Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/173

153&#93; DOG the stone : ..i th The juice
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< >i( m d commended it to be drunk in con- siderable quantities, by patients troubled with obstructions in the a isoera ; particularly in scirrhous liver, and in thejaundic :. Cattle frequently have indurated . - in the winter: hence they should, early in the sprinj turned out into this grass, winch will effectually cure the disorder. DOG's-MERCTJRY, or Mercu- nabs perennis, L. an indigenous plant, growing under hedges and ki woods, in many parts ot Britain. Its perennial root creeps in the ground ; the stalks are single, and without branches, rising ten or twelve inches high, with rough leaves : these have their male flowers, growing in spikes upon plants different from tnose which produce seeds. This vegetable is of a soporific and poisonous nature, both to man and brute. There are instances of persons who, by mistake, have eaten this plant like spinach, in- stead of Chenopodium, or English mercury, in consequence of which they never awaked from theii mor- tal sleep. In the Isle of Skye, an infusion of it is sometimes taken to bring on a salivation. Ray, relates the case of a man, his wife, and diree children, who experienced highly deleterious ef- fects from eating this herb fried with bacon. -Notwithstanding its hurtful properties, sheep and goats feed on it, but cows and horses re- fuse it. When the dog's-mercury has ac- cidentally been eaten among culi- nary plants, the most effectual me- thod ot procuring relief, is a brisk DOG ['53 rmrth speedil) administered | ' iu in; > acu ited the cord ot' the stomach, vii i 1011- . or other  i to be tak< n in c< draughts. But, when the p has be< u discos i the of several hours, small of camphor may be given, till me- dical assistance can be procured. — See also Antidotes : vol.i.p. 75. Lastlv, the roots of the d mercury afford, according to 1 stbin, a blue n colour, both in dyeing and paint i • D< • . the Common ? Wild-briar, or Hep-tree, Rosa . an indigenous plant, crowing in woods and hedges : in tiu- month of June it bears oval dowers, which are succeeded by red, egg-shaped berries.. The blossoms of this plant, when distilled, afford a pleasant perfumed water. The leav. s of every species of the rose, but especially those of the dog-rose, are recommended as a substitute for tea : when dried and infused in boiling water, they yield a fine colour, a somewhat astringent taste, and a grateful odour. — Dr. Gleditsch observes, that the green rose-leaves of every species are useful in currying fine leather. An infusion of the full-blown blossoms of all the roses, especially of the paler kinds, is purgative ; but die petals of red roses, gather- ed and dried before they expand, become astringent. The bark of the dog-rose, according to 3.1. Sie- fekt, imparts to wool a dark brown colour, which was fixed in different specimens, by the usual ingredients ; and on dropping into the dye a solution of alum, it changed into an azure bine. But he observes thai, in all thejse experi- ments,