ASPIDIUM. 197 



L 



dysentery, and as emetics, chiefly the A* syriaca^ A. 



incarnata^ and A. ohtusifoUa. 



ASIMINA, Dec. Ty. {n^lnnona sp. L. Porcelia of 

 others.) Papaw^ Custard Apple, Asiminier in Louisiana. 

 The A. triloba^ found from Ohio to Mexico. Fruit with 

 a bad smell, but when ripe after frost, the pulp is sweet, 

 luscious, yellow, similar to Custards. It is sedative, 

 laxative and healthy. A wine is made of it, quite clear 

 and good, useful for aphthas of children. The skin of 

 the fruit and the seeds are fetid, smell similar to Datura. 

 The A. grandiflora of Florida, has large fragrant white 

 blossoms, and a fruit like Cucumber, rough outside, but 

 with a fine hard yellow pulp inside, delicious and whole- 

 some. The A. xncamata has also a fine fruit. All these 

 shrubs deserve cultivation. The Indians make strong 



ropes with their bark. 



ASPARAGUS OFFICINALIS, L. Sparrow Grass. 

 Cultivated, often spontaneous. The shoots a well known 

 vernal luxury, very healthy, diuretic^ gi^'^^g ^ stron 

 smell to urine, purifying the blood, pectoral, sedative^ 

 and sudorific : but the excessive use is said to brins: on 

 gout. The root and seeds are aperient, diuretic, aphro- 

 disiac, &c. useful in gravel, nephritis, &c. A peculiar 

 substancej asparagine, found in them. Valuable diet in 

 many diseases of the breast, heart, kidneys and bladder, 

 it allays the inordinate action of the heart. A syrup 

 made with the green part of the shoots, is useful when 

 out of season. Alcohol is made with the berries. 



ASPIDIUM, Sm. Malefern^ Sweetbrake. We have 

 nearly £5 species, many are medical : the Jl. filUjias^ 

 most used as a vermifuge, to expel the tenia, it is united 

 to Skunkweed and given before and after a purge ; use- 

 ful also for rachitis or rickets ; the root \< the part used, 

 it is edible, and eaten by the Indians as well as the 

 leaves. Pliaius knew its vermifuge quality. All the 

 sweet scented species are equally medical, vermifuge, 

 f>ectoral5 diaphoretic arid demulcent. The Aspidiinn 

 gives bv analysis, a peculiar fatty substance, Jhpidine^ 

 which IS nauseous, heavier than water, has a bad taste, 

 and forms soaps ; it contains also gallic and acetic acids. 

 tannin, sugar, starch, gelatine, lignine, &c. The root 



B 2 



