110 
BUITISH PHAEMACEUTICAL CONFEEENCE. 
place it. Again, the plants of the Gentianaceee are all more or less bitter, and 
possess stomachic and tonic properties; and as we have many common plants 
indigenous to this country belonging to that Order, they might he employed, if 
necessary, as substitutes for the officinal Gentian and Chiretta, which are of 
foreign origin ; as, for instance, the Menyantlies trifoliata^ Erytlircea Centaii- 
rium^ Clilora jyerfoliata^ Gentiana campestris^ and other species of Gentiana^ 
etc. Indeed the two former plants were included in the last Edinburgh 
Pharmacopoeia, but they were but little used, their properties being compara¬ 
tively unknown, owing principally to the common use of the readily obtainable 
gentian, nevertheless they both possess, particularly the former, well-marked 
stomachic and tonic properties, and are probably equally efficacious as the Ophelia 
Chirata^ now introduced into the British Pharmacopoeia. 
Then, again, amongst our indigenous plants, we have many with well-marked 
purgative and astringent properties. Thus, amongst those of a purgative nature 
we may mention the Linum catliarticum^ Rhamnus catharticus^ Euphorbia La- 
thyris^ Hellehorus foetidus and Hellehoriis viridis. Some of these might be fre¬ 
quently substituted with advantage for drugs of similar properties derived from 
foreign plants. Of astringent plants we have a great many growing wild in this 
country, two of which are especially valuable, namely, the Potentilla Tormentilla 
and the Polygonum Bistorta. With regard to the former. Dr. Christison has 
justly remarked that “ it is equally applicable with catechu, kino, and other as¬ 
tringents of foreign origin in the treatment of chronic dysentery and other 
chronic mucous discharges.” 
Another indigenous plant, of much value, is the Acorns Calamus. This is abun¬ 
dant in the marshes and by the sides of rivers in some parts of this country. Many 
pharmacologists have borne ample testimony to the value of its rhizome in medi¬ 
cine, as a stimulant excitant, and mild aromatic tonic, and as a remedy in inter¬ 
mittent fevers ; but it is scarcely or ever employed at the present time, though, 
as stated by Pereira, “it might he frequently substituted, with good effect, for 
the more costly Oriental aromatics.” Again, as is well known, we can obtain from 
the bark of various species of Salix and Populus.^ the alkaloid salicine, which has 
been found to possess well-marked tonic, and to some extent anti-periodic proper¬ 
ties, and which has consequently been tried as a substitute for the alkaloids quinia 
and cinchonia. Some few years ago, in consequence of an anticipated scarcity in 
our supplies of cinchona barks, much attention was directed to salicine ; and, 
although, in consequence of the successful cultivation of Cinchonas in India, no 
deficiency of barks is now likely to occur, it is right that we should not lose sight 
altogether of any substance which is calculated even in the slightest degree to 
act as a substitute for the valuable alkaloids obtainable from those barks. Again, 
the Arum maculatum., so abundant in our hedges, etc., would yield us, if required, 
abundance of starch, which might be employed as a substitute for sago and the 
various kinds of arrowroot now derived from abroad. The above are but a few 
of our indigenous plants which have been found to possess well-marked medical 
properties ; if time allowed, I might refer to a host of others, as the Chelidonium 
majus., Cochlearia officinalis., Saponaria officinalis., Viola odorata., Agrimonia 
Eupatoria., Bryonia dioica., Archangelica officinalis., Daucus Carota., Galium 
Aparine., Cotyledon Umbilicus., Inula Helenium^ Artemisia Absinthium., Achillea 
Millefolium., Lactuca virosa.. Cyclamen hederifoliuni., Borago officinalis., Melissa 
officinalis., Marrubium indgare., Gratiola officinalis., Chenopodium olidiim, Asarum 
europcBum., Aristolochia Clematitis., etc. etc.; but they will be sufficient as 
illustrations of the importance of a knowledge of botany to pharmaceutists 
resident in this country. The observant pharmaceutist may even by a dili¬ 
gent prosecution of botany, be the means of enlarging the boundaries of 
science, for as has been well observed of the study of natural history :—“So 
wide, indeed, is the scope which this science embraces, so multifarious are the 
