ECONOMIC USES OF LICHENS — LLANO 399 



MEDICINES AND POISONS DERIVED FROM LICHENS 



The name "lichen" (= leprous), originally applied to hepatics, is 

 of Greek origin and was used by Theophrastus in his "History of 

 Plants" to describe a superficial growth on the bark of olive trees. 

 Dioscorides applied it to true lichens because of their resemblance to 

 the cutaneous disease for which they were supposed to be specific. 

 This is substantiated by Andres de Laguna (9a). Dr. Bustinza 

 brought this to the attention of the author, remarking further that 

 the illustration of Lobaiia fulmo7iaria (9a, 1566, p. 407) may be the 

 first drawing of a true lichen. 



History. — The use of lichens in medicine can be traced back to an- 

 tiquity. Evernia furfuracea has been found in an Egj^ptian vase 

 fro mthe eighteenth dynasty (ITOO-IGOO B. C), and is still imported 

 into Egypt from Europe and sold with Cetraria islandica as a foreign 

 drug. The Egyptians also used this species of Evernia to preserve 

 the odor of spices employed in embalming mummies (13a). Edward 

 Tuckerman (20a) reports a similar or perhaps the same incident, 

 noting that the specimen examined by him resembled local material. 

 The lichen was sold on the Cairo drug market under the name of 

 "kheba." 



In the fifteenth century A.D. there was throughout Europe a con- 

 stant attempt to follow the guidance of nature in the study and treat- 

 ment of disease. It was believed that Providence had scattered here 

 and there on plants "signatures" of more or less vague resemblances 

 to parts of the human body, or to diseases to which man is subject, thus 

 indicating the appropriate specific. This era climaxed the commercial 

 importance of these plants, for never before or since have they played 

 such a unique role in the world of economic plants. The long filaments 

 of Usnea harhata Web. were used to strengthen the hair, though 

 Hippocrates also prescribed this lichen for uterine ailments. The na- 

 tives of the Malay Peninsula still use a closely related species for treat- 

 ing colds and strengthening after confinement (13). Loharia ful- 

 nionaria Hoff. was the suitable remedy for lung troubles. Boerhaave 

 ( 19) regarded it as an excitant, tonic, and astringent, and recommended 

 it for hemorrhages and asthma. Xanthoria parietina Th. Fr., being 

 a yellow lichen, was supposed to cure jaundice, while Peltigera aph- 

 thosa Willd., the thallus of which is dotted with small wartlike tuber- 

 cles, was recommended for children who suffered from thrush. Other 

 species of Evernia^ Peltigera^ Pai^melia., Cladonia., Roccella., and Pertu- 

 saria were used as purgatives or to control fevers, diarrhea, infec- 

 tions, skin diseases, epilepsy, and convulsions. Pertusaria communis 

 DC. was used to cure intermittent fever, having less action on women 

 than on men. Piltigera canina Willd., as a cure for hydrophobia, was 

 sold by a Dr. Mead as the celebrated "Pulvus antilyssus" (Dillenius, 



