"The Materia Medlca.

246

lodged a little bag containing thepoifonous liquid; a very minuteportion of which, mixed immedi-ately with the blood, proves fatal:our viper-catchers are faid to prevent the mifchiefs otherwife fol-lowing from the bite, by rubbingoil olive warm on the part. Thefled) of the viper is perfectly inno-cent; and ftrongly recommendedas a medicine of extraordinary fer-vice in fcrophulou , leprous, andother obftinatechronical diforders:its virtues however, in thefe cafes,are probably too much exaggerat-ed The viper is doubtlefs anhigh nutritious food; and hencein iome kinds of weakneil'es, andemaciated habits, is not undelerv-edly looked upon as a good reltora-tive. To anfwer any vaiuablepur-pofes, frelh vigorous vipers (notiuch as have been long kept aliveafter they are caught) lhould be li-berally ufed as food: the winesand tintlures of them can fcarcebe fuppofed to receive any confi-derable virtue from the animal;the dry flefli brought us fromabroad, is entirely infignificant.

In the (hops, a broth is diredtedto be prepared from frelh vipers,and a vinous tindture from driedones [L] the dried flelh is alfo aningredient in theriaca, and the fatin the ointment of tutty [£.] thisfat being luppoled peculiarly ule-ful in diforders of the eyes, forwhich that ointment is defigned.

VIRG^E AUllEiE folia: Vir-gte aure<e ajigu/lifolire, minus ferra-t<e C. li. Golden rod; the leaves

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This is found wild on heathsand' in woods, producing fpikes ofyellow flowers in Auguit. Theleaves have a moderately aflringentbitter taite, and hence prove fer-viCeable in debility and laxity ofthe vitcera, and diforders proceed-ing from that cauie.

Part II.

\ 'SCI Q^ERNT lignum,folia:Vifcibaccit clbis C. B. IViiHeltoe;tiie wood and leaves f E.~\

This is a bufny plant, growingon the trunk and branches of dif-ferent trees ; that met with 011 theoak is generally preferred, perhapson account of its being the moilrare. It may, however, be pro-pagated by art on any trees, byrubbing the berries againft thebark : this office has hitherto beenperformed by the thrulh (whofeeds on the berries in the winter)in clearing his bill from the feedsthat ltick about it. This plantwas held in veneration by the fu-perltition of former ages; it washung about the neck to preventwitchcraft, and taken internallyto expel poifons. Of late timesit has been celebrated as a fpecificin epilepiies, palfies, &c virtues,which it were greatly to be wifhedthat experience gave any counte-nance to.

V1TEX, vide A gkus casttjs.

VITIS VINIFERA. Thevinttree. The leaves of this tree wereformerly celebrated as aftringents,but have for a long time been en-tirely difregarded; their tafte isherbaceous, with only a flightroughnefs.—The trunkof the tree,wounded in the fpring yields aclear, limpid, watery juice: thistear of the vine has been ac-counted excellent for fore eyes;and by fome recommended like-wifein ardent and malignant feversand as a diuretic.—7 he flowershave a pleafant fmell, which wa-ter elevates from them in diililla-tion ; along with the water, afmall portion of an elegant eflen-tial oil is faid to arife, pofleflingin great perfedtkm the fragranceof the flowers.—The unripe fruitis of a very harlh, rough, four

talte: