34 ON THE MEDICINAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL 



jecting the more membranaceous portion. Crypt. Eng. ; Grev. 

 Alga3 Brit. xix. ; Lincl., Xat. Syst. Merat states that the F. es- 

 culentus, L. possesses sufficient gelatine to render it highly nutri- 

 tious, and that it is used in Brittany, in Gascony, and in Siberia 

 as an article of food. Diet, de Mat. Med. iii. 305 ; Thunberg, 

 iv. 61. 



Laininaria huccinalis. 



From the researches of M. Eclon, at the Cape of Good Iloi^e, 

 it contains more iodine tlian any Em-opean Algse. Grev. Alg. 

 Brit. The goitre-stick (Palo Coto), thought to be serviceable in 

 South America, in goitre, is probably a species of this genus. 

 Lind., I^at. Syst. from Grev. 



-r . . . . _ / Sugarv Laminaria. Abun- 



LaTmnaria sacc/ianna, Lamour. \ . r^ " -. ^t 



T^ J . ^ . ■{ dant on sea-shore on JN ew 



J^ucus saccliarinus, Lmn. \ ^ . tt 



' \ J ei'sey coast. Harvey. 



Tliis well-known plant attains a length of many feet, and 

 derives its sj^ecific name from its being, after having been steeped 

 in fresh water and exj^osed to the sun, covered with a white 

 efflorescence resembling sugar, but nauseous to the taste. It is 

 not the "saccharine fucus" of the Icelander, as has been gener- 

 ally supposed. It is said, however, to be eaten in England Ijy the 

 poor, boiled as a pot-herb ; but I know not whether this has 

 been asserted b}' anyone besides Pallas. Tlnmberg tells us, that 

 in Japan it is prepared in such a manner as to be quite esculent, 

 and that it is customary there, when presents are made, to lay 

 upon them a slice of this fucus attaclied to a piece of paper 

 folded in a curious manner, and tied with tln*eads of gold or sil- 

 ver. Cattle eat it not unfrequently. Crypt. Eng. Ya-uquelin 

 found in it a matter analogous to mannite. Dr. Stackhouse says it 

 contains six per cent. Merat & De Lens, iii. 307. Cattle are 

 said to feed on it and get fat ; but tlieir flesh acquires a bad 

 flavor. Flora Scotica, ii. 04:2. Mr. Stackhouse says that when 

 dry it forms an admirable hygrometer, and preserves its quality 

 for yeai's. Plantai Bariores, 149. 



T . ' T -^ _, T i Tangle Sea-Girdles. Sea-shore, 



Laminana mqitata, L'A\n. \ „ " . ^ ^ , ,' 



T-, 7- -^ ^ T- - iis lar south as Cape Cod. (01- 



I'ucus diqitatus, Lmn. ) . -,. , -^ ^ 



'^ \ ney and Harvey.) 



Tliis, and tlie L. Iv.Jhosa, arc valued in making kelp. Mrs. Grif- 



