332 STRAWBERRY. 



may be dissolved, yet the relaxing impression which the free 

 use of this remedy makes upon the urinary organs, renders 

 it useful by allaying pain, arresting spasms of the urethra and 

 neck of the bladder ; and acting thus, it may in some mea- 

 sure favour the expulsion of uric acid formed in the kidneys, 

 and by augmenting the secretion of urine, it may probably pre- 

 vent calculi, but not dissolve them. 



The root and leaves of this plant are aperitive, diuretic, and 

 deobstruent. They were formerly employed in jaundice, dis- 

 eases of the urinary passages, diarrhoeas, and various organic 

 obstructions. Nebel* and others have recommended the 

 application of the bruised herb to old ulcers ; but its astringent 

 property is too slightly developed to render it equal to others 

 of the same natural family. We may add, that for medical pur- 

 poses, the Wild or Wood Strawberry (F. vesca sijlvestris), is 

 decidedly preferable to the cultivated kinds. 



* Nebel in Eph. Nat. Cur. Dec. 3. ami. 3. Obs. 80. p. 116. 



