130 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Linn. Sp. PL 723 ; Bug. Bot. i. 1581 ; Woodville, i. 140 ; Stephenson 

 and Churchill, ii. 86 ; Torrey and Gray, Fl. i. 62. 



Common names. — Celandine, Tetterwort. 



Celandine is a native of most parts of Europe, and is extensively natural- 

 ized in the United States, growing in waste places, and flowering throughout the 

 summer. The whole plant is very brittle, and exudes when broken, an 

 orange-coloured, foetid juice. Its taste is intensely bitter and acrid, occasion- 

 ing a sense of burning in the mouth and fauces, which lasts for some time. 

 The root is more, powerful than the stems, and is the part generally used. 

 The active principle is soluble both in water and alcohol, and although not 

 volatile, is somewhat diminished by drying. According to an analysis by 

 Chevallier and Lassaigne (Jour, de Pharm. iii. 451), the juice of this plant 

 contains — a bitter resinous substance, of a deep yellow colour; a gum-resin 

 of an orange colour, having a bitter and nauseous taste ; albumen ; some 

 salts, &c. Thomson is of opinion that it is very analogous to gamboge both 

 in composition and properties. 



Medical uses. — Although Celandine is now but seldom employed in 

 regular practice, it at one time enjoyed a very high reputation as a stimulating 

 aperient, diuretic, deobstruent, and sudorific, and was thought to be particu- 

 larly efficacious in the removal of obstructions of the liver, in promoting ex- 

 pectoration, and in the cure of chronic cutaneous affections ; thus Miller 

 (Compend. Herb.) says, " it is aperitive and cleansing, opening obstructions of 

 the liver and spleen, and of great use in curing the jaundice and scurvy. 

 Some reckon it cordial and a good antidote against the plague. It is put into 

 aqua mirabilis. Outwardly it is used for sore eyes, to dry up rheum, and 

 to take away specks and films, and also against tetters and ringworms, and 

 scurfy breakings out." It may not be as effectual in the treatment of these 

 various affections as is stated, but is certainly possessed of much activity, 

 and is one of those remedies that has been unduly neglected in our rage for 

 new and foreign drugs. 



According to the observations of numerous German practitioners, its bene- 

 ficial results in scrofula are unequivocal ; Wendt andKuntzmann have given 

 cases where it proved completely successful in this disease (Jour. Hufland, 

 1813). As a drastic and hydragogue purgative it appears fully equal to 

 gamboge, and might replace it in all cases in which the foreign article is 

 used. It has also been recommended as an external application to the feet, 

 in those oedemalous swellings succeeding fevers. Recamier is of opinion that 

 it has a peculiar elective action on the spleen, and hence is very effectual in 

 removing engorgements of that viscus. 



Externally the juice has long been known as a caustic for the removal of 

 warts, and is said to be very efficacious in stimulating and healing old and 

 indolent ulcers, speedily removing fungous flesh, and giving a healthy action 

 to the torpid and indolent granulations. Hildanus, Ettmuller, Geoffroy, and 

 others attest the powers of the juice, when diluted with some bland liquid, in 

 specks and opacities of the cornea. A cataplasm of the bruised leaves has 

 also been successfully used in herpes and obstinate psora. 



The dose of the dried root is from 3ss. to 3j. ; of the fresh juice from 30 

 to 40 drops, mixed with some bland liquid; of the watery extract 5 to 10 

 grains ; and of the vinous tincture about 3j. to 3ij. 



