183.  ASPIDIUM Filix-Mas.  Polypodium, Linn.  Male Fern.  The Roots.  L. E. D.—­They are said to be aperient and anthelmintic.  Simon Pauli tells us, that they have been the grand secret of some empirics against the broad kind of worms called taenia; and that the dose is one, two, or three drams of the powder.  Two other kinds of Ferns used to be recommended; but this, being the strongest, has therefore been made choice of in preference, though the College of Edinburgh still retain them in their Catalogue of Simples.—­Lewis’s Mat.  Med.

184.  Astragalus Tragacanthus.  Goats-thorn.  The Gum.  L. E. D.—­This gum is of a strong body, and does not perfectly dissolve in water.  A dram will give to a pint of water the consistence of a syrup, which a whole ounce of gum Arabic is scarce sufficient to do.  Hence its use for forming troches, and the like purposes, in preference to the other gums.  It is used in an officinal powder, and is an ingredient in the compound powders of ceruss and amber.—­Lewis’s Mat.  Med.

185.  Atropa Belladonna.  Deadly nightshade.  The Leaves, L. E. D.—­ Belladonna was first employed as an external application, in the form of fomentation, to scirrhus and cancer.  It was afterwards administered internally in the same affections; and numerous cases, in which it had proved successful, were given on the authority of the German practitioners.  It has been recommended, too, as a remedy in extensive ulceration, in paralysis, chronic rheumatism, epilepsy, mania, and hydrophobia, but with so little discrimination, that little reliance can be placed on the testimonies in its favour; and, in modern practice, it is little employed.  It appears to have a peculiar action on the eye:  hence it has been used in amaurosis; and from its power of causing dilatation of the pupil, when topically applied under the form of infusion, it has been used before performing the operation for cataract.  A practice which is hazardous, as the pupil, though much dilated by the application, instantly contracts when the instrument is introduced.  When given internally, its dose is from one to three grains of the dried leaves, or one grain of the inspissated juice.—­Murray’s Mat.  Med. p. 174.

I have had a cancer of the lip entirely cured by it:  a scirrhosity in a woman’s breast, of such kind as frequently proceeds to cancer, I have found entirely discussed by the use of it.  A sore, a little below the eye, which had put on a cancerous appearance, was much mended by the internal use of the Belladonna; but the patient having learned somewhat of the poisonous nature of the medicine, refused to continue the use of it; upon which the sore grain spread, and was painful; but, upon a return to the use of the Belladonna, was again mended to a considerable degree; when the same fears again returning, the use of it was again laid aside, and with the same consequence, the sore becoming worse.  Of these alternate states, connected with the alternate use of and abstinence from the Belladonna, there were several of these alterations which fell under my own observation [Footnote:  See the Poisonous Plants, in a future page].—­Cullen’s Mat.  Med. vol. ii. p. 270.