578

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

Louis XVI . for 18,000 francs [Trait, contre le Tania, &c. 1776, quotedbv Bremser, Sur les Vers Intest.) At the present time fern rhizome is butseldom employed in this country, partly because the efficacy of MadameNouffer’s treatment is referred to the drastics used, and partly becauseother agents (especially oil of turpentine) have been found more effec-tual. “ It is an excellent remedy,” says llremser [op. cit. p. 422),“ against Bothriocephalus latus [the tape-worm of the Swiss], but notagainst Tania Solium [the tape-worm of this country]; for though itevacuates some pieces of the latter, it does not destroy it.”

Administration. —It may be administered in the form of powder, ofoil or ethereal extract, or of aqueous decoction. The dose of therecently prepared powder is from one to three drachms. MadameNouft'er’s specific was two or three drachms of the powder taken in fromfour to six ounces of water in the morning fasting, and two hours after-wards si purgative bolus, composed of calomel ten grains, scammony tengrains, and gamboge six or seven grains. The bolus was exhibited toexpel the worm which the fern rhizome was supposed to have de-stroyed.

Oleum Filicis Maris. Oil of Male Fern. — The impure oil of fern(called oleum filicis Peschieri, extractum filicis athereum, seu balsaniun »filicis), recommended by Peschier [Journ. gener. de Med. 1825, p. 375) ban ethereal extract, and is composed, according to its proposer, olfatty matter, resin, volatile oil, colouring matter, extractive, chloride ofpotassium, and acetic acid. A pound of the rhizome yielded Soubeiran(Nouv. Traite de Pharm. ii. 214) an ounce and a half of thick black oibhaving the aromatic odour of fern. The dose is from half a drachm to adrachm, in the form of electuary, emulsion, or pills: an hour afterwards)an ounce or an ounce and a half of castor oil should be exhibited. X u *merous testimonies of its efficacy have been published (see Dierbacb’Neuest. Entd. in d. Mat. Med. 1" Band, 1837). By substituting alcoholfor ether, twelve or thirteen drachms of oil can be obtained from 2 ^ 1 bs -of the rhizome [Journ. de Chim. Med. v. 2° de Ser. 68).

Division II. Piianerogamia, Auct. —Flowering Plan' 15 ’'

Cotyledoneai, Jms —Embryonatai, Rich.— Vasculares, Dec.

Essential Character. —Substance of the plant composed of cellular tissue, wo0< |^fibre, ducts, and spiral vessels. Leaves usually present: cuticle with stomata. I iwith perceptible stamens and pistils. Seeds generally with an embryo enclo st 'within a spermoderni, furnished with one or more cotyledons.

1. RHIZANTHEAL, Blume. —RHIZANTHS.

Essential Character. —Parasitical leafless plants. Stem homogeneous. ^ “ sCl j!j,rsystem scarcely present. Flowers propagated by the agency of sexes. Seeds ba* 1 ”no embryo, but consisting of a homogeneous sporuliferous mass (, Lindley ).