126 BURNET-SAXIFRAGE. 



carminative properties, is not indigenous to Britain, but is 

 sometimes cultivated in gardens ; its seeds are annually im- 

 ported in great quantities from Spain and Malta. A variety of 

 the plant now before us is found in some parts of Prussia and 

 Germany, which yields an essential oil of a fine blue colour, 

 which it imparts to brandy ; the juice of the root is likewise 

 blue. 



Qualities and general Uses. — The young leaves and 

 shoots of this plant are said to be very palatable, and are eaten 

 as salad ; small bunches of them tied together, and suspended 

 in a cask of beer or ale, impart to it an agreeable aromatic 

 flavour ; and it is asserted that they tend to correct tart and 

 spoiled wines. Almost all quadrupeds will feed on this plant, 

 and it is reputed to be a wholesome fodder for cows, and to in- 

 crease their milk. It has been used externally to remove 

 freckles. 



The root has a strong unpleasant smell, and a warm, pungent, 

 and bitterish taste, which is considerably diminished by drying 

 or on being long kept. Its virtues are partially extracted by 

 water, and completely by rectified spirit. When large quan- 

 tities of the root are distilled with water, a small quantity of 

 essential oil, extremely acrid and fiery, may be obtained *. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Bergius states the virtues 

 of this root to be resolvent, diaphoretic, stomachic, and diu- 

 retic f. Boerhaave found it extremely useful in dropsical and 

 asthmatic complaints. Hoffman X asserts that it is an excellent 

 emmenagogue ; and it is recommended by several writers in 

 cases where pituitous humours are thought to prevail, such as 

 catarrhal coughs, hoarseness, and humid asthma, but particu- 

 larly in a symptomatic sore throat, called angina serosa. The 

 German physicians have used it for removing tumours and ob- 

 structions of the glands, and in scorbutic and cutaneous dis- 

 orders in general. The root has also been used as a masticatory 

 in toothache, and to stimulate the tongue when that organ be- 

 comes paralytic §. The powdered root was formerly united 

 with arum, being tonsidered an acrid stimulant. 



• LeAviss Mat. IVIed. p. .=)(>2. 



f Mat. Med. p. 2'M). 



+ 3Ied. Off. p. 533. 



§ Murray, App. IMerl. Vol. I. p. 425. 



