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Materia Medica.

Part II.

perties, which depend on the presence of camphor ; and fromits depositing crystals of camphor when long kept.

Ed. Lond. Dub.Tetrandria Moiiogynia. —Nat. ord.

RUBIA TINCTORUM.

Willd. g. 187, sp. 1.Stellatce.Madder.

Off— The root.

Radix rubije tinctorum. Ed.

Radix rubi^:. Lond. Dub.

Madder is perennial, and is cultivated in large quantitiesin England, from whence the dyers are principally suppliedwith it. It has been said to grow wild in the south of Eng-land, but the Rubia peregrina was mistaken for it.

The roots consist of articulated fibres, about the thicknessof a quill, which are red throughout, have a weak smell, anda bitterish astringent taste. For the use of the dyers, theyare first peeled and dried, then bruised and packed in barrels.Madder possesses the remarkable property of tinging theurine, milk, and bones of animals which are fed with it, of a ■red colour.

Medical use —It is said to be useful in the atrophy of chil-dren, and some believe in its reputed powers as an emmena-gogue.

It is given in substance in doses of half a drachm, severaltimes a-day, or in decoction.

Rumex.

Willd. g. 699. Smith, g. 184. Hcxandria Trigynia __Nat.

ord. Qleracea:.

Sp. 18. Willd. : sp. 8. Smith.Great water-dock.

Rumex aquaticus. Dub.

Of—The root.

Radix rumicis aquatici. Dub.

This is a perennial weed, growing in ditches and by thesides of rivers. It grows to the height of five feet, and flowersin July and August. The root is large, and is manifestlyastringent. It evidently is the Herba Britannica of the an-cients, so much celebrated for the cure of scurvy and cutane-ous diseases- Even syphilis, probably'some syphiloid affection,has been said to yield to an infusion of water-dock in wine and