IRISH MOSS.
563
pectin. It yields, with chlorine and starch, faint traces only of iodine. Butif alcohol be added, by which the pectin and a part of the sulphates arethrown down, the alcoholic liquor evaporated, and the residue mixedwith potash, then calcined, and afterwards treated with hydrochloricacid to disengage hydrosulphuric acid, we may detect iodine in the filteredliquor by the deep blue colour formed on the addition of starch andchlorine (Guibourt, Hist, des Drag. 3d ed. ii. 395). By combustion inthe open air, this plant yields an ash, called kelp (vide pp. Ill and 323);and by incineration in a covered crucible it gives a charcoal, termedvegetable ethiops.
Physiological Effects. —During the winter, in some of the Scottishelands, horses, cattle, and sheep, are fed on it (Greville, Alga Brit , xx.)Its local action is detergent, and perhaps discutient. Its remote effectsare probably analogous to those caused by small doses of iodine (videP- 113), modified by the influence of salts of sodium and calcium.
Uses. —Frictions of the plant, with its contained mucus, were em-ployed, with supposed advantage, by Dr. Russel ( Dissert. on the Use ofSea-Water, 5th ed. 1769, pp. 41 and 44), in glandular enlargements and°ther scrofulous tumors: the parts were afterwards washed with sea-water. He also gave internally the expressed juice of the vesicles inglandular affections {op. cit. p. 99).
. Ethiops vegetabilis. Vegetable ethiops .—This is prepared by1 Ocinerating Fucus vesiculosus in a covered crucible. It is composed ofcharcoal, chloride of sodium, carbonate of soda, sulphurets of sodium andcalcium, and traces of an alkaline iodide. It has been exhibited inyronchocele and scrofulous maladies. Dr. Russel {op. cit. p. 98) says,11 far exceeds burnt sponge in virtue. It has been employed also as adentrifice. The dose of it is from ten grains to two drachms.
Chon'drus cris’pus, Grev .—Carrageen or Irish Moss.
Sex. Syst. Cryptogamia, Algae .
P History.—I t was introduced into medicine by Mr. Todhunter, ofu blin (Reece’s Monthly Gazette of Health, Jan. 1831).
Hot any. Gen. Char .— Frond cartilaginous, dilating upwards intoflat, nerveless, dichotomously divided frond, of a purplish or livid redolour. Fructification: subspherical capsules {sporangia?] in the sub-. a nce of the frond (rarely supported on little stalks), and containing a^ass of free seeds [sporules .?] [Greville).
, Char. —Frond plane, dichotomous, the segments linear, wedge-/i a ped. Capsules subhemispherical, imbedded in the disk of the frond Seville ).
Hab .—On rocks and stones on the sea-coast: very common. For^ le tetical and medicinal uses it is collected on the coasts of Ireland , isp le d, bleached, and dried.
p Physical Properties.—I n the recent state it is purple-brown orwTfle-red, becoming greenish and ultimately whitish in decay. As metA ai } commerce, it is dry, crisp, mostly yellowish or dirty white, butarnfixed with purplish red portions, inodorous or nearly so, with a( c Cl l&ginous taste. It swells up in water. A calcareous meshy crustlisting of various species of Flustra) is frequently found on the frond.