192 EKICACE^. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Uva-ursi is astringent and tonic, and is- 

 generally credited with a specific action upon the m-inaiy tract. In a con- 

 dition of health it produces no diuretic effect, though it is said to do so in 

 certain cases of disease. During its administration the urine acquires a. 

 dark color and a joeculiar odor. It is chiefly used in chronic urinary dis- 

 eases, as pyelitis and cystitis, calculous affections, gleet, and incontinence 

 of urine. It has also been used advantageously in leucorrhoea, diarrhoea,, 

 chronic bronchitis, and in passive hemorrhages. 



EPIG^A.— Trailing Arbutus. 



Epigdea repens Linne. — Trailing Arbutus, Ground Laurel, May-- 

 Flower. 



Description. — Calyx deeply 5-parted, colored, with three bracts at the 

 base ; the lobes ovate, acute, smooth. Corolla tubular, salver-form, rose- 

 color or nearly white, the limb 5-parted, somewhat spreading ; the lobes 

 ovate, obtuse, very hairy inside toward the base. Stamens 10, shorter 

 than the corolla ; filaments hairy at the base ; anthers linear, opening longi- 

 tudinally. Style straight ; stigma obtusely 5-lobed. Capsule depressed- 

 globular, obtusely 5-angled, 5-celled, many-seeded, covered with the per- 

 sistent calj'x. 



A prostrate or trailing shrubby perennial. Stem woody, spreading on. 

 the ground, and often rooting at the joints, clothed, as are the petioles also, 

 with stiff brownish hairs. Leaves evergreen, coriaceous, 1 to 2 inches long, 

 cordate-ovate, entire, obtuse or with a short mucronate point, sprinkled or 

 fringed with hairs. Flowers in short dense axillary and terminal fascicu- 

 late racemes, conspicuously bracteate, very fragrant and ornamental, ap- 

 pearing in April and May. 



Habitat. — In dry sandy woods, and on hill-sides, especially in pine re- 

 gions. 



Part Used. — The leaves — not official. 



Constituents. — Similar to, if not identical with those of uva-ursi, which 

 see. 



PrejMrations. — Decoction and infusion. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — This plant has been used as a substitute 

 for uva-ursi, and, it is claimed, with satisfactory results. 



GAULTHERIA.— Aromatic Wintergreen. 



Gaultheria p roc urn be ns Linnc.— T17?!/f rcyrem, Partridge-Berry, Tea- 

 Berry, Checkerberry. 



Description. — Calyx 5-lobed, becoming fleshy and baccate, and then cov- 

 ering the capsule. Corolla cylindrical-ovoid, white, 5-toothed. Stamens 

 10, shoi'ter than the corolla ; anthers 2 lobed, opening longitudinally, 2- 



