

266 



-* 



and divided into three fegments, the middlemoft of which is hroad 



d flightly fcolloped at the end ; the lateral fegments are ipcar-lhaped 

 and Ihort: the filaments are two long and two Ihort, fupplied with 

 fimple anther.x, which are concealed in the tube : the germen is di- 

 vided into four parts, from which iffues a flender flyle, furnifhed with 

 a cloven ftigma : the feeds are four, of an oblong fliape. It p;rows 



the fides of roads and rubbifh, and flowers in J 



" The leaves of Horehound have a moderately flrong fmell of the 

 aromatic kind, but not agreeable, which by drying is improved and 

 in keeping for fome months is in great part difTipated : their tafte is 

 very bitter, penetrating, diffufive, and durable in the mouth." . " The 

 dry herb gives out its virtue both to watery and fpirituous menftrua: 

 on infpillating the watery infufion, the fmell of the Horehound 

 wholly exhales, and the remaining extrad proves a ftrong and almoft 



£avourlefs bitter : redified fpirit carries off likewife greatefl part of 



the flavour of the herb, leaving an extrad: in lefs quantity than that 

 obtained by water, and of more penetrating bitternefs." ^ 



This plant is the n^^cnov of the ancients, by whom it is greatly ex- 

 tolled for its eflicacy in removing obilrudions of the lungs and other 

 vifcera.'' It has chiefly been employed in humoural aflihmas," obftinate 

 coughs, and pulmonary confumptions ;'' infl:ances are alfo mentioned 

 of its fuccefsful ufe in fcirrhous afledions of the liver,*' jaundice,^ 

 cachexies, and menfl;rual fupprefllons/ 



^ That Horehound poflefl^es fome fhare of medicinal power may be 

 inferred from its fenfible qualities, '^ but its virtues do not appear to 



Lewis, M. M. p. ^11. ^ Diofcorides, Lib. nu c. 119. See alfo PUny, Lib. xx. c. 22. 



Rhazes ad Manfor. 3. n. 42. Particularly, infarctions of the lungs and difficulty 

 of breathing from vifcid mucous. , 



f'ofecke^ Arzneym. p. 382. Lange, Mifccll. vent, med, />. 5" 



/• 



^ Alex, TralUan. Lib. v. Vide Qlfus, Lib. Hi. cap. 22. Caellus Aurelianus, Morb. 

 chron. Lib. ii. p. 423. De Haen Rat. Mcdend, P. iv. p. 252. But he and Halkr 

 often found it fail j the latter fays, Ego quidem in morbis fimilibus cum difficili fputorum 

 excreatione infufum aquofum utiliter dedi : & in phthifi fatis profe6ta femel vidi utile 

 fuifTe, non autem in aliis exemplis : potius vero mihi movere videtur, quam reprimere. I.e. 



Zacutus Lufitanus, Prax. admir. Lib. 2. Obf 48. ChomeJ, UJuell. T. i.p- 232. 

 Forreft. Op. Lib. 19. Obf. 19. & 40. « Borellus, Hift. et Ohferv. Cent. iv. p. 14' 



Taken in confiderable quantities it is faid to loofcn the bod;' 



be 



'\ 



