308 FIGWORT. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — Little is known of the 

 medical properties of this plant*, its ancient character as a 

 vulnerary being no recommendation in our day. Its celebrity 

 in this respect appears to have been heightened by its employ- 

 ment at the siege of Rochelle in 1628, when, in defect of other 

 remedies, the soldiers applied it to their wounds, which it speed- 

 ily healed f. Lochnerus X mentions an instance of a dreadful 

 wound which was cured by the outward application of the juice, 

 the patient at the same time drinking a strong decoction of the 

 herb. The leaves have been much used to correct the disagree- 

 able taste and smell of senna, without altering its purgative pro- 

 perties. Boerhaave § states that half a drachm of the dried leaves 

 mixed with two drachms of senna, has an excellent effect. The 

 decoction and distilled water are recommended as cosmetics. 



The employment of the tubercled roots of Knotted Figwort 

 in piles and scrofulous tumours ||, is thought to have originated 

 in the visionary doctrine of signatures. Many celebrated physi- 

 cians, however, such as Arnoldus, Henricus ab Heers, Mayerne, 

 Ettmuller, and others, implicitly believed in its efficacy. Ett- 

 muller prescribes from half a drachm to a drachm of the root, 

 sliced and infused in wine, to be taken three or four times in the 

 day; this he affirms will afford relief to the patient, whether the 

 piles be bleeding or not, or in any stage of them whatsoever. 

 The powdered root was employed for the same purpose in the 

 dose of one or two scruples, and to expel intestinal worms. 

 A decoction of an ounce of the root in a pint and a half of water, 

 taken in the dose of a cupful two or three times a-day, has been 

 recommended with the same intent; also as a lotion for cutaneous 

 eruptions. Cataplasms and fomentations with the root, and 

 ointments made of the leaves were not less esteemed applica- 

 tions to haemorrhoids, ulcers and scrofulous tumours. 



* Linnasus calls it "sudorific and anodyne." 



f Chomel PI. Usuelles, torn. iii. p. 63. 



:{: Eph. Nat. Cur. cent. vii. p. 145. 



§ Hist. PI. Hort. L. B.i. p. 316. 



II In this disease it was often used as an amulet, to be hung round the 

 neck. We may smile at this practice and call it a superstition of the dark 

 ages, but it was not more absurd than the belief in the prophylactic virtues 

 of a -hild's caul. 



