138 
for 1849, where Mr. Ince observes, that it has long been a popular 
remedy in ‘ hysteria.’ 
“ Anything that alleviates the sufferings of humanity should be 
hailed with satisfaction, and whether Mr. Salter has taken a leaf from 
the prescription-book of the village doctress, or not, is of but little 
consequence, so long as it is useful, but in that case it is not a new 
medicine. 
“T have brought forward these remarks, thinking they may induce 
others, who, perhaps, possess greater advantages than myself, to exa- 
mine the subject of the local uses and names of British plants. 
“Tn examining the subject, they might eliminate all that is worth- 
less, and adopt whatever they found worthy of support. In doing 
this, they will be just as much assisting truth and progress, as if they 
were engaged in some higher and more ostentatious branch of the 
sciences.” 
The President said that in his opinion, whether Mr. Salter was the 
original discoverer of the virtues of Cotyledon Umbilicus in epilepsy, 
or only the introducer of it into the regular practice of medicine, he was 
equally entitled to the thanks of the community at large for any benefits 
that might arise from its use, although, as far as his own experience went, 
he thought that the value of this remedy in epilepsy had been much 
overrated. The President also stated that he was very glad to find, from 
the interesting paper just read, that the local uses of our indigenous 
plants had begun to excite the attention of the members of the Phy- 
tological Club ; as this was one of the prominent objects contemplated 
at its establishment, and one also which he had on several occasions 
impressed the importance of upon the members, he hoped therefore | 
that this paper would soon be followed by others on similar subjects. 
Mr. Bentley also called attention to that part of the paper referring to 
the probability of the extract of Cotyledon Umbilicus, prepared from 
plants from different habitats, possessing somewhat different charac- 
ters. He thought that this was very likely to be the case, as he 
believed that climate, soil, &c., had far more influence in modifying 
the properties of plants than was generally supposed, and from the 
importance of the bearing of this subject upon pharmaceutists, who 
had continually to make use of plants and their products in the prepa- 
ration of various medicinal compounds, he urged the necessity of a 
thorough investigation of the matter upon the members of the Club. 
Mr. Blyth observed, that the extract of Cotyledon Umbilicus had 
been largely tried at St. Mary’s Hospital, more especially by Dr. 
Sieveking, and the effects had been so satisfactory, in some cases of 
