CHELONE GLABRA. 
opposite, of a dark and shining green above, with irregular 
serratures and sessible or nearly so. Flowers terminal in a 
dense short spike. Each flower sessile, and furnished with three 
bracts, which are ovate, acute, and entire. Calyx with five 
unequal imbricated segments, oblong and obtuse. Corolla white, 
often tinged with red, inflated, contracted at the mouth, with 
short gaping lips. Filaments hairy. Style long, exsert, bending 
downwards, 
For medical purposes, the plant should be collected in clear, 
dry weather, and as soon as it is in bloom, as the leaves fre- 
quently become mildewed after that time. It should be dried 
in the sun, or in a warm chamber, or loft, and carefully guarded 
from a moist, or damp atmosphere, or it will is a = or 
black color, 
CHEMICAL AND MEDICAL PROPERTIES AND USES. 
The best detailed account of the properties of Cuttows Guapar 
is given by Rafinesque, who appears to have been the first also 
who introduced this plant into notice. He was indebted to Dr. 
Lawrence of New Lebanon, and the Doctor to the Indians and 
Shakers. 
The whole plant may be used, but the leaves only are pre- 
ferred ; these are extensively bitter, and furnish one of the most 
important and strongest ingredients to the best bitters, without 
any aromatic smell, and very little astringency. They are said 
to be tonic, cathartic, and hepatic, but no certain information = 
has been afforded on the subject. No analysis has been made — 
of them, but they appear to contain, gallic acid, a peculiar 3 
resinous substance, similar to pierine and aloes, of a black color, 
and very bitter taste, lignine, &c. They communicate their 
properties to both water and alcohol. Wine is the best men- 
strum, but it becomes intolerably bitter. 
Snakehead is useful in many diseases, fevers, jaundice, hepa- 
titis, eruptions of the skin, &e. In small doses it is laxative. 
but in full doses, it purges actively, acting powerfully on the 
liver, and removing the yellowness of the skin in jaundice and 
liver diseases. The dose is a drachm of the powdered leaves 
three times a day. The wine of it in small repeated doses has 
_ nearly the same effect, although neither so speedily or violently. 
The Indians use a strong decoction of the whole plant in a 
variety of Sotaeipiatty and it is held i in much esteem t them. is 
