160 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



under the same complaint, and this would be 

 as unreasonable as it is unjust to condemn 

 the broom altogether. Dr. Withering tells 

 us that he knew the broom succeed in curing 

 one case that was truly deplorable ; but out 

 of a great number of cases, in which it had 

 a fair trial, this proved a single instance. 

 Dr. Cullen ordered half an ounce of fresh 

 broom-tops to be boiled in a pound of water, 

 till one half was consumed, and gave two 

 table spoonfuls of the decoction every hour 

 till it operated as a laxative ; repeating the 

 medicine every day, or every second day : by 

 which some dropsies have been cured. 



Cordus observes that this plant smells like 

 the elder. This may be the cause why most 

 cattle reject it. We observe that flies avoid 

 both of these plants. Thompson alludes to 

 the fondness which kine show for broom 

 fields, which they frequent much during the 

 summer heat, probably for the sake of brush- 

 ing off the swarms of flies with its tough 

 yielding branches. In Guienne and Auvergne, 

 the people eat the blossoms of the broom in 

 salads ; and in this country the tender tops 

 have been used as a substitute for hops in 

 brewing. 



We have seen some beautiful cabinet goods 

 veneered with this wood, which, when old, 



