272 VACCIXIUM. 



URTICA, L. Ntttles. 15 native sp. all nearly eq. t\ 

 dioica best known as medical. Diuretic, ucctoral, sub- 

 astringent Used in decoction for nepliritis, gravel, he- 

 morrhage, hemoptysis, jaundice, bloody urine, bloody 

 piles, &:c. The property of stinj!:ing when fresh, called 

 urtication, formerly used as a powerful stimulant and 

 rubefacient, in palsies and to cause revulsions instead of 

 sinapisms. When dry no longer stinging. Cultlv. in 

 Sweden for fodder, cows fed on it giv^ much milk and 

 yellow butter. Make hors^- ^..»art and tViakv. Sfimu- 

 iate fowls to lay many e -. t^pring shf^o^s are boiled 

 in Europe for pot herbs. The stems of all attord a kiml 

 of tow, Kemp or flax, cloth and paper. L\ nivea cult, for 

 linen in Japan. L\ canabina for hemp in Ru>9ta. Our 

 U. proeera and canadensis (sub G. Oblixilia) once begun 

 to be cult, as fine perennial hemp. Seeds vermifuge, laxa- 

 tive, good food for fowls and turkeys, said to cure the 

 goitre, and to reduce excessive corpulence. 



UVULARIA, L. BdlworL All sp. eq. although tv 

 perfoliata and grandiflora mostly used* Root subacrid 

 when fresh, with a fine mucilage. Eq. to CyprypeSum 

 as a nervine, but much less efficient. When chewed and 

 the saliva swallowed, it cures sorethroat. Said to be 

 equal to Ilieracium nervosum in bites of rattle snakes* 

 Useful in wounds and sores. Decoction of the plant in 

 »ore mouth, inflamed larynx and gums. Shoou^ edible 

 like Asparagus, roots edible when dry and cooked, 



VACCIKIUM, Lin* Whortle berries. Hackle berries. 

 We have 40 sp. Almost all produce fruits, blue or 

 black, acidule, cooling, subastringent, diuretic, &c. Use- 

 ful in scurvy, diarrhea, dropsy, bilious fevers, &c. Eaten 

 alone or with milk, su^ar. Alake syrup, wine, pies, pud- 

 dings. The Indians dry tliein in cakes. They stain and 

 dye purplish. Leaves astringent, can tan leather, a tea ^ 

 used for sore mouth. F, dumoeiim, f rondo sum^ tenelium 

 produce large fine berries. K distichirm, Raf. of Oregon, 

 fine flavor, baked into bread. V. vitisidea produces the 

 bilberries. V. arboremn or Farkle berry, fruit astrin- 

 gent, but good flavor, best when dry j bark of the root 

 very astringent, used for diarrhea "'and dysentery hke 

 the berries. 



