of Central Somerset. 19 



from such pastures contains more nitrogen and ash than that 

 from sound land ; and as more especially a higher percentage 

 of nitrogen indicates a less mature and less nutritious condition 

 than a lower, there cannot remain much doubt that the imma- 

 ture condition of the herbage is the origin of the complaint in 

 nine cases out of ten. 



It is worthy of special notice that quickly-grown and very 

 luxuriant-looking clover and grass invariably contain more 

 nitrogen and ash than clover and grass which are more gradually 

 developed, and, further, that the former invariably scour, whilst 

 the latter are wholesome. 



Living in the country, I have had ample opportunity of ob- 

 serving this fact, and also that the grass on water-meadows is 

 never more unwholesome than when it grows most luxuriantly. 

 In this condition grass is rich in nitrogenized compounds, in 

 soluble saline substances, and in organic acids. 



At an early stage of growth we find in all vegetable produce 

 a much larger proportion of soluble saline matter, organic acids, 

 and other combinations which have an aperient effect, than at a 

 more advanced stage of growth. In the measure in which plants 

 advance in maturity the soluble salts become insoluble, the 

 organic acids disappear, and are replaced to a great extent by 

 sugar ; the compounds of nitrogen and the mineral matters de- 

 crease in 'proportion to the bulk of the whole plant, and other 

 changes which cannot be here described in detail take place in 

 the growing vegetable organism. The great difference in the 

 taste of almost every plant at an early and a more advanced 

 period of growth shows that the compositions of ripe and im- 

 mature plants materially differ from each other. I do not know 

 a single herb which, consumed in quantities in an immature con- 

 dition, does not act as an aperient ; even plants which when quite 

 ripe are good tonics, at an early stage of their growth possess 

 laxative properties. 



In many parts of Germany the expressed juice of various 

 herbs, such as dandelion, millefoil, water-cresses, or common 

 meadow-grass, is considered a favourite spring medicine for 

 purifying the blood. It is, however, only in the spring, when 

 vegetation makes, as it were, a fresh and rapid start, that these 

 herb-juices possess the desired aperient effect, and it matters 

 little what kind of herb is employed in their preparation. 



Several other facts well known to practical men confirm my 

 analytical investigation of the herbage of sound and scouring 

 pastures, and receive an intelligible explanation by the latter. 

 It is, for instance, a well-known fact that the application of ma- 

 nures to scouring land increases the evil in proportion to the 



c 2 



