farmer. It may be eradicated by ploughing up the soil, carrying the plant away when rooted out, and laying the fields down to grass. Hog's dung has also been employed with success for this purpose; and, if spread on the land in the proportion of 15 or 20 loads per acre, it will certainly extirpate this troublesome weed. Colts-foot produces yellow flowers that are in bloom in the month of March or April, and are soon succeeded by large roundish leaves, which have a bitterish, mucilaginous taste, and constitute the principal ingredient in British herb-tobacco. They are eaten by sheep, goats, and cows, but refused by horses and hogs. Formerly they were much used in coughs and consumptive cases; and have also been found of considerable service in scrophulous complaints; a decoction of these leaves having sometimes succeeded, where sea-water had failed.
2. The Petasites. See Butter-Burr.
3. The Hybrida, or long-stalked colts-foot, which possesses no peculiar properties.
COLUMBINE, the Common, or Aquilegia vulgaris, L. is a native plant, growing in hilly woods and thickets. It is perennial, and blooms in July. The beauty of its flowers, and their uncommon diversity, both in shape and colour, have introduced this plant into gardens. It is eaten by goats, but sheep are not fond of it, nor is it relished by rows, horses, and hogs.
COLUMBO-ROOT, or Colomba-Root, an article lately introduced into medicine, chiefly by Dr. Percival. The natural history of the tree, from which we obtain it, is but imperfectly known: it grows near the town of Columbo, in the island of Ceylon. The most active part of the root is its bark, which is imported in circular pieces, consisting of a cortical, woody, and medullary lamina, and having a rough surface. It has an aromatic odour, but a disagreeably bitter, and somewhat pungent taste. It is possessed of antiseptic properties, and has been found efficacious in correcting and preventing the acrimony of bile.
The Columbo-root is much used abroad in diseases attended with bilious symptoms, and in an impaired state of digestion. It has a remarkable tendency to restrain the fermentation of alimentary matter, without affecting the stomach; a property in which it resembles mustard. Nor is it attended with any heating effect, and may therefore be advantageously taken in pulmonary consumption, and other hectical cases, both with a view to correct acrimony, and strengthen the digestive organs. Farther, it does not rise on the stomach, and agrees well with a milk-diet, as it abates flatulence, and is totally divested of acidity. Hence, we regret that this valuable drug is not regularly imported; and that it is frequently found either in a very decayed, or adulterated state.—The common dose is from ten to fifteen grains, every three or four hours, for adults; and from two to six grains, for children.
COMB, an instrument made of horn, ivory, or other materials, and used for separating, cleaning, and dressing flax, wool, hair, &c. Combs for wool are prohibited to be imported into England.
A very useful Comb-pot was invented, a few years since, by John Ashman, an ingenious person employed by Messrs. Daniel and
