No. 85. SIGILLARIA. S3 



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mucous substance. 8. A peculiar astringent principle. 

 9. Lignine. When burnt, the ashes afford the chlorure 

 of soda, and seven other salts. It is, therefore, preposter- 

 ous to deem such a plant inert. The facts already known 

 prove that it is tonic, astringent, anti-spasmodic, and 

 an ti -hydrophobic at least. It has been used chiefly of 

 late, in all nervous diseases, convulsions, tetanus, St. 

 Vitus' dance, tremors, &c. and has availed in many in- 

 stances. In hydrophobia, it appears to be a good pro- 

 phylactic, if not a certain cure : a physician, (Dr. 

 White; of Fishkill) bitten by a mad dog, has assured me 

 that himself alone avoided the disease by using it, while 

 others bitten by the same dog died. Many instances of 

 the same kind are on record : na^, many Nvho believe in 

 this property, say that it never falls. We lack, how- 

 ever, a series of scientific and conclusive experiments, 

 made by well informed men ; they have been discourag- 

 ed by the ridiculous denial of sceptics ; but let us hope 

 may jet be performed. The plant was used fresh or 

 dry, m infusion or tea, a gill four times a day, and the 

 plant applied to the wound. A purgative of flour of sul- 

 pher is often given at the same time. This plant is now 

 almost neglected like the j9nagaiUs phenicea dind Jjtlis- 

 ma plantago^ which enjoyed once a reputation for hy- 

 drophobia J but we have so few presumed remedies for 

 this dreadful disease, and it is so desirable to confirm 

 the properties of those supposed available, that it is 

 needful to encourage rather than discourage every at- 

 tempt to throw light on the subject- 



No. 85. SIGILLARIA MULTIFLORA. 



Names. Multiflore Sealwort. Fr. Sigillaire multi- 

 flore. Vulgar. Solomon Seal, Sealroot, Dropberry. 

 Classify Nat. Order of Asparagoides. Hexandria mo- 



nogynia L. • t r c 



Genus Sigill\kia. Perigone tubular, six cleft. Sta- 

 mens six, inserted in the upper part of the tube. One 

 pistil, one style, one stigma. Berry three celled, cells 

 *«r^ Ir^^AoA Flnwe.rs axillary to Stem leaves. 



