ORCHIDACEiE. 



639 



Fig. 297. 



The nutritive substance called Salep is supposed to be principally derived 

 from some species of Orchis, as the roots of O. mascula and other European 

 species furnish an analogous product. Most of the Salep of the shops comes 

 from Asia, where it is prepared in Northern India, Persia, Turkey, &c. Dr. 

 Royle states that a good article is procured from several species of Eulophia. 

 Sprengel is of opinion thai the Salep of the ancients was the product of 0. 

 papilionacea. It is highly probable that all the species of Orchis and its 

 allied genera, with fleshy roots, will afford this article. Salep is in the form 

 of hard, horny, semi-transparent, somewhat rounded pieces, having scarcely 

 any odour, but a mild, mucilaginous taste. For use they require to be pow- 

 dered, which is an operation of some difficulty, from their tough and corne- 

 ous consistence. They consist principally of Bassorin, with some Gum, and 

 a little Starch, and are considered as containing a very large proportion of 

 nutriment in a small bulk. Salep is but little employed in this country, ex- 

 cept in the composition of Castillon powders, a nutritive and bland article of 

 diet for invalids. 



Several species of Vanilla afford the aromatic beans so much employed by 

 the confectioner. These are the product of 

 V. aromatica, V. sativa, V. sylvestris, and 

 V. pompona ; the first of which is the most 

 generally known. Dr. Lindley says that 

 most of the beans of commerce are furnished 

 by V. planifolia ; but this does not agree 

 with the observations of Schiede, who studied 

 the genus in Mexico. Vanilla contains an 

 Essential oil and Benzoic acid ; but Bucholz 

 says that no volatile oil can be obtained on 

 distillation. In addition to the flavouring 

 properties of this article, it has some medi- 

 cinal qualities, and has been successfully 

 employed as an aromatic stimulant, in low 

 fevers, hysteria, rheumatism, &c. It is also 

 considered as acting powerfully on the gene- 

 rative system as an aphrodisiac. The dose is from eight to ten grains. V. 

 claviculata is regarded as a good vulnerary and anti-syphilitic in the West 

 Indies. 



A few species of Epidendrum have somewhat active properties. Thus, 

 E. bifida, of Guinea, affords a juice which is said to be purgative in doses 

 of a tablespoon ful ; and, in Tortola, is also considered to be an anthelmintic 

 and diuretic. E. auriculatum, is used as a vermifuge in India ; and is, like- 

 wise, employed in dropsy. (Ainslie, ii. 439.) The crushed roots of E. scrip- 

 turn are employed, in the same country, as a maturating poultice to phlegmo- 

 nous tumours, as are also those of E. tenuifolium ; the powder of this latter, 

 mixed with vinegar, is deemed efficacious in haemorrhoids, leucorrhoea, and 

 gonorrhoea. 



According to Browne {Jamaica), the cor mus of Bletia verecunda is bitter- 

 ish and somewhat acrid, and when dried forms an excellent stomachic. Some 

 of the South American Catasetums, Cyrtopodiums, &c, yield a viscid juice, 

 which, when inspissated by boiling, becomes a tenacious glue ; and that of 

 our native Aplectrum hiemale, or Putty-root, is a good cement for glass or 

 china. The bulbs of another native,' the Arethusa bidbosa, are stated by 

 Schoepf to be useful in toothache, and for maturating boils. The leaves of 

 Goodyera pubescem have been used by empirics in scrofula, both internally, 

 in decoction, and externally, as a cataplasm, with some success. SpirantJies 



Vanilla aroraatica. 



