HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



61 



be left on the blade of the knife, and also on the 

 fingers, if they come in contact with the section. On 

 microscopical examinations of a transverse section the 

 whole field will be found to be full of a dense mass of 

 bodies which are starch grains. Such a quantity of 

 starch is stored up in the cells that it is difficult to 

 obtain a section giving any clear view of the cell 

 structure. Fig. 51 represents some of the starch 

 grains highly magnified. Fig. 52 is an attempt to 

 show the cells of the conn in some cases empty, and 

 in others densely crowded with starch grains, so 

 densely, in fact, as to become all but black. A J is 

 the lowest power with which to observe these points. 

 At the present time the corm of the arum is not, 

 so far as I am aware, in any great request, either 

 medicinally or otherwise. Dr. Taylor mentions that 

 the starch has been " misused " in order to adulterate 

 arrowroot.* In order, however, to learn some of the 



wholesome nourishment as well as those sorts which 

 are natives of hot climates. The roots when dried 

 and powdered, are used by the French as a wash for 

 the skin, and sell under the name of Cyprus powder, 

 at a high price, being an excellent and innocent 

 cosmetic. Starch may also be made from them, but 

 the hands are liable to be blistered in using it. They 

 have occasionally been substituted for soap. When 

 newly dried and powdered the root has been given as 

 a stimulant, in doses of a scruple and upwards ; but 



Fig. 53. — Cells of the epidermis of petiole, a, raphides \ 

 l>, nucleus ; c, stoma. 



valuable, not to say wonderful, properties of this 

 portion of A. maculatum, and some of the uses to 

 which it has been applied, it is necessary to go back 

 a little for information. 



In a certain dictionary published in London in the 

 year 1832, and known as "The Universal Herbal or 

 Botanical, Medical and Agricultural Dictionary," by 

 Thomas Green, 2 vols, we learn much. Mr. Green 

 first informs his readers that if they have been rash 

 enough to taste the "root," an antidote will be found 

 either in milk butter, or oil. Writing still of the 

 "roots" he goes on to say: "When dried they 

 become farinaceous and insipid, in which case they 

 might be used for food in case of necessity ; and by 

 boiling or baking would probably afford a mild and 



• " Half-hours in the Green Lanes," p. 227. 



Fig. 54. — Hastate-cordate leaf ot Arum 

 >uaculatu»i. 



in being reduced to powder it loses much of its 

 acrimony ; and there is reason to suppose that the 

 compound powder which takes its name from the 

 plant, owes its virtues chiefly to the other ingredients. 

 The pulvis ari compositus, or powder composed of 

 arum, is therefore discarded from the London dispen- 

 satory, and, instead of it, a conserve is inserted, made 

 by beating half a pound of fresh root with a pound 

 and a half of fine sugar. 



"In the medicine recommended by Sydenham 

 against rheumatisms, the acrid anti-scorbutic herbs 

 are largely joined with it. Dr. Lewis orders the 

 fresh root to be beaten with a little testaceous powder, 

 and mixed with an equal quantity of gum arabic, 

 and three or four times as much conserve, and thus 

 to be made up into an electuary ; or else to be 

 rubbed with a thick mucilage of gum arabic and 



