PHYTOLACA 251 



PASTINACA SATIVA, L. Parsnep. Root escu- 

 lent, sweet, diuretic, flatulent, seeds aromatic used in 

 agues* Root of wild parsnep acrid, evnetic, producing; 

 sores bj handling;. 



PEDICtJLARrS, L. Lousewort. P. Gladiata is 

 one of the vulnerary plants called HealalL P. canaden- 

 sis deemed by Indians to cure Rattlesnake bites. 



PELTANDRA, Raf. 1817. {Leconiea Ty. 1824) 

 Fivesp. blended in ^rum sagiffoUnnu Taroho^ Tuckah^ 

 fVampee of Indian tribes- Fresli roots and seeds acrid, 

 pungent, stimulant, eq. to ^^rum ; but mild and edible 

 when roasted or boiled : seeds used like pepper- 



PEONIA, L. Peony. Cult, root aud seeds nervine, 

 used in palsy, convulsions, epilcps3% Contains starch, 

 fat, mannite, gum, acids, tannin, salts, &c, 



PHALARIS, L. Canary seed^ seeds food of birds, 

 flour aperient, tlie best to glue cotton stufTs- 



PHASEOLUS, L. Beans. All esculent, flatulent, 

 cosmetic, nephritic. Flour makes Purey soup. Some 

 used for catchsup. Several cult- by Indians. 



PHYSALIS, L, Ground cherry. All sp. eq. to 

 Solanum virginicum ; but berries acid bitterish, liked 

 by children, good diuretic and sedative. 



PHYTOLACA DECANDRA, Poke, Pq can of Vir- 

 ginia tribes, Coakum of northern tribes. Garget or Pig- 

 eon berries in N. En^L Chougraa in Louisiana, Jucato 

 in Jamaica, Cuechiliz m Mexico. Valuable active plant 

 Root emetic and cathartic without^spasms, dose 10 to 30 

 grains of dry powder, safe and powerful. Young shootg 

 and leaves eaten like aspara;:;u3 and spinage, also m cala- 

 lous merely laxative- Old leaves acrid purgative* 

 Stems and leaves contains more potash than any plant, 

 67 per cent by burning, and 42 per cent of pure caustic 

 potash by lixivation. Has a peculiar acid phytolacic 

 near mafic. Fresh roots and leaves escharotic, discu- 

 tient, specific in poultice for cancerous or malignant ul- 

 cers, psora, tinea capitis, &c. or extract as a plaster, a 

 wash of Hum ex used at same time. Berries juice altera- 

 tive, specific for chronic and syphilitic rlieumatism, fresh 

 or kept by adding I alcohol, a tablespoon full each 4 hours. 

 The extract less certain, one !b. is made by 4lb- doses 



5 



grams 



eaten 



