COLTSFOOT. 203 



leaves. It is sometimes called provincially Foal's-foot, Horse- 

 hoof, and Bull's-foot. 



The genus includes a few species, chiefly natives of Europe. 

 The sweet-scented ( Tiissilago fragans) is much valued in gar- 

 dens, both for the agreeable odour of its flowers and their early 

 appearance. It is a denizen of Italy and Barbary. The butter- 

 bur, formerly considered a species of Tussilago, according to 

 Desfontaines and others, constitutes a distinct genusj and is 

 called Petasites vulgaris. It is remarkable for its large creep- 

 ing roots, immense leaves, and fine thyrse of white or purplish- 

 coloured flowers, appearing before the leaves, and forming an 

 elegant appearance in the beginning of spring on the banks of 

 rivers and in wet meadows. It was formerly called Pestilent- 

 wort, from its supposed efficacy in the plague. 



This plant is eaten by goats and sheep, and sometimes by 

 cows, but horses and swine refuse it. 



Qualities and general Uses. — Injurious as Coltsfoot often 

 is to the farmer, it is not without use in preparing the barren 

 and clayey soils, in which it springs up so plentifully, for the re- 

 ception of other plants *. The leaves are often smoked for to- 

 bacco, and the downy substance that clothes their under surface, 

 after being dipped in a solution of saltpetre and dried in the 

 sun, forms excellent tinder. Both leaves and flowers have been 

 employed medicinally ; the former should be collected and 

 dried as soon as they are quite expanded, and before they have 

 attained their full size. " The dried plant is inodorous, mu- 

 cilaginous, rather disagreeably bitter and styptic to the taste. 

 The latter quality, together with the black colour produced in 

 the infusion by sulphate of iron, indicate an astringent prin- 

 ciple ; but further than this its constituent principles are 

 unknown." -j- Water extracts the mucilage of the leaves, 

 and a peculiar odour is evolved during the process of boiling. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — From the very infancy of 



* The pappus or seed-down is a beautiful provision for the dissemination 

 of the plant, and there appears to be some peculiar conservative property in 

 the coats of the seed, or a vitality in the seed itself, as it frequently vege- 

 tates in soil that has been recently thrown up from deep pits where it must 

 have been buried for ages. 



■f- Flore Medicale. torn. vi. p 234 



Q 2 



