Imagens da página
PDF
ePub

the calculus still remained." It does not appear from late experience, however, that any dependence is to be placed on this remedy in calculi of the bladder. In nephritic affections, from gravel, and other causes, we have abundant proof of its utility.

Dr. Ferrias, whose testimony deserves the highest respect, says, "I have given this medicine in a considerable number of nephritic cases, in very moderate doses, and always with manifest advantage." He further observes, that he never found it necessary to give it in larger doses than five grains, and that in doses of a scruple or half a drachm he found it to produce nausea, even when given with opium. The same circumstance is mentioned by Lewis. "In all cases,' says he, "that have come to my knowledge, it produced great sickness and uneasiness."

In that variety of urinary disease which is accompanied with copious white sediment, especially in the last portions discharged, occasioning pain and irritation. in the urethra, Dr. Prout states that "he has often seen the greatest advantage from the combined use of hyoscyamus and Uva ursi, together with the use of alterative purgatives." I have a patient under my care at this time, who has been for upwards of two years exceedingly afflicted with a pain in the region of the right kidney, attended with all the usual symptoms of renal calculus. He has been gradually getting better under the continued use of Uva ursi, taken in doses of about twelve grains, three times a day, and is at present almost entirely free from any symptom of his disease. Professor Barton thought it particularly serviceable in nephritis depending on gout. "In my own nephritic paroxysm," he observes, "alternating with attacks of gout in the feet, I have certainly found the medicine of much service; and I confidently and with much pleasure recommend it to the notice and trial of other sufferers from the same affection."

Of the modus operandi of Uva ursi in nephritic and calculous disorders, we are entirely uninformed; nor will we consume the reader's time by speculations upon a topic which has been so fruit

lessly attempted by many of the ablest physicians. The remediate employment of Uva ursi has, however, not been confined to the urinary organs; it has been equally extolled in the cure of other maladies, particularly in diabetes, consumption, leucorrhœa, hæmaturia, and gonorrhoea.

In the treatment of diabetes, Dr. Ferrias was in the habit of giving it in conjunction with cinchona and lime-water. Dr. Bourne, professor of the practice of physic in the University of Oxford, speaks very highly of the efficacy of the Uva ursi in the cure of pulmonary consumption. He states that, out of sixteen cases treated with this remedy, nine were cured, four relieved, and three died. He gave medicine in ten grain doses, with half a grain of opium, three times a day.

It is useful in irritations of the bladder, ulcerations of the kidneys, &c.; but it is difficult to account for its modus operandi in these diseases. In dysentery and diarrhea, the decoction may be administered as an adjuvant to other medicines: its chief employment, however, is confined to affections of the urinary organs; but future experience must determine its precise virtues in these diseases.

The leaves may be employed either in powder or decoction; the former is mostly preferred, and given in doses from a scruple to a drachm, two or three times a day.

Campanulaceæ.

CAMPANULA GRANDIFLORA.

GREAT BELL-FLOWER.

Class V. PENTANDRIA. Order I. MONOGYNIA.

Gen. Char.

Calyx, mostly five-cleft. Corolla, campanulate, fiveFilaments, dilated at the base. Stigma, three to fivecleft. Capsule, three-celled, open by lateral pores.

cleft.

Spe. Char-Glabrous. Leaves, radical, reniform, cordate, crenate; cauline ones linear, entire. Panicle, lax, few-flowered.

THIS is a perennial plant; the stalks are upright, branched, and usually rise from two to four feet in height; the calyx is five-cleft, having the sinuses usually covered with appendages; the corolla is five-lobed, or five-cleft at the apex, and bell-shaped; the stamens are five, free; the filaments are broad at the base, and membranous; the style is covered by fascicles of hairs, except at the base; stigmas three to five, filiform; ovarium wholly inferior, three to five-cellhd; capsule three to five-valved, dehiscing laterally; seeds usually ovate flattened, sometimes ovoid and small; the radical leaves are different in form from the cauline ones, especially in size; the flowers, for the most part, are pedunculate, usually racemose, rarely spicate or glomerate, blue or white.

All the species of this plant are inhabitants of the northern hemisphere. The names Trachelium and Cervicaria, are the oldest names used for this genus, which were given to it on account of its supposed efficacy in the cure of disorders of the neck and trachea: hence it has the name of Halskraut, or Halswort, in German; Halsurt in Danish; and Throatwort in English; and some species have

Vol. iii.-76.

received the name of Rapunculus, from the resemblance of the root to that of a turnip: hence they have the names Rapum, Rapuntum, Rapunculus, from whence spring the French name Raiponce, the German Rapunzel, the Spanish one of Rapiunchiga, and the English one of Rampion.

Prof.

Prof. Jacquin is the first author who ever figured this species of Campanula; afterwards Linnæus, the son, described it, and assigned it the characters specified above; but expressing his doubts whether it was not a variety of the Campanula carpatica. Jacquin clearly demonstrates that it cannot be so, as it differs most essentially from that plant in a variety of particulars. His specific description given agrees much better with the plants we have seen flower here, than that of Linnæus; there being generally more than one flower on a stalk, and the leaves rarely growing three together. The blossoms of this plant, when it grows in perfection, are very large, nearly double the size of those of the Campanula carpatica, whence its name grandiflora. Previous to their opening fully, they somewhat resemble an air balloon, from which circumstance it has been called by some the Balloon-plant. This is as yet a rare plant in this country, and likely to continue so, as it is with difficulty that it is increased, multiplying but little by its roots, scarcely to be struck from cuttings, and rarely produciug perfect seeds.

Propagation and Culture. All the species are elegant and handsome when in blossom, and are well adapted for decorating flower borders. They in general thrive well in common garden earth. The seeds of the biennial and annual kinds should be sown in the open border in the spring. The perennial species may either be propagated by division or by seed. By sowing the seeds in the autumn, the plants will blossom early in summer, and by successive sowings in spring, at intervals of two or three weeks, a succession of blossoming plants may be kept up. Some of the perennial and biennial species, natives of the warm latitudes, require a little protection in winter, when the weather is severe.

Geraniaceæ.

GERANIUM SANGUINEUM.

Class XVI. MONADELPIA. Order V.

Gen. Char. Calyx, five-leaved, equal.

VICTORIA PERFECTION,

DECANDRIA.

Stamens, ten; five alternate ones longer, with nectariferous glands at the base. Pericarps, five, with long awns, united to elongated receptacles, at length separating elastically from the summit to the base. Awns, smooth internally.

Spe. Char. Stem, angular, erect, retrorsely pubescent, dichomous. Leaves, three to five-parted, incised; radicle ones on long petioles; upper ones opposite, sessile. Petals, entire. Filaments, scarcely ciliate at the base.

THE root of this plant is fleshy, bulbous, knotty, of a dark brown color, and sends off a number of small succulent fibres; the stems of this genus of plants are upright, branched, and rise from one to six feet in height; the calyx is composed of five equal sepals; the petals are five, and equal; the stamens are ten, five of which are fertile and larger than the sterile ones, which are alternating with each other, with a nectariferous gland at the base of each of the larger stamens; the awns of the carpel are smooth on the inside, at length separating elastically from the base to the apex of the axis, where it adheres, circinnately revolute; the leaves are palmate-lobed; the pcduncles are twelve-flowered, bearing beautiful flowers of various hues.

This variety of the Geranium approaches, both in appearance and properties, the Geranium maculatum, or Spotted Crane's-bill, which grows in almost all parts of the United States. The root is

Vol. iii.-78.

« AnteriorContinuar »