SECT. VII.----PLANTS USEFUL IN MEDICINE. 71

It is observable, that this root, taken internally, tinges the urine of

deep red colour; and in the Philosophical Transactions we have an

9°ountof its producing a like effect upon the bones of animals which

" a u it mixed nil I) i heir food: all the hones, particularly the. more solid

Ones, were changed, both externally and internally, to a deep red, but

"either the fleshy nor cartilaginous parts suffered any alteration : some

these bone;, macerated in water for many weeks together, and after-

a >'«'s steeped and lioiled in spirit of wine, lo=t none of their colour, nor

Cl »ntiiunicated any tinge to the liquors.

2 64. RUMEX Acetnsa. Sorrel. Leaves. L, -[-These have anj^p'eeable acid taste. They have the same medicinal qualities as the"talis Acelosella, and are employed for the same purposes.

Sorrel taken inconsiderable quantities, or used prepared for food,V| 'l be found of great advantage when a refrigerant and antiscorbuticre Sunen is required.— PPoodvitte's Med. Bat.

■ 265. RUT A graveolens. Rue. Leaves. L.E.D. —These are power-"y stimulating, attenuating, and detergent: and hence, in cold! .'egrnatic habits, they quicken the circulation, dissolve tenacious, 'ccs, open obstructions of the excretory glands, and promote theu 'd secretions. The writers on the Materia Medica in general have• ' e 'tained a very high opinion of the virtues of this plant. Boerhaave& mil of its praises; particularly of the essential oil, and the distilledater cohobated or redistilled several times from fresh parcels of the^'u: after somewhat extravagantly commending other waters pre-pared in this manner, be adds, with regard to that of rue, that thepeatest commendations he can bestow upon it fall short of its merit:What medicine (says he) can be more efficacious for promotingf^piration, in cases of epilepsies, and for expelling poison ?" What-f'er service rue may be of generally, it undoubtedly has its use in the*° last cases: the cohobated water, however, is not the most effica-l0 "s preparation.

j 266. SAUXfragilis. Crack Willow. Bark. L. D.— The bark ofe branches of this tree manifests a considerable degree of bitterness

0 the taste, and is also astringent; hence it has been thought a good_jjhstitute for the Peruvian bark, and, upon trial, was found to stop

ne paroxysms of intermittents : it is likewise recommended in otherc ases requiring tonic or astringent remedies. Not only the bark of this'Pecies of Salix, but that of several others, possess similar qualities,Particularly of the Salix alba pentandria, and capraia, all of which■*« recommended in foreign Pharmacopoeias. But, in our opinion,JJ" bark of the Salix triandria is more effectual than that of any other'his genus; at least, its sensible qualities give it a decided preference.^'roodville's Med. Bot.

2 6". SALVIA officinalis. Geein and Red Sase. Herb. E. D.—\^