300 ORD. XVII. Bicornes. Rio DODENDRON. CHRYSAN-ANTHUM. 
filaments are slender, spreading, nearly of the length of the 
corojla, and furnished with oval anther: the germen is pentagonal, 
indented, and supports a style, which is longer than the filaments, 
and terminated by an obtuse stigma: the cana is egg-shaped, 
somewhat angular, and divided into five cells, which contain nume- 
rous small seeds. 
This‘species of Rhododendron has not yet been introduced into 
Britain: it is a native of Siberia, affecting mountainous situations, 
and flowering in June and July. 
This plant, and its medicinal effects, were first described in the 
year 1747, by Gmelin and Steller, who mention it as frequently 
and successfully used in Siberia and other northern situations of 
which it is a native, for the cure of rhetniatism, and other painful 
affections of the joints. Little attention however was paid to this 
remedy till the year 1779, when it was strongly recommended by 
Koelpin as an efficacious medicine not only in rheumatism and 
gout, but even in venereal cases; afd it is now very generally 
employed in chronic rheumatisms'jn various parts of Europe.“ 
The leaves,- which are the part directed for medicinal use, have a 
- bitterish subastringent taste, and, as well as the bark and young 
branches, manifest a degree of acrimony. Taken in large doses 
* It is said, “* Venatores et Glaciei marie fossores ad Lenam habitantes—duom 
primis laborum suorum diebus facile las¢antur et a perpetuo preruptorum montium 
adscensu genuum graves dolores patiuntur, lassitudini et dolori, decocto hujus 
foliorum, biduum triduumve centinuato eflicaciter mederi, nullum inter dormire et 
quasi inebriari, breyi vero ad solidiores labores sustinendos inde appissimos evadere.” 
See Gmelin. 1, c. 
» Praktische Bemerkungen uber den Gebrauch der Sibirischen sehaeel ey in 
Gichtkrankheilen von D. A. B, Koeplin, Berlin u Stettin. 1779. 
© Procopius a Demidof of Moscow, employed a tincture of the leaves also in 
hemorrheidal complaints. Neve nordische Beytrdge, vol, 3. p. 399. In Siberia it 
was given ina case of cancer of the breast, by Butzow, with great success. It is in 
common use in Germany. See Pallas Flor, Rossica. c. and J. H. Zahn Diss. Med. 
inaug. de Rhodod. Chrysantho. 1783. 
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