62 lady's mantle. 



Qualities and general Uses. — This plant, though refused by 

 swine and seldom touched by cows, is relished by horses, goats, 

 and sheep ; it has, therefore, been recommended for cultivation. 

 According to some writers, the whole plant may be advantageously 

 used in tanning. 



The recent root, when cut, has a whitish colour, an unpleasant 

 odour, and a styptic taste. The herbaceous part is somewhat 

 austere to the taste, but is nearly destitute of odour. Its virtues 

 are obtained by decoction and infusion, both in water and spirit. 



The aqueous infusion of the leaves is of a transparent dark-brown 

 hue ; it reddens turnsol, but scarcely effects litmus paper ; it 

 changes to a blueish-black by the addition of sulphate of iron, and 

 a precipitate is slowly produced. " The aqueous extract has the 

 odour of honey, and an acid austere taste ; it is much more abun- 

 dant than the alcoholic extract, which exhales a balsamic odour."* 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — This plant has received 

 extravagant praises for its efficacy in hemorrhages, alvine fluxes, 

 fluor albus, diabetes, dysentery, wounds of every kind,f " et vir- 

 ginitatem restituere."J Linnaeus § relates, that during a spasmodic 

 epidemic disease which prevailed in Smoland, in 1754, a tincture 

 of the leaves of this plant was used with much success by the 

 peasantry. Notwithstanding these eulogia, a sober estimate of 

 the virtues of Alchemilla will not allow it any very eminent station 

 in therapeutics, and it is now seldom employed. In the character 

 of a mild astringent, however, it may be useful in certain cases of 

 internal ulcers, leucorrhcea, chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, &c. 

 It may be given in infusion or decoction, to the extent of four or 

 five ounces, and the root is preferable to the leaves, as being 

 more active. 



* Flore Medicale, torn. i. p. 42. 



f Schroder, 529. 



X " Nonnullae, referente Friderico Hoffmanno quibus libata virginitas, 

 solerter norunt decocto Alchemillae in forma insesstts, sibi reparare dolosam 

 revoxvpiav, et illibatum mentiri virginitatis florem."— Geqfl l roy, Mat. Med. 

 t. iii. p. 54. 



§ Amoen. Acad. vol. vi. p. 447. 



