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Ontario CollegeOF

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FACULTY OF PHARMACYUNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

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THE BRITISH

FLORA MEDICA;OR,

HISTORY OF THE

MEDICINAL PLANTSOF

GREAT BRITAIN.fiUtwtratelr tie

a roloureli iFigtire at

eac]& ^lartt.

et

herbarum subjecta potentia nobis."

Ovid.

5^

BY

BENJAMIN

H.

BARTON,

F.L.S.

AKD

THOMAS CASTLE,^^^"-

M.D., F.L.S.

ONTARIOCOLLEGE OF PHARWAG

^^ GERRAPDNS

TORONTO,

ST. E

LONDONE.

:

COX, ST. THOMAS'S STREET,MDCCCXXXVIII.

SOUTHWARK.

G.

WOODFALLj angel

counT, bkinnsr strkbt,

i,onxk>it>

CONTENTS.VOL.II.

Achillea MiUefolium

.. . .

PAGE 431"101

PAOELactuca sativaliavandula SpicaLiliypa

Adiantum Capillus-VenerisAlchemilla vulgaris

Alisma Plantago Allium CepaAlthoeaofficinalis

Anagallis arvensis

Artemisia Abrotanum

60 410 188 108 213 304427147 419

candidum

Linarla vulgaris Lonicera Periclymenum

73 63 79 3587

Marrubium vulgareMelilotus officinalis

20 119135

Mentha

piperita

Absinthiumvulgaris

PulegiumMercurialis perennis

203 122151

Asperula odorata Atropa BelladonnaBallota nigra

Morus nigra

.

Carduus marianus Cichorium IntybusCicuta virosaCochlearia Armoraciaofficinalis

170 24 341

Nasturtium officinale CEnanthe crocata Ononis arvensisOrchis mascula

333401

Origanum vulgareOxalis Acetosella

27

385 394 248 192 104 422231

Convallaria majalis

Crocus sativus

Cynoglossum

officinale

290 83 276 36311 125 345 320 32

Daphne Laureola Mezereum Datura StramoniumDelphinium Staphisagria Equisetum arvense.

Papaver Rhseas somniferum Petroselinum sativum Peucedanum Ostruthium Pinus sylvestrisPlantago major Poeonia officinalisPolygala vulgaris,

235198.

112 217 224 206131

Polypodium

vulgai-e

Erysimum AUiariaFragaria vesca

Glycyrrhiza glabra

Hedera Helix Humulus Lupulus Hypericum perforatum Hyssopus officinalisIlex aquifolium

287 328 92 4812

Potentilla Tormentilla

228 36267 294 179 253 258 265 96 299 389

Prunus Lauro-cerasusspinosa

Quercus Robur Rosa caninagallica

315 441

Rosmarinus officinalis Rubia tinctorum

Juglans regia

.

Juniperus communis

380 53

Rumex

acetosa

Hydrolapathum

IV

CONTENTS.PARE

Ruta graveolensSalixalbaSalvia officinalis

271

Thymus

Serpyllura

35487 166 366 155371

Sedum

acre

Sempervirum tectorumSinapis nigra

414 283 324 40 160407 115 337 435

Tilia Europoea

Urtica dioica

Valeriana

officinalis

Verbascum Thapsus Verbena officinalisVeronicaofficinalis

Sium nodiflorumSpiraea Ulmaria

Vinca minorViola odoi'ata

307 210 375141

Tanacetum vulgare Taxus baccata

Viscum album

Postscript

AppendixGlossaryList of works referred to

417 420

445 470

Rules for drying and preserving plants, and directions for pharmaceuticalpreparations,

&c

Weights and MeasuresClasses of plants, considered as articles of the Materia Medica^Synoptical Table of the properties

474 480481

and uses of indigenous medicinal488 499

plants

Index

*,* For Directions respecting placing of the Plates, the Binder must seepage 511.

THE BRITISH

FLORA MEDIC A.CII.

ILEX AQUIFOLIUM.CommonTetrandria.Nat. Ord.Holly.

Class IV.

Orderfive

III.

Tetragynia,

Celastrine^,toothed, persistent.

