Pyrolacea.

PYROLLA UMBELLATA.

Class X. DECANDRIA. Order I.

MONOGYNIA.

PIPSISSE WA.

Gen. Char. Calyx, in five deep segments. Petals, five. Capsule, superior, five-celled, bursting at the angles. Anthers, opening by two pores.

Spe. Char. Leaves, wedge-shaped, lanceolate, serrated. Flowers, somewhat umbellate. Stamens, smooth. Style, immersed.

The root is perennial, creeping, and long, sending up at various distances several woody, somewhat angular, erect, or slightly procumbent stems, which rise about a span in height; the leaves are produced in irregular whorls, of which there are usually two or three on each stem,-they are wedge-shaped, lanceolate, serrated, smooth, supported upon short petioles, and are of a deep shining green; the inflorescence consists of a small corymb, generally of five flowers, on simple, nodding pedicells; the calyx is inferior, and consists of five roundish, permanent segments, much shorter than the corolla; the petals are five, roundish, concave, spreading, of a cream color, with a tinge of crimson at the base; the filaments are ten, which are awl-shaped, curved, and supporting large two-celled anthers, of a purple color; each cell opening by a short, round, tubular orifice, at the summit; the style is cylindrical, half the length of the germen, and concealed by the stigma, which is large, pelate, covered by a viscid matter, and obscurely five-rayed; the capsules are orbicular, depressed, with five valves, five cells, and five partitions, from the central column; the seeds are very minute,

of an oval figure, each contained in a membranous tunic, elongateu at both ends.

This beautiful species of winter-green is a native of the United States, and is also to be found in many of the northern parts of Europe and Asia. It is found growing mostly in shady woods, where it is protected from the solar rays, and nourished by a soil formed from the decomposition of leaves and other vegetable matter. In the northern parts of this country it is a very common plant, and known by the names of ground-holly, winter-green, pipsissewa, princespine, and by the Indians, herbe de Paigne. In Canada, it is known by the name of L' Herbe a Pisse. The genus Pyrola comprises about fifteen species, of which eight are indeginous to North America, and five to Europe. The Pyrola umbellata was introduced into medical practice about fifty years ago; but it is only within the last few years that it has excited the attention of the profession as a remedial agent. The Pyrola umbellata, Pyrola uniflora, Pyrola secunda, Pyrola picta, Pirola asarifolia, Pyrola maculata, Pyrola elliptica, Pyrola dentata, are the only varieties which have as yet been discovered in this country; although some of the English botanists have described the Pyrola menziesii, and the Pyrola occidentalis, as growing in great abundance on the northwest coast of North America.

Sensible and Chemical Properties. The whole plant has a moderately warm pungent taste, somewhat between bitter and sweet; when bruised, it exhales a strong, and rather unpleasant odor. Both water and alcohol extract its virtues, but the latter most completely. The watery infusion of the dried plant is of a brownish color; the decoction is of a deeper color, and both strike a black with the sulphate of iron. According to the experiments of Dr. Wolf, 100 parts of the herb contain about 18 of a bitter extractive principle, 2,04 of resin, 1,32 of tannin, a slight portion of gum, the rest fibrous matter and earthy salts. The resin is

NAT. ORDER.-PYROLACEÆ.

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adhesive, brownish, readily soluble in ether, or alkalies, burning with flame and a resinous odor, leaving a white cinder.

Medical Properties and Uses. The Pyrola umbellata is diuretic and tonic; externally stimulant. It has lately been introduced into practice as an efficacious diuretic in dropsy, and from the favorable testimony of physicians who rank high in the profession, we are warranted in recommending it to general practice, as a remedial agent, possessing most valuable diuretic and tonic powers; the proof of which seems to have been fully illustrated by Dr. W. Somerville, in a paper on this vegetable published in London. The facts presented by this physician afford satisfactory evidence of the powers of this medicine, to promote the urinal exertion, and to afford relief to patients afflicted with dropsy in its various forms. One of the most remarkable and distinguished cases presented by him, is that of Sir James Craig, the British Governor of Canada, who was labouring under general dropsy, which, in its progress, had assumed the forms of hydrothorax, anasarca, and ascites, and which was combined with different organic diseases, especially of the liver. After having tried with little or temporary success, almost every variety of diuretic and cathartic medicines, and submitted twice to the operation of tapping, the patient had recourse to a strong infusion of Pyrola, in the quantity of a pint every twenty-four hours. Although the case was altogether an unpromising one, yet the plant gave relief, not only in the first, but also in the subsequent instances of its use. It increased the urinal discharge, and, at the same time, produced an augmentation of strength, and an invigorated appetite. A great variety of cases of dropsy are detailed in Dr. Somerville's paper, in which the Pyrola was administered by himself and by other practitioners with decided advantage. Dr. Somerville found his patients remark that an agreeable sensation was perceived in the stomach soon after taking the Pyrola, and this was followed in some instances by an extrordinary increase of appetite. He considers it as having in this respect, a great advantage over other diur