Family Herbal - Electric Scotland

FAMILY HERBAL, 71
tt was, for this reason, in constant use as a remedy
for children's fits. But a belter praciice has now
obtained : it is highly probable that this water occasioned
the disorders it was given to remove.
Laurel water, when made of a great strength, we
know to be a sudden poison: when weak,
it tastes
like black-cherry-water, and is not mortal ; in the
same manner black-cherry-water, which used to
be given to children when weak drawn, has been
found to be poisonous when of great strength. There
is therefore the greatest reason imaginable to suppose
that in any degree of strength, it may do mis-
chief. Very probably thousands of children have
died by this unsuspected medicine
The gum which hangi upon the branches of
cherry-trees, is of the same nature with the gum
arabic, and may be used for the same purposes, as
in heat of urine, dissolved in barley-water.
Winter Cherry. Alkekengi.
A VERY singular and prelty plant kept in our
gardens ; it grows two feet high, not very erect,
nor much branched ; the stalk is thick, strong,
and angulated : the leaves are large, broad, and
sharp pointed ; the flowers are moderately large,
and white, but with yellow threads in the middle ;
the fruit is a round red berry, of the bigness of a
common red cherry, contained in a green hollow
husk, round, and as big as a walnut.
The berries are the only part used, they are to
be separated from the husks and dried ; and may be
then in
given powder or decoction. They are verv
good in stranguries, heat of urine, or the gravel :
they are also given in jaundices, and dropsies :
they will do good in these cases, but are not to be
depended upon alone.