MILKWORT: A genus of the octandra order, belonging to the diadelphia class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 3rd order, Lomentaceae. The calyx is pentaphyllous, with two of its leaflets wing-shaped and coloured; the legumen is obcordate and bilocular. There are 24 species; of which the most remarkable are,

1. The vulgaris, or common milkwort, is a native of the British heaths and dry pastures. The stalks are about five or six inches long, several arising from the same root; the leaves are firm, smooth, entire, and grow alternate upon the stalks, which are terminated with spikes of flowers, most commonly blue, but often red or white; the calyx consists of five leaves, three of which are small and green, two below, and one above the corolla; the other two intermediate ones are large, oval, flat-coloured, veined, and resemble petals, which at length turn greenish, and remain a defence to the seed-vessel; the corolla consists of three petals folded together, and forming a tube; the carina is terminated by a kind of heart-shaped, concave appendage, fringed at the extremity. The root of this plant has a bitter taste, and has been found to possess the virtues of the American rattlesnake-root. It purges without danger, and is also emetic and diuretic; sometimes operating all the three ways at once. A spoonful of the decoction made by boiling an ounce of the herb in a pint of water till one half has exhaled, has been found serviceable in pleuritis and fevers, by promoting a diaphoresis and expectoration; and three spoonfuls of the same, taken once an hour, has proved beneficial in the dropsy and anaemia. It has also been found serviceable in consumptive complaints.

2. The senega, or seneca, rattlesnake-wort, grows naturally in most parts of North America. This hath a perennial root composed of several fleshy fibres, from which arise three or four branching stalks which grow erect, garnished with spear-shaped leaves placed alternately. The flowers are produced in loose spikes at the end of the branches; they are small, white, and shaped like those of the common sorrel. It flowers here in July, but the plants do not produce seeds. The root of this species operates more powerfully than the last; but besides the virtues of a purgative, emetic, and diuretic, it has been recommended as an antidote against the poison of a rattlesnake; but this opinion is now exploded. It still, however, maintains its character in several disorders. Its efficacy, particularly in pleuritis, is most fully established in Virginia; formerly near 50 out of 100 died of that distemper, but by the happy use of this root hardly three out of the same number have been lost.

As the seeds of the rattlesnake-wort seldom succeed even in the countries where the plant is a native, the best method of propagating it is to procure the roots from America, and plant them in a bed of light earth in a sheltered situation, where they will thrive without any other culture than keeping them free from weeds. But though the plant will stand out ordinary winters, it will be proper to cover it during that season with old tanner's bark, or other mulch, to keep out the frost.