UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
MATERIA MEDICA

DEPARTMENTAL LIBRARY

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SUPPLEMENT

T O

MEDICAL BOTANY,

O R,

PART THE SECOND:

^ CONTAINING

PLATES WITH DESCRIPTIONS

OF MOST OF THE

PRINCIPAL MEDICINAL PLANTS
NOT INCLUDED IN THE MATERIA MEDICA

OF THE

COLLEGIATE PHARMACOPCEIAS OF LONDON AND EDINBURGH:

ACCOMPANIED WITH

A

CIRCUMSTANTIAL DETAIL OF THEIR MEDICINAL DEFECTS,

AND OF THE

DISEASES IN WHICH THET HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLT EMPLOYED.

By william WOODVILLE, M.D. F.L.S.

Phyfician to the Small Pox and Inoculation Hofpitals.

Scire potejiates herbarum ufumque medendi
Malultf et mutas agitare inglorim artes.

ViRG. ^N. 1. XII.

LONDON:

PRINTED AND SOLD FOR THE AUTHOR,

B Y

GEORGE YARD, LOMBARD STREET. V

M.SCC.XCIT.

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/r ixiill he readily perceived that the plan^ upon which
this volume was begun^ has been confiderahly contrabled. To illiijlrate
all the natural orders with an adequate number of medicinal plants^
which was my original intention^ would^ as I found upon more fully
invefigating the fubje£i, lead to the introdu&ion of a great many
vegetables^ which ^ in a medical point of view^ might be thought unim-
portant^ or entirely ifelefs', — Influenced by this conflderation^ a?id at the
fame time finding that the more immediate duties of my profeflio7i afforded
me but little leifure for profecuting a work of this kind^ I did not
hefltate to reduce this part- to the narrow compafs in which it is here
prefented. — This volume is therefore rather to be regarded as a Supple-
ment to the three former^ than as a Second Part ; and more efpecially as
containing an appendix to the Materia Medica^ and the following
articles admitted into one or both of the collegiate pharmacopceias^ viz.
agaricuSy angelica fylveflrisy ariflolochia tenuisy cajeputay cafcarillay
curfutUy laHuca virofjy fantalum rubrumy ^ citrinumy fcolopendriumy
and winteranus cortex.

On taking a final leave of Medical Botany, which owes
much of the merit it may poffefs rather to the execution of the artifl than
to the compiler y I am happy in the opportunity of acknowledging y with
gratitudey the favourable manner in which it has been received by the
public in generaly and by medical gentlemen in particular.

( * )

\

A Question has been aiked, to which It may be neceffary here
briefly to reply, viz. Why we have not figured all the Plants enume-
rated in the Catalogues of the Firft Part of Medical Botany,
but have omitted Hprdium dlflichan^ Triticum Avena fativa^

Piper Cubeba, Santalum alburn^ Anayris Elemlfera, Myroxylon perui~>
feruniy Stalagmitls Cambogioldes^ Boletus tgniafius^ Cocos butyracea^
The three firft, barley, wheat, and oat, are fo well known,
and have fp little claim to a place in Medical Botany, that it was
fuppofed a majority pf our readers would deem their figures fuper-i
fluous. Befides, their feeds are unqueftiopably to be confidered as
articles of food rather than of medicine, Of Piper Cubeba^ Santa-r
lum alburn^ Myroxylpn peruiferum^ S^alagmitis Cambogioides^ and
Cocos butyraceciy we have not been able tp procure proper fpecimens,
nor are there any perfedf figures of them publiihed ; fo that the plates
of thefe were unavoidably omitted. Refpe(5ting the A.mjrisElemtfera
Lin. we have to obferve, that after fully inveftigating the authorities for
adniitting this to be the tree which produces the officinal drug
ElemI, we are convinced of their infufficiency, and that the name
Elemifera is here erroneoufly applied ; and therefore, though we
obtained a good fpecimen of this fpecies, we had no pkte of it
engraved.

Boletus igniarius, or agaricus chirurgorum, is not properly a
medicinal anicle, nor is it of much importance in furgery; and
No. I. — Part II. A it

( I )

it may be further obferved, that it is a fungous fubftance, vafying iri
its appearance, and not eafily admitting of being charaderiftically
reprefented by a drawing; it is prefumed therefore that our work
(fuftains no difadvantage by its orniiTiorl,

The Author takes this opportunity of obfervlng, that till the
figures which he has f)ublifhed, were taken either from dried or
recent fpecimens, excepting in very few inftances, where he Was-
under the necelfity of reforting to the plates of others ; this, how-
ever, was never done but upon unqueftionably good authorities* *— *
And whenever future difeoveries fhall fliew that he has been mifled*
he will not fail to acknowledge it : the only inflance that has yet
occurred to him is the following of Cafcarilki

CLUTIA ELUTERIA* CASCARILIA cluTia*

STNO NTMA* Cafcarilla. Fharm. Land. ^ Kdinh. Elutheria.
et Eluteria, Audtorum. Clutia (Elutheria) foliis ebrdato-lan-
ceolatis. Mill. Dild, Anuen, Acad, vol, 5. p. 41 1. Horti Cliff,
486. Elor. Zeyl. 366,

Clafs Dioecia. Ord. Pentandria* Lin^ Geti. Plant* 1 1401

€cn* Cbi Ma s c* Cal. 5-phyllus* Cor. 5*petala.

p£M. Cal. 5-phyilus. Cor. 5-petala«

. 3-] ocularis. Sem* i.

Sp, Ch. C, foliis cordato-ianceolatiso

Styli

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This fniall tree grows feveral f(Set ih height, and fends off
humerous branches, efpecially towards the top : the bark which
covers the bl*anches is brown and fmooth, but that of the trtink is
externally more white and rough : the leaves are entire^ lanceolatej
fomewhat cordate, and elongated towards the apex, which is bluntj
on the upper fide of a bright green, on the under fide paler, and
placed alternately upon long footftalksi Both the male and female
flowers ftand in fpikes, and are compofed of a calyx divided into five
ovate leafits, enclofing an equal number of fmall whitifh petals, and
within thefe the nedtaria are placed. The female flower produces a
roundifh germen^ fupporting three bifid fpreading ftyles, terminated
by obtufe ftigmata: the capfule is globular, rough, marked with fix
furrows, and divided into three cells^ containing a folitary oval
fhining feed^

We have been defirous of introducing the annexed plate into early
notice, in order to determine what was left doubtful in the former
part of this work, where the Croton Cafcarilla is figured j on the
authority of Linnseusf though at the fame time we obferved that it
did not appear “ fufficiently afcertained” whether or no it furnifhed
the officinal Cafcarilla* This point however we can now confidently
decide in the negative*

Among other circumftances, which tended to involve the paren-
tal fource of Cafcarilla long in uncertainty, was the alfertion of
fome authors,'’ that it was a native of the Spanifli Main, and war
thence imported into Europe ; thus founding a prefurription, that
the Cafcarilla and Elutheria Barks were different, and that the latter'
only was the produce of the Bahama Iflands. But this affertion we
have difcovered to be contrary to faft ; for, upon inquiry, we do not
find that this drug was ever exported from Spanifh America, but that
the Bahamas have conftantly fupplied the European markets with.
Cafcarilla bark, a parcel of which was fent here from one of thofe
iflands, along with fpecimens of the tree producing it ; of which the
figure here given is a faithful reprefentation, as may be feen by com-
paring it with the original in the herbarium of Sir Jofeph Banks.

“ The bark of this plant, according to Dr. Wright, has none of the fenfible quali*
ties of Cafcarilla.

** See Boulduc. Hiji> de VAc. des Sc. 17191 p. 14. Spidmann J:/. ^.249.

But

( 4 )

But it will be necefTary to obferve here, that Dr. Wright, in hl$ ,
account of the medicinal plants growing in Jamaica,' gives the name
Croton Elutheria to a tree, the bark of which he fays “ is the fame
as the Cafcarilla or Elutheria of the fhops:” it feems therefore pro-
bable, that different fpecies of Clutia may produce bark of the fame,
or of fimilar qualities to that of Cafcarilla, as we find feveral inftances
in which the fanie drug is produced by various fpecies of plants.

That the tree here called by Dr. Wright Croton does not belong to
this genus, but it is evidently a Clutia, appears by the dioicous fpe-r
cimens of it fent by him to the Prefident of the Royal Society; a part
of which, with the male flowers, is delineated in the prefent plate,
in order that the Jamaica apd Bahama Cafcarilla may be compared
together ; the former being diftinguifhed by figure I.

The Clutia Eluteria feems to have been firft introduced into Britain
by Mr. P. Miller ; but it is not to be found in the King’s garden at
Kew, nor have we feen it cultivated any where near the Metropolis.
According to a late German author, it grows abundantly in the
Bahama Iflands, where the bark, which foyms a principal export, is
fold at the very low rate of lor. ^

Refpe<3:ing the medical hiftory, qualities, and ufes of Cafcarilla
bark, we have nothing to add to what is given in the firft volume of
Medical Botany.

* Med, ’Journ. vol. 8. p, 3.

* Vide J. D. Schsepf. Reife durch etnige der mittlern und fudlkhen vereinigten.
■^ordamtritanijchen Jiaaten nac oJi-Florida undden Bahama Injeln,

MEDICAL BOTANY,

2\2

( s )

MEDICAL BOTANY— PART SECOND.

JSFERIFOLIjE.

[The following fix Plants^ as belonging to this natural order ^ are publijhed
together \ an arrangement ivhich we jhall conftantly adopt in future, as far as the
limited number of plants coming within our province will conveniently admit.

PULMONARIA OFFICINALIS. COMMON LUNGWORT.

6* TN 0 NTMA. Pulmonaria, feu Pulmonaria maculofa. Pharm,
Geoff. M. M. Dale, 135, Lewis, 525. Edinh. New Difp. 261,
Bergius, 83. Murray, vol. 2. p. 97. Gerard, Emac. 808. Rail
Syn. 226. Park. Parad.'/^c^P,. Symphytum maculofum five pul-
monaria latifolia. Bauh. Pin. 259. Pulmonaria officinalis. ITudf.
Flor. Ang. 81. With. Bot. Arr. 193. Sowerhy, Eng. Bot. 1 1 8. /. 1 1 8.
Flor. Dan. 482.

•Pentandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 184,

Gen% Ch. Cor. infundibulif. fauce pervia, Cal. prifmatico 5-gonus.
Sp, Ch. P. foliis radicalibus ovato-cordatis fcabris.

THE root is perennial : the ftems fimple, eredl, angular, rough,
and frequently rife above a foot in height : the ftem leaves are fome-
No. I. — Part II. B what

( 6 )

what ovate, or rather lanceolate, broad pointed, hairy, alternate, an5
. on the upper fide fpeckled with whitifli maculse : the radical leaves
are broader, arid more elongated towards the bafe : the flowers appear
in terminal fafciculi, and are reddifh and purple : the calyx is a prifm
of five fides, rough, and divided at the mouth into five fhort pointed
fegments : the corolla is funnel-fhaped, confifting of a cylindrical
tube, open at the mouth, and a fpreading limb, cut at the margin
into five obtufe fegments : the five filaments are very fliort, placed at
the mouth of the tube, and furnifhed with fimple yellow antherse :
the germen is quadrifid, fupporting a tapering ftyle of the length of
the calyx, and crowned with a blunt notched ftigma : the feeds are
four, roundifh, and lodged at the bafe of the calyx.

This plant is rarely found to grow wild in England, but is very
commonly cultivated in gardens, where its leaves become broaider, and
approach more to a cordate fhape, as appears by the detached leaves
reprefented in the plate. The figure itfelf, however, exhibits a fpeci-
liien of the fpontaneous growth of this country.

The leaves, which are the part medicinally ufed, have no peculiar
fmell, but in their recent fl:ate manifefl; a flightly aftringent and mu-
cilaginous tafte ; hence it feems not wholly without foundation, that
they have been filppofed to be demulcent and pectoral.

They have been recommended ih hemoptofe, tickling coughs, and
catarrhal defludfions upon the lungs. The name Pul monaria, how-
ever, feems to have arifen rather from the fpeckled appearance of
thefe leaves, refembling that of the lungs, than from any intrinfic
quality \vhich experience difcovered to be ufeful in pulmonary com-
plaints.

LITHOSPERMUM

( 7 )

LITHOSPERMUM OFFICINALE. COMMON CROMWELL.

STNONTMA. Lithofpermum, feu Milium Solis. Pharm. Vide
Geoffroy. Pra5i. de M. M. vol. 3. /i 742* Dale. Pharmacol, 139.
Aljion. M. M. vol. ii, 361. Lewis y M. M, 399. Edinh. New
Difpenf. 223. ■ Murray f App. Med. vol. ii. p. 98. Pa.yy Synop.
228. Lithofpermum majus eredum. Baith. Pin. 258. L. mi-
nus. Gerardy Emac. 6o<^. L. vulgare minus. Park. Pbeat.

L. officinale. Hudfon Flor. Atig. yg. With. Bot.Arr. Relh.
FI. Cant. 76. Sowerhy. Eng. Bot. 134. /. 134.

Pentandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 18 1.

Gen. Ch. Cor. infundib. fauce perforata, nuda. Cal. 5-partitus.

Sp. Ch. Li feminlbus laevibus, corollis vix calycem fuperantibus,
foliis lanceolatis.

THE root is perennial, fending forth a long ftalk, which is ered,
ftrong, round, branched, and befet with ffiort briftly hairs : the leaves
are alternate, feffile, lanceolate, entire, pointed, hairy beneath, above
clofely ftudded with minute cartilaginous tubercles, which render them
rough to the touch : the flowers are fmall, of a pale yellow colour,
and are placed irregularly near the ends of the branches, which are
recurved, but become ftraight on the maturation of the feeds : the
calyx is divided into five fegments, which are tapering, narrow,
pointed, and permanent ; the corolla is monopetalous, funnel-fbaped,
mouth naked and nearly clofed ; the tube is ffiort, cylindrical ; the
limb is divided at the border into five blunt teeth : the filaments are
ffiort, and furniffied with oblong antherse : the germen is quadrifid :
ftyle filiform, of the length of the tube, terminated by a blunt cloven
ftigma : the feeds are four, but feldom more than two arrive at per-
fediion, when they are egg-ffiaped, ffiining, extremely hard, and of
a grey or yellowiffi hue.

It

( 8 )

It is found in various parts of England, affedling a dry gravelly
foil. Its flowers appear in May and June.

This plant, according to Haller polTeffes narcotic powers ; but its
feeds only have been employed for medical purpofes. Thefe feeds,
which we have defcribed above, by their exquifitely polifhed furface,
and ftony hardnefs, (from which latter circumftance the name Litho-
fpermum is taken,) have long excited the attention of naturalifts.
Pliny confidered them as the greateft curiofity in the vegetable world :
“ Nec quicquam inter herbas majore quidem miraculo afpexi. Tantus
eft decor, velut aurificum arte alternis inter folia candicantibus mar-
garitis : tarn exquifita difficultas la[>idis ex herba nafcentis.”

Grew relates, that the hard cruftaceous part effervefces with acids
but the experiment has been fmce tried by others without effed : the
internal fubftance of the feed is fofter, and feems to confift of a fari-
naceous, fweet, and oily matter, becoming rancid on being long kept.
Formerly, when medicine was under the dominion of fuperftition
and abfurd conceits, a notion prevailed, that nature pointed out
remedies for different complaints, by bearing a certain refemblance
and fign of the difeafe or part affecfted : hence the ftony appearance
of thefe feeds was deemed a certain indication of their efficacy in
calculous and gravelly diforders. And though modern writers on the
Materia Medica give no credit to the lithontriptic character of fern,
milii foils, yet they generally afcribe to them a diuretic quality, a
power of cleanfmg the urinary paffages, and of obviating ftranguary,
efpecially when employed in the form of an emulfion but probably
the free ufe of any bland diluent would anfwer thefe purpofes
equally well.

The abforbent virtue attributed to thefe feeds is wholly without
foundation, being irreconcileable to the principles of chemiftry.,

* Hijl, Stirp. Helv. n. 595.

** Plln. lib, 27. r. II. ' Grew, Mixt, corp. p, 22.

*• Lotum rnovere hifce quidem credo, et in ftranguria efficere aliquid pnffe, quum ob
nucleum emulfivae naturae lit. Murray^ I, c. See others alfo of this opinion.

ANCEIUSA

2/-f.

( 9 )

ANCHUSA OFFICINALIS. OFFICINAL BUGLOSS,

Or ALKANET.

STNO NTMA. Buglofllim. Pharm. Park. Par ad. 249. Geoff.
V. Hi. 226. Pale. 136. Alfion. vol. ii. 91. Lewis. 167. Bergius,
79. Murray, vol. ii. 98. New Edinb. Difpenf. 152. Bugloffiim.
angiiftifolium majus. Bauh. Pin. 256. BuglofTa vulgaris. Cer.
Emac. 798. Fior. Dan. t. 572.

Petitandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 182.

Gen. Ch. Cor. infundibullf. fauce claufa fornicibus. Sem. bafi
infculpta.

Sp. Ch. A. folds lanceolatis ftrigofis, fpicis fecundis imbricatis,
calycibus quinquepartitis. Hort. Kew.

ROOT perennial, large, tapering. Stem about two feet high, eredt,
angular, ftrong, rough, hairy branched towards the top. Leaves
alternate, narrow, lanceolate, pointed, rough, hairy, edges eroded,
and fomewhat undulated. Flowers purple, produced in corymbi,
both lateral and terminal. Calyx rough, cut into five acute eredt
fegments. Corolla funnel-fhaped, tube long, cylindrical : limb
divided into five obtufe fegments : mouth of the tube clofed by five
nedfarious fcales. Filaments five, fhort, placed in the upper part of
the tube, and furnifhed with fimple brownifh antherse. Germen
quadrifid : ftyle nearly as long as the tube, tapering, and terminated
by an emarginated ftigma. Seeds four, hollowed out at the bafe.— •
The flowers appear in fuccefTion from June till October.

It is a native of the Continent of Europe, but not indigenous to
this Ifland. Mr. P. Miller cultivated it here in 1748, and we now
find it in mofl gardens where variety of herbaceous ornamental plants
is an objedf of attention.

No. I. — Part II.

C

The

{ «o )

The root, leaves, and flowers of this plant have all been admitted
of the Materia Medica, though it would feem without any juft claim
to that diftin£tion. To the tafte they difcover no other quality than
that of being fweetifh and glutinous, excepting only a flight bitter-
iiefs of the flowers.

Bergius afcribes an aperient and refrigerant virtue to this plant,
and ftates its ufe to be in “ ardor vifcerum,” and alfo in hypochon-
driafis. However, as all the common oloraceous plants are cooling
and laxative, thefe propenies are no peculiar recommendation of
Buglofs.

The utility of this herb in melancholic and hypochondriacal
diforders has been alTerted ever fince the time of Diofeorides and
when it is confidered that wine was generally the vehicle in which
the plant was adminiftered, we are not furprifed that it fo long maii-
tained the character of exhilerating the fpirits. In this way likewife
may be explained why the flowers of Buglofs have been reckoned
one of the four cordial flowers.

* “ quo vino inditum animi voluptatis augere, hilaritatemque ofFerre credi-

tur,” &c. Diof, 1. iv. c. 128.

SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE. COMMON COMFREY.

SYNONYMjd. Confolida. Pharm. Geoff, vol.iii. Dale. 138.
Alfon. vol, i. 525. Lewis. 248. Edin. New Difp. 176. Bergius,
85. Murray, vol. ii. 92. Cullen, v. /i. 413. Symphytum.’ JlalL
Stirp. Helv. No. 600. Scop, Flor. Cam. No. 195. Symphytum
Confolida major. Bauh.Pin. Gerard. Emac.^ 06. Symphy-
r turn majus vulgare. Park. Theat. 523. Raii. Synop. 230. S.
officinale. Hudf. Ang. p.Zi, With. Bot. Arr. Curt. Flor,

Lond, Flor. Dan, 664.

Pentandria

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( II )

Pentandrla Monogynla. Lin. Gen. Plant. 185.

Gen. Ch. Cor. limbus tubulato-ventricofus : fauce claufa radiis fubulatls.
Sp. Ch. S. foliis ovato-lanceolatis decurrentibus.

ROOT perennial, large, branched, on the outfide blackilh, within
whitifh. Stalk about two feet high, ered, branched, fomewhat angular,
covered with Ihort rigid hairs. Leaves large alternate, thofe below
{landing on footftalks ; thofe above feffile, decurrent, ovate, pointed,
entire, rough, and fringed with fliort hairs. Flowers tubular, of a
yellowifli white, placed in fpikes, which turn inwards in a fpiral
manner. Calyx divided into five fegments, which are rough, ered,
and pointed. Corolla funnel-fhaped, confifling of a Ihort thick tube,
and a limb flightly cut at the edges into five fliort obtufe reflexed
fegments ; the mouth of the tube clofed by five narrow pointed nec-
tarious teeth. Filaments five, fliort, terminated by yellow ered bifid
antherse. Germen divided into four parts. Style tapering, longer
than the corolla, and furniflied with a fmall blunt ftigma. Seeds
four, angular, blackifli, fliining, and lodged in the bottom of the
calyx. It is a common Britifh plant about ditches, flowering from
June till September.

A fuppofed vulnerary efl^icacy, for which this plant was formerly
in great repute, and to which it feems to owe its name, will now be
ccnfidered as nothing in its recommendation.

Flowever, the root of Comfrey, though rarely ufed, promifes all
the advantages to be derived from that of marflimallow ; for accord-
ing to Lewis “ the dried root, boiled in water, renders a large pro-
portion of the fluid flimy ; and the decodions infpilTated, yield a
ftrong flavourlefs mucilage, fimilar to that obtained from althaea, but
fomewhat flronger-bodied, or more tenacious, and in fomewhat
larger quantity, amounting to about three-fourths the weight of the
Comfrey.” Flence it is inferred, that the confolida is rather fuperior
to the althaea in the feveral intentions for which that root is employed ;
the mucilaginous matter being in both roots the only medicinal
principle. Therefore, as the root of this plant is eafily obtained, it

may

( 12 )

may be conveniently fubftltuted for that of althaea in all the compo-
fitions in which the latter is officinally direded, or extemporaneoufly,
for the general purpofes of an emollient and demulcent. This opinion
feems alfo to have the authority of Dr. Cullen, v/ho fays, “ while
mucilaginous matters are retained in our lifts, I do not perceive why
both the Britifti Colleges have entirely omitted the Symphytum. It
may be of fervice as alleged in diarrhoeas and dyfenteries.”

CYNOGLOSSUM OFFICINALE. COMMON HOUNDS-

TONGUE.

STNONTMA. Cynoglofllim. 3. 394. Dale.i^^,

AlJlo?i. V. i. 428. Lewis. 26?). Ed. NewDifpejif. 181. Bergius.^2.
Murray. 2. 102. Cullen, “u. jV. 413. Cynogloflum majus vulgare,
Bauh. Pin. 257. Ger. Ernac. 804. Park. Theat. 511. Raii,
Hiji. 489. Synop. 226. Cynogloflum folds ellipticis lanceolatis,
fericeis, caule foliofo. Hall. Hijii Stirp. Helv. n. 387. C. offici-
nale. Scop. Flor. Carn. 19 1. Hudfqn. FU Ang. 8q. With, Bot,
Arr. 192. Curt. FI. Lond,

Pentandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. PI. 183.

Gen. Ch. Cor. infundibuliformis, fauce claufa fornicibus. Semina
depreffa, interiore tantum latere ftylo affixa.

Sp. Ch. C. ftaminibus corolla brevioribus, folds lato-lanceolatis ’bafi
attenuatis tormentofis feffilibus, laciniis calycinis oblongis.
Hort. Kew.

ROOT perennial, long, tapering, blackifh on the outfide, whitifli
within. Stalk two or three feet in height, eredt, grooved, villous,
leafy, branched. Radical leaves large, on long footftalks, exceeding

a foot

^ jj’' * ■*

( '3 )

a foot in length, ovate, pointed, covered with a fhort fhining greyiih
down; cauline leaves feflile, numerous, landeolate, broad towards the
bafe. Flowers of a dull red, changing to a bluilh colour, and placed
on dender peduncles, in fpikes. Segments of the calyx five, deeply
divided. Corolla monopetalous, funnel-fhaped : tube cylindrical,
thick, half the length of the calyx : lim.b concave, cut into five
roundifh fegments : nedary confifting of five purple fcales, clofing
together, and inferted at the mouth of the tube. Filaments five,
very fhort. Antherac oblong, green. Germens four, fmooth, of a
yellowilh green colour, fupporting a tapering ftyle, terminated by a
blunt emarginated ftigma. Capfules four, roundilh, rough. Seeds
folitary, ovate, gibbous, pointed, fmooth.

It is common in this country, and ufually found in wafte grounds,
or fides of roads, and flowers in June and July.

Hounds-tongue, thus named from the lhape of the leaves, like moll
of the other plants of this natural order, is fucculent, and fomewhat
mucilaginous, efpecially its root, which, for medicinal purpofes, has
been generally prefer ed to the leaves. The tafle of the plant is
bitteriflr, and its fmell is difagreeable, refembling that* of mice.
CynogloITum is reported to be deleterious, and the dingy lurid ap-
pearance of its leaves, peculiar to poifonous herbs of the narcotic
kind, feems to favour the opinion ; nor are faCts wanting to confirm
it. A relation is given of a whole family at Oxford, v/ho, by
miftake, ate the boiled leaves of this plant for thofe of comfrey: foon
afterwards they were all feized with vomiting, flupor, fleepinefs, &c.
which fymptoms continued alternately for almofl; forty hours, and
with fuch feverity, that one perfon died.^ But what degree of nar-
cotic power Fiounds-tongue pofTefi'es, or to what quantity it may be
fafely employed as a medicine, experience has not yet determined.
The pil. de cynoglofl'o of the Wirtemburg and Danilh Pharmaco-
poeias contain fo Imall a proportion of this root, that their com-
mon ufe cannot be conlidered as afibrding fufficient proof of its
innocence. Ray however informs us, that Dr. Flulfe frequently

“ Vide Morifon Hiji. Oxon. tii. p. 450. Haller alfo, ( Hij}. Stlrp, Helv. n. 587.^
cites a fimilar inftance, mentioned by Dr. Blair ; but the plant ufed does not appear to
have been the cynoglolTum. See Blair’s Mifcellaneous Objervatiom^ p. 55.

No. 2. — Part II. D prcfcribed

( >4 V

prefcrlbed a decoftion of the roots of Hoimds-tongue for internal ufe,
and at the fame time applied the roots as a poultice to fcrophulous'
tumours with fafety and advantage.'’ Hence it appears that this
part of the plant at leafl cannot be confidered as an adive poifon.

The leaves and roots of Cynogloffum have been employed with the
fame intention, and principally with a view to their mucilaginous,-
aftringent, and fedative qualities, as in coughs, hmmoptyfis, diarrhoeas,
dyfenteries, &c.' Their external ufe is alio recommended in ill-con-
Uitioned ulcers and tumours.

’’ Vide /. c.

' Vide Schreckius DiJJ'. de Cynoglojfo,

BORAGO OFFICINALIS. COMMON BORAGE.

ST NO NTMA. Borago. Pharm, Geoff, v. 3. 201. Dale. 136.
Aljion. v.ii. 91. Lewis. 158. Ed. New Dtfpenf. 150. Bergius.
86. Murray, v. ii. 95. Bugloffum latifolium, Borrago. Bauh.
Pin. 256. Borrago hortenfis. Gerard. Emac. 797. Borago
fioribus cseruleis & albis. Pali. Hijl. 493- Synop. 228. B. offici-
nalis. Hudfon. Flor. Ang. ^2. With. Bot. Arr. 196. Jk,, Hort.
Roman. T. 2. t. 20. 21. Eng. Bot. 36.

Pentandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. PI. 188.

Gen. Ch. Cor. rotata : fauce radiis claufa.

Sp. Ch. B. foliis omnibus alternis, calycibus patentibus.

ROOT divided, fibrous, and in Britain fcarcely more than biennial.
Stalks branched, round, fucculent, hairy, ered, rifing to the height
of two feet. Leaves ovate, alternate, undulated, hairy, ciliated, irre-
gularly defined at the edges, and at their bafes embracing the ftem.

ilowers

tr nr / i;9l

( 15 )

Flowers large, blue, placed in loofe panicles, upon rough peduncles
turning downwards. Calyx divided into live narrow ovate rough
permanent fegments. Corolla monopetalous, wheel-Hiaped : tube
(hort •, limb deeply cut into live fpreading pointed divilions, which
are longer than the calyx ; faux or mouth of the tube clofed by live
prominences, which are blunt, and notched at the end. Filaments
live, tapering, converging : anthers oblong, approaching, and fixed
to the middle and inner fide of the filaments. Germens four : ftyle
filiform, longer than the ftamina, and furnilhed with a fimple ftigma:
the calyx fupplies the office of capfule, containing the feeds, which
are four, of an irregular roundilh lhape.

The Borage, although commonly found growing about ruhbilh,
and in wafte grounds, is however not originally a native of this
liland, but has now been long enough naturalized here to be con^
fidered as a Britilh plant. Its flowers, which appear from June till
September, are of a beautiful blue colour : hence this plant, in many
gardens, is cultivated for ornament, as well as for its popular ufe as
an ingredient in that grateful fuinmer-beverage,. known by the name
of Cool Tankard.

This plant appears to be the bugloflfum of the ancients ;* and its
reputed medicinal character feems alfo to correfpond moft exactly
with that of our common buglofs, or anchufa officinalis L. The
flowers of both have been termed cordial, and hence, formerly,
much recommended in melancholia, and other affedtions of the
nervous fyftem j** and as thefe flowers were found to pofTefs neither
warmth, pungency, nor fragrance, their cordial efficacy has been
afcribed to a faline quality, which, by abating inordinate heat, was
faid to be peculiarly grateful and refrefhing. But though the herbaceous
fubftance of Borage has been difcovered to contain a faline matter,
there is no evidence of its exiftence in the flowers ; fo that the ad-
vantages fuppofed to be derived by a vinous infufion of thefe, like
thofe of buglofs, can only be imputed to the menftruum^

» The following lines therefore apply to this plant :

Vinum potatum quo fit macerata buglolTa,

Maerorem cerebri dicunt auferre periti.

Fertur convivas deco£lio reddere Isetos.—— Salem, c.

^ Hence the trite remark, << Borago, gaudia (empeir

The

( i6 )

The leaves of Borage manifeft nothing remarkable either to the
fmell or to the tafte ; but they abound with a juice, which, in its
exprefl'ed ftate, is faid to be faltifh, and which, on being boiled a
fufficient time, forms cryftals of nitre f fimilar cryftals have alfo
been obtained from a decodfion of the leaves and hence it may be
inferred, that this plant has a peculiar claim to the pofTeffion of re-
frigerating and aperient virtues. Dr. Withering obferves, that the
young and tender leaves are good in fallads, or as a pot-herb.

Cordia Myxa, whofe fruit is of the drupaceous or plumb kind, and
was formerly known in the fhops by the name feheften^ is the only
remaining medicinal plant placed by botanifts in this natural order
which we have not figured. The leaves of the Myxa, however,
unlike thofe of . the other fpecies of Cordia, are fmooth and naked ;
it therefore cannot properly belong to the afperifolise ; and as febeftens
feem to have no medical advantages over many other dried fruits, we
fhall, without further apology, proceed to the order Perfonatse.

' Marcgraf in Mem. de UJcad. des Sc. de Berlin. 1747. />. 79.

Boulduc Mem. de U Acad, des Sc, de Paris^ 1734. />• lOi.

PERSON ATM.

2/16'

N

( 17 )

PERSONAfM.-

VERBENA OFFICINALIS. COMMON VERVAIN.

STN0NTMa4. Verbena. Pbarm. Dale. 148. Aljlon. voL ii. 242.
Lewis. 660. Murray, ii. 209. Verbena communis ca^ruleo
flore. Bauh. Pin, 26g. V. mas feu reda et vulgaris. Parb.
Lheat. 674. V. communis. Gerard. Etnac. 718. Rail. Hijl. 535.
Synop. 236. V. officinalis. Hudf. Flor. Ang. 505.. With. Bot.Arr.
595. Flor, Dan, 628. Flor. Lond. i. 5.

Didynamia Gymnofpermia.*

Qen. Ch. Cor. infundib. fubsequalis, curva. Calycis unico dente
truncate. Semina 2. s. 4. nuda. Siam. 2. s. 4.

Sp. Ch, V. tetrandra, fpicis filiformibus paniculatis, foliis multifido-
laciniatis, caule folitario.

ROOT perennial, tapering, fibrous, of a yellowifli colour. Stalks
above a foot high, eredt, tapering, obtufely quadrangular, befet with
fliort prickles: the branches are oppofite, flender, and limple. Leaves
oppofite, feffde, pinnatifid, or deeply and irregularly indented.
Flowers numerous, purplifh, placed in long flender fpikes. Calyx

* Linnaeus places the Verbena in the clafs diandria, dividing the different fpecies into
the diandr%us and tetrandrous ; but our Englifh fpecies, included among the latter,
'has alfo the charadlers of the fourteenth clafs, and is arranged accordingly by Britifli
botanifts.

No. 2.— Part II.

E

final 1,

( i8 )'

fmall, tubular, five-toothed, angular, perfnaft^nt. Corolla fftotiope^-
talous, unequal : tube cylindrical, towards the top bent inward ; limb
.expanding, divided into five fegments, which are rounded, and nearly
equal. Filaments extremely fhort : anther se commonly four, two
jof which are placed above the others. Germen fquare: flyle thread-
fiiaped, terminated by an obtufe ftigma. Seeds ufually four, oblongs
obtufe, on the infide flattifo, and white, and on the outfide brown,
convex, . grooved, and reticulated.

Mr. Curtis obferves that “ the Vervain may be confidered as a kind
,of domeftic plant, not confined to any particular foil, but growing
by the road fides, pretty univerfally at the entrance into towns and
villages and Miller declares that it is never found more than a
quarter of a mile from a houfe : hence it has been alfo called
Simpler’s Joy.

Ancient writers have diftinguifhed this plant by the names Verbena,
Verbenaca, and Perifterium.^ It is deftitute of odour, and to the
ftafte manifefts but a flight degree of bitternefs and aflringency.

In former times the Verbena feems to have been held facred, and was
employed in celebrating the facrificial rites j*" and with a view to this
more than the natural power of the plant, it was worn fufpended about
the neck as an amulet. This practice, thus founded in fuperflition,
was, however, in procefs of time, adopted in medicine ; and there-
fore to obtain its virtues more effed;ually, the Vervain was directed
to be bruifed before it was appended to the neck ; and of its good
effedfs thus ufed for inveterate headaches, Foreflus relates a remarkable
inftance.' In ftill later times it has been employed in the way of
cataplafm, by which we are told the moft fevere and obftinate cafes

* Vide Plln. /. 25. c. g.

*» It appears to be the Iffa Porxn, or of Diofeorides. Alfton fays, Verbena

quafi herbena, becaufe all herbs ufed in facred rites were fo called. Hence Virgil,
Verbenafque adole pingues & mafcula thura. Ed. viii. v. 65. And Terence in Andria,
Ex ara hac fume Verbenas tibi. But Virgil alfo ufes the word to denote a particular
plant. Vide Georg. /V. 131. ^

^ Oper. Omn, L. 9. Ohf. 52.

of

( 19 )

of cophalalgia have been cured ; for which we have the authorities of
Etmuller, Hartmann, and more efpecially De Haen/

Notwlthftanding thefe teftimonies in favour of Vervain, it has
defervedly fallen into difufe in Britain ; nor has the pamphlet of Mr.
Morley,"’ written profeffedly to recommend its ufe in fcrophulous
aifeftions, had the eifed; of reftoring its medical charader. This
gentleman dlreds the root of Vervain to be tied with 2l yard of 'white
fnttin ribband round the neck, where it is to remain till the patient
recovers. He alfo has recourfe to infufions and ointments prepared
from the leaves of the plant ; and occafionall)' calls in aid the molt
adive medicines of the Materia Medica.

* De Haen Rat, Med. P, 6. p, 304.

V

® See his ElTay on Schrophula.

VERONICA OFFICINALIS. OFFICINAL VERONICA,-

Or, MALE SPEEDWELL.

S Y'N 0 NlTMyh. Veronica. Pharm. Dale. 186. Alflon. ii. 244.
Bergius. 17. Murray, ii. 205. Rutty. 535. Lewis. 660. Edinb.
New Difpenf, 301. Veronica mas fupina et vulgatiffima. Baub.
Pin. 246. V. vera et major. Gerard. Emac. 626. V. mas vul-
garis fupina. Park. Theat. y^o. Raii. Hi/l. 851. Synop. 281.
Plall. n. 540. V. oiEcinalis. Pludfon. Ang. 4. Lightf. Scot. 27.
Withering. Bot. Arr. p. Flor. Dan. 248. Elor. Lond. n. 33.

Diandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 25.

Gen. Ch. Cor. Limbo 4-partito : lacinia infima anguftiore. Capfnla-
bilocularis.

Sp. Ch.

( 20 )

Sj>. Ch. V. fpids lateralibils pedunculatis, folus oppofitls, caulc
procumbente.

ROOT perennial, fmall, fibrous. Stalks about fix inches in
length, procumbent, creeping, firm, hairy, or woolly. Leaves
oblong, obtufe, flightly ferrated, or toothed, rough, placed in pairs,
feffile, or on very fhort footftalks. Flowers purplifh, in fpikes, either
terminal or axillary, each flower ftanding upon a fhort peduncle,
fupported by a linear brafteal leaf. Calyx divided into four feg-
ments, which are ovate, obtufe, and befet with glandular hairs.
Corolla monopetalous, wheel-fhaped, confifting of a fhort tube, ter-
minated by a fpreading limb, of a pale blue colour, and divided into
four unequal portions. Filaments two, white, furnifhed with blue
heart-fhaped antherse. Gerraen roundifli, depreffed, vifcous, and at
the bale glandular. Style filiform, purplifh, and furniflied with a
fiigma, of a truncated appearance. Capfule irregularly heart-fhaped,
divided into two valves, containing numerous fmall brown compreffed
feeds.

It is not imfrequent on dry barren grounds, and heaths, as that of
Flampftead, flowering in June and July.

“ The leaves of Veronica have a weak not difagreeable fmell,
which in drying is diffipated, and which they give over in diftillation
with water, but without yielding any feparable oil. To the tafte
they are bitterifh, and roughifh : an extrad: made from them by
rectified fpirit is moderately bitter and aftringent.” ^

This plant, a century ago, was much recommended, efpecially
in Germany, as a fubftitute for tea ; and the French ftill djftin-
guifh it by the name of The T Europe. But though this European
tea has a roughnefs and a flight bitternefs, which is not ungrateful
to the tafie, yet thefe qualities are fo unlike thofe which we difcover
in the foreign tea, that the extremely high price of the latter, at that
time, muft have been the chief reafon for caufing a contrary opinion,
and of reconciling Europeans to a fubftitute fo imperfed as the leaves
of Veronica.

* Lewis, 1. c.

As

^ 1*.

220

{ )

As a medicine ,alfo this plant has had a confiderable fhare of fame,
Francus'’ and Hoffmann ' afcribe to it numerous virtues, the former
calling it Polychrejia herba Veronica. The diforders in which it
has been efteemed moft ufeful are thofe of the lungs, as coughs,
afthmas, confumptions, &c. in which it is faid not only to prove
expectorant, but by its extraordinary vulnerary power to heal internal
ulcers.

Its ufe has likewife been recommended by feveral authors in various
other complaints requiring medicines of very different characters ;
but if we judge of the utility of the Veronica by its fenfible qualities,
it is only to be recognized as an aftringent ; and not fufficiently power-
ful as fuch to produce any confiderable effeCt, and is therefore now

difregarded by medical practitioners.

\

* Vide Polychrejia herba Veronica^ publilhed in 1690,

* Vide Fr. Hoffmann in Pijf. de infuji Veroniccs efficacia praferenda herba Thea.—^
Alfo Haller, 1. c.

EUPHRASIA OFFICINALIS. COMMON EYEBRIGHT.

STNONTMA, Euphrafia. Pharm. Geoff. Hi. 454. Dak. 196.
Aljion. a. 138. Putty. 189. 'Bergius. 543. Murray, ii. 186,
Lewis. 292. Cullen, i. 42. Edinb. New Difp. 187. Euphrafia
officinarum. Bauh. Pin. 233. Ger. Emac. 663. Park. Theat.
1329. Raii Hiji. 771. Synop. 284. Euphrafia officinalis. Hudf,
Ang. 268. With. Bot.Arr. 635. Curt. Flor. Lond. 335.

Didynamia Angiofpermia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 741.

Gen. Ch. Cor. 4-fidus cylindricus. Caps. 2-locularis, ovato-oblonga.
Anther cs inferiores altero lobo ball fpinofcC,

Sp. Ch. E. foliis ovatis lineatis argute dentatis.

No. 2. — Part II. F

ROOT

{ 22 )

ROOT annual, {lender, divided, furnillied with numerous minute
fibres: ftalk about three or four inches high, branched, round, fome-
what hoary, reddifh. Leaves feflile, oppofite, ovate, deeply ferrated,
concave, rather hairy, and on the upper fide marked with linear
impreffions. Flowers without peduncles, in racemi, arifing at the
alse of the leaves. Calyx pentagonal, permanent, divided at the brim
into four fegments, which are unequal, of a dingy purplifh colour,
and befet with fmall glands. Corolla monopetalous, bilabiated, white:
tube cylindrical, crooked, fomewhat hairy, at the mouth yellowifh:
limb feparated into two lips : upper lip ered:, bifid, toothed, ftreaked
with three purple lines : lower lip largeft, divided into three emargi-
nated lobes, of which thofe placed laterally are painted with purple
ftreaks, a,nd that in the middle tinged with yellow. Filaments four,
tapering, purplifh. Antherse brown, bilobed, bearded with a few
W’^hite hairs at the bottom. Germen egg-fhaped, hairy. Style fili-
form, downy. Stigma blunt, fringed with minute glands. Capfule
egg-fhaped, notched at the end, divided into two cells, containing
feveral whitifh ftriated feeds.

It is common on barren meadows, heaths, and paftures, producing
its flowers from July till September.

Eyebright, without any fenfible odour, is fomewhat bitterifh and
aftringent, communicating a black colour to a folution of ferrum
vitrioktum* It derives its name from its reputed efiicacy in various
diforders of the eyes, for which it was ufed both externally* and in-
ternally, and has long'’ been fo much celebrated as to be confidered
almofl; in the character of a fpecific, the “ verum oculorum folamenr —
But as there cannot poflibly be a general remedy for all difeafes of
the eyes, the abfurd and indifcriminate recommendation of Euphrafia
as filch, muft receive but little credit from thofe who prad;ice medicine
on rational principles. It muft be acknowledged however, that fome
authors have ftated peculiar complaints of the eyes, in which the ufe .

» The ufual way of employing it as an external application was by mixing its juieft
with wine, and then adding a fmall quantity of honey.

It is mentioned in this charadter by Gordon, ( Ltltum Medkina. Fol, 146. ed. 1305)
Alfo by Arnoldus de Villa Nova, Sylvaticus, and others.

of

( 23 )

of this plant was thought more remarkably evident; and, judging by
thefe, we fhould fay, that eyes weakened by a long continued exer-
tion, and thofe that are dim and watery, as in a fenile ftate, are the
cafes in which Euphrafia promifes moft advantage; nor are old people
to defpair, for according to Hildanus' and Lanzonus'* feveral, at the
age of feventy and eighty years, were recovered almoft from entire
blind nefs. ,

But though the great reputation which Eyebright formerly fup-
ported for feveral ages, muft have induced fome practitioners of later
days to have tried its opthalmic power ; yet we do not find a fingle
inftance of its efficacy recorded in modern times. How far this
remark ought to invalidate the pofitive teftimonies in its favour, we
leave others to determine.®

The Icelanders are faid to be in the conftant habit of ufing the
juice of Euphrafia in all affeCtions of the eyes.*^

In common with many other plants, the Euphrafia has alfo been
recommended in the jaundice.

c V> cent, epijl. n. 59.

Open. Omn, ed, 1738. Tom. 2. p. 394.

The chara£ter of Euphrafia was not unknown to Milton ;

“■ then purged with euphrafy and rue.

The vifual nerve, for he had much to fee.”

• Bergius fays, “ Ego ex propria experientia nihil certi de hac herba adhuc fcio, fed
tamsn non fpernenda arbitror teftimonia prifcorum.” /

f Eggert Olafsen, Reife^ ^c, vol. I. p. 43}.

ANTIRRHINUM

( H J

ANTIRRHINUM LINARIA. COMMON TOAD-FLAX.

