RUTACEH. 951 
_ when given to pregnant women. The diseases in which it is 
_ recommended are so numerous that we must refer the reader to 
his article “Sudab.” The old European physicians considered 
rue to be antispasmodic, stimulant and emmenagogue, and 
prescribed it in hysteria and flatulent colic. Boerhaave extols: 
its virtues in promoting perspiration. 
Rue is the Herb Grace of old English writers, and is still 
_ much used as a domestic remedy. Alibert says of it, “ Cette 
-plante a un grande action sur le systéme nerveux, et parti- 
cnligrement sur le systéme uterin: Beaucoup de femmes en 
_. prennent dans les menstrues laborieuses.” The dose of the 
powdered leaves is from ten grains to a scruple or more, twice 
or thrice daily. Rue occupies a corner in most Indian 
gardens. It is largely grown near Grasse in — 150 to 
200:Ibs. produce 1 Ib. of oil. 
Rue is an active irritant, whether applied extortattp?t or 
taken internally. It has been frequently used with success to 
procure abortion ; sometimes it produces painful vomiting, 
always great prodbratien, confusion of mind, cloudy vision, 
feebleness and slowness of pulse, coldness of the extremities, 
- . and twitching of the limbs; in pregnant women the drug pro- 
_ duces pain in the back, bearing down, and frequent micturi- ~ 
tion, followed by pains and abortion about ten days after 
the commencement of its administration. Oil of Rue has 
been observed to produce similar symptoms with increased 
frequency and diminished tension of the pulse; on the other 
hand, when an infusion of the dry leaves was used, the pulse 
fell from 80 to 69 in three hours.—(Van de Warker, gaspar 
Abortion, 1872.) 
Seer 
PU aD ie eee eles See are Tape 
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6 Ft ee 
4 
Description.—The variety angustifolia is thus described 
in the Flora of British India :—“ Leaves petioled, triangular 
ovate, decompound, segments various, corymbs— petri ee 
bracts lanceolate, sepals triangular acute, petals. oa ee 
capsule obtuse, shortly pedicelled. 
Chemical composition —The essential oil, when purified 
few rectifications, i is somewhat viscid ; has a speed by 
Le 
