SWEET SCENTED WATER LILY. 439 
water and spirit, but have never succeeded in 
preserving it in the faintest degree. It is much 
more fugacious than the perfume of roses, and 
seems to be destroyed by the application of heat. 
Possibly the employment of a large quantity of 
flowers ata time might yield a better product. 
The stamens appear more odorous than the 
petals, or at least preserve their odour Jonger i in 
drying. 
The roots of the water lily are kept by most 
of our apothecaries, and are much used by the 
common people in the composition of poultices. 
They are, no doubt, often injudiciously applied to 
suppurating tumours, since their astringency 
must be rather diseutient, than promotive of 
suppuration. They are occasionally used by 
physicians in cases where astringent applications 
are called for, and answer a purpose somewhat 
analogous to that of lead poultices and alum 
curds. The roots, which, when fresh, are large 
and fleshy ; in drying, lose a great part of their 
weight and size, becoming spongy and friable. 
The Nymphea alba of Europe, which appears 
perfectly similar in its qualities to the American 
plant, was celebrated by the ancients, [Note C.] 
as an antaphrodisiac, and as a remedy in dysen- 
tery and some other morbid discharges. ‘To the 
49 
