ee 
** The leaves of Polypody have a weak ungrateful fmell, and a 
naufeous {weet tafte, leaving a kind of roughnefs and flight acrimony 
in the mouth. They give out their {mell and tafte, together with a 
yellow colour, both to water and retified {pirit : the fpirituous tinéture 
is fweeter than the watery; but in infpiffation its fweetnefs is in great | 
part deftroyed, or covered by the other matter ; the fpirituous extract, 
as Cartheufer obferves, being to the tafte only fubaftringent and fuba- 
crid, with very little fweetnefs, while the watery extraét retains the 
Ma 
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 afligned 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 aét as cathartic the root muft be exhibited in 
its recent ftate, and in a large dofe. Another character 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 pe¢toral ; 
thus joined with liquorice its good effeéts have been experienccd in. . 
coughs and afthmatic affections. 
However it is now rarely ufed in this country; nor have the French 
- authors, Poiffoner 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 Differt. Confideratio generalis filicium. p. 38. 
> See Med. de L’ Acad. de Scien. de Paris. 1751. 
ASPLENIUM | 
