160 NAT. ORDER. — BORAGINE^E. 



mon garden plant cultivated both in America and England, and is often 

 found growing by the side of old ditches. It flowers from June till 

 September. 



Propagation and Culture. All the species of Comfrey are ex- 

 tremely hardy, and will grow in any soil and situation ; some are very 

 handsome border flowers, and are well fitted for woods or shrubbe- 

 ries, as they will grow under the shade of trees and shrubs ; they are 

 easily increased by dividing the roots in the spring, or by seeds, but 

 the former mode is preferable. 



Medical Properties and Uses. The root of Comfrey, though rare- 

 ly used, promises all the advantages to be derived from that of marsh- 

 mallow : according to recent investigations we find, that the dried root, 

 boiled in water, renders a large proportion of the fluid slimy ; and the 

 decoctions inspissated, yield a strong flavorless mucilage, similar to 

 that obtained from althaea, but somewhat stronger-bodied, or more 

 tenacious, and in considerable larger quantities, amounting to about 

 three-fourths the weight of the Comfrey. Hence it is inferred that the 

 consolida is rather superior to the althsea in many cases where that 

 root is employed ; the mucilaginous matter being in both roots the only 

 medicinal principle. Therefore, as the root of this plant is easily ob- 

 tained, it may be conveniently substituted for that of althaea in all the 

 compositions in which the latter is officinally directed or extemporan- 

 eously, for the general purposes of an emollient and demulcent. This 

 opinion seems also to have the authority of Dr. Cullen, who says, — 

 " While mucilaginous matters are retained in our list of medicines, I 

 do not perceive why the colleges have entirely omitted the Symphy- 

 tum, for it may be of great service in diarrhoeas and dysenteries." 



