VERMINOUS DISEASES. 201 



two, or three drachms as a dose, are prescribed ia 

 a pound of water, in infusion. 



§ CXXVI. Valeriana officinalis{Q6). The 

 volatile oil, contained in the root of this plant, has 

 a smell of the goat, and a bitter aromatic taste ; this 

 article is one of the best stimulants, of which medi- 

 cine can boast. In all nervous asthenic affections, 

 it produces unequivocal effects, and most generally 

 it acts more powerfully than a number of medicines, 

 which are highly commended in these complaints. 

 Practitioners have esteemed it as equally beneficial 

 in worm complaints, and particularly in sympa- 

 thetic affections depending on them, such as epilep- 

 sy, St. Vitus's dance, etc. In the famous electu- 

 ary of Storcky(C}Y) the powdered root of the offici- 

 nal valerian, called Valeriana sylvestris^ or wild va- 

 lerian in books of pharmacy, is the most active in- 

 gredient ;(68) the dose should be proportioned to 

 the age temperament, and degree of weakness of 

 the patient. It is prescribed under different forms, 

 and ordinarily combined with other remedies. 



^ CXXVII. Veratrum Sahadilla.{69) Ceva- 

 dilla. Indian caustic barley. This plant grows in 

 Mexico. The seeds and capsules, pulverised to- 

 gether, have been used, time immemorial, among 

 the poor, for the destruction of those insects, which 

 want of cleanliness has permitted to multiply on 

 different exterior parts of their bodies. Loeser(70) 

 first admitted this plant into the class of anthel- 

 mintics ; it was employed with success by Schmuc- 



ker,{7i) in epidemic verminous dysenteries, and in 

 a6 



