Tg6 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



mentions that the leaves were used in Sweden as a 

 substitute for hops, and a like use is made of them in 

 Silesia and other parts of Germany. 



Withering tells us that the powdered root has 

 been known to cure sheep of the rot ; but though 

 goats eat it, sheep seldom do. Cows, horses, and 

 swine refuse it. The centaury (Erythraa Centaii- 

 rmvi) and yellow-wort [Chlora perfoUatd) are both 

 used as good bitters. Withering speaks of the 

 common centaury as being " extremely bitter," and 

 as the basis of the famous Portland powder. In 

 Cheshire it is not uncommonly called Sanctuary, 

 which is a corruption of centaury. The yellow-wort, 

 besides being used as a tonic, also dyes yellow. 



The purging flax [Liiuivi catharticiini) is frequently 

 used in the moorlands, and its name expresses its 

 quality, which is often harsh. 



Solomon's seal {Convallaria miiUiflord) is one of 

 liliaceous, but not bulbose plants. It is used for black 

 eyes, and "fast" young men are said to^keep a piece 

 of the root ready for that use. 



Amongst other plants standing high in public 

 opinion, though a medical friend says he never found 

 out its good qualities, is the common agrimony 

 {Agrimotiia eiipatoria). Dr. Thornton speaks of it as 

 a mild astringent, and good for cutaneous diseases, 

 for which he says " it has obtained much reputation." 



In the "Treasury of Botany" we are informed 

 that the foliage is aromatic and astringent, and an 

 ingredient in several herb teas. Tormentil {Tor- 

 mcntilla officinalis) is also a strong astringent and 

 styptic. The root is the part of the plant used 

 medicinally. The name potentilla, now given to it, 

 is derived from Latin, potent, powerful, on account 

 of the medicinal virtues attributed to some of the 

 species. The water crowfoot, celeiy-leaved crow- 

 foot {Raujinaihis sccleratus), a plant found in shallow 

 water on ditch banks, is used by beggars to ulcerate 

 their feet and legs, which they expose in that state 

 to excite compassion. Sceleratus, wicked, applied 

 to the celery-leaved crowfoot on account of the 

 extreme acridity of its juices. 



In connection with medicinal plants, we would 

 mention calamint {Thymus calaminta), which makes 

 an agreeable tea ; germander, wood betony, and 

 melissa, have similar properties, but we would, with 

 our French neighbours, choose the flowers of the 

 lime, and the roots of two grasses, Tritiaim re/e?!s 

 and Panicum dactylon. The latter three are much 

 used on the continent. 



Scurvy-grass (Cochlearia) was in request in old 

 times for sea scurvy. It grows on rocks and muddy 

 shores, and is very common by the seaside, as well 

 as by salt rivers. 



Common milkwort [Polygala vidgaris) may be 

 used as an expectorant. Linnreus found it to possess 

 the properties of P. Senega. An infusion of the 

 herb, which is very bitter, taken in the morning 

 fasting, promotes expectoration, and is good for a 



catarrhous cough. Some of the milkworts possess 

 milky juice in their roots, hence the generic name. 



Yarrow {Achillea JMillefolium) recommended as a 

 medicine, by the late Sir B. Brodie ; a friend to 

 whom it was named was so delighted with its 

 effects, that he planted it on his grass-plat, but in 

 the " struggle for existence " it destroyed his grass. 

 The flowers yielded an essential oil. Nettle ( Urtica 

 dioica) was a plant formerly used as an astringent. 

 Paralytic limbs have been recovered by stinging them 

 with nettles. The young shoots are gathered early 

 in spring to boil in broth or gruel. We have known 

 them boiled as greens, also with the addition of 

 Galium aparine, they make a delicious and whole- 

 some kind of beer, much esteemed by our poor 

 neighbours, as a great purifier of the blood. 



Fig. no. — Centaury ( Erytkraa Centauritim). 



The leaves are cut in pieces to mix with the food of 

 young turkeys and other poultry. 



The stalks may be dressed as flax, or hemp, for 

 making cloth and paper. The poet Campbell says 

 in one of his letters : " I have slept in nettle sheets,- 

 and dined off a nettle table-cloth, and I have heard 

 my mother say, that she thought nettle cloth more 

 durable than any other linen." Woollen stuffs may- 

 be dyed a beautiful and permanent green with the 

 use of nettles only. The roots boiled with alum will 

 dye yarn a yellow colour. 



Shakespeare makes twelve different allusions to- 

 the nettle. 



Bryony {Bryonia dioica) is a very elegant plants 

 especially in autumn, when it adorns the hedges with 

 its brilliantly coloured fruit. The root is medicinal, 

 but [requires] care in using j it is employed as an 



