THE MALE FERN. 185 
up in the form of an electuary with a little treacle or jelly. In 
other parts of the country the oil of the Male Fern is an equally 
common nostrum. But in neither of the latter conditions can its 
action be relied on, especially if purchased in the shops of druggists, 
who generally not only sell old roots and bad preparations, but some 
` the roots of totally different species. It is most apt to be, and has 
most frequently been confounded with Athyrium Filiæ-fæmina, the 
root of which it has yet to be proved has a similar virtue. This 
fern was first used at Geneva by Peschier, some twenty or thirty 
years ago, in the form of an etherial extract, but 1t appears to have 
been recommended as a vermifuge by "Theophrastus, Dioscorides, 
and Galen; and it formed the chief part of Madame Nouffer’s 
celebrated remedy for the tape-worm. It does not appear to be 
accurately determined on what special ingredients of the root its 
vermifuge property depends. We know it contains tannic and 
gallic acids. There is some contrariety of opinion as to the proper 
period of the year for collecting the plant for use; Peschier regarding 
it as most effectual if gathered between May and September, and 
Professor Christison considering the date of collection immaterial. 
The only caution necessary in using it is probably that it ought 
always to be had fresh ; if gathered and prepared by the practitioner 
himself so much the better. The oleo-resin, however, seems to 
retain its properties for a considerable time; though what this 
period accurately is still remains sub judice. It has been found 
quite efficient after being kept a year. Professor Christison com- 
mends it as a less disagreeable and more efficient anthelmintic 
than the ‘ Abyssinian Kousso, the Continental Pomegranate, or the 
American Turpentine.’ It is surprising that Peschier’s observations, 
made on a very large scale indeed, have attracted so little attention 
in Britain.” 
It is the caudex which is the part to be employed. Dr. Pereira 
describes this correctly as being almost completely enveloped by the 
thickened bases of the footstalks of the fallen leaves; and the fern 
root of the shops, he says, consists of fragments of the dried thick- 
ened bases of footstalks to which small portions of the stem are 
found adhering. The caudex and footstalks are in the recent state 
fleshy and of a light yellowish-green internally, but in the dried 

