CONVALLARIA POLYGONATUM. ORD, XLVI, Liliacec. V75 
into three cells, each containing a single round seed. It grows 
in the rocky and woody parts of England, and flowers in May and 
June. 
The root, which is the medicindl part of Solomon’ s Seal, is very 
generally, by writers on the Materia Medica, referred to the Con- 
vallaria multiflora of Linnzus, or the Polygonatum latifolium 
vulgare of C. Bauhin. It is of a mucilaginous ° quality, and has 
long been commonly employed as a discutient poultice to various 
kinds of tumours, but more particnlarly to bruises, accompanied 
with extravasation of blood in the cellular membrane:* it is also 
recommended as a cosmetic; and in Galen’s time was used b 
women to remove pimples and freckles of the skin, Of its astrin- 
gent effects, when taken internally, there can be no well grounded 
expectation, The berries, _flowers, and leaves, are extremely 
acrid, and are said to be of a poisonous quality.‘ 
> As a proof that these roots contain a considerable proportion of farinaceous 
matter, Bergius says, * Panem e radice recente, addita farina frumenti, annone 
caritate coxerunt rustici. nostrates, qui nai —_ & ee sapones id 
M. M. 271 
ara es e radice familiare senediicn est in ngage, & i in omni 
conitnstone, meee. grumosum eflicaciter discutiens.”” Rutty M. M. A03,, 
__# Vide Haller Stirp. Hely, No, 1243. Geoff. M, M.: 
