No. 64. . MONARDA. 35 



&c- as in M, trifoliata. The whole plant is bitter, like 

 Gentian, but the root is more intensely so. It contains 

 a resin and an extractive matter, soluble in water and 

 alcohol, much esteemed in Europe, and even esteemed 

 a kind of panacea in Germany. In small doses of about 

 ten grains, it imparts vigour to the stomach and the 

 whole frame, cures intermittent and remittent fevers, &c. 

 In large doses of a drachm, or a strong decoction, it acts 



like Eupatorium perfoliatum, producing pur^ng, vomit- 

 ing, and profuse perspiration. Its unpleasant bitter 

 taste renders it inconvenient for that purpose.. It has 

 been used with success in many other disorders, gout, 

 rheumatism, herpes, dropsy, scurvy, and worms. It 

 keeps off the paroxysm of gout, and Boerhaave cured 

 himself by drinking its juice with whey. Its tea was 

 found good in cutaneous and scorbutic affections. It 

 acts as a powerful bitter tonic, and may be used when- 

 ever indicated? the powder, tincture, and infusion are 

 equally efficient. In Lapland and Germany, it is sub- 

 stituted for hops inbeerj one ounce is equal to one pound 

 of hops. Sheep will sometimes eat it, notwithstanding 



its bitterness. 



No. 64. MONARDA COCCINEA. 



Names. Scarlet Rosebalm* Fr. Monarde ecarlatte. 

 Vulgar. Mountain Mint, Oswego Tea, ]!^IountainBalm, 

 Horse Mint, Squarestalk, Red Balm. 



Classify Nat. Order of Labiate. Didj-namia gym- 



nospermia. L. 



Genus Moxarda. Calix tubular, five toothed, corolla 

 ringent, with a long tube, upper lip linear, involving the 

 filaments, lower lip reflexed trilobe, two long exert sta- 

 mina, one style, one lateral stigma, four seeds in the 



persistent calix. 



Sp. Monarda cocctnea. Raf. Stem with four acute an- 

 gles, leaves petiolate, oval or lanceolate, or subcordate, 

 pubescent, subserrate; flowers capitate, involucrate, 

 Dracts large, coloured, lanceolate ; corolla large and 

 scarlet. Many varieties which have sometimes been 



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