640 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



diuretica has some reputation in Chili as a diuretic ; where, also, Chlorcea 

 disoides is considered to augment the secretion of milk. 



Cypripedium. — Linn. 



Lip ventricose, inflated, saccate. Petals 4, the lower one bifid. Gonophore bearing 2 

 anthers, and terminating behind in a petaloid lobe. 



This small genus is principally American. Its name means the Shoe of 

 Venus, from the slipper-like form of the labellum. The species are highly 

 ornamental and showy, and are, it has been stated, active antispasmodics ; 

 but, have not been recognised as officinal. As, however, they are in very 

 general use in domestic practice and with empirics, and have certainly been 

 found beneficial in a variety of instances, they require a more extended no- 

 tice. All the species are stated to be equally active ; but the following has 

 been selected as being extremely common in some parts of the country, 

 though rare in the vicinity of Philadelphia, where it is replaced by the C. 

 acaule. 



C. pubescens, Willdenow. — Stem 

 Fig. 298. leafy ; leaves broad, often acute, and 



pubescent. Lobe of the style trian- 

 gular-oblong, obtuse. Sepals ovate- 

 oblong, acuminate. Petals very long, 

 linear, and contorted. Lip compress- 

 ed, shorter than the other petals. 



Willdenow, Hort. Berol. i. t. 

 13 ; Barton, N. A. Flor., t. 74 ; 

 C. luteum, Rafinesque, Med. 

 Fhr. i. 140; C. Jlavescens, 

 Redoute, Liliac. ; C. calceolus, 

 (3. Linn. Sp. PI. 1346. 



Common Names. — Yellow 

 lady's slipper ; Yellow moccasin 

 flower ; Noah's ark, &c. 



Found in most parts of the 

 United States, though rare in 

 some localities. It flowers in 

 May and June. The roots are 

 the parts used in medicine. 

 These are perennial, of many 

 long, fleshy, cylindrical fibres, 

 of a pale-yellow colour. They 

 have a pungent, but viscid taste, 

 and a peculiar and somewhat 

 unpleasant odour. No analysis 

 has been made of them. 



Medical Uses. — These roots 

 were employed by the Indians, 

 and have been held in high es- 

 teem, in domestic practice, in 

 many parts of the country, as 

 sedative and antispasmodic, acting much like Valerian in alleviating the ner- 

 vous symptoms attendant on many diseases ; and are said to have proved 

 very useful in hysteria and even chorea. The usual mode of administration 



C. pubescens. 



