ae Se ee 
ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS. ORD. XIX. Verticillate. 331 
** Rosemary gives out its virtues completely to rectified spirit, but 
only partially to water, The leaves and tops, distilled with water, 
yield a thin light pale-coloured essential oil of great fragrancy, 
though not quite so agreeable as the Rosemary itself: from one 
hundred pounds of the herb in flower were obtained eight ounces 
of oil: the decoction thus divested of the aromatic part of the 
plant yields, on being inspissated, an unpleasant bitterish extract. 
Rectified spirit likewise, distilled from Rosemary leaves, becomes 
considerably impregnated with their fragrance, leaving however 
in the extract the greatest share both of their flavour and pun- 
gency. The active matter of the flowers is somewhat more volatile 
than that of the leaves, the greatest part of it arising with spirit.” * 
Rosemary is reckoned one of the most powerful of those plants, 
which stimulate and corroborate the nervous system ; it has there- 
fore been recommended in various affections, supposed to proceed ° 
from debilities; or defective excitement of the brain and. nerves; 
as in certain headachs, deafnesses, giddinesses, palsies, &c. and in 
some hysterical and dyspeptic symptoms. Dr. Cullen supposes the 
stimulant power of Rosemary insufficient to reach the sanguiferous 
system ;° it has however the character. of being an emmenagogue, 
and the only disease in which Bergius states it to be useful is the 
chlorosis.‘ The officinal preparations of this plant-are the oleum 
essentiale roris marini, and the spiritus roris marini. It is also a 
principal ingredient in what is known by the name of Hungary 
water. 
* Lewis, 1c. 
« Tt has justly had the reputation of a cephalic, or as a medicine that gently 
stimulates the nervous system, but hardly so strongly as to affect the sanguiferous.” 
M. M. vol. ti. p. 151. 
By many people Rosemary is drunk as tea for breakfast. 
* « Virtus: resolvens, nervina corroborans, emmenagoga. Usus. Chlorosis.”"— 
M. M, p. 21. 
