BORAGINE:, 521 
ith other Persian writers, assumes that the Gaozabén of Persia 
aozab4n we now receive from Persia, and says that most of 
he drug comes from Gilén. He also mentions another kind 
with smaller leaves as coming from Azimdbad in India. Mir 
uhammad Mumin, in his. Juhfat-el-Maminin, says that in 
[spahdn and some other towns of Persia a kind of Gaozaban is 
called Marmakhiz, and has a small round blue flower. In Persia 
taozaban is used as a demulcent in colds and coughs, and the 
In India the drug has long held a high place in native prac- 
tice as an alterative tonic in syphilitic, leprous, and rheumatic 
cases; it has also diuretic and demulcent properties. O’Shangh- 
1essy (Beng. Disp., p. 420,) notices it favourably, but there is 
e doubt as to the kind of Gaozab4n used by him. Mr. M, 
Sheriff and others have suggested its use as an alterative 
nstead of Sarsaparilla. It may be given in decoction (1 oz. to 
int of water) in doses of from 2 to 4 ounces three or four 
s a day. Whatever its alterative powers may be, there 
be no doubt as to its mucilaginous and saline properties. 
hison found the Persian Géozabar growing abundantly in 
Badghis and Khorasan as well as in the Hari- rud valley. 
tates that the root stock is eaten by the natives, and that it 
en with a most viscid juice, which seems to be palatable to 
people of those parts. (Trans. Linn. Soc. 8nd Ser. Botany, 
Description. —The following description is drawn up 
m ie examination of original bales of the plant and flowers 
| from Persia :—Gaozabén is a large herbaceous, pe- 
al plant with black woody rhizomes, 1 to 2 inches in dia- 
r, and terminating in a knotty head, from which spring 
ral angular stems, thickly studded with calcareous 
les and armed with stiff, white, calcareous bristles. 
ves, which are very fleshy, entire, petioled, and of an 
minate shape, have a slightly waved margin; the 
re 8 inches long by 44 inches meer: = 
