CHENOPODIUM vuLVARIA.” ORD. XL. Oleracee. hf 
THE root is annual: the stems are procumbent, channelled, 
branched, and grow from six to twelve inches in length: the 
leaves are numerous, entire, of an irregular rhomboidal form, or 
often egg-shaped, veined, of a mealy appearance, and stand alter- 
nately upon short footstalks: the flowers are very small, of a light 
_ green colour, and placed in clusters at the ale of the leaves: the 
calyx consists of one pentagonal leaf, cut into five pointed concave 
‘divisions: there is no corolla: the five filaments are small, tapering, 
about the length of the segments of the calyx, and furnished with 
double round anther: the germen is orbicular, and supports two 
styles, terminated with obtuse stigmata: the seed is lenticular, and 
is inclosed by the calyx, which supplies the place of a capsule. 
It is usually found about old walls and rubbish, flowering m August. 
This plant, in its recent state, has a nauseous taste, and a strong 
offensive smell, resembling that of putrid salt fish, and remaining 
long onthe hands after touching the herb.* “It gives a strong 
impregnation to water both by infusion and distillation: the smell 
is extracted likewise by rectified spirit, and by this menstruum in 
some degree covered.” This plant has been expunged from the 
Materia “Medica of the London Pharmacopeeia, but it is still re- 
tained in that _of Edinburgh. Its virtues are—aserived=to ‘its re- 
markable fetor, from: which it is inferred by Dr. Cullen to be a 
powerful antispasmodic, and especially recommended in hysterical] 
affections. 
Dr. Cullen says “ it has been frequently employed in this 
* country with advantage; not however so frequently as might be 
“ expected, as it is a plant, in its fresh state, not always ready at 
‘* hand, and in its dry state it loses all its sensible qualities. It 
“¢ can only be employed therefore in its recent state, and the most 
** convenient formula is that of a conserve; and as it is not always 
*« easy to reconcile our patients to it even in that state, it is not 
** employed so often as I could wish.” fat. Med. vol. ii. p. 365. 
* Odoris virosi intolerabilis, ut qui vel attactu levi manus ita inficit, ut longo 
tempore vix possit celui. Rati Hist. p. 1 
No. 50.—vot. 4. 8D 
