J 50 NAT. ORDER. IRIDEiE 



rolla ; the style is short and slender ; the stigma divides into three 

 petalous expansions, of a yellow color ; these are oblong, bent 

 down and outwards, and irregularly serrated at the extremity ; 

 the capsule is triangular, and divided into three cells, which contain 

 numerous flat seeds of a yellow color. 



This plant is common in marshes, and on the banks of rivers ; 

 and is rendered quite conspicuous by its large and beautiful 

 flowers, which a2:)pear in the beginning of July. It is said to be a 

 native of the eastern parts of Europe ; but is found in most parts 

 of the United States. It formerly had a place in the London 

 Pharmacopieia, under the name of Gladeolus luteus. 



Medical Properties and Uses. The root, which is the part 

 usually employed in medicine, is without smell, but has an acrid, 

 stiptic taste ; and its juice, on being snuffed up the nostrils, pro- 

 duces a burning heat in the nose and mouth, accompanied with a 

 copius discharge from those organs: hence, it is recommended 

 both as an errhine and sialagogue. This root is such a jDowerful 

 astringent, that it has been used instead of galls, in the making of 

 ink, and also for the purpose of dying black ; and from this quality 

 it has been successfully employed as a medicine, for the cure of 

 diarrhoeas. When given with this intention, however, the root is 

 to be well dried ; for the fresh root and the juice are strongly ca- 

 thartic ; so much so, that eighty drops of the latter produced re- 

 peated evacuations, after jalap, gamboge, aloes, &c., had failed ; 

 and by continuing its use in an increased dose, it cured a most 

 obstinate case of dropsy. Dr. Rutherford mentions a case where 

 he had used the most powerful cathartics, such as jalap, gamboge, 

 calomel, &c., all proving ineffectual ; after which he ordered eighty 

 drops of the Sticcus radicis, Iridis palustris, to be given every hour 

 or two, in a little sirup of buckthorn, which had very immediate 

 effects, making him pass several pints of water by stool, that very 

 night. The expressed juice is likewise said to be a useful appli- 

 cation to serpiginous eruptions, and scrofulous tumors. 