Gen. Char.

Calyx four or

Stigmas four, sessile. Berry spherical, containing four, oblong, one-seeded nuts. (Stamens and pistils varying from four to five, and some flowers destitute of pistil.)Corolla rotate, four or five cleft.

Spec. Char.

spinous teeth and apex.

Leaves ovate, acute, shining, waved, with Peduncles axillary, short,Flowers sub-umbellate.S Y

many-flowered.

NO N YM E

S.i

Greek ....

irpivos

;

aypiav,

f Ilex aculeata baccifera.Agrifolium.I

Bauh. Pin. 425.1338.

Ger.

Em.

Raii St/n, 466.

Dod Pempf,

Latin

745.-i

Aquifolia.

Tragus, 10G7.Lin. Sp.

Ilex Aquifolium.

PL

181.

Eng.

Fl.

i.

p. 227.

Eng. Bot.

t.

496.

French ....Italian ....

Houx

;

Houx commun.;

Agrifoglio;

Alloro spinoso.

Spanish ....Portuguese

Germ nDutchDanish ....Swedish.Polish. .

J 1

Acebo Agrifolio. Azevinho ; Agrifolio. Stechpalme ; Stechbaumsendorn.

;

Stecheiche

;

Walddistel

;

Hal-

Russ VOL.

Steekpalme ; Hulst. Stikpalme ; Chrishorn ; Stovtidse, Jernek ; Christorn. Ostrokzow ; Kzewina. Wacsoscheld ; Ostrokrof.B

II.

2

noLLY.

Description.

Common Holly

is

a small evergreen tree, vary-

or more, much branched, with the young shoots very smooth, pliant, and of a fine green colour the bark is ash-coloured, very compact the wood is hard, heavy, yellowish-white, darker towards the centre. The leavesfeet,;;

ing in height from four to thirty

are persistent, alternate, petiolate, coriaceous, of a deep shining

green colour, ovate, undulated, and furnishedstrong sharp spines.*

at the

margins with

The

flowers are small, numerous, on short

peduncles, somewhat umbellate, and spring from the axils of the

The calyx is small, slightly hairy, and mostly four- toothed. The corolla is rotate, in four deep divisions, of a whitish colour. The stamens are four (sometimes five, and then the other partsleaves.

of the flower have a corresponding development), spreading, withsubulate filaments, attached to the base of the corolla.is sessile, four-celled,

The germen

and terminated by fouris

sessile

obtuse stigmas.

(The

pistil in

some

flowers

altogether wanting.)

The

fruit is

a

shining scarlet berry, nearly spherical, and includes four, bony,channelled nuts, each containing a single seed.(a) an entire flower, of the natural size;

Plate 26,

fig. 1,;

(A) calyx

and

pistil

(c)

the berry, with part of the fleshy substance removed, to show thefour nuts;

(d) a nut, isolated.

Common

Holly

is

frequent in

many

parts of Britain,

in woods,soil, init

coppices, and hedge-rows, especially in a light or gravellysheltered situations;

and,

if

not truly indigenous,

has been

* It is a common opinion that the upper leaves of Holly are invariably gmoGth, entire, and unarmed, while the lower ones are edged with sharp spines thus the poet Southey:

" Below a circling fence, its leaves are seen Wrinkled and keen No grazing cattle through their prickly round

Can reach

to

wound

;

But, as they grow where nothing

is

to fear,

Smooth and unarmed the

pointless leaves appear."

We would not affirm that such is not the case ; but we believe this difference in the foliage is produced rather by natural than preternatural causes. All the leaves are at first tender and unarmed, and ften entire, or nearly so ; but as their growth advances, they become more or less spiny. The topmost leaves being the youngest, they appear constantlysmooth and defenceless, while the lower are spiny, not necessarily from moreover, on the lowermost branches, unarmed leaves may be found taking the i)lace of those whichtheir situation, but in consequence of maturity;

have

fallen off.

These remarksit

will only apply to vigoi-ous plants

;

when

the tree becomes old,

ajjpears to lose the

power

of liroducing spines.

I'late 26.

