275 



The medicinal and other properties of this Equisetum have been 

 amply recorded by the earlier herbalists, but most of them appear to 

 quote Galen as their authority. In consequence of the confused 

 nomenclature and very indifferent figm-es of these authors, the pro- 

 perties in question become very doubtfvd as intended for the present 

 species ; and even were they so intended, all faith in them, as far as 

 regards medicine, has long been exploded. Tragus* tells us that it is 

 most useful as a medicine, taken internally or externally ; internally 

 its properties appear to be somewhat astringent, but it has long been 

 out of use : held to the nostrils and applied at the same time on the 

 neck, it stops bleeding at the nose, and when bruised and laid on a 

 recent wound it staunches the blood. 



We are told by Lightfootf that " some entertain an opinion that if 

 cows chance to feed upon" this Equisetum "their teeth will drop out: 

 how far this may be true," he adds, " I know not, but I am persuaded 

 that the pasture must be very bad where they are compelled to eat 

 such food." Sir William Hooker appears to give the plant credit for 

 this injurious quality : he says " that though while to sheep it proves 

 injurious, and that the teeth of cows who eat it soon fall out, it is 

 wholesome for horses."| 



The stems of this plant have for centuries been used by artificers 

 in smoothing the surface of wood, bone, and even metal, previously 

 to giving these substances their final polish. This employment of the 



* Vires ac temperamentum. 



Hippuris ea quae capillamento potius quam folio articulatur, magni in medicina et 

 maxime probandi est usus, propter miram sanandi vim quam obliret spissaudi facul- 

 tate praedita et utrisque corporis partihus utillissima. 



Intrinsecus. 



Hippuris cujus jam meminimus, sistendi sanguinem mira facultate poUet. Suc- 

 cus naraque ejus bibitus profluvia sanguinis * * * * cohibet. * * 

 Eadem potest aqua stillatitia per diem bis aut ter mensura trium cochlearium sumpta. 

 Succus in vino potus tormina ventris sedat, tussim, ortbopnaeum, ruptaque adjuvat 

 necnon dissectiones vesicae et intestinorum enterocelasque. 



Ad eadem herba vino decocta et calida pota facit. Potest vero vel lierba vel radix, 

 vino aquave ad omnes istas affectiones decoqui, pro ratione morbi. 



Extrinsecus. 



Succus herbe expressus naribusque inditus et cervici simul impositus sanguinem e 

 naribus erumpentem sistit. Idem aqua stillatitia eflBcit. 



Herba tusa ac cum succo suo imposita cruorem e vulneribus manantem supprimit 

 ipsaque intra paucos dies glutinat teste Galeno qui Hippurim ad sanguinis rejectio- 

 nem * * ad dysenterias et ad alia ventris profluvia generosum esse raedica- 



mentum asserit. 



t Lightfoot, ' Flora Scotica,' 650. X Flora Londinensis, 156. 



2a2 



