262 OUR ROCK-GARDEN 



non- British mallows are to be found in gardens, 

 of which the hollyhock is perhaps the best 

 known. 



The various species of mallow yield a large 

 amount of mucilage, and have therefore been 

 largely used as emollients in rural pharmacy, a 

 decoction of the leaves being used to allay by its 

 soothing nature throat, lung, and other troubles. 

 The foliage macerated has also been found of great 

 value as a fomentation for the eyes in ophthalmia, 

 in cutaneous troubles and abrasions, and as a 

 gargle. In France the marsh mallow is the 

 guimauve, and in lozenge form the patd de 

 guimauve is a very popular medicine. The root 

 is found to contain nearly half its weight in muci- 

 laginous matter, while the leaves yield about a 

 quarter. The French word means viscous mallow. 

 The roots are preferably collected for medicinal 

 purposes in the Autumn, and plants not less than 

 two years' old should be taken. 



Pliny recommends boiling the roots in sweet new 

 milk as a soothing drink, while other old writers 

 suggest that they may be boiled in vinegar as an 

 external application for toothache. We also find 

 other applications, sometimes with wine, sometimes 

 with grease or turpentine, but all emollient in effect. 

 Maplet, we see, suggests in his book, " A Greene 

 Forest," published in 1567, that a preparation of 

 " Malew lyquor or iuyce, contempred with any 