'^^7i^tcicy(ry^Ur} ^eA-^H^n one handful. Leaves of Bctony J.

.

.

.

Infuse in six pints of boiling water, andto be taken three or four times a-day.

when

cold, stiain.

A

cupful

* RaU Hist. PI. 57L t Waller Birt. Herb.;

p. 20.lib. ct loc. cit.

I Taberneemontanus, in Geoff, Flore Economiquc, p. 77

evil.

COCIILEARIA ARMORACIAHo7'se- Radish.

Class

XV.

Tetradynamta.Nat. Ord.

Order

I.

Siliculosa.

Crucifek^.

Gen. Char.cumbent.Spec. Char.sessile.

Silicle oval or globose,

with turgid valves,Cotyledons ac-

many-seeded.

Seeds not margined.

Filaments simple.Silicles ellipsoid.

Calyx patent.

Stigma

dilated, nearly-

Radical leaves large, oblong, crenate,;

on long

footstalksincised.

cauline ones elongated, lanceolate, toothed

S

Y NON Y

M

E

S.

Greek

Va.

{L.

Spica

alba),

and

the

broad- leaved

Spicait

the latter appears to be the male Lavender, as;

was

erroneously called by the old botanists

it

has a more virose odouris

than the other kinds.for

The

plant before usat

extensively cultivated,

the

sake

of

its

flowering-spikes,

Mitcham, Henley-onslips

Thames, and several other places in this country. Culture. Lavender is easily propagated by

or cuttings

LAVENDER.takenoff,oft'

65leaves being stripped

in the spring

months.

The lower

the slips should be planted in a shady border, four inches apart.

In

autumn they may be transplanted, androws twoorcut in July,in a dry day,

if

intended for a crop,

they should be set inflowers arefor use.

three feet asunder.

The

and tied up in bundles

Qualities and general Uses. Lavender-flowers are much esteemed for their delicate fragrance, wliich is more permanent than that of many plants ; hence, it is often placed among linen,* and it has the reputation of preventing the depredations of moths and other insects. The distilled water is a well-known cosmetic ; and the oil obtained fromthe flowers, designated inis

commerce

oil

of spike (huile d'aspic, Fr.),

employed in the Arts as a varnish, also for preserving stuff's, books, &c., and for destroying insects. This oil is not unfrequently adulterated with alcohol and oil of turpentine. The former may be detected by pouring a portion of the oil into water, which combines with the alcohol andoil at

leaves the volatile

the surface

;

if

turpentine be present,*

it

known bylittle

the peculiar smell and thick dark fumes which ariseis

may be when a

of the suspected oiloil

burnt in a spoon.

In point of fragrance,

none of the foreigndistilled in

of Lavenderoil

comes

into competition with that

England.scent,

Theis

which passes

first

over has the highest and

most perfecttionate price.

and

frequently kept separate, and sold at a propor-

Whenoil is

the stalks and leaves are distilled with the flowers,

the odour of the

considerably deteriorated."t

Thesweet,

leaves

and

flowers, but especially the latter, have a strong,

fragrant

odour,

and a warm,

bitterish,

pungent

taste.

Alcohol extracts their virtues by infusion more completely thanwater, but distilled in the latter fluid, the whole of the volatile oil|

on which

their virtues

depend passes over.

It

affords a considera-

ble portion of

camphor.

Medicinal Properties and Uses.carminative, and tonic.*"

Lavender

is

stimulating,it

Like other aromatic substances,

ex-

And

lavender, whose spikes of azure bloom

Shall be erewhile in arid bundles bound.

To lurk amidst her

labours of the loom,

And crownt Brando's Manual

her kerchiefs clean with mickle rare perfume." Shmstone's School-mistress.of Pharmacy, 1833, p. 135.

J This oil resides chiefly in the calyces,

and

receptacles or pores with an open orifice.

It

is contained in small appears to be most abun-

dant

whenir

the flowers are beginning to fade, at which time, according to

Lewis, one ounce

may be

obtained from sixty ounces of the flowers.F

VOL.

merciaes

LAVENDER.

excitation both of the nervous

on the animal economy a prompt, and more or less vivid and sanguineous systems. It hasand

been commended in syncope, palsy, palpitations of the heart, vertigo,lethargies, spasms, convulsions, colic, suppression of the menses,

a host of other affections.

