Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/403

371&#93; BUC Spared iri water, acts more mildly, and with greater safety, than the root in substance. When given in a quantity from half a dram to a dram, or half an ounce of it in- fused in wine, it proves a gentle purgative, and likewise operates powerfully by urine. Hence small doses of its milky juice have been strongly recommended by Ber- gius, for dropsical and asthmatic complaints. A cold infusion of the ruot, in water, is externally used in rheumatic pains, or the sciatica. In the form of a cata- plasm, it proves a most powerful discutient. Decoctions made with one pound of the fresh root, are the best purgatives for horned cattle. In short, observes Dr. WitkerinGj the active virtues of this plant entitle it to more at- tention than is bestowed on it at present. B KYONY, the B l a c k, or the Bry- ony lady-seal, the Tamus conim unis , L. is also a native of England. It has a large root, sending forth se- veral stems, large heart-shaped, dark-green leaves; greenish flow- era, and red berries. It blows from May to August, and is fre- quently found under hedges. Ac- cording to Dr. With bring, its young shoots are good eating, when •dressed like asparagus ; but horses refuse to eat the plant. Its root is like that of the white bryony, acrid and stimulating, The several exotic species of the bryony, as the Africana, the race- mosa, with a red olive-shaped fruit, the Cretica, or spotted bryony of Crete, the varicgata, or American bryony, merit cultivation, on ac- count of their beautiful appearance, when full of fruit. BUCK-BEAN, or Menyanthes, L. a genus of plants, comprising BUC [1 "7 * .:>/ four species, of which two are natives : * 1 . The trifoliata, or marsh tre- foil, water trefoil, marsh cleaver, or trefoil buck-bean : it grows in moist, marshy places, in many- parts of Britain, and its very beau- tiful flowers appear in June and July. This useful plant is, ac- cording to Bechstein, a very agreeable fodder to cattle : its cul- tivation is therefore recommend- ed, for improving marshy lands. Dr. Withering informs us that cows, horses, and swine refuse it. From experiments made at Upsal, in Sweden, it appears that though goats eat it, sheep will not always relis.i its leaves ; which, by some persons, are smoked instead of tobacco. It is farther asserted by others, that such sheep as have a relish for the marsh trefoil are, by eating it, cured of the rot. In Lapland, the powdered roots of this plant are converted into bread, which, however, is not very palatable : and the country people of West-Gothland, in Sweden, em- ploy it for imparting a bitter to ale > for which purpose two ounces are equally efficacious as one pound of hops. Dr. Darwin also recommends these leaves as a substitute for hops ; and adds, that they might be equally wholesome and palatable. In dyeing they afford, according to Bechstein, a green and yellow colour. An infusion of the leaves is ex- tremely bitter, and is prescribed in rheumatisms and dropsies : one dram of them, in powder, both purges and vomits ; and is occa- sionally given as a vermifuge. Dr. Lewis considers the Menyanthes as a powerful aperient and deob- struent, promoting the fluid Secre* B b 2 tions.