Dr. Grateloup on the utility of Botany in Medicine. 35 



utc stimulating, energetic, and even poisonous principles; that 

 the grains of the Graminete being farinaceous and containing' 

 much gluten, are eminently nutritive; that the Thvmeleap, the 

 hark of which is very caustic, are rubefacient and blistering; 

 that tlie Papaveracese, having a milky, disagreeable, and narco- 

 tic juice, have all that powerful somniferous property, which 

 has, at the same time, the power of allaying pain; that the 

 Malvaceae, being mucilaginous, are emollient and softening ; that 

 the Euphorbia?, containing an acrid and caustic gum resinous 

 juice, are emetic and diuretic; that the Umbellifera?, having 

 in general aromatic seeds, a property owing to the presence of 

 an essential oil, are stimulating, tonic, carminative, and anti- 

 spasmodic ; that the genus Cinchona, so rich in species, having 

 a bitter and astringent bark, has been hitherto considered as the 

 most powerful tonic, and the most certain febrifuge ; and that 

 the Conifera? are stimulating and diuretic, on account of the 

 resinous aromatic juice, analogous to turpentine, which they 

 possess. 



This law of analogy certainly has exceptions, even amongst 

 certain species of the same genus, but they are small in number, 

 and depend oftner, as M. De Candolle observes, on our igno- 

 rance of botany, on the soil in which the plant grows, on the 

 climate it regetatei in, on the severity of the seasons, on the 

 influence of light, heat, cold, and the diseases to which plants 

 an- subject. 



Tliis law may be applicable 10 classes, the families of which 



efffiar striking difference*; for example, in the Ciyptogamia of 

 Linncus, if exceptions are found, there are also main points of 

 similarity, which tiring together many genera in one family, 

 whether with regard to their botanical characters or medicinal 

 properties. Tims the marine Algae are all closely connected by 

 their exterior resemblance, their habitation, their physical qua- 

 lities, their chemical principles, and their medical properties; a 

 great Dumber "i Puci, Ceramiaf, Conferv a s, and l T lvas, pos- 

 »«*** th«- rermifuge properties in as high n degree as the Fi'cus 

 tn iminilfu <>, hm. 1 1 is worthy of o b serv at ion, that the Corsicaii 



D "J 



