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BORAGO OFFICINALIS, ORD. XVII. Asperifolie. 313 
nervous system ;° and as these flowers were found to possess neither 
warmth, pungency, nor fragrance, their cordial efficacy has been 
_ ascribed to a saline quality, which, by abating inordinate heat, was 
said to be peculiarly grateful and refreshing. But though the 
herbaceous substance of Borage has been discovered to contain a 
saline matter, there is no evidence of its existence in the flowers ; 
so that the advantages supposed to be derived by a vinous infusion 
of these, like those of bugloss, can only be imputed to the men- 
struum. 
The leaves of Borage manifest nothing remarkable either to the 
smell or to the taste; but they abound with a juice, which, in its 
expressed state, is said to be saltish, and which, on being boiled a 
sufficient time, forms crystals of nitre:* similar crystals. have also 
been obtained from a decoction of the leaves;4 and hence it may 
be inferred, that this plant has a peculiar claim to the possession of 
refrigerating and aperient virtues. Dr. Withering observes, that 
the young and tender leaves are good in sallads, or as a pot-herb. 
Cordia Myxa, whose fruit is of the drupaceous or plumb kind, 
and was fermerly known in the shops by the name sebesten, is the 
only remaining medicinal plant placed by botanists in this natural 
order which we have not figured. The leaves of the Myxa, how- 
ever, unlike those of the other species of Cordia, are smooth and 
naked; it therefore cannot properly belong to the asperifoliz. 
* Hence the trite remark, “ Borago, gaudia semper ago.” 
© Marcgraf in Mem. de L’ Acad. des Sc. de Berlin. 1747. p.79. | 
* Boulduc Mem. de L’ Acad. des Sc. de Paris, 1734. p. 101. : 
No. 27,—vot. 2. Ax 
