22 PYROLA UMBELLATA. 
The diuretic properties of the Pyrola umbel- 
lata, seem to have been fully illustrated by Dr. 
W. Somerville in a paper on this vegetable, pub- 
lished in the 5th volume of the London Medico- 
Chirurgical transactions. The facts presented 
by this physician afford satisfactory evidence of 
the power of this medicine to promote the renal 
excretion, and to afford relief to patients afflicted 
with dropsy in its various forms. 'The most dis- 
tinguished case presented by him, is that of Sir 
James Craig, the British governour in Canada, 
-who was labouring under a general dropsy, which - 
in its progress had assumed the forms of hydro- 
thorax, anasarca and ascites, and which was com- © 
bined with different organic diseases, especially of 
the liver. After having tried with little or tempora- 
ry success, almost every variety of diuretic and ca- 
thartic medicines, and submitted twice to the 
operation of tapping, the patient had recourse to 
a strong infusion of the Pyrola, in the quantity of a 
pint every twenty four hours. Although the case 
was altogether an unpromising one, yet the plant 
gaye relief, not only in the first, but in the sub- 
sequent instances of its use. It increased the 
urinal discharge, and at the same time produced 
an augmentation of — and an ee, 
appetite. oe 
