412 WATFR-PLANTAIN. 



is monocotyledonous. Tournefort*, however, calls it "Ranuncu- 

 lus palustris, plantaginis folio." 



The foliage of Water-Plantain is of an acrid nature and dele- 

 terious to sheep and cattle ; but according to the Swedish experi- 

 ments, it is eaten by goats and horses. 



Qualities. — The root contains an acrid juice, which being 

 removed by expression, or dispersed by boiling, the residue is 

 an amylaceous fecula of a nutritive character, and is said to be 

 commonly eaten by the Kalmuc Tartars. The fresh leaves also 

 contain an acrid principle of a fugitive kind, so that when 

 thoroughly dried they are inert. Hence it appears that the 

 Water-Plantain, in the volatility of its acrid principle, has 

 much analogy with the Ranunculacece, and with such of the 

 Umbelliferce as grow in water. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — The root of Water-Plan- 

 tain, was a few years since, greatly eulogised, particularly in 

 Russia, as a remedy for hydrophobia, but it is probably of no 

 greater value than other pretended specifics for that horrible 

 disease. Lewshin, Burdach, Moser, and others have, indeed, 

 published several cases in which it acted apparently as an anti- 

 lyssic, given internally to the extent of 2j drachms daily, and 

 the leaves applied in the form of poultice to the wound. The 

 powdered root has also been given with reputed success as a 

 substitute for Bearberry, in cases of irritable bladder ; and De 

 Haen states, that the root, macerated in wine, has procured re- 

 lief in calculus. The fresh leaves applied to the surface of the 

 skin have an irritant and vesicatory effect. According to Ett- 

 muller t, they have been applied to the wrists of those labour- 

 ing under intermittent fevers, with marked success ; he also 

 asserts that the same bruised and applied to the cedematous 

 legs of dropsical subjects, excite copious vesicles, by the punc- 

 ture of which the serum is drawn off and great relief afforded. 

 Probably the leaves of some of our indigenous plants might be 

 used with advantage not only in the above-mentioned but in other 

 diseases, where it is desirable to determine to the surface. The 

 leaves of Burdock, Water Lily, Clematis, Meadow-Rue, and 

 with those of the plant here described might be employed with 



* Inst. p. 292. 



-j- Opera cur. J. C. Westpbali. (In Pharm. Schrod. p. 630.) 



