592 DROSERACEZ. 
that their leaves have glandular hairs which close upon flies 
and insects that rest upon them. Darwin has proved that 
animal food is digested by. these plants, and it increases their 
vigour of growth, the weight of the plants themselves, and 
makes them capable of producing more capsules and seeds. 
They are bitter, acid and caustic, and applied to the skin cause 
pain and inflammation. Their blistering properties are known 
at Madura, and Madden has reported the same effects at 
Kunawar; Stewart, however, in Punjab Plants was notacquainted 
with these plants west of the Sutlej. The powdered leaves 
mixed with salt and applied to the arm with a waterproof 
covering preduced a purplish red coloration, and after three 
hours caused such pain that the poultice had to be removed. 
On the fifth day inflammation set in and the skin became 
most tender; on the eighth day it blistered without any incon- 
venient symptoms, and on the ninth day the coloured skin 
burst and was removable in a few hours afterwards. On the 
Continent trials have been made with the alcoholic extract of 
D. rotundifolia in cases of phthisis with apparently favourable 
‘results, while some physicians have remarked that it is too 
acrid, drying and hot to be serviceable for internal use. Homeo- 
paths consider that in pathogenic doses it causes & spasmodic 
cough resembling pertussis. The Vytians use the Drosera 
for reducing gold to powder. The plantsare ground to a paste, 
whichis made to covera sovereign and then enclosed in two small 
pieces of an earthern pot cemented together with cloth and clay. 
When dry the whole is placed in the centre of a pile of verat- © 
ties (dried cowdung) and thoroughly burnt. After cooling 
the gold is found reduced to powder, and is given in grain doses 
with ghee or some confection twice a day as an antisyphilitic, 
alterative and tonic. Droseras are said to curdle milk, but a 
cold infusion of this plant does not so act. ; 
Description.—Drosera peltata is a delicate little plant, 4 
about 3 to 12 inches in height, with subterminal racem 
_ bearing white flowers; leaves long petioled, lunate paihite, 
S and arising from the stem as well as the root. The plants dried 
paper, cloth or cates stain thea, with a deep-red colour, 
