Flora Britannica, Smith, 1118. Cl. 24. Ord. 1. Cryptogamia Filicis. Nat. ord. Filices. G.429. (Smith.) Fructification in roundish points, scattered, not marginal. Involucre umbilicated, open almost on every side. ** Front nearly bipinnate. Species 4. A. Filix mas.1 Male Fern root. Med.Bot.3d edit. t. 267.

(Polypodium Filix mas.) Eng. Bot. 1458. Smith, Flor. Brit. Officinal. Aspidium, Lond. Aspidii Filicis Maris radix,

Edin. Aspidium filix mas; radix, Bub. Root of the Male

Fern.

Syn. Polypode comraun (F.), Johanniswurtzel (G.), Felie Maschia (I.), Polypodio helecho masculino (S.).

This is a common, indigenous, perennial plant, growing in woods and shady places, and flowering in June and July. The root consists of many matted fibres, forming a tufty or cespitose head, of a blackish colour and scaly. The leaves or fronds grow in circular tufts, from a foot to four feet in height, with the stype and midrip chaffy. They are of a bright green colour, lanceolate and pinnate. The pinnae are at first alternate, increasing in size from the base towards the middle, then decreasing towards the summit of the leaf; each being deeply subdivided into linear, obtuse, parallel lobes, crenate on the edges. The fructification is like small dots on the back of each lobe, placed in two rows near the base, and distant from the edges; composed of a kidney-shaped shield or involucre, and a pale brown capsule, with a saffron-coloured elastic ring.

Qualities.-The dried root is nearly inodorous : the taste at first sweetish, then slightly bitter, sub-astringent; and mucilaginous when chewed. It varies much in its properties according to the season of the year in which it is taken up; and it becomes perfectly inert when kept upwards of two years. They should be collected in summer, at which time they have a greenish colour, and a nauseous smell; and do not change when they are dried in the air. By a late analysis of M. Morin it was found to contain a fatty substance of a nauseous odour and disagreeable taste, heavier than water; gallic and acetic acids, uncrystallizable sugar, tannin, starch, and a variety of gelatine insoluble in water and alcohol. He found that it also contained subcarbonate, sulphate, and hydrochlorate of potassa, carbonate and phosphate of lime, alumine, silex, and oxide of iron.2 M. Peschier of Geneva supposes that he has discovered the active principle of this root. He separates adipocire by treating the root with sulphuric acid, until the adipocire forms as a mamillated substance, which he separates from the fluid by pressure. This fluid, by farther analysis, yields resin, a volatile oil which is the active principle, a fixed oil, colouring matter, extractive, and some salts.

The internal part of the root is the portion that is medicinally used.

Dioscoridis.

2 Ann. de Chym. xxvi. 219.

Medical properties and uses.-This root is astringent and has been celebrated both by the ancients and the moderns as a powerful anthelmintic. It appears to have been used as such by Theophrastus, Dioscorides, and Galen; but although recommended by Hoffman, yet it was neglected by the moderns, until the publication of Madame Noufer's specific for the tapeworm by the French government, again brought it into notice. According to her plan of administering it, from one to three drachms of the powdered root are to be taken in a large cupful of water, in the morning, while the patient is in bed; and, two hours afterwards, a strong cathartic of calomel and gamboge, proportioned to the age and strength of the patient, is to be given; and, if necessary, the further operation promoted by a dose of purging salts : nothing but broth being taken till the worm come away. If this, however, did not happen on the same day, the process was ordered to be repeated on the next day.

M. Peschier says 30 drops of the oil will kill a taenia, and this quantity is contained in 3 iij. of the powdered root, which should be taken on an empty stomach.