38 
ACONITUM NAPELLUS. 
Oil various parts of this rose, there is frequently found a mossy 
protuberance of a very singular appearance, which is occasioned by 
an insect, (the Cynips Rosfe of Linnaeus ;) this substance was formerly 
used medicinally in calculous diseases, under the name of Bedeguar ; * 
but like many other antiquated remedies of equal efficacy, has with 
much propriety been long since rejected. 
Properties and Uses. The fruit or heps of the varions 
species of dog rose, contain much saccharine matter, and citric acid ; 
when chewed, they have a slight acid taste, and tinge the saliva red ; 
by boiling they become more acid and tender. 
Formerly the fruit was considered lithontriptic ; and the roots 
were recommended in hydrophobia and dysentery ; f but in modern 
practice the fruit only is made use of for making a conserve, used 
chiefly as a vehicle for more active medicines. The heps of the 
difl^erent species of wild rose differ in flavour; and the conserve is 
prepared indiscriminately from them all, hence the flavour of the 
conserve varies also ; that prepared from the Rosa Avensis, or field 
rose, has the finest flavour, and forms a very pleasant sweetmeat. 
It is said that the water distilled from the wild rose is infinitely 
more fragrant than that distilled from the various species of the 
Rosa Centifolia, Damacena, &c. Haller says, " Fragranta ejus olei 
" omnia alia odoramenta superat, ut inter regia dona sit." We 
have seen water distilled from several varieties of the wild rose, 
and can add our testimony in favour of its fragrancy. 
Off. The Fruit. 
Oflr. Pp. Coiif. Rosffi Can. L. E. 

ACONITUM NAPELLUS. 
Large Blue Wolfsbane, Monk's-hood, Aconite."^ 
Class PoLYAN DRi A.— Orc?er Trigynia. 
Nat. Ord. Multisiliqu^, Linn. Ranunculaceje, Juss. 
* Vide Gendornias Cynosbatologia, p. 136, sqq. 
t Vide Herman Diss, de Rosa. 
X Fig, a. in the annexed drawing, represents a plant half the size of the natural 
specimen from which it was taken, b. A stamen magnified, c. The three pistilla, 
attached to the receptacle, d. A flower of the natural size, spread open, shewing the 
two nectaries, &c. 
