212 POLYGONUM BISTORTA 



tened, usually about the thickness of the little finger, and marked 

 externally with transverse or annular wrinkles, which give it a 

 roughish appearance. It has a hard firm texture, a deep reddish- 

 brown colour externally, and a reddish or flesh-colour internally ; 

 it is without odour, but with a strong, pure, astringent taste. 



Bistort root has never been carefully analysed, but its principal 

 constituents are tannic add, of which it contains a large quantity, 

 some gallic acid, and much starch. Its virtues are extracted by 

 water, and its decoction becomes inky-black on the addition of a 

 persalt of iron, and with gelatine it forms a precipitate. 



Medical Properties and Uses. It is one of the most powerful 

 of our indigenous astringents, although now but very rarely 

 employed, its use having been superseded by catechu, kino, and 

 other astringents of foreign origin. A decoction is, however, 

 sometimes used as an astringent injection in Ieucorrho3a and 

 gleet -, as a gargle in spongy gums and relaxed sore throat ; and as 

 a lotion to ulcers attended with a profuse discharge. It Jias 

 been highly recommended by Cullen for internal use in combina- 

 tion with gentian in intermittents, and it has also been employed 

 in passive haemorrhages and chronic alvine fluxes. Formerly it 

 was much esteemed, as is shown by the following extract from 

 Gerarde's Herbal : " The juice of Bistort, put into the nose, 

 prevaileth much against the disease called Polypus. . . The 

 root boyled in wine, and drunke, stoppeth the bloudy flix; 

 it stayeth also the ouermuch flowing of women's monethly sick- 

 nesses. The roote taken as aforesaid staieth vomiting, and 

 healeth the inflammation and sorenesse of the mouth and throat ; 

 it likewise fastneth loose teeth, being holden in the mouth for a 

 certaine space and at sundry times." 



The large quantity of starch which the root contains also renders 

 it nutritive ; and hence when roasted it is eaten in Siberia 

 and Iceland. According to Curtis and Withering, the shoots and 

 leaves were used about Manchester, for greens, under the name of 

 Patience Dock. It is probable, however, that the name Patience 

 Dock has been incorrectly applied to this plant from its having 

 been confounded with the true Patience Dock (Eumex Patientia), 



