Birth Wort (Slender), or Aristolochia clematitis, , is the only indgenous species of that plant: it has heart-shaped leaves, an upright stem, and its root is long and slen-der. - See Engl. Bot. 398.

On being chewed, the Birthwort instantly imparts an aromatic bitterness, not ungrateful to the palate. It possesses medicinal virtues, and is prescribed as an atte-nuant of viscid phlegm, and promoter of the- fluid secretions. The dose in substance is from a scrapie to two drams. There are four other species of this plant imported for medicinal purposes, particularly the Aristolochia longa, a native of France, Spain, and Italy. It is applied externally in cutaneous diseases, as likewise for cleansing and healing wounds and ulcers.