The BRITISH HERBAL. 
Our people are nut fufficiently acquainted with 
their virtues, for they are only kept in the form 
of a fyrup in the Hiops ; and that way cannot be 
given in a proper dofe, becaufe of the quantity of 
fugar. A ftrong tinfture may be drawn from 
them in wine, which will better anfwer the pur- 
pofe. 
The family-medicine called red furfeit-water is 
a tindure of thefe flowers in fpirit, with fpices, 
and other ingredients, and is much preferable to 
the fliop form of a fyrup. 
The heads of iht garden pcppy^ ov while poppy 
cultivated, are gently foporifick, and excellent 
againft pain. What is called Jyrup of diacodium 
is a very lirong deca6tion of thefe heads boiled 
up with fugar i and it contains fo much virtue, 
that half an ounce is an effeftive dofe. 
Opium is obtained by wounding and prefling 
the heads of the fame fpecies, cultivated in the 
fame manner in Turkey, and has the grearcft vir- 
tges: it is the moil powerlul of almcfl: any known 
vegetable fimple. 
it is fovereign againft pain it promotes fweat, 
and caufes ileep. A very fmall dofe is fufficicnt, 
and a larger is dangerous. 
Laudanum is a tincture of opium, and is more 
iifed than the fubftance ; but either fhould be 
given with great care, and rarely without the ad- 
vice of a phyfician. 
There are fome who accuflom thcmfclves to 
take opium conftantly ; and, beginning with fmall 
dofe?, they habituate their conftitutions to the 
medicine, till they can take fuch as are aflonifh- 
ing. To thefe it ferves as a cordial, enlivening 
their fpirits like wine, or any other flrong li- 
quor. This is a general cuftom in theEaft. 
As the three fpecies already defcribed are the 
principal of the poppy kind in virtue, we have 
given their ufes here; and Ihall now proceed to 
the account of the feveral other fpecies called by 
different names, though certainly and plainly of 
this kind. 
4. Round rough-headed Poppy. 
Papaver capitulo rotunda hifpido. 
The root is long, (lender, and white, and has 
a few fibres. 
The fii'fl: leaves are numerous, and beautifully 
divided into fegments : they have long foocftalks, 
and are of a pale green, and confiderably hairy : 
they are doubly pinnated, as it were, each con- 
fifting of feveral pairs of pinnse on a middle rib, 
and each of thofe pinnre being jagged fo deeply on 
each fide, that it appears pinnated again. 
The flalk rifes in the midft of this tuft, and is 
round, hairy, upright, branched, and a foot and 
a half high. 
The leaves are numerous, and fland irregu- 
larly : -they are of the fume form with thofe from 
the root, but fmaller. 
The flowers are fmall in comparifon of the pre- 
ceding kinds, otherwifc not little in proportion to 
■ the plane : they are of a bright red, and confifl. 
each of four oval petals, with numerous threads. 
The feed-vtffel is roundifii, and very rough, 
being fet all over with a kind of briftly hairs : 
the feeds are numerous, fmall, roundifii, and 
black. 
Iris common in corn-fields in many pares of 
England, and flowers in July. 
C. Bauhine calls it Jrgenm^e capitu'.o hy-eviore. 
Others, Argmone vulgaris. 
5. Long rough-headed Poppy. 
Papaver capitulo hifpido Icngiore. 
The root is long, (lender, white, ufually undi- 
vided, and furniflied with a few fibres. 
The firft leaves rife in a ciuO-er : they are of a 
pale green, and hairy, and faave Qiort footftalks - 
they are deeply divided in the pinnated manner; 
fo that they feem compofed of feveral pairs of 
pinnEE, or fmaller leaves, placed on a rib, with 
an odd one at the end j but they are in reality 
only fo many" fegments. 
The ftalks are numerous, round, firm, very 
much branched, and a foot high. 
The leaves on them are few ; they ftand irre- 
gularly, and are like thofe from the root, but 
fmaller. 
The flowers ftand at the tops of the branches 
and are fmall, but of a beautiful fcariet colour^ 
with black buttons. 
The heads are long, and covered with a kind 
of foft prickles. 
It is cummon in many parts of England in 
corn fields, and on ditch-banks, and flowers in 
June. The flowers very quickly fade and fall 
off in this and the preceding fpecies. 
C. Bauhine calls \X. Argomm upituk Imgiore; 
and others follow him. ^ 
6. Long fmooth-headcd yellow Poppy. 
Papaver capitulo longiore- ghbfo flore luteo. 
The root is long, flender, white, divided, and 
full of fibres. 
The firft leaves rife in a clufter; and are 
large, and have long footftalks: they are pro- 
perly of the pinnated kind, and very beautiful, 
each is compofed of three or four pairs of pinnse, 
or fmaller leaves, fet on a middle rib, with an 
odd one at the end. 
The ftalks rife in the centre of this tuft; and 
they are round, upright, weak, and a little hairy. 
Their leaves are few : and they ftand irregularly, 
and are like thofe from the root, but fmaller 
The flowers ftand at the tops of the ftalks, and 
are large and yellow. 
The feed-veffel is long, ribbed, and fmooth ; 
the feeds are fmall and numerous. 
It is frequent in Wales wild', upon the moift 
rocks^ and about the borders of rivulets. 
C. Bauhine calls it Papaver erratimm lacinia- 
ttm flare fiavo: Others, Argemone lutca Cambra-, 
Britannic<}, 
7. Long, fniall-headed red Poppy, 
Papaver capitulo longiore giaho flore rubro. 
The root is long, flender, white, and hung 
with many fibres. 
The firft leaves are numierous, long, narrow 
and deeply jagged; fo that they in fome degree 
reprefent the pinnated kmd. 
The ftalk rifes in the centre of thefe, and is 
^ round» 
