CHAP. 45.—THE CONFERVA: TWO REMEDIES.
The conferva [Note] is peculiar to running streams, those of the
Alpine regions more particularly; receiving its name front
"conferrumino," [Note] to solder together. Properly speaking, it is
rather a fresh-water sponge than a moss or a plant, being a
dense, porous mass of filaments. I know an instance where a
man, who fell to the ground while lopping a tree of considerable height, and broke nearly every bone of his body, was cured
by the agency of this plant. The patient's body was covered all
over with conferva, the application being continually sprinkled
with water the moment it began to dry, and only removed for
the purpose of changing it when the plant gave signs of losing
its virtues. [Note] It is hardly credible with what rapidity he recovered.
