( 25 ) 
top, divided into two cells, containing numerous black irregularly 
fhaped feeds. ee re : 
It is frequent in barren paftures, hedges, and fides of roads, 
flowering from July till September. 
The leaves of Linaria have a bitterifh and fomewhat faline tafte, 
_ and when rubbed betwixt the fingers yield a faint fmell, refembling 
that of elder. They are reported to be diuretic and cathartic, and in 
both characters to act fo powerfully as to give names to this plant 
expreflive of thefe qualities.» Hence they have been recommended 
internally in dropfies, and other diforders requiring copious evacua- 
tions. The Linaria has alo been ufed as a refolvent in jaundice, and in 
fuch difeafes as have been fuppofed to proceed from vifceral obftruc- 
tions. But the plant has been chiefly valued for its effe€&s when exter- 
nally applied, efpecially in hemorrhoidal affeGtions;® for which both 
the leaves and flowers have been employed in the various forms of 
ointment, fomentation, and cataplafm.* 
_ An infufion of the flowers is faid to be very efficacious in cuta- 
neous diforders; and Hammerin‘ gives an inftance in which thefe 
flowers, with thofe of verbafcum, ufed as tea, cured an exanthema- 
tous diforder, which had refifted various other remedies tried during 
the courfe of three years. — 
An Unguentum de linaria is to be found in the Wirtemburg, 
Brandenburg, and Danifh Pharmacopeias.’ ; 
| a Viz. Urinalis, Harnkrout, Kreutterbuch. 
6 » Vide Horft. Od/. et epift. meds lib. 4. obf. 50. Sim. Paulli. Bot. 415.  Chefnane 
bf. 360. 
ts * See Chomel. Pl. Ufuell. Tom. 3. 34. Geaff: Ll. c. 
© Cited by Alurr. lic. . 
¢ The inventor of this ointment, for the piles, was a Dr. Wolph, who at that time 
was phyfician to the Landgrave of Hefle, by whom the doétor was continually interro- 
gated to difcover the compofition of this ointment; but Wolph obftinately refufed, till 
the prince promifed to give him a fat ox annually for the difcovery. Hence to the fol- 
lowing verfe, which was made to diftinguifh the Linaria from the Efula, viz. 
“© Efula laéefcit, fine la¢te Linaria crefcit,”” 
The Hereditary Marfhal of Heffe, added: © : 
“ Efula nil nobis, fed dat Linaria taurum.”” Horft, l. c. @ Murr. cit. 
Linnzus (Flor. Suec.) fays this plant is ufed as a poifon for flics. 
No, 3.—Part II. oe VITEX 
