Thetwigs, when bruifed, fmell difagreeably ; this may, perhaps, be one reafon for their being generally 
rejected by cattle : the plant, however, affords nourifhmeut to a great variety of infeCts ; in particular, to 
the larvas offeveral Pha.lczn.cz not defcribed by Linn.-eus. 
From the roots of this plant fprings the Broom Rape, figured in a former number of this work. 
** The leaves and (talks of broqm have a naufeous bitter tafte, which they give out by infufion, both to 
« water and re&ified fpirit ; and which, on gently infpiffating the filtred liquors, remains concentrated in the 
“ extra&s : the watery tin&ure is of a yellowifh green or brownifh, the fpirituous of a dark green colour. 
“ They are accounted laxative, aperient, and diuretic ; and in this intention have been often ufed by the 
“ common people in dropfies and other ferous diforders. Dr. Mead relates a cafe of an hydropic perfon, 
“ who, after the paracentefis had been thrice performed, and fupdry purgatives and diuretics had been tried 
“ without relief, was perfe&ly cured, by taking, every morning and evening, half a pint of a decoCtion of 
“ green broom tops, with a fpoonful of whole muftard feed: by this medicine, the thirfl: was abated, the 
“ belly loofened, and the urinary difcharge increafed to the quantity of at leaft five or fix pints a day. 
“ Infufions of the afhes of the plant in acidulous wines, have likewife been employed in the fame intention, 
“ and often with good fuccefs. The virtue of this medicine does not depend, as fome have fuppofed, on 
“ any of the peculiar qualities of the broom remaining in the a(hes, but on the alkaline fait and earth, which 
“ are the fame in the afhes of broom as in thofe of other vegetables, combined, wholly or in part, with the 
“ vinous acid. A folution even of the pure earthy part of vegetable afhes, made in vegetable acids, proves 
“ notably purgative and diuretic. 
“ Of the feeds and flowers, the medicinal qualities are not well known. It is faid, that the feeds, in 
** dofes of a dram and a half in fubftance, and five or fix drams in deco&ion or infufion, prove purgative or 
“ emetic. Some report that the flowers alfo operate in the fame manner; but Lobel allures us, from his 
“ own obfervation, that they have been taken in quantity without producing any fuch effeft : and I have 
“ known infufions of the flowery tops drank freely in fome afthmatic cafes, without any other fenfible operation 
“ than a falutary increafe of urine and expectoration. The feeds, flightly roafled, are ufed in fome places as 
“ coffee.” Lewis’s Mater. Med. p. 318. 
A variety of this plant, much more hoary than common, is accidentally met with ; the raofl ufual time of 
its flowering with us, is about the latter end of May or beginning of June. 
Thomson, whofe obferving eye rarely fuffered any of the beauties of nature to efcape him, has noticed 
the flowering of this fhrub in the following paffage, in which he defcribes the effeft which the genial warmth 
of the feafon produces on the various animals : 
“ While thus the gentle tenants of the fhade 
“ Indulge their purer loves, the rougher world 
** Of brutes below rufh furious into flame 
“ And fierce defire. Thro’ all his lufly veins 
“ The bull deep-fcorch’d, the raging paflion feels j 
“ Of pafture fick, and negligent of food. 
Scarce feen, he wades among the yellow broom. 
