356 GERMANDER. 



(6) corolla viewed sidewise ; (c) the same in front ; (d) pistil ; 

 (e) anther, magnified. 



Water Germander grows in low wet meadows and marsliy 

 places in this comitry, but is ratlier rare. It has been fomid 

 in Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, and a few other counties ; and 

 in Tipperary, Ireland. It flowers in July and August. 



This plant was named Scordium from a-y.ofjiov, derived from 

 axop^ov, garlic, on account of its alliaceous odour. According 

 to Lobel *, it was first identified with the a-KopSiov of Dioscorides f, 

 by Pelissier, Bishop of Montpellier, and Rondelet, professor 

 of medicine at that place, about the year 1550. It has been 

 called Garlic Germander. 



The foliage is eaten by sheep and goats, but refused by 

 horses, swine, and cows ; the latter, however, will eat it when 

 pressed by hunger, in consequence of which, their milk is said 

 to be imbued with the flavour of garlic. The herb placed 

 among woollen garments defends them from moths, &c. 



Qualities. — The herb exhales a peculiar odour, somewhat 

 resembling garlic, but combined with an aroma approaching to 

 that of hops. It is rather bitter and pungent to the taste, and 

 becomes disagreeable and at length inodorous on being long kept. 

 Both water and alcohol take up its active matter ; the latter 

 most perfectly, as appears from the greater bitterness of the 

 extract, which contains a peculiar gum resin : the watery infu- 

 sion is rendered black by sulphate of iron. Its aroma is thought 

 to depend on an essential oil, which rises with the distilled 

 water, according to Neumann J, but Lewis § was not able to 

 obtain it. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — The most ancient writers 

 on therapeutics attribute to this plant extraordinary virtues as 

 an alexipharmic, sudorific, and antiseptic ; with reference to 

 the latter quality, Galen || asserts, that, on a field of battle, the 



• Advers. p. 220. 



t Mat. Med. lib. Hi c. 125. 



\ Chym., vol. ii. P. iv. p. 195. 



§ Mat. Med., p. 596. 



II "Traditum est a quibusdam celebribus viris, cum in prjelio interempto- 

 rum cadavera multos dies insepiilta jacuissent, qusecunq'.ie supra scordium 

 forte fortuna ceciderant, multos niiuus aliis computruisse, ea presertim ex 

 parte, qua herbam attigerant." Galen de Antidotis, lib. i. c. 12. 



