118 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Fig. 68. 



some writers considered as forming part of that order ; but as is observed by 

 De Candolle, it differs in the juice being watery instead of milky, in the irre- 

 gularity and coherence of the petals, and in its diadelphous stamens. It is 

 certainly closely allied to the Berberidacese, and its place seems to be inter- 

 mediate between these two orders. 



Many of the species have attained some celebrity as medicinal agents, but 

 are seldom employed in regular practice in this country. The Fumaria 



officinalis, F. capreolata and others 

 were at one time in high repute as altera- 

 tive bitters, especially in cutaneous af- 

 fections, afid they still are employed in 

 Europe, particularly in France and Ger- 

 many, by many eminent practitioners, 

 both in these cases and in derangements 

 of the liver. They are given either 

 in decoction, extract, syrup, or the ex- 

 pressed juice. The tuberous root of 

 Corydallis bulbosa has been employed 

 as a substitute for the Aristolochia 

 clematitis as a vermifuge and emme- 

 nagogue, but its remedial powers can- 

 not be of a high order, since it is used 

 in Siberia as an article of food. The 

 root of C. tuberosa has been found to 

 contain a peculiar alkaloid, to which 

 the name of Corydalin has been given. 

 Those of Diclylra canadensis and D. 

 cucullaria found in many parts of the 

 United States, are stated to be diuretic, 

 diaphoretic, and alterative. Riddell 

 states (Synop. 13) that Dr. Jones con- 

 siders them " to be a substitute for 

 mercury in venereal complaints." 

 They are given in infusion, the dose 

 of which is 3j. three times a day, and also used as a lotion to the diseased 

 parts. 



Group IV. — Nymphales. 



Order 8.— NYMFHMACEM.— Salisbury. 



and petals numerous, gradually passing- into each other ; the former persistent, 



the latter deciduous, and inserted upon the 



Fig. 69. disk ; stamens numerous, with petaloid fila- 



SMBftw «* ments inserted on the disk; anthers adnate, 



introrse. Ovary polyspermous, many-celled, 

 with radiating- stigmas, alternate with the 

 dissepiments, more or less surrounded by a 

 large fleshy disk ; ovules numerous, anatro- 

 pal. Fruit many-celled, indehiscent. Seeds 

 very numerous, attached to spongy dissepi- 

 ments. Albumen farinaceous. Embryo small, 

 enclosed in a fleshy vitcllus, cotyledons foli- 

 aceous. 



D. cucullaria. 



Sepals 



Nymphea. 



Aquatic herbs, with peltate or cor- 

 date fleshy leaves arising from a pros- 

 trate trunk, and having large, showy, 



