172 MEDICINAL HERBS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 



soundness of these views. Here we have three cases — 

 ciiichona, henbane, and foxglove — in which we have 

 ah-eady luid results by observation and by experimental 

 cultivation, and there can be little doubt that if the 

 whole problem of our drugs were taken up by the 

 Government, results of no mean value would swiftly 

 accrue. 



A further line of policy would be the experimental 

 cultivation of plants which have never hitlierto been 

 exploited for medicinal purposes, although it is known 

 that they gi'ow readily in this country. Thus, liquorice 

 (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is grown in Yorkshire, though our 

 supply conies from Sjxiin and Italy. Saffron (stigmata 

 and styles of Crocus sativus) was formerly grown at 

 Saffron Walden in Essex, but we import it now from 

 Spain. Alkanet root, which was grown in England, 



comes now chiefly from Hungary. Other examples of 

 medicinal plants of this category are the rhizome of 

 Orris (Iris florentina, Iris ^pallida, Iris geimianica)^ 

 Sweet Flag {Acorns Calmmis), Cummin fruit {Ciiminum 

 Gymimim), Wintergreen {Gaultheria procttnnhens), 

 Lobelia inflata, F ochrphylliiiin peltatiim, Hydrastis 

 canadensis, Artemisia marlthna, which yields san- 

 tonine. 



If we push this development to its logical conclusion 

 it will be necessary to take under consideration the 

 whole gamut of the drugs that appear on the market, 

 and secure their cultivation in one or other of our 

 colonies. 