STJSfO NTMJ. Linaria. Pharm. Geoff, ill, 73Q. Dale, 193,
Rutty. 289. Bergius, 545. Murray, ii. 183. Lewis, 395. Rd^
New Dlfpenf. 222. Linaria vulgaris lutea, flore majore. Bauh,
Pin. 212. Linaria lutea vulgaris. Gerard^ Emac, 550, L. vuL
garis noftras. Park, 458, Rail, Hift, 752. Synop. 2^1. Antirr-
hinum Linaria, Hudf.Ang, 2'^^, Withering, Bot, Arr.^i^^ Curt^
Flor. Lond. i. 5,

Didynamia Angiofpermia. Lin, Gen, Plant, 750,

Gen, Ch, Cal. 5-phyllus. Cor, bafis deorfum prominens, nedarifera.
Caps. 2-locularis.

$p, Ch. A. foliis lanceplato-linearibus confertis, caule credo, fpicis
terminalibus feflilibus, fioribus imbricatis,

ROOT perennial, woody, crooked, creeping, white, fibrous. Stalks
round, ered, fimple, tapering, fmooth, from one to two feet in height.
Leaves nearly linear, pointed, fmooth, entire, thickly fcattered over
the ftalk. Flowers large, yellow, and partly orange, crouded over
each other in a terminal fpike. Calyx divided into five fmall oval
fegrpents, of which the uppermoft is the largeft. Corolla monope-
talous, bilabiated, or ringent, yellow, confifting of a fhort tube, and a
limb compofed of two lips ; upper lip bifid, having its fegments bend-
ing down, "afterwards turned back, and clofing together ; lower lip
divided into three fegments, of which that in the middle is the leaft ;
the mouth is clofed by a palate, which is bifid, prominent, villous
at the bottom, and of a faffron colour. Filaments four, white, two
long and two fhort, glandular at the bafe : antheras yellow, bifid,
joined in pairs. Germen round. Style filiform. Stigma clubbed.
Qapfule pf a cylindrical form, opening by feveral divifions at the

top.

/r A t. */«* ■

' ( 25 )

top, divided into two cells, containing numerous black irregularly'
fhaped feeds.

It is frequent in barren paftures, hedges, and fides of roads,
flowering from July till September.

The leaves of Linaria have a bitterifh and fomewhat faline tafte,
and when rubbed betwixt the fingers yield a faint fmell, refembling
that of elder. They are reported to be diuretic and cathartic, and in
both characters to aCt fo powerfully as to give names to this plant
expreffive of thefe qualities.* Hence they have been recommended
internally in dropfies, and other diforders requiring copious evacua-
tions. The Linaria has alfo been ufed as a refolvent in jaundice, and In
fuch difeafes as have been fuppofed to proceed from vifceral obfcruc-
tions. But the plant has been chiefly valued for its effeCls when exter-
nally applied, efpeclally in hemorrhoidal affeCtions for which both
the leaves and flowers have been employed in the various forms of
ointment, fomentation, and cataplafm.*

An infufion of the flowers is faid to be very efficacious in cuta-
neous diforders ; and Hammerin " gives an inftance in which thefe
flowers, with thofe of verbafcum, ufed as tea, cured an exanthema-
tous diforder, which had refilled various other remedies tried during
the courfe of three years.

An Unguentum de linaria is to be found in the Wirtemburg,
Brandenburg, and Danilh Pharmacopoeias.'^

“ Viz. UrinaltSf HarnkroHt^ Kreutterhuch.

^ Vide Horjl, Ohf. et epiji, vied, lib, 4. ohf. 50. Bim, Paulli, Bot. 4*5. Chefnau,
Obf. 360.

* See Chomel. PL Ufuell. Pom. 3. 34. Geaff. I, c.

Cited bv Murr, 1. c.

^ The inventor of this ointment, for the piles, was a Dr. Wolph, who at that time
was phyfician to the Landgrave of Hefle, by vmom the dodtor was continuallv interro-
gated to difcover the compofition of this ointment; but Wolph obftinately refufed, till
the prince promifed to give him a fat ox annually for the difcovery. Hence to the fol-
lowing verle, which was made to diftinguifh the Linaria from the Efula, viz.

“ Efula ladfefcit, line ladte Linaria crefcit,”

The Hereditary Marfhal of Hefle, added ;

“ Efula nil nobis, fed dat Linaria taurum.” Horjl. 1. c. a Murr. clt.-

Linnsus (Flor, Suec.) fays this plant is ufed as a poifon for flies.

No. 3. — Part II. G

VITEX

VITEX AGNUS CASTUS.

CHASTE-TREE,

STNONTMA. Agnus caftus. P harm, Geoff. Hi Dale,
Aljlon. a. 321. Bergius, 550. Murray, ii 195. Lewis, 27.
Edinb. New Difpenf. 119. Vitex foliis anguftioribus cannabis
modo difpofitis. Bauh. Pin. 475. Vitex five Agnus caftus. Ger.
Emac. 1387. Vitex folio angufto. Park. Phcat. 1437. Agnus
folio non ferrato. Rail. Hiji. 1696.

Didynamia Angiofpermia. Lin. Gen. Plant, 790.

Gen. Ch. Cal, 5-dentatus. Cor. limbus 6-fidus. Bacca 4-fperma.

Sp. Ch. V. foliis digitatis ferratis, fpicis verticillatis.

THIS fmall tree or fhrub divides into numerous branches; is
covered with a greyiih bark, and the young fhoots are clothed with
a downy fubftance. Leaves digitated, oppofite, on long footftalks,
feparating into five or feven portions, which are long, narrow,
elliptical, entire, pointed, on the upper fide fmooth, under fide
downy. Flowers purplilh, on ftiort peduncles, in whorled fpikes.
Calyx Jhort, tubular, downy : margin irregular, toothed. Corolla
monopetalous, ringent ; tube ftiort, cylindrical; limb divided into four
fegments, of which the undermoft is' the largeft. Filaments four, two
long, and two fhort, of the length of the tube, capillary. Antherse
vefatile. Germen roundilh. Style filiform, about the length of the
tube. Stigmata two, tapering, fpreading. Capfule a roundifti ber^y,
divided into four parts, each containing a folitary ovate feed, of a
blackifh grey colour.

The

( 27 )

The Chafte-tree Is a native of Sicily, aifeSmg humid and fliady
places. It has long been introduced into the gardens of this coun-
try,* where it is found to brave the cold of winter in the open
ground.

Miller fays that he has feen it in full flower in October, when it
made a beautiful appearance; but we have not been fortunate enough
to meet with it in that ftate, and therefore had the annexed figure
taken from a dried fpecimen in the Herbarium of Sir Jofeph Banks.

The feeds, which have long been medicinally ufed, and were
formerly received as an article of the Materia Medica, have a pungent
acrid tafte, and an unpleafant aromatic odour. Thefe, from the days
of Diofcorides, have been highly celebrated for poireffmg a power of
fubduing the inclination natural between the fexes. Hence the name
Agnus caftus;* and from being therefore thought more efpecially
ufeful to thofe leading a monaftic life, thefe feeds have been called,
Piper monachorum, or Monk’s pepper. The feeds of the Chafte-tree
are, however, fo far from being thought antiaphrodifiac, that writers
of later times have afcribed to them an oppofite quality ; and their
aromatic pungency feems to favour this opinion, and alfo that of
Bergius, who ftates them to be carminative and emmenagogue. We
are aware that Lewis fays, “ the feeds in fubftanc'e; as met with
in the ftiops, have little tafte, and fcarcely any fmell but Dr. J. E.
Smith, who examined them in their recent flate, obferves, that “ they
have an unpleafant aromatic fmell it is therefore probable that on
being long kept they lofe much of their fenfible qualities, nor is this
to be regretted from any medical advantage they feem to promife in
our Ifland; and the plant has been figured here rather with a view to
illuftrate this natural order, by its variety, than to ferve the purpofes
of medicine.

* It was cultivated here in 1570. LobeL AdverJ. 423.

* Agnos, (i. e. caftus) nominatur, quod, in Thofmophorlis (i. e. facris Cereris)
matronae caftitatem cuftodientes, eo ad ftrata uterentur : Lygos vero (quafi vimen)
propter vlrgarum ipfius firmitatem. Diofcor, 1. i. c. 135, Gal. Sim. vi. p. 40. and
iifed by Aljion. 1. c.

‘ Sketch of a tour on the Continent. viU i,p% 223,

Haying,

( 28 )

Having, in the firft part of Medical Botany, pubilihed a plate of
Gratiola and Beccabunga, we have now figured all the medicinal
plants clafled by Profeflor Murray in the order Perfonatse, except
Scrophularia nodofa and aquatica, Avicennia tomentofa, or Anacar-
dium orientale, and Acanthus mollis. The two firft are both natives -
of this country, and known by the names of Great or knobby-rooted-
Figwort, and Water Figwort. They have an ungrateful fmell, re-
fembling that of the Linaria, and like it alfo have been chiefly em-
ployed, with a view to their fedative and antiphlogiftic effedts, as an
application to hemorrhoidal tumours. The fynonyma of the Avicen-
riia tomentofa Veg. are Bontia germinans Sp, pL Bontia foliis
fubtus tomentofis. Jacq, Sel. Stirp. Amer, Anacardium orientale off.
The Malacca Bean.

Jacquin, however, contrary to the opinion of Linnaeus, thinks
that this tree, which is a native of both Indies, does not produce the
Malacca bean, but that the parent of this fruit is ftill undefcribed. It
may alfo be added, that the medicinal qualities of Anacardium orien-
tale are not yet fuificiently afcertained.

Acanthus mollis. Smooth Acanthus, or Bear’s-breech, or Branca
urfina, of the foreign pharmacopoeias, is a native of Italy and Sicily;
and, as containing a mucilaginous matter, has been recommended in
the charader of an emollient and demulcent; but we do not find any
inftances of its efficacy recorded.

SOLANACEjE,

•v' '

( 29 )

SOLANAC EM,
SEV LU RID JE,

STRYCHNOS NUX VOMICA. VOMIC NUT,

Or, POISON-NUT.

STNONTMA. Nux vomica. Pharm. Dak. 327. Alfton. it. 37.

Lewis. 453. Bergius. 144. Murray, i. 477. Edinb. New Dif.

239. Nux vomica officinarum. Bauh. Pin. 51 1. Ger. Emac.

1546. Park. Theat. 1601. Rail. Hiji. 1661.^ 1814. Caniram.

Hort. Malab. 7*. i. t. 37. p. 67, Burm. 'Phef. Zeyl, 171.

Pentandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 253.

Gen. Ch. Cor. 5-fida. Bacca i-locularis, cortice lignofo.

Sp, Ch. S. foliis ovatis, caule inermi.

THIS large tree fends olF numerous ftrong branches, coveted
with dark grey fmooth bark. The young branches have fwelled
articulations, or a knotty jointed appearance, fcandent, and covered
with bark of a dark green colour. The leaves arife at the joints in
pairs, upon ftiort footftalks, and are ovate, broad, pointed, entire^
with three or five ribs, and on the upper fide of a fhining green
colour. The flowers terminate the branches in a kind of fafciculated
umbel. Calyx fmall, tubular, five toothed. Corolla monopetalous :
tube cylindrical, or rather inflated at the middle, very long, and at
the limb cut into five fmall ovate fegments. Filaments five, fliort,
fixed at the mouth of the tube, and furnifhed with fimple anthersc.
Germen roundifli, fupporting a fimple ftyle, terminated by a blunt
ftigma. Fruit a round fmooth large pulpy berry, externally yellow,
and containing round depreflfed feeds, covered with downy radiated
hairs.

No. 3. — Part II.

H

It

( 30 )

It is a native of the Eaft Indies, and, according to the Hortus
Kewenhs was introduced into England in 1778, by Dr. Patrick
Ruflell ; but it has not yet been cultivated with iuccefs in this coun-
try. The plate prefixed is taken from a very perfect fpecimen in the
pofleffion of Sir Jofeph Banks, to whofe liberality every branch of
natural knowledge is much indebted, and this work for fome of its
moft valuable figures.

The mix vomica^ lignum coliibrinum^ and faha fan^t Ignatii^ have '
been long known in the Materia Medica as narcotic poifons, brought
from the Eaft Indies, while the vegetables which produced • them
were unknown, or at leaft not botanically afcerlained.

By the judicious difcrimination of Linnseus, the Nux vomica was
found to be the fruit of the tree defcribed and figured in the Hortus
Malabaricus under the name Caniram, now called Strychnos. To
, this genus alfo, but upon evidence lefs conclufive, he likewife juftly
referred the colubrinum.* But the faba fandli Ignatii he merely con-
jedured might belong to this family, as appears by the query an
Strychni fpecies F " which fubfequent difcoveries have enabled us to
decide in the negative; for in the Supp. plant, it conftitutes the new
genus Ignatia, which Loureiro has lately confirmed, changing the
fpecific name amara to that of philippinica.' The Strychnos and
Ignatia are however nearly allied, and both rank under the order
Solanacese.

We have thought it neceffary to inquire thus far into the botanical
origin of thefe produdions, from finding that by medical writers they
are generally treated of under the fame head, and in a very confufed
and indifcriminate manner.

The feed of the fruit or berry of this tree is the officinal nux
vomica : it is flat, round, about an inch broad, and near a quarter of
an inch thick, with a prominence in the middle on both fides, of a
grey colour, covered with a kind of woolly matter, and internally
hard and tough like horn ; to the tafte it is extremely bitter, but has
no remarkable fmell. It confifts chiefly of a gummy matter, which
is moderately bitter; the refinous part is very inconfiderable in quan-

® Contendunt Indise Botanicl hanc a S. hluce vomica non efTe diverfam.'
Plant, 149. ** Vide Mat. Med. Lin. * Flor. Cochin. 125.

Supp.
tity, .

( 3" J

tlty, but intenfely bitter ; hence redified fpirlt has been confidered
its beft menftruum.''

Nux vomica is reckoned amongft the moft powerful poifons of the
narcotic kind, efpecially to brute animals, nor are inftances wanting
of its deleterious effeds upon the human fpecies. It proves fatal to
dogs in a very fhort time, as appears by various authorities.' Hillefeld
and others found that it alfo poifoned hares, foxes, wolves, cats, rab-
bits, and even fome birds, as crows and ducks ] and Loureiro relates
that a horfe died in four hours after taking a dram of the feed in an
half-roafted ftate. The elfeds of this baneful drug upon different
animals, and even upon thofe of the fame fpecies, appear to be rather
uncertain, and not always in proportion to the quantity of the poifon
given.® With fome animals it produces its effeds almoft inftan-
taneoufly ; with others not till after feveral hours, when laborious-
refpiration, followed by torpor, tremblings, coma, and convulfions,
ufually precede the fatal fpafms, or tetanus, with which this drug
commonly extinguifhes life.

From four cafes related of its mortal effeds upon human fubjeds,'^ /
we find the fymptoms correfponded nearly with thofe which we have
here mentioned of brutes ; and thefe, as well as the diffedions of
dogs, killed by this poifon, not fhewing any injury done to the
ftomach, or inteflines, prove that the Nux vomica ads immediately
upon the nervous fyflem, and deftroys life by the virulence of its-
narcotic influence.

The quantity of the feed neceffary to produce this effed upon a
ftrong dog, as appears by experiments, need not be. more than a.
fcruple a rabbit was killed by five and a cat by four grains : and of
the four perfons to whom w"e have alluded, and who unfortunately
periflied by this deleterious drug, one was a girl ten years of age, to
whom 15 grains were exhibited at twice for the cure of an ague. Lofs-,.

Junghaiins cliff, de Nuce vorn. l^c.

' Heyde. Obferv. P' Seutter. Di(f. de Nuce vomica. Courten. Phil. Pranf.

Wepfer. 194. Brunner, ibd. Pok. Diff. de Nuce vomica. Hillefeld. Z)/y.’

Experim. circa venena. Gefner. Epiji. 33. — *' Hillef. 1. c. Lofs. I, c. Brunner. 1. c.

£ It was given in a large quantity to a fvvine without producing any efFedl. Lofs. 1. c.

* Vide Matthiol. in Diojcor, Lib, 4. Fred. Fiojfman. Phil, corp. human, morbos. P.
ii. c. via. §. 8. Seutter. 1. c. Linn, Pillesus de fcb. intermit, cur. />. 40. *' Hillef.

however,.

( 32 )

however, tells us that he took one or two grains of It In fubftance
without difcovering any bad elFed: ; and that a friend of his fwallowed
a whole feed without injury.

In Britain, where phyficians feem to obferve the rule faltem non
tracer more ftrid:ly than in many other countries, the Nux vomica
has been rarely if ever employed as a medicine. On the Continent,
however, and elpecially in Germany, they have certainly been guided
more by the axiom “ what is incapable of doing much harm, is
equally unable to do much good.” The truth of this remark was
lately very fully exemplified by the practice of Baron Stoerck ; and
is farther illuftrated by the medicinal character given of Nux vomica,
which, from the time of Gefiier till that of a modern date, has been
recommended by a fucceffion of authors, as an antidote to the plague,*
as a febrifuge,“ as a vermifuge,' and as a remedy in mania,'" hypochon-
driafis," hyfteria," rheumatifin,' gout,^ and canine madnefs.’’

In Sweden it has of late years been fuccefsfully ufed in dyfentery;’
but Bergius,' who tried its effedls in this difeafe, fays, that it fup-
preifed the flux for twelve hours, which afterwards returned again.
A woman, wha took a fcruple of this drug night and morning, two
fucceflive days, is faid to have been feized with convulfions and ver-
tigo,* notwithflanding which the dyfenteric fymptoms returned, and the
diforder was cured by other medicines ; but a pain in the ftomach,
the effed: of the Nux vomica, continued afterwards for a long time.
Bergius therefore thinks it fhould only be adminiftered in the cha-
racter of a tonic and anodyne in fmall dofes, \^from 5 to lo grains)
and not till after proper laxatives have been employed.

Loureiro recommends it as a valuable internal medicine in fluor
albus, for which purpofe he roafts it till it becomes perfectly black
and friable, which renders its medicinal ufe fafe without impairing
its efficacy.

* Gefner, Epijl. p. 144. ^ WedeL Amoen. Mat^ M.ed. p, 337* Buchner. Ph, Brand,

61. Hartman. De Cicuta. tffc. p. I'J. * Schulz. M. M. 404. AlbinuSt cited
by Aljlon. 1. c. " Buchner. 1. c. ® Ibid. p IViel. Di(J. de ufu Nuce vom. et vitr.
^Ib, p. 17, « Jbib, ' Schultz. 1. c. ’ By Hagftrom, Odhelius, Dahlberg. * L.c.

t

PHYSALIS

224^

ijr j4rWio^*Me. Mit^, y

^79-* ■

( 33 )

PHYSAtlS ALKEKENGI. COMMON WINTER CHERRY.

STNO NTMA. Alkekengi feu Halicacabum. Pharm, Geoff', tii.
55. Dale. 172. Aljlon. ii. 254. Rutty. 13. Culleti. ii. 553.
Bergius. 130. Murray, i. 463. Lewis. 30. Kd. New Difpenf.
120. Gerard. Emac. 342. Ray. Hijl. 681. Hall. Stirp. Helv.
597. Solanum veficarium. Baub. Pin. 166. Park.Pheat.

Pentandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. PI. 250.

Gen. Ch. Cor. rotata. Stam. conniventia. Bacca intra calycem
inflatum, bilocularis.

^p. Ch. P. foliis geminis integris acutls, caule herbaceo inferne
fubramofo.

THE root Is perennial, long, creeping, fibrous. Stalks annual,
round, crooked, fmooth, fimple, about a foot high. Leaves in pairs,
upon footftalks, of an irregular fhape, undulated, pointed, veined,
entire. Calyx perfiftent, becoming a large orbicular inflated pen-
tangular membrane inclofmg the fruit ; fegments five, pointed.
Corolla monopetalous, wheel-fhaped ; tube very fhort ; limb five-
parted ; fegments five, broad, fhort, pointed. Filaments five, fmall,
tapering, approaching together : antherse ered: : germen roundifh :
ftyle filiform, longer than the filaments, terminated by a blunt ftigma.
Fruit a red round two-celled berry, inclofed in the calyx, and con-
taining numerous flat kidney-fhaped feeds.

This plant, which is a native of the South of Europe, is riot un-
frequently found in the gardens of this country, in which it has been
cultivated ever fmce the days of Gerard, in 1597. flowers from
July till September, and ripens its fruit in Odober.

No. 3, — Part II. I

The

( 34 )

The berries of the Alkekengi, commonly called Winter Cherries,
were well known to the ancients, and are charadleriftically defcribed
by Diofcorides.^

1 hey have an acidulous and not unpleafant tafte, followed by a
flight bitternefs, which they are faid to derive in a confiderable de-
gree from the invefting calyx, if not gathered with great care/

Winter Cherries, though efteemed to be detergent and aperient,
have been chiefly recommended in the character of a diuretic in
fuppreflions of urine, and for removing obftrudtions occafioned by
gravel or mucous. With this intention, from fix to twelve cherries,
or an ounce of their exprelfed juice, have been the dofe ufually
employed : there feems, however, to be no danger from a much
larger quantity; for in fome parts of Germany we are told that the
country people eat them by handfuls with much benefit : ^ and in
Spain and Switzerland ‘ they frequently fupply the place of other
eatable fruits. Ray informs us, that a gouty perfon prevented the
returns of the diforder by taking eight of thefe cherries at each change
of the moon / we find alfo inflances related of their good effeds in
dropfical and calculous complaints,' but at prefent they are wholly
difregarded.

* See aXiKocxalSov,

* Lewis. 1. c. C. Hoffman. De Medtcam. off. L. 2. c. ’ll’].

' ^er. Flor. Efpann. Tom. it. p, 224. Hall. 1. c. '

- L. c.

* See Lofeke^ Arnold, de Villa Nova., iA Li/ler, as cited by Murr. 1. c. ’

ATROPA

% .

fjimmi'

{ 35 )

ATROPA MANDRAGORA. MANDRAKE.

STNONTMJl. Mandragora. Pharm. Geoff. Hi. 808. Pale. lyo.

Aljlon. i. 478. Rutty. 306. Bergius. 126. Murray, i. 441.

Edinh. New Difp. 225. Mandragora frudu rotundo. Bauh. Pin.

169. Ray. Hijl. 668, M. friidu majore. ITJl. Oxon. Hi. 531.

Mandragoras mas. Ger. Emac. 352, Park. Theat. 343. Conf.

Miller s Figures, t. 173.

Pentandria Monogynia. Ein. Gen. Plant. 249.

Gen. Ch. Cor. campanulata. Siam, diftantia. Bacca globofa,
2-locularis.

Rp. Ch. A. acaulis, fcapis unifloris.

ROOT perennial, large, fufiform, three or four feet long, exter-
nally brown, internally whitifh. Leaves radical, felTile, ovate, entire,
veined, pointed, waved, fmooth, at firft tred, but on attaining their
full fize reftihg upon the ground. There is no ftem. Flowers whitifh,
each handing upon a fimple ftalk, or fcapus, which rifes from the
crown of the root. Calyx quinquifid ; fegments pointed, perfiftent.
Corolla bell-fhaped ; tube very fhort ; limb divided into five acute
fpreading fegments. Filaments five, tapering, hairy, inferted at the
bafe of the corolla, at the top diverging, and furnifhed with ered
yellow antherse. Germen round: ftyle filiform, of the length of the
filaments, and crowned with a round ftigma. Fruit a large round
two-celled berry, pf an orange colour, containing m,any kidney-
Ihaped feeds.

Its flowers appear in March and April.

This plant is a native of the fouthern parts of Europe : it is not a
ftranger to our Englifh gardens, in which it was cultivated by Turner
in 1562.*

* Hort. Kew.

The

( 36 )

The fuperftltious and abfurd ftories, formerly told of the Mandrake,
would not now for a moment impofe upon the moft credulous and
ignorant : the great refemblance of fome of the roots to the human
form, the danger of taking them out of the ground, and their fur-
prifmg effedis, were all the invention of charlatanical knavery and
impoPaire.*’

The roots of Mandrake vary both in form and colour, being either
divided or entire, and externally brown or black ; hence they have
been diftinguifhed into male and female : the internal fubftance is
white, and to the tafte fomewhat vifcid, bitter, and naufeous.

All the ancient writers on Mandrake reprefent this root to be an
anodyne and foporific, but in large dofes it is faid to excite maniacal
fury.' They .employed it principally in continued watchings, and in
thole moire painful and obftinate aifedions which were found to
refill; lefs pov/erful medicines.'*

It was alfo ufed in melancholia, convulfions, rheumatic pains,
fcrophulous tumours, &c. and to anfwer thefe purpofes, either the
exprelTed juice of the cortical part of the- root, infpilTated, or a
vinous decodion, or infufion of the root, was direded.®

The leaves .of Mandrake, boiled in milk, and ufed as a cataplafm,
are, according to Boerhaave, likewife to be confidered as an ufeful
application to indurated tumours.*^

The root alfo, employed externally, from the later and lefs equi-
vocal experience of Holfberg,^ was found extremely efficacious in
difeuffing various glandular tumefadions. And in fome cafes of gout
this author tried its effeds internally ; from which we find that in a

^ Ferunthas praeflantiffimas radices ex urina fulpenfi hominis fub patibulo morientis
irrigatas tales eft’ormari, & ideo adeo raras efle, eafdem non fine vitae periculo manu
eftodi, quapropter eas primum circumfodiendas efle, ita ut minimum ex radice terra fit
condituin, deinde ab ea religandum canem, a quo poftea fugiente radix extrahitur &
fequitur, fed non adeo longe, quandoquidem ftatim atque efFofla efl:, canis moritur :
nullum poftea accipientibus amplius metum. elTe, imo fumme proficuas eflTe, maleficia &
infortunia quascunque avertendo, & felicitates quafeunque defiderabiles afFerendo. Geoff*
I, c. See alfo Matthiol. and others.

= Hippocr. de locis in horn, Ed. Foes. p. 24O- Aretesus, Acut. curat, L. i. cap, 6. Cel,
Aurel. L. i. c. 4. Diofeord. M. M. 1. 4. r. 76. ® Diof. 1. c,

^ Hort. Lugd. Bat. Torn, 2. 512.

5 Vet. Acad. Handl. 1763. vol. 2/\..p. 229. Pallas alfo mentions it as of frequent ufe
for chronic difeafes in fome parts of Ruflia, See Reifed, Ruff, i. Th.p, 49.

dofe

226

( 37 )

4ofe of three grains it mitigated the pains, which afterwards returned.
A fimilar eiTed; was produced in other cafes by a proportionate quanV
tity of the root in the form of a tindiure.

Thefe experiments Ihew that the Mandrake ads as an opiate, which
ponhrms the opinion entertained of it by the ancients ; and hence it
jnay be concluded, that, if not adminiftered with great care, it may
prove a deleterious and mortal narcotic. This caution is the more
neceffary, as the berries of Mandrake are faid to have been eaten
.without producing any bad effed.

•’ S^e Ray. 1. c.

60LANUM NIGRUM. GARDEN NIGHTSHADE.

BT NO NTMA. Solanum. Pharm. Dale. lyo. Rutty. 489,
Bergius. 140, Murray. vNi, . Lewis. 60^. Solanum ofEci-
^ narum. Bauh. Pin. 166. Solanum vulgare. Park. Tbeat. 346,
Solanum hortenfe. Gerard. Ernac. 339. Ray. Syn. 254. Hijl. 672.
Solanum nigrum. -Hall. Helv. n. 579. Hudfon. Flor. Ang. 78.
With. Bot. Arr. 236. Flor. Ban. 460, Curt. Flor. Bond. ii. 16.

Pentandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. PI. 251.

FJf. Gen. Ch. Cor. rotata. Anthera fubcoalitse, apice poro geminp
dehifcentes. Bacca 2-locularis.

Bp. Ch. S. caule inermi herbaceo, fol. ovatis dentato-angulatis, ra-
cemis diftichis nutantibus.

No* 4.- — Part II,

K

ROOT

( 38 )

ROOT annual, branched, whitifh, hung with numerous fmall
fibres. Stalk above a foot in height, alternately branched, formed
into angles by a foliaceous membrane, fwelled at the bafe of each
branch, rough, and of a dingy purple colour. Leaves on footftalks,
alternate, irregularly ovate, fmuated, or indentated, and clothed with
foft hairs. Flowers in a fpecies of umbel, upon a common lateral
flower ftalk. Calyx divided into five fmall fhort permanent fegmentSi
Corolla feparated into five fegments, which are oval, pointed, fpread-
ing, and of a whitifh colour. Filaments five, fhort, downy, ter-
minated by yellow oblong contiguous antherse. Germen roundifh^
fupporting a tapering downy flyle, furnifhed with a round ftigma*
Fruit a round two-celled berry, changing from a green to a black
colour, and containing feveral kidney-fhaped yellowifh feeds.

It is common about rubbifh, dunghills, and in negledled gardeiis,
producing its flowers during all the fummer months,;

The fmell of this plant is faint and difagreeable ; to the tafte it
tnanifefts no peculiar flavour, being fimply herbaceous. It appears to
pofTefs the deleterious qualities of the other Nightfhades in a very
confiderable degree ; even the odour of the plant is faid to be fo'
powerfully narcotic as to caufe fleep/

The berries are equally poifonous with the leaves. Three children,
upon eating them, were fuddenly feized with cardialgia and delirium,^
accompanied with fpafins, and remarkable diftortions of the limbs
and to poultry they proved fatal in a fhort time.'

The plant, or rather the leaves which were boiled and eaten by a:
mother and four children, produced fwellings of the face and limbs,*
followed by inflammation and gangrene ; but the hufband, who
likewife ate of this vegetable at the fame time, found no confequent
diforder.'*

Its deleterious effeds appear ftill more certain from the experiments

* Boccone. Mufeo di fis^ p, 284. Vide Wepfer De chut, p, 226.

' Haller. 1. c,

* Riuker^ Commerc. Norh. 1731. p. 372.'

of

{ 39 )

bf MefTrs. Gataker and Bromfield ; the latter afTerts that in dofes of
one grain it had a mortal effed upon one of his patients.*

As this fpecies of Nightfhade is thought to be the of

Diofcorides/ its external ufe was reforted to in ancient times as a
difcutient and anodyne in various affedions of the fkin, tumefadions
of the glands, ulcers, and diforders of the eyes ; nor does the utility
of this pradice want the confirmation of later experience.®

Of its internal ufe we find very little evidence in the writings of
the ancients ; though, according to Csefalpinus,'' it appears not to have
been wholly negleded.

In the year 1757, Mr. Gataker, furgeon to the Weftminfter Hof-
pital, called the attention of the faculty to this plant, by a publication'
recommending its internd ufe in old fores, fcrophulous, and cancerous
ulcers, cutaneous eruptions, and even in dropfies; all of which were
much relieved, or completely cured, by the Solanum. It appears from
his experiments, that one grain of the dried leaves of the plant, in-
fufed in an ounce of water, fometimes produced a confiderable efied ;
that in the dofe of two or three grains it feldom failed to evacuate
the firft paflTages, dr to increafe very fenfibly either the difcharge by
the Ikin, or that by the kidneys, and it not unfrequently occalioned
head-ach, giddinefs, dimnefs, and drowfinefs. Mr. Gataker’s pamphlet
Was foon followed by another, publifhed on the fame fubjed by Mr.

' It ought to be remarked, however^ that Biofcorides and Theophraftus mention
it as an efculent plant ; and Guerin (de vegetat. venen. Jlfatia. ijbb. p. 66. j relates
that he drank an infufion of fifteen grains of the Solanum nigrum without fuffering
any confequent complaint ; and that an epileptic patient took from half a dram to two
(drams of the expreffed juice of the plant without perceiving any narcotic fymptom to
follow ; nor with fome foldiers, to whom a ftill larger dofe was given, together with
two drams of the juice of the berries, was any other effect produced than that of an
increafcd quantity of urine. See Murray. 1. c.

^ Mat. Med. Lib. 4. c. "JX.

E With the Arabians it is a common application to burns and ulcers. See Forjhal.
t>efcript. plants c. 2. p. 46. Ray alfo fpeaks highly of its effedts in indurations of the
l?reaft.^ See Hijl. 1. c.

De plant. 213.

' ‘ Obfervatlom on the inter mul ufe of Sslanum.

Bromfield,

( 4° )

Bromfield,’' who declares that the cafes in which he tried the Solatium
were much aggravated by it, and therefore he contends that its ufe
is prejudicial and dangerous.

Which of thefe contradictory accounts may be moft worthy of
credit it is not for us to determine ; but if we judge from the difufe
of the Solanum, the opinion of Mr. Bromfield feems to have been
tacitly Gonhrmed. However, in the year 1 764, Mr. Gataker again
renewed his aifertion of the efficacy of Nightfhade,* which he does
not attribute to any fpecific power, but to the evacuation it produces.

See his Account of the Englijh Nightjhades.

* EJfays on Medical Subjcdls. See Introdudlion, and p. 38.

CONTORT uE.

ASCLEPIAS VINCETOXICUM. OFFICINAL SWALLOW^

WORT.

STNONTMM. Vincetoxicum, Afclepias, Hirundinaria, Phar?n,
Dale. 179. Aljion. v. L 536. Bergius. 172. Murray. 543,
Le-wis. 661. Ed. New Difpenf. 2,01- Afclepias albo flore. Bauh^
Bin. 303. Gerard. Emac. 898. Park. Theat, 387. Ray. Hift^
1091. Flor. Dan. 849. ^ Afclepias foliis ovatis acutis, caulc

inhrmo, umbellis fimplicibus. Mill. DiEl. Hort. Kew.

Pentandria Digynia, Lin. Gen. Plant. 30G

Gen. Ch. Contorta. Nedfaria 5, ovata, concava, corniculum exferentia.

Sp, Ch, A. foliis ovatis bafi barbatis, caule ereCto, umbellis proliferis,

ROOT

( 4* )

ROOT perenniat, large, knobbed, from wblch iffue a number of
fmall, {lender, yellowifli fibres. Stalks above a foot in height, ered,
round, fimple,, fomewhat downy, jointed, at the bafe purplifti, above
green. Leaves on fhort footftalks, oppofite, ovate, long, pointed,
and bearded with fhort hairs at the bafe. Flowers white, arifing in
cluflers at the axillae of the leaves. Calyx downy, divided into five
narrow pointed fegments. Corolla monopetalous, divided into five
ovate, obtufe, fp reading fegments. Nedaria five, flefhy, adhering to
the filaments; from the bottom horn-fhaped, and bent inwards. Fila-
ments five, of a tubular appearance. Anthers oblong, ered, within
the fcales of the nedary. Germina two, oblong, tapering. Styles
two, fhort, tapering. Stigmata fimple. Follicles two, large, oblong,
pointed, ventricofe, one-celled, one-valved. Seeds numerous, crowned
with pappus.

This plant, wLich is not uncommon in the northern parts of
Europe, has been cultivated in Britain fince the time of Parkinfon,
in 1640. Its root, which is the part medicinally employed, has,
“ when, frefh, a moderately flrong not agreeable fmell, approaching
to that of wild valerian, which, in drying, is in great part diffipated;
chewed, it impreffes firfl a confiderable fweetnefs, which is foo'n fuc-
ceeded by an unpleafant fiibacrid bitterifhnefs.” “

Bergius ftates the virtues of this root to be pullens, diuretica, fudo-
rifica, emmenagoga, alexipharmica.

By F. Hoffman it was found to jpofTefs an anodyne quality;’’ but
we are told by others that it fometimes excites naufea and vomiting.
It has been chiefly ufed in dropfical diforders ; and feveral cafes are
related in which it was given with great fuccefs but as other medi-
cines were at the fame time employed, the good effeds of the Vin-
cetoxicum may not be yet thought fufficiently eftablifhed. The fame
obfervation will apply to Stahl’s pulvis antihydropicus, a compofitio*
in which, the Vincetoxicum is an ingredient.*

Lewis. 1. c. Med. Syji. T. 4. P. 3. p. 305,

* Durr. Eph. Nat. Cur. Dec. 2. J. 7. p. 105. See alfo Gea^.

** Yvkic Bauh. hij}. li. p. 139. Durr. 1. c.

* Stahl made alfo other compofitions of the Vincetoxicum, which were received iu
the Pharni. Wurtri^ Brand.

No. 4. — Part II. L This

( 42 )

This root has alfo been recommended in malignant fevers, ancf
even in the plague/ efpecially by fome German authors; hence it has
been called Contrayerva Germanorum. Other diforders, in which it
is faid to be ufeful, are fmall-pox/ ferophuia, and uterine obftruc-
tions.

The dofe, in powder, is from a fcruple to a dram, or an infulion
of three or four drams.

Vinca minor, (Vinca peruinca, or Periwinkle) Nerium antidyfen-
tericum, (Profluvii cortex, or Tili-cherry bark) if we except the
cinchona already noticed, are the only two remaining medicinal
plants belonging to the order Contortas. The former is a native of
Britain, and has been ufed in the character of an aftringent, efpecially
in hemorrhagic diforders. The latter is a native of the JEaft Indies.

Its bark, which poiTefTes an aromatic bitter aftringent, and, accord-
ing to Dr. Brocklefby, an anodyne quality, has been employed in
dyfenteries, diarrhoeas, and in intermittent fevers, occuring in warm
climates.^'

® Palmar, de feb. peji. c. l8. Antzer. Antid. pejl. L. 2.

^ Linn. FL Suec.p. 77.

See Monro., fen. Med. Ejfays. 3. p. 32. Brocklefby. Obferv. an camp, difeafes* p.
194. Lind, on difeafes in hot climates, p. 308.

PUTAMINEM,

CAPPARIS SPINOSA. COMMON CAPER-BUSH.*

STNONTMA. Capparis. P harm. Geoff, Dale, ^2^. Aljlon,

i. 370. Ber gilts. 449. Murray, li. 305, Edinb. New Difp. 160.

Diojeor. Capparis fpinofa fru<ftu minori, folio rotundo.
Bauh. Pin. 480. Capparis rotundiore folio. Ger. Emac. 895.
Park. Theai. 1023. Ray. Hift. 1629. Ic. Smith. Specileg. Bot, t. 20.

* The only medicinal plant of this order.

Polyandria

( 43 )

Polyandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 643.

Gen. Ch. Cal. 4-phyllus, coriaceus. Petala 4. Stam. Ipnga, Bacca
corticofa, tinilocularis, pedunculata.

Sp. Ch. C. pedunculis folltarlis unlfloris, ftipulis fpiiiofis, foliis
annuls, capfulis ovalibus.

ROOT woody, crooked. Stem trailing, much branched, round,
fmooth : branches alternate, fpreading, often downy, leafy, many
flowered. Leaves alternate, on fhort footftalks, fpreading, oval, or
roundifh, in the wild plant often terminated by a little (harp point,
which difappears by culture, entire, veiny, fucculent, bright green,
deciduous. Stipulse none ; but in their ftead are two fpines at the
bafe of the footftalks, acute, fomewhat recurved, yellowifli, which
are nearly obliterated in the cultivated plant. Flowers numerous,
axillary, folitary, on footftalks, without bradle^e, large, handfome,
inodorous. Flower-ftalka round, longer than the leaves. Calyx of
four unequal concave leaves, tipped with purple. Petals much larger
than the caly^, fpreading, obovate, waved, white, with a faint tindture
of red. Stamina very numerous, the length of the petals, fpreading,
flender, in the upper part, pale purple like the antherse. Germen
oval, fmall, green, ftanding on a round purplilh footftalk, which is
longer than the ftamina. Stigma fmall, blunt. Capfule oblong,
oval, coriaceous.

It is a native of the fouth of France, Italy, and the Levant.

Dr. Smith, of whofe figure and defcription of the Caper-bufh we
have here availed ourfelves, fays, “ it is furprifing that this beautiful
fhrub, which is as common in the fouth of France as the bramble
with us, and which grows luxuriantly in the open air, when trained
againft a wall, even at Paris, fhould be almoft unknown in the Eng-
lifh gardens, where it can fcarcely be made to flower, except in a
ftove, with all polTible care.” ^

* Spml. Bot. t, 20.

The

^ 44 )

The buds, or u^iexpanded flowers of this plant, are in common ufe
as a pickle ; and for this purpofe the fmaller or younger buds arc
inoft efteemed.

This grateful pickle has the charader of an antifcorbutic, and of
removing kepatic and other vifceral obftru£tions ; but the part of the
plant which has been chiefly recommended for medicinal purpofes, is
the bark of the root. This is of confiderable thicknefs, externally of
an afli colour, and tranfverfely wrinkled ; on drying it rolls up into
quills of about a third of an inch in diameter ; its tafte is fomewhat
aromatic, bltterifh, and acrid.

By Diofcorides, and other ancient writers, it was thought of great
cfflcacy as a deobflruent, and was generally employed in obftrudtions
of the liver and fpleen, menftrual fupprellions, and fciatica ; in this
view it has alfo been ufed by Foreflus** and Sennertus and on the
prefumption of its deobflruent power, it is reckoned one of the five
lefs aperient roots ; at prefent, however, its ufe is wholly laid afide.

^ Oper. Lib, 20. Obf. 2. is" 3. ' Pra^. Lib. 3. P. 4.- c. 2. ^

H E S P E R IJ^-E JE,

MELALEUCA LEUCADENDRON. ' CAJEPUT-TREE,

Or AROMATIC MELALEUCA.

Cajeput (oleum.) P harm, Murray, nl. 2,1^. Bergius, Ed, New

153-

STNONYMJ. Arbor alba (major) Caju Puti. Rumph. Herb.
Amb. vol, 2. p, 72. /. i6. Melaleuca Kajppoetie. Houttuyn Na~
tuurlyke, Hljiorie, P, 2, Se£l. y p, 212, 15. Melal. Leuca-

dendra. De Loureiro Flor, Cochin, p. 468.

a M. latifolia, fol. falcatis lanceolatis acutis majoribus.

M. anguflifolia, fol. anguflioribus oblongis vix falcatis brevioribus
obtufis glaucis.

Polyadelphia Polyandria. Un. Mant, 14.

Cen, Cb,

y

JSf

K .r .

' jfi

( 45 )

Gen. Ch. Cal. 5-partitus, fupems. Cor. ^-petala. Filam. multa,
connata in 5 corpora. Stylus i. Caps, femiveftita calyce
baccato, 3-valvis, 3-Iocularis.

Sp. Ch. M. polyadelphia, foliis alternis lanceplati? fiibfalcatls quinr-
quenerviis, fpica elongata.

THIS tree rifes with a long flexible trunk, fending olF irregular
afcendirig branches, covered with a pale thick lamellated tough
bark. Leaves linearly-lanceolate, entire, fmooth, denfe, five-nerved,
afh-coloured, odorous, alternate, on fliort footftalks. Flowers white,
feflile, in long fubterminal fpike's. Bradtese floral, minute, ovate,
pointed. Calyx tubular, five-parted, deciduous, of a brownifh red.
Corolla of five petals, roundilh, concave, much longer than the
calyx. Filaments about forty, united at the bafe in five or fix bundles,
long, capillary, unequal, inferted in the tube of the calyx, and fur-
nifhed with fmall ovate incumbent antherse. Germen below, roundilh.
Style filiform, fomewhat fwelled at the ftigma. Capfule roundifii,
three-celled, three-valved, opening at the apex, and half inclofed by
the 'calyx. Seeds numerous, oblong, fmall, comprelfed, angular.*

It is a native of India, where it commonly grows in the woods :
the annexed figure was drawn from a very perfedt botanical fpecimen
of it in the herbarium of Sir Jofeph Banks. The narrow leaved
variety of this fpecies was introduced into the Royal Garden at Kew,
in 1775, from New Caledonia, by J. R. Forfter, L, L. D.**

The origin of Cajeput oil, or the vegetable from which it is ob-
tained, was long unknown, and continued a matter of conjedlure.
As this elfential oil is fajd to be fomewhat fimilar in flavour and odour
to the cardamom, an opinion very generally prevailed, that it was
procured from a fpecies of it. It is now hov\rever clearly proved to,
be derived from the Melaleuca Leucadendron, as obferved by Linnxus
in 1772,' and fince confirmed by his fon in the fupp. plant.

That the leaves of this tree have an aromatic odour, refembling
that of cardamom feed, and afford, by diftillation, a fragrant efl'ential

* This defcription is given on the authority of De Loureiro. 1. c.

