moss. 359 



formerly used as a drink lor those who had 

 cancers, of which it was thought to assist 

 the cure. This species of moss was at one 

 time called Cheese-renning, from its pro- 

 perty of coagulating or curdling fresh milk; 

 and by a dry distillation it yields a manifest 

 acid. 



As mosses have in some degree regained 

 their ancient celebrity, we shall briefly state 

 what notices of their virtues appear in the 

 old writers. 



Muscus arbor ens, or Lichen arbor urn, is the 

 kind which is found growing on trees, and 

 which Gerard and other old medical writers 

 call Liverwoort and Lungwoort, either from 

 its figure, or, as already remarked, from the 

 use then made of it in medicine. Gerard 

 says this " lungwoort is much commended of 

 the learned phisitions of our time against the 

 diseases of the lungs, especially for the in- 

 flammations and ulcers of the same, being 

 brought into powder, and drunk with water." 



M. Bourgeois informs us, that this kind of 

 moss growing; on the oak is a good remedy 

 for the hooping-cough, when powdered; from 

 twenty to thirty grains to be given, according 

 to age. Dioscorides affirms, that it staunches 

 bleeding, removes all inflammation, and cures 



