406 HERB-ROBERT. 



is said, may be obtained from the leaves. According to Linnaeus it is eaten 

 by horses and goats, and occasionally by cows, but is refused by sheep and 

 swine. He also states that the bruised herb drives away bugs. It has been 

 much used by farmers as a remedy for the staling of blood and the bloody 

 flux in cattle. 



The recent plant has a strong peculiar odour, resembling that of the dead- 

 nettle or wood -strawberry, but more powerful and less pleasant ; and a 

 slightly bitter, saline, and austere taste. Its astringency is manifested by 

 the dark colour and precipitate produced in the decoction by sulphate of 

 iron. The astringent principle is taken up both by water and alcohol, and 

 remains undiminished in the respective extracts. The odoriferous matter 

 is separated by distillation with water, but no essential oil has been ob- 

 tained. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — This plant was formerly 

 much celebrated for its vulnerary powers, and as an efficacious 

 remedy in haemorrhages *, alvine fluxes, and in calculous and 

 gravelly complaints f, jaundice Xf and scrofula ; and Haller 

 asserts that it has proved beneficial in intermittent fevers. Ex- 

 ternally it has been commended in various aflPections ; in epi- 

 lepsy §, tumours of the female breast, cancer j], cedematous 

 swellings of the feet %, and scald-head. 



The plant reduced to powder has been given in the dose of a 

 drachm in wine ; a preferable form would be the infusion or 

 decoction which might be given in diseases where a slight as- 

 tringent is indicated. Externally it has been recommended in 

 the form of cataplasm, and the powder is said to have arrested 

 bleeding at the nose, when introduced into the nasal fossae, 

 and to act as a useful detergent when sprinkled on wounds and 

 ulcers. 



Further experiments are necessary to ascertain the medicinal 

 value or inertness of this plant. 



* Stocker, prax. aur. lib. i. c. IT, p. 1 19. — Hinderer, Diss, de Geranio 

 Robertiano. — Theodoiiis Tabernaem. Krauterbiich, vol. i. p. 129. 



f Theod. Tabern. 1. c. 



J A. Murray, Diss, de methodo luis venereae curandae, p. 30. 



§ Theod. Tabern. lib. cit. p. 127. — Tissot Avis au peuple, p. 354, 



ij Sennertus, lib. iv. P. 3. c. 7. Hildanus, Obs. et Curat. Cent. G, obs. 75" 

 Simon Pauli Quad. Bot. p. 73. 



^ Chomel, Usuelles, torn. ii. p. 301. 



