668 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



in the vegetable kingdom ; some, in fact, as Brown and Griffith, do not con- 

 sider that it is to be regarded as a peculiar class, but think that it ap- 

 pertains to the Exogens ; most other writers of eminence agree in opinion that 

 it is sufficiently distinct to be elevated to a separate rank (see Lindley, 

 Veg. Kingdom, for a synopsis of the various views of Brown, Griffith, End- 

 licher, Richard, &c.) 



Very few of them have any decided properties yet known. The Cynomo- 

 rium coccinewn, or Fungus mehtensis of the older writers, had at one time 

 much reputation as a styptic, and some species of Helosis have the same 

 properties. Ombrophyton, which springs up in Peru like a mushroom, ac- 

 cording to Poppig, is eaten, when cooked, and said to resemble Indian corn 

 in taste. 'Sarcophyte, a native of the Cape of Good Hope, is stated to have 

 an extremely fetid odour. Cytinus hypocistis, found in the South of Europe, 

 affords an extract which is officinal in some countries, under the name of 

 Succus hypocistidis ; it is astringent and tonic, and is prescribed in gonor- 

 rhoea, hemorrhages, &c. According to Pelletier {Bull. Pharm. v. 293), it 

 contains gallic acid, but no tannin, though it is capable of precipitating gela- 

 tine. Hydnora africana is said to smell like spoilt roast beef, but is eaten by 

 the Hottentots. 



Order 1 19.— RAFFLESIACE^.— Lindley. 



Fig. 319. 



R. arnoldi 



One of the most Interest- 

 ing plants of this class is the 

 Rafflesia arnoldi, a native 

 of Java. The flower of this 

 species is larger than that of 

 any other known vegetable, 

 its diameter sometimes being 

 upwards of a yard, and its 

 weight fifteen pounds. A 

 decoction of it is employed 

 in Java as an astringent in 

 a relaxed condition of the 

 genito-urinary apparatus. 

 Brugmansia,B]ume, is said 

 to have analogous properties. 



Series II— Cryptogamous or Flowerless Plants. 



Fig. 320. 



a. Longitudinal section of a stem, b Transverse do. c. Stem of a moss with leaves and 

 theca. d. Leaf of a moss magnified, c. Leafy thallus of a lichen with shields. /. Crustaceous 

 do. do. g. Fungi of the higher tribe. A. i. Fungi of the lower tribes, k. Conferva magnified. 



