. Medical Botany. 5 27 



Ko. XXVII. for September, contains 

 105 to 108. — Moore's Violet Auricula, From the " choice collection of 

 J. P. Morgan, Esq., of Formosa Cottage, HoUoway; a gentleman who culti- 

 vates a fine collection of the choicest flowers with great success." — Lord 

 Holland Tulip. " A grand flower, like the noble-minded individual after 

 whom it is named." From the fourth row of the tulip bed of W, Strong, 

 Esq. — Croesus Picotee Carnation; " from the collection of Mr. T. Hogg 

 of Paddington Green, who possesses the finest collection of picotees that is 

 to be seen at any one place in this kingdom." 



Medical Botany, &c. By John Stephenson, M.D., and James Morss 

 , Churchill, Esq., Surgeon. In 8vo Numbers, monthly. 3.y. 6d. 



No. XXX. for June, contains 

 117 to 121. — Priinus Laurocdrasus. The distilled water of this plant, 

 the virtues of ^yhich depend on the prussic acid that it contains, is a deadly 

 poison, taken internally, or applied to wounds. The oil of laurel is also a 

 virulent poison. Like various other poisons, it is considered an important 

 medicine. It is a narcotic, but has not the property of lessening pain, nor 

 of procuring sleep, like opium j nor of controlling the pulse like Digitalis ; 

 but it soothes the stomach when in a state of morbid irritability. — Primus 

 domestica. The dried fruit is gently laxative. — The fruit of the sloe (P. 

 spinosa) is a powerful astringent; the juice is largely used for adulterating 

 port wine, and the leaves for adulterating tea. — Erythrae'a Centaurium ; 

 GeniidnecB, Common Centaury. The flowers form a useful stomachic, and 

 were formerly used instead of cinchona. — iZhamnus catharticus. The juice 

 of the berries is a violent griping drastic purgative, more used by the vete- 

 rinary surgeon than the ph3sician. From the inspissated juice of the ripe 

 berries, with a very small addition of alum, is obtained that green colour so 

 well known by the name of vert-dc-vessie, or sap-green. " Sometimes it is 

 prepared by adding eight pounds of lime-water to twelve pounds of the ex- 

 pressed juice, and six ounces of gum arabic ; which mixture is afterwards 

 evaporated into the consistence of an extract, and dried for use." — C/'lmus 

 campestris. The decoction of elm bark has been recommended in cutaneous 

 diseases. " The bark of the elm, dried and ground to powder, has been 

 mixed with meal, in Norwa}', to make bread in times of scarcit}'. The leaves 

 also afford a pleasant nourishment to cattle, and in some parts of Hertford- 

 shire the poor people gather them in sacks for this purpose." 



No. XXXI. for July, contains 

 121 to 125. — Diosma crenata. The odour of this plant is very strong 

 and peculiar, and incredible virtues are ascribed to it by the natives of 

 Southern Africa. It appears to be an excellent aromatic stomachic, and it 

 now ranks among the officinal drugs of the Dublin Pharmacoj^osia.-^ 

 Jnchiisa tinctoria. Dyer's Anchusa, or Alkanet root. Sometimes used as a 

 dye stuff for reds and blues, and formerly administered as an astringent in 

 medicine, but now neglected. — A'rnica montana; Corymbiferas. The dried 

 leaves are aromatic, and they excite sneezing. The root is bitter and ac- 

 curate. It is given in fevers by somephj'sicians on the Continent. — ikfyrtus 

 Pimenta. The pimento, or allspice tree, is a native of South America and the 

 West Indies, and succeeds very well in our stoves. In its native country it 

 attains the height of 30 ft., retaining its leaves like an evergreen. It prefers 

 a marly or chalky soil, and arrives at maturity at seven years from the seed. 

 " The berries are picked from the branches in their green state, and are 

 then laid on cloths spread on terraced floors. During the first and second 

 days they are often turned, to be freely exposed to the sun. When they 

 begin to dry they are frequently winnowed, and laid in cloths to preserve 

 them from rain and dews, still being exposed to the sun every day, and re- 

 moved under cover every evening, till sufficiently dry ; which usually hap- 



