( 6 ) .
The blackness manifested by adding a solution of green vitriol to the juice, or to a strong infusion of the leaves of Buckbean, is a sufficient test of its astringency; while a dram of the powdered leaves seldom fails to open the body, or produce vomiting; so that in common with the tonic properties of a bitter, it seems farther to possess a considerable share of medicinal activity: we can therefore more easily credit the reports of its success in a great number of chronic diseases mentioned by various authors as scurvy, dropsy, jaundice, asthma, periodical headachs, intermittents, hypochondriasis, cachexia, obstructio mensium, rheumatism, scrophula, worms, gout. Dr. Boerhaave was relieved in the last mentioned complaint by drinking the juice mixed with whey; and Dr. Alfton tells us, that "this plant had remarkable effects in the gout, in keeping off "the paroxysms;" but adds, "though not to the patient’s advantage.
In confirmation of the good effects of Water Trefoil in dropsies, we are told that sheep, when forced to eat it, are cured of the rot; (oves tabidæ) yet as we have but few and imperfect proofs of its diuretic powers, this fact will be considered of little weight.
Bergius confines the uses of this plant to scorbutus, leucophlegmatia, arthritis, rheumatismus, cacoethes, and this specification is still farther contracted by later writers on the Materia Medica. In Lewis's Mat. Med. (by Mr. Aikin) it is said, that the leaves of buckbean "have of late years come into common use as an alterative and aperient, in impurities of the humours, and some hydropic and rheumatic cafes;" and as an active and eccoprotic bitter, we should suppose them not ill adapted to supply the want of bile in the prima viœ, and thus infer their use in protracted jaundice,
Trifolii Fibrini Historia, felecis observatlonibus et perspicuis exemplis, illustrata a Jo. Franco, anno 1701.
Recte observavit D. Tancredus Robinson herbam hanc Germanis, aliisque gentibus septentrionalibus nunc dierum unicè charam et in magno pretio effe, et affiduo usu frequentari in omnibus fere morbis, ut certiffimam panaceam, ad quam etiam in deploratis affectibus, velut ad facram anchoram, confugiunt (Raii Hiftor. Plant. p. 1099.) See also Willius Act. Hafn. vol. 3. Sim. Pauli, Qadrip. Bot. p. 173. et feq. Tilling Mise. N. curios. Dec. 2. Gulbrand Dili, de Sanguifluxu Uterino. Du Clos Anc. Mem. p. 329. Schulz Mat. Med. p. 445.
Eph. Nat. Cur. Dec. I. ann. III. Obf. 123 (this answers Dr. Alfton’s query, who asls, "Where is this related?" Alfton. Mat, Med. vol. 2. p. 240.
1. c.
Dr. T. Robinson.
Mat. Med. vol. i. p. 91.
