375.  Potentilla anserina.  Silverweed. The Leaves.—­The sensible qualities of Anserina promise no great virtue of any kind, for to the taste it discovers only a slight roughness, from whence it was thought to be entitled to a place among the milder corroborants.  As the astringency of Tormentil is confined chiefly to its root, it might be thought that the same circumstance would take place in this plant; but the root is found to have no other than a pleasant sweetish taste, like that of parsnip, but not so strong.

376.  Potentilla reptans.  Cinquefoil, or five-leaved grass.  Root.—­The root is moderately astringent:  and as such is sometimes given internally against diarrhoeas and other fluxes; and employed in gargarisms for strengthening the gums, &c.  The cortical part of the root may be taken, in substance, to the quantity of a dram:  the internal part is considerably weaker, and requires to be given in double the dose to produce the same effect.  It is scarcely otherwise made use of than as an ingredient in Venice treacle.—­Lewis’s Mat.  Med.

377.  Populus niger.  The black poplar.  Its Buds.—­The young buds or rudiments of the leaves, which appear in the beginning of spring, abound with a yellow, unctuous odorous juice.  They have hitherto been employed chiefly in an ointment, which received its name from them; though they are certainly capable of being applied to other purposes:  a tincture of them made in rectified spirit, yields upon being isnpissated, a fragrant resin superior to many of those brought from abroad.

378.  Primula officinalis.  Cowslip.  The Flowers.—­The flowers appear in April; they have a pleasant sweet smell, and a subacrid, bitterish, subastringent taste.  An infusion of them, used as tea, is recommended as a mild corroborant in nervous complaints.  A strong infusion of them, with a proper quantity of sugar, forms an agreeable syrup, which for a long time maintained a place in the shops.  By boiling, even for a little time, their fine flavour is destroyed.  A wine is also made of the flowers, which is given as an opiate.

379.  Prunella vulgaris.  Selfheal.  The Leaves.—­It has an herbaceous roughish taste, and hence stands recommended in haemorrhages and alvine fluxes.  It has been principally celebrated as a vulnerary, whence its name; and in gargarisms for aphthae and inflammations of the fauces.

380.  Pulmonaria officinalis.  Spotted lungwort.  The Leaves.—­They stand recommended against ulcers of the lungs, phthisis, and other like disorders.—­Lewis’s Mat.  Med.

381.  Ranunculus Ficaria.  Pilewort.  The Leaves and Root.—­The roots consist of slender fibres, with some little tubercles among them.  These, with the leaves, are considered of considerable eficacy in the cure of haemorrhoids; for which purpose, considerable quantities are sold at herb-shops in London.