OF NEW-YORK. 10 



siderably in their medicinal properties. Some are bitter and tonic : 

 some emetic, purgative and diuretic ; some are merely emetic, others 

 are diuretic and sudorific ; while others still are poisonous. Poly- 

 gala* Senega, Linn., the Seneca Snake Root is a not uncommon plan: 

 in this state, in dry rocky woods, and flowering from May to July. Ex- 

 pectorant, emetic, sudorific, diuretic, emmenagoguc, cathartic, diapho- 

 retic, etc., according to dose and manner of administration ; most valua- 

 ble as an expectorant in croup, and other pulmonary affections. In ame- 

 norrhea, it proves most useful in recent cases. The Senega contains 

 two peculiar acids, the Polygalic and the Virgineic, on which its vir- 

 tues depend. (Quevenne, in Jour, de Pharm. xxii.) 



Polygala Sanguinea, Linn., (Purple Milk-wort). According to 

 Dr. B. S. Barton, this species possesses the same medicinal properties 

 as the former, and may be used in the same cases. We have never 

 tested it. 



Polygala Paucifolia, according to Rafinesque, has active proper- 

 ties; the root having a sweet, pungent, and aromatic taste, while, like 

 the Senega, it is stimulant, sudorific, expectorant, etc., but milder in its 

 action than the latter plant ; used in warm infusion and decoction. Dr. 

 Griffith says that the root appears to have the properties of a tonic ami 

 bitter, similar to the P. amara and P. rubella, and that his observations 

 do not agree with those of Rafinesque. (Med. Botany, p. 227.) 



Leguminos-E, Linn. — (The Bean Tribe.) 

 Vicia, four species, two exotic and two indigenous. Cultivated in 



Europe as herbage for cattle, under the names of Winter and 



Summer Tare. 



Phaseolus,| Linn., (Kidney Bean). Three wild indigenous species. 



Perennis ; Diversifolius ; Helvolus. Ph. Vulgaris, Linn., (Kidney 



Bean, Pole Bean). Lunatus, (Lima Bean). Cultivated for the table. 



Less nutrient and flatulent than peas, and the ordinary white beans. 



Chiefly employed in the young and green state of their legumina. 



The substance, when boiled, is of the oleraceous kind ; but though 



sweeter and more nutrient than these, is still tender and easily 



digested. 



Apios,| Boerh., (Ground Nut). Tuberosa. (Sometimes called Wild 



* From the Greek poly, much, and gala, milk ; from its supposed power of in- 

 creasing the secretion of mi!k. 



t Latin phaseolus, a little boat, from the shape of the legumes. 

 t Greek apios, a pear — form of root. 



