170 
NAT. ORDER. ROSACEA. 
per for the front of shrubberies, and they propagate freely by cutting's 
planted in the autumn in a sheltered situation. 
Medical Properties and Uses. The roots of this plant possess 
properties agreeing with those of the Potentilla reptans. They have 
a styptic, bitterish, gastic taste, and give out their astringent matter 
both to water and spirit. From, history, we learn that in ancient times 
this plant was held in high estimation as a medicine, and was after- 
wards used by Hippocrates and Dioscorides, and by the former par- 
ticularly recommended for the cure of intermittents. And later writers 
tell us that the middle classes of inhabitants still employ them with 
this intention. 
The medicinal quality of Cinquefoil is confined to the external or 
cortical part of the root, and depends merely upon its astringent effects ; 
it has therefore been chiefly prescribed internally in diarrhcEas and 
other fluxes, and externally in gargles and astringent lotions ; but as 
its efficacy is much inferior to many other plants of this class, the Cin- 
quefoil is now rarely used. In large doses, however, it, may be found 
no bad substitute for some other astringent. 
Both the root and the herb is used in dysentery and fluxes. The 
herb may be used as tea, and the root in decoction ; an ounce of which 
may be boiled in a p ; nt and a half of water, to a pint : the dose of 
this will be half a wine-glass three times a day. The root finely 
powdered has of late been used in connection with Sanguinaria 
canadensis, as a snuff for catarrhal affections. 