Hort. Ktw. ' P’ 5

No. 4. — Part II. M

oil,

( 46 )

oil, manifeftihg this aromatic principle ftill more ftrongly, is aflerted
by Valentynus and Rumphius; but as they called the oil by no pecu-
liar name, it was not recognized as the Cajeput oil until fome of
thefe leaves were fent to Amfterdam, where, upon being fubjedied td
diftillation, an oil was obtained, agreeing, in every refpe<5l:, with that
of the beft Cajeput/ This eflential oil appears td be lodged in the
minute glands or veficles of the leaves, analogoiifly to that noticed
of the hypericum perforatum/

Cajeput oil, (called alfo Oleum WittnebianUm, from Wittneben,
who gave an account of the procefs for obtaining it,) though un-
known in Britain, is now admitted into the Materia Medica of all the
principal foreign pharmacopoeias.

It is imported into Europe from the Eaft Indies, and is diftilled
chiefly in the Ifland of Banda. Thunberg ^ fays that it has the ap-
pearance of an inflammable fpirit, of a green colour, and fo com-
pletely volatile that it evaporates entirely, leaving no refiduum ; its
odour is of the camphoraceous kind, with a terebinthinate admixture:
when it is applied to the noftrils copioufly, its fmell is at firfl; ungrate-
ful, but in a fmall quantity, or at a diftance,- its odour is very agree-
able. Goetz,® on the contrary, fays that it is limpid, or rather
yellov/ifh, and that on being kept in a vial not clofely corked, it
diffufes at firfl; a pleafant odour, which gradually changes to one fome*.
what like that of turpentine, and at length becom-es fimilar to that of
favine. Its tafte, he fays, is aromatic, and approaching to that of the
oil of rofemary. A Angle drop, applied to the temples, produces a'
peculiar fenfation in the interior canthus of the eyes, and excites tears,
which he confiders as the mofl: certain criterion of the genuinenefs of
the oil. From its exorbitant price it is frequently adulterated, ’and
therefore is feldom found in perfe<fl; purity in Europe'.

Cajeput oil appears to be a powerful medicine, and is much eflecmed
in Germany, as well as in India, in the character of a general remedy

Vide Nieuwe vaderlandfche Letter’^Oeffningen. P. 3. 3* blad%. 104.

® The leaves of this melaleuca, according to De Loureiro, are an ufeful medicine; he
fays, they are “• attenuant, ftrengthening, ftomachic, diuretic, emmenagogue, and of fer->'
vice in obftrudfions of the liver, dropfy, debility of the ftomach, and dyfpnoea.

^ In Vef, Acad, Handl. 1782. p, 223. ® Comm., Nor. 1731. p. 5.

in

( 47 )

m chronic and painful complaints ; it is ufed for the fame purpofes
for which we employ the officinal asthers, to which it feems to have
a confiderable affinity; the Cajeput however is more potent and
pungent : taken into the ftomach, iri the dofe of five or fix drops, it
heats and ftimulates the whole fyftem, proving at the fame time a
very certain diaphoretic, by which probably the good effects it is
faid to have in dropfies and intermittent fevers, are to be explained.
For its efficacy in various fpafmodic and convulfive affei^f ions, it is
highly efteemed ; and numerous inftances of its fiiccefsful employ-
ment are publiffied by different authors.*' It has been alfo ufed both
internally and externally with much advantage in feveral other obfti-
nate diforders, as palfy, hypochondrical and hyfterical affedions,
deafnefs, defedive vifion, tooth-ach, gout, rheumatifm, menftrual
obftrudions, herpetic eruptions, &c. of which Thunberg gives a
particular relation.'

The dofe is from two to fix and even twelve drops.

The berries and leaves of Myrtus communis, and the bark of
Myrtus caryophyllata, or cajjta caryophyllatce cortex^ referable to
this order, have alfo been admitted into the Materia Medica ; the
former in the charader of an aromatic and aftringent, and the latter
as a fubftitute for cloves. '

Thefe are refpeftively cited by Murray, to whole work we refer thofe readers v/ho
for a fuller account of this article.

^ L. c.

The odour of cajeput oil is remarkably deftruiSive to infeds ; a few drops, in a cabi-
net or drawer, wherein animal or vegetable fpecimens of natural hiftory are kept in a
dri«d ftate, have on this account been found very ufeful,

cruosM,

c r M 0 s

COFFEA ARABICA. COFFEE TREE,

§TN 0 NTMj4. Euonymo fimilis aegyptiaca, frudu baccis lauri
fimili. Bauh. Pin. 498. Coffee frutex, ex cujus frudu fit potus.
Pay. Hijl. 1691. Bon. Alpin. PL JEgypt. 63. Jafminum arabi-
cum, Iciuri folio, cujus femen apud nos Coffe dicitur. JuJfieu. Mem.
de V Acad, des Sc. de Paris. 1713. p. 388. t. 7. Conf. Monogr.
in Linn. Amoen. Ac. T. (x. p. 160. Alfo El/is. Hifior. Account of
Coffee. 1774.

Coffe A, (femen) Pharm. Dale. 317. Alflon. ii. 274, Murray, i.
386. Bergius. iii. Lewis. 243. Edinb. New Difpenf.

Pentandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 230.

Gen. Ch. Cor. hypocrateriformis. Stamina fupra tubum. Bacca
infera difperma. Sem. arillata.

Sp. Ch. C. floribus quinquefidis difpermis. *

A TREE of low ftature, feldom exceeding twejve feet ip height,
flender, at the upper part fending off long trailing branches : bark
brown, and almoft fmooth. Leaves nearly elliptical, fmooth, entire,
pointed, waved, three or four inches in length, oppofite, on fhort
footftalks. Stipulse in pairs, pointed. Flowers white, axillary, on
fhort fimple peduncles, or feffile, two or three together. Calyx very
fmall, tubular, five-toothed. Corolla monopetalous, funnel-fhaped,
cut at the limb into five reflexed oval or lanceolate fegments : tube
long, narrow, almoft cylindrical. Filaments five, tapering, inferted
at the mouth of the tube: antherae linear, incumbent, of the length

of

2:io

( 49 )

the filaments. Germen roundifh. Style fimple, longer than the
ftamina. Stigma cloven, reflexed. Fruit a round flefhy red berry,
containing two feeds, invefted by a cartilaginous arillus : the appear-
ance of the feed is well known.

The Coffee tree is a native of Arabia Felix and Ethiopia, and was
firft noticed by Rauwolfius in 1573 ; but Alpinus, in 1591, was the
firft who defcribed it. It was cultivated in Britain by Biihop Compton
in 1696,® and is now to be found in many of the well ftored hot-
houfes of this country. For the fpecimen of it here figured we are
obliged to Dr. Lettfom, who polfelfes the beff; plant of this fpecies
which we have feen, and which was highly valued by its late owner
Dr. John Fothergill.

The ufe of Coffee, or the feed of the fruit of this tree, appears to
have originated in Ethiopia, but the practice of drinking it in
Arabia was introduced from Perfia by the Mufti of Aden in the
fifteenth century. In 1554 its ufe firft began at Conftantinople.
From whence it was gradually adopted in the weftern parts of Europe.
At Marfeilles it was begun in 1 644. At Paris, if we except the family
of Monf. Thevenot,*' it was unknown till the arrival of the Turkilh
Ambaffador, Soliman Aga, in 1669; aud in 1672 the firft coffee-
houfe was eftablifhed in Paris by an Armenian, named Pafcal, but he
met with little encouragement, and therefore came to London, where
this beverage had been previoufly introduced in the year 1652, when
Mr. Edwards, a Turkey merchant, brought from that country a
Greek fervant, of the name of Pafqua, who underftood the method
of preparing coffee, and firft fold it in London in a houfe which he
kept for that purpofe, in George-yard, Lombard-ftreet. Eight years
after this it contributed to the public revenue, by a duty of four-
pence laid upon every gallon made and fold here.'

The general confumption of Coffee in Europe fuggefted the idea
of cultivating it for the advantage of commerce ; and in this view
the Dutch took the lead, and firft planted it at Batavia in 1690; and

* Vide Douglas. Hijlory of the Cojfee tree. p. 21.

* This gentleman had refided feme time in the Eaft, and returned to Paris in 1657,

* See Ellis. 1. c.

Np. 4.— Part II, N at

( s° )

at Surinam in 1718. This example was followed by the French at
Cayenne, and in Martinico ; nor were our Colonies negled:ed, for
in 1732 it was cultivated in Jamaica^ and patronized by ad of par-
liament.

But whether from mifmahagement, or from caufes Unavoidable, it
is a lamentable truth, that our colonial coffee is of lefs eftimation than
that of other ftates, and the Mocha coffee is fuperior to all others.
We fhall therefore prefent our readers with an account of the culture
and management of Coffee, pradifed in Arabia Felix, and related by
La Roque, who fays, “ that the Coffee tree is there raifed from feed,
which they fow in nurferies, and plant them oiit as they have
** occafion. They chufe for their plantations a moift fhady fituation,
on a fmall eminence, or at the foot of the mountains, and take
“ great care to condud from the mountains little rills of water, in
“ fmall channels, to the roots of the trees ; for it is abfolutely
neceffary that they fhould be conftantly watered, in order to pro^
duce and ripen the fruit. For that purpofe, when they remove or
tranfplant the tree, they make a trench three feet wide, and five
“ feet deep, which they line or cover with flones, that the water may
** the more readily fink deep into the earth with which the trench is
** filled, in order to preferve the moifiure from evaporating. Wheri
they obferve that there is a good deal of fruit upon the tree, and
that it is nearly ripe, they turn off the water from the roots, to
leffen that fucculency in the fruit which too much moifiure would
“ occafion. In places much expofed to the fouth they plant their
** Coffee trees in regular lines, fheltered by a kind of poplar tree,'
which extends its branches on every fide to a great difiance, afford-
“ ing a neceffary fhade when the heat of the fun is too intenfe;
“ When they perceive the fruit advanced to maturity, they fpread
** cloths under the trees, which they fhake, and the ripe fruit readily
“ drops off. They afterwards fpread the berries upon mats, and
“ expofe them to the fun until they are perfectly dry: after which
they break the hufk with large heavy rollers, made either with
** wood or ftone. When the Coffee is thus cleared of its hufk, it is
again dried in the fun, and lafily winnowed with a large ifan.”

•> See La Roque. Voyage de V Arable heureuje. p. 285. of which we have followed
Ellis’s tranflation.

Both

( 51 )

Both the outer pulpy part of the berry, and the inner membrane
immediately invefting the feed, are prepared for ufe by the Arabians ;
the former is much efteemed, and conftitutes the Coffee d la Sidtanc'^
the latter is chiefly employed by the common people, and fold under
the name of Kifcher.^ The feeds ufed by us, and which by the Arabians
are thought too heating, are principally iniported into Europe from
Yemen, where the Coffee is moft abundantly cultivated; they are
fmaller than the other kinds produced in the Colonies, of a yellow
hue, and more grateful in tafle and odour. The manner of roafting
and preparing Coffee for ufe is too well known to require being de-
tailed here ; we fhall therefore proceed to confider its effedts on the
human body.

From various experiments inftituted by Dr. Percival Upon Coffee,
he infers that this beverage “ is flightly aflringent and antifeptic ;
“ that it moderates alimentary fermentation, and is powerfully feda-
“ tive. Its action upon the nervous fyftem probably depends on the
“ oil it contains ; which receives its flavour, and is rendered mildly
“ empyreumatic by the procefs of roafting- The medicinal qualities
‘‘ of Coffee feem to be derived from the grateful fenfation which it
** produces in the ftomach, and from the fedative powers it exerts on
the vis vitce. Hence it affifts digeflion, and relieves the head-
** ach; and is taken in large quantities witn peculiar propriety by the
** Turks and Arabians, becaufe it counterads the narcotic effedts of
** opium, to the ufe of v\/-hich thofe nations are much addidled. In
delicate habits it often occafions watchfulnefs, tremors, and many
“ of thofe complaints which are denominated nervous. It has been
** even fufpedted of -producing palfles ; and from my own obferva-
** tion, I fhould apprehend not entirely without foundation. Slare
affirms that he became paralytic by the two liberal ufe of Coffee,
** and that his diforder was removed by abflinence from that liquor.’'*^

Dr. Percival cites a letter from Sir John Pringle, who afferts that
ftrong Coffee is the moft powerful remedy, with which he is acquainted,
in abating fpafmodic afthma. '

' Braad^ Niebuhr^ Auhkt^ <Ac.
^ See EJ/bys, vol, rV.

The

( 5^ )

The late Dr. Fothergill has obferved, that “ it is a queftion often
pTopoled to phyficians, which is heft Tea or ColFee?” The folution
of this point would perhaps be a difficult one. We neither find the
Chinefe or Turks fubjefted to any fuch difcriminating effedls as to
enable the faculty to fay, with precifion, that one is more injurious
than the other ; for my own part I leave it to the experience of in-
dividuals. Dr. F. recommends the Coffee to be made ftrong, and as
much boiled milk to be added to it before it is taken from the fire as
there is water ; it is then fuffered to fettle, and drunk either with or
without cream. This the Dr, fubftituted for tea, which was not quite
favourable to his health.

The French cuflom of drinking Coffee immediately after dinner,
is certainly much better than that which prevails with us of taking it
at a late hour in the* evening. For, from the obfervations of Dr,
Percival, and indeed from the experience of mankind in general, this
beverage very commonly fufpends the inclination to fleep, and there-
fore may protract the time of watchfulnefs beyond the ufual hoUr of
reft. By habit, however, thefe and other unfavourable effects both
of Coffee and tea, are often fubdued, though certain conftitutions
may fuffer much in the ftruggle, and a morbid irritability of the ner-
vous fyftem has not unfrequently been the confequence.

The complaints faid to have been produced by the frequent or
exceflive ufe of Coffee are head-achs, vertigo, tremors, imbecility,
pimples of the face, weakened vifion,® arid according to Profeffor
Murray, apoplexy. It has been faid that it produces or aggravates
hyftericai and hypochondriacal affecftions ; and therefore Tiffot cau-
tions literary and fedentary people againft its ufe. It is alfo accufed
of favouring an hemorrhagic difpofition, efpecially in feverifh, chole-
ric, plethoric, and emaciated conftitutions.

H ow far thefe diforders were really caufed by the ufe of Coffee,
appears to admit of much doubt ; and therefore until its ill effects
are experienced, this catalogue of diforders ought not to alarm thofe

^ See Lin. Amoen. Acad. vol. 6. p. 176. F. Hoffman. Med. Syji. F. 4. P. 1. 209.
Plaz. Dljf. de potus coffe ahuju.^ iAc. Zimmerman. Erfahr. P. 2. p. 347* LVlEls. Pharm.
Ration, p. 203.

Sante des gens de lettres. p. 200.

who

( Si )

who perceive no ill effeds from its ufe. ' As an article of diet it
is very generally drunk, and found, with very few exceptions, not
only to be innocent but falubrious : to a ftomach opprelTed with
animal food a cup or two of ftrong Coffee affords confiderable
relief, confequently it promotes digeftion ; this effedt, and that of its
obviating drowfinefs, are better afcertained than any other afcribed
to this article.

A great variety of fubftitutes for Coffee has been recommended,
which it would be unneceffary here to enumerate. The fadt is, that
in moft farinaceous matter, on being roafted or burnt to that degree to
which Coffee too frequently is, the peculiar fapid principle is totally
diffipated by the heat, and nothing but the more fixed part common
to all remains.

Two fpecies of Lonicera, viz. Periclymenum and Diervilla, or the
common, and the yellow-flowered upright Honey-fuckle, and the
Linnsea borealis, or Two-flowered Linnaea, belonging to the order
Cymofse, have been ranked as medicinal plants ; but they are not
noticed in the Britifli Difpenfatories, nor do they feem interefting
enough to deferve particular attention.

No. 5.— Part IL

O

SUCCULENTS.

( 54 )

SUCCULENT M.

SEDUM ACRE. WALL STONE-CROP, or WALL PEPPER.

STNONTMji. Sedum acre feu minus. Pbarm. Murray, v. ui.
p. 344. Bergius. 375. Ed. New. Difpenf. 281. Sempervivum
minus vermiculatum acre. Bauh. Pin. 283. Vermicularis feu
Illecebra minor acris. Ger. Emac. 517. Illecebra minor feu fedum
tertium Diofcoridis. Park. Pheat. 735. Ray. Synop. 270. Sedum
acre. Hall. Stirp. Helv. «. 966. Hudfon. Flor. Ang. 171. With.
Bot. Arr. 467. Ic. Curt. Elor. Land.

Decandria Pentagynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 579.

I

Gen. Ch. Cal. 5-fidus. Cor. 5-petala. Squamae nedtariferae 5, ad
, bafm germinis. Caps. 5.

Sp. Ch. S. fol. fubovatis adnato-fefTilibus gibbis erediufculis alternis,
cyma trifida.

ROOT perennial, flender, creeping. Stalks feveral together, about
three inches high, covered with leaves. Leaves oval, blunt, fliort,
fiefhy, fmooth, numerous, without footftalks, clofely inverting the
rtalk, placed in an imbricated order. Flowers yellow, in fubtermlnal
trifid cymae. Calyx permanent, divided into five fegments, which
are tapering, thick, blunt. Corolla compofed of five pointed petals,
which are more than twice the fize of the fegments of the calyx.
Filaments ten, tapering, about the length of the corolla, and fur-
nifhed with yellow antherae. Germen oblong, yellow, terminating
in five rtyles, furnifhed with fimple rtigmata. Capfules five, pointed,
containing minute oval brownifb feeds.

This is a common Britifli plant, growing on houfes, walls, and
gravelly banks. Like many other plants of this natural order it

' receives

9^

/. /y_'-^*rfV.V5V, /. -

( 55 )

receives its nourlfliment principally from the air, In proof of which
it continues to grovv^ when detached from the ground, and fufpended
by the root.

It refembles the Sedum fexangulare very much, fo that fome
botanifts have confidered the latter as only a variety of the former.
The difference however is fufficiently fpecific both in a botanical and
medical fenfe the latter being devoid of the pungent biting tafte
which characterizes the plant here figured.

This fpecies of Sedum, in its recent ftate, is extremely acrid, like
the Hydropiper ; hence, if taken in large dofes, it aCts powerfully
on the primac vise, proving both emetic and cathartic ; applied to the
Ikin, as a cataplafm, it frequently produces vefications and erofions.
Boerhaave therefore imagined that its internal employment muft be
unfafe ; but experience has difcovered that a decoClion of this plant
is not only fafe, but of great efficacy in fcorbutic complaints ; for
which purpofe a handful of the herb is directed by Below ’’ to be
boiled in eight pints of beer till they are reduced to four, of which
three or four ounces are to be taken every, or every other, morning.
Milk has been found to anfwer this purpofe better than beer.' —
Not only ulcers limply fcorbutic, but thofe of a fcrophulous and
even cancerous tendency, have been cured by the ufe of this plant,
of which Marquet ^ relates feveral inftances. He likewife found it
ufeful as an external application in deftroying fungous fleffi, and in
promoting a difcharge in gangrenes and carbuncles.

Another elfedt for which this plant has been efteemed is that of
Hopping intermittent fevers.

“ Mr. Curtis has remarked, that “ the leaves of S. Acre are fliort, broad at the
bafe, and at a confiderable diftance afunder, while thofe of the Sexangulare are nearly
of the fame thicknefs throughout, longer, more numerous, and placed in fix rows or
angles.”

^ A Swedilh Phyfician. V. Mifc. Nat. Cur. Dec. i. Ann. 6. Obf. 22. p. 49.

' Lange. Rented. Brunf. Domeji. p. 121.

** Mem. fur Uilletebra.

SAXIFRAGA

( 56 )

SAXIFRAGA GRANULATA. WHITE SAXIFRAGE.

STNONTMJ, Saxifraga alba. Pharm, Dale. 2^^. Lewis,
Murray. Hi. 355. Bergius. 367. Saxifraga rotundifolia alba.
Bauh. Pin. 309. Saxifraga alba. Ger, Emac. 841. Saxifraga
alba vulgaris. Park. Theat. 424. Ray. Hi/l. 1048. Synop. 354.
Haller. Stirp, Helv. n. 976. S. granulata. Hudfon. Flor. Angl.
159. Wither. Bot. Arr. 434. Ic. Flor. Dan. 514. ^ Flor. Lond.

Decandria Digynla. Lin. Gen. Plant. 559.

Gen. Ch. Cal. 5-partitus. Cor, 5-petaIa. Caps. 2-roftris, i-Iocu-
laris polyfperma.

Sp. Ch, S. foliis caulinis reniformibus lobatls, caule ramofo, radice
granulata.

ROOT perennial, confifting of a number of fmall bulbs adhering
to the fibrous part. Stalk fomewhat branched, about a foot high,
round, hairy towards the bottom, and fcantily fupplied with leaves.
Leaves irregularly kidney-lhaped, a little hairy, flightly divided into
lobes, concave, thofe near the root furnifhed with long hairy footftalks.
Calyx divided into five fegments, which are hairy, oval, pointed^
vifcous. Corolla confifting of five white fpreading petals, which at
the upper extremity are broad, at the bafe narrow, and of a yellow
colour. Filaments ten, tapering, fupporting yellow antherae. Germen
roundilh. Handing below the corolla, and furrounded by a green
gland* Styles two, ftiorter than the filaments, furnifhed with hollow
ftigmata. Capfule fomewhat oval, two-celled, and furnilked with
two beaks or horns. Seeds numerous, very fmall, black.

It is a native of England, but not very commonly met with : dry
meadows and paftures are the fituations it affedis. Its flowers appear
in April and May.

Linnxus

rn/rip.rj fy Jjrtt^yy.Jfilly . ^„y, / -,

■A

V7//

\

j

H

i ‘

.i\"- •

lf

\

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\i ■

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( 57 )

Linnsus defcribes the tafte of this plant to be acrid and pungent,
which we have not been able to difcover : neither the tubercles of
the root, nor the leaves manifeft to the organs of tafte any quality
likely to be of medicinal ufe, and therefore though this fpecies of
Saxifrage has been long employed as a popular remedy in nephritic
and gravelly diforders, yet we do not find either from its fenfible
qualities, or from any publiftied inftances of its efficacy, that it de-
ferves a place in the Materia Medica.

The fuperftitious dodtrine of Signatures fuggefted the ufe of the
root, which is a good example of what Linnaeus has termed radix
granulata. The bulbs or tubercles of fuch roots anfwer an important
purpofe in vegetation, by fupplying the plants with nourifhment and
moifture, and thereby enabling them to refift the effects of that
drought to which the dry foils they inhabit peculiarly expofe them.

Sedum Telephium (Orpine) is alfo admitted of the Materia Medica
in the foreign pharmacopoeias ; it has not the acrid characters of the
fpecies here figured, but on the contrary is bland and mucilaginous.
It is faid to be diuretic, and, according to Dr. Withering, is ufed with
fuccefs to cure the piles. Simpervivum teCtorum (common Houfe-
leek) which is nearly allied to the Telephium in botanical affinity,
likewife abounds with a mucilaginous juice, faid to be an ufeful appli-
cation to burns, creeping ulcers, and in apthous cafes. CaCtus Opun-
tia (common Indian Fig) and Portulaca oleracea (Garden Purflane)
both of this natural order, afford a fimilar juice, which alfo has been
applied to medical purpofes.

No. 5.— Part II.

P

TRIHILATM,

{ 58 )

I

r R I H I L A Tt M.

TROPiEi:OLUM MAJUS* GREATER INDIAN CRESS,

Or NASTURTIUM.

STNONTMA, Nafturtium indicum. Pharfn, Dale* Berg,

293. Murray, iv. 77. Gerard. Emac. 252. Park. Parad. 280.
Ray. Hiji. 487. Nafturtium indicum majus. Bauh. Pin. 306.
Viola indica fcandens, Nafturtii fapore & odore, flore flavo. Herm*
Hort. Lugd. Bat. 628. Ic. Curt. Bot. Magaz. 23.

Odandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen, Plant. 466.

Gen. Ch. Cal. i^-phyllus, calcaratus* Petala 5, insequalia. Bacca

3, flCCSE.

Sp. Ch. T. foliis peltatis fubquinquelobis, petalis obtufis.

ROOT annuab Stalk trailing, climbingj round, branched, fmooth,
fucculent, feveral feet in length. Leaves roundifti, marked by feveral
radiated ribs, entire, obfcurely five-lobed, ftanding fingly upon long
bending footftalks, which are attached tc the centre of each leaf!
Flowers large, folitary, of a tawny yellow, on long peduricles.
Calyx yellowifti, large, forming a horn-like nedtarium behind, divided
at the mouth into five irregular fegments, which are acute, eredt,
ftriated. Corolla confifting of five petals, roundifti, of which the
two uppermoft are bent backwards, marked with black lines at the
bafe, and inferted into the fegments of the calyx : the three under-
moft have long claws or ungues, and are bearded at the bafe. Fila-
ments eight, yellow, tapering, fpreading. Antherae yellow, four-
celled, ovate. Germen triangular. Style fimple, ere(ft, yellow.
Stigma trifid, acute. Fruit three adhering berries, compadt, exter-
nally

V 59 )

nally ftrlated, containing three irregular fhaped feeds. Its flowers
appear from June till October.

This pl?int is a native of Peru ; it was firft brought to France in
1684, and there called La grande Capucine ; two years afterwards it
was introduced into this country by Dr. Lumley Lloyd/ and fince
that time has been conftantly cultivated in Britifh gardens.

In its recent ftate this plant, and more efpecially its flowers, have
a fmell and tafte refembling thofe of water crefs ; and the leaves, on
being bruifed in a mortar, emit a pungent odour, fomewhat like that
of horfe radilh. By diftillation with water they impregnate the fluid
in a confiderable degree with the fmell and flavour of the plant.
Hence the antifcorbutic character of the Nafturtium feems to be well
founded, at leaft as far as we are able to judge from its fenfible quali-
ties : therefore in all thofe cafes where the warm antifcorbutic vege-
tables are recommended, this plant may be occafionally adopted as a
pleafant and effectual variety.

Patients, to whom the naufeous tafte of feurvy-grafs is intolerable,
may find a grateful fubftitute in the. Nafturtium.

The flowers are frequently ufed in fallads, and the capfules are by
many highly efteemed as a pickle.

The flowers, in the warm fummer months, about the time of
fun-fet, have been obferved to emit fparks like thofe of the ele(ftrical
kind.®

“ Vide Hort. Kew.

*• Carthgus* Dijf. de Cardam. p. 9.

® Vgt. Acad, Handl, 1762. p, 284.

BERBERIS

( 6o )

BERBERIS VULGARIS. COMMON BARBERRY.

STNO NTMA. Berberis. Pharm. Dale, 318. Geoff. ill. 172.

Aljlonx it. 255. Lewis. 144. Edinb. New Difp. 146. Bergius.

276. Murr. iv. 79. Park. 7 heat. 56 1. Berberis dumetorum.

Bauh. Pin. 454. Ray. Hiji. 1605. Synop, 465'. Gerard. Emac.

1325. Berberis vulgaris. Hudf. Elor. Ang. 137. Withering,

Bot. Arr. 366. Ic. Eng. Bot. 49.

Hexandria Monogynia. Lin, Gen. PI, 442.

Gen, Ch. Cal. 6-phyllus. Petala 6 : ad ungues glandu4is 2. Stylus, o,
Bacca 2-fperma.

Sp. Ch. B. pedunculis racemofis : fpinis triplicibus.

A LARGE fpreading fhrub, furniflied with fpines, covered with
a light grey bark. Leaves inverfely ovate, blunt, entire, fmooth,
minutely ferrated, four or five ftanding together upon fimple foot-
llalks> Flowers yellow, in flender pendent racemi. Calyx compofed
of fix leafits, which are ovate, concave, coloured, deciduous, alter-
nately larger and finaller. Corolla confifls of fix petals, which are
roundifh, concave, and at the bafe each furniflied with two fmall
oblong orange-coloured corpufeles or ned:aries. Filaments fix, eredt,
comprefled, tapering, fliorter than the petals, and terminated by
double antherse, which adhere to their fides. Germen cylindrical, of
the length of the filaments. Style none. Stigma circular, flat, en-
compalTed by a fliarp border. Fruit a cylindrical one-celled red berry,
containing two oblong feeds.

It is a native of England, growing in woods and hedges, and
flowering in June. In fhrubberies, and in gardens where it is very
generally cultivated, its flowers ufually appear much fooner.

It

V.

*•1 •

>. .

t

( Cl )

It has been difcovered, that the hlameiits of this flirub poflefs a
remarkable degree of irritability; for on being Touched near the bafe
with the point of a pin, a hidden contradion is produced, which
may be repeated feveral times. This contrad;ion of tlie ftamina
is evidently for the purpofe of throwing the pollen upon the
ftigma, and is effed;ed by means of infeds palling over the bottom
of the hlaments, which is the part in which their fenfibility refides.*

Another peculiarity afcribed to this fhrub is, that ears of corn
growing near it conftantly prove abortive, and that it extends this
fterile influence over them to the diftance of three or four hundred
yards acrofs a field;'' butMonf. BioulTonet, a celebrated French natu-
ralift, has refuted this very extraordinary though prevalent opinion.

The fruit or berries, which are gratefully acid' and moderately
reftringent, are laid to be of great ufe in bilious fluxes, and in all
cafes where heat, acrimony, and putridity of the humours prevail.
On the authority of Alpinus'' we are informed, that the Egyptians
employ them in peftilential fevers and fluxes, with great fuccefs; and
Simon Paulli relates,' that he was cured of a malignant fever, accom-
panied with a bilious diarrhoea, by ufing thefe berries conformably to
the Egyptian pradice, viz. macerating the fruit for a day and a night
in twelve times its quantity of water, with the addition of a little
fennel feed ; the liquor was then ftrained, fvveetened, and ufed as a
common drink.

® See Mr. Whatley’s remark from Dr. Sims, In Bot, Arr. p. 366. and Dr. Smith’s
paper in tho Phil. Tranf. for 1788. p. 158.

Dr. Withering fays, « this flirub fliould never be permitted to grow in corn lands,
for the ears of wheat that grow near it never fill, and its influence in this refpecl has
been known to extend as far as three or four hundred yards.” /. c.

' Retzius fays that it approaches very nearly to that of Tamarinds. Fet. Acad. Hand!.
41776. p. 135, Scheele obtained from it a confiderable quantity of the acid of fugar.
Fet. Acad. Hand!. 1785. p. 17.

^ P. Alplnus. Med. Mgypt. Z. 4. c. I.

' Vide ^iadrip. Bot. 118.

0.

No. 5. — Part II.

Tha^

( 62 )

That thefe berries are well calculated to allay heat and third:, and
to correct a putrid tendency in the fluids, will be readily admitted j
but in this refped they feem to poflTefs no peculiar advantage over
mofl; of the other acid fruits : hence the Colleges of London and
Edinburgh have expunged this fruit from the Materia Medica, and
retained that of the currant. Barberries however are much more acid,
infomuch that they cannot be eaten without the addition of fugar,
but when boiled with this, they form a mofl; agreeable rob or jelly j
they are alfo much liked as a fweet-meat, and as a pickle. The bark
is faid to be purgative,*^ and Ray experienced its good effects in
jaundice.

f “ The roots, boiled in lye, dye wool yellow. In Poland they dye leather of a moft
beautiful yellow with the bark of the root. The inner bark of the ftems dyes linen of
a fine yellow with the affiftance of allum.” With. 1. c.

* SWIETENIA MAHAGONI. MAHOGANY TREE.

(Swieteniae Cortex. Pharm. Murray, App. Med. vi. 132.)

STNO NTMA. Swietenia foliis abrupte pinnatis, pinnulis ovato-
lanceolatis obliquis, &c. Cavanill. DiJJ'. Bot. 7. p. 365. /. 209.
Cedrela foliis pinnatis, floribus fparfis, ligno graviori. Browne,
ya?n, p. 158. Arbor foliis pinnatis, nullo impari alam claudente,
nervo ad latus unum excurrente, &c. Catejby, Carol, vol. 2,p. 81,
Conf. Jacqiiln. Sele£l. Stirp. Amer. p, 12 7.

Decandria Monogynia. Lin, Gen, Plant. 521.

EJf. Gen. Ch. Cal. 5-fidus. Petala 5. NeCarium cylindricum, ore
antheras gerens. Caps. 5-locularis, lignofa, bafi dehifcens.
Sem. imbricata, alata.

S, Mahagoni. Sp, PI. 548.

A VERY

I \/%

Y

fy ’//y r //^fr. ^ , 4 ,

( 6j )

A VERY large tree, which, by fending off numerous fpreading
branches, makes a beautiful appearance. Wood hard, compact, of a
brownifh red, and from its general ufe well known in England.
The bark is rough, fcaly, and brown, but upon the young branches
grey, and much fmoother. Leaves pinnated, alternate, confifting of
three, four, or live pairs of pinnulse, which are entire, ovately
lance-lhaped, acute, oblique, reclining, on Ihort footftalks. Flowers
numerous, fmall, whitilh, in axillary open fpikes. Calyx fmall,
bell-lhaped, deciduous, cut into live fegments. Petals live, inverfely
ovate, concave, obtufe, fpreading. Nedlarium monophyllous, cylin-
drical, eredt, of the length of the corolla, divided at the brim into ten
pointed teeth. Filaments ten, fcarcely vifible, inferted beneath the teeth
of the nedarium. Antherse oblong, ered. German ovate. Style taper-
ing, ered, of the length of the nedarium. Stigma large, deprelfed at
the top. Capfule ovate, large, obtufe, five-celled, five-valved; valves
woody, thick, opening at the bafe. Seeds numerous, comprelfed,
imbricated, furnifhed with oblong membranous wings. Receptacle
of the feed large, oblong, obtufe, pentagonal.

It is a native of the Weft Indies, and was firft cultivated In Eng-
land in 1739 by Mr. P. Miller, who then confidered it as a fpecles of
Cedrus; but Jacquin difeovered the Mahogany to be a diftind genus,
and called it Swietenia, in honour of Gerard L. B. a Swieten, whofe
influence with the Houfe of Auftria caufed the botanic garden at
Vienna to be founded.

For the botanical fpecimen of the tree figured In the annexed
plate, we are obliged to Sir Jofeph Banks.

The bark of the Swietenia has lately been found, in a con-
fiderable degree, to emulate that of the cinchona in its medicinal
charaders ; we have therefore followed the late profelTor Murray in
confidering it as an article of the Materia Medica.

This bark, according to Dr. Wright, is “ rough, fcaly, and brown,’’
as found upon the trunk of a tree, but “ that on the boughs and
twigs is grey and fmoother.”^ That intended for medicinal ufe fhould
be the growth of the trunk, or rather of the larger branches, and is
brought here in flattifh or fomewhat convex pieces, about a foot in

® See London Medical Journal, vol. 8. p. 286,

length :

( 64 )

length : its epidermis is rough, and immediately under it a thick fpongy
dark extraneous coat is obferved ; the inner efficient part of the bark
is of a lamellated texture, tough, and of a deep reddiffi bro\yn its
tafte is aftringent and bitter, refembling the Peruvian bark, but, in
the opinion of Murray, more bitter.

On the teftlinony of Wright, Lind, and feveral other refpedlable
authorities, this bark has been found to anfwer the general purpofes
of that of the cinchona, and like it alio the different fpecies of the
tree agree in affording barks jpoffeffmg in common a certain ffiare of
febrifuge power, though in different degrees, and fomewhat variable
in their fenfible qualities. Thus of the nine fpecies of cinchona,
lately defcribed by Vahl, the febrifuge character pervades the whole,
at leaft as far as experiments have been made : ' and Mr. Roxburgh,
botanift to the Eaft India Company, has difcovered a new fpecies of
Swietenia, or Mahogany, the bark of which promifes, from his
account of it, to be a more efficacious medicine than that here
defcribed. This new fpecies of mahogany is called by Mr. Rox-
burgh Swietenia febriluga and from numerous experiments which
he made from its bark, he draws the following conclufions : '

1. “ The a(ffive parts of the bark of Swietenia febrifuga are
much more folubile than thofe of Peruvian bark, particularly in
watery menftruums.”

2. “ That it contains a much larger proportion of active (bitter
and aftringent) powers than Peruvian bark.”

** This defcription nearly agrees with that of Murray; but I have found the bark
to vary confiderably in its appearance, and in its tafte.

® Yellow Peruvian bark., the produce of a fpecies of cinchona, of which we find
no botanical account, has been lately brought to London. I have ufed it at the
Small-pox Hofpital with more advantage than I ever experienced from the befl; common
bark. Its intenfe bitternefs is the leading charadler in its fapidity.

“ This and feveral other Eaft India plants have been engraved at the expenfe of the
Eaft India Company, but have not yet been publifhed ; it differs from the common
Mahogany, in having its flowers in large terminal compound fpikes, and in its foliola
being oblong, and very obtufe.

' See “ a botanical defcription of a new fpecies of Swietenia, (Mahogany) with
experiments and obfervations on the bark thereof, addreffed to the Honourable the
Court of Dire£tors of the United Eaft India Company, by William Roxburgh.”

3-

“ The

2:i6‘

( 65 )

** The watery preparations of this bark remain good much
longer than fimilar preparations of Peruvian bark.”

4. “ The fpirituous and watery preparations bear being mixed \r
any proportion without decompofition.”

5. “ That this bark in powder, and its preparations, are mut
more antifeptic than Peruvian bark, or fimilar preparations of it.”

He adds, “ From the evident qualities of this new bark, and from
the fuccefsful experience I have had of it in intermittent fevers, &c.
I have every reafon to imagine it will prove equal, if not fiiperior, to
the Peruvian bark for every purpofe where that medicine, is ufed.”

Having before given an account of iEfculus Plippocaftanum, or
Horfe-chefnut, the only remaining plant referred to the Materia
Medica in the order Trihilatse is the Trapa natans, called in the
Pharmacopoeias Tribulus aquaticUs, or Nux aquatica (floating water
caltrops). Its fruit or nut is of a quadrangular form, and contains a
farinaceous kernel, which was formerly in eftimation for its fuppofed
aftiingent qualities.

SARMENrACEM.

SMILAX CHINA. CHINESE SMILAX.

STNONTMA^ China (radix). Phann^ i.p. 30. Dale.

l6y. Aljlon. i. 409. Lewis. 226. Edinb. New Difpenf. 170.
Murray, i* 339. Bcrgius 803. China vulgaris off. Ger-. Einac.
l6i8. Bauh. Pin. 296. Park. Theat 1578. Ray. Hijl . 657.
Smilax minus fpinofa, frudiu rubicundo, radice virtuofa China didta.
Kampf. Amaen. 781. t. 782. Conf. Sam. Gotti. Gmelin’s Reife
durch Rufsland. T. Hi. p. 32. t. 36.

Dioecia Hexandria. Lin. Gen. Plant, 1120.

No. 6.^— ^Part IL

R

Gau Ch.

Gen. Cb. Mj s c. Cal. 6-phylIus. Cor. o.

Fem, Cal. 6-phyllus. Cor. 0. Styli 3. Bacca 3-I0-
cularis, Sem. 2.

Sp. Ch. S. caule aculeato teretiufculo, fol. inermibus oyato-cordatis
quinquenerviis.

ROOT perennial, ligneous, befet with irregular knobs; externally
of a reddifh brown colour, internally paler. Stems long, roundilh,
{lender, jointed, woody, prickly, climbing, branched, furnifhed with
clafpers. Leaves fmooth, ovate, or heart-fhaped, pointed, five-nerved,
placed on footfialks. Flowers male and female on different plants,
in cluflers, of a yellowifh white, upon a flender common footftalk,
arifing at the axillas of the leaves. The calyx of the male flower is
divided into fix leafits, which are oblong, reflexed, and appear to
pccupy the place of the corolla, v/hich is wanting. Filaments fix,
fimple, furnifhed with oblong antherse. The female flower differs from
the male, in having no flamina, but is fupplied with an ovate germen,
fupporting three minute ftyles, terminated by oblong reflexed downy
ftigmata. Fruit a finall rqund berry, of three cells ; when ripe of a
red colour, and contains two round feeds.

This fpecies of Smilax is tolerably well defcribed by Kasmpfer and
Rumphius, but ftill more fully by Gmelin. It is a much taller fhrub
than the S. Sarfaparilla, and grows to the greateft perfection in China,
Japan, and in fome parts of Perfia. It is alfo a native of Jamaica,
but the occidental fpecies has been accounted lefs efficacious than the
oriental. Mr. Aiton informs us, that it was firft cultivated in Britain
by Miller : it feems however to be a tender plant, and is rarely brought
to flower in this country, even wdien placed in the beft ftoves, and
under the direction of the mofl: fcientific gardeners.

According to Lewis, “ two forts of the roots are common in the
fnops, an oriental, and occidental ; the firff, which is accounted the
belt, is confiderably paler coloured, and harder than the other. Of
either kind, fuch fhouid be chofen, as is frefh and heavy, and which,
'Vvhen cut, exhibits a cl ofe fmooth gloffy furface.”

Thefe

( 67 )

“ Thefe roots have fcarcely any fmell, or particular tafte ; when
frefh they are fald to be fomewhat acrid, but as brought to us they
difcoyer, even when long chewed, no other than a flight undtuofity
in the mouth. Boiled in water they impart a reddifli colour, and a
kind of vapid foftnefs : the deco(ilion, infpilTated, yields an unftuous
farinaceous almofl: infipid^mafs, amounting to upwards of half the
weight of the root.” “

About the year 1535 brought to Europe with

the charafter of being an incomparable medicine for the cure of the
venereal difeafe.'’ For this purpofe it was given in the form of a
decodfion, of which a large cupful was ordered to be made hot, and
taken by the patient every morning v/nile in bed, in order to produce
a diaphoretic effedt for two or three hours.

This, and the occafional ufe of purgatives, was to be purfued for
twenty-four days, after which the decoction was to be ufed as a
common drink.'

This root was alfo recommended in many other diforders, efpeclally
thofe of a chronic and inveterate kind, as fome cutaneous difeafes,
obfl:ru£tions, rheumatifms, &c. But whatever may have been the
opinion formerly entertained of the efficacy of China root, phyficians,
at this time, agree in confidering it as a very inert fubftance, and there^
fore it is rarely employed. Like the farfaparilla, by which it has
been fuperfeded, it contains a confiderable fhare of bland nutritive
matter, and appears to us riot lefs adapted to the auxilliary purpofes
of medicine,

® Lewis. 1. c,

** Thevet. Cojmogr, unlvers, L. ii. c. 25.

* Vefalius. Eptjl, de rad, china in Jpbor. p. 598, Sffc. Aftriic, de mtrb. ven, p, ll2.

RUSCUS ACULEATU3.

\

( 68 )

RUSCUS ACULEATUS. BUTCHER’s BROOM,

Or KNEE HOLLY.

STNONTMA, Rufcus. Pharm. Geoff. Dale. 169. Aljion. i»
386. Lewis. 546^ Murray, i. p. 341. Bergius. 816. Edinb,
New Difpenf. 'iGj. Bauh. Pin. 470. Ger. Emac, goj* Park,
Theat. 253. Rail. Hiji. 664. Synop. 262. Hudfon. Flor. Ang,
437. Haller. HiJl, Stirp. Helv. n. 1238. With. Bot, Arr, 1132.
Miller. Illuji. t. 155. •

Dloecia Syngenefia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 1139.

Cen. Ch. Masc. Cal. 6-phylIus. Cor. o. Nedlarium cetitrale>

ovatum, apice perforatum.

Eem. Calyx, Corolla^ t\.Ne£iariummdins, Stylus i, Bacea
3-locularis4 Sem. 2.

Sp. Ch. R. foliis fupra floriferis nudis.

A SMALL evergreen flirub, feldom much exceeding a foot iri
height. Stalk ftrong, fmooth, channelled. Leaves floriferous, feflile,
or on very fhort footftalks, ovate, rigid, fhatply pointed,* entire, marked
’with numerous parallel veins. Flowers male and female on different
plants, folitary, appearing on the upper difc of the leaves. Calyx of
the male flower compofed of fix fmall oval fpreading leaves, of a
yellowifh green. Corolla none. Ne(5tarium egg-fhaped, inflated,
upright, purple, open at the rim,, of the length of the calyx. Filaments
none. Antherse three, expanding, uniting at the bafe, placed at the
mouth of the nedlarium. In the female flower the germen is oblong,

* Hence Virgil fays, Horridior rufco.” Ee. 7. V. 41,

And again

!

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Vimina per filvam, "

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I 69 )

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cnclofed in the nedarium, fupporting a cylindrical ftyle, fupplied
with a blunt ftigma. Fruit a three-celled red berry, containing two
globular feeds.

It ufually grows in woods and thickets, flowering in March and
April.

The root, which is fomewhat thick, knotty, and furnifhed with
long fibres, externally brown, internally white, and of a bitterifh
tafte, has been recommended as an aperient and diuretic in dropfies,
urinary obftrudions, and nephritic cafes. Hence it has been termed
one of the five greater aperient roots.

