WATER-PARSNEP. 409 



being not sheathing at the base. It is also satisfactory to know 

 that unless large quantities are eaten of the leaves of the Pro- 

 cumbent Water-Parsnep, there is no danger to be apprehended 

 from the mistake. The Skirret, (S. Sisarum,) a native of the 

 East, is cultivated for the sake of its roots, which boiled and 

 eaten with butter are sweet and agreeable. 



Qualities. — The fresh leaves of this plant are rather succu- 

 lent, nearly inodorous, and very slightly acrid and bitter to the 

 taste. The virtues of the plant are lost in drying, being wholly 

 contained in the volatile principle of the juice, which, in addi- 

 tion to its slight acrimony, probably contains some saline in- 

 gredients ; but we have no analysis. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — This plant is reputed to 

 be a mild antiscorbutic, diuretic and deobstruent. It was 

 formerly admitted into the London Pharmacopoeia as a corrector 

 of acrid humours, especially when manifested by cutaneous 

 eruptions and tumours of the lymphatic system. It has long 

 been known as a popular remedy for what are called scorbutic 

 complaints *. Dr. Withering gives the following account of its 

 utility in cutaneous affections : " A young lady, six years old, 

 was cured of an obstinate cutaneous disease, by taking three 

 large spoonsful of the juice twice a day ; and I have repeatedly 

 given to adults three or four ounces every morning in similar 

 complaints with the greatest advantage. It is not nauseous, 

 and children take it readily if mixed with milk. In the doses 

 I have given it neither affects the head, the stomach, nor the 

 bowels." f Dr. Underwood J also recommends the expressed 

 juice in those eruptions which infest the face and neck of chil- 

 dren, discharging a sharp ichor that excoriates the parts, and 

 are difficult of cure by mineral alteratives. 



Of the other species of Sium already enumerated, the S. an- 

 gustifolium has been generally considered to possess similar 

 properties to the above ; as also the S. latifolium, but we should 

 advise small commencing doses, as the roots of the latter are 

 known to be poisonous to cattle. 



* By ignorant persons who only know the name of the plant, and that it 

 grows in watery situations, the Water Dropwort has been gathered in mis- 

 take, and has given rise to serious accidents, as mentioned when speaking of 

 that plant. 



•p Bot. Arrang. ed. v. vol. ii. p. 376. 



X Diseases of Children, vol. i. p. 95. ed. ir. 



