Cancer Root

Cancer Root, or BEECH-DROPS (Epiphegus virginiana), a parasitic herb of the order Orobanchæ (q.v.), a native of North America, growing on the exposed roots of beech-trees. The whole plant is powerfully astringent, and the root is especially bitter and nauseous. In conjunction with arsenious acid, it is believed to have formed a medicine once famous in North America under the name of Martin's Cancer-powder.—Another American plant of the same order, Phelipaea biflora, sometimes shares the same name and repute in popular medicine; and an infusion of the Common Broomrape (Orobanche major)—a native of Britain and of the south of Europe, parasitic on the roots of broom, furze, and other leguminous plants—has been employed as a detergent application to foul sores.