This plant rises two or three feet in height, with many hairy, soft, and whitish green leaves somewhat jagged on the edges, on the tops of which stand round heads of flowers of a pale blueish colour. HISTORY. This plant grows plentifully in old pasture grounds and in cornfields. MEDICAL VIRTUES. I have found a decoction of this herb beneficial in the cure of all itchy cutaneous eruptions; and a sirup of the leaves and roots is good in dry coughs, by promoting expectoration. The bruised green leaves of the herb applyed to buboes, quickly disperse or brakes them. It is diuretic and a good emmenagogue. PREPARATION. Boil one pound of the leaves and roots in one gallon of rain water, down to three quarts, and strain the decoction: dose, half a pint every morn ing and evening; in all recent coughs and chronic complaints, the patient may take a wine glass three times a day of the following sirup to two quarts of the expressed juice of the leaves, add two quarts of molasses, two ounces of sugar candy, and two ounces of liquorice root bruised: boil it to the consistence of honey: strain it and put it up in pots for use. SNAKE WEED. POLYGONUM BISTORTA. DESCRIPTION. The root is about the size of the little finger, of a blackish colour on the outside and redish within, writhed or bent vermicularly with a joint at each bending, and full of bushy fibres: the root has one or two, and sometimes three or more crooks: stalk simple, about eighteen inches in height leaves sadical, oval, or rather heart shaped, the upper ones are narrower, undulated, and embrace the stem: flowers are clustered in a spike, terminate the stem, and are of a light red colour: the corolla is tubelar and divided into five small oval segments, which are at the base supplied with several nectariferous glands. HISTORY. This plant grows wild in moist meadows, &c.. MEDICAL VIRTUES. The root is one of the strongest vegetable astringents known: dose of the powdered root, is from a scruple to a drachm. PREPARATION. In the cure of intermittents, give from one to two tea-spoonsful of the powder four times a day, after taking a puke. Two tea-spoonsful in yarrow tea, taken four times a day, will stop all immoderate floodings from the ulterus, and fluxes of the belly. A strong decoction of four ounces of the root, boiled in two quarts of water down to one, sweetened with honey, is an excellent gargle for the sore mouth and will fasten loose teeth. This plant rises six or eight inches in height: leaves lanceolated, and of a dark green colour: flowers in umbels and hang on the sides of the stalks, producing red berries. HISTORY. It grows on the sides of meadows, high banks and mountains, in every part of the United States. MEDICAL VIRTUES. The roots are restringent, incrassant, and coroborant: the flowers, berries, and leaves, are acrid and poisonous. The sweet mucilage of the roots applied as a poultice, is good in inflammations and the piles. PREPARATION. Take an handful of the powdered roots of Solomon's seal and comfrey roots bruised, put them in |