141-2 
from the Altaic Mountains; &. compactum, Linn., from Chinese-Tartary; and 2&. 
crassinervium, Fisch., whose nativity is doubtful. 
Other medicinal plants of the order are: The Seaside Grape of the West 
Indies (Coccoloba uvifera, Linn.), a powerful astringent, whose decoction, evapo- 
rated, is known as Jamaica Kino; the fruit of this plant is edible and pleasant, 
forming an article of commerce in the native markets, Of the genus Polygonum 
many species are astringent, particularly, however, Bistort, the rhizome of P. Bis- 
torta, Linn., which is highly esteemed in diarrhoea, leucorrhcea, gleet, and kindred 
affections; the European P. aniphibium, Linn., is said to resemble sarsaparilla in 
its qualities, and has been substituted for it; P. daréatum, Linn., of the Cape of 
Good Hope, is considered diuretic; the fruit of the Knob Grass (P. aviculare, 
Linn.) is said to be emetic and cathartic; while P. hydrofpiper, Linn., is a vesicant 
and powerful diuretic when fresh. 
The Western Indians, and especially those of Alaska, use the leaves of the 
Round-leaved Sorrel (Oxyria digynia, Campd.), chopped with those of the Water- 
cress and fermented, as a salad; the Indians along the Colorado River gather the 
abundant seeds of a species of Rumex, which they call Yerba Colorado, which they 
grind and make into bread;* while the domestic use of Buckwheat (Fagopyrum 
esculentum, Moen.) as a flour for breakfast cakes is truly national. 
History and Habitat.— Water Smartweed is indigenous to the United States, 
where it is common, especially southward ; it habits ditches and waste places where 
the soil is wet and rich, and flowers from July to September. The use of Smart- 
weed among the laity, who include P. hydropiper, Linn., is very general and 
extended, especially as a fomentation in ammenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, enteritis, 
and mastitis, and internally in the same troubles and in coryza. The fresh leaves, 
bruised with those of the Mayweed (Maruta Cotula, Composit), and moistened 
with a few drops of oil of turpentine, make a speedy vesicant, and, as such, are 
highly esteemed; so quick is the action of Smartweed in this direction that it has 
received among boys the merited but unpleasant name, Ass-smart. A cold infu- 
sion has been found very serviceable in nursing sore-mouth, mercurial ptyalism, 
gout, and dysentery, and externally as a wash for indolent ulcers and painful 
hemorrhoids. In Mexico the infusion is used as a diuretic, and put into the baths 
of persons afflicted with rheumatism. 
The Eclectic Materia Medica recommends its use in the following forms: 
Lnfusum Polygoni, Extractum Polygoni Fluidum, Extractum Polygont, Tinctura 
Polygonz, and makes it a component of Pilule Polygoni Composite,+ and Tinctura 
Caulophylli Composita.t 
: PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The whole fresh plant is chopped and 
pounded to a pulp and weighed. Then two parts by weight of alcohol are taken, 
the pulp thoroughly mixed with one-sixth part of it, and the rest of the alcohol 
e added. After having stirred the whole well, it is poured into a well-stoppered 
_ * J. R. Dodge, in U.S. Agric. Rept., 1870, 422. : : 
= Sulphate of Iron, Resin of Cimicifuga, Oleo-resin of Iris, and Extractum Pelygottbersserrnr or rer : 
a. } Caulophyllum,, Ergot, Polygonum, and Sabina, __ ee wee 
