THYMUS VULGARIS. ORD. XIX. Verticillate. . Gs 
of a gold yellow colour if distilled by a gentle fire, of a deep 
brownish.red if by a strong one, ofa penetrating smell, resembling. 
that of the Thyme itself, in taste excessively hot and fiery: the 
remaining decoction “inspissated, leaves a bitterish, roughish, sub- 
saline extract, The active matter, which by water is only partially. 
dissolved, is by rectified spirit dissolved completely, though the 
tincture discovers less of the smell of the Thyme than the watery 
infusion: the spirit brings over, in distillation, a part of its flavour, 
leaving an extract vai a weak smell, and of a penetrating cam- 
porated} pungency.” 
By Bergius the virtues of Thyme are said to be resolvent, em- 
menagogue, diuretic, tonic, and stomachic;* but we find no disease 
mentioned in which its use is particularly recommended either by 
him or other writers on the Materia Medica. As agreeing in com- 
mon with the natural order of verticillate, its aromatic. qualities 
may be found equally useful in some of those complaints for which 
lavender, sage, rosemary, &c. are usually employed. 
° Lewis, M. M. p. 650. 
+ This plant seems actually to contain a species of eamphor, thus noticed by 
Murray: Camphore speciem continet herba, que sese declaruit mox post destilla. 
tionem ejus cum aqua, dum oleum ab ea separaretur, tam in gossypio quam orificio 
vitri, crystallis exiguis, dein post aliquot dierum moram in fundo vitri crystallis, 
avellan® tincis adeo magnitudinis, cubicis, saccharo candi similibus.” App. Med. 
vol. i, p. 125, These with the odour of Thyme, had in every other respect the 
qualities-of camphor. See Phil. Trans: vol. axziii. p. 321. 89g. & p. 361. 
. q M; M pP- 536, 
No, 30.—vot. 3. AT 