How

far the eulogia so profusely passed

upon

its

panaceatic powers are merited needs no comment, for but perceive that Lavender can only be useful in nervous

we cannotdebilities,

and

in

those affections which proceed from a want ofit

energythereis

in the

animal functions, and that

is

inadmissible whereit

plethora, heat, or irritation.

Cullen* considersis

to affect

the nervous system only but in this opinion he

not well sup-

ported

;

neither

does

its

allowedit

emmenagogueisit

quality tend to

prove that point.ful

As a cephalic

unquestionably most grateexcites appetite,

and

efficient.

TakenItv

internally,

removes

flatulency,

and in certain cases increases the action of the skin,induces diaphoresis, accelerates the flow

kidneys, and uterus.

of urine, and promotes menstruation.

An

infusion

useful in chronic catarrh and rheumatism.

The

tincture

may prove may be

given in general paralysis and paralysis of the tongue, and for thelast,

the leaves masticated will sometimes be beneficial, through

the salivation they induce.

The dried

plant, enclosed in bags, has

been empirically applied to the headally to

in apoplexy, but

more

ration-

bruises and to favour theis

suppuration

of tumors.

The

essential oil

powerfully stimulant, and forms both an odoriferousto

and

suitable adjunctis

liniments and

pomades.

The

distilled

water also

an elegant perfume for the sick-chamber.is

The

following preparation

well-known under the domestic:

synonymes of Red Lavender or Palsy Drops

COMPOUND TINCTURE OF LAVENDER.fTakeof Spirit of Lavender J

a pint and a half;half a pint"I

Rosemary Cinnamon, bruised Nutmegs, bruisedSpirit of

two drachms and a halfof eachfive

J

Red Saunder's woodMacerate for fourteen days and* Mat. Med. vol.p. 148.filter.

drachms.

ii.

f

Pharmacopoeia Londinensisj 1836.

t Spirituous

Lavender Water.

CXVI.

PRUNUS LAURO-CERASUS.Commonor Cherry-LaureL

Class,

XII.

IcosANDRiA.Nat. Orel

Order

I.

Monogynia.

RosACEiE.

GeS*.

Char.

Cg/^/^ five-cleft.

Petals

five.

Drupe with

a hard smooth nut.

Spec. Char.

Flowers racemose.

Leaves evergreen,

ovate-lanceolate,

with two or four glands beneath.

Fruit ovate- acute.

SYNONYM ES.rCerasusfolio laurino.

Bauh. Pin. 450.

Lauro-cerasus.

Ger.

Em.

1603.

Rail Hist. 1549.ParX;.

LnUn

Cerasus trapezuntina, sive Lauro-cerasus.1518.

Theair.

Prunus Lauro-cerasus.-Cerasus Lauro-cerasus

Lin. Sp. PI. 678.Lois, in

Duham,

ed. nov. 5. p. 6.

^^nch ....Italian ....

Laurier-Cerise

Lauro regioLoirocerejo.

;

Laurier-Amande. Lauro di Trabesonda.;

Spanish

...

Laurel real; Laurel guindo.KirschlorbeerLaurierkers.Kirselauboertree.

Portuguese.

German...B\itch

;

Kirschlorbeerbaum.

Danish ....Swedish.

.

Lagerkirs.

a small evergreen tree, from branches, six to eighteen feet high, sending off long spreading

Description. Cherry-Laurel

is

covered with an ash- coloured green bark.nate, persistent,

The

leaves are alter-

shortly petiolate, firm, coriaceous, ovate-lanceoF 2

68late, or elliptical,

LAUREL.with an acute curved apex, remotely and minutely

serrated, furnished withat the base,

one or two pairs of glands near the midrib

and of a deep shining-green colour.spicate axillary raceme, rather

The

flowers are

disposed in aleaves;

shorter than the

each flower supported by a short simple peduncle.urceoiate, and five-toothed.

