290 ; ORD. XVU. Bicornes. ARBUTUS UVA URSI. 
permanent relief, which is said to have been experienced by the 
German physicians. ' 
From the experiments of Dr. Alexander,* the leaves of Uva Ursi 
seem to possess very little diuretic power, and those made by 
‘Murray’ show that they have no material effect upon the urinary 
calculi: the efficacy they may therefore have in relieving the cal- 
culous diseases, we are disposed to ascribe to their astringency ; 
and in confirmation of this opinion we may cite the observation of 
Dr. Cullen, who, in his chapter on Astringents,™ notices the dis- 
sertation of De Heucher, under the title of Calculus per adstringentia 
pellendus: and though he does not think with this author that 
astringents are lithontriptics, yet from his own experience, and 
that of others, he believes they. often have a powerful effect in 
relieving calculous symptoms; and in proof of this he refers to the 
exhibition of the Uva Ursi. The leaves may be employed either 
in powder or decoction; the former is.most commonly preferred, 
and given in doses from a seruple to a dram two or three times a 
day. 
«6 The trials of the Uva Ursi made in this country, have by no means answered 
 expectatien: in all the cases: that have come to my. knowledge it produced great 
sickness and uneasiness, without any apparent benefit, though continued for a 
month.” Lewis M. M. p. 683. And in a case of Incontinence of urine, Dr. 
.Fothergill observes, ** The Uva Ursi, so much extolled of late in ulcers of the 
urinary passages, scemed, but to aggravate the symptoms.” Med. Obs. & Inquir. 
vol. tit. p. 144. But-in the preface to this volume we are told, *‘ that the Uva 
“Ursi had been frequently ao successfully by many of the Members of the 
Society of Physicians in Londo 
*-Sce his Exp. Essays, p. 154. 
' The caleuli were macerated in a strong decoction of the Uva. Ursi. Vide I. c. 
™ Mat. Med. vol. ti. p.12..& seq. And Dr. Withering, speaking of the effects 
of this plant, says, “ Perhaps, upon the whole, we shall find it no better than other 
- vegetable astringents;, some of which have long been used by the country people in 
_&Fayelly complaints, and with very great advantage; though hitherto unnoticed by 
the regular practitioners,” 4. c. 
a 
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