2.30 
The Natural Hiftory of the Book VIII. 
the Extremity of the Leaf into three fharp prickly Points 2 From among thefe 
Leaves rifes a fmall conic {quamofe Spike not ill refembling a Pine in Minia- 
ture, in whofe different Lamina are contained the Seed: A Decoétion 
from this Plant is looked upon to be very efficacious to cure Fits fo often 
incident to young Children. 
LoGERHEAD WEED. 
HIS {mall Plant hath a great many fibrous whitifh Roots, the main 
Stalk, which is hollow, feldom rifes above fix Inches high, this is of a 
purplifh Colour; and from it rife three Pair of Footftalks or Pedicles oppofite 
to one another, each fuftaining on its Extremity four fharp-pointed narrow 
Leaves deeply chanelled in the middle, as well as the tranfverfe Ribs. 
From among the upper Leaves rifes a fhort flender Spike decorated with a 
{mall whitith red tubular Flower divided at the Top into five Parts; thefe 
inclofe a great many yellowith Stamina : A handful of the Leaves boiled 
in a Gallon of Water till reduced to half that Quantity, and that De- 
coétion being made palatable with Molaffes and a {mall Quantity of Lime- 
juice, is very efficacious to-bring away and deftroy the Worms in Children, — 
The common Method of ufing this Decoétion is to give the Patient (if a 
Child of. about feven or eight Years old) about the Quantity of two Spoon- — 
fulls cold, upon an empty Stomach at Night, by the next Morning it will — 
have its defired Effe@; if not, let the Dofe be repeated for three Nights fuc- 
ceflively. It muft be ufed whilft frefh, otherwife by its great narcotic and 
ftupifying Qualities it becomes very dangerous. . 
The Pint Apple; Lat. Anana. 
F the general, or at leaft if the Judgment of the moft numerous Patt 
I of Mankind, who have tafted of this Fruit, may be relied upon, it de- 
ferves the Preference of all other Fruits; the agreeable Variety,and the delicate 
quick Poignancy of its Juice is juftly efteemed to excel every other. The 
Roots of this Plant are many, fpreading in a circular manner. From the 
Centre rifes a hard ftrong Stalk furrounded near the Earth, and for a con- 
fiderable Way up the Stalk with long green Leaves, whofe Edges are finely 
ferrated. Thefe Leaves are fet on alternately ; the Top of the Stalk fuftains 
the Fruit which is called the Pive, from fome Refemblance it hath on the 
Outfide to the Cone the Pine-tree bears. The Top of the Fruit is beautifully 
decorated: with a Corona of fine green fharp-pointed Leaves, whofe Edges, 
as thofe below on the Stalk, are finely ferrated. When the Fruit is young, 
_ of about four Inches long, it is furrounded, efpecially near the Top, with fine 
blue Flowers, each confifting of one Leaf, which is divided into three Parts, 
and is funnel-fhaped. The Embryos are. produced in the T ubercles: 
Thefe afterwards become a flefhy Fruit full of Juice. ‘The Seeds, which 
are lodged in thefe Tubercles, are very fmall, and almoft kidney-fhaped. Some 4 
time before the Fruit is ripe, two, three, or four Suckers grow from the 4 
oe : ee Stalk . 
