A new medicinal, economical, and domestic herbal: containing a familiar and accurate description of upwards of six hundred British herbs, shrubs, trees, etc. together with some of themost esteemed ... exotic plants ... / The whole compiled and selected from the works of Linnaeus, Bechstein, Withering, Dambourney, Barthollet, etc.

Date:
1808
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new medicinal, economical, and domestic herbal: containing a familiar and accurate description of upwards of six hundred British herbs, shrubs, trees, etc. together with some of themost esteemed ... exotic plants ... / The whole compiled and selected from the works of Linnaeus, Bechstein, Withering, Dambourney, Barthollet, etc. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ROSE-WORT, the Yellow, or Piose-root.—An indige- nous plant, which grows on rocks, and in mountainous situa- Itticns : it flowers in the months of June and July.— The peren- | nial root of this herb is white, juicy, and possesses the fragrance iof roses in so remarkable a degree, as to perfume the atmosphere, especially in Lapland. Its rosy colour is preserved in a dry state ; I hence it may be usefully employed for distilled waters. The [(Greenlanders cat the fresh root among culinary vegetables ; but, 'when cul’ivated in a garden, its odoriferous properties are greatly I (diminished.—The plant is relished by goats and sheep, but re- | jected by cows and hogs. RUE.—A genus of exotic plants, comprising seven species, I tthe principal of which is the Common broad-leaved Garden Rue. It flowers in the month of June. This plant is, for its medicinal properties, often cultivated in gardens. It has a strong odour, and a bitterish pungent taste. The leaves are very acrid : and, when in full vigour, are apt to raise blisters on handling, or applying them to the skin. Huer- haave recommends them as powerful stimulants, attenuants, and detergents : hence they are reputed to be of great service to per- sons of cold, phlegmatic habits ; as they quicken the circulation ; dissolve viscid or tenacious juices; remove obstructions ; and pro- mote the fluid secretions. “ What medicine,” says he, “ can be more efficacious for promoting sweat and perspiration ; for the hysteric passion, of epilepsies ; and for expelling poison?”— Kcvertheless, the rue has lately been seldom prescribed, probably because many absurd and superstitious notions prevail respecting this herb, in domestic life. RUE, the Meadow.—A genus of plants, comprising twenty three species, four of which only are indigenous : the principal of these, is the Common Meadow-rue, Spurious Rheubarb, or R.ue- vvecd : it is perennial, grows in moist meadows, pastures, and on the banks of rivers ; where it flowers in the month of June. The root, branches, and leaves of this plant, impart to wool a yellow colour; which, on adding salammoniac, assumes a pale shade; and, on dropping oil of tarter into the decoction, acquires an orange colour ; but, in order to give it lustre, the cloth should be immersed in alum-water; and the tint it self may be fixed, by dissolving cream of tarter in the last liquor. A cataplasm prepared of the leaves, is said to have afforded relief in the Scia- tica, or hip Rheumatism.—From the yellow flowers, bees ex- tract a large portion of honey.—Cows, horses, goats, and sheep,, eat the Meadow-rue ; but it is disliked by hogs. RUPTURE-WORT, the Smooth.—An indigenous peren- nial plant, which grows in gravelly soils, and flowers in the months of July and August.—This herb is, according to Dr. IV\lfaring, both saline and astringent; Us expressed juice°removes