172 LEGUMINOSvE. 



of the (dried?) plant, he obtained 22 cubic centimetres (fsvj.) of 

 sparteine, which we may estimate as equivalent to about i per mille. . 

 Stenhouse ascertained that the amount of sparteine and scoparin 

 depends much on external conditions, broom grown in the shade yield- 

 mg less than that produced in open sunny places. He states that 

 shepherds are well aware of the shrub possessing narcotic properties, 

 from having observed their sheep to become stupified and excited when 

 occasionally compelled to eat it. 



^ The experiments of Reinsch (184G) tend to show that broom con- 

 tams a bitter crystallizible principle in addition to the foregoing. The 



sppria nf flic. olK^^l n^.j.: t i . .^ t /y. t , i- i i' _. _^ „ 



Marmd 



num 



^covered bv A. Husemann ami 



Uses— A decoction of broom tops, made from the dried herb, k 

 used as a diuretic and purgative. The juice of the fresh plant, pre- 

 served by the addition of alcohol, is also administered and is regarded 

 as a very efficient preparation. 



SEMEN FCENI GR^CI. 



Semen Foenugrceci; Fenugreek; F. Semences de Femigrec ; G. Boch 



/"^ y^ A 1 ^ ^ ^^ ^^^ #« A .A ^ « A 



'nsamen. 



Botanical Origm—Trigonella Fcenum grcecum L., an erect, sub- 

 glabrous, annual plant, 1 to 2 feet high, with solitaiy, subsessile, whitish 



flowers ; indigenous to the countries surrounding the Mediterranc 



wmch It has been long cultivated, and whence it appears to have spread 



to India. 



History 



"Sebes or 



&T the old Egyptian preparation KyjM, an ingredient 

 f 1 ?n}^ ' ^^ mentioned, which is thought by Ebers to mean 



lenugreek. This plant was well known to the Roman writers on 

 husbandry, as Porcius Cato (b.c. 234-149) who calls 'li Foinum (h^(^cim. 

 and directs it to be sown as fodder for oxen. It is the r^A'f % 

 Dioscorides and other Greek writers. Its mucilaginous seeds, "sihau^ 

 01 tne Koman peasants, were valued as an aliment and condiment toi 

 man, and as such are still largely consumed in the East They -'^'"'^ 

 iiKewise supposed to possess many medicinal virtues, and had a pi 

 the pharmacopoeias of the last century. . , 



lUe cultivation of fenugreek in Central Europe was encouraged b} 



were 

 lace in 



the 16th century. 



mnn!!!f 7'^'"^ ^^^ "^^^ ^^to two Unequal lobes. Wen the i 

 maceiated m warm water, its structure becomes easily visible 



