674 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



jelly, which is called by Pereira, Carrageenin. This has been a popular 

 emedy in pulmonary diseases, in bowel complaints, &c, and has also been 

 used as a substitute for Isinglass, in culinary preparations. Plocaria tenax, 

 and P. Candida, probably furnish the material from which Swallows construct 

 the edible nests so. prized by the Chinese; some writers, however, are of 

 opinion, that they are formed from a species of Gelidium. P. compressa of 

 Ireland and Scotland is also used as Carrageen. The P. tenax just spoken 

 of, affords a glue much used by the Chinese for a variety of purposes. Rho- 

 domenia palmata is the Dulse of the Scots, and Dillesk of the Irish, and is 

 extensively employed as food throughout all the maritime parts of Europe, 

 as is also the Iridcea edulis. Laurentia pinnatifida, is very pungent, and 

 is known as Pepper Dulse in Scotland. 



Several of them have been used in medicine, especially the Plocaria helmin- 

 thocorton, or Corsica Moss, a native of the Mediterranean, and once much 

 esteemed as a vermifuge ; and has also been brought forward as a remedy 

 for cancer, in Consequence of its having been stated by Bonaparte to Dr. 

 O'Meara, that it was employed in Corsica in the treatment of tumours ; but 

 its only virtue for this purpose is owing to the Iodine it contains. Hypncea 

 musciformis is also esteemed as an anthelmintic in the Greek Archipelago. 

 The Plocaria Candida, or Ceylon Moss, has of late years been employed as 

 a light and nourishing article of diet in England and France. 



G-roup LV. — Fungales. 



Flowerless plants, consisting of cellular tissue, with occasionally some filaments in- 

 termixed ; increasing in size by additions from within ; living in air. Propagated by 

 spores either lying loose among the tissue, or enclosed in membranous cases (sporidia). 



Fungi are found everywhere, usually growing upon decaying or decayed 

 animal or vegetable substances, but sometimes, especially the lower groups of 

 them, springing from living bodies of either kingdom. The number of spe- 

 cies is so immense, that no opinion as to it can be safely hazarded, Their 

 qualities and uses are exceedingly diversified, for whilst many are favourite 

 articles of food, a still greater number are unwholesome and poisonous ,- some 

 are medicinal, and others again have tinctorial qualities. 



Fig. 326. 



Edible Fungi. 

 1. Agaricus campcstris. 2. Morchella esculenta. 



3. Tuber cibarium. 



