SECT. VII.----PLANTS USEFUL IN MEDICINE. 73

, 2 ' 73 - SISYMBRIUM Nasturtium. Water-Cresses. Hefh E. ~Hoffman recommends this as of singular efficacy for accelerating theCirculation, strengthening the viscera, opening obstructions of theglands, promoting the fluid secretions, and purifying the blood andwtmonre: for these purposes, the expressed .'mice, which contains thePeculiar taste and pungency of the herb, may be taken in doses of anounce or two, and continued for a considerable . inie.

2e!. SIUM nodiflorum. CbeepBio Water-Parssep. The Root. D. —J nis p] ant i uls not been admitted into the Materia Medica of any ofthe Pharmacopoeias which we have seen, except that of the Lon-°-°u College, into which it was received in the character of an antiscor-butic, or rather as the corrector of acrid humours, especially whenManifested bv cutaneous eruptions and tumours in the lymphaticsystem, for which we have the testimony of Beirie and Bay ; but the"est proofs of its efficacy are the following given by Dr. Withering :—A young lady, six years old, was cured of an obstinate disease by

"•ting three large spoonfuls of the juice twice a-dayj and I have re-Peatediy given to adults three or four ounces every morning in simi-

ar complaints with the greatest advantage. It is not nauseous; and, hildren take it readily if mixed with milk. In the dose I have given,

t neither affects the head, the stomach, nor the bowels." If'uodmllo's««*. But. 146.

275. SMILAX Sarsaparilla. Sarsafahilea. Root. L. E. D. —Thisr °ot was first brought into Europe by the Spaniards, about the year^°6S, with the character of a specific for the cure of the lues venerea,*hicii made its appearance a little before that time, and likewise ofseveral obstinate chronic disorders. Whatever good effects it mighthave produced in the warmer climates, it proved unsuccessful in this*"■ appears, however, from experience, that though greatly unequal to

he character which it bore at first, it is in some cases of considerableUae as a sudorific, where more acrid medicines are improper.

276. SOLANUM Dulcamara. Bittersweet. Stalk. L. £>.— Th*taste of the twigs and roots, as the name of the plant expresses, is bothWter and sweet; the bitterness being first perceived, and the sweetafterwards. They are commended for resolving coagulated blood, andas a cathartic, diuretic, and deobstruent.

277. SOLIDAGO f-'irga aurea. Goldeh Rod. Flowers and Leaves.®- —'Hie leaves have a moderately astringent bitter taste, and hencaProve serviceable in debility and laxity of the viscera, and disorder*proceeding from that cause.

*78. SPARTIUM tcoparium. Broom. Tups and Seeds. L.D.—U