tt4. NAT. ORDER. ORCUWF.JE 



cullar to itself, among countries in the same parallel of latitude. 

 The number of species of this tribe is at present unknown, but 

 probably is not less than 1500. 



Medical Properties and Uses. It often happens that those pro- 

 ductions of nature which charm the eye with their beauty, and 

 delight the senses with their perfume, have the least relation to 

 the wants of mankind, while the most powerful virtues, or the 

 most deadly poisons are hidden beneath a mean and insignificant 

 exterior : thus, Orchidete, beyond their beauty, can scarcely be 

 said to be of known utility, with a very few exceptions. The 

 nutritive substance called Salep, is prejiared from the subterraneous 

 succulent roots of Orchis mascula and others ; it consists almost 

 entirely of a chemical principle called Bassorin. The root of 

 Bletia verecunda is said to be stomachic ; and some of the South 

 American species, such as the Catasetums, Cyrtipodiums, Sec, con- 

 tain a viscid juice, which, being inspissated by boiling, becomes a 

 kind of vegetable glue, used for economical purposes in Brazil. 

 The aromatic substance called Vanilla, is the succulent fruit of a 

 West India plant, of which our drawing is a representation. 



Throughout the whole of Holland, the fruit of this shrub is 

 much admired for its astringent qualities. The inhabitants take 

 the unripe fruit, or the bark of the roots, which they boil or steep 

 until they become perfectly soft, then express and strain into a 

 tight vessel, adding suflScient French brandy, and sugar, for safe 

 keeping. The dose of this is from half to a wine-glassful two or 

 three times a day. This is an excellent remedy for dysenteiy, 

 and all diseases of the bowels. 



