924 



311. Asplenium. Many species. 



Asplenium ruta mararia. Spleenwort. It grows in low woods near 

 moist meadows, and among rocks. The decoction of the leaves 

 is pectoral, diuretic, and mildly astringent. They open obstructions 

 of the viscera, and promote expectoration, allay pain in the urinary 

 organs, by gently carrying off the sand and gravel, and they have 

 been said to have cured the venereal disease used in decoction. 



312. Equisetum arvensi. Cat-tail; horse-tail. This is a most 

 troublesome weed in our meadows and pastures. Cattle will not 

 touch it unless severely pressed with hunger, in which case it brings 

 on a severe relax and dysentery. Horses eat it with impunity; but 

 it is noxious to sheep. It is astringent and diuretic. It is some- 

 times used in bleeding at the stomach, in gonorrhoea, and in phthisis. 

 This, and several other species are in considerable use in tanning 

 and dressing leather. 



313. Equisetum Jiymale. Scouring rush. This plant is much 

 used in scouring wood, metals, &c.; said to be good for cattle in 

 winter. It is used, in Italy, for cattle as a diuretic, and is good for 

 cattle discharging blood. I have often given an infusion of it in 

 cases of strangury. 



314. Fungi. Mushrooms. One hundred and fifty species; most 

 of them found here. Two species are tonic and bitter, the helvella 

 amara and boletus laricis. All those which afford milk, and are 

 deliquescent, and of a fetid odour, are poisonous, being narcotic and 

 acrid in their properties. The remedies for eating these species are 

 a speedy emetic, purgatives, emollient and acid drinks. 



315. Lyeopodium complanatum. Sec. Ground pine; dead man's 

 hand. This is used by Stewart for the cure of colic. It is diuretic, 

 emetic, emmenagogue, nervine, &c. It is employed in diarrhoea, 

 dropsy, gout, and scurvy. Externally, it is used for the cure of 

 ulcers, tinea capitis, and hepatic eruptions. The decoction kills lice, 

 and is used to improve bad wine. The pollen is used in fireworks. 



316. Polypodium vulgare. Polypod. The root, which is the 

 part used, is sweet and mucilaginous to the taste. It is vermifuge 

 and demulcent, cathartic, and pectoral. The syrup is used in coughs, 

 and in the rickets and lumbago. In strong decoction, it is thought 



