BURDOCK. 121 



very pure subcarbonate of potass. SchcefFer fabricated a 

 greenish white paper from the outer rind of the stem. Few 

 quadrupeds browse upon this plant, except the ass, and occa- 

 sionally kine and goats ; birds feed on the seeds, and snails and 

 caterpillars on the leaves. 



Virgil* recommends it to be extirpated from meadows in 

 which sheep are fed, as it lessens the quantity of their wool. 



Besides the subcarbonate of potass already mentioned, it is 

 said to yield salts of nitre, and a large quantity of inuline. The 

 roots have a sweetish taste at first, followed by a slight auste- 

 rity and bitterness ; their juice slightly reddens litmus paper. 

 The leaves and seeds are bitter, with a slight acridity ; the bit- 

 terness of the seeds appears to reside in the integuments, the 

 interior being of a farinaceous and oily nature. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — The Burdock enjoyed great 

 reputation formerly as a detergent, diuretic, and diaphoretic, 

 and it appears to be far from inert, though not often used in the 

 present day. Ancient authors, as usual, are very loud in its 

 praise. Simon Pauli f extols its effects in lues venerea, espe- 

 cially in patients already emaciated, or of very delicate consti- 

 tutions. Henry III., King of France, according to Riverius ;{;, 

 was cured of this disease by Petrus Pena, who administered to 

 him a decoction of the root ; Caesalpinus found the same decoc- 

 tion useful in cases of bloody and purulent expectoration ; and 

 Forestus mentions a case of gout cured by this remedy, in 

 which the urine was not only greatly increased in quantity, but 

 was rendered as white as milk. Sir John Hill § considered it 

 quite a specific in gout, to which disease, however, he at last 

 fell a victim. Similar praise is bestowed upon it as a remedy 

 in calculous and gravelly disorders. Lieutaud || relates an in- 

 stance of its efficacy in obstinate rheumatic pains. An ounce 

 and a half or two ounces of the root were boiled in eight ounces 

 of water, until one half was consumed, half an ounce of honey 



* " Si tibi lanicium curse ; primum aspera sylva, 



Lappaeque, tribulique absint : fuge pabula Iseta." — Georgic iii. /. 384. 

 t Quad ri pan., p. 402. 

 X Riverius, Obs. 41, p. 342. 



§ Management of the Gout, with the virtues of Burdock. 7th ed. 

 London, 1771 



11 Syn. Prax. Med. p. 563 



