VALERIAN. 369 



Lentilius *, Schuchmann *, Riverius f , Sauvages {, Scopoli §, 

 Marchant ||, Chomel and Tissot, with whom it has proved suc- 

 cessful both in children and adults. It is not a little remark- 

 able that Valerian has been very efficacious in epilepsy produced 

 by anger, fear, &c. It is however to be expected that in some 

 instances it should afford no benefit, as related by Rocher and 

 Alibert. It has been moreover exhibited in those neurosae dis- 

 tinguished by increased mobility and irritability, particularly in 

 hysteria ^f and chorea, vertigo, hemicrania* *, &c. In cases of 

 partial paralysis, incontinence of urine, painter's colic, weakness 

 of sight -f f, and even in amaurosis, it has produced good effects. 

 Lastly, in putrid and intermittent fevers it has proved highly 

 useful, and is an excellent adjunct to cinchona bark J J. Dr. 

 Thomson, who adds his testimony on this point, likewise observes, 

 that he has found it exceedingly serviceable in hypochondriasis. 

 Its property of expelling worms has been already adverted to. 

 Dr. Withering remarks that it is an excellent medicine in cases 

 of habitual costiveness, having afforded relief when stronger 

 purgatives were ineffectual. Bergius § §, however, who allows it 

 to be diuretic, diaphoretic and anthelmintic, states that he had 

 never observed it to be emetic or laxative. 



Externally, the volatile oil has been used as a liniment to 

 paralysed limbs. The powdered root mixed with snuff and 

 used as an errhine, is stated to have proved serviceable in 

 weakness of sight. It has been in high repute with the peasantry 

 as a remedy for wounds, cuts, &c. || || 



* Eph. Nat. Cur. Dec. 2. A. 4 & 7- 

 + Prax. Med. L. i. p. 62. 



$ Nosol. Method, torn. iii. part 2. 



§ Fl. Cam. p. 347. 



|| Mem. de l'Acad. des Sc. de Paris, 1706, p. 333. 



f Hall. Hist. St. Helv. n. 210. 



* * Fordyce de Hemicrania, p. 417- 



ft " The veterinary practitioners on the continent make great use of it 

 for preserving and restoring the sight of horses." Waller, 1. c. 



${ See Murray's App. Med. torn. i. p. 284. 



§§ Mat. Med. torn. i. p. 31. 



HI) Gerard (Herb. em. 1078) says "it is put into counterpoysons and 

 medicines preseruatiue against pestilence ; whereupon it hath been held (and 

 is to this day among the poore people of our northerne parts) in such vene- 

 ration amongst them, that no broths, pottage, or physicall meats are worth 



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