Galium Aparine

(Clearm.)

BOTATfrcAL DESCBiPTiON Galium aparine is decreed by medical ■writers to bD tiie offlcina! plant of this genus, Eaflncsque says; "Manyotlier species are probably medicinal, but we only tiae the Galium aparine and G. verum, common in woods, trailing, rough, with white, lateral flowers and roush seeds." Tliis description, however, will only apply to the for- mer Bpecies, as the latter has yellow flowers and smooth seeds. The two Bpcciea above mentioned are the only ones which have eight loaves in a wlirirl.

Gray thinks it " doubtful if the Q. aparinfe is truly indigenous Id our district." And flie G. verum was certainly brought here from Europe. Only sis species of Galium are mentioned by Gray as indigenous to the United Stales. Rafinesque, howerer, says wc hare " twenty or mote species iu North America." He thinks the G. aparine and G. verum common to Europe and America.

HisTOKY, Uses, STC^Thifl plant ia common to Europe and America, growing in cultivated grounds, moist thickets, and along banks of rivers, and flowering from June till September. Its roots consist of a few hair

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318 GALIUM APAHINE.

like fibres, of a reddish color. In tJio green state some of these plants hava an unpleasant odor, otliers rather the contrary; all are inodorous when dried. They have an acidulous, astringent and bitter taste. They have not heen tliorouglily analyzed, but chloric acid, galli-tancic acid, citric acid, starch, etc., hare been detected in the G. aparine and G. vernm.

The for. mer conlains the most citric, while the latter holds the most galli-tannic acid. According to King, all the species of this geniis possess similar medicinal virtues. This seems to he the opinion of Scudder, Beach, and otlier Eclectic writers. Such generaliitations, however, will not he accepted by tne Homceopathio school of medicine.

In order to meet the require- menta of a scientific materia medica, each species of any genus of plants should be studied by itself. Officinal PttffipARATioNS Tincture; infusion of the plant. Analogues, — Cannabis, OhimapMla, Eupatorium parpwrAmi, MBun effianalig, Uva urai, Tritioum.

Moutli and Tongue. " Aphthse, with urinary disorders, in children. ° Cancerous tumor on the tongue.

Increases the flow of nrine and removes its acridity. ° Scalding and burning during micturition in fevers. ' Dysiiria and suppression of nrino in young children. ° Strangury of women, from idiopathic or reilex irritation of

the urinary apparatus. "Dysuria, with frequent ineffectual urging and scanty dis-

charjre, * Gravel and the various attendant sufferings.

Its use causes so much "constant chilliness" that patients

complain of it. It is said to be contra^indicated in atonic or torpid urinary

disorders. "Scurvy; aphthae, and inveterate cutaneous affections. " Hard nodulated tumor of the tongue, of a cancerous nature.

(See case detailed in New Remedies, second edition.) It favors the production of healthy granulations on the nlcer-

ated surface of c

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