OCR Text |
Show 652 COMMON BROOM. been recommendedas powerful diuretics in dropsies, when joined with nitre, sal-diureticus, or other neutral salts; andif taken in suflicient quantity they prove likewise purgative. The infusions havebeen given in doses of one, two, or more ounces, frequently repeated,—the extract from half a drachm to a drachmanda half. Dr. Cullen says, *‘ The broom, though verylittle in use, I haye inserted in mycatalogue (of cathartics) from niy Ownexperience of it. I foundit first in use among our common people; but I have since prescribed it to some of my patients in the manner following :—I order half an ounce of fresh broom tops to be boiled in a poundof water till one half of this is consumed, and of this decoction I give two table-spoonfuls every hour till it operates bystool, ortill the whole is taken. It seldomfails to operate both bystool and urine, and by repeating this exhibi. tion every day, or every second day, some dropsies have been cured.” The seeds have been used for the same purposes as the tops, The ashes of the broom have long had the reputation of being very powerful diuretics, and they are an ingredient in most of the diuretic wines and infusions prepared fifty or sixty years ago; but whetherthealkaline salts of these ashes are rendered more powerfully diuretic by the mixture of an oil, or anyother foreign substance got from the broomin burning, thanthe alkaline salts got from other vegetables, I think is much to be doubted. The seeds when roasted have been used as coffee. for tanning The hark, FENUGREEK. TRIGONELLA FQENUM GRACUM. Class XVII. Diadelphia. Order III. Decandria, Essent. Gen. Cuan. Banner and Wings subequal, patent; the form of the corolla as if three-petalled. SPEc. Cran. Legumes sessile, pointed: Stem erect, stiff, nearly erect, somewhat falcate, EE a DESCRIPTION. T His plant rises two feet in height. o The leaves are oblong, serrated, veined, andstandin threes upon a common footstal k. Flowers white, papilionaceous, appearing in pairs from the ale of the lea The pericarpis at first a stra ight legume, but afterwards becomes falcated HISTORY. Native of fontpellier, and flowers from June till August, MEDICAL VIRTUE. The seeds are imported to us from the south of France, and Wincin: “a . age : Principall y2 usedin cataplasms and fomentations, for softening , Maturating » and discussing tumors, aud in emollient glysters. |