554 ORD. XXXI. Columnifere. ALTHAA OFFICINALIB. 
Althza abounds, is the medicinal part of the plant, and is com- 
monly employed for its emollient and demulcent qualities. Its 
use is recommended where the natural mucus of membranes 
becomes acrid or abraded; ‘ for obtunding and incrassating 
acrimonious thin fluids, in tickling coughs from defluctions on 
the fauces and lungs, in hoarseness, erosions of the stomach and 
intestines, stranguary,t and for lubricating and relaxing the 
passages in nephritic and calculous complaints.” Radix Althea 
formerly had a place in many of the compounds in the pharmaco- 
_ peeias, but now it is only directed in the form of a syrup. 
+ We may here remark hewever, that in the opinion of Dr, Cullen these 
“* demulcents can have no effect as such in the mass of blood, or in passing by 
the various excretions,” Mat. Med. vol. ii. p. 411. 
¢ Lewis 1. c. 
MALVA SYLVESTRIS. COMMON MALLOW. 
SYNONYMA. Malva. Pharm. Lond. & Edinb. Malva sylvestris 
folio sinuato. Bauh, Pin. p. 314. Malva vulgaris flore majore, 
folio sinuato. J. Bauh. Hist. vol. ti. p. 949. Malva vulgaris. 
Park. Theat. p. 299. Rati Hist. p. 599. Synop. p.251. Malva 
caule erecto, foliis lobatis, lobis serratis, quinis & septenis. Hal. 
Stirp. Helo. n. 1069. Malva sylvestris. Gerard. Emac. 930. 
Withering. Bot. Arrang. p.738. Curt. Flor. Lond. 
Class Monadelphia. Ord. Polyandria. Lin, Gen. Plant. 841. 
Ess, Gen. Ch. Cal.. duplex ; exterior 3-phyllis, Avilli plurimi, 
' monospermi, 
