OCR Text |
Show 878 COMMON FIG TREE; The recent fruit, completely ripe, is soft, succulent, andeasily digested, unless eaten in immoderate quantities ; when it is apt to occasion flatulency, pain of the bowels, and diarrhea. The dried fruit is pleasanter to the taste, and is more wholesome and nutritive. Figs are supposed to be more nutritious by having their sugar united with a large portion of mucilaginous matter, which, from being thought to be of an oily nature, has been long esteemed an useful demulcent and pectoral; and it is chiefly with a viewto theseeffects that they have been medicinally ems ployed. 3s are directed by the London Pharm. in the decoction hordei compositum, and in the electuarium Jenitivum. Externally applied they are supposed to promote the suppuration of VIET Ny ohhh NAN on ra ey Muitp {aan H oa Vnapnanencera™ lronnan OAPI has, aang oesdt tumours, and hencehave a place in maturating cataplasms ; with his intention they are sometimes used by themselves, as warmas they can easily be borne, to phlegmons of the gums, and other parts where a poultice cannot be conveniently applied. Linngus first put the fig into Class XXIV. Cry ptogamia. POLYPODIUM VULGARE Class XXIV. Cryptogamia. Order I, Filices. Essent. Gen. Cuan. Fructification in roundish points, scattered along the back ofthe leaf. Spec. Cuar. Fronds bipinnate: Pinne obtuse, crenulate: Root scaly. SS DESCRIPTION. t fromthe root, and curl roundin their young yards extend themsel three or four feet: middle rib or stem covered with brown, tot , transparent scales. The pinnzare from thirty to fort y 1 dually dimiuishing to. } is the top, when it ends ir 71 The fructification is in regular dots on the *k of cle that bursts, an brown. Native of Britain, common on heaths and borders of woods, and in rockyplaces. en esteemed a powerful |