290 EYEBRIGHT. 



And Shenstone exclaims — 



" Famed euphrasy may not be left unsung, 

 That gives dim eyes to wander leagues around." 



Qualities. — The herb is almost destitute of odour, but 

 somewhat bitter, slightly aromatic, and styptic to the taste. Its 

 astringency is manifested by the dark colour produced in the 

 decoction by sulphate of iron. The juice gives a slight purple 

 tinge to blue paper. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — No plant has been more 

 celebrated for its anti-ophthalmic virtues than this. Hildanus * 

 and Lanzonus •f attribute to it the restoration to sight of per- 

 sons at the age of seventy or eighty years. Arnoldus, Fuchs, 

 Camerarius, Hoffman J, Lobel§, Francus 1|, and a host of others, 

 have extolled its virtues in dimness of sight, cataract, inflam- 

 mation, and other diseases of the eyes. We cannot find any 

 instance recorded by the moderns to corroborate these assertions, 

 and therefore conclude with Bergius^ that, although we cannot 

 from our own experience pronounce a decided opinion on its 

 value, we think the testimony of the ancients not to be despised. 

 According to Olatsen, the expressed juice of the plant is used by 

 the Icelanders in all afl:ections of the eyes, and Lightfoot states 

 that the Scotch Highlanders make an infusion of it in milk, 

 and anoint the patient's eyes with it by means of a feather. 

 It has also been commended in jaundice, loss of memory, vertigo, 

 and other similar affections. 



Eyebright has been given in powder to the amount of one or 

 two drachms, and the juice in doses of one or two ounces, 

 twice a day. The most celebrated preparation was the vinous in- 

 fusion of the herb, which was administered in the dose of two or 

 three ounces. The distilled water, though not greatly to be 

 relied on, is certainly a safe collyrium. A strong decoction 

 of the dried plant is the best substitute for the expressed 

 juice. 



* Cent. Epist. n. 69. 



t Opera Omnia. — Lausanne, 1738, t. i. p. 394. 



f In Schrbd. p. 411. 



§ Stirp. Advers. p. 210. 



II Euphragia herba, medicina polychresta verum oculorum solamen, 1717' 



% Mat. Med. torn. i. p. 545. 



