E L D tun imparl " of an ■ b, and th< refore re- quir ■ lUtion. 2. 1 Cow mon El- i . which thrives in woods, and !n Ma) < June it I i era, which arc succeed I by black, berries. — This useful : its bog h ird and tough, is into meat-skewers, tups for angling rods, and needles for weav- ing nets; it is also employed by turners, as it works extremely •.well on tl :1 : h>-. — The leaves are eaten by sheep, to which it is of service, when diseased with the rot ; for, if placed in a situation where they can easily reach the bark and young shoots, they will ure themselves. Accord- ing to Linn.su s, the plant is re- fused by horses, cows, and goats, though others assert, that cows eat it eagerly. Every part of this, as well as of the preceding species, has a narcotic smell, which ought to caution persons against sleeping beneath its shade. — The inner green bark is an ingredient in the black dye ; it is likewise purgative, and maybe used with advantage, where strong laxatives become requisite. In small doses it is diuretic, and has been successfully used in glan- dular obstructions, and in dropsies. Theleaves are possessed of cathartic properties similar to those of the bark, but are more nauseous. They form an ingredient in several cool- ing ointments : and if turnips, cab- bages, fruit-trees, or corn, be whipped with them, and also with the green boughs, they will be ef- F. L E [219 fec~hi tlit- cl* — of turnip • iter- and othi r noxiou > insi with which th I ibles are 1. — The flowi rs are some- times infused to impart a flavour to r ; but shou] ! on no account . en to turkies, as they w ill tl to those birds. — The lurries arc likewise poisonous to v. but their juic hen boiled down to an extract, and ened with sugar (this compo- sition being termed rob), is a gentle aperient, and promotes perspira- tion. The juice is likewise con- 1 into a pleasant liquor called elder-wine, and is also employed to communicate a red colour to raisin ■ in-. — Damboukxi n observes, that linen may be dyed ofa brown colour with the juice of these berries ; and that wool, pre- viously ma. -.aged with bismuth, ac- quires a beautiful blueish grey, which is very permanent. — In Ger- many, a very pure and strong spirit is distilled from this fruit, especially after it has been sweetened by night-frosts. On the trunk of the common elder frequently appears a fungous excrescence, w rinkled, and turned up like an ear, whitish on die out- side, black within, and intersected with several small veins. — These are commonly called Jew's ears, and are reputed to be serviceable for inflammations and swellings of the tonsils ; for .sore throats, and quinsies. ELECAMPANE, or Inula, L. a genus of plants, consisting of thirty species, of which four only are in- digenous, and the principal of these is the Helenium, or Common Ele- c iMPANE ; which is perennial, abounds in moist meadows and pastures, and flowers in July or August.
