20 
EQUISETACE^. 
nose ; and the bruised plant laid on a recent wound staunches 
the blood.^' 
We are told by Lightfoot f that some entertain an opinion 
that if cows chance to feed upon ” this Equisetum their teeth 
will drop out : how far this may be true,” he adds, “ I know 
not, but I am persuaded that the pasture must be very bad where 
they are compelled to eat such food.” Sir William Hooker ap- 
pears to give the plant credit for this injurious quality : he says 
that though while to sheep it proves injurious, and that the 
teeth of cows who eat it soon fall out, it is wholesome for horses.” J 
The stems of this plant have for centuries been used by arti- 
ficers in smoothing the surface of wood, bone, and even metal, 
previously to giving these substances their final polish. This 
employment of the stem was noticed by Gerarde in the passage 
already quoted. Haller § also mentions it as being in his day 
used, in common with other species of Equisetum, to polish 
metal vessels, but speaks of this species as being the roughest 
* Vires ac temperamentum. 
Hippuris ea qu 80 capillamento potiiis quam folio articiilatur, magni in me- 
dicina et maxime probaiidi est iisus, propter miram sanandi vim quam obtinet 
spissandi facilitate praedita et utrisque corporis partibiis utillissima. 
Intrinsecus. 
Hippuris cujus jam meminiraus, sistendi sanguinem mira facultate pollet. 
Succus namque ejus bibitus profluvia sanguinis * * * § * cobibet. * ^ 
Eadem potest aqua stillatitia per diem bis aut ter mensura trium cochlearium 
sumpta. Succus in vino potus tormina ventris sedat, tussim, orthopnaeum, 
ruptaque adjuvat necnon dissectiones vesicas et intestinorum enterocelasque. 
Ad eadem herba vino decocta et calida pota facit. Potest vero vel herba 
vel radix, vino aquave ad omnes istas affectiones decoqui, pro ratione morbi, 
Extrinsecus. 
Succus berbe expressus naribusque inditus et cervici siraul impositus san- 
guinem e naribus erumpentera sistit. Idem aqua stillatitia efficit. 
Herba tusa ac cum succo suo imposita cruorem e vulneribus manantem 
supprimit ipsaque intra paucos dies gliitinat teste Galeno qui Hippurim ad 
sanguinis rejectionem ^ * ad dysenterias et ad alia ventris profluvia gene- 
rosum esse medicamentum asserit. — Tragus 1. c. 
f Lightfoot, Flora Scotica, 650. + Flora Londinensis, 161. 
§ Omnia Equiseta ad polienda vasa melallica adbibentur. Hoc tamen ut 
omnium asperrimum ita anrifabris et scriniariis suos ad usus optissimum est. 
— Hall. Hist. iii. 3. 
