204 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 10,1870. 
power in the animal body also, but they serve for 
other purposes as well. 
The iron and copper of which the parts of the 
locomotive mechanism consist are not supplied by 
the fuel, and for the production as well as the main¬ 
tenance of those parts an external force is consumed 
on the work of many artisans. 
The difference between the animal machine and 
the locomotive consists in the circumstance that food 
is requisite not only for maintaining its temperature 
and producing force, but also for providing the ma- 
terial^for the maintenance of its working parts, or 
building up its organs; even this does not take 
place with expenditure of force. For the construc¬ 
tion of these organs in the proper form and character 
for performing the work belonging to them, there is 
required a certain amount of force as in the working 
lip of the copper and iron in the locomotive, though 
in a different way; but for the production of this 
working force a certain quantity of material must be 
consumed. 
Moreover, the arrangement of the animal machine 
is such that its own parts and constituents serve to 
supply at their own cost its requirements in heat 
and power, even when food is entirely withheld. 
Of the total quantity of force capable of being 
generated in the animal body, a portion is applied in 
performing interior work, comprising 
a. All involuntary motions of the blood and of 
respiration, etc. 
h. For working up the food into those substances 
which serve for the construction and restoration 
of organs, especially the parts of the body. 
And it is only the portion remaining after these 
operations have been performed that is available for 
the performance of external work. 
(To be continued .) 
MEDICINAL FERNS. 
BY M. C. COOKE, M.A. 
Ceterach officinarum, Willd. “ Rusty Spleen- 
wort.” Is still employed in Tunis and other parts 
of North Africa, as well as in Turkey. It was the 
Cetherak of the Persians. At one time it was 
strongly recommended in this country in jaundice 
and diseases of the spleen. 
Oibotium Barometz, Siv. Yields the “ Penawar 
Jambie” of Sumatra. It is a similar substance to 
“Pulu” and employed for like purposes. This is 
the Scythian Lamb of old writers, of which such 
marvellous stories were told. 
Oibotium glaucum, Hook, et Am.; C. Cha- 
missoi, Kaulf.; C. Menziesii, Hook. “ Pulu.” 
All these, if really distinct, are natives of the Sand¬ 
wich Islands, and yield the substance called “ Pulu,” 
which is the silky hair found clothing the rhizome 
and lower portion of the stalk or stipes. It has been 
recommended as a styptic. For further particulars, 
consult ‘ Pharmaceutical Journal,’ Senes 2, Yol. I. 
p. 501. 
Davallia tenuifolia, Siv, In the Mauritius 
this forms the basis of the compound remedies used 
by empirics for tambave, and is often administered 
internally in decoction without any admixture, and 
also in the form of a lotion and bath. 
Helminthostachys dulcis, Kaulf. This fern, 
Dr. Lindley states, is regarded in the Moluccas as a 
slight aperient; it is used as a pot-herb, and its young 
shoots as asparagus. 
Lastrea athamantica, Moore. Found growing 
on grassy hills and in moist places near Port Natal. 
The Zoolu Kafirs, writes Dr. Pappe, who know it by 
the name of “Uncomocomo,” use it as a vermifuge; 
and its caudex, given in the form of powder, infusion 
or electuary, has been proved to be excellent in hel¬ 
minthiasis and especially in the cure of the tape¬ 
worm. 
Mohria thurifraga, Siv. Grows abundantly on 
the Cape mountains, Cape of Good Hope. When 
bruised it smells of olibanum. In some parts of the 
colony, Dr. Pappe states that the dry leaves are 
pulverized and made with fat into an ointment, 
which is cooling and very serviceable in bums and 
scalds. The vernacular name is “ Brand-boschjes.” 
Nephrodium Filix-mas, Kick. “ Male-fern.” 
This is one of the few ferns which continue to main¬ 
tain their character and position for their remedial 
properties. The rhizome of the Male-fern has risen 
rather than fallen in estimation as an anthelmintic^ 
and as such finds a place in pharmacopoeias and in 
regular practice. 
Nothochlaena piloselloides, Kaulf. Has been 
employed in India to subdue sponginess in the gums,, 
according to Dr. Lindley; but whether still in use 
we have no evidence. 
Ophioglossum ovatum, Siv. This fem, in the 
Mauritius, enters into the composition of a popular 
remedy given in tambave. 
Ophioglossum vulgatum, Linn. “Adder’s-tongue.” 
“ The leaves of adder’s-tougue,” writes Gerarde, 
“ stamped in a stone mortar, and boiled in oyle olive 
unto the consumption of the juice, and untill the 
herbes be dry and parched, and then strained, will 
yield a most excellent greene oyle, or rather a bal- 
same for greene wounds, comparable to oile of St. 
John’s wort, if it do not farre surpasse it by many 
degrees ; whose beauty is such that very many art¬ 
ists have thought the same to be mixed with vercli- 
grease. 
“For them that are with newts or snakes or adders stung,. 
He seeking out an herb that’s called adder’s-tongue, 
As nature it ordain’d its own like hurt to cure, 
And sportive did herself to niceties inure.” 
Osmunda regalis, Linn, “Royal Fern.” A native 
of Europe. The rliizome was formerly employed 
medicinally, but seems to be of little or no value. 
It is affirmed to be tonic and styptic, and to have- 
been serviceable in cases of rachitis. 
Polypodium Calaguala, Ruiz. According to Ruiz, 
the rliizome of this species constitutes, in Peru, the 
“ Genuine Calaguala,” or “ Ccallahuala,” or “ Slender 
Calaguala.” It is said to possess deobstruent, sudo* 
rific, diuretic, anti-venereal and febrifuge virtues, 
and is frequently used to thin the blood, promote 
perspiration, and to mitigate rheumatic and venereal 
pains. 
Polypodium crassifolium, Linn. The rliizome of 
this species is called “ Thick Calaguala,” “Puntu- 
puntu,” or “ Deer’s-tongue.” It is employed in 
Peru in the same manner, and for the same purposes, 
as the “ Genuine Calaguala.” 
Polypodium phymatodes, Linn. This is the 
“Male-fern,” or “ Fougere male ” of the Mauritius. 
A decoction of the stems is used as an aperient and 
refrigerant. Mixed with barley and milk, it forms 
a beverage often recommended by doctors after in¬ 
flammatory diseases. 