It is manifeftly the fj.vpciyyi ccypix of Diofcorides,'’ who fpeaks highly
of its deobftruent and diuretic powers; and Riverius relates a caie of
drqpfy fuccefsfully treated by a decodion of the roots of Rufcus ; but
at prefent this plant is very rarely, if ever, employed in medicine.

” Lib. 4. c. 146.

ARISTOLOCHIA CLEMATITIS. CLIMBING BIRTHWORT.

S TN 0 NTMA. Ariftolochia tenuis. Fharm. Edlnb. Geoff, it. 13.
Dale. 194. Aljlon. t. Lewis. ii\. Murray, i. t^^6. Bergius.

yip. Edinb. New Difp. 132. Ariftolochia Clematitis reda. Bauh.
Pin. 307. Gerard. Emac. 847. Park. 7 heat. 292. Raii Hiji.
762. Hall. Stirp. Helv.n. 102^. Hudf. Flor.Ang. Withering.^
Bot. Arr.' 100 Mill. Illuji.

Gynandria Hexandria. Lin. Gen. Plant. 1022.

Cen, Ch. Hexagynia. Cal. o. Cor. i-petala, lingulata, Integra,
Caps. 6-locularis, infera.

Bp. Ch. A. foliis cordatis,' caule credo, floribus axillaribus confertis.
No, 6.— .Part IT S ROOT

( 7° )

ROOT perennial, cylindrical, long, flender, creeping, jfibrous.
Stalks fimple, flender, ftrlated, two feet in height, round, fmooth, in
a fomewhat zigzag diredlion. Leaves on footflalks, alternate, flnooth,
heart-fhaped, blunt, of a Ihining bright green on the upper fide, be-
neath veined. Flowers numerous, at the axillae of the leaves, of a
greenifh yellow. Calyx none. Corolla monopetalous, tubular, tube
nearly cylindrical, at the bafe round, at the mouth wider, and extended
downwards into a long tongue. Filaments none. Antherae fix, growing
underneath the ftigma. Germen oblong, angular, placed below the
corolla. Style very Ihort. Stigma roundifli, divided into fix por-
tions. Capfule hexagonal, fix-celled. Seeds numerous, fmall, flattiih.

It is a native of this country, growing in woods and hedges, and
producing its flowers from July till September.

Various fpecies of Ariftolochia were formerly included in theMateria
Medica, as noticed in the firft part of this work ; but the Clematitis
here figured is the only fpecies ftill retained in the Edinburgh Phar-
macopoeia, and therefore ought to have fuperfeded the A. longa, of
which a plate is given at page 294.

The root, which is the part medicinally ufed, has a fomewhat
aromatic fmell, and a warm bitterifh tafte.

Not only writers on the Materia Medica, but mofl: authors on the
practice of medicine, from the remoteft times, have afcribed many
virtues to the roots of Ariftolochia, which it would be ufelefs here to
enumerate. The qualities for which they have been chiefly efteemed
are fufflciently noticed in the following extract from Dr. Cullen : —
“ Which of the fpecies of Ariftolochia are to be preferred 1 cannot
‘‘ determine, and believe the difference between the rotunda, longa,
“ and tenuis, is not confiderable, though the latter feems now to be
“ preferred by both the Colleges of London and Edinburgh. They
“ are all of them confiderably bitter, with more acrimony than in

any other of the bitters commonly employed. Its name feems to
“ have arifen from the fuppcfition of its emmenagogue virtues, and
‘‘ in fome cafes of retention and chlorofis, as a warm and ftimulating
“ medicine, I have found it ufeful ; but in cales of fuppreffion I
“ never found it of any ufe ; and the commendation of it by the

ancients in promoting the lochia, facilitating birth, &c. is very ill

“ founded.

I

I ■

{ 71 )

founded. The Ariftolochia has been long commended as a cure
“ for the gout. It makes a confiderable part of the Portland powder,^
“ and has often been employed by itfelf in the fame maimer as that
“ powder, to be taken every day for a length of time.’' *

But Dr. Cullen thinks with Werlholf,'’ that though it may prevent
the recurrence of the gouty paroxyms, yet the long continued ufe of
fuch medicines is extremely hurtful, and commonly brings on a
general ftate of difeafe more fatal than the original dillemper.

* For the compofition of this powder, fee Med. Bot. vol. it. p, 296.

* M. M. ii. 83.

*> See Cautiones Medicce Ed. Wickman. p. 346.

AMYGDALUS PERSICA. COMMON PEACH TREE.

STNONTMeI, Perfica. Pharm. Dale. p^oi. Aljlon.il. Geoff.,

ill. 798. Lewis. 483. Edinb. New Difpenf. 249. Murray. Hi. 241.
Bergius.yip. Perfica Malus. Gerard. Emac. \ysgj. Paid. Farad.
580. Rail. FUJI. 1515* Du Hamel. Arb. fruit. T. ii. /• 30.

Icofandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 619.

$

Gen. Ch. Cal. 5-fidus, inferus. Pet. 5. Drupa nuce poris perforata.

E)p. Cb. A. foliorum ferraturis omnibus acutis, floribus feffilibus
folitariis-

THE common Peach-tree grows to a confiderable height, and
fends off numerous fpreading branches. Leaves long, narrow,
pointed, elliptical, acutely ferrated, on footftalks, alternate. Flowers
feffile, purplifh, folitary, large. Calyx tubular, divided at the margin
into five ovate fegments, and at the bafe befet with numerous fcales.
Petals five, inverfely ovate, fpreading, attached by fliort claws. Fila-
ments numerous, tapering, inferted into the calyx, furniihed with

purplifli

( 72 )

purplifh anthers. Germen roundifh, do,wny. Style fliort, fimple,^ -
terminated by a round ftigma. Fruit too well known to require
defcription. *

The varieties of this fpecies are a^frudtibus lanuginojis. Common
Peach. /3, fruSUbus glabris, Nedarine. y, fiore plcno^ the double-
flowered Peach-tree.

It is not known of what country this tree is a native, but it was
cultivated here in the time of Turner, 1562, and probably long be-
fore that period. From the name Perfica, it may be fuppofed to have
been brought from Perfia; but this is conjecture, nor is it afcertained
to be the of Diofcorides, or of Theophraftus.

The fruit is known to be grateful and wholefome, feldom difagree-
ing with the ftomach, unlefs this organ is not in a healthy ftate, or
the fruit has been eaten to excefs, when effeCls fimilar to thofe of
the other dulco-acid fummer fruits may be produced.

The flowers, including the calyx, as well as the corolla, are the
parts of the Perfica ufed for medicinal purpofes ; thefe have an agree-
able but weak fmell, and a bitterifh tafte. Boulduc * obferves, “ that
when diftilled without addition by the heat of a water bath, they
yield one-fixth their weight, or more, of a whitifh liquor, which
communicates to a confiderable quantity of other liquids a flavour
like that of the kernels of fruits.”

Thefe flowers have a cathartic effeCt, and efpecially to children
have been fuccefsfully given in the character of a vermifuge ; for this
purpofe an infufion of a dram of the flowers dried, or half an ounce
in their recent ftate, is the requifite dofe. The leaves of the Perfica
are alfo found to pofiefs an anthelmintic power, and from a great
number of experiments appear to have been given with invariable
fuccefs both to children and adults.

However, as the leaves and flowers of the Perfica manifeft in fome
degree the quality of thofe of the laurocerafus, they ought to be ufed
with caution.

We find a “ Syrupus fiorum perficorum,” ordered in the Pharm*
Wurt.

“ Mem. de L’Acad. 1714. p. 37.

? See Cejie it WilUmet, EJf, dg Mat^ Mid, indig. p. 32.

Menifpermum

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( 73 )

Menifpermum Cocclus of Linnaeus, which produces the Cocculus
Indus, formerly an officinal article, belongs alfo to this natural order.
It is figured by Rumphius under the name of Tuba baccifera.

The fruit, which is brought here from the Eaft Indies, is’ faid to
be powerfully narcotic, and ufed for the purpofe of intoxication.

P 0 M A C E jE,

PRUNUS LAUROCERASUS. COMMON, or CHERRY

LAUREL.

STNO NTMA. Laurocerafus. Pharm. Dale, 309. Lewis. 380.
Berglus. 399. Murray. Hi. 213. Cullen, ii. 282. Cerafus folio
laurino. Bauh. Pin. 410. Ger. Emac. 1603. Raii Hijl. J549.
Duhamel. %rait'e des Arbres. t. 133.

Icofandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 620.

Gen. Ch. Cal. 5-fidus, inferus. Petala 5. Drupce nux futuri*
prominulis.

'S>p. Ch. P. floribus racemofis fol. fempervirentibus dorfo biglau-
dulofis.

A SHRUB or fmall tree, fending off long fpreading branches, and
covered with fmooth brown bark. Leaves evergreen, elliptical, or
obovate, blunt, rather ferrated, furnifhed with yellowifh glands at the
bafe, of a fhining deep green, placed alternately upon ftrong fhort
footftalks. Flowers on fhort peduncles, in fpikes, which arife at the
alae of the leaves. Calyx tubular, ovate, divided at the brim into five
pointed refiexed fegments. Corolla compofed of five petals, which
are fmall, white, roundifh. Filaments about eighteen, tapering, in-
No. 6. — Part II. T ferted

( U )

ferted in tHe calyx, furnllhed with fimple antherae. Germen oblong,
fupporting a columnar ftyle, terminated by a blunt ftigma. Fruit
drupous, refembling a fmall cherry both in its external and internal
ftrudure.

It is a! native of the Levant, and appears to have been long culli-*-
vated in Britain, and by its polifhed evergreen leaves adds much to
the beauty of our fhrubberies.

The leaves of the Lauro Cerafus have a bitter ftyptic tafte, accom-
panied with a flavour refembling that of bitter almonds, or other
kernels of the drupaceous fruits. The flowers of this plant alfo
manifeft a flmilar flavour. The powdered leaves, applied to the
noftfils, excite fneezing, though not fo ftrongly as tobacco.

The kernel-like flavour which thefe leaves impart being generally
efteemed grateful, has fometimes caufed them to be employed for culi-
nary purpofes, and efpecially in cuftards, puddings, blancmange, &c.
and as the proportion of this fapid matter of the leaf to the quantity
of the milk is comrhonly inconfiderable, bad effedfs have feldom
enfued. But as the poifonous quality of this laurel is now indu-
bitably proved, the public ought to be cautioned agairift its inter-
nal ufe.

The following communication to the Royal Society, by Dr. Madden
of Dublin, contains the firfl; and principal proofs of the deleterious
effedls of this vegetable upon mankind; “ A very extraordinary
“ accident that fell out here fome months ago, has difeovered to us a
“ moft dangerous poifon, which was never before known to be fo,
“ though it has been in frequent ufe among us. The thing I mean
“ is a fimple water, diftilled from the leaves of the Lauro-cera/us,-^
“ The water is at firfl: of a milky colour, but the oil which comes
“ over the helm with it, being in a good meafure feparated from the
“ phlegm, by pafling it through a flannel-bag, it becomes as clear as
“ common water. It has the fmell of bitter almond, or peach kef-
“ nel, and has been for many years in frequent rife among our houfe-
“ wives and cooks, to give that agreeable flavour to their creams and
“ puddings. It has alfo been much in ufe among our drinkers of
“ drams ; and the proportion they generally ufe it in, has been one
** part of laurel-water to four of brandy. Nor has this pradtice,
“ (however frequent) ever been attended with any apparent ill con-

“ fequences.

( 75 }

fequehces, till fome time in the month of September, 1728, when
‘‘ it happened that one Martha Boyfe, a fervant, who lived with a
“ perfon that fold great quantities of this water, got a bottle of it
“ from her miftrefs, and gave it to her mother, Ann Boyfe, as a
very rich cordial. Ann Boyfe made a prefent of it to Frances
“ Eaton, her filler, who was a fhopkeeper in town, and who Ihe
“ thought might oblige her cullomers with it. Accordingly, in a
“ few days, Ihe gave about two ounces of the water to a woman
called Mary Whaley, who drank about two-thirds of what was
“ filled out, and went away. Frances Eaton drank the reft. In a
“ quarter of an hour after Mary Whaley had drank the water, (as I-
“ am informed) Ihe complained of a violent diforder in her ftomach,
“ foon after loft her fpeech, and died in about an hour, without
“ vomiting or purging, or any convulfion.

“ The fhopkeeper, F. Eaton, fent word to her lifter, Ann Boyfe,
“ of what had happened, who came to her upon the meftage, and
“ affirmed that it was not poffible the cordial (as fhe called it) could
“ have occafioned the death of the woman ; and to convince her of
“ it, Ihe filled out about three fpoonfuls, and drank it. She con-
“ tinned talking with F. Eaton about two minutes longer, and was
“ fo earneft to perfuade her of the liquor’s being inoft'enfive, that llie
“ drank two fpoonfuls more, but was hardly well feated in her chair
“ when fhe died without the leaft groan or convulfion. Frances
“ Eaton, who, as before obferved, had drank fomewhat above a
“ fpoonful, found no diforder in her ftomach or elfewhere ; but to
“ prevent any ill confequence Ihe took a vomit immediately, and
“ has been well ever fince.” ‘

Dr. Madden mentions another cafe of a gentleman at Kilkenny,
who “ miftook a bottle of this laurel water for a bottle of ptiian ;
“ what quantity he drank is uncertain, but he died in a few minutes,
“ complaing of a violent diforder in his ftomach.”

® See Phih Tranf. vol. 37. p, 84. “ A letter from T. Madden, M. D. giving an

account of two women being poifoned by the ftrnple difilled water of Laurel-leaves,, and of
feveral experiments upon dogs, by which it appears, that this laurel is one of the mojl
dangerous poifons hitherto knoivnd* ^

In

( 76 )

In addition to this, we may refer to the unfortunate cafe of Sir
Theodofius Boughton, whofe death, in 1780, an Englifh Jewry de-
clared to be occafioned by this poifon. In this cafe the a(^ive prin-
ciple of the Laurocerafus was concentrated by repeated diftillations,
and given to the quantity of an ounce ; the fuddenly fatal effe<Ss of
which muft be ftill in the recollection of the public.

To brute animals this poifon is almoft inftantaneoufly mortal, as
amply appears by the experiments of Madden, Mortimer,*’ Nicholls,'
Langrifh,'* Vater,' Fontana, and others.

The experiments, conducted by thefe gentlemen, fhow, that the
laurel-water is deftruCtive to animal life, not only when taken into
the ftomach, but alfo on being injeCted into the inteftines, or applied
externally to different organs of the body. It is remarked by Abbe
Fontana, that this poifon, even “ when applied in a very fmall quantity
to the eyes, or to the inner part of the mouth, without touching the
oefophagus, or being carried into the ftomach, is capable of killing
an animal in a few inftants ; whilft applied in a much greater quan-
tity to wounds, it has fo little aCtivity, that the weakeft animals,
fuch as pigeons, refill its aClion.” ^

The moft volatile is the moft aClive part of the Laurocerafus ; and
if wc judge from its fenfible qualities, an analagous principle feems to
pervade many other vegetable fubftances, efpecially the kernels of
drupaceous fruits ; and in various fpecies of the amygdalus, this fapid
principle extends to the flowers and leaves.

It is of importance to notice, that this is much lefs powerful in
its aClion upon human fubjeCts than upon dogs, rabbits, pigeons, and
reptiles. To poifon man the effential oil of the Laurocerafus’ muft
be feparated by diftillation, as in the fpirituous or common laurel-
water ; and unlefs this is ftrongly imbued with the oil, or given in a
large dofe, it proves innocent.

’’ Phil. Tranf v. 37. p. 163.

e y d Vide Langrifh. Phil. Experiments upon brutes^ to which is added a courfe of
experiments with the Laurocerafus,

hydrop

DiJJ'. de Laurocerafi indole venenata. Alfo in his Progr, de okl animal, contra

See Skinner's Tranf ation. ii. p, 1 80.

Dr. Cullen

( 77 )

Dr. Cullen obferves, that the fedative power of the Laurocerafus
ads upon the nervous fyftem in a different manner from opium and
other narcotic fubftances, whofe primary adion is upon the animal
fundions ; for the Laurocerafus does not occafion fleep, nor does it
produce local inflammation, but feems to ad diredly upon the vital
powers. Abbe Fontana fuppofes that this poifon deftroys animal life,
by exerting its effeds upon the blood ; but the experiments and
obfervations from which he draws this opinion are evidently incon-
clufive. It may alfo be remarked, that many of the Abbe’s experi-
ments contradid each other.

Thus it appears, from the citation given above, that the poifon of
this vegetable, when applied to wounds, does not produce a fatal
effed ; but future experiments led the Abbe to affert, that the oil of the
Laurocerafus, “ whether given internally, or applied to the wounds
of animals, is one of the moft terrible and deadly poifons known.”

Though this vegetable feems to have efcaped the notice of Stoerck,
yet it is not without advocates for its medicinal ufe. Linnsus informs
us, that in Switzerland it is commonly and fuccefsfully ufed in pul-
monary complaints. Langrifh mentions its efficacy in agues ; and
as Bergius found bitter almonds to have this effed, we may from
analogy conclude, that this power of the Laurocerafus is well eftablifh-
ed. Baylies found that it poffeffed a remarkable power of diluting
the blood, and from experience recommended it in all cafes of difeafe
fuppofed to proceed from too denfe a ftate of that fluid; adducing
particular inftances of its efficacy in rheumatifm, afthma, and in
fchirrous affedions. Nor does this author feem to have been much
afraid of the deleterious quality of the Laurocerafus, as he direds a
pound of its leaves to be macerated in a pint of water, of which he
gives from thirty to fixty drops three or four times a day.

Of the other fpecies of Prunus, or Cherry, we find nothing de-
ferving of particular attention.

The Sorbus aucuparia, or Mountain Afh, belongs to this order.
Its berries, which appear in large beautiful clufters, are by fome
writers efleemed for their cathartic and antifcorbutic qualities.

No. 7. — Part II.

U

VER^ICILLAr^.

( 78 )

VERTICILLArjE,

BETONICA OFFICINALIS. WOOD BETONY.

STNO NTMA. Betonica. Pharm. Geoff. Hi 183. Dale. 15 1.
Aljlon. It. 88. Lewis. 146. Edinb. New Difp. 146. Murray.
It. ^158. Bergius. 524. Cullen, ii. 145. Betonica purpurea.
Bauh. Pin. 235. Gerard. Emac. 714. Rati. By nop. 238. Hall.
Btirp. Helv. 264. Park. Pheat. 238. B. officinalis. Hudfon.
Flor. Ang. 258. Withering. Bot. Arr. 61 1. Ic. Flor. Dan. 726.
Flor. Land. 154.

Didynamia Gymnofpermia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 718.

Gen. Cb. Cal. ariftatus. Corolla lab. fuper. adfcendens, planiufculum.
Tubus cylindricus.

Sp. Ch. B. fpica interrupta, corollarum labii lacinia intermedia
emarginata.

ROOT perennial, tapering, woody, browniffi, furniffied with
long white fibres. Stalks ufually more than a foot in height, ereft,
fquare, fimple, channelled towards the top, nearer the bafe hairy.
Lower leaves on footftalks, cordate, or lance-fhaped, notchdd, obtufe,
veiny, fomewhat hairy, and wrinkled : upper leaves narrower, oj>-
pofite, reflexed. Flowers purple, in fpikes compofed of feveral
whorls. Bradese abundant, placed under the flowers, of the length
of the calyx. Calyx permanent, tubular, divided at the edge into
five narrow teeth. Corolla monopetalous ; tube longer than the
calyx, bending inwards, below fmooth and white, above purple,
downy : upper lip roundifh, entire, ered ; lower one divided into
three fegments, of which the middle one is the broadeft. Filaments

/

,1

t

• i

t

( 79 )

four, longer than the tube, two long and two fhort, furnllhed with
purple antherae. Germen divided into four parts. Style tapering,
white, longer than the filaments, and terminated by a bifid ftigma.
Seeds four, of an irregular fiiape, and lodged in the calyx.

It is common in woods and heaths, flowering in Auguft and
September.

The defcription of the by Diofcorides applies equally to

many of the other verticillated plants : he alfo ftates it to be purga-
tive, fo that it feems very doubtful if by that name he meant the
plant here figured.

The leaves and tops of the Betony have an agreeable but weak
fmell : to the tafte they difcover a flight warmth, accompanied with
fome degree of aftringency and bitternefs. They yield very little
effential oil, infomuch that only a few drops can be obtained from a
large quantity of the herb.

Betony, like many other plants formerly in great medical eftima-
tion, is at this time almoft entirely difregarded. Antonius Mufa,
phyfician to the Emperor Auguftus, filled a whole volume witlt
enumerating its virtues, ftating it as a remedy for no lefs than forty-
feven diforders ; and hence in Italy arofe this proverbial compliment
•You have more virtues than Betony.^

Simon Paulli alfo afcribes to it powers, which may be confidered as
rather miraculous than natural, and which did not feem to require
contradidion from the experiments of Alfton

Modern writers do not allow the Betony to pofTefs any confiderable
efficacy: Scopoli indeed fays that he experienced its cephalic and
corroborant effeds ; but its fenfible qualities fhow it to be more inert
than moft of the other verticillatas. Both this plant and Eyebright
enter into the compofition of Rowley’s Britifh herb tobacco and
fnuff”.

• The Italians alfo introduced the maxim Vinde la tonua et compra la BeUnlca,

^ See MJi'en. 1. c.

' Fisr, Cam. Ed. i. p, 460,

ORIGANUM.

( 8o )

ORIGANUM DICTAMNUS. DITTANY of CRETE.

STNO NTMA. Didamnus creticus. Pharm. Geoff, it, vji. Dale,

148. MJloti. li. 129. Lewis. 274. Edinb. New Difpenf. 183.

Murray, it. 139. Bergius. 529. Bauh. Pin. 222. Park, Theat,

27. Ray. Hiji. 537. Ger. Emac. 795..

Didynamia Gymnofpermia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 726.

Gen. Ch. Strobilus tetragomis, fpicatus, calyces colligens.

Sp, Ch, O. foliis mferloribus tomentofis, fpicis nutantibus.

ROOT fibrous, perennial. Stalk about a foot in height, branched,
downy, ligneous. Leaves ovate, blunt, oppofite, on fhort footftalks,
thick, covered with foft white hairs. Flowers purple, in fpikes.
Bradtese roundifh, fmooth, coloured, numerous, forming quadrangular
fpikes. Calyx fmall, five-toothed, concealed by the bradteae. Corolla
monopetalous, confifting of a long tube, divided at the limb into two
lips, of which the upper is ftraight, and enclofes the filaments : the
tinder lip is cut into three obtufe lobes, of which the middle one is
the largeft. Filaments two long and two fhort, filiform, , longer
than the corolla, and furnifhed with fimple antherse. Germen divided
into four parts. Style flender. Stigma bifid. Seeds four, of an
irregular ovate fhape, and lodged at the bottom of the calyx.

It flowers from June till Auguft.

This plant, which is a native of the Ifland of Candia, appears
from Turner to have been cultivated in Britain previous to the year
1 568, by Mr. Riche. The fpecimen here delineated grew in the
Royal garden at Kew.

The

242

{ 8i )

The leaves of this plant are apparently very warm and aromatic ;
of an agreeable fmell, and hot biting taftei They impart their
virtues both to water and rectified fpirit. Diftilled with water, they
give over a rnoderately ftrong impregnation to the aqueous fluid ;
from which, if the quantity of Dittany be large, there feparates, as
Neuman obferves, a fmall portion of a yellowifli eflfential oil, of a
highly pungent aromatic tafte and fmell, and which congeals in the
cold into the appearance of camphor.*

Both the Greek and Roman writers have fabled this plant into
great celebrity ; of which a Angle inftance, related by the Latin Poet,
affords a beautiful illuftration.*’

Though rarely ufed at this day, it certainly polfelTes, in a very con-
fiderable degree,the ftimulant and aromatic qualities which charaderize
this clafs of plants ; and has at lead; an equal ihare of emmenagogue,
carminative, and flomachic virtue.

® Lewis. I, c,

•• Hic Venus, indigno nati concufTa dolore,

Didlamnu n genitrix Cretasa carpit ab Ida,

Puberibus caulem foliis, et flore comantem
Purpureo : non ilia feris incognita capris
Gramina, cum tergo volucres hselere lagittae.

lE'iJ. L. XII. 41 1.

No. 7. — Part II.

X

TEUCRIUM

( 82 )

TEUCRTUM CHAMjEDRYS. COMMON GERMANDER.

STNONTM^. Chamasdrys. Pharm. Geoff, in. Dale.
Aljlon. ii. 105. Lewis. 219. Cullen, it. 8 . pd. New. Dijpenf,
169. Murray, ii. 119. Bergius, ^06. Chamaedrys minor repens.
Bauh. Pin. 148. Ger. Emac. 656. Chamaedrys vulgaris. ParL
Pheat. 104. Ray. Hift. Synop. 231. Hudjon. Flor.Ang.,

248. With. Bot. Arr. 592. Ic. Flor. Dan. p. 448,

Didynamia Gymnofpermia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 706.

Gen. Ch. Corolla labium fuperius (nullum) ultra bafin 2-partitum,
divaricatum ubi (lamina.

Sp. Ch. T. foliis cuneiformi-ovatis incifis crenatis petiolatis, floribus
ternis, caulibus procumbentibus fubpilofis.

ROOT perennial, branched, fibrous. Stalk about a foot in height,
decumbent, roundifli, branched, rough. Leaves in pairs, on foot-
ftalks, ovate, narrow, irregularly toothed, veined, hairy. Flowers
purple, placed in whorls at the alae of the leaves. Calyx rough,
quinquifid. Segments pointed. Corolla confiils of a fhort curved tube,
at the limb divided into two lips, of which the upper is fhort, and
cut in the middle in fuch a manner as to difappear: the lower lip
feparates into fpreading lobes, of which the middlemoft is large,
and of a roundifh form. Filaments two long and two fhort, flender,
white, and furnifhed with fimple antherae. Germen four, parted.
Style filiform. Stigma bifid. Seeds four, enclofed is the calyx.

It is a native of England, flowering in June and July. The annexed
figure is taken from a garden fpecimen.

The leaves and tops of Germander have a moderately bitter tafle,
accompanied with a weak aromatic flavour, which is diminifhed but
not totally diflipated when the plant is dried. They give out their
virtues both to watery and fpirituous menftrua. ^ater feems- to
diflblve the bitter matter more perfedly than pure fpirit, the watery

/ extradl

^43

( 83 )

extra(ft being ftronger in tafte than the fpirituous;* though the quan-
tity of both extracts, according to Cartheufer’s experiments, is very
nearly alike.

Th i ChaTisedrys has been efteemed chiefly in the charadcr of a
mild aperient and corroborant : it is recommended in uterine obftruc-
tions,’’ intermitting fevers,' and in the rheumatifm and gout. Of the
laft mentioned complaint, Charles the Vth is fa’id to have been cured
by a vinous decodtion of this, \yith fome other herbs, taken daily
for fixtv fucceflive days.**

Other and lefs equivocal evidence of the good effefls of the
Chamasdrys, in this diforder, are recorded by different authors, who
anpear to have employed it in various forms and conabinations, of
which the celebrated antiarthritic, or Portland powder, is an
ipftance.

According to Murray the virtues of this plant fliould be nearly
allied to thofe of the Marrubium, and therefore promifes to be
equally ufeful in afthmatic affedtions, coughs, and infardtions of the
lungs. However, while we admit this conclufion, we conflder the
virtues of both as fomewhat problematical.

® Lewis. I. c. *’ See Ray. 1. c.

' jilpinus. Med. Mgypt, p. 316. Riverius. Ohferv. Cent. 4 — 82. Chomel. Us. it.
139. Seguier. PI. Feron. 319. Fejal. Rad. Chin. ill.

Many other medicinal plants of the order VertiCillat^ ftill remain unnoticed ;
but confidering the great number of this clafs figured in our former volumes, it has
been thought that the medical reader will not regret the fuppreflion of the following ;

Lin. Name.
Ajuga pyramidalis
Teucrium creticum

Chamaepitys

Montanum

Melittls MelilTophyllum
Melifla Calamintha
Lavendula Stoechas
Satureja hortenlis
Nepeta Cataria
Origanum creticum
Salvia Sclarea
Leonurus Cardiaca
Prunella vulgaris
Lamium album

Officinal.
Confolida media
Polium creticum
Chamaep tys
Polium montanum
IVJ eliffophyllum
Calamintha
Stoechas
Satureja
N epeta

Origanum creticum
Sclarea
Cardiaca
Prunella
Lamium album

English.
Mountain Bugle
Poley of Candia
Ground pine
Mountain poley
Baftard balm
Calamint
French Lavender
Summer Savory
Catmint

Marjoram of Capdia
Clary

Mother- wort

Self-heal

Dead-nettle

PRYSIMUM

( 84 )

Sin 0 S M.

erysimum officinale. hedge mustard.

STNONTMA. Eryfimum. P harm, Geoff. Ul. Dale. 20^,

Aljlon. it. 135. Lewis. 289. Cullen, ii. 166. Edinbi New Difpi
186. Murray, ii. 315- Bergius. 561. Hall. 478. Eryfimum
vulgare. Bauhi Pin. lod. Eryfimum Diofcoridis Lobelii. Ger,
Emac. 254. Irio five Eryfimum vulgare. Park. Theat. 833*
Eruca filiqua cauli apprefia, Eryfimum difta. Ray. Hijl. 8io.
Synop. 298. Eryfimurri officinale. Hiidfon. Angi 286. Wither »
Bot. Arr. 695. Ic. Flor. Dan. 560. Curt. Flor. Londi

Tetradynamia Slliquofa. Lin. Gen. Plant* 814.

Gen. Ch. Siliqua cdlumnaris, exade tetraedra. Cal. claufusi

Sp. Ch, E. filiquis fpicse adpreffis, folils runciriatis.

ROOT annual, tapering, furniffied with long fibres. Stalk from
one to two feet in height, ered:, round, branched, hairy. Leaves
on footftalks, rough, downy, pinnatifid fegments, oppofite, o\)’atej
toothed, terminal one the largeft. Flowers yellow, fmall, placed in
long racemi or fpikes. Calyx of four leafits, which are ovate, nar-
row, blunt, hairy. Corolla compofed of four petals, placed oppo-
fitely, inverfely ovate, ftanding upon long claws. Filaments fix,
tapering, two of which are fhorter than the others, and having at
the bafe two nedarious glands. Antherae heart-ffiaped. Germen
cylindrical, ftriated. Stigma roundifh, compreffied, notched. Pods
nearly conical, obfcurely quadrangular, hairy, prefied to the ftalk.
Seeds of a dingy y^ellow colour, obliquely truncated at each end.

It

’ ' r-

-U "

\

'if:

t^-)l • ;-J .-

.'■ -\y

y '-y .ki

‘ ■'♦'■■. ,

V:. V,.' V

4^

5, ^■

s

( 85 )

It is common on dry banks and wafte places, and flowers from
June till September.

The tafte of this herb is fomewhat acrid, efpecially the tops of the
flower fpikes. Its feeds are confiderably pungent, and appear to be
nearly of the fame quality with thofe of muftard, but weaker.

The Eryfimum is faid to be attenuant, expectorant, and diuretic,
and has been ftrongly recommended in chronical coughs and hoarfe-
nefs. Rondelctius informs us, that the laft rri.entioned complaint,
occafloned by loud fpeaking, was cured by this plant in three days.
Other teftimonies of its good eifeCts in this diforder are recorded by
writers on the Materia Medica, of whom we may mention Dr. Cullen,
who, for this purpofe recommends the juice of the Eryfimum to be
mixed with an equal quantity of honey or fugar. In this way alfo
it is faid to be a ufeful remedy in ulcerations of the mouth and
throat.

In moft cafes of difeafe, perhaps the feeds of Eryfimum, as more
pungent, fhould be preferred to its leaves.

No. 7 — Pari II.

Y

ERYSIMUM,

( 86 )

ERYSIMUM ALLIARIA. SAUCE-ALONE, Or,

STINKING HEDGE-MUSTARD.

STNO NTMA. Alliaria. Pharm. Geoff, in. 58. Dale, 200.

Aljlon, it. 79. Lewis. 31. Edinb. New Difpenf. 120. Murray.

a. 317. Burgius, 564. Bauh. Pin. no. Gerard. Emac. 794.

Park. Lheat. 112. Pay. Hijl. 792. Synop. 293. Hall. Hift.

Stirp. Helv. 480. Eryfmium Alliaria. Htidf. Attg. 286. With.

Bot. Arr. 696. Ic, Curt. Flor. Lond. 144.

Tetradynamia Siliquofa. Lin, Gen. Plant. 814.

Gen, Ch. Siiiqua columnaris, cxade tetraedra. Cal, claufus.

Sp, Ch. E. foliis cordatis.

ROOT biennial, whitilh, tapering, fibrous. Stalk ereifi, two or
three feet in height, round, fmooth, channelled, fparingly branched.
Leaves alternate, heart-fhaped, on footftalks, unequally toothed,
veiny: on the upper part of the ftalk they are pointed, and narrower;
at the root kidney-fhaped, and Handing on long footftalks. Flowers
white, in terminal fpikes. Calyx of four leafits, which are ovate,
concave, of a pale green. Corolla confifts of four petals, which are
inverfely ovate, and placed in oppofite directions upon ereCt claws.
Filaments fix, tapering, four of which are long and ereCt, two Ihort,
and bent inwards. Antherse yellow, oblong, incumbent. Germen long,
quadrangular. Style very fhort. Stigma roundifh. Pod two inches long,
obfcurely quadrangular, marked with a prominent line between each
angle ; the cavity divided into two cells, containing oblong Ihining
brown feeds, which appear obliquely truncated at each end.

It is common on hedge banks, and flowers in May and June.

The leaves of this plant have a moderate acrimony, and a ftrong
flavour, refembling that of garlic or onions ; they give the fame kind
of taint to the breath as thofe roots, and have been ufed for the fame

culinary

( 87 )

culinary purpofes : hence the name Alllarla. On drying, however,
their fenfible qualities are confiderably diminifhed, or entirely loft.

“ The juice, exprefled from the frefli leaves, is ftrongly impreg-
nated with their active matter, but lofes the greateft part of it on
being infpifliated to an extraft with the gentleft warmth : in its
liquid ftate, duly fecured from the air, it may be kept uninjured for
many months. On diftilling the frefh herb with water, there arifes a
fmall portion of eflential oil, which taftes and fmelis exceeding
ftrongly.” “

The medicinal charadler of Alliaria is that of a powerful diaphore-
tic, diuretic, and antifcorbutic ; and as partaking of the qualities of
garlick it has been deemed ufeful as an expedforant and deobftruent,
in humoral afthmas, and other cafes of dyfpnoea. It has alfo been
much efteemed as an external application, to promote fuppuration ;
and Boerhaave informs us, that he cured a gangrene of the leg,
arifing from a neglefted fradure and contufton, by applying the
bruifed leaves of Alliaria with wine.'*

It has been thought unavailing to publifli figures of the remaining
medical plants of this order, not only becaufc they appear unim-
portant, but becaufe they are nearly allied to each other both in their
medicinal and botanical charadlers, and are fufficiently exemplified
here and in the former volumes of this work. — See Cochlearia, Sinapi,
Cardamine, Raphanus rufticanus, Nafturtium aquaticum.

• Lewis. 1. c. “ Hiji. Plant. Lugd. Bat. 437.

Thofe omitted are

Lin. Name.

Sifymbrium Sophia
Eryfimum Barbaraa
Raphanus fativus
Braffica oleracea

Rapa

Napus

- Eruca

Cheiranthus Cheiri
Lepidium fativum
Thlafpi arvenfe
Burfa paftorls

Officinal.

Sophia chrurgorum

Barbarsea

Raphanus^

Braffica

Rapa

Napus

Eruca

Cheiri

Nafturtium hortenfe

Thlafpi

Burfa paftorls

English,

Flix-weed

Winter Hedge-muftard

Garden-Radilh

Cabbage

Turnep

Rape, or Wlld-Cabbage

Garden-Rocket

Wall-Flower

Garden- Crefs

Baftard-Crefs

Shepherd’s-Purfe

MULTESILI^T.^,

( S8 )

M U L'r I S I L I M,

RANUNCULUS ACRIS. UPRIGHT MEADOW

CROWFOOT.

STNONTMA. Ranunculus pratenfis. Pharm. Murray, in. j
Ranunculus foliis hirfutis femitrilobis, lobis lateralibus bipartitis,
foliis caulinis femitrilobis. Hall. Stirp. Helv. n. 1169. Ranun-
culus pratenfis eredlus acris. Bauh. Pin. 178. Ger. Emac. 951.
Park. Pheat. 329. Ray. Synop. 248. R. acris. Hudf. Flor. Ang»
' 211. Withering. Bot. Arr. 576. Scop. Flor. Cartiiol. 398. Ic.
Curt. Flor. Lond.

Polyandria Polygynia. Lin. Gen, Plant. 699.

, Gen. Ch, Cal. 5-phyllus. Petala 5 intra ungues poro mellifero.
Sent. nuda.

Sp. Ch. R. calycibus patulis, pedunculis teretibus, foliis tripartito-
multifidis, fummis linearibus.

ROOT perennial, confifting entirely of long white llender fibres.
Stalk ere£t, branched near the top, round, hairy, about two feet in
height. Leaves on long upright footftalks, trifid, fubdividing into
fmaller laciniated lobes, marked beneath with fmall prominent^reticu-
lated veins : at the bafe of the peduncles, the leaves are fimple, linear,
and fringed with hairs. Flowers yellow, terminal, on long round
hairy peduncles. Calyx of five leaves*, which are ovate, fpreading,
hairy, yellowifh. Corolla of five petals, yellow, fhining, heart-fhaped,
commonly notched at the top. Filaments numerous, fhort, furnifhed
with yellow inclining antherse. Ned:atarium, a fmall fcale at the
^ bafe of each petal. Germina numerous, forming an orbicular head.
Styles none. Stigmata reflexed. Seeds numerous, roundifh, of a
brown colour.

It

?4 6'

( 89 )

It Is a native of meadows and moift paftures, flowering in June
and July.

The great acrimony of this, and many of the other, fpecies of
Ranunculus, is fuch, that on being applied to the fkin they excite
itching, rednefs, and inflammation, and even produce blifters, tumefac-
tion, and ulceration of the part. On being chewed they corrode
the tongue ; and, if taken into the ftomach, bring on all the delete-
rious effcds of an acrid poifon.

Thecorrofive acrimony, which this family of plants poifelTes was not
unknown to the ancients, as appears from the writings of Diofcorides;
but its nature and extent had never been inveftigated by experiments
before thofe inftituted by C. Krapf “ at Vienna, by which we learn
that the moft virulent of the Linnean fpecies of Ranunculus are the
bulbofus, fceleratus, acris, arvenfis, thora, and illyricus. The efleds
of thefe were tried either upon himfelf, or upon dogs, and fliow,
that the acrimony of the different fpecies is often confined to certain
parts of the plant, manifefling itfelf either in the roots, fiialks, leaves,
flowers, or buds : the expreffed juice, extradt, decodion, and infuf on
of thefe plants were alfo fubjeded to experiments.

In addition to thefe fpecies, mentioned by Krapf, we may alfo
notice the R. Fammula, and efpecially the R.. Alpeftris, which,
according to Haller, is the moft acrid of this genus. However, as
the fpecies here delineated is a common Engliflr plant, and pofl'effes
this adive principle diffufed in a very confiderable degree throughout
the whole herb, it has been judged proper to feled it for tl\is work
as a fufflcient example and reprefentative of the whole tribe.

Mr. Curtis obferves that even pulling up this plant, and carrying
it to fome little diftance, excited a confiderable inflammation in the
palm of the hand in which it was held.

It is neceffary to remark, that the acrimonious quality of thefe
plants is not of a fixed nature ; for it may be completely diflipated by

* Vide Experlmenta de nonniillorum Ranunculorum venenata qualitate^ horiim externa
et interna ufu. 1766.

The R. I'celeratLis feems more corrofive than the R. acris ; and we are told by
Dr. Withering, that “ beggars are faid to ute it to ulcerate their feet, which they
expofe iH that itate to excite compaflion.’^

No. 8. — Part II. Z heat;

I

( 9° )

heat ; and the plant on beir^ thoroughly dried, becomes perfedUy
bland.

Krapf attempted to counteract this venomous acrimony of the
Ranunculus by means of various other vegetables, none of which
was found to anfwer the purpofe, though he thought that the juice
of forrel, and that of unripe currants, had fome effeCt in this way;
yet thefe were much lefs availing than water ; while vinegar, honey,
fugar, wine, fpirit, mineral acids, oil of tartar, p. d. and other fapid
fubftances manifeftly rendered the acrimony more corrofive. It may
be alfo noticed, that the virulency of this plant, as well as of moft
others, depends much upon the fituation in which they grow, and
is greatly diminilhed in the cultivated plant.

This and fome other fpecies of Ranunculus have, for medical pur-
pofes, been chiefly employed externally as a veflcatory, and are faid
to have the advantage of a common bliftering plafter, in producing a
quicker effeCl, and never caufing ftranguary. But, on the other hand,
it has been obferved, that the Ranunculus is lefs certain in its opera-
tion, and that it fometimes occafipns ulcers, which prove very
troublefome and difficult to heal. Therefore their ufe feems to be
applicable only to certain fixed pains,*’ and fuch complaints as require
a long continued topical ftimulus, or difcharge from the part, in the
way of an ilfue, which in various cafes has been found to be a
powerful remedy.

Cafes of its fuccefs in chronic rheumatifm, and other complaints, are related by
Chefnau (obf. med). Bagliv. (oper. p. ii3j. Stoerck (ann. med. ii. p. 125^.

The manner of ufing the plant is to bruife it in a mortar, and to apply it to the
fldn as a poultice or plafter.

PiRONIA

( 91 )

PjEONIA officinalis. common peony.

\

STNCNTMA. Paeonla. P harm. Dak. 17c. Aljlon. i.

Lewis. 470. Ldinh. Nezv Difp. 246. Murray, hi. 37. Berglus.
477. Psconia folio nigricante fplendido, quse mas — et. Pseonia
foemina, &c. Bauh. Pin. 323. Ger. Emac. 980. Park, Theat.
1381. Ray. Hiji. 693. Pasonia folds lobatis ex ovato-lanceolatis.
Hall. Helv. Miller. Di6i. Ic. Mill. Illuji.

Polyandria Digynia. Lin. Gen. Plant, 678,

Gen. Ch. Cal. 5-phyllus. Petala 5. Styli o. Caps. polyfpermcB,

Sp. Ch. P. foliolis oblongls,

ROOT perennial, large, knobby, externally brown, internally
white, compact. Stalks two feet in height, thick, fmooth, fucculent,
branched. Leaves pinnated, or cut into lobes, which are oblong,
few, terminated by an odd one. Flowers large, terminal, folitary,
red. Calyx compofed of five unequal ovate concave leaves. Corolla
naturally confifting of five large petals, which are roundifii and
concave. Filaments about thirty, fliort, {lender, fupporting oblong
quadrangular antherGE. Germina two, ovate, eredt, hairy. Styles
none. Stigmata hooked. Capfules two, hairy, oblong, inclining
outwardly, fingle-celled, fingle-valved, and containing numerous
fmall feeds.

Peony is a native of Switzerland : it has been cultivated in Britaiir
fince the time of Turner, and is now a common plant in the Englilh
gardens, where it flowers in May and June,

This

{ 9^ }

'This plant has long been confidered as a powerful medicine ; and,
till the late revifiOn of the Pharmacopoeia by the London College, it
had a place in the catalogue of the Materia Medica ; in which the two
common varieties of this plant are indifcriminately dire£ted for ufe,
and, on the authority of C. Bauhine, improperly diftinguifhed into
male and female Peony.

“ The roots and feeds of Peony have, when frefh, a faint un-
pleafant fmell, fomewhat of the narcotic kind ; and a mucilaginous
fubacrid tafte, with a flight degree of bitternefs and aftringency. In
drying they lofe their fmell, and part of their tafle. Extracts made
from them by water are alinoft infipid, as well as inodorous ; but
extrads made by redified fpirit are manifeftly bitterifla and con-
fiderably aftringent.”

