CHAP. XIII.Of Penny-royal-water.
Penny-royal, a Plant very common inEngland, is very warm, and its Parts very subtile and penetrating: It is one of the first Plants in Esteem in the present Practice, as well as in former Ages, as an Attenuant and Uterine. It is good in Flatulences and Suppressions of Urine, and by many is greatly recommended in Dropsies, Jaundices, and other chronic Distempers. It communicates its Virtues to Water in Infusion, and its simple Water has, perhaps,more Virtue than any other kept in the Shops. But as it is requisite in order to obtain a Water fully impregnated with the Virtues of Baum, to cohobate it on fresh Parcels of the Plant; the Water drawn from green Penny-royal, on the contrary, generally contains so large a Portion of the essential Oil, that it is necessary to separate what floats on the Surface of the Water, by the Separating-glass.
Take of the dried Leaves of Penny-royal one Pound and a half, of Water three Gallons; draw off one Gallon with a gentle Fire.
The Water drawn from green Penny-royal by the cold Still, is very fragrant, and fully impregnated with the Virtues of the Plant.