This section is from the book "Recent Materia Medica: Notes On Their Origin And Therapeutics", by F. Harwood Lescher. Also available from Amazon: Recent materia medica.
Gigartina (Fucus) Helminthocorton. Mediterranean. N. 0. Alga.
Generally seen in continental pharmacies as a brown mass, composed of many different Algae, but principally the above. Used as a vermifuge for children; 1/4 to 1 ounce in decoction.
Agar-Agar is a white Alga from Singapore - Fucus Spinosus. (Gelidium corneum).-Used as a gelatine by the Chinese, Yang-tsai.
Gelosin is its mucilaginous substance, which can absorb 500 times its weight of water; this jelly can be used as a cataplasm with the addition of medicinal substances.
Lawrencia papillosa. Japanese Isinglass: sold in Bombay as Chinai-ghas. The Gelose is dried in light four-sided sticks of whitish membrane. Under the name of Thao, used in France for silk dressing. An excellent medium for the cultivation of Bacilli.
 
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