eS fe 
VALERIANA OFFICINALIS. ORD. IV. Aggregate 79 
whom it is mentioned as an aromatic and diuretic: it was first 
brought into estimation in convulsive affections by Fabius Columna,* 
who relates that he cured himself of an epilepsy by the root of this 
plant; we are told however, that Columna suffered a relapse of the 
disorder, and no further accounts of the efficacy of Valerian in 
epilepsy followed till those published by Dominicus Panarolus‘ fifty 
years afterwards, in which three cases of its success are given. To 
these may be added many other instances of the good effects of 
Valerian Root in this disease, since published by Cruger,? Schuch- 
mann,° Riverius,’ Sylvius,* Marchant," Chomel,' Sauvages,* Tissot,' 
and others. 
The advantages said to be derived from this root in epilepsy 
caused it to be tried in several other complaints termed nervous, 
particularly those produced by increased mobility and irritability 
of the nervous system, in which it has been found highly service- 
able." Bergius® states its virtus to be antispasmodic, diaphoretic, 
emmenagogue, diuretic, anthelminthic.* Under the head usus he 
® Phytobasamos Neapol. 1592. p. 97. 
© Jatrologism. s. medicin. hist. pentac. quinque Rom. 1643. Pentec. i, Obs. 33. p. 20. 
« Eph. Nat. Cur. Dec. 2. A. 7. Obs. 78. 
* Eph. Nat. Cur. Dec. 2. A. 4. Obs. 44. p.116. §& App. ad Dec. 3. A. 3. p. 86: 
© Pras. Med. Lib. ¢. p. 62. © Opera, p. 427. 
" Mem. de L’ Acad. d. Sc. de Paris, 1706. p- 333. 
i Pl. Usuelles. T. i. p. 228. * Nosol. Method. T. iti. P. 2. p. 231. Ed. 8v0. 
} Traité de Vepilepsie, p. 310. 
m Haller says, ‘* Ego certe ad hystericos morbos, nimiamque nervorum sensi- 
bilitatem, frequenter cum bono eventu hac radice usus sum; et in ipsa epilepsia, 
non malo successu. Séirp. Helv, n. 210. » Mat, Med. p. 30. 
* He says, ‘‘ Emeticam illam nunquam vidi, nec laxantem.” The latter 
quality is however very generally ascribed to it by ‘nedietl writers, 