“ The flowers have rather more fmell than any of the other parts
of the p'lant, and a rough fweetifh tafte, which they impart, together
with their colour, both to water and fpirit.” “

The roots, flowers, and feeds of Peony have been efteemed in the
charader of an anodyne and corroborant, but more efpecially the
roots ; which fince the days of Galen have been very commonly
employed as a remedy for the epilepfy. For this purpofe it was ufual
to cut the root into thin flices, which were to be attached to a firing,
and fufpended about the neck as an amulet ; if this failed of fuccefs,
the patient was to have recourfe to the internal ufe of this root, which
Willis' direds to be given in the form of powder, and in the quantity
of a dram two or three times a day, by which, as we are informed,
both infants and adults were cured of this difeafe. Other authors
recommend the exprefled juice to be given in wine, and fweetened
with fugar, as the moft effedual way of adminiftering this plant.
Many writers,** however, efpecially in modern times, from repeated
trials of the Peony in epileptic cafes, have found it of no ufe
■whatever; though profeflbr Home, who gave the radix pseonise to

® Lewis. 1. c.

*> T>e /imp, lib. 6. p. 807. Rice,

' Pathol. Cerebri, cap. 3* “ Boerhaave, Haller, Tillbt, and Others.

two

( 93 )

two Epileptics at the Edinburgh Infirmary, declares that one received
a temporary advantage from its ufe.®

Of the good effects of this plant in other diforders we find no
inftances recorded.

® See Clinical Experiments^ i^fc. p. 209.

The following are the remaining medicinal plants of this order
which we have not thought fufficiently important to require any
particular confideration ;

Systematic Names.

Aquilegia vulgaris
Aconitum A nth ora
Delphinium Confolida
Nigella fativa
Ranunculus fceleratus

Flammula

bulbofus

Ficaria

Anemone nemorofa

Hepatica

Thalidtrum flavum

Officinai-,

Aquilegia
Anthora
Confolida regalis
Nigella
R. paluftris
Flammula
R. bulbofus
Chelidonium minus
Ranunculus albus
Hepatica nobiljs
Thali£lrum

English,

Columbine

Wholefome WolPs-bane
Branched Larkfpur
Fennel-flower
Marfli Crowfoot
Spearwort Crowfoot
Bulbou Crowfoot
Pilewort Crowfoot
Wood Anemone
Blue Hepatica
Meadow Rue

No. 8. — Part LI.

f

2 A (!OMPOS/Tjf:.

I

{ 94 )

COMPOSITE.

CtCHORIUM INTYBUS. WILD, or BLUE SUCCORY.

STNONYMA* Cichoreum. Pharm, Geoff^ III. 319. Dale. 84*
Aljlon. h 412. Lewis. 227. Edinh. New Difp. 171. Murray, i.
100. Bergius. ^50. Cichorium fylveftre, five officinarum. Bauhi
Pin. 126. Gerard. Emac. 284. Park, Theat. 776. Ray. Hiji*
255. C. Intybus. Hudfon. Flor.Ang. Withering. Bot, Arr^
862. Curt. Flor. Land. 24 1;

Syngenefia Pblygamia ^qtialis. Lin. Gen. Plant. 92 li

Gen. Ch, Receptaculum fubpaleaceum. Cal. calyculatus.

Pappus fub-5-dentatuSi obfolete pilofus.

Sp. Cb. C. fforibus geminis feffilibus, foliis runcinatls.

ROOT perennial, long, tapering, branched. Or fplndle-fhap^dl j
externally yellowlihj internally white, lad:efcent. Stalk ere<Jb, roughs
branched, angular, from one to two or even three feet in height.
Leaves at the root numerous, pinnatifid, or cut into irregular feg-
ments like thofe of dandelion : on the fialk they are alternate, feflilej
fomewhat fpear-fhaped, but indented and rough at the bafe. Flowers
compound, large, blue, commonly in pairs. Calyx common to all
the florets, compofed of a double fet of leaves, of which the outer
are in number five, ovate, fpreading, and fringed with glandular
hairs ; the inner fet confifts of about eight. Corolla compofed of
hermaphrodite florets, which are regular, blue, and about twenty in
number, each confifting of a fhort white tube, from which arifes a
long flat ribbed limb, divided at the extremity into five teeth. Fila-
ments

( 9^ )

ments whit^, flender, linconneded. Antherse blue, forming a hoilon*
angular cylinder. Germen conical, crowned with Ihort hairs. Style
filiform. ■ Stigmata two, rolled back, blue. Seeds numerous, naked,
angular, lodged at the bottom of the calyx.

It commonly grows about the borders of corn fields, and flowers
in July and Auguft.

This plant belongs to the fame family with the garden endive, and
by fome botanifls has been fuppofed to be the fame plant in its un-
cultivated ftate; but the endive commonly ufed as fallad is an annual,
or at moft a biennial plant, and it^ parent is now known to be the
Cichorium Endivia.

It appears from Horace and others,* that the Cichorea v*'^as com-
Inonly eaten by the Romans ; and according to Pliny '' this name
fignified the wild fpecies of the plant. The Intybus and Seris arc
alfo mentioned as its congeners, the latter implying the cultivated
fpecies.

Wild Succory, or Cichory, as it has been called, “ abounds, with '
a milky juice, of a penetrating bitterifh tafte, and of no remarkable
fmell, or particular flavour : the roots are bitterer than the leaves or
ftalks, and thefe much more fo than the flowers.”

By culture in gardens, and blanching, it loles its bitternefs, and
fnay be eaten early in the fpring in fallads^ The roots, if gathered
before the ftems fhoot up, are alfo eatable, and when dried rnAy be
made into bread.*

The roots and leaves of this plant are ftated by Lewis to be “ very
ufeful aperients, adling mildly and without irritation, tending rather
to abate than to increafe heat, and which may therefore be given
with fafety in heflic and inflammatory cafes. Taken freely, they
keep the belly open, or produce a gentle diarrhasa ; and when thus

^ Me pafcunt ollvaj

Me cichorea, levefque malvae. Hor. Od 31.

“ Cichorea, & teneris fronJens la-hucula fibris.” ^uvenaL

. . ** L 'th, XX, c. 8. T-P'ithertng. 1. c.

continued

( 96 )

continued for fome time, they have often proved falutary in begin^
ning obftru£Uons of the vifcera, in jaundices, cachexies, hypochon-
driacal and other chronical diforders.’" ^

A decodtion of this herb, with others of the like kind, in whey,
and rendered purgative by a fuitable addition of polychreft fait,
was found an iifeful remedy in cafes of biliary calculi," and promifes
advantage in many cornplaints requiring what have been termed
attenuants and refolvents. The virtues of Succory, like thofe of
dandelion, refide in its milky juice ; and in moft of the plants of the
order Semiflofculofas, a juice of a fimilar nature is to be found ;
therefore what has been before obferved of the effects of taraxacum,
will, in a great meafure, apply to the Cichorium ; and we are war-
ranted in faying, that the exprefled juice of both thefe plants, taken
in large dofes, frequently repeated, has been found an efficacious
remedy in phthihs, pulmonalis, as well as in the various other
affedtions above mentioned.

The feeds of the Cichoriurn, which are fmall, angular, and of a
brov/n colour, are reckoned among the four fmalkr cooling feeds,

^ Lewis. 1. c,

* Van Swieten. Comment. T, ill. f. 137,

r

MATRICARIA

7

J.

4r/3rrfSot/u,?Ar. 4.

( 97 )

MATRICARIA PARTHENIUM. COMMON FEVERFEW.

STNONTMAi Matricaria. Pharm. Geoff, iii. ^2^. Dale.<)j.

Alflon. iu 175. Lewis. 414. Ld. New. Difpetif. 227. Murray.

i. 148. Bergius. 687. Cullen, ii. 364. Matricaria vulgaris five

fativa. Bauhi Pin. 133. Gerard. Emac. 6^2. Park. Theat. 83.

Ray. llijl. 357. Synop. 187. Hall. Hijl. Stirp. Helv. n. 100.

M. Parthenium. Hudfon. Flor. Ang. 371. Withering. Bot.Arr.

931. Ic. Flor. Dan. 192.

Syngenefia. Polygamia Superflua. Lin. Gen. Plant. 967.

Gen. Ch. Recept. nudum. Pappus nullus. Cal. hemifphasricus,
imbricatus : marginalibus folidis, acutiufculis.

Sp. Ch. M. foliis compofitis planis : foliolis ovatis incifis, pedun-
culis ramofis.

ROOT perennial, compofed of numerous long fibres. Stalk erect,
firm, much branched, ftriated, round, fmooth, rifmg above two feet
in height. Leaves alternate, hairy, pinnated ; lobes irregular,
toothed, blunt; terminal lobe bifid. Flowers large, compound, at
the centre yellow, at the radius white, upon long peduncles, forming
a kind of umbel. Calyx common to all the florets, hemifpherical,
and compofed of numerous ovate fquamse, which are membranous
at the border. Florets at the radius, female, oblong, about two lines
in breadth, terminated by three fmall teeth. Stigma bifid, turned in
oppofite dirediions. Florets of the difk numerous, tubular, hermaph-
rodite, five-toothed. Filaments five, capillary, very fhort. Antheras
forming a hollow cylinder. Seeds egg-fhaped, truncated at the bafe,
furrowed, whitifh, without pappus.

It is common about hedges, walls, and wafte grounds, flowering
in June and July.

No. 8. — Part II. 2 B

The

( 98 )

“ The leaves and flowers of Feverfew have a flrong not agreeable
fmell, and a moderately bitter tafte, both which they communicate,
by warm infufion, to water and rectified fpirit. The watery infufions,
infpiiTated, leave an extrad: of confiderable bitternefs, and which
difcovers alfo a faline matter both to the tafte and in a more fenfible
manner by throwing up to the furface fmall cryftalline efflorefcences
in keeping : the peculiar flavour of the Matricaria exhales in the
evaporation, and impregnates the diftilled water, on which alfo a
quantity of eftential oil is found floating. The quantity of fpirituous
extrad, according to Cartheufer’s experiments, is only about one-fixth
the v>Aeight of the dry leaves, whereas the watery extrad amounts to
near one-half.”

This plant is evidently the Parthenium of Diofcorides, fmce whofe
time it has been very generally employed for medical purpofes. In
natural affinity it ranks with camomile and tanfy, and its fenftble
qualities fhov/ it to be nearly allied to them in its medicinal charader.
Bergius ftates its virtues to be tonic, ftomachic, refolvent, and emme-
nagogue. It has been given fuccefsfully as a vermifuge, and for the
cure of intermittents ; but its ufe is moft celebrated in female difor-
ders, efpacially in hyfteria and hence it is fuppofed to have derived
the name Matricaria.'’

Its fmeft, tafte, and analyfis prove it to be a medicine of confider-
able adivity ; we may therefore fay with Murray, “ Rarius hodie
“ prsefcribitur, quam debetur.”

« According to Sim. Paulli, its efficacy in this diforder was very remarkable.—
^adrip. p. 432.

“ Uap&miov, quail virginalis, quod morbis mulierum uterinis medeatur, hinc vulgo
Tnatricaria.” &cc.—C. B.

LACTUCA

260

A,- Jum^d'n//, At;,.',. ,

1

( 99 )

LACTUCA VIROSA. STRONG-SCENTED WILD LETTUCE.

STNONTMA, Laduca virofa, Phar?n. Edlnb. nov. New Ed,
Dtfpetif. 217. Murray, App, Med, voL 6, 13. Laduca fylveftris,
odore virofo. BauE Phi. 123. Laduca fylveftris major, odorc
opii. Gerard, Emac, 309. Laduca Endivise foliis, odore virofo.
Park. 813. Pay. Hift. 219. Synop. 161. Haller, Hijl. 15,
L. virofa. Hudfon, Flor. Ang. 337. Withering. Bot. Arr. 835.
Jc. Collin, Obf. vi. praf,

Syngenefia. Polygamia iEqualis. Lin. Gen, Plant. 909,

Gen. Ch. Recept. nudum. Cal, Imbricatus, cylindricus, margine
membranaceo. Pappus fimplex, ftipitatus. Sem. Isevia.

Sp. Ch, L. foliis hcrlzontalibus carina aculeatis dentatis,

ROOT biennial, tapering, branched, firm, furnlfhed with long
fibres. Stalk from two to four feet high, fender, ered, round,
prickly near the bafe, above fmooth, branched. Branches fpreading.
Leaves at the root oblong, wedge-fhaped, entire, or cut into winged
clefts, toothed, commonly prickly at the underfide of the midrib,
felfile, horizontal ; leaves on the ftem arrow-fhaped, embracing the
ftalk, either entire or cut into pinnated lobes: upper and floral leaves
arrow-fhaped, entire, pointed, embracing the branches at which they
are placed. Flowers compofed of numerous equal yellow florets.
Calyx oblong, confifting of feveral fmall fpear-fhaped unequal fcales.
Florets numerous, uniform, hermaphrodite, each compofed of narrow
petals, cut at the extremity into four or five minute teeth. Filaments
five, very fhort, hair-like. Antheras forming a cylindrical tube.
Germen egg-fhaped. Style filiform. Stigmata two, reflexed. Seeds
ovate, compreffed, lodged upon the naked receptacle, and furnifhed
with a Ample hairy feather placed upon a footftalk.

It grows about ditch banks, borders of fields, and old walls,
flowering in July and Auguft.

This

( i°o )

This plant has a ftrong Ungrateful fmell, refembling that of opium,
and a bitterilh acrid tafte ; it abounds with a milky juice, in which,
its fenfible qualities feem to refide, and which appears to have been
noticed by Diofcorides, who defcribes the odour and tafte of this
j>uice as nearly agreeing with that of the white poppy ; its effects are
alfo faid, according to Haller, to be powerfully narcotic.

Dr. Collin, at Vienna, (whofe name has been frequently men-
tioned in the courfe of this work) firft brought the Laduca virofa
into medical repute,^ and its charader has lately induced the College
of Phyficians at Edinburgh to infert it in the catalogue of the Materia
Medica. More than twenty-four cafes of dropfy are faid by Collin
to have been fuccefsfully treated, by employing an extrad prepared
from the exprefied juice of this plant; which is ftated not only to be
powerfully diuretic, but by attenuating the vifcid humours to promote
all the fecretions, and to remove vifceral obftrudions. In the more
fimple cafes, proceeding from debility, the extrad, in dofes of eigh-
teen to thirty grains a day, proved fufficient to accom^lifh a cure ;
but when the difeafe was inveterate, and accompanied with vifceral
obftrudions, the quantity of extrad was increafed to three drams :
nor did larger dofes, though they excited naufea, ever produce any
other bad effed ; and the patients continued fo ftrong under the ufe
of this remedy, that it was feldom neceflary to employ any tonic
medicines.

Though Dr. Collin began his experiments with'the Laduca at the
Pazman hofpital, at the time he was trying the arnica in 1771, yet
very few phyficians, even at Vienna, have fince adopted the ufe of
this plant.

Plenciz indeed has publiflied a folitary inftance of; its efficacy, while
Quarin ' informs us that he never experienced any good effed from
its ufe, alledging that thofe, who were defirous of fupporting its cha-
rader, mixed with it a quanfity of extradum fcillse. Under thefe
circumftances we lhall only fay, that the recommendation of this
rhedicine by Dr. Collin, will be fcarcely thought fufficient to eftablilh
its ufe in England.

“ Obferv, circa Morb. P. vi.

*’ Jofeph de Plenciz. A£i. iff Obf. Med. p, 1 07.

* Animadv Praili p. 188.

The

( lOI )

The remaining medicinal plants of the order Compofitae, which,
have not been figured in this work, are

Systemattc Names.

Officinal.

English^

Carduus marianus

Carduus Mariae

Milk Thiftle

Onopordon Acanthium

Carduus tomentofus

Cotton Thiftle

Carlina acauiis

Carlina

Dwarf Carlina

Carthamus tindlorius

Carthamus

Baftard Saffron

Gentaurea Cyanus

Cyanus

Blue-bottle

Centaiirea Calcitrapa

Calcitrapa

Strr Thiftle

Cichorium Endivia

Endivia

Common Endive

Scorzonera huinilis

Scorzonera

Dwarf Vi'per’s-grafs

Tragopogon pratenfc

Tragopogon

Yellow Goat’s-beard

Ladluca (ativa

La6tuca

Garden Lettuce

Sonchus oleraceus

Sonchus

Common Sow-thiftle

Hieracium Pilofella

Pilofella

Moufe-ear Hawkweed,

Gnaphalium arenariutn

Stcechas citrina

German Cudweed

Gnaphalium dioicum

Gnaphalium

Cat’s-foot Cudweed

Artemifia rupeftris

Genipi album

Creeping Wormwood

Tanacetum Balfamita

Balfamita mas

Coft-mary

Eupatoriurrr cannabinurn

Eupatorium

Hemp Agrimony

Santolina Chamae-Cypariffiis

Santolina

Lavender Cotton

Spilanthus Acmella

Acmella

Balm- leav’d Spilanthus

Tuililago Petafites

Petafites

Butter-bur

Xanthium ftrumariuni

Xanthium

LeiTer Xanthium

Matricaria Chamomilla

Chamomilla nofiras

Corn Feverfew

ChryfanthemurnLeucantheiTium Beilis major

Ox-eye Daify

Anthemis Cotul'a

Cotula fcetida

Stinking, Camomile

Beilis perennis

Beilis minor

Common Daify

Inula dyfenterica

Conyza media

Middle Elecampane

Doronicum Pardalianches

Doronicum

Great Leopard’s-bane

Achillea Ptarmica

Ptarmica

Sneeze-wort Milfoil

Achillea Ageratum

Ageratum

Sweet Milfoil

Bolidago Virgaurea

Virga aurea

Golden-rod

Senecio vulgaris

Senecio

Common Groundfel

Erigeron acre

Conyza coerulea.

Blue Erigeron

Calendula officinalis.

Calendula

Common Mary gold

No. 9.— Fart II.

2 C

CJRTOPHTLLEjE.

( '02 )

CARTOPHYLLUJE.

SAPONARIA OFFICINALIS. SOAPWORT.

S TN 0 NTMA. Saponaria. Pharrn. Dale. 230. Riitty. 463.

Lewis, 584. Edinb, New Difpenf, 277. Muri'ay. in. 505. Bergius.

369. Hall, Hijl, Helv, n. 980. Saponaria major Isvis. Bauh,

Pin. 206. Gerard, Emac. 444. Saponaria vulgaris. Park. 641.

Pay. HiJl. 999. Lychnis Saponaria did;a. Pay. SyuQp. 339. S.

officinalis. Hudf, Ang.\'^'^. With.Bot, Arr. Ic, Flor. Dan.

543 . Flor, Lond.

Decandria Digynia. Lin, Gen, Plant, 564.

Gen, Ch, Cal. i-phyllus nudus. Petala 5, unguiculata. Caps,
oblonga, i-locularis.

Sp. Ch, S. calyc. cylindricis, fol. ovato-lanceolatis.

ROOT perennial, fp reading, widely branched, covered with a
reddifti cuticle. Stalks about a foot In height, ered, firm, round,
jointed, fending off oppofite branches. Leaves oval, entire, pointed,
connate, furnifhed with three ribs. Flowers numerous, terminal, of
a pale flefh or white colour. Calyx cylindrical, rigid, oblong, divided
at the apex into five pointed teeth. Corolla compofed of five petals,
which are furnifhed with long angular claws : the limb is inverfely
heart-fhaped, and at its bafe fupplied with two nedlarious teeth,
placed in the centre. Filaments ten, tapering, longer than the calyx,
furnifhed with oblong antherse. Germen oblong, befet with tranf-
verfe rugse. Styles two, tapering, white. Stigmata fimple. Gapfule
one-celled, containing numerous black kidney-fhaped feeds.

It is a native of England, affecting moifl fituations, and flowering
in July and Auguft.

A double-flowered variety of this plant is not unfrequently met
with in gardens.

The

2nl.

J^a>tipi'd lff-J)‘^VoodviUe , ,yiugujt .

' V;’

V

' • - ^ V

[*

V

( i°3 )

The root has no peculiar fmell ; its tafte is fweetifh, glutinous, and
fomewhat bitter; on being chewed for fome time, it is faid to difcovcr
a degree of acrimony, which continues to aifed; the mouth a con-
fiderable time. According to Neuman, two ounces of the root
yielded eleven drams of watery extrad ; but Cartheufcr, from a like
quantity, only obtained fix drams, and twenty-four grains. This
extrad manifefted a fweetidi tafte, followed by an acrid quality.
The fpirituous extrad is lefs in quantity, but of a more penetrating
acrid tafte. Decodions of the root, on being fufficiently agitated,
produce a faponaceous froth ; a fimilar foapy quality is obfervable
alfo in the extrad, and ftill more manifeftly in the leaves, infomuch
that they have been ufed by the mendicant monks as a fubftitute for
foap in wafhing of their clothes ; and Bergius, who made feveral
experiments with the Saponaria, declares that it has all the elfeds of
foap itfelf.^

From thefe peculiar qualities of the Saponaria there can be little
doubt of its pofleffing a confiderable fhare of medical efficacy, which
we could wifh to find faithfully afcertained.

The difeafes for which the Saponaria is recommended, as fyphilis,
gout, rheumatifm, and jaundice, are not perhaps the complaints in
which its ufe is moft availing ; for a fancied refemblance of the roots
of Saponaria with thofe of farfaparilla, feems to have led phyficians
to think them fimilar in their effeds, and hence they have both been
adminiftered with the fame intentions, particularly in fixed pains,
and venereal affedions. Bergius fays, “ in arthritide, cura mercu-

riale, &c. nullum aptiorem potum novi.”

However, according to feveral writers, the moft inveterate cafes
of fyphilis were cured by a decodion of this plant, without the ufc
of mercury.'

Haller informs us, that Boerhaave entertained an high opinion of
its efficacy in jaundice, and other vifceral obftrudions.

• He obferves alfo, that the Saponaceous quality is not injured by acids, like that
of the common foap.

*> Perhaps we fliould except the kernels of the fruit of the Sapindus Saponaria, the
root of Gypfophila Struthium, and the flowers of the Lychnis chalcedonica.

Vide Rudius. De morb. occult, et venenat. L. 5. c. 18. f. 215. Septalius, Animadv.
et caut. med, 275. Zapata, Memorab. medlco-chir. Werner. Dijf. de virtute faponar.

CAMPANACEm..

( i°4 )

C A M PA N A C E M.

VIOLA TRICOLOR. PANSIE, Or

THREE-COLOURED VIOLET-

ST NO NTMA. Viola tricolor. Pharm, Dale. 239. Bergius..
708. Murray, vi. 33. Viola tricolor arvenfis. Buuh^ Pin. 200*
V. tricolor fylveftris.. Park.j^^. Ger. Emac. 8^^. Jacea tricolor
five Triaitatis flos» J. Bauh.. ui. 546.. Ray. Synop. 336. HalL
Hijl. Stirp. Helv. 569. Hudf. Flor. Ang. 331. Withering. Bot..
Arr. 957. Curt. Flor. Bond. Flor. Dan. 623. /3 Viola tricolor

hortenfis repens. C. B..

Syngenefia Monogamia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 1007.

Gen, Ch. Cal. 5-phyllu’s. Cor, 5-petala, irregularis, poftice cor--
nuta. Caps, fupera, 3-valvis, i-locularis.

Sp.. Ch. V. caule triquetro diffufo, fol. oblongis incifis, ftipulis
pinnatifidis.

ROOT annual, fimple, tapering, fibrous. Stalk from four to fix
inches high, branched, thick, angular, fucculent. . Leaves ’various
fhaped, ovate, or elliptical, crenated, narroweft at the upper part of
the plant, often three together, on long 'footftalks. Stipulse com-
pound, cut into linear fegments. Flowers folitary,, tricoloured,
placed on long angular footftalks furniftied with a pair of membra-
nous ftipulae near the flower. Calyx of five pointed leaves, of which
the three uppermoft are fomewhat fmaller than the others. Corolla
pentapetalous, irregular. The two uppermoft petals roundifh, eredt,
dark purple ; the two lateral petals elliptical, obtufe, yellowifh, rough
at the bafe, and marked with purple lines j lower petal broad, notched
in the middle,' yellow, tinged with dark radiated lines, forming

behind

( >°5 )

behind a Tpur-like procefs or nedtariu’n. Filaments five, very fhort.
Antherse Icaly, lax, united, two-celled, terminated by an orange-
coloured membrane. Germen conical. Style twilled at the bafe.
Stigma round, obliquely perforated, permanent. Capfule one-celled,
three valved, containing numerous oval fhining feeds.

It grows in corn fields, wafte and cultivated grounds, flowering all
the fummer months.

This plant varies much by cultivation, and by the vivid colouring’
of its flowers often becomes extremely beautiful in gardens, where it
is diflinguifhed by various names.

To the tafte this plant, in its recent ftate, is extremely glutinous,
or mucilaginous, accompanied with the common herbaceous flavour
and roughnefs. By diftillation with water, according to Haafe,* it
affords a fmall quantity of odorous eflential oil, of a fomewhat acrid
tafte. The dried herb yields about half its weight of watery extradl,
the frefh plant about one eighth.

Though many of the old writers on the Materia Medica reprefent
this plant as a powerful medicine in epilepfy, afthma, ulcers, fcabies,
and cutaneous complaints, yet the viola tricolor owes its prefent cha-
racfter as a medicine to the modern authorities of Starck,‘’ Metzger,*"
Haafe,** and others,^ efpecially as a remedy for the crufta ladlea. For
this purpofe, a handful of the frefh herb, or half a dram of it dried, and
boiled two hours in milk, is to be ftrained and taken night and morn-
ing. Bread, with this decodion, is alfo to be formed into a poultice,
and applied to the part. By this treatment it has been obferved, that
the eruption during the firft eight days increafes, and that the urine,
when the medicine fucceeds, has an odour fimilar to that of cats ;
but on continuing the ufe of the plant a fufficient time, this fmell
goes off, the fcabs difappear, and the fkin recovers its natural purity.

® De viola tricolore. Erlang. 1782.

** De crujla laSlea infantum ejufdemque remedio dijfertatioy quam Acad, fcient. Lugd.
Gall, pramio coronavit. 1776. Franc, ad Moen. 1779. See alfo London Medical
^Journal, vol, ii.

' Verm. Med. Schriften. vol. 2. L. c.

* Armftrong’s publication on this fubje£l we have not feen. In Sweden many tefti-
monies of the good efFedls of this plant have been publilhcd. See Murray. 1. c.

No, 9. — Part II. 2 D

Inftances

( io6 )

Inftances of the fuccefsful exhibition of this medicine, as cited by
thefe authors, are very numerous ; indeed this remedy, under their
management, feems rarely, if ever, to have failed. It appears,
however, that MuiTinna,*^ Ackermann,^ and Henning,*' were lefs
fortunate in the employment of this plant ; the laft of whom
declares,, that in the different cutaneous diforders in which he ufed
it, no benefit was derived.

Haafe, who adminiftered this fpecies of violet in various forms,
and large dofes, extended its ufe to many chronic diforders ; and
from the great number of cafes in which it proved fuccefsful, we are
defirous of recommending it to a further trial in this country.

It is remarkable that Bergius fpeaks of this plant as a ufeful mucir-
laginous purgative, and takes no notice of its efficacy in the crufta
ladfea, or in any other difeafe.

^ Med. chirurg. Beobacht. l. Samml. p. 107. l^c,.

* See Comment, de rebusy &c. vol. 27. 170.

'* See Beob. iiber elnige Arzneymlttel. p. 6^,

The remaining medicinal plants, belonging to this order, are the
fpecies of the convolvulus, officinally called Mechoacanna, convol-
vulus major, Turpethum and Soldanella ; Dentaria or Plumbago
curopasa : Viola canina, or dog’s violet, the roots of which have
lately been difcovered to be both emetic and cathartic.

pjpilonaceae:.

( 1^7 )

P A P 1 L O NA C EM.

ASTRAGALUS EXSCAPUS. STEMLESS MILK VETCH.

STNONTMA. Aftragalus exfcapus. Off. Murray, Jacquin

ColkSi. ad hot. vol. i. p. 269. Icon, ejufd.. Plant, rar, vol. 2. y#*
i.t. 17. Cf. Wintcrl. 2nd. Hort. hot., Pejl'in. p. 14. Aflragalus
perennis fupinus, foliis et filiquis hifpidis, flore luteo. Knauth. FL
Hal. p. 41. Buxbaum. PI. Hal. /». 32, Cicer montanum
Bauh. Pin. 341. Glaux lanuginofa montana acaulos. Rupp. FL
yen. ed. Hall. 270. Ic. Girt aimer,. 1. c. inf.

Diadeiphia Decandria. Lin. Gen. Plant. 892.

Gen. Ch. Legumen biloculare, gibbum.

Sp. Ch. A. acaulis exfcapus, legurainibus lanatis, foliis villofis.

ROOT perennial, fimple, or generally branched towards the
extremity; very long, {lender, running deeply in the ground. Leaves
all radical, long, pinnated, confifting of numerous pinnse, which are
regular, ovate, oppofite, villous, entire, gradually fmaller towards
the top of the leaf, at which {lands a fingle leafit. The {lowers are
large, of a pale yellow colour, and placed at the crown of the root.
Calyx tubular, deeply cut into five long pointed teeth. Corolla
papilionacious, confifting of the vexillum, which is large, {lraight>
clofing, emarginated at the apex, two alsc or oblong lateral petals,
and a fhort blunt carina or keel-fhaped under-petal. Filaments ten,
nine of which are united, and all furnifhed with fmall roundifli
antherse. Germen oblong. Style tapering, bent upwards, and
fupplied with a blunt ftigma. Pod oblong, hairy, two-valved, con-
taining kidney-fiiaped feeds.

This fpecies of Aflragalus is a native of Hungary, growing in
mountainous fituations. It was firll introduced into the Royal Garden
at Kew by Jacquin in 1787.^

* See. Hort, Kew.

The

( io8 )

The root, which is the medicinal part of the plant, is, in its dried
ftate, rough, and wrinkled, in long {lender pieces, externally brown,
internally white, and eafily dividing longitudinally into filamentous
fibres. It is deftitute of odour, but to the tafte it is bitterifii, and
fomewhat aftringent. In decodtion its tafte approaches to that of
liquorice; feme however compare its flavour to that of bitter almonds.'*
It yields about a third part of its weight of extract by means of water,
but by fpirit a very inconfiderable quantity is obtained.

Since the year 1786 this plant has been much celebrated as a remedy
in fyphilitic complaints. It was firft brought into notice by ProfelTor
Winterl, at Peft, who wrote to his friends in Vienna, that on the
borders of Hungary it was in common ufe as a remedy for the vene-
real difeafe ; in confequence of this information it was tried with
fuccefs at the General Hofpital by Quarin.'^ From Vienna its repu-
tation fpread over all Germany ; nor does its character reft wholly
on the teftimony of foreigners, as Dr. Crighton,J during his refidence
at Vienna had occafion to witnefs its efficacy. This root is employed
in decodlion in the proportion of half an ounce to a pint of water,
and taken warm night and morning : it is alfo occafionally to be ufed
externally. By perfevering a few weeks in the ufe of this decoction,
we are told that, without mercury, the various fymptoms of* the moft
inveterate fyphilis, as nodes, exoftofes, tophi, fcabies, venereal blotches,
buboes, ulcers, &c. have been eflfedlually cured. Befides the authors
above noticed, we may remark, that the fubfequent publications of
Endter,'* Wegerich,^ Girtanner,*^ Werner,® Tiet2,*‘ Carmanti,‘ all tend
in fome meafure to confirm the efficacy of this root.

Its ufe is perfedily fafe ; and Carmanti and others found it liecef-
fary to make the decodtion much ftronger than that before mentioned.
ProfelTor Hunczowlky, though unable to difcover its anti-venereal
powers, admits it to be an ufeful remedy in rheumatifm.

Its fenfible effects are an increafe of the cutaneous and urinary
difcharges.

. ^ Endter. de Ajirag. exfcapo. p. I2.

* V ide Animadv. praSt.

J Dr. C’s letter is publiflied byGirtanner, and in the London Med. Journal, v. g. 405,

^ L. c. * Dijf. de Ajiragali exfcapi radice. Erf, 1789.

^ Abh. liber d. verier, krankh. vol. i. p. 406. iS feq. ^ See DijJ'. de virtute Saponarla
$ff. 1789. ** VideDzyi de virtute Ajlrag. iAc. 1790. ‘ Vide Opufc. therapeut. v. 2.

PTEROCARPUS

7S1

( i°9 )

PTEROCARPUS SANTALINUS. RED SAUNDERS TREE.

STNONTMj^. Santalum rubrum. Pharm. Lond, ^ Edinh. San-
dalum rubrum. R?mph, Amb, voL 2. p. Moutouchi fuberofa,
Aiihlct. Guian. voL 2, p, 742. t. 200. Conf. Siipp, Plant. 318.

DLadelphia Decandria. Lin. Gen. Plant. 854.

Gen. Ch. Cal. 5-dentatus. Caps, falcata, foliacea, vaHcofa. Sem.
aliquot folitaria.,

Sp. Ch. P. foliis ternatis fubrotundls retufis glaberrimis, petalis cre-
natis undulatis.

A LARGE tree, fending off lofty alternate branches, and covered
with rough bark, refembling that of common alder. Leaves alternate,
on footftalks, in our fpecimen placed in pairs, and divided into three
fimple leaves, but according to the Supp. plant, the leaves are three
together, and each feparating into four or five alternate pinns: fimple
leaves roundifh or ovate, blunt, retufe, or fomewhat notched at the
apex, entire, veined, above fmooth, beneath hoary. Flowers yellow,
in axillary fpikes. Stipulae none. Brad:ese none. Calyx rough, cut at
the brim into five fhort fegments. Corolla papilionacious; vexillum
obcordate, eredb, fomewhat reflexed at the fides, dentated, waved,
yellow, flriated wfith red ; alas Ipreading, edges appearing toothed ;
Carina oblong, a little inflated, fhort. Filaments ten, diadelphous, fur-
nifhed with white round antheras. Germen on a footffalk, oblong,
compreffed, hairy. Style curved. Stigma obtufe. Pod roundifh,
compreffed, fmooth, falcated upwards, lower margin keel-fhaped,
containing a round compreffed feed.

This tree is a native of India, affeding mountainous fituations.

Its charaders were firfl afcertained by Konig, who fent a fpecimen
and defcription of it to the younger Linnaeus, by whom it is pub-
iillied in the Species plantarum.

No. 9.— Part II. 2 E

The

( no )

The annexed figure, which fhould have been given in the firft
part of Medical Botany, is taken from a very perfect fpecimen in the
Herbarium of Sir Jofeph Banks/

There is reafon to believe, that feveral red woods, capable of com-
municating this colour to fpirituous liquors, are fold as Red Saunders;
but the true officinal kind appears, on the bell authority, to be of this
tree, which is extremely hard, of a bright garnet red colour, and
bears a fine poliffi. It is only the inner fubftance of the wood that is
ufed as a colouring matter, and the more florid red is lUoft efteemed.
(Jn being cut it is faid to manifeft a fragrant odour, which is more
efpecially perceptible in old trees.

According to Lewis, this wood “ is of a dull red almofl; blackifli
colour on the outfide, and a deep brighter red within ; its fibres are
now and then curled, as in knots. It has no manifeft fmell, and little
or no tafte: even of extracts made from it with water, or with fpirit,
the tafte is inconfiderable. To watery liquors it communicates only a
yellowiffi tinge, but to rediified fpirit a fine deep red : a fmall quantity
of an extrad:, made with this menftruum, tinges a large one of frefti
fpirit of the fame elegant colour ; though it does not, like moft other
refinous bodies, diffolve in exprelTed oils : of diftilled oils, there are
fome, as that of lavender, which receive a red tindure from the wood
itfelf, and from its refinous extrad, but the greater number does not.”**
Red Saunders has been efteemed as a medicine ; but its only ufe
attaches to its colouring property.

The juice of this tree, like that of fome otherSj affords a fpecies
of fanguis draconis. ’

» The fpecimen is accompanied with a piece of the wood, which anfwers to the
■defcription here given. M. M. 579.

The medicinal plants of this order, which remain unnoticed, are

Systematic Names.
Lupinus albus
Genifta canarienfis
•Ononis arvenlis
Vicia Faba
Ervum Lens
Ervum Ervilia
Cicer arietinum
Galega officinalis
Tri folium melilotus off.

Officinal.

Lupinus

Rhodium lignum

Ononis

Faba

Lentes

Ervum

Cicer

Galega

Melilotus

English.

White Lupine
Rhodium Wood
Reft-harrow
Garden-bean
Lentil, or fiat Tare
Officinal Tare
Chick Pea
Goat’s-rue
Melilot Trefoil

TRICOCCM.

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( I” )

T R I C 0 C C M.

SIPHONIA ELASTICA. INDIA RUBBER ; Or

ELASTIC RESIN TREE.

S TNO NT MA, Hevea giiianenfis. Aublet, Hiflore dcs plantes de la
Guia?ie Fran^oife. tom. 2./». 871. tab. ' S' Caoutchouc. Richard^
in Rozier obf. fur la phyftque. tom. 27. p. 138. t. 2. Jatropa elaftica.
Supp. Plant. The figure by Frefnau in Mem, de L’Acad. des Scien.
a. 175. t. 20. is erroneous.

Monoecia Monadelphia. Schr. Gen. Plant, 1465.

Gen. Ch. Masc. Cor. o. Cal. globofo-campanulatus, femiquin-

quefidus. Filament, colum. Anthera 5, adnatae.

Fem. Cor. o. Cal. 5-fidus, patens, folitarius, racemum
terminans. Stylus o. Stigmata 3. Caps. 3-locu-
laris, lignofa, duriflima.

Sp. Ch. S. folds ternatis ellipticis integerrimis fubtus canis longe
petlolatis. Supp. Plant.

A LARGE ftraight tree, growing to the height of fifty or fixty
feet ; at the upper part fending off numerous branches, covered with
rough bark. Leaves on long footftalks, ternate, elliptical, fomewhat
pointed, entire, veined, fmooth, on the underfide whitifh. Flowers
male and female on the fame tree, fmall, in dividing racemi at the
ends of the branches. Male fiowers numerous : calyx giobofo-
campanulate, five-cleft, fegments ered:, pointed. Corolla none*
Filaments in a column, fhorter than the calyx. Antherse five, united.
Female flower folitary, larger than the male, and placed at the extre-
mity of the racemus : calyx bell-fhaped, cut into five teeth, which
are acute, patent, or recurved, deciduous. Germen roundifh, fhorter
than the calyx. Style none. Stigmata three, depreffed. Capfule
large, three-parted, woody, very hard, covered with fibrous bark,
three-celled, valves opening. Seeds ovate, fpotted.

This

( )

This tree is a native of South America, growing abundantly in the
woods of Guiana, in the Province of Quito, and along the borders
of the River of Amazons, in the kingdom of Mexico.

The younger Linnseus. admitted this tree into \htSupp. Plant, under
the genus Jatropa, to which its fruit feemed to bear a greater affinity
than to that of any other ; but by the diligence of Richard^ its cha-
radters have been found fulficiently different to conftitute a new genus,
which Schreber calls Siphonia. This we have therefore adopted, flill
preferving the fpecific name elaftica.

The fubftance, known by the names India rubber, elaflic gum,
Cayenne refin, cautchuc, and by the French caoutchouc, is prepared
from the juice of this tree : as fubfervient to feveral medical or
chirurgical purpofes, it comes within the fcope of this work, and
muft therefore prove fufficiently interefting to the medical reader*

This fmgular fubftance was little known in Europe till long after
the commencement of the prefent century ; and its origin and com-
pofition was firft learned from M. de la Condamine,*’ who by travelling
into the interior parts of South America had an opportunity of acquir-
ing the neceffary information. This acftive and enterprizing member
of the French Academy found that the Caoutchouc was formed from
the juice of a large tree, which has fmce been botanically examined
and afcertained to be that here reprefented."

The manner of obtaining this juice is by making inciflons through
the bark of the lower part of the trunc of the tree, from which the
fluid refin iffues in great abundance, appearing of a milky whitenefs
as it flows into the veffel placed to receive it, and into which it is
conducted by means of a tube or leaf fixed in the incifion, and fup-
ported v/ith clay. On expofure to the air this milky juice, according
to Aublet, gradually infpiflates into a foft reddifh elaftic refin ; but
M. de la Borde, and fome others, aflert that the juice undergoes a
certain preparation before its infpilTation, which is effected by a pecu-

* Vide Rosier obf. fur la phyftque. iom. 27.

** Relation cfun voyage dans I'interieur de I' Amerique rneridionale-^ in Mem. de It Acad,
1751./.. 322.

* It w^s taken from a very complete fpecimen in the pofleffion of Sir Jofeph Banks*.
We muft remark however,, that fome other vegetable juices admit of being formed into
a Ipecies of caoutchouc, of which Frefnau has given an account. L. c. p, 324.

liar

( ”3 )

liar procefs, which the Indians keep a profound fecret/ To fuit the
different purpofes for which it is employed in South America, the
Caoutchouc is fhaped into various forjns;® but it is commonly brought
to Europe in that of pear-fhaped bottles, which are faid to be formed
by fpreading the juice of the Siphonia over a proper mould of clay, and
as foon as one layer is dry another is added till the bottle be of the thick-
nefs defired. It is then expofed to a denfe fmoke, or to a fire, until
it becomes fo dry as not to flick to the fingers, when by means of
certain inflruments of iron or wood it is ornamented on the outfide
with various figures. This being done it remains only to pick,
out the mould, which is eafily effedied, on being firfl foftened with
water.

The fubftance, thus manufadlured, is fo well known as to render
any particular defeription of it unneceffary. It may be fubje^led to
the adlion of fome of the moll powerful menflrua without fuffering
the leall change, while its pliability and elaflicity are eminently
peculiar to itfelf. It is true that the ladlefcent juice of feveral vege-
tables may be converted into a fubftance refembling the Caoutchouc,
but no art has yet been difeovered to give it the fame properties.

The Chinefe elaftic refm is faid to be prepared of caftor oil and
.lime \ or, according to Retzius, it is nothing but a certain expreffed
oil evaporated by heat hence its eafy folubility.

With a view to inveftigate the intere fling nature of the Caoutchouc,
and to render it of more general utility, feveral able chemifts have
been diligently employed, efpecially Macquer,*' Achard,* Juliaans,*' and
Berniard,' from whom its chemical hiftory is to be learned: our duty
however is to ftate only fome of the principal fad;s.

Vide Rozier. obf et mem. fur la phyftque. tom. l. p. 464.

* The curious diverfity of figures in which this fubftance was fold in Portugal is
noticed by Mr. Twifs. See ^Travels through Portugal and Spain. 323.

^ V. Faujas de Saint-Fond Suite de la defeription des experiences aerojlatiques tom, 2.
p. 258.

s Pharm. reg, veg. p. 60.

, Mem, de V Acad, des Sc. de Paris., pour 1768.

* Chymifeh phyf Schriften cap. De refina elajiica. Refina elajlica Cayennenf^

* See Rozier Olf, fur la Phyfique, tom. 17.

No. 10. — Part II. 2 F Though

{ “4 )

Though it appears that neither watei' nor alcohol, aided by all the
heat capable of being produced in Papin’s digefter, could dilTolve this
fubftance, yet its folution was effected not only by the concentrated
mineral acids, but in a confiderable degree even by moft of the
undtuous, diftilled, and empvreumatic oils. However, as it was found
that the folutions of this infpilfated juice by thefe menftrua irrecover-
ably loft their elafticity, and became ufelefs, the great defidcratum of
re-forming the Caoutchouc was not attained till ether was employed
as its folvent; which was firft done by Macquer, who for this purpofe
found it neceftary to ufe the vitriolic ether in a highly reftified ftate.

The Caoutchouc, cut into fmall pieces, and put into a proper veflel
with as much of the ether as was fufEcient to cover it, was completely
diflblved without the application of heat. This folution, which was
tranfparent, and of an amber colour, on being thrown into water,
did not produce a milky liquor ; but there arofe to the furface a folid
membrane, pofiefting the elafticity and other properties of the Caout-
chouc. This experiment was alfo executed with fuccefs byTheden;""
therefore thofe with whom it failed muft have ufed ether in a lefs
concentrated ftate. According to Theden one dram of the Caoutchouc
requires for its perfed: folution an ounce of ether. Nitrous ether
diflblves but a fmall proportion of the Caoutchouc, and at the fame
time deftroys its elaftic power.

It has been afterted that the elaftic refm not only diflblves in oil of
guaiacum by digeftion, but that on evaporating the oil, the refm in
a little time recovers its elaftic property. By the induftry of Achard,.
who made this difeovery, we likewife learn that folutions ’of this
fubftance, made by the etherial oils, may be decompofed by the
addition of fpirit of wine, when the Caoutchouc feparates from the
oil in the form, of mucilage, and on being fufficiently expofed to the
air, is reftored to its former firmnefs and elafticity.

