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Show 504 COMMON TORMENTIL. nally; it has a stroug styptic taste, but imparts no peculiar sapid flavour. Asa proof of its powerful astringency, it has been subsituted for oak bark in the tanning of skins for leather, This root has been long held in great estimation by physicians as a very useful astringent; and as the resin it contains is veryinconsiderable, it seems more particularly adapted to those cases where the heating and stimulating medicines of this class‘are less proper; as in phthisical diarrhoeas, diarrhcea cruenta, &c. Dr. Cullen thinks ‘it has been justly commended for every virtue that is competent to astringents,” and says: ** I myself have had several instances ofits virtues in this respect ; and particu. larly Lhave found it, both byitself and as joined with gentian, cure intermittent fevers; but it must be given in substance, and in large quantities.” Rutty recommends it in these words: ‘* Ulcera vetera et putrida sanat vinovel aqua decocta collutione et inspersu. Jn vino cocta optime deterget et roborat, in ulceribus scorbuticis oris, gutturis, et faucium ac in gingivis dissolutis, sanguinem stillantibus. Decocta ad appetitum deperditum max. ime valet, tonum ventriculi restituens, et sordes ejus abstergens. Nonest vegetabile quodin fluxionibus alvi eflicacius sit. In dysenteria epidemica quidam in ore tenent ad precaven dumcontagium. In fluxu sanguinis, fluore albo, et mictu involuntario valet.” That is, ‘it cures old and putrid ulcers, what is termed scurvy in the gums, restores appetite, gives tone to the bowels, is most serviceable in fluxes, passing of blood, fluor albus, and involuntary discharges of water. Held in the mouth, it wards off the contagion of dy sentery.”? L witnessed once most extraordinary cures performed by this root. A poor man, fond of botanical excursions , either by tra- dition or accident knewthe powers of this root; and by making a strong decoction of it, sweetened with honey, he cured agues which had resisted the bark, long standing diarrhceas, ulcers of the legs turned out of hospitals as incurable, the worst scorbutic ulcers, the confluent small-pox, the w hooping-cough, fluxes, &c. &c., so as to excite the attention of lord William Russell, who allowed him a piece of ground out of his park to cultivate his plant, which he kept as a secret; andin fluxes of blood I have found a drachm, given fourt imes a day in an infusion of hops, do wonders. ‘The danger of suddenly checking discharges should be guarded against, of which this old man knewnothing ; mr occasional purges should be used, or an issue made in the thigh. COMMON CINQUEFOIL. POTENTILLA REPTANS. Class XII. Icosandria. Order V. Polygynia. Essent. Gen. CHar. Calyx ten-clefi: Stem roundish: Seed naked, roundish, affixed to a small receptacle. Spec. Cnar. Leaves quinate: Stem repent: Peduncles one-flowered. a DESCRIPTION. Tre stalks trail along the ground. together, and sometimes seven, of rated, veined, standing upon a long the last, whichit greatly resembles, The leavesare five, placed unequal sizes, obtuse, serpetiole. The corolla, like is yellow. IPUS TO RY. It is a native of Britain, common on meadow banks, andthe sides of roads; flowers in July and September. VIRTUES. Like the last plant it is astringent, but with less power, and has been employedin the same diseases. |