D is a fertile stem, measuring thirty-seven inches in length, and, at its broadest portion, when pressed flat, about four lines in breadth. It has twenty-five nodes, the first to eleventh of which inclusive are branchless; the twelfth has two branches; the thirteenth, three; the fourteenth, eight; the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth, each fourteen; the eighteenth, eleven; the nineteenth, twelve; the twentieth, fifteen; the twenty-first, thirteen; the twenty-second, sixteen; the twenty-third and twenty-fourth, ten each; the twenty-fifth, none: total number of branches, one hundred and forty-two, of which those of the uppermost whorl reach to the base of the spike.

The localities of E. fluviatile, so far as they are known to me, are as below. Probably it will be found to be not unfrequent throughout Britain, when it becomes better known, though less general than E. limosum :

Scotland:-Dumbarton? Inverarnar, at the head of Loch Lomond, C. C. Babington. England:- (Lake) Lancashire: Silverdale (a polystachion state)! H. Seebohm. Yorkshire: Ponds near Thirsk and Topcliffe, abundant!! and near Castle-Howard! H. Ibbotson. Cambridgeshire Ely, C. C. Babington.

Now that the Equisetum fluviatile of Fries, no longer vaguely "reported as a native" upon uncertain authority, or "ambiguous otherwise," is clearly ascertained to be an inhabitant of Britain, it becomes desirable to reopen the questions previously brought under discussion in the Phytologist ;'* and to inquire, in the first instance, whether it is distinct, as a species, from the plant of general occurrence throughout Britain, issued by Fries in his Fasciculi as E. limosum; figured by Smith, in 'English Botany,'t under the same name; and by Newman, in his ' History of British Ferns,'‡ under that of E. fluviatile and, secondly, what is the correct nomenclature of each of the supposed species. To the first question, it is impossible to give a decisive answer; and it is a matter respecting which much difference of opinion may, and probably will, exist. So far as I am aware, in Scandinavia alone have the distinctions between them been clearly pointed out; and consequently the botanists of that country have enjoyed the best advantages for forming a decision respecting them. As has been already explained in the Phytologist,' we are informed by Fries, in the 'Summa Vegetabilium,' that although nearly

* Phytol. iii. 1, 77, 85. † E. Bot. t. 929. Hist. Brit. Ferns, 2nd ed. p. 51. § Phytol. iii. 3, in an article by Mr. H. C. Watson, defending the correctness of the position of E. fluviatile in the second edition of the London Catalogue.'

allied, they may be readily distinguished from each other; and that at the present day they are considered as distinct species, by general consent, in Sweden, although formerly united.* On the other hand, there appears to be a want of positive characters, from which a good specific diagnosis might be framed; the differences between them being principally in degree, which is probably the cause of E. fluviatile having been overlooked in Britain so long. For this reason, specimens somewhat intermediate may occasionally be noticed;-luxuriant states of the barren stems of E. limosum, in which the whorls of branches have become more divaricated than usual, and spring from slightly coloured sheaths, much resembling diminished forms of E. fluviatile, when seen singly in a dried state. But, so far as I can

judge, when they are fully examined in their native localities, or a sufficient series of characteristic specimens studied when dried, there need not be any difficulty in distinguishing one from the other. But whether the distinctions are sufficiently decisive and permanent in character to separate them as species, must be left for time and more extended observation to determine.†

With regard to the Linnean nomenclature, three alternatives present themselves for our consideration :—

1. That Linneus applied the names limosum and "fluviatile to the plants described under the same names by Fries.

2. That he was unacquainted with E. fluviatile, Fr., and applied the two names to the branched and unbranched forms of E. limosum, Fr.

3. That he was acquainted with both of the supposed species, but united them together; in the 'Systema Vegetabilium' applying the name "limosum" to the almost branchless form, the "Equisetum nudum lævius nostras " of Ray; and that of “fluviatile" to the more compound variety; but afterwards, finding they were not specifically distinct, omitted the former from the 'Flora Lapponica.'

Of these propositions, the first is decidedly incorrect; because the

* "E. limosum et E. fluviatile utique nimis affinia sunt, sed apud nos (circa Upsaliam vulgaria) facile discernuntur et a nullo Botanicorum Suecorum, ad prisca contrahenda quam nova distinguenda promptiorum, conjuncta."-Sum. Veg. Scand. p. 251.

† My large supply of specimens of E. fluviatile, and of the variety of E. limosum with furrowed ribs, will principally be distributed through the medium of the London Botanical Society. I would respectfully recommend this point to the notice of those who may receive them.

VOL. IV.

6 U

specimens preserved in the Linnean herbarium, labelled "fluviatile," in the handwriting of Linneus, belong to E. limosum, Fr.

There is a tolerably strong presumption against the correctness of the second alternative, as we are informed that both species are common in the neighbourhood of Upsal; and this is converted almost to a certainty, by the marks of admiration placed after "E. fluviatile, L.," and "E. limosum, L.," by Fries, in the Herbarium Normale; which imply that he has seen authenticated specimens, and that they belong to the plants which he describes.

So that the balance of probability appears to favour the view, that each of the names of Linneus and Fries is applied to a series of forms in some degree identical; but that the E. fluviatile of the 'Systema Vegetabilium' also includes a common form, or condition, of E. limosum, Fr. If this view of the case be correct, it will reconcile the apparent discrepancy between the statement of Fries (that he has seen authenticated specimens of E. fluviatile, L., and that it is identical with his E. fluviatile) and that of Newman (that he has seen authenticated specimens of E. fluviatile, L., and that it is identical with E. limosum); or, as it may be more concisely expressed :—

Medical Properties of British Ferns.