However Juiiaans, who attempted this procefs, was unable to,
re -produce a fubftance poflefling the charaders of the elaftic refm : it
is therefore to be feared that this method, wliich feemed to promife-
an eafy and cheap way of forming various inftruments of the Caout-
chouc, has been prematurely recommended : nor does the method of

N. Bemerk, a. d. Wiindarzncyk, P. 2. p. 152.

foftening

( "5 '

foftenlng the daftic refin with the animal oil of Dlppelius, or with
oil of turpentine, as propofed by HerilTant, for the purpofe of
forming it into probes, &c. produce the effedt defired. It appears
therefore that Macquer’s procefs of dilTolving this fubftance in ether,
by which he was enabled to give a coat of Caoutchouc of confiderable
thicknefs to a cylindrical mould of wax, is the bell way yet difcovered
of adapting this fubftance to furgical and other purpofes : for on
immerfmg the waxen mould, thus covered with the elaftic refm, in
boiling water, the wax foon melts and rifes to the furface, leaving
behind a regular tube of Caoutchouc. In order to render the tubes
of fufficient lirmnefs to be ufed as catheters, it has been recommended
that gold or filver wire, rolled in a clofe fpiral manner, Ihould be
coated with the elaftic refm, and thefe, as pofTeftTing both pliability
and firmnefs, are faid to fucceed very well. Various other methods
of forming catheters, bougies, peffaries, trulfes, &c. of this fubftance,
are to be found in the Journal de Medicine," efpecially by Durand
and Juville ; and by its remarkable flexibility and elafticity it accom-
modates itfelf to the motion of the body, and thereby polTeiTes peculiar
advantages. For a fyringe, or injecting machine, the common form
in which it is brought here is exceedingly well adapted, and only
requires that a proper pipe be fixed to the neck of the elaftic bottle
to render it fit for ufe, which is now well known.

W e are told that in Quito one of thefe bottles, faftened to a hollow
reed, and filled with water, is always prefented at entertainments to
each of the guefts, who ufe it as an injection before eating.

The Indians make boots of the Caoutchouc ; alfo a kind of cloth
which they ufe for the fame purpofes as we ufe oil cloth. Flambeaux
are likewife made of this refm, which yield a beautiful light without
any difagreeable fmell. In this country it is much ufed for rubbing
out black-lead pencil marks.

“ See tom, 6o. ^ 62.

THEA.

T H E A.

( )

TEA-TREE.

SYNO NYMA. Thea. Pharm.V, Dale, Geoffroy^ Aljlon^ Lewis ^
Ed. New Difpenf. Bergius^ Murray., Cullen, Chaa. Bauh.

Pin. The Sinenfium feu Tfia Japonenfibus. Breyn. Exot. Plant.
Tsja, Thea frutex folio Cerafi flore Rofse fylveftris. Kdmpfer.
Amce7i. exot. Le Thee. Fougeroux de Bondarol in Ro%ler, Obf.
et Mem. fur la Phyfique. tom. i.f.i. See Lettforn s Natural Hiftory
of the Tea-tree.

Polyandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 668.

Gen. Ch. Cor. 6-f. 9-petala. Cal. 5-f. 6-phyllus. Caps. 3-cocca.

Sp. Ch. “ ( Bohea ) foliis elliptico-oblongis rugofis.

Bkoad-leav'' D Tea.

^ foliis lanceolatis planis.

Narrow-lea f'^d Tea.

Alton. Hort. Kew.

A SMALL evergreen tree or fhrub, much branched, and covered
with a rough dark grey bark. Leaves elliptical, or lanceolate, entire,
alternate, obtufely ferrated, veined, placed on fhort footftalks. Calyx
fmall, fmooth, perfifiient, divided into five obtufe fegments. Flpwers
white, often two or three together, on feparate peduncles, placed at the
axillae of the leaves. Corolla varying in the number and fize of its
petals, but commonly fix, of an irregular roundifh form. Filaments
very numerous, fhort, inferted at the bafe of the corolla. Antherae
large, yellow. Germen roundifh, or rather triangular. Style trifid,
fpreading at the top, and furnifhed with fimple ftigmata. Capfule
three-celled, opening. Seeds three, oblong, brown.

This fhrub is a native of China and Japan, and (according to Mr.
Alton) was firft introduced into this country in 1768 by John Ellis,
Efq. wlio raifed it from feed, and prefented it to the King’s gardener
at Kew. But we are told that the Tea-plant which firft flowered in
Europe, belonged to his Grace the Duke of Northumberland, at
^ion-houfe.

{ II? )

All the various kinds of Tea imported here come under the deno-
mination of Bohea and Green, and even thefe are fuppofed to be the
produce of the fame fpecies of the plant. Linnseus however has de-
fcribed them as fpecifically different, founding the diftindion in the
number of their petals. Others have alfo obferved, that the leaves of
Tea plants differ confiderably both in form and colour, and this diffe-
rence we have frequently noticed in the Tea growing in the vicinity
of London; but whether thefe which the gardeners fell by the name
of Bohea and Green Tea plants are to be regarded as permanent
varieties, or diftind; fpecies, we have not the means to decide. De
Loureiro ^ has defcribed three fpecies of 'Thea, viz. Thea cochin-
chinenfis, Thea cantonenfis, and Thea oleofa. The firft is a native
of Cochin-China, where it is alfo cultivated, and ufed medicinally in
hot weather as a fudorific and refrigerant. The Thea oleofa grows
wild in the neighbourhood of Canton, where an oil obtained from
its feed is ufed for various domeflic purpofes. The Thea cantonenfis,
which Loureiro carefully examined in its native foil, was, found to
bear a clofe refemblance to another variety called Siao chong cha^ and
by the Europeans Souchong. Both thefe are brown, but more fra-
grant and valuable than the common green Tea, which grows in the
' province of Fo kien. Notwithftanding that this author has defcribed
the three fpecies of Thea above mentioned, he fays that on examining
the dried flowers of the green Tea, brought from the province of
Kiang fi, he obferved a great diverfity in the number of the parts of
the calyx and corolla : hence he concludes that all the various Chinefe
Teas are taken from the fame botanical fpecies, and that the different
flavour and appearance of Teas depend upon the nature of the foil,
the culture, and method of preparing the leaves.

This opinion, which is founded on the fportive tendency of the
flowers of the Tea plant, clearly fliows the fallacy of diffinguiihing
the bohea and green Tea trees by the number of their petals, which
even in this country have been found to vary from three to nine ; yet
this circumftance, though it proves the infufflciency of the Linnean
charaders, by no means determines the botanical identity of the green
and bohea 1 eas ; and while the prefent narrow and jealous policy of

® Flor. Cochinchinefis.

2 G

No. lo. — Part IT.

the

( "7 )

All tlie various kinds of Tea imported here come under the deno-
mination of Bohea and Green, and even thefe are fuppofed to be the
produce of the fame fpecies of the plant. Linn^us however has de-
fcribed them as fpecifically different, founding the diflindion in the
number of their petals. Others have alfo obferved, that the leaves of
Tea plants differ confiderably both in form and colour, and this diffe-
rence we have frequently noticed in the Tea growing in the vicinity
of London; but whether thefe which the gardeners fell by the name
of Bohea and Green Tea plants are to be regarded as permanent
varieties, or diftind fpecies, we have not the means to decide. De
Loureiro * has defcribed three fpecies of 'Thea, viz. Thea cochin-
chinenfis, Thea cantonenfis, and Thea oleofa. The firft is a native
of Cochin-China, where it is alfo cultivated, and ufed medicinally in
hot weather as a fudorific and refrigerant. The Thea oleofa grows
wild in the neighbourhood of Canton, where an oil obtained from
its feed is ufed for various domeflic purpofes. The Thea cantonenfis,
which Loureiro carefully examined in its native foil, was^ found to
bear a clofe refemblance to another variety called Smo chong cha^ and
by the Europeans Souchong. Both thefe are brown, but more fra-
grant and valuable than the common green Tea, which grows in the
' province of Fo kien. Notwithftanding that this author has defcribed
the three fpecies of Thea above mentioned, he fays that on examining
the dried flowers of the green Tea, brought from the province of
Kiang fi, he obferved a great diverfity in the number of the parts of
the calyx and corolla: hence he concludes that all the various Chinefe
Teas are taken from the fame botanical fpecies, and that the different
flavour and appearance of Teas depend upon the nature of the foil,
the culture, and method of preparing the leaves.

This opinion, which is founded on the fportive tendency of the
flowers of the Tea plant, clearly fhows the fallacy of diftinguifhing
the bohea and green Tea trees by the number of their petals, which
even in this country have been found to vary from three to nine ; yet
this circumftance, though it proves the infufficiency of the Linnean
chara£ters, by no means determines the botanical identity of the green
and bohea T eas ; and while the prefent narrow and jealous policy of

^ Flor. Cochinchinefis.

2 G

No. 10. — Part IT.

the

( ii8 )

the Chinefe continues, many interefting particulars refpedting the
natural hiftory of Tea muft ftill remain unknown to Europeans : hence
I have thought myfelf unauthorized to add a fpecific name to the
plate of the Tea plant here annexed, ^which reprefents the variety
^ in the Horti Kew. or the Thea viridis of the London gardeners.

The various Teas imported into Europe are obtained both from
the wild and cultivated plant. The manner of gathering and pre-
paring the leaves, as practiced in Japan, is very fully defcribed by
Ksempfer, and is, as far as our information extends, conformable to
the method ufed by the Chinefe.

The firft gathering of the Tea leaves, according to this author,
commences about the latter end of February, when the leaves are
young and unexpanded. The. fecond colleilion is made about the
beginning of April, and the third in June. The firft collediion,
which confifts only of the fine tender leaves, is moft efteemed, and is
called Imperial Tea. The fecond is called Tootsjaa, or Chinefe Tea,
becaufe f);,is infufed and drunk after the Chinefe manner. The laft,
which is the coarfeft and cheapeft, is chiefly confumed by the lower
clafs of people. Befides the three kinds of Tea here noticed, it may
be obferved, that by garbling or forting thefe, the varieties of Tea
become ftill farther multiplied. As many Tea plants grow on cliffs
and places of difficult accefs, the Chinefe Tea gatherers are faidf to
have occafional recourfe to the affiftance of rnonkies, which are chafed
up the Tea trees, and fo much irritated that in their fury they bite
oflF the branches, and throw them down in refentment : the branches
are then taken up, and the leaves picked off. The leaves are not
collected from the cultivated plant till it is three years old; and after
growing feven or ten years it is cut down, in order that the numerous
young fhoots may afford a greater fupply of leaves.

The leaves fhould be dried as foon as poflible ifter they are col-
leded ; and for this purpofe Kasmpfer relates, that publick buildings
are erected, containing from five to ten and even twenty fmall fur-
naces about three feet high, each having at the top a large iron pan.
There is alfo a long table covered with mats, on which the leaves are

* Taken from the plant now in flower in the ftove of John Liptrap, Efq.

t See Lettfom. /. c.

.laid

( ”9 )

laid and rolled by workmen who fit round it. The iron pan being
heated to a certain degree, by a fire made in the furnace beneath, a
few pounds of the leaves are put upon the pan, and continually turned
and fhifted by the hands till they become too hot to be endured ;
they are then thrown upon the mats to be rolled, which is done be-
tween the palms of the hands, after which they are cooled as fpeedily
as polfible.

In order that all the* moifture of the leaves may be completely
diffipated, and their twifted form be better preferved, the above pro-
cefs is repeated feveral times with the fame leaves, but lefs heat is
employed than at firft. The Tea thus manufactured is afterwards
forted according to its kinds or goodnefs. Some of the young tender
leaves are never rolled, and are immerfed in hot water before they
are dried.

From this account of the Japanefe method of curing their Teas
it appears, that a prompt and complete exficcation is the chief art
employed. We fufpeCt however, that the Chinefe are more indebted
to art than to nature for the various kinds of Tea with which they
fupply this country. Many of their Teas are fo widely different in
tafte, odour, colour, and form, that inftead of appearing to be the
leaves of the fame fpecies of plant, they are fo much difguifed as
fcarcely to manifeft any refemblance to each other. It is true that
fome fpecies and varieties of the Tea, as appears by Loureiro, are
naturally more odorous than others ; yet we cannot fuppofe that
nature ever made them totally different. The fame obfervation will
be equally applicable to the various flavours and colours of this exotic.
We may therefore infer, that the Chinefe method of curing their fine
Teas is not quite fo fimple as that praCtifed by the Japanefe.

Tea was firft introduced into Europe by the Dutch Eaft India
Company, and into England about the year 1666, when it fold for
fixty fhillings lb , and for many years its great price limited its ufe
only to the moft opulent. However, for a long time paft it has been
the common beverage of both the rich and poor ; and its effeCts have
been very varioufly reprefented ; but as to enter fully upon this fub-
jeCt would far exceed the limits of this work, I fhall refer the reader
for a more full account to Dr. Lettfom’s elaborate hiftory of the Tea
tree; and conclude this article with a tranfciipt of its medicinal powers,

as

( 120 )

as given by Dr. Cullen, whofe opinion in this place cannot fail to be
well received.

“ With refped; to its qualities as a medicine, that is, its power of
changing the ftate of the human body, we might fuppofe it afcer-
“ tained by the experience of its daily ufe ; but from the univerfality
“ of this ufe in very different conditions of the plant, and in every
“ poffible condition of the perfons employing it, the conclufions
“ drawn from its effedls muft be very precarious and ambiguous,
and we muft attempt by other means to afcertain its qualities with
more certainty.

“ To this purpofe it appears, from the accurate Dr. Smith’s expe-
“ riments De Adlione Mufcidari^ No. 36, that an infufion of green,
“ Tea has the effect of deftroying the fenfibility of the nerves, and
“ the irritability of the mufcles ; and from the experiments of Dr.
“ Lettfom, it appears that green Tea gives out in diftillation an
“ odorous water, which is powerfully narcotic.

“ That the recent plant contains fuch an odorous narcotic power,
“ we might prefume from the neceffity which the Chinefe find of
“ drying it with much heat before it can be brought into ufe ; and
“ that, even after fuch preparation, they muft abftain from the ufe
of it for a year or more, that is, till its volatile pai;j:s are ftill far-
“ ther diflipated : and it is faid, that unlefs they ufe this precaution,
the Tea in a more recent ftate manifeftly fhows ftrong narcotic
“ powers. Even in this country, the more odorous Teas often fhow
“ their fedative powers in weakening the nerves of the ftomach, and
“ indeed of the whole fyftem. ’

“ From thefe confiderations we conclude very firmly, that Tea,
is to be confidered as a narcotic and fedative fubftance ; and that
“ it is efpecially fuch in its moft odorous ftate, and therefore lefs in
“ the bohea than in the green Tea, and the moft fo in the more
“ odorous, or what are called the finer kinds of the latter.

“ Its effects, however, feem to be very different in different per-
“ foils', and hence the different, and even contradictory accounts
“ that are reported of thefe effeCts. But if we confider the difference
“ of conftitution, which occafions fome difference of the operation
of the fame medicine in different perfons, and of which we have

“ a remark-

( ,)

a remarkable proof in the operation of opium, we fhall not be
“ furprifed at the different operations of Tea.

“ If to this we add the fallacy arifing from the condition of the
Tea employed, which is often fo inert as to have no effefts at all ;
“ and if we ftill add to this the power of habit, which can deftroy
the powers of the moft powerful fubftances, we fhall not allow
the various and even contradidlory reports of its effects to alter
our judgment, with refpedt to its ordinary and more general
qualities in affeding the human body.

Thefe, from the experiments above mentioned, and from the
obfervations which I have made in the courfe of fifty years, in
all forts of perfons, I am convinced that the qualities of Tea are
narcotic and fedative.

“ It has been often alleged, that fome of the bad effeds imputed
“ to Tea are truly owing to the large quantity of warm water which
commonly accompanies it ; and it is poffible that fome bad effeds
“ may arife from this caufe : but from attentive obfervation I can
“ affert, that wherever any confiderable effeds appear, they are in
** nine of every ten perfons entirely from the qualities of the Tea;
** and that any like effeds of warm v/ater do not appear in one of
a hundred who take in this very largely.

“ But while we thus endeavour to eftablifh the poifonous nature
“ of Tea, we do not at the fame time deny that it may fometimes
fhow ufeful qualities. It is very poffible, that in certain perfons,
taken in moderate quantity, it may, like other narcotics in a
“ moderate dofe, prove exhilirating, or, like thefe, have fome effed
in taking off irritability, or in quieting fome irregularities of the
** nervous fyftem.

“ As its bad effeds have been often imputed to the warm water
that accompanies it, fo we have no doubt that fome of its good
** effeds may alfb be aferibed to the fame caufe, and particularly its
** being fo often grateful after a full meal.” ^

* Mat. Med. vol. 2. p. 309.

No. 10, — Part II

2 H

WINTERA

WINTERA AROMATICA.

winter’s bark tree.

STNONTMA. Winterana aromatica. Solander in Med. Ohfer^
vatiom ^ Inquiries, vol. p. 41. t. 1. Drimys Winteri pedunculis
aggregatis termiilalibus. Forjier in Nov. Alt. Upfal. vol. t,. p. 181.
Laurifolia magelliana, cortice acri. Bauh. Pin. Periclymenum
redium foliis laurinis cortice acri aromatico. Shane vsyPhil. Tranf,
vol, 17. p. 923. tab. i.f. I. 2.

Winteranus cortex. Pharm. Edinb,

Polyandrla Tetragynia. Schreh. Gen.. Plant. 929.-

Gm. Ch. Cal. 3-lobus. Petala 6..f. 12. Germina clavata. Stylus Oi
Bacca clavata.

Sp, Ch. W. pedunculis aggregatis terminalibus, piftillis quatuon

THIS very large tree often rifes to the height of fifty feet.- The
bark of the trunk is grey, and fomewhat wrinkled, but that on the
branches is green and fmooth. Leaves oval, or elliptical, entire,
obtufe, flat, fmooth, fhining, evergreen, of a pale bluilh colour un-
derneath, and' placed irregularly upon thick footftalks. Flowers, white,
placed on long peduncles, which proceed from the alse of the leaves
at the tops of the branches. Brad;ese oblong, entire, concave, pointed,
whitilh, placed at the bafe of the. peduncles. Calyx of one leaf, firm,
dividing into three irregular pointed* lobes. Corolla of feven petals,
which are unequal, oval, obtufe, concave, ere£t, white. Filaments
numerous, (from 15 to 30) much fhorter than the petal-s. Antherse
large, oval, divided longitudinally. Germina from three to fix,
turbinated. Styles none. Stigmata divided, flat. Capfules flefhy,
containing four triangular feeds.

It is a native of the Streights of Magellan and Terra del Fuego.

Dr. Solander

( m )

Dr. Solander relates that “ the tree which produces the Winter’s
“ Bark was utterly unknown to the Europeans till the return of
“ Captain John Winter, who, in the year 1577, failed with Sir
“ Francis Drake, as commander of a fliip called the Elizabeth,
“ deftined for the South Seas ; but immediately after they had got
“ through the Streights of Magellan, Captain Winter, on the 8th
“ of Odfober, was obliged, by ftrefs of weather, to part company,
“ and to go back again into the Streights, from whence he returned
“ into England in June 1579, and brought with him feveral pieces
“ of this aromatic bark, which Clufius called after him Cortex Win-
“ teranus. Several authors have mentioned it fince in their botanical
“ works ; but all they have faid. has been copied from Clufius. No
“ more was heard of this bark till the Dutch Fleet, under Admiral
“Van Nort, returned from the Streights of Magellan, in the year
“ 1600. Afterwards all the navigators who palfed through the
“ Streights of Magellan took notice of the tree, on account of the
“ ufefulnefs of its bark : but none furnilhed any defcription- that
“ could make it botanically known before Mr. George Handafyd
“ came back from the Streights of Magellan in 1691, and brought
“ with him fome dried fpecimens, which he gave to Sir Hans Sloane,
“ and are now preferved in the Bririfh Mufeum. From thefe fpeci-
“ mens, and the account Mr. Handafyd gave of this tree. Sir Hans
“ Sloane drew up a hiftory, and gave a hgure in the Philofophical
“ Tranfadtions. Still the fjftematical botanifts could not give it a
place in their catalogues, being unacquainted with its flowers and
“ fruit.” However this lofs was fupplied by the indiiftry of Mr. Wallis,
Captain of the Dolphin, who returned from the South Seas in 1 768,
bringing with him feveral botanical fpecimens of the Winter’s Bark
Tree, one of which came into the polfeflTion of Dr. John Fothergill,
who caufed an engraving of it to be made by Ehret, which is pub-
lilhed, together with its botanical defcription written by Dr. Solander,
in the fifth volume of the Medical Obfervatmis atid Inquiries, From
the plate here alluded to, the annexed figure is taken.

Though Winter’s Bark has been very generally confounded with
the canella alba, yet they are well known to be totally different,
as we have already ftated, when fpeaking of the. latter. See Medi
Bot.. p. 320.},

Winter’s

( 124 )

Winter’s Bark is of a dark brown cinnamon colour, with an aro-
matic fmell when rubbed, and of a pungent hot fpicy tafte, which
is lafting on the palate, though imparted flowly.

This bark has been thought to be a ufeful antifcorbutic ; but in
this charader it feems to polfefs no advantage over the other pungent
aromatics, and is now generally fuperfeded by the canella alba, the
ufes of which we have before noticed.

In natural order the Wintera has been ranked with the oleracese,
but to this clafs it feems to have very little affinity.

SENTICOSjE.

AGRIMONIA EUPATORIA. COMMON AGRIMONY.

STNONTMA, Agrimonla. P harm. Geoff, lii. ^6, Dale. 112.
Aljion. i, 76. Lewis. 28. Edinb. New Difpenf. 119. Bergius,
386. Murray. Hi. 147. Eupatorium veterum feu Agrimonia.
Baub. Pin. 321. Agrimonia. Gerard. Emac. 712. Agrimonia
vulgaris. Park. 594. Ray. Syn. 202. Agrimonia foliis pinnatis,
pinnulis alterne minimis. Hall. Hiji. Stirp. Helv. 991. A. Eupa-
toria. Hudfon. Flor. Ang. 206. Withering. Bot. Arr. 490. A,
Flor. Dan. 588. Curt. Flor. Land. Mill. Illujlr.

Dodecandrla Digynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 607.

Gett, Ch. Cal. 5-dentatus, altero obvallatus. Petala 5. Sem. 2. In
fundo calycis.

Sp. Ch. A. foliis caulinis pinnatis, imparl petiolata, frudlibus hifpidls.

ROOT perennial, reddifh, fcaly. Stalk eredt, round, hairy, reddifh,
varying from one to three feet in height. Leaves alternate, interruptedly
pinnated, compofed of five or fix pair of pinnse, with an odd one at

the

%.t^>^ h n-.ir~J-'’' '‘’’ ''‘ '?'>*

( 125 )

the end ; the large pinnae are commonly feflile, oppofite, ovate, deeply
ferrated, rough. Stipulae two, oppofite, ferrated, fpreading. Bradte^
trificl. Flowers yellow, on Ihort peduncles, in long fimple fpikes.
Calyx permanent, divided into five fegments, which are ovate, pointed,
externally furrounded with rigid hairs, internally clofed with a yellow
fubftance of a glandular appearance : involucrum at the bafe of the
germen, compofed of two dentated leaves. Corolla compofed of five
petals, which are ovate, yellow, fpreading, inferted into the glandular
fubftance of the calyx. Filaments eleven or twelve, yellowifh. Antherm
two-lobed. Germen beneath the calyx, fupporting two ftyles, with
blunt ftigmata. Capfule formed of the calyx, containing two roundifh
fmooth feeds.

It is common in fields about hedges and fhady places, flowering
in June and July.

“ The leaves of Agrimony have a flightly bitterifh roughifh tafte,
accompanied with an agreeable though very weak aromatic flavour :
the flowers are in fmell ftronger and more agreeable than the leaves,
and in tafte fomewhat weaker. They readily give out their virtues
both to water and to rectified fpirlt. In diftillation with water the
leaves afford a fmall portion of a yellowifh effential oil, which fmells
ftrongly and agreeably of the herb.”'^

This plant has been principally regarded in the charadler of a
mild aftringent and corroborant, and many authors recommend it as a
deobftruent, efpecially in hepatic and other vifceral obftrudlions.
Chomell relates two inftances of its fuccefsful ufe in cafes where the
liver was much enlarged and indurated.* It has been ufed with
advantage in hsemorrhagic affections, and to give tone to a lax and
weak ftate of the folids. In cutaneous diforders, particularly in fcabies,
we have been lately told that it manifefts great efficacy for this
purpofe it was given infufed with liquorice in the form of tea : but
according to Alfton it fhould be always exhibited in the ftate of
powder.

* Lewis. 1. c. ® Ufuelles. t. 2. p. 165.

'* Becker DilT. de Eupatorio Graecorum feu Agrimoniae viribus. Erf. 1783.

2 I

No. 10.— Part II.

GEUM

( 126 )

GEUM URBANUM. COMMON AVENS.

STN ONTM^. Caryophyllata. Pharm. Dale. i6o. Geoff, iti.

263. Aljlon. i. 404. Lewis. 205. Edinb. New Difpenf. 164.

Bergius. Murray, iti. 122, Caryophyllata vulgaris. Bauh.

Pin. 321. Park. Theat. 136. Ray. Hijl. 606. Synop..2^T^. Ger.

Emac. 995. G. urbanum. Hudfon. Flor.Ang. 198. With. Bot.

Arr. 537. Ic. Curt. Flor. Dan. t. 672.

Icofandria Polygynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 636.

Gen. Ch. Cal. lo-fidus. Petala 5. Sem. arlfta geniculata.

Sp. Ch. G. flor. eredis, frud. globofis villofis, ariflls uncinatis nudis,
foliis lyratis.

ROOT perennial, fibrous, brown. Stalks branched, fomewhat
angular, hairy, about two feet in height. Leaves varying, commonly
pinnated, hairy, toothed ; pinnse two pair, of which the lower are
almofl; circular ; the upper pair elliptical ; terminal leaf the largefl:,
and frequently cut into three lobes. Flowers terminal, on long hairy
peduncles. Calyx divided irfo ten fegments, which are alternately
large and fmall. Corolla compofed of five roundilh yellow petals,
widely fpreading from each other. Filaments numerous, yellqwifh,
tapering, inferted into the calyx. Antherse roundilh. Germina many,
hairy, colleded into an orbicular fliape. Styles jointed in the middle,
enlarged at the top, and furnifhed with fiinple ftigmata. Seeds
numerous, compreflcd, rough, crooked near the extremity, terminated
by a long arifta.

It is a common Britilh plant, in woods and hedges, flowering from
June till Auguft.

The root, which is the part of this plant medicinally employed,
has an aromatic and fomewhat aftringent tafte, and a pleafant fmell

the clove kind, efpecially when it is produced in dry and warm

foils.

H

( >^27 )

foils. “ It gives out its aftringent matter equally to watery and fpi-
rituous menftrua ; its aromatic part moft perfectly to the latter. In
diflillatlon with water it yields a fmall quantity of a whitiili concrete
oily matter, of a very grateful fragrance.” ^

According to Buchhave it yields a greater proportion of Vv^atery
than of refmous extract!.

This plant, though little ufed in Britain, is held in great eftimation
on the Continent, where its virtues have been long confidered as
extremely various : but the character in which it has been lately
received, and moft particularly celebrated fmce the year 1780, is that
of a febrifuge; thus Buchhave,’’ Aafkow, Callifen, Bang, Schonheyder,.
and Tode, alfo Weber and Koch,' Anjou,"* &c. all bear teftimony of
its efficacy, adducing numerous inftances of its' fuccefsful exhibition
in obftinate intermittents, many of which yielded to the root of this
plant, after the Peruvian bark had failed.

It is faid that a tindure of this root, made ^in the proportion of
four ounces of the root digefted with a quart of brandy in a fand
heat, and given to the quantity of half an ounce or more, two, three,
or four times a day, feldom failed to cure agues. Others gave it with
equal fuccefs in decodion, powder, or eleduary, in the proportion
in which the Cinchona bark is commonly employed.

This root has alfo been found an ufeful medicine in feveral chronic
diforders, as a general tonic and aftringent ; and experiments made by
Buchhave ftiow its antifeptic power to exceed that of Peruvian bark.

“ Lewis. 1. c. ’* Obf. circa radicem Gel urb.

' DIJJ'. de nonnullorum fehrifugofum virtute^ et fpeclathn Gel urbani radlcls efficacia.

Di(f. de radice Cary ophy Hates.

K

Medicinal plants of this order not introduced into this work, arc
Systematic Officinal English Name

Spiraea Filipendula
Spiraea Ulmaria
Geum rivale
Potentilla Anferina
Fragaria vefca
Alchemilla vulgaris

Filipendula

Ulmaria

Geum rivale

Anferina

Fragaria

Alchemilla

Dropwort
Meadow-fweet
Water Avens
Silvery Cinquefoil
Strawberry
Ladies-Mantle

DUMOS.r..

( 128 )

D U M 0 S

SAMBUCUS EBULUS. DWARF ELDER.

STNONTMA. Ebulus. Fharm. Geoff, iii. Dale. 0,1 Aljlon,
/. 485. Lewis. Ed. New Dif. Cullen, ii. Bergius,
240. Murray, iv. 22. Sambucus humilis feu Ebulus. Bauh»
Pin. 456. Ebulus Eve Sambucus humilis. Gerard. Emac. 1426*
Park. 209. Ray. Syn. 461. Dali, Stirp. Helv. n. 671. S. Ebulus.
Hudf.Ang, 130. Withering. Bot. Arr. J19. Flor, Land. 213.

Pentandria Trigynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 372.

Gen. Ch. Cal. 5-partitus. Cor, 5-fida. Bacca 3-fperma.

Sp. Ch. S. cymis tripartitis, Eipulis foliaceis, caule herbaceo.

ROOT long, creeping. Stalk Ex feet in height, herbaceous, ere£t,
roundifh, fmooth, channelled, fwelled at the joints, fending off oppoEte
branches. Leaves oppoEte, pinnated, compofed of four or Eve pair,
with an odd one at the extremity: pinnae fomewhat lanceolate, unequal
at the bafe, ferrated, veiny, downy underneath. Stipulae quadruple,
nearly heart-fliaped. Flowers in a terminal corymbus, divided into
three branches, compofed of numerous cymae. Calyx dividedanto
Eve teeth, which are fhort, eredl, pointed. Corolla monopetalous,
wheel-fliaped, divided into Eve fegments, which are ovate, pointed,
hollow, refiexed. Filaments Eve, thick, white, of the length of the
corolla. Antherse large, double, changing from a reddifli to a blackifh
colour. Germen below the corolla, ovate, fomewhat angular, fmooth.
Style none. Stigmata three, glutinous, reniform. Fruit a roundifli
black Engle-celled berry, containing three irregularly-fhaped feeds.

It is not unfrequent in hedges, flowering in June and July, but
feldom bringing its fruit to maturity.

^ , Every

fitili/ftn/ fy- Oct'f' /, f^y^.

( '29 )

Every part of the plant has a faint difagreeable fmell, refembling
that of common elder, but ftronger and more ungrateful ; and when
taken into the ftomach manifehs a greater fhare of active power.

The root of the Ebulus, which is white, flelhy, and of a naufeous
bitter tafte, was formerly very generally employed in dropfies. A
decodtion of two drams of it, or a fmall quantity of its expreffed juice,
promotes both the alvine and urinary difcharges ; and if the decoc-
tion is prepared from the bark of the frefli root, its activity is fo much
increafed, that it commonly proves both emetic and cathartic.

The inner bark of the ftalk, when recent, is equally powerful in
evacuating the primse vise ; and its effed:s, as a diuretic, on the
teftimony of Dr. Brocklefby,* were found to be very confiderable ;
but its operation is fo violent and precarious, that it is now very
rarely employed.

The berries, in their recent ftate, according to Scopoli,'’ prove a
gentle cathartic, though Haller " fays, that he never experienced this
effed; from their ufe.

The feeds are faid to be diuretic, and to have been given with
advantage in dropfical complaints : they alfo afford an oil, which
Haller applied with fuccefs in painful affedions of the joints.

The leaves,** boiled in wine, and formed into a cataplafm, have
been recommended in France as a difcutient application to contufions
and tumours.

* See Oecon, & Med. Obfervatlons. p. 277.

Flor. Cam. = Hiji. Stirp. Helv. n. 6’Jl.

The odour of .the green leaves drives away mice from granaries ; and the Silefians
ftrew thefe leaves where their pigs lie, under a perfuafion that they.prevent fome of the
difeafes to which thefe animals are liable.

2 K

No. II. — Part II.

RHUS

( '3° )

RHUS CORIARIA. ELM-LEAVED SUMACH.

STNO NTMA. Sumach. Pharm. Dale. 314. Aljlon, n. 370.

Lewis. 630. Ed. New Dtfpenf. 292. Bergius. 237. Murray.

iv. 25. Rhus folio ulmi. Bauh. Pin. 414. Rhus Coriaria.

Ger. Emac. 1474. Sumach five Rhus obfoniorum & coriariorum.

Park. Theat. 1450. pss Gr^cis. Ic. Du Hamel ^ Praite des arhres.

vol. i. p. 218. tab. 52.

Pentandrla Trigynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 369.

Gen. Ch. Cal. 5-partitus. Petala 5. Bacca i-fperma.

Sp. Ch. R. foliis pinnatis obtufiufcule ferratis ovalibus fubtus villofis.

' A SMALL tree riling to the height of ten feet, fending off many
divaricating branches, and covered with a brown hairy bark. Leaves
pinnated, alternate, confiding of feveral pair of pinnse, which are
ovato-lance-lhaped, obtufely ferrated, fmooth above, hairy beneath,
on Ihort footftalks. Common footftalk fomewhat winged, and ter-
minated by a (ingle leafit. Flowers often dioicous, numerous, fmall,
white, placed in large branched fpikes. Calyx five toothed, eredt,
perfiftent, placed below the germen. Corolla of five petals, which
are ovate, white, moftly eredt. Filaments five, very Ihort. Aritherse
fmall. Germen roundilh, about the length of the corolla. Style
fcarcely vifible. Stigmata three, fomewhat cordate. Fruit a roundilh
one-celled red berry, containing a folitary round hard feed.

This fpecies of Sumach is a native of the South of Europe, and
appears from the Catalogus horti Oxonienfis to have been cultivated in
that garden previous to the year 1648, though it is ftill a fcarce plant
in this country.

The genus, to which this fpecies belongs, comprehends feveral
fpecies which are known to be extremely poifonous, efpecially the
Rhus Toxicodendron, radicans, and Vernix ; but the Coriaria is

perfedUy

26 !

• ^79*

f-

. 'X

>#!«*.■

<4

L^'i

( I3I )

perfe£Hy innocent, and its berries are in fome places ufed for culinary
purpofes.

Its medicinal qualities are wholly to be afcribed to its ftypticity or
aftringency ; a property which it poflefles in a fufficient degree to
render it ufeful in dyeing, and alfo in tanning of leather, for which
it was ufed in the time of Diofcorides.

Both the leaves and berries have been employed in medicine, but
the former are more aftringent and tonic, and have been long in
common ufe in various complaints indicating this clafs of remedies.

The berries, which are red and of a roundifh compreifed figure,
contain a pulpy matter, in which is lodged a brown hard oval feed,
manifefting a confiderable degree of aftringency. The pulp, even
when dry, is gratefully acid, and has been dilcovered to contain an
eflential fait ^ fimilar to that of wood-forrel, or perhaps more nearly
allied to cryftals of tartar.

An infufion of the dry fruit is not rendered black by a folution of
iron ; hence it appears to be deftitute of aftringency : but its acidity
is extremely grateful, which has caufed the tree to be called by the
French le Vinaigrier. Therefore like many other acid fummer fruits
thefe berries may be advantageoufly taken to allay febrile heat, and
to corred; bilious putrefcency.

Lately the Rhus Toxicodendron and radicans have been recom-
mended in paralytic affedions ; the latter by Monf. Frefnoi, and the
former by Dr. Alderfon,*" of Hull ; but the cafes in which thefe
virulent plants were employed are but few and indecifive.

» See TrommfdorfF in ASl. Mogunt. 1778-9. Comment. Chem. p. 2^.

’’ In eaftern countries they are commonly ufed as a pickle.

^ See an EJJay on the Rhus ‘Toxicodendron, <

The medicinal plants of this order not figured in Medical Botany,

are.

Systematic Names.

Officinal.

English.

Rhamnus Frangula
Rhamnus Zizyphus
Ilex aquifoliutn

Frangula Berry-bearing Alder.

Jujuba Shining-leav’d Rhamnus.

Aquifolium Common Holly.

ROrACEM,

* ( IJ2 )

R O r A C E JE.

GENTIANA PURPUREA. PURPLE GENTIAN.

STNO NTMA, Curfuta. Pharm. Edinh. ■ Gentlana major pur-
purea. Bauh. Pin, 187. Gentiana major fiore purpureo. Flor*
Dan. t. 50. Gentiana corollis campaniformibus verticillatis, foliis
imis petiolatis ellipticis. Hall. Helv. Gentiana purpurea. Ait.
Hort. Kew. yacquin. Ohf. 2. t. 39.

Pentandria Digynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 322.

Cen.Ch. monopetala. ^ 2-valvis, i-locularis : Receptaculh
2, longitudinalibus.

Sp. Ch. G. corollis fubquinquefidis campanulatls verticillatis, caly-
cibus-truncatis.

ROOT perennial, cylindrical, flender, branched ; externally
brown, internally yellowifh. Stem eredt, fimple, fmooth, .ftrong,.
lucculent, rifing to a foot in height. Lower leaves nearly elliptical,
ribbed, entire. Upper leaves in pairs, fheath-like, concave, embracing
the Hem, pointed, ribbed, enclofmg the flowers. Flowers , large,,
purple, ftanding in whorls, upon fhort peduncles. Calyx a deciduous
fpatha. Corolla bell-lhaped, purplilh, plicated, divided at the limb,
into five ovate dotted fegments. Tilaments commonly five, of the,
length of the germen, and furnifhed with conical antherse. Germen
oblong. Style cleft, points reflexed, furnifhed with blunt ftigmata.
Capfule ovate, two-celled, containing numerous fmall feeds.

It is a native of the Alps, and was firfl; introduced for cultivation,
in this country by Profelfor de Saufiure in 1768.“

* See Hurt. Kew. i. p. 322.

The

JUiS^Jiaef •.-^»»^ / . •

/V

Pharmacopoeia, in which the Curfuta, or root of this plant, has been
lately received into the Materia Medica.

This root, both in appearance and tafte, fo exactly refembles that
of the yellow or common officinal Gentian, that they are not to be
diftinguilhed from each other; and in fome northern countries, w'here
the latter is fcarce, the former is ufually employed in its ftead.''

Its medical charadter is therefore to be regarded as the fame with
that of the gentiana lutea, of which an account is given in Medical
Botany, p. 433.

See Linn. Flor. Suec. ^ Haller. L c.

The remaining medicinal plants of the order Rotacesc, are,

Systematic Names.

Anagallis arvenfis
Lyfimachia Nummularia
Primula veris
Cyclamen europaeum

Officinal,

Anagallis

Nummularia

Paralyfis

Cyclamen

Pimpernel

Money-wort

Cowflip

Common Cyclamen

English.

No. II. — Part II.

2 L

RHOEADES.

( *34 )

R H 0 E A D E S.

CHELIDGNIUM MAJUS. GREATER, or COMMON

CELANDINE.

'•STNONTMA. Chelidonium majus. Rharm^ Geoff, iil. 309.

E>ale. 210. Aljlcn. i. 407. Lewis. 224. Edinh. New Difpenf.

170. Murray, it. ‘T^oo. Bergius. Ger. Etuac. jo6g. Raii.

J-Jijl. 858. Synop. 309. Hall. Helv. n. 1059. Chelidonium

majus vulgare. Bauh. Pin. 144. Park. Pheat. 616. C. majus.

Hudf. Ang. 228. Witherhig. Bot. Arr. 547. Flor. Dan. t. 542.

Polyandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 647.

''Gen.Ch. Cor. 4-petala. C^/. 2-phyllus. i-locularis, linearis.

Bp. Ch. C. pedunculis umbellatis.

ROOT perennial, tapering, branched, externally brown, internally
yellow. Stalks ered:, cylindrical, branched, fomewhat hairy, from
one to two feet in height. Leaves pinnated, terminal leafit large, and
often lobed ; pinnse roundilh, with deeply fcolloped edges. Flowers
yellow, in fmall umbels, upon long hairy footftalks. Calyx con-
lifting of two ovate, entire, hairy, deciduous leaves. Corolla of four
petals, which are circular, large, fpreading, narrow at the bafe. .Fila-
ments from twenty to thirty, comprefled, tapering, Ihorter than the
corolla. Antherss double, oblong, flattifh. Germen cylindrical, long,
bent. Stigma blunt. Pod long, valved, fomewhat tapering at each
end, containing feveral oval Ihining feeds attached to the receptacle,
which is placed at the jundion of the valves.

It grows in hedges, or rough uncultivated places, flowering in moft
of the fummer months.

The leaves and roots of Celandine have a faint unpleafant fmell,
and a bitterifh very acrid and Very durable tafte, which is confiderably
llronger in the roots than in the leaves. Both water and redified

fpirit

it

. My'' •■ *79-*

{ 135 )

fpirit extract nearly the wliole of their pungent matter : the leaves,
notwithftancling the yellow juice which iffaes fo plentifully from a
flight wound, and in which their adlivity feems to refide,rive to redlified
fpirit a green tindture : the roots, which yield a copious fafiron red
juice, tinge the fame menftruum of a brownifli yellow.”

“ The pungency of this plant is not of the volatile kind, little or
nothing of it rifing in diftillation with water any more than with
fpirit : it is neverthelefs greatly abated by drying the plant itfelf, or
by infpiflating with a gentle heat the fpirituous or watery infufions.” *
This acrid plant has been much recommended in the general
charadler of an aperient and attenuant. In jaundice it was long
confidered as the moft elfedtual remedy that could be employed, as
appears from the writings of Diofeorides, Galen, Forefths, and other
authors of more recent date ; hence it was a principal ingredient in
the decoSlum ad i&ericos in the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia. Nor has
its ufe been confined to hepatic obftruftions ; in thofe of the other
vifeera, as w'ell as in the mefenteric and lymphatic glands, it is faid to
have been equally efficacious.'*

It has alfo been fuccefsfully employed as an expedlorant ; and
feveral writers found it of great efficacy in curing intermittents." It
has been adminiftered in various forms and dofes. Half a dram, or
a dram of the dry root in powder, or an infufion in wine or water
of a dram, or a dram and an half, of the freflr root, or three or four
drops of its yellow juice in any convenient vehicle, are directed for
a dofe. We have little doubt but that the virtues of Celandine have
been greatly exaggerated, and its general employment in jaundice
feems to have originated in the abfurd dodtrine of fignatures : in certain
cafes however we fhould expeft to find it an ufeful remedy, for it
evidently pofleffes adlive powers ; and thus it is externally ufed to
deftroy warts, clean foul ulcers, and remove opacities of the cornea.

* Lewis. 1. c.

*’ Lange. De Med. Brimf. p. 124. ' See Murray. L c.

This plant, and the two fpecies of papaver, figured in the firfl
part of Medical Botany, are all the medicinal plants belonging to
this natural order.

BICORNES,

( 136 )

BICORNES.

if

SANTALUM ALBUM. WHITE or YELLOW SAUNDERS.

STNONTMA. Santalum citrinum. Pharm. Edinb. Park,
Theat. i6o/^. Rail Hi/I. Santalum pallidum. Bauh. Pin.

392. Ger. Emac. 1586. Sandalum. Rumph. Herb. Amb, Pom,
2. p. 42. /.II. Breyn. Jeon, et Defeript. p. 19. /. i.

Tetrandria Monogynia. Schr. Gen. Plant. 215.

Gen. Ch. Cor. fubinfundibulif. 4-fida ftaminifera: glandulis 4,
ftamlnibus alternantibus. Drupa rotunda monofperma. Woodv.

A LARGE tree, covered with reddilb brown bark. Leaves
ovate, fomewhat lanceolate, entire, pointed, fmooth, oppofite, on
footftalks. Flowers numerous, purple, terminating the younger
branches in compound fpikes. Calyx fmall, four-toothed, deciduous.
Corolla monopetalous, confiding of a ftiort ovate tube, divided at
the limb into four fharp teeth. Filaments four, fhort, hairy, placed
at the mouth of the tube, and furnilhed with large antherse : between
each filament hands a glandular nedlarium, crenated at the top. Ger-
men ovate. Style tapering, of the length of the tube of the corolla.
Stigma four-parted. Fruit drupaceous, round, containing a hard
feed or done.

It is a native of the Ead Indies, efpecially of the Idand of Timor,
and has not yet been cultivated in this country. The plate of it
here prefixed is taken from a fpecimen in the podeflion of Sir Jofeph
Banks.

