SECT. VII.—PLANTS USEFUL IN MEDICINE. ?5

283. TORMENTILLA ereeta. ToRMBNTrL, or Upright Septpoi*.«ooi. i, g. O.—The root is the only part of the plantwhich is used me-dicinally; it has a strong styptic taste, but imparts no peculiar sapidflavour. This has been long held in great estimation as an astringent.■T J r. Culien has used it with gentian with great effect in intermittent■evers. Lewis recommends an ounce and a half of the powdered rootto be boiled in three pints of water to a quail, adding towards theend of the boiling a dram of cinnamon. Of the strained liquor, sweet*Wed with an ounce of any agreeable syrup, two ounces or more may betaken four or live times a-day.

284. TUSSILAGO Farfara. Coltsfoot. Herb. L. E. D.—Tnssi-'ago stands recommended in conghs and other disorders of the breastand lungs : the flowers were an ingredient in the pectoral decoction ofthe Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia.

285. VALERIANA officinalis. Valerias. Root. L. E. D.— Valerianls a medicine of great use in nervous disorders, and is particularly ser-viceable in epilepsies proceeding from a debility in the nervous system.It was first brought into esteem in these cases by Fabius Columna, whohy taking the powdered root, in the dose of half a spoonful, was cured ofan inveterate epilepsy after many other medicines had been tried inv ain. Repeated experience has since confirmed its efficacy in thisdisorder; and the present practice lays considerable stress upon it.

286. VERATRUM album. White JHeilebojib Root. L.E.D.. —The root ha:> a nauseous, bitterish, acrid taste, burning the mouth andfauces : wounded when fresh, it emits an extremely acrimonious juice,•hich mixed with the blood, by a wound, is said to prove very dan-gerous : the powder of the dry root, applied to an issue, occasions vio-lent purging: snuffed up the nose, it proves a strong, and not alwaysa safe, sternutatory, 'litis root, taken internally, acts with extremeviolence as an emetic, and has been observed, even in a small dose,to occasion convulsions and other terrible disorders. The ancientssometimes employed it in very obstinate cases, and always made thistheir last resource.

Similar Plant. —Gentiana lutea; which see.

287. VERONICA Beccabanga. Brookxime. Herb. L. D. —ThisPlant was formerly considered of great use in several diseases, andwas applied externally to wounds and ulcers; but if it have any pecu-liar efficacy, it is to be derived from its antiscorbutic virtue.

As a mild refrigerant juice, it is preferred where an acrimonious statsof the fluids prevails, indicated by prurient eruptions upon the skin, orHi what has been called the hot scurvy.— Woodmile's Med. Bat. 364.

288. V1TIS viivTera. Grape Vine. Jlaisins and different Wines.**■ £.—-These are to cheer the spirits, warm the habit, promote per-il 2