138 
TORMENTILLA ERECTA. 
The common torraentil is perennial; the root is crooked and 
Ictiot^y, externally of a blackish or dark brown colour, and reddish 
within, it sends out a number of long slender stalks, which grow 
erect, to the height of ten or twelve inches, branching towards the 
top; the leaves are sessile, proceeding from the joint, and consist of 
seven long, narrow leaflets, three of which are larger than the rest, 
somewhat hairy, of a dark green on their upper surface, but pale 
beneath ; the flowers are small, solitary, of a bright yellow colour, 
and consist of four petals, obversely heart-shaped, flat, spreading, 
and standing upon long, slender, axillary stalks ; the calyx is hairy, 
•And cut as we have said, into eight segments; the gerni^ns are eight, 
gathered into a little head, and each supporting a thread-shaped 
style, inserted in the side of the germen, and crowned with an obtuse 
stigma ; the seeds are oblong, obtusely acuminated, and lodged 
within the calyx. This plant flowers in June : it is distinguished 
from the Tormentilla Reptans by its sessile leaves, its smaller petals, 
and more erect stem. " 
Sensible Properties. The root of tormentil has an austere, 
styptic taste, with a slightly aromatic flavour ; its active principle 
appears to be tannin, which it contains in a very great degree, and 
which it readily yields to boiling water.* 
Medical Properties. The root of tormentil is a pleasant 
and efficacious astringent, to which use it is now entirely confined, 
although it was formerly prescribed for various complaints, as the 
plague, malignant fevers, syphilis, &c. ; it may possibly possess 
some antiseptic properties, which would render it a useful remedy 
in fevers, where such medicines are indicated. It has been re- 
commended by Dr. Thompson in diarrhoea in consumptive patients, 
and has been a favourite domestic remedy with the peasantry of 
many countries, in dysentery ; with the faculty of these countries 
it appears to have gone out of fashion, though we think un- 
justly, for as the resin it contains is very inconsiderable, it 
seems particularly adapted in those cases where heating and sti- 
mulating medicines of this class are less proper. Dr. CuUen 
thinks it has been justly commended for every virtue that is 
competent to astringents;" and says, '* I myself have had several 
iDstances of its virtues in this respect; and particularly I have 
found it, both by itself and as joined with gentian, cure intermittent 
fMtr^i but it must be given in substance and in large quantities." f 
* The root of torraentil lias been substituted for oak bark, in the fanning of skins 
for leather, and it is said the process has been perfected in less fiine Hiaa tvUen oak 
bark was used. S!"on>tsi. 
f CuUen, Mat. Med. vol. ii, p. Z^i; i'* -i^'-J**- 