From

W'X'-'.'

,‘ ?'r^

( 137 )

From the ftrudlure of the flower of the Santalum, as here de-
lineated, and from the defcription of it which is given above, it does
not appear to have been fufficiently underflood by any of the bota-
nifts, who have hitherto defcribed it; fo that we have been under the
neceflity of afflgning to this genus a new eflential charader.*

The four glands, placed within the corolla, were probably miftaken
for ftamina, which induced Linnsus at firft to clafs the Santalum
among the odandria.

In the laft edition of the SyJIatia Vegetabilium this error is cor-
roded, and had nothing more been done, the charader would have
remained tolerably complete; but unfortunately Cor. i-petala was
changed to 4-petala ; and thus a new error was introduced, which
we hope will in future be adjufted.

White Saunders wood is of a pale white, often with a yellowifh
tinge ; and being deftitute of tafte or odour, it is fuperfeded by
the Santalum trinum, which is of a brownifh yellow colour, of a
bitterifh aromatic tafte, and of a pleafant fmell, approaching to that
of the rofe.

Both kinds are brought from the Eaft Indies in billets, confifting
of large thick pieces, which, according to Rumphius, are fometimes
taken from the fame, and fometimes from different trees. For though
the white and the yellow Saunders are the wood of the fame fpecies
of tree, yet the latter, which forms the central part of the tree, is
not always to be found in fufficient quantity to repay the trouble
and expence of procuring it, efpecially unlefs the trees be old ; while
the white, which is the exterior part of the wood, is always more
abundant, and is confequently much cheaper.

“ Yellow Saunders, diftilled with water, yields a fragrant effential
oil, which thickens in the cold into the confiftence of a balfam,
approaching in fmell to ambergris, or a mixture of ambergris and
rofes : the remaining decodion, infpiffated to the confiftence of an
extrad;, is bitterifh and flightly pungent. Redified fpirit extrads by
digeftion confiderably more than water : the colour of the tindure is

* Refpe£ting the calyx we are unable to fpeak decidedly from our own obfervation.

No. 1 1.— Part II.

a rich,

2 M

( 138 )

a rich yellow. The fpirit, diftilled ofF, is flightly impregnated with
the fine flavour of the wood ; the remaining browniih extrad has
a weak fmell, and a moderate balfamic pungency.”

The wood is chiefly valued on account of its fragrance ; hence
the Chinefe are faid to fumigate their clothes with it, and to burn it
in their temples in honour of their gods. Though ilill retained in the
Materia Medica of the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia, it cannot be thought
to pofTefs any confiderable fhare of medicinal power. Hoffman con-
fiders its virtues as fimilar to thofe of ambergris ; and fome others;
have efteemed it in the charader of a corroborant and reilorative,

^ Lewis. M. M. p. 578.

Other medicinal plants of the order Bicornes, which have not
been noticed in this work, are.

Systematic Names.

Officinae.

English..

Vaccinium Vitis idaea

Oxycoccos

— — — « Myrtillus
Ledum paluftre
Pyrola rotundifolia
Lawfonia inermis
Tamarix gallica

Vitis idaea

Oxycoccos

Myrtillus

Rofmarinius lylveftris
Pyrola

Alkanna vera
T amarifcus

Red Bilberry
Cranberry
Blea-berry
Wild Rofemary
Winter-green
Smooth Lawfonia
French Tamarilk.

UMBELLATJE.

26s

( '39 )

U M B E LL A TM.

ANGELICA SYLVESTRIS. WILD ANGELICA.

STNONTMA. Angelica fylveflris. Pharm, Edinb, Ger, Emac,
999. Rail, Hlji, 437. Synop. 208. Park, Theat. 940. Ange-
lica fylveflris major. Bauh. Pin. 155. A. fylveflris, Hudf. Flor.
Ang. 1 18. Withering, Bot. Arr, 2<^o. Hall, Helv. n.^oG, Flor,
Dan. (, 178.

Pentandria Digynia. Lin. Gen. Plant, 347.

Gen, Ch. FrtiBus fubrotundus angulatus folidus, flylis reflexis.
Corollee asquales, petalis incurvis.

Sp. Ch. A. foliolis aequalibus ovato-lanceolatis ferratis.

ROOT perennial, long, thick, tapering^, branched, externally
brown, internally white. Stalk thick, hollow, jointed, fcored,
branched, round, fmooth, feveral feet in height. Leaves pinnated,
compofed of ovate ferrated equal pinnse, with an odd one at the end.
Leaf-flalks channelled on the upper furface, flanding upon a large
membranous fheath inclofing the flem. Flowers white, in large
umbels, which are convex, and placed on long flalks ariflng from
the fheaths of the leaf-flalks. General involucrum mofl commonly
wanting, or fometimes compofed of fmall flender leaves. Partial
involucrum, confifling of from five to twelve permanent narrow
pointed unequal leaves. Corolla of five petals, which are nearly
equal, ovate, pointed, bent inwards. Filaments five, fpreading,
longer than the petals. Antherse roundifh. Germen beneath. Styles
two, bent downwards. Stigmata blunt. Fruit furnifhed with four
winged appendages, and on each fide three flrite. Seeds two, egg-

fhaped.

( 14° )

fhaped, plano-convex, with a membranaceous border, convex fide,
marked with three ridges.

It grows in marfhy woods and hedges, flowering in June and July.

As the root of this fpecies of Angelica is ftill retained in the
catalogue of the Materia Medica of the Edinburgh Pharmacopcnia,
we have judged it expedient to prefent a figure of the plant ; and it
is only in compliance with this authority that we have been induced
to do fo : for the garden Angelica, of which a plate is given in the
firft volume of Medical Botany, not only poflefles all the medicinal
properties of this fpecies in a fuperior degree, but may always be more
readily procured.

PHELLANDRIUM AQUATICUM. FINE LEAVED

WATER-HEMLOCK.

STNONTMyi, Foeniculum aquaticum. Pharm, Murray, App»
M^d, i. p, 267. Rivin. Pent. tab. 65. Ern/iingii Phellandrolo-
gia. Lange^ vom Wajferfenchel. 1771. Cicutaria paluftris tenui-
folia. Bauh. Pin. 161. Park. 933. Cicutaria paluftris. Ger.
Emac. 1063. Ray. Hijl, 452. Synop. 215. Petiv^t. 28. yC 4.
Hall. n. 757. P. aquaticum. Hudfon.Elor. Ang. 122. Lightf.
Flor. Scot. iGt,. Withering. Bot. Arr. 1^2).

Pentandria Digynia. Lin, Gen. Plant. 353.

Gen, Ch, Flofculi difei minores. FruBus ovatus laevis coronatus
perianthio et piftillo.

Sp. Ch. P. foliorum ramificationibus divaricatis.

ROOT

U00V4. tjg* .

( >4' )

ROOT biennial, thick, tapering, jointed, fending off numerous
long {lender fibres. Stalk thick, hollow, fmooth, jointed, branched,
fcored, ufually about two feet in height. Leaves large, triply pin-
nated, ramifying at right angles, or divaricating ; leafits irregularly
pinnatifid ; leaves under the water filiform. Flowers fmall, white,
in terminal umbels. General involucrum none. Partial involucrum
of feven leaves, which are pointed, and about the length of the
proper umbel. Calyx five-toothed, permanent. Flowers all fertile,
and forming a flat uniform furface. Individual florets unequal, fmalier
at the centre. Petals five, heart-fhaped, bent inwards. Filaments
five, capillary longer than the petals. Antherse roundifli. Germen
ovate. Styles two, tapering, upright, permanent. Stigmata blunt.
Fruit ovate, fmooth, divifible into two parts or feeds.

It grows in rivers, ditches, and pools, flowering in June and

This plant is generally fuppofed to polfefs deleterious qualities.
Horfes, on eating it, are faid to become paralytic ; but this effeft fiiould
not be afcribed to the Phellandrium, but to an infedl which refides
within its ftalks, viz. the Ctirculio paraple&icus.

The feeds of the plant, however, according to Dr. Lange,^ when
taken in large dofes, produce a remarkable fenfation of weight in the
head, accompanied with giddinefs, intoxication, &c. and therefore
may be deemed capable of proving an adtive medicine. They are
oblong, flriated, of a greenifh yellow, about the fize of thofe of dill,
and manifefting an aromatic acrid tafte, approaching nearly to that of
the feeds of lovage. Diftilled with water they yield an eifential oil,
of a pale yellow colour, and of a ftrong penetrating fmell. One
pound of the feeds affords an ounce of watery extradl, but nearly
double this quantity of fpirituous extract, of which more than three
drams confifls of refin.'’

Pliny ' ftates the feeds of Phellandrium to be an efficacious medi-
cine in calculous complaints, and diforders of the bladder ; and in
this opinion he is followed by Dodonseus,*' who mentions them alfo
as pofTeffing diuretic and emmenagogue powers. But on thefe autho-

* See Rem. Brunf. 235. ** Ernjiingius-^ 1. c. Lib. 17. c. 13. ^ Pempi, 591.

No. 12. — Part II. 2 N ritles

( 142 )

rities little reliance is to be placed ; fo that the efficacy of this plant
refts chiefly on the teftimonies of Ernftingius and Lange, by whom
various cafes of its fuccefsful ufe are publifhed, efpecially in wounds
and inveterate ulcers of different kinds, and even in cancers alfo in
phthifis pulmonalis, afthma, dyfpepfia, intermittent fevers, &c.

About two fcruples of the feed, two or three times a day, was the
ordinary dofe given.

Though the diforders here noticed are fo multifarious and diffi-
milar as to afford no fatisfad;ory evidence of the medicinal qualities of
thefe feeds, yet they appear to us well deferving of farther invef-
tigation, according to the maxim ‘ Ubi virus ibi virtusJ

® Boerhaave alfo fpeaks highly of its difcutient power in all. kinds of tumours.

Plant. Hort, Ludg. Bat. i. p. 94.

OENANTHE CROCATA. HEMLOCK WATER-DROPWORTf

STNONTMyl. Oenanthe Chgerophylli foliis. Bauh. Bin. 162-
Filipcndula cieutse facie. Ger. E?nac. Oenanthe, fucco virofo,

cicuta^ facie Lobelii. Bauh.. Hiji. Hi. 193. Bark. T^heat, 894.
Baii. Synop.. 2io^ Morris. SedJ. 9. lab. 9. Watfon. Bhil. 'Tranf...
V. 44. n. 480. tab. 3. Oenanthe crocata, Hudf. Flor. Ang. 1 2 1
Withering. Bot. Arr. 297* Lightfoot.Mor..Scot.. 162.. Ic. yacquin.,
Hort.. Hi. t. 55..

Pentandria Digynia^ Bin. Gen., Blant. 352..

Gen. Ch. Flofculi difformes : in difeo feffiles, fteriles. FruBus calyce
et piftillo coronatus.

Sp. Ch. CE. foliis omnibus multlfidis obtufis fubaequalibus.

ROOT perennial, divided into numerous parts, or oblong tuber-
cles, furnifhed with long flender fibres. Stalks ered:, channelled,
round, fmooth, branched, of a yellowifh red colour, two or three

feet

ruU4jM**e *r o*' AorT / 4Jtf 4 .

%

( ‘43 )

feet in height. Leaves fimply and doubly pinnated ; fmaller pinnae
wedge-fhaped, fmooth, ftreaked, jagged at the edges : larger pinnae
three-lobed, indented, refembling thofe of fmallage. Flowers in umbels,
which are terminal, fpreading, and almoft globular. General invo-
lucrum none. Partial involucrum compofed of many fmall leaves.
Calyx permanent, five-toothed. Florets unequal, thofe at the circum-
ference often fterile. Petals five, heart-draped, broad, bent inwards,
emarginated. Filaments five, flender, tapering, twice the length of
the petals. Antherse oblong, brown. , Germen beneath the corolla.-
Styles two, awl-fliaped, reddiih, permanent. Stigmata pointed. Fruit
oblong, ftriated, divifible into two parts or feeds, which are convex
on one fide, and flat on the other.

It gTOws on the banks of rivers, and in ditches, flowering in June
and July.

We have feleded this plant, to record it as a powerful poifon, rather
than as medicine. Its root, which is not unpleafant to the tafle, is,
by Dr. Poultney, efteemed to be the moft deleterious of all the vege-
tables which this country produces.

Mr. Howell, furgeon at Haverfordweft, relates, that “ eleven
“ French prifoners had the liberty of v/alking in and about the town
“ of Pembroke ; three of them, being in the fields a little before noon,
“ dug up a large quantity of this plant, \vhich they took to be wild
“ celery, to eat with their bread and butter for dinner. After wafliing,
“ it, they all three ate or rather tafted of the roots. As they were-
entering the town, without any previous notice of ficknefs at the
“ ftomach, or difordcr in the head, one of them was feized with
“ convulfions. The other tv/o ran home, and fent a furgeon to him..

The furgeon endeavoured firft to bleed, and then to vomit him ; but
“ thofe endeavours were fruitlefs, and he died prefently. Ignorant
“ of the caufe of their comrade’s death, and of their own danger,
“ they gave of thefe roots to the other eight prifoners, who all ate
^ fome of them with their dinner. A few minutes afterwards the
“ remaining two, who gathered the plants, were feized in the fame
“ manner as the firfl; ; of which one died ; the other was bled, and
“ a vomit, with great difficulty forced down, on account of his jaws
** being as it were locked together. This operated, and he recovered,
“ but was fometime affeded with, dizzinefs in his head, though not

fic.k

( 144 )

“ fict or the leafl: difordered in his ftomach. The other eight being
“ bled and vomited immediately, were foon well.”*

At Clonmel, in Ireland, eight boys miftaking this plant for water-
parfnep, ate plentifully of its roots : about four or five hours after,
the eldeft boy became fuddenly convulfed, and died ; and before, the
next morning four of the other boys died in a fimilar manner. Of
the other three, one was maniacal feveral hours, another loft his hair
and nails, but the third efcaped unhurt.

Stalpaart vander Wiel mentions two cafes of the fatal effects of
this root j thefe, however, were attended with great heat in the
throat and ftomach, ficknefs, vertigo, and purging. They both
died in the courfe of two or three hours after eating the root.

Allen, in his Syfiopjis Medicince^ alfo relates that four children
fuffered greatly by eating this poifon. In thefe cafes great agony was
experienced before the convulfions* fupervened ; vomitings likewife
came on, which were encouraged by large draughts of oil and warm
water, to which their recovery is afcribed.

The late Sir William Watfon,' who refers to the inftances here
cited, alfo fays that a Dutchman was poifoned by the leaves of the
plant boiled in pottage.

It appears from various authorities that moft brute animals are not
lefs afiedled by this poifon than man; andMr.Lightfoot informs us that
a fpoonful of the juice of this plant, given to a dog, rendered him fick
and ftupid ; but a goat was obferved to eat the plant with impunity.

The great virulence of this plant has not however prevented it
from being taken medicinally. In a letter from Dr. Poultney to Sir
William Watfon,'* we are told that a fevere and inveterate cutaneous
diforder was cured by the juice of the root, though not without
exciting the moft alarming fymptoms. Taken in the dofe of a
fpoonful, in two hours afterwards the head was affedted in a very
extraordinary manner, followed with violent ficknefs and vomiting,
cold fweats and rigors ; but this did not deter the patient from con-
tinuing the medicine, in fomewhat lefs dofes, till it effedted a cure.

® Phil. Tranf, vol. 44. ** Ibid. I. c.

® Sir William likewife Inform us, that Mr. Miller knew a whole family at Batterfea, who
were poifoned with this plant. And that Mr. Ehret, while drawing the frefh plant, was affeded
with univerfal unealinefs and vertigo. ** Phil. Tranf. vol. 62.

CICUTA VIROSA.

, •!*

' * % -

( >45 )

CICUTA VIROSA. WATER HEMLOCK.

STNONTMA. Cicuta aquatica. P harm. Murray.!. o.yi. Bergius.

111. Wepfer. Hiji. Cicuta Aquat. p. 4. Slum alteruin olufatri

facie. Lobel. Ic. 208. Ger. Emac. 256. Pay. HI/}. 450. Synop.

212. Slum erucse folio. Bauh. Pin. 154. Sium majus angufti-

folium. Park. Theat. 1241. Conf^ Phil. Pranf. v. 44. 242. tab. 4.

Hall. n. 781. Flor. Han. 208. Cicuta virofa. Hudf. Flor. Ang.

122. Llghtfoot. Scot. 164, With. Bot. Arr. 299.

Pentandria Digynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 354.

Gen. Ch. fubovatus, - fulcatus.

Sp. Ch. C. umbellis oppofitifoliis, petiolls marginatis obtufis.

ROOT perennial, thick, fhort, hollow, befet at the joints with
numerous flender fibres. Stalk thick, round, fiftular, ftriated, fmooth,
fparingly branched, about four feet in height. Leaves pinnated,
leafits ufually placed in ternaries, fpear-fliaped, ferrated ; ferratures
white at the points. Flowers in large expanding umbels. Partial
involucrum compofed of feveral fliort briftle-fhaped leaves. Calyx
fcarcely difcernible. Florets all uniform, fertile, each confifiing of
five petals, which are ovate, turned inwards, of a greenifii white.
Filaments five, capillary, longer than the petals. Antherse fimple,
purplifh. Styles two, at firft clofe, afterwards divaricating. Stigmata
fimple. Fruit egg-ftiaped, divifible into two feeds, which are ribbed
and convex on one fide, and flat on the other.

It grows on the borders of pools and rivers, flowering in July and
Auguft.

This plant, which in its recent ftate has a fmell refembling that of
fmallage, and a tafte fomewhat like that of parfley, is well known to
be a powerful poifon. lialler fuppofes it to be the of Diofcorides ;
but whether it is the Athenian cicuta, or the plant of which the
No. 12. — Part II. 2 O poifonous

( «46 )

polfonous potion of the Greeks was compofed, cannot poflibly be
afcertained.

The root has a ftrong fmell, and a warm fomewhat acrid tafte ; by
diftillation with water it yields a volatile matter, which is of a narcotic
quality, and of a very ungrateful odour.

It appears from Bergius, that Water-Hemlock, in its dried ftate,
may be taken in a conliderable quantity without producing any bad
effedt but of the fatal effeds of its root when frelh, numerous
inftances are recorded. Of two boys and fix girls, who ate of this
root for that of parfnep, the greater part died in a fhort time after-
wards, thofe only efcaping who were enabled to difcliarge it by
vomiting. The fymptoms it produced were intoxication, vertigo,
great heat and pain in the ftomach, convulfions, and even epilepfy,
diftortions of the eyes, vomiting or retching, a difcharge of blood
from the ears, fwelling of the abdomen, hiccup, fpafms, &c.'’ In the
cafe of a man who had eaten of this poifonous root, we are told the
fymptoms were vertigo, fucceeded by delirium, with conftant heat
at the ftomach, and inextinguiftiable thirft : thefe fymptoms were of
long continuance, and followed by an eryfipelatous tumour of the
neck.**

To cite all the inftances related of the deleterious effedls of this
root would be unneceflary, as thofe here ftated from Wepfer will
fufficiently ftiow the train of fymptoms which ufually follow the
taking of this poifon. It may be obferved however that in moft of
the cafes in which it proved fatal, the patients died in a convulfed or
epileptic ftate, and that whenever the root was rejected by vomiting,
only a flight degree of ftupefadtion was for a few hours experienced.'

* Recentem cicutam nunquam adhibiti ; pilulas vero e fucco cicutas exprelTo & in-
fpiflato, cum pulvere foliorum formatas, dedi foeminas, cancro vero mammarum labo-
ranti, incipiendo a parca dofi, fenfim adfeendendo ad dracm. 3. quotidie; fed nullum
efFeitum inde fenfit, neque bonum, nec malum. PrEefcripfi famulo cuidam decoft.
faturat. herbae cicutae ficcatae libr. 4. quod externe adhiberet, fed per errorem intra
binas boras totam ebibit lagunculam, abfque ullo tamen infequente damno.” Vide 1. c,

*’ Wepfer. 1. c. ** Eph, Nat, Cur. Cent. 10. Obf. 58. p. 355.

* See Bred. Samml. 1722. p. 286. Schwencke gives an account of four boys who
had the misfortune to eat this root, three of whom died in convulfions j the other was
faved by the timely adminiftration of an emetic.

On

( H7 )

On examination of the bodies of thofe who perlihed by eating
this root, we are told that the ftomach and inteftines were discovered
to be inflamed, and even in a gangrenous or eroded ftate, and the
blood-veffels of the brain much diflended/

To feveral brutes this plant has likewife proved mortal ; but the
fadts upon this point are fomewhat vague and various. Though faid
to be a fatal poifon to cows, it is eaten with impunity by goats and
iheep.^

As an internal medicine the Cicuta aquatica is univerfally fuperfeded
by the common hemlock ; but externally employed in the way of a
poultice, it is faid to afford relief in various fixed pains, efpecially
thofe of the rheumatic and arthritic kind.

^ Vide Wepfer, Schwencke, Brejl. Samrnl. 1722. p. 286. Eph. Nat. Cur, Dec. 2.

«. 6. p. 321.

s — — videre licet pinguefcere faepe cicuta
Barbigeras pecudes, hominique eft acre venenum.

Lucret.

Other medicinal plants of this Order, are

Systematic Names.

Officinal.

English.

Sanicula europaea

Sanicula

Common Sanicle

Tordylium officinale

Sefeli creticum

Hartwort

Athamanta cretenfis

Daucus creticus

Cretan Spignel

Athamanta Oreolelinum

Oreofelinuin

Divaricated Spignel

Peucedanum officinale

Peucedanum

Sulphur-wort

Laferpitium latifolium

Gentiana alba

Broad leav’d Laffer-wort

Laferpitium Siler

Siler montanum

Mountain Laffer-wort

Heracleum Sphondylium

Branca urfina

Cow Parfnep

Sium Ninfi

Ninfi

Baftard Ginfeng

Sifon Ammi

Ammi verum

True Bifhopfweed

Bubon macedonicum

Petrofelinum macedon.

Macedonian Parfley

Aethufa Meum

Meu

Common Spignel

^Scandix Cerefolium

Cerefolium

Chervil

Chaerophyllutn fylveftre

Cicutaria

Common Cow-weed

Sefeli tortuofum

Sefeli maffilienfe

Hard Meadow Saxifrage

Paftinaca fativa

Paftinaca

Garden Parfnep

Apium graveolens

Apium

Smallage

Bupleurum rotundifollum

Perfoliata

Thorow-wax

GALUM

( h8 )

STELLATM.

GALIUM APARINE. CLEAVERS, or GOOSE GRASS.

STNONTMA. Pharm. Murray. vi,2^. Dale.i^^. Rutty.

321. Aparine vulgaris. BauhPin. Aparine. Ger.Emac. 1122.
Park. Theat. 567. Ray. Syn. 225. Galium caule ferrato, foliis
fenis linearibus lanceolatis ferratis, petiolis unifloris. Hall. H'lft.
Stirp. Hdv. n. 723. Galium Aparine. Scop. FI. Cam. n. 157.
Hudfon. Flor. Ang. 57. Withering. Bot.Arr. 157. Lightfoot. Flor.
Scot. 1 1 7. Flor. Dan. Icon. 495. ^ Curt. Flor. Bond.

Tetrandria Monogynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 125.

Gen. Ch. Cor. i-petala, plana. Sem. 2, fubrotunda.

Sp. Ch. G. foliis o<3:onis lanceolatis carinatis fcabris retrorfum acu-
leatis, geniculis villofis, fru6lu hifpido.

ROOT branched, fibrous, annual. Stalk quadrangular, three or
four feet in height, weak, climbing, jointed branched : angles befet
with fhort prickles, which are bent backwards, and fallen hold of
neighbouring plants. Leaves Handing at the joints of the llalk
fix or eight together, lanceolate, narrow, finely pointed, on the upper
fide rough, with fharp prickles. Flowers fmall, white, on rough
footftalks. Calyx none. Corolla very fmall, wheel-lhaped, divided
into four oval pointed fegments. Filaments four, white, fhorter than
the corolla. Antherae yellow. Germen below the corolla, double,
rough. Styles two, fhort. Stigmata globular. Fruit two dry
roundifh berries, flightly adhering together, covered with hooked
prickles. Seeds folitary, kidney-fhaped.

It is common in cultivated ground and hedges, producing its
flowers from June till September.

This

v6ij

i'

' y., ■

i

-1^.. '.:

\ ' P

.34-

( 149 )

This fucculent plant is deftitute of odour, but to the tafle it is
bitterifb, and fomewhat acrid. Diolcorides " fpeaks of an ointment
made of the bruifed herb, mixed with lard, as an uteful application
to difciifs ftrumous fwellings ; and GafpaTi,'' an Italian, adopted a
fimilar pradlice Vv^ith great fucceis. Pie alfo informs us, that a decoc-
tion of the plant, employed in the way of fomentation, was found
to be very efficacious in fwellings of the glands of the neck, which
followed a certain epidemic at Verona. Dr. Cullen, however, relates
that he tried the Aparine in fome glandular indurations, but without
deriving any advantage.'"

It is faid by Mayerne, that three ounces of the juice of the plant,
taken twice a day in wine, were experienced to be an ufeful aperient
and diuretic in incipient droplies. But the character in which the
Aparine has of late been chiefly efteemed, is that of an antifcorbutic ;
for this purpofe, a tea-cupful of its exprefl'ed juice is to be taken
every morning for nine or ten days. When the freffi plant cannot
be procured, it may be ufed in a dried ftate as tea."*

Other fpecies of Galium have been ufed for the purpofes of medi-
cine, efpecially the G. verum, or yellow lady’s bed-ftraw, the flowers
of which have been recommended in hyfleric and epileptic complaints.
It has been afferted, that thefe flowers contain an acid, which coagu-
lates milk ; but neither Bergius, Cullen, nor Young, obferved this
effedl from them, after repeated trials.

® M. M. Lib. 3. cap. 104.

** See OJfervazionl Storiche^ Mediche, ^c. 173^’ /’• ^7-
' Jld. M. vol. 2. p. 37.

* See JlLed. ^ Philof. Commentaries, vol. 5. p. 326. Alfo Edward’s Treatife on the
Goofe-grafs.) or Clivers^ and its efficacy in the cure of the moji inveterate Scurvy.

Other medicinal plants of this Order,, are

Systematic Names.
Galium verum
Galium Mollugo
Afperula odorata

Officinal.,
Galium luteum
Galium album
Matrifylva

English.

Yellow Ladies bedftraw
White ditto
Sweet Woodroof

2. P

No. 12.— Part IL

CONGLOMERATE.

( 150 )

CONGLOMERATE.

VISCUM ALBUM. MISSELTOE.

■S T NO NYMA. Vifcus. Pharm. Dale. 313. Aljlon. ii. 53.
Lewis. 666. Edinb. New Difpenf. 302. Cullen, il. 47. Murray,
i. 199. Bergius. 788. Ger^ Emac. 153. Ray. Syn. 464. Hljl.
1583. Vifcum baccis albis. Bauh. Pin. Vifcum vulgare.
Park. Theat. 1392. Hall. n. 1609! V. album. Hudfon. Flor.
Arig. Withering. Bot. Arr. 1112. Ic. Mill. Illuji.

Dioecla Tetrandria. Lin. Gen. Plant. 1105.

Gen. Ch. Masc. Cal. 4-partitus. Cor. o. Filamenta o. Anthera

calyci adnatae.

Eem. Cal. 4-phyllus, fuperus. Cor. o. Stylus o.
Bacca i-fperma, Sem. cordatum.

Sp, Ch. V. foliis laiiceolads obtufis, caule dichotomo, fpicls axillaribus.

A PARASITICAL evergreen flirub, infinuating its radical fibres
into the wood of the trees on which it grows. Branches numerous,
regularly dichotomous, covered with fmooth bark, of a yellowifli
green colour. Leaves fpear-fhaped, blunt, entire, ftriated. Handing
in pairs upon fhort footftalks. Flowers male and female in different
plants, fmall, axillary, in clofe fpikes. Calyx of the male jiower
divided into four ovate equal fegments. Corolla none. Filaments
none. Antherae four, oblong, attached to the calyx. Calyx of the
female fiower divided into four leaves, which are fmall, ovate, deci-
duous, placed on the common germen. Corolla none. Germen
beneath, oblong, three-edged, indiftindlly crowned with a border
with four clefts. Style none. Stigma blunt, and fomewhat notched.

Fruit

( I5I )

Fruit a globular white fmooth one-celled berry, containing a flefhy
feed, which is inverfely heart-fhaped, blunt, comprefled.

It grows on various kinds of trees, producing its flowers in May;
but its berries remain throughout the winter.

This Angular parafitical plant mofl; commonly grows on apple trees,
alfo on the pear, hawthorn, fervice, oak, hafel, maple, afh, lime-tree,
willow, elm, hornbeam, &c. It is fuppofed to be propagated by birds,
efpecially by the fieldfare and thrulh, which feed upon its berries,
the feeds of which pafs through the bowels unchanged, and along
with the excrements adhere to the branches of trees where they
vegetate."*

TheMiflfeltoe of the oak, has, from the times of the antient druids
been always preferred to that produced on other trees ; but it is now
well known that the vifcus quernus differs in no refpcdt from others.

This plant is the of the Greeks, and was in former times thought
to poflTefs many medicinal virtues ; however, we learn but little con-
cerning its efficacy from the ancient writers on the Materia Medica ;
nor will it be deemed necelfary to ftate the extraordinary powers
afcribed to the Miflbltoe by the crafty deligns of druidical knavery.

“ Both the leaves and branches of the plant have very little finell,
and a very weak tafte, of the naufeous kind. In diffillation they
impregnate water with their faint unpleafant finell, but yield no
eflfential oil. Extracts, made from them by water, are bitterifli,
roLighifh, and fubfaline. The fpirituous extrad; of the wood has
the greateft aufterity, and that of the leaves the greateft bitternefs.
The berries abound with an extremely tenacious mofl; ungrateful
fweet mucilage.” §

The Vifcus Quernus obtained great reputation for the cure of
epilepfy; and a cafe of this difeafe, of a woman of quality, in which
it proved remarkably fuccefsful, is mentioned by Boyle. ^ Some
years afterwards its ufe was ftrongly recommended in various con-
vulfive diforders by Colbach, who has related feveral inftances of

* Or if the berries, when fully ripe, be rubbed on the fmooth bark of aim oft any
tree, they will adhere clofely and produce plants the following Winter.

§ Levcis, 1. c.

• See Ufefulnefs of Nat, ^ Exper. Philof, 174,

its

( IJ2 )

Its good effects.'’ He adminlftered it in fubftance in dofes of half a.
dram, or a dram, of the wood or leaves, or an infufion of an ounce.
This author was followed by others, v/ho have not only given
teftimony of the efficacy of the Miffieltoe in different convulfive
affections, but alfo in thofe complaints denominated nervous, in
which it was fuppofed to aCt in the character of a tonic. But all
that has been written in favour of this remedy, which is certainly
well deferving of notice, has not prevented it from falling into
general negleCt ; and the Colleges of London and Edinburgh have,
perhaps not without reafon, expunged it from their catalogues of the
Materia Medica.

^ Dijfertatlon concerning the Mijfeltoe-^ a moji wonderful fpecifick remedy for the cure of
convuljwe diftempers.

Other medicinal plants of this Order, are
Systematic Names. Officinal. English.

Poterium Sanguiforba
Sanguiforba officinalis
Plantago Pfyllium
Cufcuta europaea
Cufcuta epithymum

Pimpinella italica (berba)

Pimpindla italica (radix)

Pfyllium

Cufcuta

Epithymum

Common Burnet
Burnet Blood-wort
Clammy Plantain
Common Dodder:
Lefler Dodder,

IILICFS,

( 153 )

F I L I C E S.

POLYPODIUM VULGARE. COMMON POLYPODY.

SYNONYM A. Polypodium. P harm. Dale. 6 t,- Aljlon.i.

Rutty. 405. Lewis. 519. Edinb. New Difpenf. 259. Bergius,

844. Murray, v. 449. Gerard. Emac. 1132. Rati. Hijl. 137.

Sytiop. 1 17. Polypodium foliis pinnatis lanceolatis radice fquamata.

Hall. Hiji. n. 1696. Polypodium vulgare. Bauh. Pin. 359.

Park, Iheat. 1039. Hudfon. Ang. 387. Withering. Bot. Arr.

Hi. Ic, Curtis. Lond, Bolton. Fil. Brit. t. 18.

Cryptogamia Filices. Lin. Gen. Plant. 1179.

Gen. Ch. Frublif. in pundis fubrotundls, fparfis per difcum frondls.

Sp, Ch. P. frondibus pinnatifidis : pinnis oblongis fubferratis obtufis,.
radice fquamata.

ROOT perennial, creeping, in an horizontal diredion, fomewhat
thicker than a goofe’s quill, externally yellowifh, internally greenllh,
covered with brown fcales, and befet with fmall tubercles, from which
ilTue numerous fibres. Stalks or ftipites fmooth, tapering, grooved on
the upper fide. Frondes or leaves from half a foot to a foot in length,
pinnated ; pinnse oblong, flightly ferrated, obtufe. Capfules placed
in a row on each fide of the midrib of the leaf : they are of a roundifii
form, and granulated appearance, furnifhed with footftalks,and opening
horizontally into two hemifpheres, which are furrounded by an elaftic
ring. Seeds numerous, oval or reniform, yellow.

It grows on old walls, ftumps and roots of trees, and various fhady
places, frudifying from June till Odober. «

No. 13. — Part. II. 2

Tlie

( '54 )

“ The leaves of Polypody have a weak ungrateful fmell, and a
naufeous fweet tafte, leaving a kind of roughnefs and flight acrimony
in the mouth. They give out their fmell and tafte, together with a
yellow colour, both to water and redtified fpirit : the fpirituous tindlure
is fweeter than the watery ; but in infpilTation its fweetnefs is in great
part deftroyed, or covered by the other matter ; the fpirituous extradt,
as Cartheufer obferves, being to the tafte only fubaftringent and fuba-
crid, with very little fweetnefs, while the watery extradt retains the
full fweetnefs of the polypody.” *

The root of the Polypodium quercinum, or thofe that grow on the
oak, has been moft efteemed for medicinal ufe, though no juft reafon
can be afljgned for this preference. By the ancients it was employed
as a purgative, and thought to be peculiarly ufeful in expelling bile
and pituitous humours ; therefore much ufed in maniacal melancho-
lical diforders ; but to adt as cathartic the root muft be exhibited in
its recent ftate, and in a large dofe. Another charadier in which it
has been recommended, and for which from its fenfible qualities it
feems to promife more advantage, is that of a demulcent or pedtoral ;
thus joined with liquorice its good effedts have been experienced in
troughs and afthmatic aflTedtions.

However it is now rarely ufed in this country; nor have the French
authors, Poiflbner and Malouin,’’ who have cited inftances of its fuc-
cefs in mania, been able to reftore to it its antient reputation in this
calamitous diforder.

‘ Lewis. 1. c. Gmelin tried to obtain fugar from this root, but without fuccefs.
See DiJJert. Confideratio generalis jilicium. p. 38. \ ,

* See Med. de V Acad, de Scien. de Paris, IJSI*

ASPLENIUM

I

ASPLENIUM SCOLOPENDRIUM.

HARTS-TONGUE.

STNO NTMA. Scolopendrium feu Lingua cervina. Pharm. Ed,
Lingua cervina officinarum. Baiih. Pin. 350. Ger. Emac. 1138.
Park. Pheat. 1046. Ray. Hiji. 134. Synop. 116. Afplenium
petiolis hirfutisj folio longe lineari lanceolata, integerrimo circa
petiolum exficco. Hall. HiJl. n. 1695. Afplenium, Frondes lan-
ceolatse, &c. Scop. El. Cam. A. Scolopendrium. Hud/on. Flor.
Ang. 384. Withering. Bot. Arr. Hi. 51. Ic. Boltsn. Fil. Brit. t.
1 1 . Curt. Flor. Bond.

Cryptogamia Filices. Lin. Gen. Plant. 1178.

Cen. Ch. Fru5lific. in lineolis difci frondis fparfis.

Sp, Ch. A. frondibus fimplicibus cordato-lingulatis integerrimis, fti-
tibus hirfutis.

ROOT perennial, furnlflied with numerous fibres, which are brown
and fubdividing. Stipites or ftalks fimple, befet with molfy hair,
extending along the midrib. Leaves long, tongue-fhaped, pointed,
entire, fmooth, often a foot in length, of a ftiining yellowifh green
colour, and waved at the margin. Frudfifications placed in oblique
lines on each fide of the midrib of the leaf. Involucrum a membra-
nous linear-fhaped veficle, opening longitudinally. Capfules nume-
rous, on footftalks, globular, furniihed with an elaftic ring like thofe
of Polypodium. The feeds, which are exceedingly minute, and very
numerous, are thrown to a confiderable diftance by the veifel con-
taining them, being violently forced open by the elaftic power of
the ring.

It grows on moift fliady rocks, old walls, and at the mouths of
wells and caverns, producing its fructifications in Auguft and
September.

Befides

( -56 )

Befides the names above-mentioned, this plant has alfo been called
hemionitis and phyllitis : it is fuppofed to poflefs medicinal qualities
in common with feveral other fpecies of the fame genus, as golden
and common maiden hair, wall-rue, and common fpleen-wort, which
were termed the Jive capillary herbs^ and formerly held in great efti-
mation. To the tafte they are flightly aftringent, mucilaginous, and
, fweetifh ; and they change a folution of iron to a black colour ; their
fmell is inconfiderable, except the fcolopendrium, which, when recent,
and rubbed, manifefts a difagreeable odour.

They have been formerly ufed to ftrengthen the vifcera, reft rain
hosmorrhages, and alvine fluxes, expel gravel, and to open obftruc-
tions of the liver and fpleen ; as well as for the general purpofes of
demulcents and pedorals, as noticed when fpeaking of common
maidenhair, which with the prefent plant are the only two of the
live capillary herbs retained in the Materia Medica of the Edinburgh.
Pharmacopoeia.

The other Medicinal Plants of this Order, are

Systematic Names.
Pteris aquilina
Adiantum capillUs veneris
Afplenium Ceterach
Afplenium ruta muraria
Equifetum arvenfe

Filix femina
Capillus veneris
Ceterach
Ruta muraria
Eqiiifetum.

OEficinae.

English-.
Common Fern
True Maidenhair
Common Spleenwort

Wall-rue
Corn Horfe-tail

J LG^.

■«^

( '57 )

A L G ,

LICHEN CANINUS. ASH-COLOURED GROUND

LIVERWORT.

STNONTMaI. Lichen cinereus terreftris. P harm. Dale.

Alji on. 353. Lewis. 386. Ed. 'New Lifpenf. 219. Murray, v.
524. Rail. Hiji. iiy. Synop. j6. Hall, llijl.n. 1988. Lichen
caninus. Hudfon. Flor. Ang. 546. Relhan. Flor. Cant. 434.
Withering. Bot. Arr. Hi. 203. Ic. Blackw. 336. Dill. HiJl. Mujc.
p. 200. L 27. f. 102. Flor. Dan. 767.

Cryptogamia Algse. Lin. Gen. Riant. 1202.

Gen. Ch. Ma s c, Receptaculum fubrotundum, planiufculiim, nitidum.

Fem. Farina foliis adfperma.

E. Co R lA C E 1.

Sp, Ch. L. coriaceus repens lobatus obtufus planus : fubtus venofus
villofus, pelta marginali adfcendente.

GROWING on the ground, confifting of creeping leaves, of a
leather-like fubftance, greenifh, or afli-coloured, and appearing as if
covered with a farinaceous fubftance, about a fpan in length, one or
two inches in breadth, widening towards their extremities, feparated
into lobes, which are ftiort, blunt, fingle, or in ftrata ; beneath
woolly, veined, and attached by flender white fibres. Peltse or
targets round or oblong, terminal, hard, folid, afcending, of a reddifh
brown colour. It grows on heaths, dry paftures, and woods.

This vegetable has a weak faint fmell, and a mucid ftiarpifti tafte.
It was for a long time highly extolled as a medicine of fingular virtue
in preventing and curing that dreadful diforder which is produced by
No. 13.— -Part II. 2 R th«

( *58 )

the bite of rabid animals. The pulvis antilyflus, a powder compofed
of equal parts of this lichen and black pepper,* was firft recommended
as a prefervative againft the rabies canina by Mr. Dampier, brother of
the celebrated circumnavigator of that name ; and by the authority
of Sir Hans Sloane it was publifhed in the Philofophical TranfacStions.^
This powder was afterwards adopted in the London Pharmacopoeia in
1721, at the defire of Dr. Mead, who appears to have had repeated
experience of its good effedt's, and who declares that he had never
known it to fail where it had been ufed, with the affiftance of cold
bathing before the hydrophobia came on. He directs the patient to
be blooded to the extent of nine or ten ounces ; afterwards a dram
and a half of the powder is to be taken in the morning falling in
half a pint of cow’s milk warm, for four mornings fucceffively. After
thefe four dofes are taken, the patient is direded to go into the cold
bath every morning for a month, and then three times a week for a
fortnight longer.

On the character of Mead the pulvis antilylTus was long retained
in the London Pharmacopoeia ; but on the revifion of that book in,
1788 it was deferv.edly expunged..

» This was the original compofition ; but the quantity of pepper rendering the medi-
cine too hot, the powder was prepared of two parts of the lichen and one of pepper;

Vol. 20. p, 49. In the Hijlory of the Royal Society we are told that a dog became-
rabid, and bit feveral other dogs belonging to the Duke of York j but by the timely
adminiftratiorf of thi? lichen, they were all preferved from madnefs,. V oh 492. and,
vol. 3. 19.

V

FUNGI.

X‘:^-

( 159 )

FUNGI,

BOLETUS IGNIARIUS, TOUCHWOOD BOLETUS,

Or AGARIC.

STNONTMA. Agaricus chirurgorum. Pharm. Edinb. Agaricus
quernus. Phar?n, gener. Fungus in caudicibus nafcens, unguis
equini figura. Bauh. Pin. 372. Polyporus feflilis, convexo-pla-
nus, duriffimus, cinereus, inferne albus. Hall. Helv. n. 2288.
Rati. Synop. 22. n. 7. B. igaiarius. Hudfon. Flor. Ang. 625.
Withering. Bot.Arr. Hi. 425'. Lightfoot. Flor, Scot. 1034. Ic. Flor.
Dan. 953. Bulliard. 82. ^491. Schaffer. 137, 138 Battarra,

37'/

Cryptogamia Fungi. Lin, Gen. Plant, 1210.

Gen, Ch, Fungus horizontalis : fubtus porofus.

Pa rasit rcTj acaules.

Sp. Ch. B.. acaulis pulVinatus laevis, poris tenuiffimis,

FUBES green, grey, red, or brownifh. Pores yellowifh, changing
to red brown, very fine. Pileus fhaped like a horfe’s hoof, fmooth,
blackifli. With, 1. c.

This fungus is feflile,, horizontal, confifting of a very hard woody
fubftance, fhaped fomewhat like a horfe’s hoof ; on the upper fide
fmooth, but marked with circular ridges of different colours : the
under fide is flat, white, or yellowifh, full of very minute pores : the
internal fubftance is fibrous, hard, tough,, of a tawny brown, colour.
Seeds oval, contained in the tubes..

Fubes very flender, equal, colour of tanned leather ; in old plants
ftratified, a frefh layer being added every year. Pileus very hard,

admitting

{ i6o )

admitting of a polifli by rubbing; marked with concentric bands or
ridges, each broad ridge indicating a year’s growth, and three or four
fmall ones that of the different feafons of the year, varying extremely
in colour. F/^ fibrous. BuUiard.

It grows on the trunks of trees, and varies in fize from two to
feven or eight inches in diameter.

This fungus has been fpecifically named Igniarius, from being ufed
in fome places as tinder. For this purpofe the Germans boil it in
ftrong lye, dry it, and boil it again in a folution of faltpetre.*

This Agaric has been much ufed by furgeons as an external ftyptic,
and that produced on the oak has been generally preferred. Its ufe
was lirft borrowed from the French ; and it was fucceflively recom-
mended by Broffard, Morand, Bouquot, Faget, Rochard, De Mey,
who employed it not only to reftrain the bleedings in wounds, but to
prevent haemorrhages after amputations, which it is reported to have
done as effedually as the ligature. Several Englifh furgeons have
alfo publifhed cafes in which the Agaric was fuccefsfully ufed, as
Sharp, Warner, Gooch, and others.

It muft not be concealed, however, that feveral others, foon after
the introdudion of the ufe of the Agaric in this country, declared it
to be an ineffedual application ; and 'at this day, though it may be
ufeful in certain cafes, yet in haemorrhages from the larger arteries,
the ligature is the only remedy depended on both in France and
England.

