256 rose. 



colour, which may be fixed by the usual methods; and on 

 adding a solution of alum to the dye, it becomes of a fine 

 blue colour. He observes, however, that these colours are 

 almost destitute of lustre. The fruit or hips afford a pleasant 

 confection, which is sometimes brought to table on the conti- 

 nent, and is used as an ingredient in sauces. In the north of 

 Europe, the pulp with the addition of sugar is sometimes made 

 into wine. The Russians of the Volga prepare a spirit from the 

 flowers, by fermentation, and the fruit appears very suitable 

 for this purpose. A gallon of hips mixed with a little water 

 yields two pints of first runnings, which being redistilled af- 

 fords a pint of pure spirit. 



The odour of the recent flowers is agreeable and fragrant, 

 and the taste bitterish, slightly astringent, and sub-acescent ; 

 which qualities are yielded to water by infusion. The succu- 

 lent covering of the fruit is inodorous, and has a pleasant 

 sweetish, acidulous taste, which is said to depend on citric and 

 malic acids. The slight astringent property appears to be 

 owing to tannin. The carpels, popularly termed " seeds," are 

 embedded in silky bristly hairs, which act as mechanical irri- 

 tants like cowhagej A morbid excrescence of a bright greenish 

 red colour, and generally of an ovate form, is found on the 

 different parts of the shrub ; it is produced by the puncture of 

 an insect, (cyn'vps rose?, Lin.) which thus procures an habitation 

 for its eggs and larva?. It was called in the old pharmacopceias 

 Bedcga?-, or Bedeguar, and was celebrated for its astringent 

 properties. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — We have already adverted 

 to the ancient reputation of the root of this shrub for its effi- 

 cacy in hydrophobia*, a property which we need not say is to- 

 tally illusive. The flowers have received equally unmerited 

 praise in diseases of the eyes, and the carpels, called " seeds," 

 in nephritis and calculous complaints ; their employment in 

 which originated from the belief reposed in signatures. 



The pulpy part of the fruit was at one period considered 

 diuretic, laxative, lithontriptic, &c, and was exhibited in diar- 

 rhoea, dysentery, and other fluxes, and in dropsy -j\ A more 

 sober estimate of its powers, proves it to be simply diluent, 



* See Hagedorn, Cynosbatologia, p. 136, sqq. 

 f See Hermann's Dissertatio de Rosa, § 11. 



