Part II.

Materia ftfedica.

241

Sp. 31. Willd. ,■ sp. 10. Smith. Rumex acetosa. Ed. Lond.Common sorrel.

Off —The leaves.

FoLIU.M RUM1CIS ACETOSJE. Ed.Ac£T0S.<E FOLIA. Eo/ld.

Sorrel is a perennial plant, which grows wild in fieldsand meadows throughout Britain, and flowers in June. Theleaves have a pleasant acid taste, without any smell or par-- ticular flavour ; their medical effects are, to cool, quenchthirst, and promote the urinary discharge : a decoctior. ofthem in whey affords an useful and agreeable drink in febrileor inflammatory disorders. All these effects are to be ascri-bed entirely to the super-oxalate of potass which they con-tain.

Ruta graveolens. Ed. Lond. Dub.Willd. g. 927, sp. 1. Decandria Monogynia. —Nat. ord.Mulfisiliqucc.Rue.

Of.— The herb.

Herba ruta: graveolentis. Ed.

Folia ruive. Lond Did).

This is a small shrubby plant, a native of the south of Eu-rope, and cultivated in our gardens.

Rue has a strong ungrateful smell, and a bitterish penetra-ting taste: the leaves, when in full vigour, are extremely acrid,insomuch as to inflame and blister the skin, if much handled.Neumann got from 960 drains of the dried leaves 330 alcoho-lic extract, and afterwards 290 watery; and inversely, 540watery and 40 alcoholic. Both primary extracts are bitterand acrid. Rue also contains a volatile oil, which congealsreadily, and is obtained in the greatest quantity by distillingthe plant with the seeds half-ripe.

Medical use. —With regard to its medical virtues, likeother remedies of which the active constituent is an essentialoil, it is heating and stimulating, and hence it is sometimesserviceable in spasmodic affections, and cases of obstructedsecretions.

Saccharum officii arumWilld. g. 122, sp. 4mina.

Sugar-cane.

Ed. Lond. Dub.

Nat. ovd.

Triandria Digynia,-

Gra-