126 ORD. VI. Umbeilate. ANETHUM GRAVEOLENS; 
This plant, which is a native of Spain and Portugal, appears by 
the Hortus Kewensis, to have been first cultivated in Britain by Mr. 
Gerard in 1597.* The seeds of Dill are directed for use by the 
London and Edinburgh Pharmacopeeias; they have a moderately 
warm pungent taste, and an aromatic smell, but like that of the 
plant, not of the most agreeable kind.” “ Water extracts very little 
of their virtues either by infusion or digestion for many hours. In 
boiling, their whole flavour exhales along with the watery vapour, 
and may be collected by distillation. Along with the water arises a 
“sonsiderable portion of pungent essential oil, smelling strongly of 
the Dill. These seeds impart their flavour to rectified spirit by di- 
gestion, but not by distillation, the active part of the seeds remain- 
ing in the extract.” ‘ 
The seeds and the plant itself were formerly much used in medi- 
cine, and from the time of Dioscorides have been esteemed for their 
carminative and hypnotic powers, and therefore have been recom-. 
mended in flatulent colics, and certain dyspeptic symptoms pro- 
ceeding from a laxity of the stomach.‘ They are also said to be 
more effectual than the other seeds of this class in promoting the 
secretion of milk.“ At this time however the seeds of Dill are 
seldom employed, though a simple distilled water prepared from 
them is directed both by the London and Edinburgh Pharmacopeeias. 
* Hort. Kew. 
® Virgil does not seem to have been of this opinion: 
’ Narcissum & florem jungit bene olentis anethi. Ect. 2. v. 45. 
: © Lewis, M. M. p. 58. 
4 Forestus speaks highly of their use in allaying vomiting and hiccup. Oper. 
Lib. 6. Obs. 29. & Lib. 18. Obs. 12. 
ws Murray, App. Med. vol. 7. p. 289. 
