Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/134

ii6] LI V hi chronical affedlons of the liver, in the East Indies ; but this medi- cine cnnnot safely be taken, Avith- out medical advice. The diet aid regimen to be observed by such patients, we have already stated (p. 12) under the article Inflam- matory Fever. LIVERWORT, or Lichen, L. a genus of perennial plants, com- prising 363 species, the greater number of which ai'e natives of Britain :— the most remarkable of these jlre : 1 . The caJcareus, Calcareous, or Black-nobbed Dyers' Liverwort, which grows on lime-stone rocks in the North of England and Wales, and is in tlower from July to De- cember. — ^This species is so pecu- liar to lime stone rocks, that, wherever these are found among other soils, they may immediately be distinguished by the appearance of this plant. — When dried, pulve- rized, and steeped in urine, the calcareous liverwort is employed by the Welsh, and by tl:ie inha- bitants of the Orkney Islands, for dyeing a brilliant scarlet colour. It should be gathered in August, completely dried, then reduced to powder, and steeped in urine for tliree weeks, in a close vessel. 2. The pardliis, or Craw-fish- cye Lichen : it grows on rocks, walls, stones, and on the trunks of trees 5 flowers from January to De- cember. — ^This vegetable abounds on the rocks in the North of Eng- land, Vvhere it is collefted, and sent to London in casks. It imparts a red colour, and is used in making the bkie pigment, known under the name oi litmus. 3. The tar taj-etis, or Large Yel- low -saucered Dyers' Liverwort, which abounds in the Highlands of Scotland, and in the county of LI V Derby : it incrusts most of (lirf' stones at L^rswick-Mere. and is in flower from January to Decem- ber.— -In Scotland, this species is gathered ; cleaned ; and, after be- ing steeped in urine for tlie space of three months, it is formed into cakes ; which, when dried, are pulverized, and employed for im- parting to wool a fine scarlet co- lour, with the addition of alum.' In England, it is colIe6led and sold at the rate of one penny per pound, ' to dyers, for striking a purple dye. 4. The omphalodes, or Dark- coloured D)'ers' Livery«rt, Cork, Corker, or Arcell, wliicb grows on rocks in several parts of Britain, itnd floN^'ers the whole year. It is prepared in the same manner as the preceding species : — with the addition of lime, and a little salt, it imparts a reddish-brown to wool* len cloth ; which, if it be after- wards dipped in the blue vat, will acquire a beautiful purple tinge. — The dark-coloured liverwort is an useful styptic : it was formerly re- puted in inflanmiatory fevers, cu- taneous affettions, and disorders of the liver ; but is now justly ex* ploded. 5. The vulpitnis, or Gold- wiry Lichen, is found on the trunks ot' old trees, in various parts of Bri- tain, and flowers during the whole year. It communicates a yellow colour to yarn 5 and, w^hen mixed with pulverized glass, is strewed on carcasses in Norway, to destroy the wolves which infest that coun- try. 6. The prunastri, or Common Ragged Hoary Liverwort, whicl> grows on the trunks and branches of trees, and is in bltxHii from Ja-» nuary to December. This species possesses the remarkable property of imbibing and retaining- odours ; ou