STRAWBERRY. 331 



are to be ascribed entirely to idiosyncrasy, or peculiar diathesis in certain 

 individuals. To the same cause must be attributed the affections of the 

 head, and a kind of intoxication from the free use of this fruit, mentioned 

 by Caesalpinus *. It is, however, not well adapted as an article of diet for 

 leuco-phlegmatic persons with weak digestive powers, or for cold and 

 humid subjects. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses.: — The fruit of Straw- 

 berry is mucilaginous, slightly acid, and saccharine, and when 

 beaten into a pulp and dispersed in water, it forms an elegant 

 beverage, which is both cooling and aperient. It contributes 

 much to allay thirst, and is very suitable in acute and several 

 chronic diseases, especially inflammatory, bilious, and putrid 

 fevers, in the early stage of catarrh, inflammations of the vis- 

 cera, and acute exanthemata. It has also enjoyed deserved 

 reputation in diseases of the urinary apparatus, in inflamma- 

 tion of the kidneys, and blenorrhcea ; and not less in pul- 

 monary phthisis, and other affections accompanied by heat, 

 thirst, dryness of the skin, and frequency of pulse. Again, 

 taken in large quantities, it is one of the most useful medicinal 

 aliments, and when continued for a long time, has produced the 

 most happy effects in some formidable and obstinate diseases. 

 Schulz •(• found it cure obstinate hectic, and Hoffmann J to 

 arrest pthisis ; but we agree with Chaumeton in thinking that 

 Hoffmann's cases were merely bronchial catarrh attended with 

 hectic fever. Van Swieten § speaks of their salutary effect on 

 furious maniacs from melancholy, their cooling and aperient 

 tendency most unquestionably contributing to appease the nerv- 

 ous irritability of these patients. The Strawberry is not in- 

 frequently made the principal article of nourishment by some 

 gouty subjects, and Linnaeus || asserts that he had warded off 

 the excruciating attacks of arthritis by partaking plentifully of 

 this fruit. It is also useful in dissolving the tartarous concre- 

 tions of the teeth. Lobb IF attributes no little lithontriptic power 

 to it ; but although it is not well established, that the calculi 



* De Plantis, p. 554. 



f Diss, de fruct. horaeis, p. 13, &c. 



J Med. Syst. torn. iv. par. iv. p. 3. 



§ Comment, torn. iii. p. 480. 



|| Diss, de Fraga vesca. 



If Diss, de Dissolv. Calcul, p. 36, 



