BLUE FLAG. 459 
pond just without the town, planted and almost 
overgrown with it.” , | 
Having myself formerly made use of this root 
in dispensary practice, I can bear testimony to 
its efficacy as a medicine, though not altogether 
to its convenience. A small quantity of the re- 
cent root, or a few grains of the root newly dried, 
are generally certain and active in their operation 
on the bowels. They are however apt to occasion 
a distressing nausea like sea sickness, with a pros- 
tration of strength of some hours’ continuance ; 
so that I think the plant will not be like to come 
into favor as a cathartic, at least when better ones 
are at hand. ‘The activity of this article is dimin- 
ished by age. : 
The stimulating properties of the Tris render 
it capable of exciting many of the secretions, as 
well as excretions. But I know of no purpose 
for which it seems better calculated, than that of 
a diuretic. The late Dr. Macbride of Carolina as- 
sured me, that he had found great benefit in drop- 
sical affections from a decoction of the roots of this 
plant in combination with those of Eryngium yue- 
cifolium. In consequence of his recommenda- 
tion, I administered the tineture of the Iris in 
small doses to several persons affected. with ana- 
sarca and with hydrothorax. It was evidently of 
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