Family Herbal - Electric Scotland

FAMILY HERBAL. 299
Turkey. They have a peculiar method of curing
it,
; they make it clean and then soak it four and
twenty hours in water ; after this, they hang a
quantity of it in a coarse cloth, over the steam of a
pot in which rice is boiling ; this softens it, but it
gives it a sort of transparence, and it
qualifies for
drying ; these juicy roots, otherwise growing" moul-
dy. When they have thus far prepared it, they
string it upon a thread, and hang it in an airy place
to dry ; it becomes tough as horn, and transparent.
This is a practice common in the East with the roots
they dry for use, and it would be well if we would
practise it here the fine ; transparent kind of
ginseng,
which we have from China, is dried in this manner.
It is highly probable, nay it is nearly a certainty,
that the roots Oi' our common orchis have all the
qualities and effects of this salep,
but we do not
know how to dry them. If we tried this method,
it might succeed ; and in the same manner, our own
fields and meadows might afford us many medicines,
what at present we purchase at a great price, from
the farthest parts of the earth.
The dried root is the part used ; and it is an excellent
restorative, to be given to persons wasted
with long illnesses : the best way is to put a small
into a bason of warm
quantity of it in powder,
water, which it
instantly turns into a
little wine and sugar are to be added.
jelly, and a
The Turks
use it as a provocative to vencry : they
solved in water, with ginger and honey.
Sampshire. Crithmum maritimum.
take it dis-
A plant not uncommon about sea coasts, with
much of the appearance of fennel, only not so tall :
some have called it sea fennel. It is two feet high.
The leaves arc large, and divided in the manner