HOUSKLEEK. 265 



and especially in phrensies, are of extra- 

 ordinary service; as they are, also, in inflam- 

 mations and redness of the eyes. 



The leaves of the houseleek, stripped of 

 their outer membrane, and put into pure 

 water, or rose-water, and every now and then 

 applied to the tongue, when dry or chapped, 

 in fevers, and renewed frequently, are re- 

 markably lenient and serviceable in such a 



case.* 



This plant being analysed, yields a good 

 deal of acid and earth, and a very little con- 

 crete volatile salt. It probably contains a 

 salt resembling alum, mixed with a little 

 sal-ammoniac; for the juice of this plant 

 evaporated to one half emits an urinous 

 smell. For foundered horses, nothing is 

 better than to make them drink a pint of 

 the juice of this plant. *f* 



Lewis gives the following chemical de- 

 scription of this species of sempervivum : 

 " The leaves of houseleek, of no remarkable 

 smell, discover to the taste a mild, subacid 

 austerity ; their expressed juice, of a pale 

 yellowish hue when filtered, yields on inspis- 



* Raii. Hist. Plant. 

 t Martyn's Tournefort. 



