy, and as good a preparation as any. The infusion, 

 drank morning and evening for some time, helps hysterics, 

 obstructions of the spleen, and weakness of tue stomach. 

 Its oil, taken on sugar, and drank after, kills worms, re- 

 flists poison, and is good for the liver and jaundice. The 

 root haa a slow bitterness, which affects not the head and 

 eyes, like the leaves, hence the root should be accounted 

 among the best stomachics. The oil of the seed, given from 

 half a scruple to half a dram, in some liquor, or a spoonful 

 of the juice in some wine, taken before the fit comes on, 

 and the patient put to bed, cures quotidians and Quartans. 

 In a looseness from eating too much fruit, after tne use of 

 rhubarb. Wormwood wine is excellent. A fomentation of 

 the herb boiled with water, and strained, has been success- 

 fully applied to a jipreading gangrene. Poultices of Worm- 

 wood boiled in grease, barm, or wine, may be applied with 

 good success to white swellings. Boiled in Urd, and laid 

 to swellings of the tonsils and quinsey, is serviceable. Its 

 internal use is good :n such diseases as come from gross 

 blood, or obstruction B of the capillaries, or in viscidities^ 

 or phlegm, which line the inaides of the stomach, bowels 



