164 LILY-OF-THE-VALLBY. 



For suppressed menstruation it is considered by many as 

 a specific, and given in conjunction with other remedies 

 there is no doubt it has a certain and effectual action. In 

 the first stages of consumption it is often used, as its 

 tonic properties, combined with the pectoral, have a very 

 beneficial effect. It is also valuable in gravel, stone, 

 diarrhoea, &c. In suppression of menstruation, ounce 

 of powder or fluid extract in i pint of water is taken 

 in wineglassful doses four times a day until the desired 

 effect is produced. In pulmonary complaints, i tea- 

 spoonful of the fluid extract should be taken in 

 sweetened water or combined with other pectorals. 



Preparations Powdered root : Dose, -1 drachm. 

 Solid extract : Dose, 5-10 grains. Fluid extract : Dose, 

 $-1 drachm. Senecin : Dose, 1-3 grains. 



Distinctive character Stems slender, fluted, 1-2 

 feet high, cottony, unbranched. Rhizome 1-2 inches 

 long, resembling arnica in size, but with more numerous 

 roots, the bark of the roots hard and blackish sur- 

 rounding a ring of short white wood bundles, which 

 enclose a large dark-coloured pith. Root-leaves ovate, 

 reniform up to 6 inches long, with long leafstalks. 

 Stem-leaves decreasing in size upwards, incised and 

 pinnatifid, and the upper ones sessile. Flowerheads 

 few, in a loose corymb, f to nearly i inch broad, and 

 about half as long. Florets of the ray golden yellow, 

 slightly reflexed, pistillate ; the central tubular florets 

 hermaphrodite. Pappus pilose. Taste, bitter, astrin- 

 gent, slightly acrid. Odour, feeble. 



LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY. 



Convallaria majalis, Linn. 



N.O. Liliacea, 

 Syn. Convallaria, May Lily. 



Parts used Root, herb, flowers. 



Action Cardiac tonic, diuretic. Its action closely 

 resembles Foxglove, without causing unpleasant dis- 



