214 COMFREY. 



the consolidation of fractures, and the cure of luxations and 

 hernia. Thus, according to Gerard *, " the roots of Comfrey 

 stamped, and the iuice drunke with wine, helpeth those that 

 spit bloud, and healeth all inward wounds and burstings. The 

 same bruised and layd to in a manner of a plaister doth heale all 

 fresh and green wovmds, and are so glutinatiue that it will soder 

 or glew together meat that is chopt in pieces, seething in a pot 

 and make it in one lump. The roots boiled and drunke do 

 dense the brest from flegme, and cure the griefes of the lungs, 

 especially if they be confect with sugar and syrup ; it prevaileth 

 much against ruptures or burstings." Dioscorides used it in 

 haemoptysis, and Pfannf states that a small quantity of the 

 powdered root snuffed up the nostrils will stop bleeding at the 

 nose. Simon Pauli J recommended the application of it to frac- 

 tured bones, and Houston, in hernia. Tachenius § advises the 

 bruised root to be applied in the form of a cataplasm in gout, 

 and a case is mentioned by Camerarius 1| in which the pain was 

 removed by this application, but an eruption of pustules was the 

 consequence, which at length spread over the whole body. 



All that can be expected from this plant must result from its 

 emollient and demulcent qualities, and the mucilage of the root 

 being combined with gallic acid is undoubtedly of service in 

 chronic catarrhal affections, accompanied with irritation ; it is 

 also useful in dysentery, diarrhoea, fluor albus, &c. To prepare 

 the mucilage the sliced root should be put into cold water, care 

 being taken to prevent the liquor from boiling, which causes 

 great clots to be formed ; and it should not be performed in an 

 iron vessel. When the mucilage is dissolved it should be re- 

 moved from the fire, and after being sweetened with honey or 

 sugar, it may be taken a glassful at a time in the above-men- 

 tioned complaints. It was used externally by Ettmuller and 

 others as an application to wounds of the nerves, tendons, and 

 arteries ; especially those which result from the operation of 

 bleeding, but is seldom or never used for those purposes in the 

 present day. Several syrups, conserves, and potions, have also 



* Herbal, or General Historie of Plants, ed. by Johnson, fol, 1C33, p. 80?. 



t In. Samml. Merkro. Falle, p. 249. 



^ Quadrip. p. 301, seq. • 



§ De Morborum principe, p. 199. 



II In Misc. Nat. Cur. Dec. 3, Ann. 5, fi. Obs. IC, p. 45. 



