INDIGENOUS  MEDICAL  PLANTS  OF  CALIFORNIA. 
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cutaneous  diseases,  it  has  proved'itself  a  safe  and  reliable  remedy. 
It  is  prepared  by  taking  off  the  coarse  external  scales  of  the  bulb, 
and  grating  the  remainder  in  a  close  vessel,  a  sufficient  quantity 
of  water  is  then  added,  and  the  whole  triturated  until  a  thick 
mucilage  is  formed  ;  this  is  strained  through  coarse  muslin,  and 
it  is  applied  to  the  affected  part  in  a  similar  manner  to  a  cataplasm, 
at  the  same  time  it  is  administered  internally  as  often  as  may  be 
necessary  to  keep  the  bowels  open. 
"  La  Yerha  Resinosa "  (so-called  by  the  Californians,)  is 
another  plant  worthy  of  notice.  It  grows  from  1|  to  3  feet  high. 
Leaves,  alternate,  sessile,  oblong  obtuse,  serrulate,  deciduous,  2 
inches  long ;  flowers,  collected  into  a  dense  capitulum ;  scales, 
setose,  monaceous  ;  diameter,  1  inch  ;  color,  orange  yellow. 
The  leaves,  head,  and  stem  of  this  plant  are  covered  with  a 
transparent  resinous  substance,  which  has  a  strong  aromatic  odor, 
resembling:  somewhat  that  emanating  from  the  balsam  fir. 
This  resin  is  most  abundant  when  the  plant  is  in  full  flower. 
At  these  times  if  the  finger  is  applied  to  the  under  side  of  the 
capitulum,  and  allowed  to  remain  there  for  a  few  seconds,  upon 
withdrawal  the  resin  will  be  found  adhering  in  long  transparent 
strings. 
It  gathers  in  tears  around  the  base  of  the  scales,  and  is  a  source 
of  inconvenience  to  the  traveller,  who  is  obliged  to  come  in  con- 
tact with  it.  The  plant  flowers  from  June  until  August,  and  its 
odoriferous  properties  are  so  strong  and  peculiar  that  the  scent 
which  at  first  seems  pleasant,  finally  becomes  disagreeable,  and 
even  sickening. 
An  alcoholic  tincture  of  the  leaves  and  flowers  in  the  proportion 
of  two  ounces  to  one  pint  of  sp.  vin.  rect.,  yields  upon  evapora- 
tion two  drams  of  the  resinous  substance. 
Obtained  in  this  form,  it  presents  a  greenish  fclack  appearance, 
and  retains  the  peculiar  odor  of  the  plant. 
The  medical  properties  of  "  La  Yerba  Resinosa  "  are  those  of 
a  tonic  febrifuge.  The  prevailing  malady  in  California  is  inter- 
mittent fever.  In  some  localities,  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year, 
no  age  or  sex  is  exempt,  and  the  discovery  of  an  indigenous 
plant  possessing  the  properties  of  the  usual  febrifuge  remedies, 
cannot  fail  to  prove  a  blessing,  especially  to  those  who  reside  at 
remote  distances  from  cities  and  towns. 
