gamopetalj:-! loi 



the body and of the soul. To it was ascribed the 

 power of driving away evil spirits, whilst on the ma- 

 terial side it was used as a specific for many ailments. 

 Great has been the fall of this plant. It is now chiefly 

 employed as an adulterant, in substitution for Foxglove 

 leav^es. 



There is a certain demand for Mullein flowers by 

 herbalists, seeing that the flowers are imported from the 

 Continent. In a leaflet issued by the Board of Agricul- 

 ture and Fisheries, it is stated that " there will be a good 

 inquiry for dry leaves". 



Fig WORT (Scrophularia nodosa) — Water Fig wort 



{Sc rojyJtularia aqtioiica). — These two plants are common 

 enough near rivers and in moist, shady spots. The 

 flowers are very unusual in colour, being of a dingy 

 greenish-pui^le hue. The general appearance of S. nodosa 

 is given in fig. 61. The Water Figwort difiers from this 

 plant in having winged angles attached to the stem, 

 otherwise the two are alike in almost every particular. 



The name Scrophidaria is interesting. It was given 

 as a generic name to these plants, owing to the belief 

 that they were effective as a cure for scrofula. 



This genus gave its name to the order, and so \ve have 

 Scrophulariacese. A crystalline bitter substance, to which 

 the name scrophularin has been given, is extracted from 

 the Figworts. This drug, taken internally, acts as an 



emetic and purgative. The wiiole genus must conse- 

 quently be regarded with suspicion. Fortunately, animals 

 will not touch these two plants. Needless to state, they 

 have no value in the treatment of the disease which 

 ^sed to be known as scrofula, and which is noAV 

 i^egarded by med' ^1 men as a form of tuberculosis. 

 Scrophularia nodosa is, however, much in demand by 

 herbalists. 



be 



(C&35) 



8 



