SAUCE ALONE. 289 



terish, takes a brownish hue with sulphate of iron, but does not 

 affect turnsol or litmus paper. " The juice expressed from the 

 fresh leaves is strongly impregnated with their active matter, 

 but loses the greater part on being inspissated to an extract 

 with the gentlest warmth : in its liquid state, duly secured from 

 the air, it may be kept uninjured for many months. On dis- 

 tilling the fresh herb with water, there arises a small portion of 

 essential oil, which has a very powerful taste and odour." * 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — If the ancients were too 

 profuse in their praises of this plant, the moderns have far too 

 much neglected it. Taken internally in any considerable quan- 

 tity it frequently excites perspiration, which is impregnated with 

 its garlic-like smell. It stands recommended as a very powerful 

 diuretic and diaphoretic, and as a deobstruent in asthmatic dis- 

 orders ; as also, in colic, flatulencies, and nephritic complaints. 

 That it is also possessed of antiscorbutic virtues is certain, 

 since from the multiplied observations of Fabricius Hildanus f , 

 Camerarius, ChomelJ, and Boerhaave§, the leaves bruised or 

 the juice applied to foul, gangrenous, and cancerous ulcers, 

 has determined favourable suppuration, or evident ameliora- 

 tion, and even cure. Combined with vinegar or wine it becomes 

 antiseptic. 



The dose of Sauce alone is not determined ; it may be used 

 like scurvy-grass and water-cress. 



* Lewis, Mat. Med. p. 26. 



f Cent. 2 Obs. 94, in Oper. p. 172. 



X PI. Usuelles, torn. ii. p. 378. 



§ Hist. PI. torn. ii. p. 473. 



VOL. II. 



