PEOPERTIES OF CRYPTOGAMIC PLANTS. 23 



"bitter, especially in alcoholic solution — absolute alcohol being its 

 best solvent. Ether also dissolves it, and it is slightly soluble in 

 water. It is precipitated by the acids, and rendered much more 

 soluble by the alkalies. In the dose of two grains repeated every 

 two hours, it has been used successfully in intermittent fever. 

 Journ. de Pharm. I. c. Drs. Schnedermann and Ivnop have 

 ascertained, that the cetrarin above referred to consists of three 

 distinct substances, viz. cetraric acid, lichsteariG acid, and thallo- 

 chlar. Chem. Gazette, Jan. Feb. 1846 ; from Ann. der Pharm. 

 iv. 144. 



The gum and starch render it sufficiently nutritive to serve aS' 

 food, the bitter principle having been freed by repeated macer- 

 ation in water, one part of an alkaline carbonate being dissolved 

 in 375 i^arts of the water, decanting and repeating the process. 

 This process was suggested by Berzelius. IT. S. Disp. 295 ; Pe- 

 reira, ii. 41 ; Kichard, Elms, d'llist. Kat. Med. ii. 1. 



We will not extend these notices by including the informa- 

 tion given by Merat & De Lens in the Diet, de Mat. Med. iv. 

 106, as the plant is so well known. 



Iceland Moss, according to the U. S. Disp. is demulcent, nu- 

 tritious, and tonic, and "Avell calculated for affections of the 

 mucous membranes of the lungs and bowels, in which the local 

 disease is associated with debility of the digestive organs, or the 

 system generally;" also used in dyspepsia, chronic dysentery, 

 and diarrhoea. It has, moreover, been given in the debility suc- 

 ceeding acute disease, or dej)endent on copious purulent dis- 

 charge from external ulcers. But the complaint in the treat- 

 ment of which it has acquired most reputation, is pulmonary 

 consumption. It had long been employed in this disease, and in 

 haemoptysis, by the Danish physicians, before it became known 

 to the profession at large. It was used extensively ; but the cases 

 in which it was supposed to have effected cures, are believed to 

 have been nothing more than chronic bronchitis. The powder is 

 sometimes given in the dose of thirty grains or a drachm ; and a 

 preparation at one time obtained some repute, in which the 

 ground moss was incorporated with chocolate, and used at the 

 morning and evening meal as an ordinary beverage. U. S. Disp. 



Cetraria Glauca, Ach. \ ^^ ^ ■, ^-r i i m i 



T- J ^ . u T* f JN . btates and JN ortli wards. luck. 



With alum and green vitriol it affords a carnation color. 

 Prost., Cat. des PL de la Lozere ; M. & De L. 



