The BRITISH HERBAL. 
We fee, that in bringing it to fcrve tliat purpofc, the cMs formed upon it comprehends the vcrtici- 
late plants, and thefe together ; and as it in that joins gentra the mofl diftinct, fo it in other cafe3 
feparates the pinguicida and others, which are naturally allied to the reft, and here brought together. 
The world is indebted in the higheft: degree to that mod: eminent writer for his obfervations \ and 
they fliould be always remembered, though ufed in a more limited degree. 
DIVISION I. BR 
Common Foxglove.. 
Digitalis pirpurea. 
The root is compofcd of a multitude of tliick 
and tough Ebres ; of a pale green colour, and 
bitter talte. 
The firft leaves are very large, oblong, nar- 
row, of a whitifli colour, and ilightly indented 
at the edges. 
The ftalk rifes in the centre of thefe, and is 
round, thick, firm, upright, whitifh, or greyifh, 
and four feet high. 
The leaves on it are numerous, and ftand irre- 
gularly : they are long, narrow, large, of a whir- 
ifii green, and indented Ilightly on the edges. 
The flowers grow in a kind of Ipike on the top 
of the ftalk, and they ufually h-ing all on one 
fide : they are large, and of a beautiful red, 
with fome fpots of white and fomc little touches 
of black, and with yellow buttons on the four 
threads within. 
The feed-veflel is large and oval ; and the feeds 
are numerous and fmall. 
It is common in barren paftures and on dry 
banks, and flowers in Auguft. 
C. Bauhine calls it Digitalis purpurea folio 
cfpero. Others, Digitalis vulgaris, and Digitalis 
purpurea vulgaris. 
It is a plant pofTeflTed of very confidcrable vir- 
tues ; but they are more known among the coun- 
try people than hi the fhops. 
It is a powerful emetick, and, in a fmaller 
DIVISION II. F 
I. Ferrugineous Foxglove. 
Digitalis fore ferruginco. 
The root is compofed of numerous thick 
fibres. 
The firft leaves are long and large ; they have 
thick ribs, and are of a pale green. 
The ftalk is round, robuft, upright, and four 
feet high. 
The leaves on it are numerous, and placed ir- 
regularly : they are long, narrow, without foot- 
ftalks, of a pale green, and very lightly hairy. 
The flowers are cxtreamiy numerous: they 
ftand in long fpikes at the tops of the ftalks and 
branches -, and are of the fhape of the common 
foxglove flowers, but that they have a very long 
under lip : their colour is a ferrugineous, or 
brownifh red, and they have ftreaks of yellow, 
and are in part hairy. 
The feed-vefiel is fmali, and the feeds are 
fmall and brown. 
It is a native of the eaft. We received the 
feeds from Conflantinople, but it is common in 
our gardens. 
. N« 12. 
ITISH SPECIES. 
dofe, a very brifk purge: often it works both 
ways, and fometimes with a very hurtful vi- 
olence j but this is owing to ill management: 
many excellent medicines, as they are found 
to be, in the hands of fkilful perfons, would fall 
under this cenfure if given in the fame ran- 
dom munner. 
The people in the weft of England ufe it moft. 
They boil a handful of the leaves, or three or 
four of the clufters of roots, in ale, and give ic 
according to the patient's ftrength. They cure 
quartan agues, and many other obftinate com- 
plaints with it. 
We have alfo accounts of epileptick fits of long 
continuance being cured by it; but the operation 
in this way is too rough for any but thofe who 
are very hardy. 
It would be right to try the root, dryed and 
powdered, in a moderate dofe, for it is very im- 
proper that a medicine of fo much power fhould 
be difregardcd at home, while we fend to the re- 
moteft parts of the earth for others of the fame 
qualities. 
An ointment made of the leaves is recom- 
mended for cutaneous foulneffes, and in many 
places they make an ointment alfo of the flowers 
in May butter, which is greatly recommended in 
ftrumous cafes. 
The Italians are fo fond of it on thefe occafions 
that they have a proverb, which fay, foxglove 
cures all ivounds. Many plants of lefs virtue arc 
more celebrated ; and there is none dcferves bet- 
ter a fair trial. 
OREIGN SPECIES. 
It flowers in Auguft. 
C. Bauhine calls it Digitalis angujlifolia fore fer- 
rugineo. Others, Digitalis ferrugifiea. 
2. Yellow Foxglove. 
Digitalis fore minore. 
The root is very long and thick, and hae a 
vaft quantity of fibres. 
The firft leaves rife in a great clufter, and arc 
long and broad ; of a bright green on the upper 
fide, but paler and a little inclined to hairynefs 
below : they have no footftalks, and they are 
narrow toward the bafe, and broadeft near the 
end. 
The ftalk is round, upright, firm, and three 
feet high. 
The leaves on it are numerous, and grow ir- 
regularly: they are long, and not very broad> 
and they have no footftalks. 
The flowers ftand in a long fpike on tlw top 
of the ftalk, and are of a pale greenifh yellow. 
The feed-vefiel is large, roundifh, and pointed 
at the top. 
Hb It 
