_Such as consist of a tough or coriaceous matter, disposed into a
foliaceous appearance; on the edges of which, in general, the parts of
fructification are placed, in the form of flattish oblong bodies, in
these mosses called_ shields _or_ pelts.
This division contains the third series of the second order of
Dillenius’s _lichenoides_; the _lichenes coriacei_ of Linnæus; and
several of the _placodium_ of Hill.
That celebrated and well-known plant, the ash-coloured ground
liverwort[117] of Ray belongs to this order. It is very common all over
England on dry and barren ground; and indeed almost all Europe, and
America too, seems to afford it in sufficient plenty, as we find it
observed by almost all the botanic writers since Ray, who was one of
the first that described it.
The earliest account we have of its use for the bite of a mad dog is in
the Philosophical Transactions[118], from Mr. Dampier, in whose family
it had been a secret for a number of years. It was communicated first
to Sir Hans Sloane, as a kind of fungus, or Jew’s-ear; and, at the
request of Dr. Mead, was some years afterwards received into the London
dispensatory. Scarce any of the boasted specifics of former ages ever
acquired so great reputation as this plant has done in modern times,
for its prevalence against the bite of a mad dog; and the patronage
of the late learned Dr. Mead made it sufficiently known throughout
all the world. Happy would it be indeed, if it fully deserved the
high encomiums, which have been bestowed upon it. A great and eminent
physician[119] has doubted its efficacy at all in such cases; and
it is well known, that Boerhaave even laughed at it. Dr. Mead had
certainly an high opinion of it: he tells us it never failed, thro’
the course of thirty years experience, where it was duly given before
the _hydrophobia_ came on[120]. Later instances have shewn, that it is
not infallible; and Dr. Van Swieten’s supposition is but too likely
to prove true. It must be confessed, that Dr. Mead’s exhibition of it
seems too much complicated with other means to leave room for judging
fully of its real efficacy; and it may really be questioned, whether
bleeding, pepper, and cold-bathing, have not had more to do in the case
than the lichen.
The _muscus pulmonarius officinarum_[121], tree-lungwort, or oak-lungs,
belongs to this order. It is found about old oaks, and upon rocks and
stones overgrown with moss, in many of our thick woods in England; but
not in any great plenty.
Few, perhaps, of the antiquated simples were in more repute, in their
day, than this plant. It was celebrated for ages, on account of its
supposed prevalence in pulmonary complaints of almost all kinds; and
yet, upon inquiry into the original of its use in such cases, it would
probably appear, that it arose more from a fansied resemblance they
found in the plant to the lungs themselves, than from any real and
well-grounded proofs of its efficacy. As a gentle astringent, like most
other species of the family, it would doubtless contribute to relieve
in many cases where the lungs were affected, as in _hæmoptoës_, and
some others: but it does not seem, by any means, to deserve that high
character in medicine which has been given to it.
The people in Herefordshire, where this moss is called _rags_, dye
their stockings of a brown colour with it. This is done by a very
strong but simple decoction in water, and the colour stands well[122].
The fine green _lichenoides_ with black warts[123], is a celebrated
medicine, and in very frequent use, with the country people about
Upsal, for the thrush in children: to this end they give an infusion
of it in milk. A medicine of this kind is of great importance in those
countries, where that disorder occurs much more frequently than with
us[124]. It is not received into the Swedish dispensatory; but is known
however in the shops, under the name of _muscus cumatilis_. We have it
not in England; and Dillenius found it but in one place about Geissen:
in the woods of Sweden it is more plentiful. A singular case, which
is related in the _Amænitates Academicæ_[125], has given rise to an
opinion of its usefulness in the worms also. The case briefly was this:
A country girl had, for near half a year, complained of excruciating
pains in her stomach and bowels, which were attended with vomiting,
anxiety, and great watchfulness. All that had been prescribed for her
by Professor Linnæus and others, who took her case for the worms,
proved altogether fruitless. Being afterwards left to the care of her
neighbours and relations, some good women gave her a decoction of this
moss, which the Uplanders call _elfnefwer_. After she had taken it a
few days, she vomited up six or seven roundish worms, and was cured.
These were found, upon examination, to be the maggots of a kind of
brown bee-fly, described by Mr. Ray[126], and by Linnæus[127].
However insufficient this history may be, to prove the usefulness of
this plant as a vermifuge, it will at least serve to exemplify this
fact; namely, that other animals of the insect kind, besides the
_teniæ_, _lumbrici_, and _ascarides_, may subsist a long time in the
_primæ viæ_ of the human body, and be the cause of great disturbances
therein[128].
Necessity is frequently the parent of the most useful and important
discoveries: and the uses to which a plant of this order is
appropriated by the natives of Iceland, is a standing proof of the
truth of this observation. That climate will scarcely permit the
cultivation of any kind of grain; but the want of it is in a great
measure happily supplied by the eryngo-leaved _lichenoides_[129], which
is abundant in the northern regions; and in that island particularly
the natives have long been acquainted with the methods of applying it
both to the purposes of food and of physic.
Ray has long since informed us[130], from Bartholine, that in the
spring time, while it is young, it will purge; in consequence of which
it is used as common spring physic. This quality it loses in a short
time; and what serves for physic in the spring, is converted the
remaining part of the year into food. They collect large quantities
of it, grind it into meal, and make both pottage and bread of it. It
is in common use not only with the islanders, but in several parts
of Sweden also, where it is found to be a very appropriate diet in
phthisical cases[131]. These accounts of the excellent use of this
lichen correspond perfectly well with the last accounts of it in Mr.
Horrebow’s Natural History of Iceland, just published; and which I
shall take the liberty of transcribing as follows: “There is another
herb, called _muscus catharticus islandiæ_, or mountain-grass, which
they cook up into a delicate dish. I have often eat of it; at first out
of curiosity, but afterwards for its palateableness and wholesomeness.
The excellent qualities of this herb are described in the Memoires
of the Society of Arts and Sciences in Sweden. It grows in great
abundance; and those that live near the places, where it is found,
gather great quantities for their own use, and to send to market.
People that live at a great distance will send and fetch horse-loads
away. Many use no meal or flour at all, when they are stocked with this
herb, which in every respect is good and wholesome food”[132].
This moss is not very common in the southern countries of Europe.
England affords it but very sparingly. Mr. Newton and Dr. Dillenius
found it in Wales; Sibbald, in Scotland. It is frequent on the Alps of
Switzerland; and Dr. Haller mentions it in his _Iter Hercynium_. Sweden
and Lapland have it in plenty: and on account of its great abundance
and usefulness in Iceland, Bartholine, and after him others, called it
_muscus islandicus_.