VERBASCUM THAPSUS: ORD. XII. Salanacee, seu Luride. 203 
many small angular seeds. It isa native of England, and usually - 
grows on the banks of ditches, and flowers in Puig. 
The Verbascum, according toC. Bauhin, ifthe gaues* of Diosco- 
rides: it ranks with the natural order Solanacez, but doesnot. seem 
tO possess those narcotic powers for which this. order is distin- 
guished.* The leaves have an herbaceous, bitterish, subastringent 
taste, but no peculiar smell: upon being chewed they discover a 
mucilaginous quality; and herice they are recommended as emol- 
lrents both internally and externally. ‘In the way of fomentation 
and cataplasm they are said t6 ‘be an useful application to hemer- 
rhoidal tumours; also-for promoting the resolution or suppuration 
of glandular indurations.° 
Catarrhal coughs and diarrhceas are the complaints for which the 
Verbascum has been internally prescribed. Dr. Home tried it in 
both, but it was only in | the latter disease that this plant succeeded. | 
e. ich a decoction of Verbas riven > 
and from which he concludes, that it “is useful in diminishing or 
stopping diarrhceas of an old standing, and often in easing the pains 
of the intestines. These acquire a great degree of irritability ; and 
the ordinary irritating causes, aliment, bile, distention from air, 
keep up a quicker peristaltic motion. This is obviated by the emol- 
lient and perhaps gentle astringent qualities of this plant.‘ 
The decoction was prepared of two ounces of the leaves, with a 
quart of water, of which four ounces were given every three hours. 
The flowers of this plant have likewise been employed medicinally, 
having been supposed to possess anodyne and pectoral virtues: it 
is probable, however, that neither the leaves nor flowers deserve to 
be considered as medicines of much efficacy. 
* A gatycr, ur0, quasi PAsys, flamma, quia hujus pro elychniis usus est. C. Bawh.1.c. 
* We are told; however, that by the seeds of this plant fishes become so stupified 
as to suffer themselves to be taken out of the water by the hand. Boccone, Vide 
Bergius, Mat. Med. p. 117. » See Mur. M. M, vol. i. p. 488. *° Clinical Ex. & ' 
Hist. sect. 22. 
fn pulmonary complaints of cattle the Verbascum was found of pee use, and 
hence is by Gerard called Cow’s Lung-wort. 
