EUPHRASIA. 



their brilliant variegated aspect, on which account it seems, the plant 

 became celebrated as good for weak eyes. The corolla varies much in 

 size as well as colour, being commonly white, with deep purple streaks, 

 and a yellowish palate ; the anthers violet. On the mountains of Scot- 

 land there is a more slender variety, with smaller but more richly tinted 

 blossoms ; on the Alps a dwarf, large flowered, more purple variety is 

 common. The seeds are few, somewhat angular, thin at the edges, 

 strongly striated, or furrowed, at the sides. Smith. — Slightly bitter 

 and aromatic. It has had much reputation in diseases of the eye, but 

 has generally fallen into disrepute. It has, however, lately been asserted 

 by Professor Kranichfeld, that it is particularly useful in catarrhal in- 

 flammations of the eye. He has also found it beneficial in cough, 

 hoarseness, earache and headache, which have supervened in catarrhal 

 affections. Med. Gaz. xx. 528. 



GRATIOLA. 



Calyx 5-parted as far as the base. Corolla resupinate, un- 

 equally 4-lobed. Stamens 2 fertile, 2 sterile. Capsule 2-celled, 

 with a septicidal dehiscence. 



1060. G. officinalis Linn, sp.pl. 24. Fl. dan. t. 363. R. and S. 

 i. 129. Schkuhr. handb. t. 2. a. — Marshes of Europe. (Hedge 

 hyssop.) 



Root creeping, jointed. Stem 1-2 feet high, erect, simple or a little 

 branched, smooth, 4-sided at the upper end. Leaves half amplexicaul, 

 1-2 inches long, smooth, obtuse, lanceolate, serrated, with about 3 veins, 

 entire near the base. Flowers solitary, on long stalks ; with 2 linear 

 bracts below the calyx. Corolla whitish striped with red, sometimes 

 white ; tube longer than the calyx, covered inside with yellow hairs ; 

 upper lip reflexed, emarginate, Capsule ovate, acuminate. — A very 

 active plant, formerly called Gratia Dei, on account of its efficiency as a 

 medicine. It is extremely bitter, acts violently both as a purgative 

 and emetic, and has been said to be the basis of the famous gout me- 

 dicine, called Eau Medicinale, which, as its active principle appears to 

 be of the nature of Veratria, is not improbable. Gratiola is said to 

 have been found serviceable in cases of hypochondriasis. In over- 

 doses it is a violent poison, and according to Haller, it renders by its 

 abundance some of the Swiss meadows useless as pastures. G. peru- 

 viana Linn, has purgative and emetic leaves and roots. 



1061. Scoparia dulcis Linn. An infusion is used by the Indians 

 of Spanish America to cure agues, according to Humboldt. 

 Martius however states that in Brazil, where it is called Basou- 

 rinha or Vacourinha the expressed juice is merely mucila- 

 ginous and employed as a cooling laxative. 



1062. Verbascum nigrum Linn, is accounted slightly narcotic. 

 The seeds of it and of 1063. V. Thapsus Linn, are said to be 

 used by poachers to poison fish. The flowers of 1064. V. Lych- 

 nitis Linn, are used in many places as a poison for mice. 



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