328. ORD. XIX. Verticillate. — revonium scorpium. 
are four, naked, of an irregular shape, and lodged in the bottom 
-of the calyx. It is a native of England, in marshy situations, aid 
flowers in July and. August. 
‘The leaves of Scordium have a smell somewhat of the garlick 
‘kind.* and to the taste they are bitterish, and slightly pungent. 
«When moderately and newly dried they give out their smell and 
taste both to water and to rectified spirit. In distillation their 
‘peculiar flavour arises with water, but the impregnation of the 
distilled fluid is not strong, nor could any essential oil be obtained 
on submitting to the operation several pounds of the herb.”” 
‘The ancients, to whom Scordium was well known,‘ attributed to 
it a peculiar antiseptic “ and alexipharmic power, and for many 
ages it had the character of being remarkably efficacious in all 
pestilential and putrid diseases ; with a view to this, it was after- 
wards directed in the composition of several officinal medicines,* 
supposed to be antidotes to various kinds of poisons and infections; 
and we are told, even at a date not very remote from the pseneot 
of its successful use in the plague, which raged in Turkey.‘ But 
notwithstanding the Scordium was formerly considered such a cele- 
* From this smeil it is supposed to take the name Scordium, or Exogodov, which 
signifies Garlick ; and the milk of animals, which feed upon this plant, is said to 
acquire a similar flavour. > Lewis Mat. Med. p. 596. ’ 
© We are far from being certain that the plant we have figured is really the 
Scordium of the ancients, and on this account we have not referred it to the Greek 
writers. 
* Of the fabulous accounts of its antiseptic powers, we may mention the follow. 
ing from Galen: Scriptum autem est a quibusdam viris gravissimis, chm in bello 
interemptorum cadavera multos dies insepulta jacuissent, quecunque supra scordium 
forté fortuna ceciderant, multo minus aliis compntruisse, ea prasertim ex parte qué 
herbam contigerat. Lib. de Antidot. 6. cap. 12. 
* The Mithridate and Theriaca have but lately been expunged from our dispen- 
satories; and though often experienced to be useful remedies, yet with Haller we 
“may say, ‘* Sed ce farragines sunt medicamentorum, in quibus non dignoscas, cui 
tribuas eventa.” I. ¢. 
‘ Vide Lettres par De Foy. t. 1. p. 198, and Chenot de peste, p. 132. 
