898 



suppressions of urine, strangury, gravel, &c. It has also proved 

 beneficial in scurvy, bleeding at the nose, hemoptysis, &c. An in- 

 fusion of it has been said to have cured the epilepsy and the gout. 

 A poultice of it, also, has been used for tumours of the breast. 



158. Gralium aparine. Cleavers ; goose grass. Sec. This plant 

 has a bitter, herbaceous, and acrid taste. The juice is diuretic, 

 aperient, and antiscorbutic. It is useful in the various species of 

 dropsy, scrofula, and scurvy. The fresh plant, prepared into an 

 ointment, or decoction, has been used externally to scrofulous swell- 

 ings with success. 



159. Asclepias. Fifty species ; 5, 2, L. 



Asclepias Syriaca. Silkweed ; milkweed. Sec. This plant is 

 anodyne, expectorant, &c. The young shoots are edible, like 

 asparagus. 



160. Asclepias incarnata. Flesh-coloured asclepias. Sec. The 

 western Indians use the roots in dropsy, asthma, dysentery, and as 

 emetics. Some physicians consider the plant emetic and cathartic. 



161. Aselepias tuberosa. Pleurisy root ; butterfly-weed, &c. Off. 

 This is considered one of our most valuable expectorants, the pro- 

 perties of which are described in our Dispensatories and Materia 

 Medicas. 



ORDER 196. APOCYNE^E. 



162. Apocynum. Eighteen species ; 5, 2, L. 



Apocynum androscemifolium. Common dog's-bane; bitter root; 

 honey-bloom, &c. Sec. This plant is emetic, tonic, syphilitic, al- 

 terative, and diaphoretic. It is most beautifully coloured, and 

 described by Bigelow, to whom, and to the Dispensatories, I refer 

 for further information concerning it. 



163. Apocynum canndbinum. Indian hemp. Sec. It is similar 

 in its properties to the above. Both these plants, instead of being 

 on the secondary list in our Pharmacopoeias, should be officinal. 



ORDER 197. GENTIANACE.E. 



164. 0-entiana. Sixty-one species ; 16, 10, L. 

 Grentiana saponaria. Soapwort gentian ; blue bells. 



