4110-3 
remedy in pulmonary phthisis, articles appearing from time to time in various med- 
ical and scientific periodicals upon this point. Dr. F. J. B. Quinlan regards the plant 
as having a distinct weight-increasing power in early cases of pulmonary consump- 
tion. The hot decoction, he claims, causes a comfortable sensation, which, patients 
who have taken it, experience a decided physiological need of. “It eases phthisical 
cough, some patients scarcely requiring cough medicines at all” who use this 
remedy. “Its power of checking phthisical looseness is very marked, and it also 
_gives great relief to the dyspnoea. It is, however, useless in advanced cases, and 
has no effect in checking night sweats,.’”* The leaves are considered to be diuretic, 
demulcent, anti-spasmodic, and anodyne; and the seeds are said to pass readily 
and rapidly through the intestinal canal, thus proving useful for the removal of 
obstructions, a 
Verbascum plays no part in the U.S. Ph.; in the Eclectic Materia Medica its 
preparation is Cataplasma Verbaset. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh plant, gathered in July, when 
coming into blossom, should be chopped and pounded to a pulp and weighed. 
Then two parts by weight of alcohol are taken, the pulp thoroughly mixed with 
one-sixth part of it, and the rest of the alcohol added. After having stirred the 
whole weil, pour it into a closely-stoppered bottle, and allow it to stand eight days 
in a dark, cool place. The tincture separated by filtration should be opaque, in 
thin layers it has a deep reddish-brown color by transmitted light. It should have a 
sweetish, herbaceous odor, a smoothish astringent taste, and decided acid reaction. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—An analysis of the flowers by Morin yielded 
a yellow volatile oil, a fatty acid, free malic and phosphoric acids and their -ate 
salts of lime, a yellow resinous coloring matter, and the general plant constituents, 
including an uncrystallizable sugar. The leaves contain mucilage. 
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.—Many of the symptoms caused by from 30 to 
40 ounces of a tincture of the fresh leaves daily, are characteristic of the action of 
this drug. In Hahnemann’s experiments the following prominent effects a6 
noted; Vertigo on pressing the left cheek with the hand ; dull pressure at the left 
infra-maxillary condyle, with painful tearing and drawing in the ear; sensation as 
if the temporal eminences were crushed with pincers ;; numbness in the left ear, 
with a sensation as if the ear would be drawn inward; severe drawing, pressure, 
and numbness of the left malar bone, temple and zygoma : root of tongue coated 
brown; urging to urinate, with decreased secretion; constrictive and pressive 
pains in the bones and muscles, and weakness of the lower limbs. The action of 
; Brit. Med. Four. ee ee 
ei on te raga. emiptpenttelem ae the pains similar to crushing of bones with excruciating tearing 
3 GePoal aor Mi lic acid contained in them. I have never noted the symptom as arising from experiments with 
sensation, is due - .. Slay The minor symptoms of disinclination to work, sleepiness after dinner, general shiftless-_ 
ring eek ices pion also in my experimentation with the Sheep sorrel ( Oxalis stricta, Linn.), which contains 
Mai emeng eer vege 