By WILLIAM LAUDER LINDSAY, M.D., &c., &c.

I TAKE the liberty of writing to you on the subject of the use of British ferns in medicine, in consequence of your queries thereanent, contained in the letter lately sent by you to the Phytological Club of the Pharmaceutical Society, and which appeared in a late number of the 'Phytologist' (iv. 976).

Lastrea Filix-mas. This has been repeatedly used, of late, in different wards of this hospital, as an anthelmintic, in the treatment of

tape-worm (Tania solium). It has also been extensively applied to the same purpose by the profession in Edinburgh, and other parts of Scotland. It had fallen into disuse greatly in this neighbourhood, in consequence of supposed inefficiency, but undeservedly so, until Prof. Christison, in two papers published in the Edinburgh Monthly Medical Journal,' for June 1852, and July, 1853 (On the Treatment of Tape-worm by the Male Shield Fern'), showed that the want of success, in some cases, depended on bad preparations of the root, or old roots, being used. He found it almost uniformly successful in the form of an oleo-resinous extract, obtained by percolation of the root with ether. It is recommended in the dose of eighteen to twenty-four grains, followed by a purgative. In many parts of England, nothing is more common as a vermifuge than half a drachm to a drachm of the powder of the root, made up in the form of electuary, with a little treacle or jelly; in other parts of the country, the oil of the male fern is an equally common nostrum. But in neither of the latter conditions can its action be relied upon, especially if purchased in the shops of druggists, who generally not only sell old roots and bad preparations, but some the roots of totally different species. It is most apt to be, and has most frequently been, confounded with Athyrium Filix-fœmina, the root of which it has yet to be proved has a similar virtue. If time permit, in the course of this summer, I intend making a series of experiments, to determine whether the same anthelmintic, or what, properties reside in the roots of other of our common ferns, This fern was first used at Genève, by Peschier, some twenty or thirty years ago, in the form of an etherial extract; but it appears to have ▲ been recommended as a vermifuge by Theophrasus, Dioscorides, and Galen; and it formed the chief part of Madame Nouffer's celebrated remedy for the tape-worm. It does not appear to be accurately determined on what special ingredients of the root its vermifuge property depends: we know it contains tannic and gallic acids. There is some contrariety of opinion as to the proper period of the year for collecting the plant for use; Peschier regarding it as most effectual if gathered between May and September, and Prof. Christison considering the date of collection immaterial. The only caution necessary in using it is, probably, that it ought always to be had fresh; if gathered and prepared by the practitioner himself, so much the better. The oleo-resin, however, seems to retain its properties for a considerable time; though what this period accurately is, still remains sub judice. It has been found quite efficient after being kept a year (Prof. Christison, loc. cit.) Prof. Christison commends it as a less disagreeable

and more efficient anthelmintic than the "Abyssinian Kousso, the Continental Pomegranate, or the American Turpentine. It is surprising that Peschier's observations, made on a very large scale indeed, have attracted so little attention in Britain." Dr. Küchenmeister recently made a number of experiments on the relative value of vermifuges in common use, by immersing living worms in albumen, at a temperature above 77° Fahr., and adding the anthelmintic. He found Tania crassicollis, thus treated with the etherial extract of the male fern, died in two hours and three quarters, a longer period, however, than in the case of Kousso (Brayera anthelmintica, an Abyssinian rosaceous shrub).* Pereira gives an excellent article on this fern (in his Materia Medica,' vol. ii. part 1.), which may be referred to for particulars as to the chemistry of the root. Vide, also, Christison's 'Dispensatory,' Royle's 'Materia Medica,' Graves' 'Hortus Medicus,' and other works on medical Botany or pharmacopoeias. With regard to other ferns and their allies, these, like most indigenous plants, appear at one time, and that not long gone by, to have held a high place, either in professional or domestic medicine; and notes of their applications in this respect are to be found in a great number of local Floras, and in works on medical Botany, medical journals, &c. Vide, for instance, Burnett's 'Outlines of Botany,' Pereira's Materia Medica,' Lightfoot's' Flora Scotica,' and Smith's 'English Flora.' They appear, however, to be little, if at all, used at the present day. I shall briefly glance at the alleged properties of a few.

Adiantum Capillus-Veneris.

Ray, in his 'Historia,' attributes every possible virtue to it, on the authority of a Montpellier physician. Its frond is still sold in some shops, for the purpose of making the agreeable beverage called " capillaire," which, however, usually contains no Adiantum, but is made of " clarified syrup, flavoured with orange-flower water." It is slightly astringent, and was recommended in pulmonary complaints. Like most ferns, it contains tannic and gallic acids; but its properties are, in all probability, imaginary.

Aspidium. Various species have been supposed possessed of certain properties, and were formerly officinal in some of the English provinces, and included in some of the Continental pharmacopoeias (Burnett).

* Vide Association Medical Journal,' July 8, 1853, and February 11, 1853; 'Dublin Quarterly Journal of Medical Science,' February, 1853; Froriep's 'Tagsberichte über die Fortschritte der Natur-und Halkunde. Pharmakologie.' Band i. p.