(seq. 83)

74

Materia Medica

Astringents

Vis-cum or Miseltoe. This is a parasitic plant. It grows
indifferently on several trees, and its properties are the same
wherever it is found, it does not partake of any of the properties of the
tree, to which it attaches itself, this singular fact has given
rise to the question how is it nourished, I answer through
the vessels of the tree upon which it grows, for colouring
matter has been made to pass through the vessels of the tree
upon which it grows into misseltoe. Its a powerfull astringent
and considerably bitter. Dr Cullen says it seems to have but
verry little strength. Collath recommends it in Epilepsy and
some other convulsive disorders, but owns it sometimes failed.
Sir John Hoyer used it in quartan fevers from ℥fs [½ ounce] to ℥i [1 ounce] at a
dose. Gum Kino. This is brought from Africa we know
but little of its Batanical History. It appears to be the production
of several different plants on the coast or Gorgia, it is a verry
usefull and powerfull astringent, is soluble in the saliva, and
has no smell it is dissolved by water and alcohol, the latter
extracts most of its virtue. I think it preferable to most
other astringents, it sometimes purges, we need not be particular
as verry large quantities may be taken without injury, it was