WOODRUFF. 421 



Qualities and general Uses. — The plant is eaten by cows, horses, 

 goats, and sheep, and is said to increase the milk of those animals, espe- 

 cially of the first mentioned. The dried herb is recommended as one of the 

 best substitutes for foreign tea. Infused in wine or beer it imparts an 

 agreeable flavour to those liquors ; and may be kept among clothes like 

 lavender, as a perfume, and to preserve them from insects. 



It is remarkable that the fresh plant is almost destitute of odour, but 

 when dried it exhales a delightful and lasting fragrance, which has been 

 compared to the odour of Vernal grass, or Melilot, approaching to that of 

 peach-blossoms. It has an astringent and sub-saline taste, which it imparts 

 both to water and spirit. The saturated watery infusion has a pale reddish 

 colour, and a pleasant " ambrosial "* taste ; and is rendered black by sul- 

 phate of iron. The spirituous tincture has a pleasant flavour, reddish co- 

 lour, and is also blackened by sulphate of iron. The odorous principle is 

 said to be owing to the presence of benzoic acid. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — The properties attri- 

 buted to this plant by the old writers are those of a diuretic,- 

 deobstruent, and vulnerary. It has been highly commended 

 in obstructions of the liver -j", biliary ducts and mesenteric 

 glands, in jaundice J, and even in paralysis, epilepsy, and hy- 

 drophobia §. Its efficacy in the last mentioned disease, is 

 doubtless quite hypothetical and imaginary. In the character 

 of a diuretic, however, it appears to be deserving of attention, 

 as it certainly acts upon the kidneys and promotes diaphoresis ; 

 and in slight nephritic and calculous complaints, and dropsical 

 cases, it has proved serviceable. 



In exanthemata and some cutaneous affections it may also 

 be used with advantage. Simon Pauli || speaks favourably of 

 the effects of a strong decoction of the plant, applied externally 

 as a lotion to scabies. 



The fresh and bruised herb is applied by the country people 

 to inflammatory swellings and to wounds, but with what success 

 we are unable to determine. 



A strong infusion or decoction of the dried plant may be 

 taken in doses of a cupful, three or four times a day. The 

 spirituous tincture is certainly excitant, but we can scarcely 

 credit its efficacy' in paralysis as mentioned by some authors. 



* Bergius. 



■f Hence the names Hepatique, Fr. ; and Lebenkraut, Ger. 



% Geoffroy, Mat. Med. torn. iii. p. 141. 



§ Vide Murray, App. Med torn. i. p. 541. 



|| Quadrip. p. 28. 



