1264

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

Cardam'ine praten'sis, Linn. L. D.— Cuckoo-flower■

Sex. Syst. Tetradynamia, Siliquosa.

(Flores, L. D.) _

History. —Brunfels and Tragus are the earliest writers i(* j{eiworks an undoubted notice of this plant appears. (Sprengel* **Herb.) va]ve s,

Botany. Gen. Char .— Silique linear , with flat, nervelesswhich often separate elastically. Seeds ovate, not bordered (0 l‘bilical cords slender (D. C.) g01I) e'

Sp. Char. — Leaves pinnatisect; segments of the radical ones ^what rounded—of the cauline ones, linear or lanceolate, entire-very short, scarcely more slender than the silique; stigma c 1

(D. C.j . . ,, purple

Root perennial. Stem about a foot high. Flowers light 1flesh-coloured, or white. . ^piil

Hab .—Indigenous ; meadows and moist pastures. Flowers mand May. , fitter

Description. —The flowers ( flores cardamines ) are someffha ^

and pungent, and have a slight odour. By drying they become ^

rous and almost insipid. The leaves possess a flavour analog 0though less agreeable than, the common water-cress. plan*

Composition. —I am unacquainted with any analysis of the 1 ()]Jworth quoting. The pungency depends on volatile oil, the bitter pyextractive matter. A few experiments on this plant are menuGronhert {Spec. Inaug. Resiomonti. 1785). . e af c

Physiological Effects and Uses. —The flowers of Cardanusaid to be stimulant, diaphoretic, diuretic, and nervine. r h 7 putformerly used in epilepsy, especially when it occurred in chim ,girhave now fallen into almost total disuse. They were recommend e ; IJja .George Baker {Med. Trans, i. 442) in chorea and spasmodic aDose of the dried flowers, 5ij. or Siij.

Cochlea'ria Armora'cia, Linn. L. E. D.— Horse-radish.

Sex. Syst. Tetradynamia/ Silictilosa.

(Radix recens, L .—Fresh root, E.—Radix, D.) ^

History. —Sprengel {Hist. Rei Herb. i. 182) considers this ^

the t’cupwh “7 pit of Dioscorides (lib. ii. 138); and Dierbach {Ar~ t p e stiHippok. 125) suggests that it was known to Hippocrates . &opinions are by no means well established. „ wi^ 1

Botany. Gen. Char. — Silicule sessile, ovate-globose or °^° fying-ventricose valves. Seeds many, not bordered. Calyx equal, 5 Lea«»Petals entire. Stamens not toothed.—(O =). Flowers white.

often somewhat fleshy (D. C ;l ^ , , i mn n cre» a f r ’

Sp. Char. — Sihcules ellipsoid. Radical leaves oblong* p cS hy>cauline ones elongated, lanceolate, dentate or incised. R°large (D. C.) ^ v0 fe el

Root perennial, long, cylindrical, white, very pungent. Sternhigh Leaves much veined Flowers white.

Hab. —Indigenous ; extensively cultivated. Flowers in May ■