10 



MEDICINAL PLANTS 



astringent demulcent in pectoral and bowel complaints. Plant abounds 

 in mucilage, which possesses similar properties to the Irish moss, and 

 might be substituted for it. 



Nelumbiac^;, Bartl. — (Sacred-Bean Tribe.) 



Nelttmbium: luteum,* Wild., (Great Yellow Water-lily). The 

 only plant furnished by this order in our state, is found in* Big Sodus 

 Bay, Lake Ontario. The rhizomes resemble those of the sweet 

 potato, and are as farinaceous, agreeable and wholesome as the 

 potato; found 12 to 18 inches below the surface of the earth, nutri- 

 tious rather than medicinal ; used as food by the Tartars and Indians ; 

 root contains large quantities of fecula. 



Nympheace.e, Salisb. — (Pond-Lily Tribe.) 

 Nymphea Odoeata,! Ait., (Great White Water-lily). Root or 

 rhizome is used for dying a brown color ; bitter to taste ; power- 

 fully astringent and tonic ; contains much tannin and gallic acid ; 

 fresh root useful as a discutient poultice ; forms a good injection in 

 leucorrhea, gonorrhea, and dysentery, etc. ; considered aphrodisiac by 

 the ancients ; a popular remedy in bowel complaints ; and useful as a 

 gargle in ulcerated sore-throat ; one of the Thompsonian remedies. 

 Nuphar lutea, Smith, (Yellow Pond-lily, small fjpwered). 

 Nuphar advena4 Ait., (Common Yellow Pond-lily). These 

 two species possess similar properties with the nymphea, and may be 

 employed in same cases ; they should be further investigated. The 

 advena is a popular tonic, and fresh root forms an excellent poultice 

 when bruised ; contains much starch. The roots of all the water 

 lilies are edible ; though somewhat acrid when raw, they are bland 

 and nutritious when cooked ; petioles and leaves are eaten for greens ; 

 leaves employed to dress blisters, c oling and emollient ; flowers 

 have proved successful in dysuria. 



Papavarace^;, Juss. — (The Poppy Tribe.) 



Three species only furnished by this tribe in our state are medici- 

 nal. 



Sanguinaria|| Canadense, Linn., (Blood Root). An acrid nar- 

 cotic, acting as a powerful emetic, in doses of x. grs. of the powdered 

 root, succeeded by burning heat of stomach, vertigo, prostration, etc. 

 In small doses, deobstruent and expectorant ; useful in chronic pulmo- 



* Nelumbo, the Ceylon name. 

 + From its inhabiting the water like the nymphs. 

 t The ancient name attached to it by Dioscorides. 

 [] From sanguis, blood. 



