Spec. Plant. Willd iii. 873.

Cl. 10. Ord.1. Decandria Monogynia. Nat. ord. Pyrolaceae.

G. 873. Calyx five-cleft. Petals five. Caps, five celled, opening at the angles.

Sp. 4. C. Corymbosa, Pursh, Flor. Amer. 1. p. 300. Bartons Veg. Mat. Med. vol. i. pl. 1. Woodvilles Med. Bot. 5. p. 37. t.10.

Officinal. Chimaphila, Lond. Pyrola Umbellata, Herba, Bub. Herb of winter-green.

Syn. Pyrole, Verdure d'hiver (F.), Wintergriin (G.), Das Wintergrun (Dutch), Wintergroen (Dan.), Vintergrbn (Swed.), Pirola (I.), Pippissewa, Herbe de paigne (Amer. Indians), Rheumatism Weed, l'herbe a pisser (Can.).

The species of Chimaphila is found in several parts of Europe, Asia, and particularly America. It seldom exceeds eight inches in height; is found chiefly in moist, shady places, and in a loose, sandy soil. It flowers in June.

The root is long and creeping: the stems, which rise together from the root, are erect; red at the lower part, yellowish above: the leaves, which are alternate and irregularly whorled, are sub-sessile, lanceolate, and somewhat wedge-shaped, sharply serrated, of a coriaceous texture; bright deep green on the upper and pale on the under disk. The flowers are generally from three to five in number. The calyx is persistent and five-parted: the corolla consists of five roundish, concave, spreading petals, white tipped with rose, and exhales an agreeably spicy odour: the anthers are purple, bifurcated, and supported on awl-shaped filaments: the germen is green, globular, angular, covered with a viscid secretion; and supporting a sessile, thick, persistent stigma. The seed-vessel, which is persistent through the winter, is a five-angled, roundish capsule, inclosing many chaffy seeds, which are discharged by the angles opening.

Qualities,-This plant is astringent, and strikes a black colour with sulphate of iron. Water and alcohol extract the medicinal properties of pyrola, which seem to reside in a gumresin. Dr. Wolff obtained from 100 parts, 18 of bitter extractive, 2.04 of resin, 1.38 of tannin, and the remainder woody fibre. 1 have found in it a large proportion of gallic acid.

Medical properties and uses.-Chimaphilais diuretic and tonic. It has been given successfully in ascites1 after digitalis and other diuretics had failed; and has also proved serviceable in acute rheumatism, intermittents, and other diseases assuming an intermittent type. It produces an agreeable sensation in the stomach soon after it is swallowed, increases the appetite, and acts powerfully on the kidneys. The urine seems to imbibe the colour of the infusion of the herb, which is that of an infusion of common green tea. The dried herb is best administered in the form of decoction, made with j. of the plant, including root, stalks, and leaves, cut small and macerated in two pints of water, and then boiled down to one pint, which is to be taken in divided doses within twenty-four hours.

Officinal preparation.-Decoctum Chimaphilae, L.