46 NYMPHEA. No. 67. 



They are astringent, refrigerant, demulcent, anodyne, 

 hypnotic, emollient, antiscrofulous, &c. Taste styptic 

 and bitter when fresh ; they dye of a dark brown and 

 black colour with iron, and contain a large quantity of 

 tannin and gallic acid; also starch, tnucilage, sugar, 

 resin, ammonia, ulmine, tartaric acid, &c. The variety 

 with yellow roots is mildest and best. It is said to be 

 preferable to Statice and Geranium maculalmn, in 

 almost all cases, being milder and quite as efficient. 

 Externally, the roots and leaves are used for poultices 

 in biles, tumors, scrofulous sores, lockjaw, and inflamed 

 skin. Internally, the roots are useful in diarrhoea, dis- 

 sentery, gonorrhea, leucorrhea, scrofula, and many fe- 

 vers. It may be taken in decoction alone or with tonics. 

 The fresh roots act sometimes as a rubefacient exter- 

 nally ; the dry ones are best for use. The fresh leaves 

 are excellent for cooling and emollient cataplasms; 

 they are eaten by cows and cattle, and in Canada they 

 are eaten in the spring, boiled for greens. The fresh 

 root is used sometimes like soap. A conserve of the 

 flowers is said to be very cooling and even anti-erotic. 

 The syrup made with them is nearly useless, but the 

 eyrup of the roots is very good. The fresh juice of the 

 roots, mixed with lemon juice, is said to be a good cos- 

 metic, .and to remove pimples and freckles of the skin. 

 It may be united to Ulmusfxilva and other discutients, 

 ior white swellings. Upon the whole, this plant has 

 important properties, and deserves the attention of the 

 medical practitioners, although many writers have to- 

 taiiy omitted it. ^ j 



The yellow Water Lilies belonging to the genus 



cK'"'' '^"*^ properties, although les? effi- 



No. 68. OXALIS ACETOSELLA. 



luif ""'*^* , Common Woodsorrel. Fr. Oxalide alle- 

 B-el, uS.^tLlC'"'''' ''"^'^^ ^^^^'' ^'^^^ 