To prepare the Agaric for furgical purpofes, the hard outer part is
cut off, and the foft inner fubftance is divided into pieces of different
fizes, and beat with a hammer to render it flill fofter.

® We are informed by Gleditch, that in Franconia they beat pieces of the inner
fubftance of this fungus, fo as to refemble foft leather, and few them together to form
garments.

APPENDIX

( i6i )

In order that this work fl)ould contain the whole of the
vegetable Materia Medica, included in the London
and Edinburgh Pharmacopoeias, it has been thought
necejfary to add the following -

APPENDIX.

Ammoniacum (gummi refma) Phann. Lond, £5* Edhib,

This concrete gummy-refinous juice is compofed of little lumps,
or tears, of a milky whitenefs : the external parts of the mafs
are yellowifh or brownilh, and the white tears change to the fame
colour on being expofed for fome time to the air.

We have hitherto had no information concerning the plant which
produces this drug, nor of the manner in which it is obtained :
judging however from the feeds and pieces of an umbelliferous
plant, with which it is often intermixed, there is no doubt of its
being the produce of a vegetable of this kind ; and as Ammoniacum
is very analogous to galbanum, the former, as well as the latter, is
probably procured from a fpecies of the Bubon. According to the
antient account of this drug, it was produced in the weft of Egypt,
where the famous temple of Jupiter Ammon formerly ftood, now
the kingdom of Barca. At prefent it is brought here from Turkey,
and from the Eaft Indies.

Ammoniacum has a ftrong and fomewhat ungrateful fmell, and a
naufeous fweetifh tafte, followed by bitternefs. Its effe<fts are fimilar
to thofe of galbanum, or rather of affafoctida, but it has been generally
preferred to either of thefe for refolving obftrudiions of the lungs ;
hence it is chiefly employed in afthmas and difficulty of expedora-
tion. In large dofes it opens the bowels.

No. 13. 2 S

Angusttjra

( 1*52 )

Angustura (cortex) Pharm. Edinb.

ANGUSTURA Bark is imported here in thin convex pieces, of
about an inch and an half or lefs in breadth, and about fix inches in
length. It is not fibrous, but hard, compadt, of a yell owifli brown
colour, and covered with a whitifh uneven epidermis. Reduced to
powder it has the yellow appearance of rhubarb. To the tafte it
manifefis a bitterifh and an aromatic quality, leaving a fenfation of
heat upon the tongue, which continues for fome time. Its odour,
when recent, is faid to be ungrateful, but in its dried Hate this is not
perceptible. An ounce of this bark affords, by means of alcohol,
about two drams of a refinous bitter extradf j and nearly three drams
and an half of a gummy extradt may be obtained from the like
quantity, by water.

Some have contended that this drug fhould be called Auguftine,
from St. Auguftin in Eaft Florida ; but it feems more properly named
Anguftura, which is a place in South America, whence it was
brought by the Spaniards to the Ifland of Trinidad.

From what tree it is obtained we find no certain account. It has
been fuppofed to be the bark of the Magnolia glauca ; but, with more
probability, it has been fince thought to be that of the Brucea antidy-
fenterica ; (fee Bruce s Travels^ vol. 5. p. 69. and y. F. Miller y
tab. 25.) or Brucea ferruginea of L’FIeritier and Aiton: {Hort. Kew» HL
397) for the defcription of the bark of this tree, given by Mr. Bruce,
agrees very well with the cortex angufturae ; and as far as can be
judged by the bark of a living plant of this fpecies, now growing in
the Royal Garden at Kew, this opinion is ftill further confirmed.

During the laft five years, in which the Anguftura bark has been
known as a medicine in this country, it has been fuccefsfully ufed in
the charadters of a febrifuge, tonic, and aftringent. In intermittents
it has been found equally effedlual as Peruvian bark, and generally
more acceptable to the ftomach ; and in cafes of diarrhoea, dyfpepfia,
fcrophula, and great debility, it has been found to be an ufeful remedy^
(See Brandey in Eondon Med* Journal for 1790.)

Balsamum.

( 1^3 )

Balsamum peruvianum. Pharm. Land. ^ Edinh,

THE tree which produces this balfam was not botanically afcer-
tained till the year 1781, when a fpecimen of it was fent by Muds,
from Terra Firma, to the younger Linnseus, who has defcribed it in the
Supplementum plantarum under the name of Myroxylon periiifertim.
Its fynonyma are Hoitziloxitl. Hernand, Phef. rer. Med. Nov. Hifp.
p» cum Jig. and Cabureiba Pif. Ind. Hiji. Nat. et Med. p. 119.

It grows in Peru, Brafd, Mexico, and Terra Firma.

Two kinds of this balfam are imported here; the common or
black, and the white. The firft, which is chiefly ufed, is about the
conflftence of a fyrup, of a dark opake reddifh brown colour, in-
clining to black, and of an agreeable aromatic fmell, and a very hot
pungent tafte.

Balfam of Peru is a very warm aromatic medicine, hotter than any
of the other natural balfams ; hence, in cold phlegmatic habits, it
has been given to warm the conftitution, ftrengthen the nervous
fyftem, and attenuate vifcid humours. It has been.alfo ufed by
furgeons in certain wounds and ulcers.

The White Balfam of Peru, or white ftorax, is brought here in
gourd {hells, and is of a pale yellow colour, thick, and tenacious, be-
coming by age folid and brittle.

This balfam is lefs hot than the former, but of a more agreeable
fragrant fmell, approaching fomewhat to that of ftorax.

Balsamum canadense. Pharm. Land. ^ Edinb.

THIS balfam is the refinous juice of the Pinus Balfamea, or Balm
of Gilead Fir ; a tree now well known in this country: which fhould
have been figured with the other pines, but the drawitig of it was
at that time unfortunately mill aid.

This balfam, which is tranfparent, of a light amber colour, and
tolerably firm confiflence, is brought to this country from Canada j
and hence receives the name of Canada balfam. It may be con-

fidered

( iH )

fidered as one of the pureft of the turpentines ; and on this account
it has lately been received into the Materia Medica ; and from being
lefs offenfive to the ftomach, promifes to fuperfede the balfam of
Copaiva.

Cassia lignea. [cortekyfiores nondumexplicata.') Pharm,Edinb.

IN the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia this is referred to the Laurus
Caflia ; but we have already Hated the caflia to be only a variety of the
Cinnamomum, and late obfervations tend to confirm this opinion.
As a medicine it is certainly in every refpe£t inferior to cinnamon.

CoLOMBA (radix) Pharm. Lond, ^ Edinb,

Synonyma, Calumba. Redi, Exp. circa varias res naturales, 1685.
p. 142. Raijs de Mofambique of the Portuguefe.

WE have no botanical account of the vegetable which furnifhes
this root. It is brought from Colomba in Ceylon in knobs, or
circular pieces, brown, and wrinkled on the outer furface, yellowifh
within, and confifting of cortical, woody, and medullary lamina.
Its fmell is aromatic ; its tafte is pungent, and naufeoufly bitter.

Pradlitioners in the Eaft Indies firft borrowed the ufe of this root
from the natives of thofe countries where it is produced, and found
it of great fervice in moft diforders of the ftomach and bowels, and
efpecially in the cholera, fo fatal in hot climates. It flopped the
vomiting in this complaint, more fpeedily and effectually than any
other medicine j an effedt attributed to its property of correcting the
putrid difpofition of the bile. With this intention its ufe has been
recommended by Dr. Percival ; and it has been fuccefsfully ufed in
this country, not only in bilious complaints,, but in various cafes of
dyfpepfta.

CUBEBA

( 1^5 )

CuBEBA. IP harm. Lond. Eif Ed'inh.

IT is generalFy admitted that this is a fpecies of pepper, and in the
Supplementum plantarum a defcription of the Piper Cubeba, a fhrub
growing in the woods of Java, is given : but we have no certain
account that this is the fpecies which furnifhes the officinal cubebs ;
nor have we any information of the manner in which this fruit is
colledled.

The long footftalk attached to the Cubeba diPinguifhes it at firft
fight from the other kinds of pepper, and hence it has been called
Piper caudatum. Though ftill retained in both the Britiffi Pharma-
copoeias, it is much inferior to pepper, and has juftly fallen into
difufe.

El EM I (refina) Pharm. Lond.

THE London College refers this refin to theAmyris Elemifera of
Linnseus ; but this celebrated naturalift, in applying the name Elemi-
fera to Catefby’s Frutex trifolius refmofus fioribus tetrapetalis albis
racemofis, has fince acknowledged himfelf to have been miftaken; as
appears in the Amoen. Acad. vol. 7. where he fuppofes the Elemi to
be produced by a fpecies of Burfera.

However, the parent plant of this refm is ftill imafcertained.

Elemi is brought here from the Spaniffi Weft Indies; it is moft
efteemed when foftiffi, fomewhat tranfparent, of a pale whitiffi colour,,
inclining a little to green, and of a ftrong, though not unpleafant
fmell.

Its ufe is confined to ointments and plafters.

Gambogia (gummi-refina) Pharm. Lond. Esf Edinb.

BY the induftry of Koenig, a phyfician who refided many years
at Tranquebar, it has been lately difeovered that the genuine Gam-
boge is the concrete juice of a tree which conftitutes a new genus,
under the name Stalagmitis [Schr. Gen. 1585). It belongs to the
clafs Polygamia monoecia, and is fully deferibed by Profeftbr Murray
in the Comment. Gotting. (9. p. 175.) and App. Med. Vol. 4.

No. 13. 2 T

The,

( t66 )

The Cambogia gutta of Linnaeus, according to Koenig, alfo affords
A yellow juice ; but this, on drying, acquires a brownifh hue, and is
confidered as a fpurious kind of Gamboge.

Gamboge is brought from the Eaft Indies, and Is well known to
operate powerfully both upwards and downwards. Geoffroy fays^,
that its emetic tendency is counteraded, if given in combination with
mercurius dulcis, and that it may be given with lefs danger from its
violence, in a liquid form than in fubftance. In hydropic cafes it is
often ufed to quicken the operation of other purgatives.

Though the ordinary dofe of this cathartic is two or three grains,
yet for the expulfion of the tape worm it has been given, with an
equal quantity of vegetable alkali, to the extent of fifteen grains.

Kino (refina) Pharm. Lond, Ssf Edinb.

Sen gummi rubrum qflringens gambienfe.

THE tree, from which this refin is obtained, though not yet
botanically afcertained, is known to grow on the banks of the river
Gambia, in Africa. The firfl account of this drug is related by
Moor in his “ Travels into the interior parts of Africa f Ed. i.p. 1 13.
by which we learn, that on wounding the bark of the tree, the fluid
Kino immediately iffues drop by drop, and by the heat of the fun is
formed into a hard mafs. This, which was for fome time confidered
as a fpecies of fanguis draconis, was afterwards fully explained, and
its medical chafadter eftablifhed, by Dr. John Fothergill. ( Med. Obf,
& Inq. vol. I.) ’

Kino has a confiderable refemblance to catechu, but redder, and is
more firm, refinous, and aftringent. It is now in common ufe, and
is the moft efficacious vegetable aftringent, or flyptic, in the Materia
Medica.

Myrrha (gummi-refina) Pharm. Lond. ^ Ejdinb.

THOUGH Mr. Bruce (Travels to dif cover the Source of the Nile,
vol. 5. 27.) was unable to obtain a botanical fpecimen of the tree

which

( 167 )

whlcli produces Myrrh, yet, from his account of it, we have no doubt
in referring it to the genus mimofa ; for in his opinion it very
nearly refembles the acacia vera^ which is the mimofa nilotica
figured by us in the fecond volume of Medical Botany ; and this
correfponds with the defcription of the tree given by Diofcoridcs.
The trees producing Myrrh grow on the eaftern coaft of Arabia
Felix, and in that part of Abyffinia which is fituated near Red
Sea, and called by Mr. Bruce Troglodyte. The fame author fays,
“ In order to have Myrrh of the ■ firft or more perfe£l fort, the
Savages chufe a young vigorous tree, whofe branches are without
“ mofs or any parafite plant, and above the firft large branches give
the tree a deep wound with an axe. The Myrrh which flows the
firft year through this wound is Myrrh of the firft growth ; and
never is in any great quantity. This operation is performed fome-
“ time after the rains have ceafed, that is, from April to June, and
“ the Myrrh is produced in July and Auguft. The fap, once
accuftomed to ilfue through the gafh, continues fo to do fpon-
“ taneoufly at the return of every feafon : but the tropical rains,
“ which are very violent, and continue fix months, walh fo much
“ dirt, and lodge fo much water in the cut, that in the fecond year
“ the tree has begun to rot and turn foul in that part, and the Myrrh
“ is of a fecond quality, and fells in Cairo about a third cheaper than
“ the firft. The Myrrh alfo produced from gailies near the roots,
“ and in the trunks of old trees, is of the fecond growth and quality,
“ and fometimes worfe. This, however,, is the good Myrrh of the
Italian fhops every where in Venice. It is of a black red foul
“ colour, folid, and heavy, lofmg nothing in weight, and eafily
“ diftinguiflied from that of Arabia Felix. The third and worft kind
is gathered from old wounds or gafhes formerly made in old trees,
“ or Myrrh that, paflang unnoticed, has hung upon the tree a whole
“ year, of a black earth-like colour, heavy, with little fmell or bit-
ternefs.” ( Phil. Pranf. vol. 65. J — Mr. Bruce alfo fays, that faflii
gum is fraudulently mixed with the Myrrh.

The medical effefls of Myrrh are warm, corroborant, and antifep-
tic ; it has alfo been fuccefsfully employed in phthifical cafes as a
pedioral ; and though allied to fome of the balfams, it is found to be
more efficacious and lefs irritating to the fyftem.

Palma

( i68 )

Palma (fm£lus oleum exprelTum) Pharm. Edinb.

PALM Oil is produced chiefly from the Cocos butyracea, thus
fpecifically na.med from the butter-like appearance of the oil which it
yields. It is well known, however, that other palms furnifh this
undfuoiis fubflance, as the Elaeis Guineenfis L. (fee 'Jacqiiin) ; alfo
“ The palm-oil tree” of Sloane, or Palma oleofa of Hughes. To thefc
we may add the Palma dadtylifera aculeata frudlu corallino major of
Barrere ( de la France eqmnoxiale ), and the fpinous palms (Palmiers
Avoira) mentioned by Aublet (Gui'ane Franc, tom. 2. App. p.

In the Supplementum plantarum we find not only a full deferip-
tion of the Cocos butyracea, on the authority of Mutis, but alfo an
account of the method ufed to obtain the oil by the inhabitants of
the warmer parts of America, where this palm is a native.

The fruit of this palm, which is triangular, yellow, and about
the fize of a plum, is bruifed and thrown into water, by which the
kernels are gradually dilfolved without the aid of heat ; the oil then
rifes to the furface, and on being wafhed two or three times is ren-
dered fit for ufe.

When brought to this country, it is of the confiftence of an oint-
ment, and of an orange yellow colour, with little tafte, and of a ftrong
though not difagreeable fmell. When it becomes white it is rancid,
and ought to be rejected. In the countries where this oil is pro-
duced, it is ufed for culinary and dietetic purpofes ; with us it has
been confined to external application, in pains, tumours, and fprains;
but it feems to have no advantage over the other bland oils.

Sagapenum (gummi-refina) Pharm, Lond. & Edinb.

IT is conjedured that this concrete juice is the produdion of an
umbelliferous plant, like ammoniacum, and for the fame reafons. It
is brought from Perfia and Alexandria in large malTes, externally
yellowifh, internally paler, and of a horny clearnefs. Its tafte is
hot and biting, its fmell of the alliaceous or foetid kind.

Its virtues are fimilar to thofe which we have aferibed to affafoetida,
but weaker, and confequently it is lefs powerful in its effeds.

Sarcacolla

( 169 )

Sarcocolla (gummi-refma) Pharm. Land,

LINNjEUS fuppofes this to be produced by the Pensa mucronata,
an Ethiopian flirub of the order conglomeratae. Others however
have, in this inftance, doubted his authority, and the fa£t is ftill
undetermined.

Sarcocolla is a concrete juice, brought from Pcrfia and Arabia in
fmall grains of a pale yellow, having alfo fometimes mixed with them
a few of a deep red colour. Its tafte is bitter, but followed with fome
degree of fweetnefs. It has been chiefly ufed for external purpofes,
and, as its name imports, has been thought to conglutinate wounds
and ulcers ; but this opinion now no longer exifts.

It is an ingredient in the pulvis e cerulTa.

Radix Indica Lopeziana. Pharm. Edinh.

THIS root is called after Lopez, a Portuguefe, who, according to
Rcdi, found it growing in the province of Zanquebar in Africa ; but
Gaubius ftates it to be a native of Afia, and brought from Goa in
Malacca to Batavia.

To what tree this root is to be referred we have not the means to
determine.

The root is brought in pieces of eight or nine inches in length,
and from one to two inches in thicknefs, though generally fmaller,
confifting of a whitifh or ftraw-coloured light wood, having a brownifli
firm medullary fubftance. Its bark is foft, wrinkled, brown, fome-
what fpongy, and covered with a thin yellowifh epidermis.

This root, which pofleflfes no remarkably fenfible qualities, is re-
garded in the Eaft Indies as a medicine of extraordinary efficacy
in diarrhoeas ; and the numerous trials of it, made by Gaubius and
others, have tended greatly to confirm its reputation.

Its dofe, in powder, is from 15 to 30 grains, repeated three or
four times a day.

2 U

No. 13.

INDEX.

INDEX TO THIS VOLUME

t

Systematic Names. Officinal. English. Page

Clutia Eluteria

Cafcarilla

ASPERIFOLI^.

Cafcarilla

2

Pulmonana officinalis

Pulmonaria

Common Lungwort

Lithofpermum officinale

Lithofpermum

Common Gromwell

7

Anchufa officinalis

Bugloflum

Officinal Buglofs

9

Symphytum officinale

Confolida

Comfrey

lO

Cynogloflum officinale

Cynogloflum

Hounds-tongue

12

Borago officinalis

Borago

PERSONATE.

Borage

1+

Verbena officinalis

V erbena

Common Vervain

17

Veronica’ officinalis

Veronica

Male Speed-well

19

Euphrafia officinalis

Euphrafia

Common Eyebright

21

Antirrhinum Linaria

Linaria

Common Toad-flax

Vitex Jgnus Cajius

Agnus caftus
SOLANACE.E.

Chafte-tree

26

Strychnos Nux vomica

Nux vomica

Vomic Nut

29

Phyfalis Alkekengi

Alkekengi

Winter Cherry

33

Atropa Mandr agora

Mandragora.

Mandrake

35

Solanum nigrum

Solanum

CONTORT iE.

Garden Nightfhade

37

Afclepias Vincetoxicum

Vincetoxicum

PUTAMINEiE.

Officinal Swallow-wort

40

Capparis fpinofa

Capparis

H E S P E R I D E

Caper-Bufh

4£

Melaleuca Leucadendron

Cajeputa

C Y M O SiE.

Cajaput-tree

44

CofFea arabica

CofFea

sue C ULENT^.

Coffee-tree

48

Sedum acre

Sedum. acre s. minus

Wall Stone-crop

54

Saxifraga granulata

Saxifraga alba

TRIHILAT^.

White Saxifrage

56

Tropaeolum majus

Naflurtium indicum

Naflurtium

58

Berberis vulgaris

Berberis

Common Barberry

60

Swietenia Mahagoni

Swietenia

Mahogany

62

INDEX

SARMENTACEiE.

Systematic Names.

Officinal.

English.

Page

Smilax China

China

Chinefe Smilax

65

Rufcus aculeatus

Rufcus

Knee Holly

68

Ariftolochia Clematltis

Ariftolochia tenuis

Climbing Birthwort

69

Amygdalus Perjica

P O M A C E iE.

Perfica

Peach-tree

71

Prunus Lauro~cerafus

Laurocerafus

Cherry Laurel

73

Betonica officinalis

VERTI CILLAT^.
Betonica

Wood Betony

78

Origanum DiSiamnus

Didtamnus creticus

Dittany of Crete

80

'Teucrium Chamcedrys

Chamaedrys

Common Germander

82

Eryfimum officinah

S I L I Q^U O S
Eryfimum

Hedge Muftard

84

Eryfimum AlUaria

Alliaria

Sauce-alone

86

Ranunculus acris

MULTISILIQ.U^.
Ranunculus pratenfis

Meadow Crowfoot

88

Pzeonia officinalis

Paeonia

Common Peony

91

Cichorlum Intybus

COMPOSITE.

Cichoreum

Wild Succory

94-

Matricaria Parthenium

, Matricaria

Common Feverfew

97

Laftuca virofa

Ladtuca virofa

Stinking Wild Lettuce

y t

99

Saponaria officinalis

CARYOPHYLLEiE.

Saponaria Soapwort

102

Viola tricolor

CAMPANACEiE.
Viola tricolor

Panli^

104

Aftragalus exfcapus

PAPILION ACEiE.
Aftragalus exfcapus

Stemlefs Milk Vetch

107

Pterocarpus fantalinus

Santalum rubrum

Red Saunders

1 09

Siphonia elajiica

T R I C O C C yE.
Refina elaftica

Elaftic refin-tree

III

Thea

Thea

Tea- tree

116

Wintera aromatic a

Winteranus (cortex)

Winter’s bark-tree

122

Agrimonia Eupatoria

SENTICOSiE.

Agrimonia

Common Agrimony

124

Geum urbanum

Caryophyllata

Common Avens

126

INDEX.

Systematic Names,

D U M O S

Officinal.

English.

Pag*

Sambucus Ebulus

Ebulus

Dwarf Elder

I2§

Rhus coriarta

Sumach

Elm-leav’d Sumach

130

J

Gentiana purpurea

R O T A C E
Curfuta

Purple Gentian

132

Chelidonium majus

RHOEADES.
Chelidonium majus

Greater Celandine

- 134

Santalum album

B I C 0 R N E S.
Santalum citrinum

Yellow Saunders

136

Angelica fyhejlris

UMB E LLAT.®.

Angelica fylveftris

Wild Angelica

139

Phellandrium aquaticum

Fceniculum aquaticum

Fme-leav’d WaterHemlock 140

Oenanthe crocata

Oenanthe crocata

Water Uropwort

142

Cicuta viroja

Cicuta aquatica

Water Hemlock

14s

Galium Aparint

STELLAT.®,

Aparine «

Cleavers

148

Vifcum album

CONGLOMERATE.

Vifcus Mifleltoe

ISO

Polypodium vulgare

F I L I C E S.
Polypodium

Common Polypody

*53

Alplenium Scolopendrium

1 Scolopendrium

Hart’s 'I'ongue

155

A L G E.

Lichen caninus

Lichen cinereus terreftris

Ground Liverwort

*57

Boletus igniarius

FUNGI.

Agaricus chirurgorum

Agaric

159

Appendix -

161

A GENERAL INDEX TO THE PLATES

A GENERAL INDEX TO THE PLATES,

In which the Plants are arranged according to their Natural Orders.

Systematic Names.

I.— C O N I F E R.^.
Officinal.

English.

Plate

Pinus fjl<vejiris

Pix liquida

Scotch Fir

207

• Picea

Terebinthina vulgaris

Silver Fir Tree

Z09

^bies

Pix Burgundica

Norway Spruce Fir Tree

208

• Larix

Terbinthina veneta '

Common White Larch Tree

210

Juniperus communis

Juniperus

Common Juniper

95

Lycia

Olibanum gummi refna

Olibanum Juniper

206

Sabina

Sabina

Common Savin

94

II.-

-AMENTACE^.

Salix fragilis

Salix

Crack Willow ^

198

Juglans regia

Juglans

Common Walnut Tree

127

Quercus Robur

Quercus

Common Oak Tree

1 26

Piftacia ’Terebinthus

Terebinthina chia

Common Turpentine Tree

'55

— Lentifcus

Maftiche

Common Maftich Tree

152

III.-

-CO M P O SIT/E.

Arftium Lappa

Bardana

Common Burdock

'5

Centaurea beneiibla

Carduus benediftus

Holy Thiftle

42

Cynara Scoljmus

Cinara

Artichoke

199

Leontodon Taraxacum

T araxacum

Common Dandelion

3

Artemifia Abrotanum

Abrotanum

Common Southernwood

119

»—■ — Abjinthium

Abfinthium

Common Wormwood

120

• ^vulgaris

Artemifia

Common Mugwort

121

maritima

Abfinthium maritimum

Sea Wormwood

122

Santonta

Santonicum

Tartarian Wormwood

123

Tanacetum vulgare

Tanacetum

Common Tanfy

» «5

Tuflilago Fat-far a

TulTiIago

Colt’s Foot

>3

Anthemis ncbdis

Chamaemelum

Common Camomile

103

Py ret hr urn

Pyrethrum

Pcllitory of Spain

104

Chicorium Intybus

Chicoreum

Wild Succory

248

Matricaria Parthenium

Matricaria

Common Feverfew

249

Laftuca tvirofa

Laduca virofa

Stinking Wild Luttuce

250

Inula Hdenium

Enula campana

Elecampane

108

Arnica montana

Arnica

Mountain Arnica

4

Achillea Millefolium

Millefolium

Common Yarrow

64

IV.-

-A G G R E G AT^.

Valeriana officinalis

V aleriana fy Iveftris

Officinal Valerian

96

V.-

-CONGLOMERATiE.

Plantago major

Plantago

Great Plantane

»4

Vifcum album

Vifcum

Mifleltoe

270

2 X

GENERAL INDEX TO THE PLATES.

VI.— U MBELLATiE.

Systematic Names.

Officinal.

English. Plate

Eryngium maritimum

Eryngium

Sea Eryngo

102

Daucus Carota

Daucus fylveftris

Wild Carrot

i6i

Conium maculatum

Cicuta

Common Hemlock

22

Ferula Affa fcstida

Afafoeticfa, gummi rejina

Afafoetida Gigantic Fennel

8

Angelica Archangelica

Angelica

Garden Angelica

5°

Angelica fylvejiris

Angelica fylveftris

Wild Angelica

265

Phellandrium aquticum

Fceniculum aquaticum

Fine -leav’d Water Hemlock

266

CEenanthe crocata

CEnanthe crocata

Water Dropwort

267

Cicuta 'virofa

Cicuta aquatica

Water Hemlock

268

Bubon Galhanum

Galbanum, gnmmi rejina

Lovage-leaved Bubon

12

Cuminum Cymynum

■Cuminum

Cumin

191

Coriandrum Jatinjum

Coriandrum

Common Coriander

181

SiUm 7iodijiorum

Sium

Creeping Water Parfnep

182

Imperatoria OJiruthium

Imperatoala

Common Mafterwort

3S

Paftinaca Opopanax

Opoponax, gummi rejina

Rough Parfnep

113

Anethum graaieolens

Anethum

Common Dill

*59

F ceniculuen

Fceniculum

Common Fennel

160

Carum Carui

Caruon

Common Carraway

45

Pimpinella Saxi/raga

Pimpinella

Small Burnet Saxifrage

179

— Anifum

Anifum

Anife

180

Apium P etrofelinum

Petrofelinum

Common Parfley

73

Li'gufticum LevifiscufH

Levifticum

Lovage

190

VII.

— HEDERACEiE.

•

Vltls ‘vinifera

Vitls

Common Vine

*95

Panax quinqefolium

Ginfeng

Ginfeng

99

VIII.— SAR M E N TAG

E.$.

Smilax China

China

Chinefe Smilax

236

Smilax Sar/aparilla

Sarfaparilla

Sarfaparilla Smilax

*94

Ciflampelos Pareira

Pareira brava

Pareira brava Ciffampelos

82

Ariftolochia Serpentaria

Serpentaria virginiana

Snakeroot Birthwort

106

longa

Ariftolochia rotunda

Long-rooted Birthwort

*07

Clematitis

Ariftolochia tenuis

Climbing Birthwort

238

Afarum europeeum

Afarum

Afarabacca

86

Rufcus aculeaius

Rufcus

Knee Holly

237

IX.-

-STELLATE.

Rubla tinSiorum

Rubla tinftorum

Dyer’s Madder

68

Galium Aparine

Aparine

Cleavers

269

Spigelia marilandica

Spigelia marilandica

Perennial Worm-grafs

*05

X.~

C Y M 0 S

Coffea arabka

CofFea

Coffee-tree

23®

GENERAL INDEX TO THE PLATES

XI.— C UCURBITACE^.

Systematic Names.

Officinal.

English.

Plate

Cucumis Colocynthis

Colocynthis

Bitter Cucumber

«7S

Momordica Elaterium

Cucumis agreflis

Wild Cucumber

43

Bryonia alba

Bryonia

XII.— S OLONACE^E.

White Briony

189

Solanum nigrum

Solanum

Garden Nlghtlhade

226

Solanum Dulcamara

Dulcamara

Woody Nightlhade

33

Atropa Belladonna

Belladonna

Deadly Nightlhade

1

Atropa Mandragora

Mandragora

Mandrake

225

Hyofciamus niger

Hyofciamus

Black Henbane

52

Datura Stramonium

Stramonium

Common Thorn Apple

1 24.

Nicotiana Tabacum

Nicotiana

Tobacco

60

Capficum annuum

Piper indicum

Annual Capficum

144

Phyfalis Alkekengi

Alkekengi

Winter Cherry

224

Verbafcum Thapfus

Verbafcum

Common Mullein

125

Digitalis purpurea

Digitalis

Common Foxglove

2+

Strychnos Nux vomica

Nux vomica

XIII.— C AMPANACE^.

Vomic Nut

223

Convolvulus Scammonia

Scammonium

Scammony Bindweed

s

Convolvulus Jalappa

Jalapium

Jalap Bindweed

21

Lobelia Jiphilitica

Lobelia

Blue Lobelia

63

Viola odorata

Viola

Sweet Violet

81

Viola tricolor

Viola tricolor

XIV.— C O N T O R T iE.

Panfie

252

Cinchona officinalis

Peruvianus cortex

Peruvian Bark Tree

209-

Cinchona rubra

Cortex per. rub.

Red Peruvian Bark

201

Afclepias Vincetoxicum

Vincetoxicum
XV — R O T A C E A).

Officinal Swallow-wort

237

Gentiana lutea

Gentiana

Yellow Gentian

156

Gentiana purp?irea

Curfuta

Purple Gentian

262

Chironia Ceniaurium

Centaurium minus

LelTer Centanry

>57

Menyanthes trifoliata

Trifolium paludofum
XVI.— S E P I A R I A.

Buck Bean

2

Olea europcea

Oliva

XVII — B I C O R N E S.

Common European Olive

136

Santalum albnm

Santalum citrinum

Yellow Saunders

264

Arbutus Uva urji

Uva urli

Bear- Berry

70

Styrax officinale

Styrax, refina

Storax Tree

71

Styrax Benzoin

Benzoe, refina

Gum Benjamin Tree

72

Rhododendron Chryfanthum Rhododendron

Yellow Rhododendron

>4?

GENERAL INDEX TO THE PLATES.

XVIII.— A SPERIFOLI^.

Systematic Names.

Officinal.

English.

Plats

Anchula tinS'.ria

Anchufa

Dier’s Buglofs

92

Anchuia ojfijinalis

B ugloffum

Officinal Buglols

214

Pulmonaria offic brails

Pulmonaria

Common Lungwort

212

Lithorpermum officinale

Lithofpermum

Common Gromwell

213

Symphytum offcinale

C ololida

Comfrey

215

Cynoglo.Tum offcinale

CynogloITum

Houndliongue

216

Borago officinalis

Borago

Borage

217

XIX.

,— VE RTI C I LL AT^.

Teucrium Mar urn

Marum fyriacum

Herb Mallich

5^

Teucrium Scorciium

Scordium

Water Germander

57

Teucrium Chamadrys

Chama;drys

Common Germander

243

"I'liymus 'vulgaris

Thymus

Garden Thyme

109

Thymus Serpyllum

Serpyllum

Wild Thyme

no

Meliffa officinalis

Meliffa

Common Balm

H7

Hyllbpus cffcin/ilis

Hyflbpus

Common Hyfibp

65

Lavandula Spica

Lavendula

Common Lavender

55

Origanum milgare

Origanum

Common Marjoram

164

Origanum Marjorana

Marjorana

Sweet Marjoram

165

Origanum DiSiamnus

Didtamnus creticus

Dittany of Crete

242

Mentha piperita

Mentha piperitis

Pepper Mint

169

ivlentha 'viridis

Mentha fativa

Spear-Mint

170

Alentha Pulegium

Pulegium

Pennyroyal-Mint

J71

Marrubium 'vulgare

Marrubium

Common Horehound

97

Salvia officinalis

Salvia

Garden Sage

38

r.ofmarinus officinalis

Rofmarinus

Rofemary

87

Glecoma hederacea

Hedera terreftris

Ground Ivy

28

Betonica officinalis

Betonica

Wood Betony

241

XX.-

-PERSONAT/E.

Gratiola officinalis

Gratiola

Hedge-HylTop

47

Veronica officinalis

Veronica

Male Speedwell

219’

Veronica Beccabunga

Becabunga

Brooklime

7

Verbena officinalis

Verbena

Common Vervain

218

Euphralia officinalis

E uphrafia

Common Eyebright

220

Antirrhinum Linar ia

Linaria

Common Toadflax

221

Vitex Agnus Caffus

Agnus Callus

Chafte-tree

222

XXI.-

— R H O E A D E S.

Papaver Rhoeas

Papaver erraticum

Red Poppy

]86

Papaver fon.niferum

Papaver album. Opium

Common White Poppy

18s

Chelidonium majus

Chelidonium majus

Greater Celandine

263

XXII.— P U T A M I N E
Capparis

Caper-Bufli

Capparis fplmfa

223

GENERAL INDEX TO THE PLATES,

XXIII.— S I L I QJJ O S

Ststematic Names
SIfymbrium Najlurtium
Cardamine pratenjis
Sin apis nigra
Cochlearia off.cinalis
Cochlearia Armor acia
Eryfimum officinale
Eryfimum Alliaria

Officinal,
Nafiurtium aquaticum
Cardamine
Sinapi

Cochlearia hortenfis
Raphanus rufticanus
Eryfimum
Alliaria

English.
Water- C relies
Ladies Smock
Common Muftard
Scurvy -Grafs
Horfe-Radilh
Hedge Muftard
Sauce alone

Plate

4S

30

29

150

244

245

XXIV.— P APILIONACEiE.

Dolichos pruriens
GeolFroya inermis
Spartium fcoparium
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Aftragalus Tragacantha
Aftragalus exfcapus
Trigonella F oenicum gracum
•Pterocarpus fantalinus

Hilichos
Geoffrsa
Genifta
Glycyrrhiza
Tragacantha, gummi
Aftragalus exfcapus
Fcenum grscum
Santalum rubrum

C owhage Dolichos 1 7 z

Smooth Baftard Cabbage-tree 1 1 2
Common Broom 89

Common Liquorice 167

Goats Thorn Milk Vetch 98

Stemlefs Milk Vetch 253

Common Fenugreek 158

Red Saunders 254

XXV.— L OMENTACE^,

Caflia Senna

- Senna

Senna Caflia

162

Cafiia Fijiula

Caflia fiftularis

Purging Caflia

163

Mimofa Catechu

Cetechu, extraSiunt

Catechu Mimofa

66

Mimofa nilotica

Arabicum, gummi

Egyptian Thorn Mimofa

67

Tamarindus indica

Tamarindus

Tamarind Tree

166

Hosmatoxylum campechianum Lignum Campechenfe

Logwood Tree

•7

Polygala Senega

Seneka

Rattlefnake-Root Milk -Wort

: 93

F umaria officinalis

Fumaria

Common Fumitory

88

XXVI.— M U L T I S I L I QJJiE.

Aconitum Napellus

Napellus

Common Wolf’s Bane

6

Delphinium Staphifagrict

Staphifagria

Stavefacre

15 +

Helleborus niger

Helleborus niger

Black Hellebore

18

Helleborus feetidus

Flelleborafter

Bear’s Foot

•9

Anemone pratenjis

Pulfatilla nigricans

Meadow Anemone

148

Ranunculus acris

Ranunculus pratenlis

Meadow Crowfoot

246

Paeonia officinalis

Pasonia

Common Peony

247

Clematis re£ia

Flammula Jovis

Upright Virgin’s Bower

62

Diftamnus albus

Didlamnus albus

Baftard Dittany

1 16

Ruta gra'veolens

Ruta

Common Rue

37

XXVIL— S E N T I C 0 S

Potehtilla reptans

Pentaphyllum

Cinquefoil

59

Rubus idaus

Rubus idaeus

Rafp-Berry

138

Rofa centifolia ■

Rofa damafeena

Hundred-leav’d Rofe

140

Rofa gallica

Rofa rubra

Red Officinal Rofe

141

Rofa canina

Cynolbatus, fruSus

Hip, or Dog Rofe

J39

Agrimonia Eupatoria

Agrimonia

Common Agrimony

258

Geum urbauum

Caryophyllata
2 Y

Common Avens

259

GENERAL INDEX TO THE

XXVIII.— P O M A C E AJ.
Systematic Names Officinal.

PLATES.

English.

Plate

Pyrus Cydonia

Cydonium malum

Quince Tree

79

Prunus domejlica

Prunum gallicum

Prune, or Plum Tree

85

Prunus fpinofa

Prunum fylveftre

Sloe Tree

84

Prunus Laurocerafus

Laurocerafus

Cherry Laurel

240

Amygdalus comrr.nnis

Amygdala

Common Almond

83

Amygdalus Perjica

Perlica

Peach Tree

239

Punica Granaium

Granatum

Pomegranate

58

Citrus Medica

Limon

Lemon Tree

184

Citus Auranlium

Aurantium hifpalenfe

Orange Tree

T

*83

Ribes rubrum

Ribes rubrum

Red Currant

74

Ribes nigrum

Ribes nigrum

Black Currant

75

Myrtus Pimenia

XXIX.— H esperidea:.

Pimento

All- Spice

26

Caryophyllus aromaticus

Cary ophy Hum aromaticum

Clove Tree

*35

Melaleuca Leucadendron

Cajeputa

Cajeput-tree

229

Sedum acre

XXX.— S U C CULE nta:.
Sedum acre s. minus

Wall Stone-crop

231

Saxifraga granulata

Saxifraga alba

White Saxifrage

232

XXXI.— COLUMNIFERiE, S. MALVACE^.

Althtea officinalis

Althaea

Marfli Mallow

53

Malva Jyl'veJiris

Malva

Common Mallow

54

XXXII.— G R U I N A L E S.

Guaiacum officinalis

Guaiacum

Guaiacam

16

Quaflia amara

Quaflia

Bitter Quaflia

76

Quaflia Simaruba

Simarouba

Simaruba Quaflia

77

Linum ujitatiffimum

Linum

Common Flax

III

Oxalis Acets/ella

Acetofella

Wood-Sorrel

20

XXXIII.— C ARYOPHYLLE.E.

Dianthus Caryophyllus

Caryophyllum rub.

Clove Pink

80

Saponaria officinalis

Saponaria

Soapwort

251

XXXIV.— CALYCANTHE MiE.
XXXV.— A SCYROIDEiE.

Cillus creticus

Ladanum, rejina

Cretan Ciflus

9*

Hypericum perforatum

Hypericum

St. John’s Wort

10

Fraxinus Omus

Manna

Flowering Alh

56

XXXVI.— C O A D U N A TiE.

GENERAL INDEX TO THE PLATES,

XXXVII.— D U M O S

Ststematic Names.

Officinal.

English.

Plats

Rhamnus cathartiats

Spina cervina

Purging Buckthorn

114

Sairbucas nigra

Sambiicus

Common Flack Elder

76

Sambucus Ehulus

Ebulus

Dwarf Elder

263

Rhus coriaria

Sumach

Elm leav’d Sumach

261

Amyris gdeadenjts

Bahamum gileadenfe

Balfam of Gilead Tree

192

Copaifera ojicinalii

Balfamum Copaiva

Balfam of Capaiva Tree

137

Toluifera Balfamum

Balfamum tolutanum

Balfam of Tolu Tree

*93

XXXVm,— T R I H I L A T^,

^fculus Hippo -cajianum

Hippocaftanum

Horfe-Chefnut

12S

Tropaolum majus

Nafturtiam indicum

Nafturtium

233

Berberis ^vulgaris

Berberis

Common Barberry

234-

Swietenia Mahagoni

Swietenia

Mahogany

23s

XXXIX.— T R I C O C C

Croton Cafcarilla

Cafcarilla

Willow- leaved Croton

41

Clutia Eluteria

Cafcarilla

Cafcarilla

21 1

Ricinus communis

Ricinus

Palma Chrifti

61

Siphonia elajiica

Refina elaftica

ElalHc Refin-tree

255

Thea

Thea

Tea- tree

2^6

Wintera aromatica

Winteranus (cortex)

Winter’s Bark-tree

257

XL.-

-O L E R A G E

Solfbla Kali

Barilla, Natron

Prickly Salt-Wort

>43

Chenopodium Vul‘varia

Atriplex foetida

Stinking Goofefoot

»45

Rumex aquaticus

Hydrolapathum

Water Dock

178

Rumex Acetofa

Acetofa

Common Sorrel

6g

Rheum palmatum

Rhabarbarum

Officinal Rhubarb

46

Polygonum Bijlorta

Billorta

Briftort Snakeweed

34

Laurus Cinnamomum

Cinnamomum

Cinnamon Tree

27

Laurus nobilis

Laurus

Sweet Bay

32

Laurus Sajfafras

Saffafras

Saffafras Tree

3*

Laurus Camphora

Camphora

Camphor Tree

»S5

Canella alba

Canella alba

Laurel-leaved Canella

>'7

Myriftica Mofchata

N ux mofchata

Nutmeg Tree

>34

XLI.

— S C A B R I D iE.

Parietarla officinalis

Parietaria

Wall Pellitory

142

Dorllenia Lontraytr'va

Contrayerva

Contrayerva

5*

Ricus Carica

Carica

Fig Tree

130

Urtica dioica

Urtica

Common Nettle

146

Morus nigra

Morum

Mulberry Tree

1 29

Ulmus campejlrit

Ulmus

Common Elm

197

XLU

V ERPECULiE.

Daphne Me%.trtum

Mezereum

Mezereon

23

XLIIL— P A L M iS.

GENERAL INDEX TO THE PLATES.

XLIV.— P I P E R I T iE.

Systematic Names.

Officinal. ft,

English. Pl

ATE

Piper nigrum

Biper nigrum ’ *

Black Pepper

187

Piper longutn

Piper longum

Long Pepper

188

Aeorus Calamus

Calamus aromaticus

Sweet Flag

Arum maculatum

Arum

Common Arum

25

Amomum Zingiber

XLV.— S CITAMINE^.
Zingiber

Ginger

II

Amomum Cardamosnum

Cardamomum minus

Cardamom

'31

Curcuma longa

Curcuma

Turmeric

132

Ksmpferia rotunda

Zedoaria

Zedoary

»33

Jjilium candidum

XLVL— L I L I A C E iE.
Lillum album

Common White Lily

101

Scilla maritima

Scilla

Officinal Squill’

118

Allium fatinjusn

Allium

Common Garlick

168

Veratrum album

Helloborus albus

White Hellebore

loo

Colchicum auiumnale

Colchicum

Common Meadow Saffron •

177

fatinsus

Crocus

Saffron

'176

Aloes f pedes varies

Aloe

Aloe

202

Convallaria Polygonatum

Convallaria

Solomon’s Seal

4+

Iris jlorentina

XL VII.— E N S A T.®.
Iris florentina

Florentine Orris

39

Iris Pfeudo-acorus

Iris palullris

Yellow Water Flag

40

Orchis mafcula

XLVIII.— O R C H I D E
Satyrium

Male Orchis

90

Calamus Rotang

XLIX.— TRI P ETALOID E^.

Sanguis draconis Dragon’s Blood Tree

*74

Saccharum offdnarum

L.— C ALAMARIiE,
LI.— G R A M I N A.
Saccharum

Sugar Cane

196

Poly podium vulgar e

LIL— F I L I C E S.
Polypodium

Common Polypody

271

Polypodium Fihx mas
Afplenium Prichotnanoides

Filix

Trichomanes

Male Fern
Maidenhair

i9

204

Afplenium Scolopendrium

Scolopendrium

Hart’s Tongue

272

Lichen ijlandicus “

LiiL— M user.
LIV.— A L G M.
Lichen iflandicus

Eryngo-leaved Lichen

205

Lichen caninus

Lichen cinereus terreftris

Ground Liverwort

273

Boletus igniarius

LV.— F U N G I.
Agaricus chirurgorum

Agaric

274

'k .

’

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V ^