BEARBERRY. i7 



Medical Properties and Uses. — This plant, though known 

 to the ancient physicians, and occasionally employed by them, 

 was first brought into notice in the middle of the last century by 

 De Haen, as a valuable medicine in cases of stone and gravel, 

 and ulcerations of the urinary organs. It has since been found 

 to possess very considerable medical properties, and employed 

 with great success in excessive menstruation, gonorrhoea, dia- 

 betes, and in almost every disease connected with the urinary 

 organs. Drs. Ferriar and Bigelow speak favourably of its ac- 

 tion in nephritis, or inflammation of the kidneys, brought on by 

 gravelly concretions. They add, the use of it ought generally 

 to be preceded by evacuations. 



A few years ago, the Uva Ursi was strongly recommended by 

 Dr. Bourne of Oxford, in pulmonary consumption. He fovmd 

 it of considerable efficacy in diminishing hectic fever, and abat- 

 ing the frequency of the pulse connected with that disease. 



The dose of the powdered leaves is from a scruple to a drachm, 

 *wo or three times a day. The decoction may be made with half 

 an ounce of the leaves, boiled for ten minutes in a pint of wa- 

 ter, of which a wine-glassful may be taken every hour. 



For medical purposes, this plant should be procured in au- 

 tumn ; the green leaves alone selected, picked from the twigs, 

 and dried by exposure to a moderate heat. 



