PKOPERTIES OF CRYPTOGAMIC PLANTS. 3T 



Gigartina Helminthocorton^ Grev. 

 Gracillana " Bot. 



FuGus " Bot. 



Sj)hmrococcus " Ag. 



r 



Helmiiithocorton. Cor- 

 sican moss. 



Jt has some reputation in Europe as an antlielmintic ; liaving 

 been used in Corsica for this purpose for several centuries. It is 

 one of the ingredients in that mixture of marine plants which is 

 sold in Europe under the name of Corsican moss, or helmintho- 

 corton. This is used in decoction, from four to six drachms 

 being boiled in a pint of water, and a wine-glassful given three 

 times a day. U. S. Disp., 1252. Eberfe speaks favorably of it 

 as a vermifuge. See Eb. on " Dis. of Children." Bouvier ob- 

 tained, from one hundred parts of Corsican moss, veg. iiber and 

 jelly, chlo. of sodium, sulpli. andcarb. lime, iron, manganese, sil- 

 ica, and phosph. of lime. Ann. de Chim., ix. 83, 1791. Gaultier 

 de Claubry and Straub have since detected iodine, but in small 

 quantities. Mr. Farr found the decoct., after six or seven days, 

 to act as a diuretic and diaphoretic, occasionally producing nau- 

 sea and giddiness. In 1822 he brought it forward as a remedy in 

 cancer, being led to try it from the circumstances of JSTapoleon's 

 having stated to O'Meara that it was used in Corsica for dispers- 

 ing tumors. Experience does not sustain its employment. Dr. 

 Dohlhoif thinks it either has iodine or a hydriodate. M. & De L., 

 iv. 498. It is often mixed with other crypt, plants. In powder, 

 it is given in doses of a scruple to two drachms mixed with honey ; 

 but the decoction is the form j)referred. Pereira's Mat. Med., v. 

 11 ; Bremser sur les vers intestin, 414. The favorable effect of 

 the medicine in scirrhus is indicated by the green discoloration of 

 the stools, accompanied by a notable amount of coagulable lymph. 

 According to Dr. Stenhouse, it contains from 1 to 5 or 6 per cent, 

 of mannite. Harvey's " Kereis Bor. Am." 



"We insert the following references obtained from M. & De L., 

 Diet, de M. Med. Fee, Cours. d'Hist. I^at. Pharm. i. 14T ; Kevue 

 Med. ii. 515, xi. 468 ; Sprengel, Hist, de la Med. v. 495 ; Med. 

 Eclairee par les Sc. Physiques, i. 86, 1791 ; Ann. de Chim. ix. 83 ; 

 Schwendimann, Dis. Helminth. Ilist. 1780 ; Latomette, Diss. Bot. 

 sur le Mousse de Corse, Obs. sur la Physique, xxi. 166, 1782 ; 

 De Cand., Bull, de la Facult. de Med. i. 125, 1824 ; Bull, de la 

 Soc. Philom. iii. 263 : Farr, in Med. and Surg. Kev. 1822. 



