22 ON THE MEDICINAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL 



7-7-7.,. . a 7 J o 1 T ( Blistered Lichen, Orseille 



T-. ^ ^ ,, ' T . -{ de terre. On Mts. of S. C, 



Lichen " Lum. ] ^ -.^ ,_^ ^ ' 



According to Linnoens, a beautiful red color may Ije prepared 

 from it ; and it may be converted into " an exceeding fine black 

 paint," Wade's Plantar Eariores, 13G. 



UmhiUcaria Mulilenhergii. 



Tripe de Roclie was used by Sir Jolin Franklin in his jour- 

 ney to the shores of the Polar Seas, and is " agreeable and nutri- 

 tious." 



Cetraria Islandica, Ach. 

 Lichen Island icus, Linn. 



Iceland Cetraria. On the moun- 

 tains of the jSTorth, both in the Old 

 and ISTew Continents ; " abundant 

 on the mountains and sandy plains 

 of K England." (U.S.Disp.) K 

 States. Tuck. 



"In great request as a medicine in coughs, consumptions," 

 &;c. Immense quantities are gathered in Iceland, not only for 

 sale, but for their own use as an article of common food. " Tlie 

 bitter and purgative quality being extracted by steej^ing in 

 water, the lichen is dried, reduced to powder, and made into a 

 cake, or boiled and eaten with milk. Crypt. Eng. 



This plant is officinal in the U. S. Disp. Macerated in water it ab- 

 sorbs rather more than its own weight of the fluid, and if the water 

 be Avarm, renders it bitter. Boiling water extracts all its soluble 

 principles. The decoction thickens upon cooling, and acquires a 

 gelatinous consistence. The dissolved matter is insoluble in cold 

 water, alcohol, or ether; Init soluble in boiling water, and in 

 solution forming a blue compound with iodine. This principle 

 has received the distinctive name of lichenin. Berzelius found 

 in 100 parts of Iceland moss, 1.6 of chlorophylle, 3.0 of a pecu- 

 liar bitter principle, 3.6 of uncrystallizable sugar, 3.Y of gum, Y.O 

 of the apotheme of extractive, 4-1.6 of the peculiar starch-like 

 principle, 1.9 of the bilichenatcs of j^otassa and lime mixed with 

 phosphate of lime, and 36.2 of amylaceous fibrin — the excess 

 being 1-6 part. Traite de Chim. vi. 2.51. The name of cetrarin 

 has been conferred on the bitter principle of Iceland moss. See 

 Dr. Ilerberger's method of preparing it, U. S. Disp. 204 ; Journ. 

 de Pharm. xxiii. 505. By this process one pound of moss yielded 

 133 grains (A cetrarin. This principle is white and exceedingly 