The

calyx

is inferior,

The

corolla consistscalyx, of a

of

five

small, white, obovate petals, inserted

on the

white colour, and fragrant odour.

The stamens

are about eighteen

in number, unequal, arising from the throat of the calyx, curved

inwards in asstivation; the filaments subulate; anthers roundish,yellow, innate, two-celled, opening longitudinally.

The germen

is

roundish-oblong, one-celled, containing two suspended ovules, and

supporting a columnar

style,

which

is

furrowed on one side, termi-

nated by a reniform stigma.

The

fruit is

an ovate, acute, glabrous

drupe, of a shining purplish-black colour externally, containing a

smooth, compressed putamen or stone.of flowerspistil;;

Plate 24,

fig. 3, (a)

raceme

(6) calyx

opened

to

show theis

insertion of the stamens;

and

(c) horizontal section of the fruit

(d)

putamen.

This well-known evergreen

a native of the Levant, Caucasus,

and the mountains of Persia. Clusius received it in 1576 from David Ungand, Ambassador from the Emperor of Germany atConstantinople, with some other rare plants,ed,all

of which perishIt

except

the

Common

Laurel and the

Horse-Chesnut.

was sent by the name of Trabison Cumasi or Date of Trebizondy It was first cultivated in having been brought from that place.

England about the year 1629Cole, a merchant,gate, used to cover

;

and Parkinson informs

us, that

Mr.ex-

who had ait

single plant in his garden atIt is

High-

in winter with a blanket.

now

tremely

common

in our shrubberies,

where

it

flowers in April and

May.This tree, in popular language, has usurped thetrue Laurel or Sweet

name

of the

Bay {LaurusIt

nobilis),

which undoubtedlythe resem-

furnished the laurel crown, the reward and the symbol of victory

among

the ancients.its

has received this;

name from

blance of

leaves to those of the laurusits fruit

which, together with

the similarity ofspecificaffinity

to the cherry {cerasus), has suggested the

term

Lavro-cerasus.

The term Prunus

indicates

the

of this plant to the plum and cherry tribes, hence included

in

one genus by Linnaeus.

Some

authors, however, consider these distinguished by the re-

as 80

many

distinct

genera, the Pruni,

LAUBBL,sinous, glaucoussecretion, called

69fruit;

bloom oh their

while the

and the Cerasi and Lauro-cerasi are separated by the character of the inflorescence, which in theformeris

others are destitute of bloom;

iu tufts or sertula,

and

in the latter in spikes or racemes.this fruit;

Qualities and general Uses. The pulp ofwith avidity by birds, andis

is

eaten

quite innocuous to

man

and, though

not pleasant to the taste, has been occasionally used in puddings.

The

kernels or seeds of the drupe contain a poisonous principle,

like those of the bitter

almond, the peach, &c., but are employed to

flavour various liqueurs.

The

leaves possess the

same property, and

are similarly used, to prepare ratafia, noyeau, and maraschino, andto flavour custards, puddings, cakes, jellies, &c., while

some perIn smallfacilitate

sons infuse them in tea, coffee, and similar beverages.quantities these leaves will do

no harm, and may even

digestion

;

but caution

is

requisite in their

employment, as subse-

quent remarks

will prove.

The

different parts of this tree are nearly inodorous, except the

flowers,

which have considerable fragrancy, combined with a certain

nauseous odour.and,lities

The

leaves are slightly styptic, and very bitter,

when

bruised, emit the odour of bitter

almonds

:

these qua-

are lost in drying.

Water completely

extracts their virtues

in distillation,

and an

oil

containing prussic or hydrocyanic acid

passes over in small quantity, the greater part remaining combined

with the water.distillation,

Alcohol likewise obtains their active properties by

and partly by infusion.

The inner bark*Itis

of the-tree

exhales a similar odour to the bruised leaves and kernels, and pro-

bably contains the same virulent principle.

probable that inoil

these kernels, as in the bitter almond, the essentialexist ready formed, but is

does not

developed only in consequence of the

contact of water.

Poisonous Properties.owingto this source.

