THIS Root commonly call'd Cabaret, or Wild Spiknard, grows very frequently in most Parts of the Levant, in Canada, and likewise in France all about Lyons, from whence comes almost all we sell now. This Root when in the Earth, sends forth Stalks, on the Tops of which grow thick Leaves like For and the white within, of a penetrating quick Smell, and of an acrid Taste, attended with a little Bitterness. Take care that you do not take the Azarina, or small Spiknard for it, which is brought to us from Burgundy, and may be easily distinguish'd, in that the Azarum has grey Roots of the Thickness of a writing-Pen; and the Azarina has many little black dry'd Roots, full of Strings or Filaments, which is sufficient enough to know it from the other.
The Spiknard is very little us'd in Physick; but the most considerable Importance this is of, is to mix with Starch, and the like, in order to make Powder for the Hair, about one Ounce of this being put to two; and the same is very proper for the Cure of the Farcy, and other Diseases of that Kind. It is observable that the Azarum is a Plant whose Root is almost cut close by the Ground, that is to say, it enters it very shallow; but the Root spreads about a Foot in the Earth, after the Nature of round Sowbread, of a yellow Colour without, and white within; which, if squeez'd, affords a Milk, which burns like Fire. I was willing to take Notice of this Thing, because some People will have it that Nobody knows this Plant, or have ever writ about it.
Azarum, or Asarum, wild Spiknard, is a small Plant which bears its Leaves like those of the Ground-Ivy, but smaller, rounder, tenderer, smooth, and of a shining green, fasten'd upon long Stalks. The Flowers grow near the Root, supported upon short Stems, which arise at the bottom of the Stalks of the Leaves: Each of the Flowers has five or six purple Supporters, which raise up the Hollow of the Cup, that is divided commonly into three Parts. When the Flower is gone, a Fruit follows in the Cup, which is cut into six Parts, and divided each lengthway into six Lodgings, which contain in them little, longish brown Seeds, full of a white Substance, whose Taste is something acrid. The Roots are close by the Ground, small corner'd, creeping, knotty, crooked, and stringy. This Plant grows upon the Mountains, and in the Gardens or shady Places; and the Leaves continue green all the Year. It purges sweetly upwards and downwards; is aperitive, and opens Obstructions. The Dose is from about half a Dram to two in Infusion, and about half a Scruple to a Dram in Powder. It is likewise us'd in several Compositions, where it does not vomit at all, because it is mix'd but in small Quantities, with abundance of other Ingredients.