288 
The BRITISH HERBAL. 
C. Bauhine calls ic Chrjrrhizc ftUqitoJa frjc Ger- 
mnnica. 
It was originally cultivated in Germany, and 
in a manner all Europe fupplied thence widi the 
root; afterwards it was raifcd in Spain, and 
now in England there is a great deal propa- 
gated ; and it is fo valuable a commodity, th.it 
the hufb.indmcn would find it extremely worth 
their while lo introduce its culture in many other 
parts of the kingdom. 
Liquorice is a celebrated medicine ; and it de- 
ferves all that has been written of it. We fee it 
principally in three forms the frefh root, the 
dried root, and what is called the juice. This 
tail is a ftrong decodtion of the root boiled to a 
firm confiflence. The frefii root is in general 
the bed for ufe. 
It is excellent to take off the acrimony of the 
humours on many occaiions. In coughs it is a 
fovereign remedy, approved by a Jong expe- 
rience ; and if promotes expefloraion at the fame 
time that it thickens the juices. It is alfo good 
in nephritic complaints from the Hime principle. 
The antients looked on it as a remedy both 
againft thirft and liunger. It will take ofF the 
common fenfations ol both for a time ; but it is 
an error to fuppofe it can fupply the place of food 
and drink in their effcds. 
It was direifted by the old phyficains to be fucked 
frequently by ptrfons in dropfies, to ab.ue their 
thirft, and prevent their drinking too often : and 
this is fingular, that whereas the fweet of fugar, 
in whatever lorm, makes perfons thirfty after- 
ward-, the fweet of liquorice, which is at leaft 
equal to it, does not. This is particular ; but ex- 
periment will at any time fhew it to be perfectly 
true. 
A land of beer may be brewed with liquorice in 
the place of malt, and it will have a conliderable 
flrength and an agreeable flavour. 
DIVISION 11. FOREIGN SPECIES. 
Echinated Liquorice. 
Glycyrrhiza filiquis conghhatis echinatis. 
The root is long, and very thick, and does not 
fpread in the manner of the other. The outer 
bark is of a deep brown colour, the inner fub- 
ftance is of a dufky yellow; and the tafte is 
fweet, as in the comtnonliqiiorice^ but more mawki/li 
and !efs agreeable ; if the bark be chewed with 
it, there is alfo a connderable bitternefs. 
The ftalk is round, firm, hairy, upright, and 
a yard high. 
The leaves ftand irregularly: they are nume- 
rous, and pinnated : each is compofed of eight 
or ten pairs of pinnce, which are narrow, oblong, 
of a dufl-;:y green, fomewhat hairy, and pointed 
at the ends. 
The flowers grow in round lieads, fupported 
on long, flender footftalks rifing from the bo- 
foms of the leaves : they are fmall and blue : the 
whole tuft together is confpicuous. 
The feed-veiTels are fliort and flatted, of a 
pale green, and hairy : they follow the flowers 
in the fame cluflered manner ; and the whole 
bunch of them is of the bignefs of a fmall wall- 
nut. 
The feeds are large, kid ney-fli aped, and brown. 
It is a native of Tartary, and is common alfo 
to fome other parts of Europe. It flowers in 
Augufl. 
C. Bauhine calls it Glycyrrhiza capite echinato. 
Our people call it the Hedge-hog liquorice. 
Its virtues are the fame with thofe of the for- 
mer i but it is lefs plcafant, and they are infe- 
rior; wherefore there can never be any tempta- 
tion to ufe it, while the right kind is fo univer- 
fal, cheap, and common. 
GENUS IX. 
WOOD-VETCH. 
0 R O B U S. 
'-pHE flower is papilionaceous, and compofcd of four petals. The vexiilum is heart-fa fhioned, 
ai>d at the top terminates in a half cylinder, which is longer than the cup at the bottom. The 
alEE are oblong, and rife upwards, and converge together: they are nearly as long as the vexiilum. 
The carina turns up, and is divided underneath : the edges are comprefTed together, and the belly is 
fwelled. The cup is formed of a fingle piece, and is tubular, and very fiightly indented in five places 
at the edge. The pod is long, flender, and rounded, and it turns up at the top, where it is fliarp- 
pointed : the feeds are numerous and round. The leaves are pinnated ; but they have no tendrils. 
Linnxus places this among the diadelphia decandria the threads being ten, nine in one body, and 
one fingly. 
DIVISION I. BRITISH SPECIES. 
1. Common Wood-vetch. 
Orobus vtdgatior. 
The root is long, thick, and fpreading : it pe- 
netrates far into the ground, and remains mgny 
years : its fubftance is firm, and its tafl:e not un- 
pleafant. 
The flalks are numerous, firm, and rigid : 
they do not fupport themfelves upright, nor have 
tendrils ; for which reafon they trail upon the 
ground : 