We

use of Laurel-leaves for culinary purposesat a boarding-school

have already adverted to the frequent several accidents have been ;

Dr. Paris f mentions an instance of several children having been dangerously affected by a custard

by distillation same substance exists in the flowers and young shoots of the peach and the cherry, and more or less either in the kernel or the leaves of all the Amygdalacese, and not improbably in some of the

*

The bark

of the Bird- Cherry {Prunus Padus), yields

prussic acid, and the

Pomese or Apple tribe. + Med. Jurisprudence,

vol.

ii,

p, 402.

^0flavoured with the leaves;

LAUREL.

and accounts have appeared in the newsby taking ratafied brandy, and other spirituous preparations which contained this deleterious ingredient. Dr. Madden* relates several accidents which occured at Dublin, in consequence of the distilled water and brandy flavoured with it, being incautiously swallowed. Foderef mentions two cases of servants having stolen and drunk a bottle of distilled Laurel- water, which they mistook for a cordial being afraid of detection, they swallowed it quickly, and in a few minutes expired in convulsions. The most noted case, however, of poisoning by Laurel, and one which produced an extraordinary sensation at the time of its occurrence, [1780,] was that of Sir Theodosius Boughton, a young gentleman of fortune in the county of Warwick, who had nearly attained his 21st year. In the event of his dying before hepapers of persons

who have

lost their lives

:

attained his majority, the greater part of his fortune descended to his

who, with her husband, Captain Donellan, and their mother, Lady Boughton, resided with him. Sir Theodosius was labouring under a slight syphilitic affection, for which he was receiving medical advice. On the morning of August 31, he arose at an early hour, and apparently in perfect health, and asked for his usual draught, which was accordinglysister,

poured into a cup by his mother, Lady Boughton. He had not, however, swallowed more than half of it, when he complained that it was soit on his stomach, and Lady B. observed that it had a strong smell of bitter-almonds. In about two minutes after swallowing the draught, he appeared to struggle very much, as if to keep it down, and had a rattling and gurgling in his stomach. These symptoms continued about ten minutes, when he seemed to be inclined to go to sleep, and Lady Boughton left the room, but on returning again in about five minutes, she found him with his eyes fixed,

nauseous, that he did not think he could keep

and froth running out of his mouth. He died in about Suspicion was naturally excited that his death was occasioned by poison, and Sir W. Wheeler, the guardian of the young Baronet, wrote to Captain Donellan requesting that the body should be examined, but he eluded these wishes, and the examination did not take place until the second day after the interment, and ten days after death. The hispectors stated that the morbid appearances were such as would be produced by Laurel-water, and Captain Donellan was put upon his trial for the murder. The evidence showed that Donellan came into the room when Sir Theodosius was dying and inquired where the physic-bottle was ; on receiving it, he threw away the contents and rinsed it, and did the same with another bottle, although Lady B. remonstrated, and objected to his conduct. It also appeared, that he had a still in his own room, and in his secretaire was found that part of the Philosophical Transactions, in which there is an essay on the preparation and effects of Chery-Laurelhis teeth clenched,

half an hour afterwards.

* Philosophical Transactions for 1737.

t Medicine Legale

iv.p. 27. See also the casestorn.iii.

enumerated in Murray'*

Apparatus Medicaminum,

p. 216.

water,

and

the page

was turned down

at that particular part.trial,

The

cele -

brated John Hunter was a witness on the

and he gave it as his opinion, that apoplexy or epilepsy might have produced the effects stated but he has been much censured for the wavering and conflicting tenor of his evidence. A verdict of guilty was brought in against Captain Donellan, and he was accordingly executed. A diversity of opinion, even now prevails, as to the justice of the sentence; and though, from the attendant circumstances, there can be no doubt of his guilt, it cannot be regardedas indisputable.*

Thelife.

distilled

water

is

poisonous, both to vegetable and animalit,

When

animals are made to swallow

or

it

is

injected into

the intestines, or introduced into the cellular tissue, or applied to

denudeda tetanicdeath.

surfaces, in sufficient quantity,

it

causes g'iddiness, difficult

respiration, loss of muscular motion,state,

sometimes convulsions, orterminated by speedy

and absoluteessential oil, ofkilled

insensibility,

*'

The

which sixteen drops were put on thein nine, fifteen, or

tongue of

rabbits,

them

twenty minutes.hind legs, then

The symptoms were slowgeneral convulsions;

breathing", palsy of the

and death was preceded by complete coma.dead body;

A

very extraordinary appearance was found in the

blood extravasated abundantly in the trachea and lungs."]-

" The

distilled

water loses

its

power

after

long keeping.

