202 



PARSLEY. 



It has also been much lauded in various exanthemata, parti- 

 cularly small-pox, in which its efficacy is extremely doubtful. 

 The leaves are esteemed tonic and resolutive, and have been 

 used to disperse tumours of the breasts, in which hemlock 

 and mercury had failed *. The bruised herb applied to the 

 breast is said to disperse the milk *j~, and to be an excellent 

 remedy for the stings of insects J. The seeds, like those of 

 umbelliferous plants in general, are reckoned carminative, and 

 recommended in flatulence, &c, and have also been considered 

 diuretic. Rosenstein § commends an ointment made with the 

 seeds and fresh butter to disperse cutaneous vermin. 



The expressed juice has lately been recommended for the 

 cure of intermittent fevers. " Dr. Pott, physician to the hospital 

 of Saulieu, (Cote d'Or,) forwarded a memoir to the academy of 

 medicine, on the employment of Parsley-juice in intermittent 

 fever ; long experience has proved to him that this plant is a 

 powerful febrifuge, and might be used instead of quinine. The 

 juice is extracted in the following manner : — take a handful of 

 fresh Parsley, let it be chopped and then, pounded, pour on it 

 an ounce of water, then pound it again and pour the whole on 

 a wet linen rag, then wring it over a vessel destined to receive 

 it. Three ounces to be taken at two different times a few 

 hours before the fever comes on. Intermittent fevers that 

 have not been cured by quinine have been completely so by 

 this remedy. Tournefort has noticed the beneficial effects of 

 Parsley-juice frequently employed in intermittents." || 



The root formed one of the five greater aperient roots of the 

 old Pharmacopoeias, and a syrup was made from it which was 

 held in great estimation. An infusion of one or two drachms 

 of the root or seeds (fruit) to a pint of water, may be given in 

 doses of a cupful in diseases to which they are applicable. 

 The distilled water prepared from the leaves and seeds appears 

 to have little efficacy. 



* Lange, Misc. verit. Med. p. 26. 



f Chomel, Usuelles, torn. i. p. 279. 



X Tissot, Avis. Lyons, p. 359. 



§ Barnsjukd, Ed. 3. p. 535. 



II Continental and British Medical Review, No. iii. p. 139. 



