343 



Vicli are hairy on the outfide : the corolla is monopetalou 



ided at the limb into five unequal fegments, which are bl 



rl video '^^ , .1 T ^ , ° "5 "^i^^n aic UiU 



linpH. and flightly indented at the edges: the live filam 



Vi 



ye 



hairy, of unequal length, and furniflied with double reddiOi antherse • 

 the germen is roundiih, downy, and fupports a fimple ilyle, crowned 

 with a compreiled IHgma : the capfule is oblong, feparated into two 

 ells and valves, and contains many fmall angular feeds. It is a native ot 

 England,and ufually grows on the banks of ditches, and flowers in July. 



The Verbafcum, according to C. Bauhin, is the ^^o/^or * of Diofc_ 

 rides: it ranks with the natural order Solanacess, but does not feem 

 to poifefs thofe narcotic powers for which this order is diftinguifhed.*- 

 The leaves have an herbaceous, bitterifh, fubaftringent tafte, but no 



peculiar fmell ; upon being chewed they difcover a mucilag 

 quality; and hence they are recommended as emollients both inter- 

 nally and externally. In the way of fomentation and cataplafm they 

 are laid to be an ufeful application to hemorrhoidal tumours ; alfo for 

 promoting the refolution or fuppuration of glandular indurations.^ 



Catarrhal coughs and diarrhoeas are the complaints for which the 

 Verbafcum has been internally prefcribed. Dr. Home tried it in both, 

 but it was only in the latter difeafe that this plant fucceeded. He 



relates four cafes in which a decodion of Verbafcum was given; and 

 from which he concludes, that it " is ufeful in diminiiliing or (lopping 



dianhoeas of an old {landing, and often in eafing the pains of the 



mteftines. Thefe acquire a great degree of irritability ; and the 



ordinary irritating caufes, aliment, bile, diftention from air, keep 

 up a quicker periftaltic motion. This is obviated by the emollient 



J5 6 



and perhaps gentle aftringent qualities of this pi 



The decodion was prepared of two ounces of the leaves, with a 

 quart of water, of which four ounces were given every three hours. 

 The flowers of this plant have likewife been employed medicinally, 

 having been fuppofed to polTefs anodyne and pedoral virtues : it is 



probable, however, that neither the leaves nor flov/ers deferve to b 



fid 



d as medicines of much efficacy 



, e are told, however, that by the 



C. Bauhyl 



]uia hujus pro elychnns ufus eft, C. Br, 



, -~, ....vvv^v^x, uuaL u/ uic feeds of this plant fiihes become fo ftnj 



_tter themfelves to be taken out of the water by the hand. EoccoNe, Vide j 



f; Mea,p. u^ b gee Mur. M. M. mi. ui>. 4-88. ^ CUnkal Ex. CJ' HiJl.J 



as 



„ r-'u^r.Hry complaints of cattle 

 ^ ^'l'^ ^^"ed Cow's Lung-wort. 



p, 4 



Verbafcum was found o-f ^reat ufe 



4 



QUERCl 