Hence;

the dose, sufficient to produce fatal effects, will vary greatlyits

and

strength will also vary, according as the water has been filtered

or not.

One ounce

has proved

fatal,

and half-an-ounce has caused

only temporary giddiness, loss of power over the limbs, stupor, andsense of pressure in the stomach.'*

Treatment.

Milk,

oil, coffee,

&c.have been recommended incasesis

of poisoning by the Laurel, but their efficacy

the prompt administration of emetics and laxatives,to be relied on.

more than doubtful is much more

Warm

brandy-and-water, the inhalation of dilute

ammonia, or

chlorine, and other stimulants, have been particularly

recommended, together with affusions of cold water upon the head. Medicinal Properties and Uses. There can be no doubtthat a plant so energetic as the Cherry -laurel,effects in certain

must produce potenthave beenits

diseases.;

By

Stoerck,

it

appears to

entirely overlooked

and although some would decryit

admis-

sion into general medical use,

is

not without able advocates.or Beck's Medical

* See the Trial, &c., taken in short-hand by Gurney

;

Jurisprudence.

t

Taddel, as quoted by Dr. Christison in bis Treatise

on Fpisons,

p. 722.

72

LAUREL.it is

Linnaeus informs us, that in Switzerland,cessfully used in

commonly and

suc-

pulmonary complaints.

Baylies* employed a

saturated infusion in melancholy, asthma, rheumatism, and, internally

and externally against scirrhous tumoursit

;

but Vogelf asserts,

that he foundalso

totally useless in scirrhus of the breast.lips,;

ChestonJ

employed an infusion for cancer of theLangrish mentionsbitterits

and malignantand as Bergius

ulcers.

efficacy ineffect,

agues

found

almonds

to

have this

we may from analogyis

conclude, that this power of the Lauro-cerasusIndeed, Dr. Langrish

well established.

remarks, that in his neighbourhood, the

powder of the driedlie

leaves, to the quantity of as

much

as

would;

on a

this

was a favourite remedy with the common people was taken in a glass of wine, two hours before the accession ofshilling,

the paroxysm, and repeated three times.infusion in obstinate hepatic engorgementssaid, that;

Cameron

||

gave the

and others have eventhe

they had found it serviceable in the treatment of syphilis.^fis

The

best form in which the Lauro-cerasus can be given,

infusion.

The dose of the distilled water, or of the oil, should not be more than two or three drops at the first, gradually augmenting the quantity.BAYLIES' INFUSION OF CHERRY-LAUkEL.

Take

of the leaves of Cherry-laurel ....

Boiling water

one pound one pint.

Macerate, for two hours, and strain. Dose, from thirty to sixty drops,three or four times a day.

cheston's infusion of cherry-laurel.TakeDigesttill

of the leaves of Cherry-laurel

.... four ounces

Boiling watercold,

twoonlinen,

pints.

then add four ounces of honey.

Used

externally, in

lotions or fomentations, or spread

and applied

to diseased parts.

i.^^ao^-irsO ,'i^^rif.J

* Practical Essays on Medical Subjects, p.

?>7.

fX

Chirurg.

Wahrnehm.

1.

Saraml. p. 48.t. i.

WoodvilleII

Pharmacopee Universelle, jjar A. J. L. Jourdavi, ; Med. Bot. iii. p. 517. Murray ; App. Mat. Med. t. iii. p. 22G.Flore Medical,t.

p. 709.

If

iv. p,

193.

CXVII.

LACTUCA SATIVAGarden Lettuce,

Class

XIX.

Syngenesia. Orf/