426 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Churchill, ii. 91 ; Bigelow, Med. Bot. i. 66; Rafinesque, Med. Flor. i. 57: 

 Arctostaphylos, Sprengel, ii. 287. 



Common Names.— JJv-d Ursi ; Bear-berry ; Upland Cranberry, &c. 



Foreign Names.— Busserolle, Raisin d'ours, Fr.; Uva orsina,i£.; Baren- 

 traube, Ger. 



Fig. 191. 



Description. — Root perennial, long-, fibrous. 

 Stems procumbent, round, woody and branched, 

 covered with a smooth deciduous bark. The 

 leaves are numerous, alternate, evergreen, obtuse, 

 obovate, entire, coriaceous, smooth, dark green 

 and wrinkled above, and finally reticulated and 

 paler beneath, supported on short petioles. The 

 flowers grow in small clusters at the extremities 

 of the branches, each on a short red peduncle, 

 furnished with several minute bracts; they are 

 usually six to twelve on each branch, drooping, 

 and of a pale rose colour. The calyx is small, 

 obtusely 5-toothed, and persistent. The corolla is 

 ovate, smooth, transparent at the base, contracted 

 above, with five short reflexed segments. The 

 stamens have subulate downy filaments inserted 

 at the base of the corolla, and reddish incumbent 

 anthers, of two oval cells, opening by two termi- 

 nal pores, and furnished with a pair of short horns 

 or spurs. The ovary is roundish, bearing a cylin- 

 drical erect style, with a simple stigma. The 

 fruit is small, globose, smooth, and of a scarlet 

 colour, containing a mealy pulp of an austere 

 taste, and five almost-united angular seeds. 



1. Anthers. 



A. uva ursi. 



2. Single anther, showing 

 spurs. 



of Europe, Asia, and America. 



The Uva ursi has a very extended 

 range, being found in the northern parts 

 It is usually found in dry, stony or sandy 

 spots. It flowers from June to September, and ripens its berries during the 

 winter. The leaves are the only part that is used in medicine. When dried 

 they have a faint hay-like odour, and a bitterish astringent taste. The 

 powder is of a yellowish-brown colour. They yield their properties to water 

 and alcohol. On analysis they afford Gallic and Tannic acids, Resin, Extrac- 

 tive, Gum, some salts, &c. The tannin forms full a third of the whole, and 

 is the active principle. 



Medical Properties. — Uva ursi is astringent and tonic, and is thought to 

 have a specific influence on the urinary organs, in the diseases of which it is 

 principally used. It is thought by Clusius to be the part spoken of by Galen 

 as useful in haemoptysis, and having a red berry of an austere taste, but other 

 commentators suppose this to have been the red currant. It is exceedingly 

 doubtful whether it was known to the ancients, and very little is recorded re- 

 specting it, until it was introduced by De Haen as a remedy in diseases of 

 the kidneys and bladder, and is still mainly employed for the same purpose, 

 in certain cases in which it undoubtedly possesses considerable powers, 

 though to be effectual its use must be persevered in for a long time. In 

 chronic mucous discharges Prout speaks of it very highly, and his testimony 

 is supported by that of many eminent practitioners, whilst on the other hand 

 Sir B. Brodie and others declare that it has been much overrated. The truth 

 seems to be, that it is uncertain in its effects, and even when successful, its 

 beneficial operation is very slowly exercised. It has also obtained some 



